Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Extreme Weather Events and Health Responses in Taiwan

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Extreme Weather Events and Human Health

  • 1844 Accesses

Abstract

In this study, epidemiological studies on the effects of temperature-related and water-related extreme events on health in Taiwan were reviewed. Results of studies on the effects of temperate-related extreme events on health have varied because of the different indices used and diseases targeted; however, overall, these studies suggest that extreme low-temperature events generate greater mortality risk than do extreme high-temperature events, although health consequences from extreme high-temperature events cannot be ignored. With regard to health consequences from water-related extreme events , most related studies have focused on the association between floods and excessive rainfall, caused mainly by typhoons , with morbidity and mortality. Results of numerous studies have suggested that floods and excessive rainfall increase the risk of various diseases, especially water-borne, vector-borne and food-borne diseases .

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bunker, A., Wildenhain, J., Vandenbergh, A., Henschke, N., Rocklöv, J., Hajat, S., et al. (2016). Effects of air temperature on climate-sensitive mortality and morbidity outcomes in the elderly; a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence. EBioMedicine, 6, 258–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cann, K. F., Thomas, D. R., Salmon, R. L., Wyn-Jone, A. P., & Kay, D. (2013). Extreme water-related weather events and waterborne disease. Epidemiology Infection, 141(4), 671–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, C. T. (2016). A preliminary study on mortality attributed to tropical cyclones in Taiwan 2000–2014. Environmental and Hazards, 15(2), 178–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S. T., Kuo, C. C., & Yu, P. S. (2009). Historical trends and variability of meteorological droughts in Taiwan. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 54(3), 430–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, V. Y. J., Wu, P. C., Yang, T. C., & Su, H. J. (2010). Examining non-stationary effects of social determinants on cardiovascular mortality after cold surges in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 408(9), 2042–2049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, M. J., Lin, C. Y., Wu, Y. T., Wu, P. C., Lung, S. C., & Su, H. J. (2012). Effects of extreme precipitation to the distribution of infectious diseases in Taiwan, 1994–2008. PLoS ONE, 7(6), e34651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chien, F. C., & Kuo, H. C. (2011). On the extreme rainfall of Typhoon Morakot (2009). Journal of Geophysical Research, 116, D05104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, C. H., Wang, Y. C., Yang, Y. S., & Chang, F. Y. (2009). Leptospirosis after typhoon in Taiwan. Journal of Medical Sciences, 29(3), 131–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, W. C., Wu, J. L., Wang, Y. C., Huang, H., Sung, F. C., & Chuang, C. Y. (2010). Modeling the impact of climate variability on diarrhea-associated diseases in Taiwan (1996–2007). Science of the Total Environment, 409(1), 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Central Weather Bureau. (2018). How many losses were caused by typhoons? https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/knowledge/encyclopedia/ty055.htm. Accessed 6 June 2018.

  • Hsiao, H. I., Jan, M. S., & Chi, H. J. (2016). Impacts of climatic variability on Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreaks in Taiwan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, H. H., Chou, C., Wu, Y. C., Lu, M. M., Chen, C. T., & Chen, Y. M. (2011). Climate change in Taiwan: Scientific report 2011 (summary). Taipei: National Science Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W. C., Chiang, Y., Wu, R. Y., Lee, J. L., & Lin, S. H. (2012). The impact of climate change on rainfall frequency in Taiwan. Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 23(5), 553–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, L. Y., Wang, Y. C., Wu, C. C., Chen, Y. C., & Huang, Y. L. (2016). Risk of flood-related diseases of eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract in Taiwan: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS ONE, 11(5), e0155166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, P. R. (2003). Climate change and waterborne and vector-borne disease. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 94(s1), 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ko, W. C., Cheung, B. M. H., Tang, H. J., Shih, H. I., Lau, Y. J., Wang, L. R., et al. (2007). Melioidosis outbreak after typhoon, southern Taiwan. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 13(6), 896–898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kueh, M. T., Lin, C. Y., Chuang, Y. J., Sheng, Y. F., & Chien, Y. Y. (2017). Climate variability of heat waves and their associated diurnal temperature range variations in Taiwan. Environmental Research Letters, 12(7), 074017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y. K., Ho, T. J., & Wang, Y. C. (2011). Mortality risk associated with temperature and prolonged temperature extremes in elderly populations in Taiwan. Environmental Research, 111(8), 1156–1163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. Y., Chiu, N. C., & Lee, C. M. (2012). Leptospirosis after typhoon. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 86(2), 187–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y. K., Chang, C. K., Wang, Y. C., & Ho, T. J. (2013a). Acute and prolonged adverse effects of temperature on mortality from cardiovascular diseases. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e82678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y. K., Wang, Y. C., Ho, T. J., & Lu, C. A. (2013b). Temperature effects on hospital admissions for kidney morbidity in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 443, 812–820.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, P. C., Lin, H. J., Guo, H. R., & Chen, K. T. (2013c). Epidemiological characteristics of lower extremity cellulitis after a typhoon flood. PLoS ONE, 8(6), e65655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. Y., Chen, T. C., Dai, C. Y., Yu, M. L., Lu, P. L., Yen, J. H., et al. (2015a). Serological investigation to identify risk factors for post-flood infectious diseases: a longitudinal survey among people displaced by Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. British Medical Journal Open, 5(5), e007008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y. K., Yu, S. W., Lin, P. L., & Wang, Y. C. (2015b). Ambient temperature and all-cause and cardiovascular diseases mortality risk by areas in Taiwan. Taiwan Gong Gong Wei Sheng Za Zhi, 34, 103–114. [in Chinese with English abstract].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. Y., Chien, Y. Y., Su, C. J., Kueh, M. T., & Lung, S. C. (2017). Climate variability of heat wave and projection of warming scenario in Taiwan. Climate Change, 145(3–4), 305–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. M., & Lee, S. Y. (2009). Cold surges in Taiwan—A critique of using Taipei station temperature only to define the events. Atmospheric Science, 37, 1–10. [in Chinese with English abstract].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. M., Cho, Y. M., Lee, S. Y., Lee, C. T., & Lin, Y. C. (2012). Climate variations in Taiwan during 1911–2009. Atmospheric Science, 40, 297–317. [in Chinese with English abstract].

    Google Scholar 

  • McMichael, A. J., Woodruff, R. E., & Hales, S. (2006). Climate change and human health: present and future risks. The Lancet, 367(9513), 859–869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ou, C. Q., Song, Y. F., Yang, J., Chau, P. Y., Yang, L., Chen, P. Y., et al. (2013). Excess winter mortality and cold temperatures in a subtropical city, Guangzhou. China. PLoS One, 8(10), e77150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiu, C. J., Liu, S. C., & Chen, J. P. (2009). Diurnally asymmetric trends of temperature, humidity, and precipitation in Taiwan. Journal of Climate, 22(21), 5635–5649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, H. P., Chan, T. C., & Chang, C. C. (2011). Typhoon-related leptospirosis and melioidosis, Taiwan, 2009. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17(7), 1322–1324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sung, T. I., Wu, P. C., Lung, S. C., Lin, C. Y., Chen, M. J., & Su, H. J. (2013). Relationship between heat index and mortality of 6 major cities in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 442, 275–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tung, Y. S., Chen, C. T., Min, S. K., & Lin, L. Y. (2016). Evaluating extreme rainfall changes over Taiwan using a standardized index. Terrestrial, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, 27(5), 705–715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, L. R., Barnett, A. G., Connell, D., & Tonga, S. (2012). Ambient temperature and cardiorespiratory morbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiology, 23, 594–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. C., & Lin, Y. K. (2014). Association between temperature and emergency room visits for cardiorespiratory diseases, metabolic syndrome-related diseases, and accidents in metropolitan Taipei. PLoS ONE, 9(6), e99599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. C., Lin, Y. K., Chuang, C. Y., Li, M. H., Chou, C. H., Liao, C. H., et al. (2012). Associating emergency room visits with first and prolonged extreme temperature event in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study. Science of the Total Environment, 416, 97–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, P. C., Lin, C. Y., Lung, S. C., Guo, H. R., Chou, C. H., & Su, H. J. (2011). Cardiovascular mortality during heat and cold events: determinants of regional vulnerability in Taiwan. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 68, 525–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xuan, L. T., Egondi, T., Ngoan, L. T., Toan, D. T., & Huong, L. T. (2014). Seasonality in mortality and its relationship to temperature among the older population in Hanoi, Vietnam. Global Health Action., 7(1), 23115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Li-San Hung

  2. Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Mei-Hui Li

Authors
  1. Li-San Hung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mei-Hui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mei-Hui Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Rais Akhtar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hung, LS., Li, MH. (2020). Extreme Weather Events and Health Responses in Taiwan. In: Akhtar, R. (eds) Extreme Weather Events and Human Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23773-8_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation