HEAT STRESS
Where is heat stress occuring – and why?
Heat is an important environmental and occupational health hazard. Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying illnesses. Heatstroke is a medical emergency with a high-case fatality rate. The number of people exposed to extreme heat is growing exponentially due to climate change
in all world regions. Heat-related mortality for people over 65 years of age increased by approximately 85 percent between 2000–2004 and 2017–2021. Between 2000–2019 studies show approximately 489 000 heat-related deaths occur each year, with 45 percent of these in Asia and 36 percent in Europe.
Source: World Health Organization
Annual increase in exposure (Person-days yr – 1 ) Municipality-level increase in the rate of urban population exposure to extreme heat from 1983 to 2016. The larger the increase in exposure, the darker the colour. Extreme heat exposure is defined by urban population exposed to two days or longer periods where the Heat Index maximum is greater than 40.6°C. Photo: Sudarshan Jha/Shutterstock
24
2
27
4
20
Person-days yr–1
24
29 25
10 3-4 10 4-5 10 5-6 10 6-7 10 7-8
23 3
Annual increase in exposure due to population growth and urban warming
Global urban population exposure to extreme heat from 1983 to 2016 (A), with the contribution from population growth (B) and total urban warming (C) decoupled. Extreme heat exposure is defined by urban population exposed to two days or longer periods where the Heat Index maximum is greater than 40.6°C.
A. Total exposure
B. Trend due to population growth
C. Trend due to urban warming
120
50
25
Avg. annual increase: 2.1 billion person-years – 1
Avg. annual increase: 1.4 billion person-years – 1
Avg. annual increase: 1.4 billion person-years – 1
20
100
40
15
80
30
10
60
20
5
0
40
10
-5
20
0
-10
0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Year
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Year
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Year
28
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