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Asimakopoulos LO. Investigating the relationship between temperature and suicides during a period of 38 years in the prefecture of Attiki, Greece. SPANISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 16:127-128. [PMID: 38591718 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lampros Orion Asimakopoulos
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Thrace, Greece.
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2
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Marí-Dell’Olmo M, Oliveras L, Barón-Miras LE, Borrell C, Montalvo T, Ariza C, Ventayol I, Mercuriali L, Sheehan M, Gómez-Gutiérrez A, Villalbí JR. Climate Change and Health in Urban Areas with a Mediterranean Climate: A Conceptual Framework with a Social and Climate Justice Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12764. [PMID: 36232063 PMCID: PMC9566374 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident and highlight the important interdependence between the well-being of people and ecosystems. Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its causes and consequences vary dramatically across territories and population groups. Among settings particularly susceptible to health impacts from climate change are cities with a Mediterranean climate. Here, impacts will put additional pressure on already-stressed ecosystems and vulnerable economies and societies, increasing health inequalities. Therefore, this article presents and discusses a conceptual framework for understanding the complex relationship between climate change and health in the context of cities with Mediterranean climate from a social and climate justice approach. The different elements that integrate the conceptual framework are: (1) the determinants of climate change; (2) its environmental and social consequences; (3) its direct and indirect impacts on health; and (4) the role of mitigation and adaptation policies. The model places special emphasis on the associated social and health inequalities through (1) the recognition of the role of systems of privilege and oppression; (2) the distinction between structural and intermediate determinants of climate change at the root of health inequalities; (3) the role of individual and collective vulnerability in mediating the effects of climate change on health; and (4) the need to act from a climate justice perspective to reverse health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Marí-Dell’Olmo
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Oliveras
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Estefanía Barón-Miras
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Borrell
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomás Montalvo
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Ariza
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irma Ventayol
- Oficina de Canvi Climàtic i Sostenibilitat, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 240, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lilas Mercuriali
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mary Sheehan
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Joint Johns Hopkins University-Pompeu Fabra University Public Policy Center, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Gómez-Gutiérrez
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Ramon Villalbí
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
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Panfil AL, Lungeanu D, Tamasan S, Bredicean C, Papava I, Smirnova D, Fountoulakis KN. Suicidality Related to the COVID-19 Lockdown in Romania: Structural Equation Modeling. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:818712. [PMID: 35656343 PMCID: PMC9152167 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Suicidality is a serious public health concern at a global scale. Suicide itself is considered to be preventable death; worldwide, suicide rates and their trends are under constant scrutiny. As part of the international COMET-G cross-sectional study, we conducted a national level investigation to examine the individual disturbances (such as anxiety, depression, or history of life-threatening attempts) and contextual factors (such as adherence to conspiracy theories or Internet use) associated with suicidality related to the COVID-19 lockdown in a lot of Romanian adults. Participants and Methods One thousand four hundred and forty-six adults responded to an anonymous on-line questionnaire, with mean age ± standard deviation of 47.03 ± 14.21 years (1,142 females, 292 males, 12 identified themselves as non-binary). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results Univariate analysis showed strong significant correlation between anxiety and depression scorings among the respondents (Spearman R = 0.776, p < 0.001). Both the suicidality scorings and the Internet use correlated fairly with anxiety and depression, with two-by-two Spearman coefficients between R = 0.334 and R = 0.370 (p < 0.001 for each). SEM analysis substantiated the emotional disturbances, previous life-threatening attempts, and younger age as significant predictors for suicidality. The patterns of reality reading (including religious inquiries, Internet use, and beliefs in conspiracy theories) did not reach the statistical significance as influential factors in the suicidality of these respondents. There was no covariance between the Internet use and belief in conspiracy theories. Conclusion The study confirmed the suicidality risk initially hypothesized as being associated with the history of life-threatening attempts, increased depression within the younger population, and higher anxiety during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown. National strategies for effective interventions at various levels of the healthcare system should be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Livia Panfil
- Liaison Psychiatry, “Pius Brinzeu” County Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Diana Lungeanu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Center for Modeling Biological Systems and Data Analysis, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Simona Tamasan
- Liaison Psychiatry, “Pius Brinzeu” County Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristina Bredicean
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, NEUROPSY-COG Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- Psychiatry Compartment, “Dr. Victor Popescu” Emergency Military Clinical Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ion Papava
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, NEUROPSY-COG Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- “Eduard Pamfil” Psychiatry Clinic, “Pius Brinzeu” County Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Daria Smirnova
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry (ICERN), Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
- Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
| | - Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis
- 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Mental Health Section, Research Institute, Panhellenic Medical Association, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Hwong AR, Wang M, Khan H, Chagwedera DN, Grzenda A, Doty B, Benton T, Alpert J, Clarke D, Compton WM. Climate change and mental health research methods, gaps, and priorities: a scoping review. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e281-e291. [PMID: 35278392 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00012-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Research on climate change and mental health is a new but rapidly growing field. To summarise key advances and gaps in the current state of climate change and mental health studies, we conducted a scoping review that comprehensively examined research methodologies using large-scale datasets. We identified 56 eligible articles published in Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science between Jan 1, 2000, and Aug 9, 2020. The primary data collection method used was surveys, which focused on self-reported mental health effects due to acute and subacute climate events. Other approaches used administrative health records to study the effect of environmental temperature on hospital admissions for mental health conditions, and national vital statistics to assess the relationship between environmental temperature and suicide rates with regression analyses. Our work highlights the need to link population-based mental health outcome databases to weather data for causal inference. Collaborations between mental health providers and data scientists can guide the formation of clinically relevant research questions on climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Hwong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; National Clinician Scholars Program, UCSF and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Margaret Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hammad Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - D Nyasha Chagwedera
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adrienne Grzenda
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Doty
- American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Tami Benton
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Alpert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Diana Clarke
- American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC, USA
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5
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Fountoulakis KN, Fountoulakis NK. Climate rather than economic variables might have caused increase in US homicide but not suicide rates during the Great Depression. Psychiatry Res 2022; 309:114378. [PMID: 35051880 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is widely believed that during the Great Depression (1929-1933) there was a rise in suicidal rates which was causally related to the increase in unemployment. There are no studies on the effect the Great Depression had on homicidal rates METHODS: The data concerning suicide, homicide, economic and climatic variables for the years 1900-1940 for the whole of the US were gathered from the US Center for Disease Control, the Maddison Project, the National Bureau of Economic Research and the National Climatic Data Center. Time Series Analysis was performed. RESULTS The results are inconclusive on the role of economic factors but preclude any role of climate on suicidal rates during the years 1900-1940 in the US. Suicidal rates might have a 24-years periodicity, however much longer time series are needed to confirm this. On the contrary they strongly suggest an effect of higher temperatures on homicidal rates after 1922. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study suggest a direct and clear effect of climate (higher temperatures) on the increasing homicidal rates in the US after 1922 but failed to establish a causal relationship between suicide rates and economic or climate variables. These should be considered together with increasing concerns on the possible effect of climate change on mental health.
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Kamekis A, Rachiotis G, Markaki A, Samara V, Symvoulakis EK. Employment and suicidal rates during economic recession: A country-targeted integrative review. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2021; 67:801-815. [PMID: 33135535 DOI: 10.1177/0020764020969740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The economic crisis' effects on suicide rates for countries undergoing or exiting austerity measures have been widely debated. This integrative review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize available evidence of employment status effect on suicide mortality rates in Greece during the recent economic recession period. METHODS A literature review of studies evaluating suicides in the general Greek population, as well as across age and gender groups, in relation to employment during the economic crisis period was performed. PubMed electronic database was searched for relevant articles published in English or Greek language from 2009 up to February 2020. Appraisal was carried out based on the Hierarchy of Evidence Rating System and the GRADE guidelines. RESULTS A total of 24 articles met all inclusion criteria with 20 of them at level IV, 2 at level VII, and 2 at level VIII. A total of 18 studies reported increase of suicide rates during the economic recession period. About 12 studies examined the co-relation between unemployment and suicide rate, with ten studies showing a positive correlation. Moreover, thirteen studies reported data on the effect of gender and age variables on suicide rates. CONCLUSION Evidence shows that suicide mortality rates in Greece increased after the eruption of economic recession, particularly after the implementation of radical austerity measures (2011-2014). This increase was positively correlated with unemployment and was more prominent among males of working age. Further in depth epidemiological research of regional variations in terms of profile and contributing or enabling factors of suicidal behavior is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Rachiotis
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece
| | - Adelais Markaki
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Vasiliki Samara
- Department of Educational and Social policy, University of Makedonia, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
| | - Emmanouil K Symvoulakis
- Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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7
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Aguglia A, Giacomini G, Montagna E, Amerio A, Escelsior A, Capello M, Cutroneo L, Ferretti G, Scafidi D, Costanza A, Serafini G, Amore M. Meteorological Variables and Suicidal Behavior: Air Pollution and Apparent Temperature Are Associated With High-Lethality Suicide Attempts and Male Gender. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:653390. [PMID: 33746805 PMCID: PMC7973231 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.653390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
This study analyzed the impact of meteorological variables and high-lethality suicide attempts (HLSA) to assess a potential time shift of HLSA affected by climate evolution to predict the suicide attempt cases over different periods of the year. After attempting suicide, 225 subjects were admitted to the emergency ward of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino and later to the psychiatric unit from March 2016 to July 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the meteorological variables were collected. The Mann-Kendall test as well as redundancy and cross-correlation analyses were performed to analyze the trends, statistically correlations, and correspondence of the trends, respectively between suicidal behaviors and climatic factors. Sixty-seven (29.8%) committed a HLSA. Our findings indicate a significant association between HLSA and male gender and apparent temperature with a strong correlation of 75% with a phase shift of -1 month. Solar radiation and air pollution (PM2.5) have a positive correlation of 65 and 32%, respectively, with a zero-time lag. Limitations include that the data are limited to a single hospital; psychological factors, or other clinical variables that could be ruled out as a trigger have not been considered. Meteorological variables may not mirror the temperature that the patient is exposed to due to the air conditioning systems. Exploring those environmental factors associated with HLSA in a more detailed manner could lead to early intervention and prevention strategies for such distressing admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Aguglia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giacomini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Montagna
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Amerio
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrea Escelsior
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Capello
- Department of Earth, Environment, and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Cutroneo
- Department of Earth, Environment, and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ferretti
- Department of Earth, Environment, and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Scafidi
- Department of Earth, Environment, and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanza
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Nazionale Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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Abstract
Climate change is increasingly recognized as having multiple adverse mental health effects, many of which are just beginning to be understood. The elevated rates of suicides observed in some communities affected by climate change and rising rates of suicide in the United States as climate change intensifies have suggested the two may be associated. We searched PubMed and PsycInfo using the terms climate change and suicide, and provide here a review of the current literature on climate change and suicide that explores possible associations and methodological issues and challenges in this research.
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Linares C, Díaz J, Negev M, Martínez GS, Debono R, Paz S. Impacts of climate change on the public health of the Mediterranean Basin population - Current situation, projections, preparedness and adaptation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109107. [PMID: 32069750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Basin is undergoing a warming trend with longer and warmer summers, an increase in the frequency and the severity of heat waves, changes in precipitation patterns and a reduction in rainfall amounts. In this unique populated region, which is characterized by significant gaps in the socio-economic levels particularly between the North (Europe) and South (Africa), parallel with population growth and migration, increased water demand and forest fires risk - the vulnerability of the Mediterranean population to human health risks increases significantly. Indeed, climatic changes impact the health of the Mediterranean population directly through extreme heat, drought or storms, or indirectly by changes in water availability, food provision and quality, air pollution and other stressors. The main health effects are related to extreme weather events (including extreme temperatures and floods), changes in the distribution of climate-sensitive diseases and changes in environmental and social conditions. The poorer countries, particularly in North Africa and the Levant, are at highest risk. Climate change affects the vulnerable sectors of the region, including an increasingly older population, with a larger percentage of those with chronic diseases, as well as poor people, which are therefore more susceptible to the effects of extreme temperatures. For those populations, a better surveillance and control systems are especially needed. In view of the climatic projections and the vulnerability of Mediterranean countries, climate change mitigation and adaptation become ever more imperative. It is important that prevention Health Action Plans will be implemented, particularly in those countries that currently have no prevention plans. Most adaptation measures are "win-win situation" from a health perspective, including reducing air pollution or providing shading solutions. Additionally, Mediterranean countries need to enhance cross-border collaboration, as adaptation to many of the health risks requires collaboration across borders and also across the different parts of the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maya Negev
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Shlomit Paz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Israel.
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10
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Ruszkiewicz JA, Tinkov AA, Skalny AV, Siokas V, Dardiotis E, Tsatsakis A, Bowman AB, da Rocha JBT, Aschner M. Brain diseases in changing climate. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108637. [PMID: 31416010 PMCID: PMC6717544 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the biggest and most urgent challenges for the 21st century. Rising average temperatures and ocean levels, altered precipitation patterns and increased occurrence of extreme weather events affect not only the global landscape and ecosystem, but also human health. Multiple environmental factors influence the onset and severity of human diseases and changing climate may have a great impact on these factors. Climate shifts disrupt the quantity and quality of water, increase environmental pollution, change the distribution of pathogens and severely impacts food production - all of which are important regarding public health. This paper focuses on brain health and provides an overview of climate change impacts on risk factors specific to brain diseases and disorders. We also discuss emerging hazards in brain health due to mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna A Ruszkiewicz
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Trace Element Institute for UNESCO, Lyon, France
| | - Vasileios Siokas
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - João B T da Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
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van den Bosch M, Meyer-Lindenberg A. Environmental Exposures and Depression: Biological Mechanisms and Epidemiological Evidence. Annu Rev Public Health 2019; 40:239-259. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-044106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mental health and well-being are consistently influenced—directly or indirectly—by multiple environmental exposures. In this review, we have attempted to address some of the most common exposures of the biophysical environment, with a goal of demonstrating how those factors interact with central structures and functions of the brain and thus influence the neurobiology of depression. We emphasize biochemical mechanisms, observational evidence, and areas for future research. Finally, we include aspects of contextual environments—city living, nature, natural disasters, and climate change—and call for improved integration of environmental issues in public health science, policies, and activities. This integration is necessary for reducing the global pandemic of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda van den Bosch
- School of Population and Public Health; and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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12
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Aguglia A, Serafini G, Solano P, Giacomini G, Conigliaro C, Salvi V, Mencacci C, Romano M, Aguglia E, Amore M. The role of seasonality and photoperiod on the lethality of suicide attempts: A case-control study. J Affect Disord 2019; 246:895-901. [PMID: 30795496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk factors related to suicidal behaviors are complex and not yet fully known. Several studies underline how suicide results from the combination of psycho-social, biological, cultural, and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of seasonality and photoperiod on high-lethality suicide attempts (HLSA) compared with low-lethality suicide attempts (LLSA) in a sample of psychiatric inpatients. METHODS After attempting suicide, subjects were admitted in the emergency/psychiatric ward of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino from 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. RESULTS The sample consisted of four hundred thirty-two individuals admitted for suicide attempt. One hundred thirty-three subjects (30.8%) of the sample committed a HLSA. The HLSA group peaked in the months with a higher sunlight exposure (June and July). Bivariate correlation analyses between seasonality/photoperiod in the whole sample and HLSA were positively associated with summer and highest solar intensity period. LIMITATIONS Data were limited to a single hospital, patients' seasonal environment, meteorological variables and psychological factors. In addition, the presence of acute life-events fostering the suicidal crisis has not been investigated. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides a novel perspective on the questions surrounding the impact of seasonality and daylight exposure on lethality of suicide attempts. further studies are needed to provide deeper understandings on the delicate molecular network that links suicide behaviors, seasonality and daylight in order to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Aguglia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Solano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giacomini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudia Conigliaro
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Virginio Salvi
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Mencacci
- Department of Neuroscience, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Miroslav Romano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic University Hospital "Gaspare Rodolico", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic University Hospital "Gaspare Rodolico", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Section of Psychiatry, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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Gao J, Cheng Q, Duan J, Xu Z, Bai L, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Wang S, Zhang Z, Su H. Ambient temperature, sunlight duration, and suicide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:1021-1029. [PMID: 30235587 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between sunlight hours, temperature, and suicide has been investigated in many previous studies, but with inconsistent findings. We conducted this meta-analysis aiming at providing clear evidence about whether sunlight hours and temperature can affect the risk of suicide. METHODS Relevant literature published before 7 Jul 2018 was searched in three electronic database of PubMed, Web of science and Cochrane. Between-study heterogeneity in the effect estimates were examined by study design (i.e., exposure time resolution, temperature measure and suicide classification) and population vulnerability (i.e., sex, national income level, climate zone and study location). RESULTS Regarding temperature-suicide association, we identified 14 studies that provided 23 effect estimates for meta-analysis. Our random-effects model showed that each 1 °C increase in temperature was significantly associated with a 1% increase in the incidence of suicide (Incidence Rate Radio (IRR) = 1.01; 95%CI = 1.00-1.02; p < 0.05). As for sunlight duration and suicide, 11 effect estimates from 4 studies were pooled using a fixed-effects model. Significant association between sunlight duration (per 1 h increase) and the risk of suicide was not observed, and the pooled IRR was 1.00 (95%CI = 0.99-1.01; p > 0.05). There was significant heterogeneity between previous studies' effect estimates, and significantly lower heterogeneity was noted for the female group, for studies that did analyses at daily scale, and for studies using mean temperature as the exposure indicator. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a significant and positive association between temperature rises and incidence of suicide, and a non-significant association between sunlight duration and incidence of suicide. Populations living in tropical and temperate zones or at middle-income level may be particularly vulnerable to temperature increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Jun Duan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Zihan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Lijun Bai
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Yanwu Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Shusi Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Zhihua Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China
| | - Hong Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Disease, China.
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Basta M, Vgontzas A, Kastanaki A, Michalodimitrakis M, Kanaki K, Koutra K, Anastasaki M, Simos P. 'Suicide rates in Crete, Greece during the economic crisis: the effect of age, gender, unemployment and mental health service provision'. BMC Psychiatry 2018; 18:356. [PMID: 30384835 PMCID: PMC6211416 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-018-1931-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, suicides in Greece have drawn national and international interest due to the current economic crisis. According to published reports, suicides in Greece have increased up to 40% and Crete has been highlighted as an area with the sharpest increase. AIM To investigate the suicide mortality rates in Crete between 1999 and 2013 and their association with the economic crisis. METHODS Data on suicides were selected from the Department of Forensic Medicine files of the University of Crete. RESULTS Our analysis showed that (1) Crete, has the highest suicide mortality rate in Greece, however no significant increase was observed between 1999 and 2013, (2) there were opposing trends between men and women, with women showing a decrease whereas men showed an increase in that period, (3) there was a significant increase of suicides in middle-aged men (40-64 yrs) and elderly, although the highest unemployment rates were observed in young men and women, and (4) finally, there was a regional shift of suicides with a significant decrease in Western Crete and a significant increase in Eastern Crete. CONCLUSIONS Although, Crete has the highest suicide mortality rates in Greece, we did not observe an overall increase during the last 15 years, including the period of economic crisis. Furthermore, there was an increase in middle-aged and elderly men, whereas young men and women showed oppositional trends during the years of austerity. This may be related to the culturally different expectations for the two genders, as well as that younger individuals may find refuge to either strong family ties or by immigrating abroad. Finally, the relative increase of suicides in Eastern Crete may be explained by factors, such as the lack of community mental health services in that area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Basta
- grid.412481.aDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes,Heraklion, 71110 Crete, Greece
| | - Alexandros Vgontzas
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes,Heraklion, 71110, Crete, Greece.
| | - Anastasia Kastanaki
- 0000 0004 0576 3437grid.8127.cDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece
| | - Manolis Michalodimitrakis
- 0000 0004 0576 3437grid.8127.cDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece
| | - Katerina Kanaki
- 0000 0004 0576 3437grid.8127.cDepartment of Forensic Science, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece
| | - Katerina Koutra
- 0000 0004 0576 3437grid.8127.cDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Crete, Gallos, Rethymnon, 74100 Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Anastasaki
- grid.412481.aDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes,Heraklion, 71110 Crete, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Simos
- grid.412481.aDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes,Heraklion, 71110 Crete, Greece
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Ghazali DA, Guericolas M, Thys F, Sarasin F, Arcos González P, Casalino E. Climate Change Impacts on Disaster and Emergency Medicine Focusing on Mitigation Disruptive Effects: an International Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1379. [PMID: 29966379 PMCID: PMC6069477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, climate change has been responsible for an increase in the average temperature of the troposphere and of the oceans, with consequences on the frequency and intensity of many extreme weather phenomena. Climate change’s effects on natural disasters can be expected to induce a rise in humanitarian crises. In addition, it will surely impact the population’s long-term general health, especially among the most fragile. There are foreseeable health risks that both ambulatory care organizations and hospitals will face as global temperatures rise. These risks include the geographic redistribution of infectious (particularly zoonotic) diseases, an increase in cardiac and respiratory illnesses, as well as a host of other health hazards. Some of these risks have been detailed for most developed countries as well as for some developing countries. Using these existing risk assessments as a template, organizational innovations as well as implementation strategies should be proposed to mitigate the disruptive effects of these health risks on emergency departments and by extension, reduce the negative impact of climate change on the populations they serve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Aiham Ghazali
- Emergency Department and EMS, University Hospital of Bichat, Paris 75018, France.
- Ilumens Simulation Center, University of Paris-Diderot, Paris 75018, France.
| | | | - Frédéric Thys
- Acute Care Division & Emergency Department, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Charleroi 6040, Belgium.
- Faculty of Public Health & Medicine, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels 1348, Belgium.
| | - François Sarasin
- Emergency Department, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva 44041, Switzerland.
- University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva 1205, Switzerland.
| | - Pedro Arcos González
- Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain.
| | - Enrique Casalino
- Emergency Department and EMS, University Hospital of Bichat, Paris 75018, France.
- University of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, EA 7334 Recherche clinique coordonnée ville-hôpital, Méthodologies et Société (REMES), Paris 75018, France.
- Study Group for Efficiency and Quality of Emergency Departments and Non-Scheduled Activities Departments, Paris 75018, France.
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16
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Our goal was to assess current literature and knowledge on associations between characteristics (mean, variability, extremes) of ambient temperatures and human health. We were motivated by concerns that climate change, which operates on a time frame of decades or longer, may influence not only shorter-term associations between weather and health (daily/weekly) but also have enduring implications for population health. We reviewed papers published between 2010 and 2017 on the health effects of longer-term (3 weeks to years) exposures to ambient temperature. We sought to answer: 'What health outcomes have been associated with longer-term exposures?' We included studies on a diverse range of health outcomes, with the exception of vector borne diseases such as malaria. Longer-term exposures were considered to be exposures to annual and seasonal temperatures and temperature variability. RECENT FINDINGS We found 26 papers meeting inclusion criteria, which addressed mortality, morbidity, respiratory disease, obesity, suicide, infectious diseases and allergies among various age groups. In general, most studies found associations between longer-term temperature metrics and health outcomes. Effects varied by population subgroup. For example, associations with suicide differed by sex and underlying chronic illness modified effects of heat on mortality among the elderly. SUMMARY We found that regional and local temperatures, and changing conditions in weather due to climate change, were associated with a diversity of health outcomes through multiple mechanisms. Future research should focus on evidence for particular mechanistic pathways in order to inform adaptation responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Zanobetti
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
| | - Marie S. O’Neill
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health
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Casalino E, Choquet C, Wargon M, Curac S, Duchateau FX, Revue E, Hellmann R. Changement climatique : proposition d’une cartographie des risques pour la santé et la médecine d’urgence en France. ANNALES FRANCAISES DE MEDECINE D URGENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13341-016-0695-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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