Work

Heat Islands and Chronic Disease: Could African Americans Be More Vulnerable to Heat-Related Health Impacts?

Year: 2022

Type: review

Abstract: Global warming and environmental heat stress are public health concerns. Urban heat islands, metropolitan areas with higher temperatures compared to their surrounding rural areas, compound the effects of increased environmental heat. In addition to acute heat-related illness, increased environmental heat is linked to exacerbation of chronic diseases. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of heat islands and how the effects of heat stress intersect with chronic diseases in the African American (AA) community. Across the United States, AAs are more likely to reside in heat islands, resulting in greater exposure to environmental heat. Unfortunately, chronic diseases exacerbated by increased environmental heat disproportionately impact the AA community. Due to the intersection of these disparities, heat-related health risks are likely higher for the AAs. The increased health risks posed by urban heat island exposure on AAs have significant implications for nursing practice, research, and policy.

Source: PubMed

Authors: Pamela Jackson, Danielle Larkin, Kiari R Kinnie, Edwin N Aroke

Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging

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