Lancet study details risks of extreme heat on human health, combat measures

A new study has raised alarm on the impact of extreme heat on human health and warned of an increase in morbidity and mortality if steps are not taken immediately to counter climate change. The two-part series published in The Lancet medical journal said higher levels of heat may “increase adverse pregnancy outcomes and negatively affect mental health” and reduce “physical work capacity and motor-cognitive performances, with consequences for productivity, and increase the risk of occupational health problems”.

In line with the Paris Agreement recommendations, the study authors have called for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Climate change mitigation to reduce carbon emissions and alter the further warming of the planet besides identifying timely and effective prevention and response measures, particularly for low-resource settings are needed to combat extreme heat, series co-lead author Dr Kristie Ebi, University of Washington, said.

Failure to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop and deploy evidence-based heat action plans will mean a very different future awaits many people and communities around the world,” she added in a statement.

“Day-to-day summer activities – such as exercising and working outdoors – may change dramatically as increasing warming means people are at greater risk of exposure to intolerable heat far more often, particularly in tropical regions.”

According to another study published in The Lancet, the number of deaths–356,000– attributed to extreme heat in 2019 is likely to grow as temperatures rise worldwide. 

Almost 50% of world population is affected by episodes of extreme heat, while about 33 million workers suffer from adverse health impacts due to the phenomenon. 

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The authors have recommended accessible and effective cooling strategies at different levels to minimise health risks from extreme heat. These include the use of electric fans and cold towels, people dousing or spraying themselves with water, immersing their feet in water, and taking breaks during physical activity.

But, the effectiveness of different strategies “depends on their compatibility with a particular setting,” the authors said. “Irrespective of the setting, recommended actions should be driven by the latest scientific evidence and not conventional wisdom that was developed during cooler periods.”