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Longer-Term Outdoor Temperatures and Health Effects: a Review

  • Environmental Epidemiology (F Laden and J Hart, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Epidemiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Our goal was to assess current literature and knowledge on associations between characteristics (mean, variability, extremes) of ambient temperatures and human health. We were motivated by concerns that climate change, which operates on a time frame of decades or longer, may influence not only shorter-term associations between weather and health (daily/weekly) but also have enduring implications for population health. We reviewed papers published between 2010 and 2017 on the health effects of longer-term (3 weeks to years) exposures to ambient temperature. We sought to answer: “What health outcomes have been associated with longer-term exposures?” We included studies on a diverse range of health outcomes, with the exception of vector-borne diseases such as malaria. Longer-term exposures were considered to be exposures to annual and seasonal temperatures and temperature variability.

Recent Findings

We found 26 papers meeting inclusion criteria, which addressed mortality, morbidity, respiratory disease, obesity, suicide, infectious diseases, and allergies among various age groups. In general, most studies found associations between longer-term temperature metrics and health outcomes. Effects varied by population subgroup. For example, associations with suicide differed by sex and underlying chronic illness modified effects of heat on mortality among the elderly.

Summary

We found that regional and local temperatures, and changing conditions in weather due to climate change, were associated with a diversity of health outcomes through multiple mechanisms. Future research should focus on evidence for particular mechanistic pathways in order to inform adaptation responses to climate change.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

National Institutes of Health NIH/NIEHS grants P30 ES000002, P30 ES017885, R21 ES020156, and RO1 ES024332; EPA grants RD83615601 and RD 83587201; National Science Foundation grant 1520803; and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health grant T42 OH008455. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the grantee and do not necessarily represent the official views of the US EPA. Further, US EPA does not endorse the purchase of any commercial products or services mentioned in the publication.

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  1. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Center, Suite 404M, P.O. Box 15698, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Antonella Zanobetti

  2. Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Marie S. O’Neill

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  1. Antonella Zanobetti
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Correspondence to Antonella Zanobetti.

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Antonella Zanobetti reports grants from National Institutes of Health NIH/NIEHS and grants from US EPA, during the conduct of the study. Marie S. O’Neill report grants from National Science Foundation, and grants from National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, during the conduct of the study.

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Zanobetti, A., O’Neill, M.S. Longer-Term Outdoor Temperatures and Health Effects: a Review. Curr Epidemiol Rep 5, 125–139 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-018-0150-3

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