Vulnerability to Combined Exposure to Heat and Air Pollution: a Particular Challenge in Asian Cities during Climate Change

Abstract:

Global climate change is progressing and health impacts have already been observed in a number of countries. In addition, urban air pollution due to power stations, industry, motor vehicle transport and household energy use is a major health hazard in many Asian countries. Accumulating evidence indicates that lower socio-economic groups in society are more exposed to both climate change factors and air pollution. In addition, they are more vulnerable due to poorer health status in general and less ability to adapt to the changes in climate or to protect themselves against air pollution effects. In urban areas, the human exposure to heat is exacerbated by the "heat island effect", where urban design traps heat to increase the temperature beyond the global trend. The main health impacts of such heat exposure will be due to direct heat effects, as well as the effects of extreme weather, air pollution, food-borne infectious diseases, vector-borne diseases, and mental stress. This issue is, therefore, of major public health importance and increased efforts to carry out research as well as take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change are necessary. In Asian cities with rapid development of industry and motor vehicle traffic, the combined exposures to heat and air pollution is a particular challenge to population health.

Adaptation will require actions to reduce exposure to and effects of air pollution, as well as the effects of heat waves, particularly for vulnerable people (e.g., the elderly, infants, indigenous communities, people with existing health problems, and people working in hot environments). It will also involve intensified monitoring of mortality and morbidity that may be due to heat and/or air pollution in order for health authorities to guide further prevention policies and actions. Future urban design must be developed to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as to reduce air pollution at the source.