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Date Published
07/2024
Updated: 09/2024
Authors
Elif Kilic, Dr. Ashok Gadgil
Abstract
Extreme temperatures have become the new normal, with 2023 being the hottest year in over a century and 2024 on track to surpass it. The global rise in temperatures poses significant health risks, including heat exhaustion, stroke, heart attack, chronic kidney disease, cognitive impairment, and even death. Vulnerabilities are unequally distributed, especially affecting regions like India, where a large portion of the workforce is exposed to extreme heat without adequate infrastructure for protection. Accurate assessment of heat stress is essential for public health.
The heat index, which considers temperature and humidity, is based on a model for healthy young adult males and fails under extreme conditions. Recent research extended the heat index better to reflect the effects of extreme heat and humidity but still does not fully account for vulnerable populations, such as outdoor workers in developing countries, the elderly, and those with health issues. There is a critical need for improved heat stress models to protect public health and build climate resilience. Enhanced models will help develop accurate heat advisories and warnings, ensuring better protection during extreme heat events.