Preventing heat-related deaths in cities

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A simple solution to stop heat-related deaths from rising any further in urban areas By Haley Weiss Health Reporter Nothing feels better on a hot summer day than plopping down and sticking your face right in front of the air conditioner. The summer of 2022 saw heat waves throughout Europe take thousands of lives, primarily in cities where air conditioning hasn't ever really been needed before. In cities where record-breaking temperatures abounded, factors such as pounding hot asphalt and population density mean that cooling the whole city with power just wasn’t an option. A team of researchers in Barcelona undertook some complex modeling of Europe’s steamy cities and found that if every city studied managed to hit 30% tree coverage, the number of heat-related deaths in one summer season could be cut by as much as a third. That felt like a shockingly large amount to me, until I considered the following factors: Evaporative cooling: Did you know trees could sweat? Leaves are so loaded with water that when the air is hot, it seeps out and literally lowers the temperature in the patches of air around the tree. Mental health: You know when you’re having a bad day, and then you think to yourself, ‘Oh, I haven’t gone outdoors’? Time spent outside can directly contribute to health and longevity, meaning that when a heat wave comes around, there aren’t as many sick people who suffer from the effects. Fewer cars: I know, I know. You’ve read all about how healthy cities would be if we took away some of the cars and walked more. But that’s because it’s a good idea—at least, it’s one that this study seems to back up. READ MORE

What else to read Inside the Race to Get Forever Chemicals Out of Raincoats By Zahra Hirji and Olivia Rockeman / Bloomberg Many raincoats contain PFAS chemicals, but manufacturers are working on new, safer materials. Read More » U.S. Energy Department Wades Into the Gas Stove Debate By Ari Natter / Bloomberg The Department of Energy set new limits on energy consumption for gas stoves, which could have an impact on the products' future. Read More » What to Do When You Can't Sleep By Amanda MacMillan / Health The next time insomnia strikes, try these nine tricks for quieting your busy brain. (Originally published 2018.) Read More » 'Return to Office' Plans Spell Trouble for Working Moms By Alana Semuels Mothers aren't the only workers affected by the policies, but data on their experiences offer a window into the impact of working from home. Read More » How to Manage Catastrophic Thinking By Martin Seligman The catastrophizer's mindset turns out to be an enormous impediment to happiness. Read More »

ONE LAST STORY The real "deaths of despair" Middle-aged Americans are more likely than their counterparts abroad to die from substance-abuse and mental-health cause—what researchers call “deaths of despair.” A new study reported on by NPR’s Rhitu Chatterjee found both that Native American communities have much higher rates of deaths of despair, and that they have regularly been left out of research on the topic. Read More »

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