This is why heat and air pollution can be a deadly combination

Combination of Extreme High Temperatures and Poor Air Quality Poses Health Risks in the United States

The combination of extreme high temperatures and poor air quality from Canadian wildfires and other sources of air pollution may become a major contributor to illness and early death in the United States, experts warn.

“Individually, each one of these is hazardous,” said Melissa Gonzales, chair of environmental health sciences at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. “Put them together, and they’re compounding the effects of one another.”

The warning comes as tens of millions of Americans struggle to catch their breath amid the smog of Canadian wildfires and record-setting temperatures.

Impact on Health

Though older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for dire health outcomes related to extreme heat and air pollution, no one is immune, said Jun Wu, a professor in the department of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine.

“They may think it’s not a big deal, that it’s only weak people or homeless people who may be at risk,” she said, but that’s not true.

“The body has a limited capacity to handle stress,” Wu said. And while extreme heat and air pollution impact the human body in different ways, the existence of one appears to worsen the impact of the other.

Research Findings

1. A 2022 study by the University of Southern California found that the risk of early death increased by 21% on days that were both unusually hot and polluted with high concentrations of fine particulate matter.
2. “Short-term exposure to extreme heat and air pollution alone were individually associated with increased risk of mortality,” the study authors wrote, “but their co-exposure had larger effects beyond the sum of their individual effects.”

Effects on the Body

On its own, extreme heat can dehydrate the body. Blood vessels get smaller, decreasing the flow of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs. The heart tries to compensate by beating faster, increasing blood pressure.

Adding poor air quality to the equation makes the situation worse by causing oxidative stress. That is, the body’s natural ability to rid itself of toxins is hampered.

Oxidative stress is one of the biggest problems. It can cause long-term tissue and cell damage, increasing the risk of cancer later in life. While the DNA damage from exposure to wildfire smoke can be repaired in younger people, as the body ages, the repair mechanisms aren’t as robust.

• Cells that line the airways called respiratory mucosal cells, for example, normally band together to form a barrier and protect the body from inhaling toxins. During that process, many of those cells slough off and must be regenerated.
• But as the air becomes more polluted, the body’s ability to regenerate those cells can’t keep up to offset the buildup of pollutants.

Protective Measures

People with chronic health problems, such as asthma or heart disease, are most at risk for developing dangerous and potentially deadly outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the best ways to protect against heat-related illness include drinking plenty of water, wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing outdoors, and trying to avoid physical activity during the middle of the day.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, injuries, and illnesses attributed to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

Note: The article does not explicitly mention the SDGs, targets, or indicators. The analysis is based on the issues discussed in the article and their alignment with the SDGs.

Analysis

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The issues highlighted in the article, such as extreme high temperatures, poor air quality from wildfires, and air pollution, are directly connected to SDG 3. These factors contribute to illness and early death, affecting the health and well-being of individuals.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   The article emphasizes the impact of climate-related hazards, such as extreme heat and wildfires, on human health. These hazards are connected to SDG 13, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

3. Targets and Indicators

   The specific targets and indicators identified based on the article’s content are as follows:

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, injuries, and illnesses attributed to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: nbcnews.com

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