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By: Keara McLaughlin Summary. Heat waves are regularly associated with climate chaos and environmental concerns. Many people overlook how detrimental heat waves are to the health of the worlds populations. With heat waves increasing in 2021, not only did we see adverse climate effects, but significant health concerns and deaths. Heat waves create droughts, and droughts dry out areas of land that is not typically dry. When land is dry and thus exposed to wind and other factors, particulates circulate through the air significantly impairing the breathing of those with respiratory illnesses and even creating illnesses in people who have never experienced these issues before. Not only do droughts cause illnesses, they also ruin crops and potable water in reservoirs. Individuals facing food and water shortages are then additionally at risk for other kinds of illness including environmental, communicable and noncommunicable. This severely atypical increase in heat creates numerous public health concerns that many may not view as significant, but overtime cause serious stress on the body. Tradesman who work outdoors in areas that are faced with these heat waves such as Arizona and other southern states experience the effects of heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can lead to long term side effects such as kidney failure and other serious illnesses. In 2021, in Seattle there was one of the worst heat waves ever recorded for the area with temperatures over 100º Fahrenheit for several days at a time. During this period, over 600 people died. Many people don't correlate increased temperature with health concerns, but with issues like starvation, dehydration, respiratory illness and long term effects, heat waves are very dangerous to the overall health of the worlds populations. Many may say that one could just stay indoors. The concern with this argument is that areas like the Pacific Northwest are not equipped with the infrastructure like HVAC and AC to allow people to stay cool indoors. Many parts of this country and the world were not ready or used to the extreme temperatures brought by heat waves and thus many people suffered and will continue to. Heat waves are extremely detrimental to the overall health of humanity. Why we should care? The intersection of Public Health and the environment is absolutely critical. Learning and caring about how the environment affects us on a health level incentivizes change.  Photo Credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images https://www.vox.com/22538401/heat-wave-record-temperature-extreme-climate-change-drought Example Article. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/10/20/climate-change-and-heat-waves-affecting-health-deadly-ways/6105574001/ I found this article to be particularly relevant because it encapsulated the public health concerns with heat waves as well as the environmental causes and their effects on the climate and Earth. This article not only walks through health issues caused by heat waves, but shows important anecdotal evidence of the real effects of heat on the everyday person. I think this article helps to show how severe the heat waves of 2021 were throughout the country, especially in places that people may be unfamiliar with. Most importantly this article shows is the severity of climate change, and in turn heat waves, and the affect on public health. Science in Action.
Dr. Kristie Ebi is at the University of Washington in the Department of Global Health. Professor Kristine Ebi, along with a group of international researchers found that the heat waves in America in 2021 were a direct result of human caused climate change. Professor Ebi's work primarily focuses on the intersection of public health and the environment. She has worked on numerous research projects related to environmental concerns and global health, such as the public health implications of rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and increases in Zika Virus cases due to climate change. This area of study is directly related to my topic as well as the article I found because concerns with heat waves are not only a public health concern but also an environmental concern. Not only does Professor Ebi's work generally operate in this intersection, but she also worked on a study directly related to health concerns related to heat waves.
7 Comments
Collin Houston
11/15/2021 15:11:56
The increased number of droughts and with every summer feeling hotter than the last is really concerning. I worked outside for most of this past summer doing landscaping, and one day it was 90+ degrees and no shade what so ever. I remember feeling exhausted and very lightheaded, and the car I used did not have AC. However one the tenants at this building noticed me and let me come inside their apartment to cool down and refill my water bottles. The increased heat is a killer because of how quick it can take effect on you.
Victoria Poma
11/15/2021 16:27:36
I think a lot of people underestimate how intense the affects of climate change are becoming. Climate change is not just the weather getting hot. It can also be droughts, storms, natural disasters, and cold fronts. Texas freezing over this past winter was one of the most prominent signs yet and was still ignored.
Batoul Hassan
11/15/2021 18:13:26
I am not extremely shocked that people pass away during heat waves, but I’m surprise by the amount of people that have been gotten sick because of climate change. This shows me that even though climate change is an afterthought for most people, it is incredibly dangerous situation and affects everyone on earth.
Michelle Kim
11/15/2021 19:31:50
Before reading this blog, I was aware that there had been many droughts and heat waves, but I was somewhat surprised that this year is the hottest that it has been. Its so sad to hear that people are getting ill and passing away from this heat. Its crazy that this topic is talked about more often and there isn't much change being done to help prevent it.
Eric Domenico
11/15/2021 21:49:16
Heat exhaustion is life-threatening and one not to be chanced with. My topic being similar to yours, in my research, I had discovered how many PNW inhabitants live without air-conditioning and it was a frightening discovery and harsh reality to imagine the suffering for some was avoided by others who sought out the luxury of having AC.
Loren Solomon
11/15/2021 22:04:30
This is so fascinating! Previously had little information about how droughts could affect climate and the environment, but I had no idea how severe the health risks are. Its sad knowing that there's people who lose their lives due to existing environmental conditions especially involving heat waves. I feel as though there's many of us who think they've come close to passing out in the sun just on a hot/ humid day in Michigan, though it's nothing compared to what people face in southern states, especially states such as Arizona, being full of deserts and sand, that can be blown and ingested by residents.
Jenin Kaddoura
11/16/2021 02:03:07
As a person who was raised in the Middle East (specifically in the Gulf States), I could really relate to your topic. My article also focused on heat waves; however, the environmental risks in southern Europe were mainly discussed in my post. I really like the way you explained how dry land affects air quality. I also found it really important that you mentioned the lack of equipment with AC in the Pacific Northwest area, as it really makes a huge difference. In contrast, the Gulf States are very well equipped in order to accommodate everyone’s needs under such intense heat. Sadly, I was also really surprised by the amount of deaths in Seattle, as it greatly exceeded my expectations. Leave a Reply. |
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