Lethal Heat and Humidity Events

Climate change increasingly threatens global health as more frequent extreme heat events, combined with varying humidity levels, exacerbate both direct and indirect health risks, strain energy resources, and lead to economic loss. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, and those with preexisting health conditions, face greater risks due to lower physiological adaptive capacity. Those from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are also vulnerable because of increased exposure and reduced capacity. While research has expanded our understanding of the physiological effects of extreme heat and humidity, challenges persist, including inconsistent data, lack of unified heat wave definitions, and limited knowledge of their impact on mortality and morbidity especially in specific populations. Addressing these challenges requires enhanced data and a comprehensive evaluation of humidity's modifying effects. Global collaboration to strengthen heat health action plans is essential, with future efforts focusing on enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of interventions, especially in underresourced regions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Annual Review of Environment and Resources
Published
2025-07-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-111523-102139
Primary Topic
Climate Change and Health Impacts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Lethal Heat and Humidity Events

Xerxes Seposo, Yao Wu, Masahiro Hashizume, Shao Lin et al.
Annual Review of Environment and Resources
Climate Change and Health Impacts
article

Lethal Heat and Humidity Events

Xerxes Seposo, Yao Wu, Masahiro Hashizume, Shao Lin, Juan Antonio Añel, Pei Yu, Kristie L. Ebi, Peng Bi, Antonio Gasparrini, Aurelio Tobı́as, Angie Bone, Ollie Jay, Rongbin Xu, Fontina Petrakopoulou, Yoonhee Kim, Lina Madaniyazi, Wenhua Yu, Tingting Ye, Yuan Gao, Shanshan Li, Yanming Liu, Tiantian Li, Yuming Guo, JASON KAI WEI LEE, Jinah Park, Shuang Zhou, Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, Gongbo Chen
article en

Abstract

Climate change increasingly threatens global health as more frequent extreme heat events, combined with varying humidity levels, exacerbate both direct and indirect health risks, strain energy resources, and lead to economic loss. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, and those with preexisting health conditions, face greater risks due to lower physiological adaptive capacity. Those from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are also vulnerable because of increased exposure and reduced capacity. While research has expanded our understanding of the physiological effects of extreme heat and humidity, challenges persist, including inconsistent data, lack of unified heat wave definitions, and limited knowledge of their impact on mortality and morbidity especially in specific populations. Addressing these challenges requires enhanced data and a comprehensive evaluation of humidity's modifying effects. Global collaboration to strengthen heat health action plans is essential, with future efforts focusing on enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of interventions, especially in underresourced regions.

Annual Review of Environment and ResourcesVol. 50(1)
Australian National University (AU), Seoul National University (KR), National University of Singapore (SG), Global Environment Facility (US), Chinese Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CN), UNSW Sydney (AU), University at Albany, State University of New York (US), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB), National Center for Global Health and Medicine (JP), University of Tokyo Health Sciences (JP), Monash Health (AU), Department of Health (IE), Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (ES), National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control (CN), Nagasaki University (JP), Technische Universität Berlin (DE), Monash University (AU), The University of Adelaide (AU), Universidade de Vigo (ES)
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Climate Change and Health Impacts
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