Download Climate change and public health: Assessment of the effects of

ΥΓΕΙΑ/ΔΥΓΕΙΑ/0609/BIE 20
Dr Edna Yamasaki Patrikiou
University of Nicosia
November 2nd, 2011
Δέσμη Προγραμμάτων για Έρευνα, Τεχνολογική Ανάπτυξη και Καινοτομία 2009-2010»,
του Ιδρύματος Προώθησης Έρευνας (ΔΕΣΜΗ 2009-2010) συγχρηματοδοτείται από την
Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία και το Ευρωπαϊκό Ταμείο Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης (ΕΤΠΑ).
 Climate
change is the major
environmental problem facing the
globe.
 World
Health Organization Health effects of global warming
is one of the major problems of
the century.

In recent years, interest in the impact of weather on
human health has increased
◦ Climatic change
◦ Correlation between extreme weather events and thermal
stress to populations

Specifically
◦ Larger temperature fluctuations, resulting in increased
occurrence of heat waves and cold spells in certain regions.

The thermal stress caused by the increased
intensity, frequency and duration of such
phenomena is expected to lead to an increase in
heat related mortality and morbidity in southern
Europe, Middle East and North Africa.


Populations tend to adapt to the local
prevailing climate through physiological,
behavioral, cultural and technological
responses,
HOWEVER extreme weather events may stress
populations beyond their adaptation limits.

Impacts of climate on human health will not
be evenly distributed around the world.
◦ Greatest in urban areas - urban heat island effect,
city geographical location, housing conditions.
◦ Affecting elderly and sick people, who have
diminished physiological capacity for
thermoregulation, pregnant women, children and
workers in thermally stressful fields.




There is an optimum temperature at which
the daily death rate is at lowest.
Mortality rates rise at temperatures outside
this comfort temperature range.
A U-shaped relationship between outdoor
temperature and mortality has been reported
in many studies in Europe and the USA.
Such a U-shaped trough represents the
comfort zone, whereas the arms of the
trough represent the mortality increase at
extremely hot and cold temperatures.


A U-shaped relationship
between outdoor temperature
and mortality has been
reported in many studies in
Europe and the USA.
Such a U-shaped trough
represents the comfort zone,
whereas the arms of the
trough represent the mortality
increase at extremely hot and
cold temperatures.


Although in most industrialized countries,
death rates are higher in winter months, a
summer peak in mortality associated with
heat waves has also been observed in several
urban areas.
This has also been the case in typical
Mediterranean urban environments such as
Rome, Athens and Barcelona.


Substantial research - effects of heat-waves
on cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and
respiratory diseases.
PHEWE project - a large-scale European
study, including 30 million European citizens
was the first to apply standardized scientific
approaches to investigate the health effects
of extreme weather and the role of several
effect modifiers.

However no similar research has been done
so far for Cyprus, a typical Mediterranean
environment which is well known for extreme
thermal stress during summertime.
Our project aims at protecting public health and
improving quality of life through
Establishing the association between climatechange-driven extreme weather and acute health
effects, in terms of daily death rates and hospital
admissions in the warm season in Cyprus, and
Developing a framework of innovative prevention
and mitigation strategies to reduce the public health
impact of thermal stress in Cyprus.
Through close co-operation between 3 multidisciplinary groups:
 (a) the epidemiology and statistics group,
 (b) the meteorology and air quality group,
and
 (c) the public and environmental health
group.
University of Nicosia Research
Foundation (HO)
Dr Edna Yamasaki Patrikiou
Dr Haritini Tsangari
Dr Zoi Konsoula
Ms Stephani Christou
Mr Haris Pavlides (IR)
Department of Environmental
Engineering, Democritus
University of Thrace (PA2)
Dr Anastasia Paschalidou
Dr Glykeria Loupa
Department of Physics, University
of Ioannina (PA3)
Dr Pavlos Kassomenos
Environmental Service, Ministry of
Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Environment (PA1)
UK Health Protection Agency
Dr Theodoulos Mesimeris
(PA4)
Ms Nikoletta Kythreodotou
Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis
Dr Clare Heaviside

Specifically, through the following actions:
◦ (a) the analysis of the meteorological data which will
provide a synoptic classification index for
meteorologically homogeneous days in terms of the
prevailing air mass types,
◦ (b) the analysis of the mortality and hospital
admission data related to respiratory, cardiovascular
and cerebrovascular disease in Cyprus,
◦ (c) the detection of the potential synergies between
thermal stress and air pollution variables on
mortality and morbidity,

Specifically, through the following actions:
◦ (d) the development of a HHWWS which will include
validated algorithms for the predictions of heat
stress-related mortality and morbidity and a set of
protocols for the operation of the system, and
◦ (e) the analysis of public health implications,
including a health impact assessment, a survey of
current policies and practices, as well as a set of
generic and tailored mitigation measures in the form
of intervention plans.

The protection of public health in urban areas
in Cyprus, contributing significantly to the
improvement of quality of life of the
population and the enhanced management of
health services.


Additionally, the proposed HHWWS and guidelines
could be fully exploited on an operational basis by
the local policy-makers for the development of
warning systems and intervention policies, as well
as for harmonisation with relevant EU guidelines
and directives.
Finally, the project will contribute to the
technological development of Cyprus in the field
of public health, and the dissemination of
scientific knowledge to Cyprus through the
development of a European network of experts.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=10349
Dust blew off the coast of Turkey toward the island of Cyprus in late
August 2008.