The Physiological Challenge of Climate Change for Free-Living Terrestrial Mammals.

Background: Climate change will increase the average temperature and frequency of heat waves. Many studies have showed that ambient temperature is significantly related to mortality and morbidity. Children have less effective heat adaptation capacity than adults, because of their differences in physiology and baseline metabolism. The prevalence of asthma among children in Australia is the leading cause of burden of disease in children aged 0–14 years in Australia, accounting for 17.9% of the total burden in boys and 18.6% in girls. However, no study has examined the impact of ambient temperature on lung function and respiratory symptoms in children with asthma in Australia. Aims: This thesis aims to assess the effect of ambient temperature/temperature variability on lung function and respiratory symptoms in children with asthma in Australia. In addition, this thesis aims to discover whether the effects of ambient temperature on lung function in children are different in Australia and China. Methods and Results: A comprehensive literature review examined the associations between air pollutants and lung function and respiratory symptoms in children. The review found that a panel study with mixed models is a good choice for examining the short-term effects of ambient temperature on lung function and respiratory symptoms, since many studies have used this method to examine the short-term impacts of air pollutants on lung function and respiratory symptoms in children while controlling for the effect of ambient temperature. So, in the thesis, I used a panel study with mixed models to assess the association between temperature and lung function and respiratory symptoms. In this thesis, a panel of 270 children (7‒12 years) with asthma living in six Australian cities was recruited. They were asked to perform three successive forced expiratory manoeuvres using a portable electronic peak flow meter twice daily for four weeks. The highest values for peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were stored for each session. At the same time, they were asked to record their respiratory symptoms (e.g., “cough/phlegm” and “wheeze/chest tightness”) every morning (for night-time symptoms) and evening (for daytime symptoms). Mixed models were used to examine the effects of temperature on lung function, controlling for individual characteristics and environmental factors. I found that ambient temperature was negatively related to both morning and evening PEF and FEV1. In general, the effects of temperature were stronger for boys than for girls for PEF, while the effects for evening FEV1 were stronger for girls. Children with asthma living in southern cities were more sensitive to high temperature than those in the north. A mixed logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms. I found that the relationships between ambient temperature and respiratory symptoms were linear. Higher temperatures increased the risks of children’s asthmatic symptoms, especially for “wheeze/chest tightness” and to a lesser extent for “cough/phlegm”. With increasing ambient temperature, boys were more at risk than girls. Mixed models, adjusting for children’s individual characteristics and air pollution, were used to examine the effects of diurnal temperature range (DTR) on lung function and respiratory symptoms. I found that DTR had linear effects on PEF and respiratory symptoms. An increase in DTR induced a reduction in lung function and increased the occurrence of respiratory symptoms. I also examined the impact of ambient temperature on children’s lung function in spring in Baotou, China, to compare the results with the Australian’s. I found that low temperature was significantly associated with a decrease in lung function in Baotou, China. Conclusion: The thesis gives a new insight into the association between ambient temperature and lung function and respiratory symptoms in children. The results show that high temperature is a risk factor for children with asthma in Australia. The effect estimates varied by gender and city. Low temperature is negatively associated with children’s lung function in Baotou, China, when data was used only in the spring. The findings can be used to help plan and implement interventions to reduce respiratory problems related to ambient temperature for children.

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Heat Stress: A Hazardous Occupational Risk for Vulnerable Workers

An increasing number of people have been suffering from abnormal weather causedby climate change and the health effect is more prominent in vulnerablepopulation such as pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. To minimize theseimpacts, there is a need for focused research on climate change and its healtheffects targeting vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the effects of extreme ambient high temperature during pregnancy andbirth outcomes such as stillbirth, low birth weight, fast weight gain in babiesand preterm birth using the absolute and relative definition of heatwave. Wefirst reviewed national and international literature related to heatwave alerts.Then, we investigated the association between exposure to high temperatureduring pregnant and health outcome of pregnant women, infants, and fetuses andcompared the estimates by altering the thresholds of heatwave definition. Mainfindings regarding the impact of ambient high temperature on the health ofpregnant women, infants, and fetuses were presented to determine the significanteffects on their development. The results showed that exposure to hightemperatures and various heat index values had a significant impact on thehealth of pregnant women. Additionally, the study investigated an associationbetween high temperature and health effects on infants and toddlers under theage of 5, including diseases such as heat-related illnesses, hand-foot-and-mouthdisease, and pneumonia, correlating with various heat indicators. This researchprovides the groundwork for further research on the health implications ofambient higher temperatures on pregnant women, infants, and fetuses.

The Heat is On: Imperative for Midwifery Engagement in Climate Change.

Black CarbonThe Dark Horse of Climate Change Drivers F or decades, efforts to slow global warming have mostly aimed to limit heat-trapping emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).Now scientists are pointing to a different class of warming agents they say also must be targeted to keep global temperatures in check.Dubbed "shortlived climate forcings" (SLCFs), these other emissionsnamely, black carbon particles, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone-are even more powerful than CO 2 in terms of their warming potential.But they persist in the atmosphere for much shorter durations than CO 2 , which can linger airborne for hundreds to thousands of years. 1 Steve Seidel, vice president for policy analysis at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, says the recent emphasis on SLCFs represents new policy thinking on climate change."We thought the Kyoto Protocol and its follow-on agreements would get us to where we need to be, but that's not working out the way we hoped it would," he says."So, we're broadening the discussion and opening up new pathways for going forward."More than three-quarters of the world's black carbon is thought to come from developing countries, discharged from cookstoves, open burning, and older diesel engines.This data visualization uses data from NASA's GEOS-5 Goddard Chemistry Aerosol and Transport (GOCART) climate model to show atmospheric concentrations of black carbon on 26 September 2009.Aerosol optical thickness ranges nonlinearly from 0.002 (transparent) to 0.02 (purple) to 0.2 (white).Animations of global black soot transport are available at

Climate change has a significant impact on human health and productivity at work. Environmental changes, including extreme temperatures and natural disasters, contribute to psychological pressures and physical impairments which affect quality of life and well-being. This scoping review examines the effect of climate change on human health in occupational settings. A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO identified empirical studies that analyzed the impacts of climate change on human health in relation to work. Eligible studies included employed individuals aged 18-65, peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024, and evidence linking climate change to occupational health outcomes. Studies underwent title, abstract, and full-text screening. The scoping review, registered with the Open Science Framework, includes 62 studies. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) climate change and mental health; (2) climate change and physical health; and (3) climate change and work. Research has demonstrated the association of psychological distress with extreme weather events, occupational stress, and anxiety among outdoor workers. Physical health risks associated with higher temperatures include chronic dehydration, heat-related illnesses, and other injuries. Climate change also negatively impacts work productivity, leading to increased labour shortages and subsequent economic losses. Climate change has complex effects on the physical and mental health of workers, with significant implications for productivity and safety in the workplace. Despite growing evidence, targeted interventions remain limited. Future studies should examine the long-term health consequences, develop standardized alleviation strategies, and implement policies to protect employees from climate-related occupational hazards.

Climate change disproportionately affects coastal communities worldwide, increasing exposure to extreme temperature and saline water intrusion. Understanding these impacts is critical for public health planning and intervention. This study aims to examine the perceptions about the effects of climate change-induced phenomena, specifically extreme temperature and water salinity, on the overall human health of coastal communities residing in Ramgati, Lakshmipur, Bangladesh. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and utilized a cross-sectional survey design to gather data. The sample consisted of 391 participants (N = 391) residing in the coastal region of Ramgati. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data. The gathered data were subjected to several bivariate analyses, including independent-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis, using IBM SPSS version 24.0. Participants exposed to higher extreme temperature reported their perceptions of various health effects, such as heat stroke, dengue epidemic, migraine and headache. Additionally, participants experiencing elevated water salinity reported different health effects, including hair loss, high blood pressure, diarrhea, maternal health problems, child development, and hindered child mental health development. Linear regression analysis revealed that participants' age (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), gender (β = -0.16, p < 0.001), perceived risk of health diseases (β = 0.17, p < 0.001), high salinity in water (β = 0.15, p = 0.002), and high temperature (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the perception of health effects. This study highlights the importance of addressing key issues regarding the effects of extreme temperature and saline water on human health. Specifically, the study reports on access to clean drinking water, climate change adaptation strategies, health education and awareness, an integrated public health approach, and the needs of vulnerable populations, in order to mitigate the effects of climate change on human health living in the coastal areas.

Migration routes play a vital role in species survival by providing key resources such as food, breeding areas, and favourable climates. Climate change, however, is disrupting these routes, posing a significant threat to biodiversity. The paper explores the socially transmitted migration routes (STMRs), in which migration knowledge is learned socially, and how it is resilient in response to climate change. Together with the climate models, this study simulates the impact of mild, moderate, and extreme climate change conditions on the migration paths using long-term tracking data of migratory birds and terrestrial mammals. The findings indicate that the species that depend on STMRs are more resilient than those that depend on genetically inherited pathways. Particularly, species with STMRs had greater viability of their migration routes, with some species, such as migratory birds, having 95% viability in a moderate climate change but reducing to 55% in harsh environments, and other species, taking genetically inherited routes, having a viability that decreases 90% to 40%. Besides, conservation measures like the establishment of protected migration corridors and improved social learning networks were modelled and led to the increase of migration routes' viability by 20 % and species resilience by 30 %. These results indicate the importance of social learning in climate change adaptation and the imperative of conserving migration routes, which are socially transmitted as a component of conservation measures. The paper stresses that future conservation plans should consider adaptive management and real-time monitoring in order to conserve these valuable corridors as the climate keeps evolving very fast.

BackgroundWith complex changes in the global climate, it is critical to understand how ambient temperature affects health, especially in China. We aimed to assess the effects of temperature on daily mortality, including total non-accidental, cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality between 2016 and 2020 in Chengdu, China.MethodsWe obtained daily temperature and mortality data for the period 2016–2020. A Poisson regression model combined with a distributed-lag nonlinear model was used to examine the association between temperature and daily mortality. We investigated the effects of individual characteristics by sex, age, education level, and marital status.ResultsWe found significant non-linear effects of temperature on total non-accidental, CVD, respiratory, cerebrovascular, and IHD mortality. Heat effects were immediate and lasted for 0–3 days, whereas cold effects persisted for 7–10 days. The relative risks associated with extreme high temperatures (99th percentile of temperature, 28 °C) over lags of 0–3 days were 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17, 1.28) for total non-accidental mortality, 1.40 (95% CI: 1.30, 1.50) for CVD morality, 1.34 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.46) for respiratory morality, 1.33 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.47) for cerebrovascular mortality, and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.58) for IHD mortality. The relative risks associated with extreme cold temperature (1st percentile of temperature, 3.0 °C) over lags of 0–14 days were 1.32 (95% CI: 1.19, 1.46) for total mortality, 1.45 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.68) for CVD morality, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.50) for respiratory morality, 1.36 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.70) for cerebrovascular mortality, and 1.26 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.68) for IHD morality. We found that hot and cold affects were greater in those over 85 years of age, and that women, individuals with low education levels, and those who were widowed, divorced, or never married, were more vulnerable.ConclusionsThis study showed that exposure to hot and cold temperatures in Chengdu was associated with increased mortality, with people over 85 years old, women, those with low education levels, and unmarried individuals being more affected by hot and cold temperatures.

High ambient temperatures have become more likely due to climate change and are linked to higher rates of heat-related illness, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, mental health disorders, and other diseases. To date, far fewer studies have examined the effects of high temperatures on children versus adults, and studies including children have seldom been conducted on a national scale. Compared to adults, children have behavioral and physiological differences that may give them differential heat vulnerability. We acquired medical claims data from a large database of commercially insured US children aged 0–17 from May to September (warm-season) 2016–2019. Daily maximum ambient temperature and daily mean relative humidity estimates were aggregated to the county level using the Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes dataset, and extreme heat was defined as the 95th percentile of the county-specific daily maximum temperature distribution. Using a case-crossover design and temperature lags 0–5 days, we estimated the associations between extreme heat and cause-specific emergency department visits (ED) in children aged <18 years, using the median county-specific daily maximum temperature distribution as the reference. Approximately 1.2 million ED visits in children from 2489 US counties were available during the study period. The 95th percentile of warm-season temperatures ranged from 71 °F to 112 °F (21.7 °C to 44.4 °C). Comparing 95th to the 50th percentile, extreme heat was associated with higher rates of ED visits for heat-related illness; endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases; and otitis media and externa, but not for all-cause admissions. Subgroup analyses suggested differences by age, with extreme heat positively associated with heat-related illness for both the 6–12 year (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 1.56) and 13–17 year age groups (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.76). Among children with health insurance across the US, days of extreme heat were associated with higher rates of healthcare utilization. These results highlight the importance of individual and population-level actions to protect children and adolescents from extreme heat, particularly in the context of continued climate change.

The effects of naked neck genotypes, ambient temperature, and feeding status and their interactions on body temperature and performance of broilers

The effects of summer temperature and heat waves on heat-related illness in a coastal city of China, 2011–2013

Extreme hot weather is a threat to public health, and it is anticipated that the number of hot days and the duration of extreme heat events will increase with climate change. Already, heat-related illness and mortality is the dominant natural hazard in many countries. While everybody is at risk to varying degrees, there are known factors relating to heat exposure and sensitivity that make some population groups more vulnerable than others. The objective of this paper is to assess carto-graphic design decisions in creating heat vulnerability maps, and how they may affect the usefulness of different map types. Spatial patterns of heat vulnerability were visualized using maps representing individual exposure and sensitivity indicators, composite vulnerability indices, and geographical hot spots of vulnerability. The composite indices were calculated using the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) multi-criteria analysis method. Hot spots were determined using local indicators of spatial association (LISA). This study is part of an ongoing project which aims to identify vulnerable populations within the City of Toronto, Canada, in order to support targeted response and mitigation. The maps were found to be a valuable addition to the hot weather planning toolkit supporting neighbor-hood-level interventions.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div&gt;KEYWORDS: Climate change, cluster maps, geographic information systems, heat-related illness, multi-criteria analysis, vulnerability index&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

The temperature field variation of overhead conductors in the operating environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is significant, causing the stress on the conductor wires to fluctuate with climate changes, leading to fatigue and wire breakage. Conducting numerical simulation and analysis of the temperature field of overhead conductors in this environment is crucial for enhancing the safety of transmission lines. This paper establishes a numerical algorithm for solving the radial temperature distribution of overhead conductors in operation based on the two-dimensional steady-state heat balance theory. This method is applied to the numerical simulation of the temperature field of the heat-resistant aluminum alloy conductor NRLH58GJ630-55 in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau environment, analyzing the effects of current load, wind speed, and ambient temperature on the radial temperature distribution of the overhead conductor.