Extreme heat poses a greater threat to younger populations than older ones, according to a new analysis, which finds that 75 percent of heat-related deaths in Mexico from 1998-2019 occurred in people under 35.
The researchers, including those from Columbia University in the US, said the findings challenge the traditional belief that the elderly population is particularly sensitive to extreme heat on their heads.
“This is surprising. Young people are the physically strongest people in the population. I would love to know why that is,” said co-author Jeffrey Schrader of the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy at Columbia University’s Climate School.
Published in the journal Science Advances, the team analyzed excess deaths – the number of deaths above or below average – along with ‘wet-bulb’ temperatures, a metric that combines heat and humidity or humid-heat, to measure their acute effects. Combines.
They found that over two decades, there were about 3,300 heat-related deaths per year in the country, with about a third of those deaths occurring among people aged 18–35. Children under the age of five, especially infants, were also found to be extremely vulnerable.
However, people aged 50 and older, who are generally considered to be at higher risk in a warmer future, suffered the lowest levels of heat-related deaths. Instead, the team found that people in the age group died mainly from minor cold.
He explained that while Mexico is primarily tropical and subtropical, there are several climate zones, including high altitude areas, which can be relatively cool.
Young people are primarily vulnerable to heat, the authors said, with 75 percent of recent heat-related deaths and 87 percent of deaths over the next few heat-related life years occurring in people under 35.
People aged 50 and older account for 96 percent of cold-related deaths and 80 percent of cold-related years of life lost, the authors wrote.
According to the researchers several factors are at work, for example young adults are more likely to engage in outdoor labor such as farming and construction activities, and thus they may be more vulnerable to dehydration and heat stroke.
He said the same could be applied to indoor manufacturing in places that lack air conditioning.
“These are more junior people, lower on the totem pole, who probably do the lion’s share of the hard work, with inflexible work arrangements,” Schrader said.
Young adults are also more likely to participate in vigorous outdoor sports, the researchers said.
He cited a previous study by Mexican researchers that showed death certificates of working-age men were more likely than other groups to list extreme weather as a cause.
Co-lead author, R., is a PhD candidate in the Sustainable Development Program at Columbia University. “We predict that as the climate warms, heat-related deaths will increase and young people will be hardest hit,” said Daniel Bressler.
The team said Mexico was chosen for the analysis because the country collects highly detailed geographic data on both mortality rates and daily temperatures.
He said that despite increased attention to global warming and its dangers, extensive research has shown that cold, not heat, is currently the number one cause of temperature-related deaths in the world, including Mexico.
However, the authors noted that heat-related deaths have been increasing proportionately since at least 2000, a trend that is expected to continue.
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