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Pantavou K, Kotroni V, Lagouvardos K. Thermal environment and indices: an analysis for effectiveness in operational weather applications in a Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:79-87. [PMID: 37966503 PMCID: PMC10752843 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The large number of thermal indices introduced in the literature poses a challenge to identify the appropriate one for a given application. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of widely used indices in quantifying the thermal environment for operational weather applications within a Mediterranean climate. Eight indices (six simple and two thermo-physiological) were considered, i.e., apparent temperature, heat index, humidex, net effective temperature (NET), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), universal thermal climate index (UTCI), wet-bulb globe temperature, and wind chill temperature. They were estimated using hourly meteorological data between 2010 and 2021, recorded in 15 stations from the Automatic Weather Station Network of the National Observatory of Athens in the Athens metropolitan area, Greece. The statistical analysis focused on examining indices' sensitivity to variations of the thermal environment. NET, PET, and UTCI were evaluated as suitable for operational use, assessing both cool and warm environments, and extending their estimations to the entire range of their assessment scales. NET and PET often tended to classify thermal perception in the negative categories of their scales, with 63% of NET and 56% of PET estimations falling within the range of cool/slightly cool to very cold. UTCI estimations in the negative categories accounted for 25.8% (p < 0.001), while most estimations were classified in the neutral category (53.1%). The common occasions of extreme warm conditions in terms of both air temperature (Tair) and NET was 77.7%, Tair and UTCI 64.4%, and Tair and PET 33.6% (p < 0.001). According to the indices considered and the method followed, NET and UTCI satisfied sufficiently the requirements for operational use in the climate conditions of the Mediterranean climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Pantavou
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236, Penteli, Athens, Greece.
| | - Vassiliki Kotroni
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236, Penteli, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Lagouvardos
- Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236, Penteli, Athens, Greece
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Notley SR, Mitchell D, Taylor NAS. A century of exercise physiology: concepts that ignited the study of human thermoregulation. Part 3: Heat and cold tolerance during exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124:1-145. [PMID: 37796292 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
In this third installment of our four-part historical series, we evaluate contributions that shaped our understanding of heat and cold stress during occupational and athletic pursuits. Our first topic concerns how we tolerate, and sometimes fail to tolerate, exercise-heat stress. By 1900, physical activity with clothing- and climate-induced evaporative impediments led to an extraordinarily high incidence of heat stroke within the military. Fortunately, deep-body temperatures > 40 °C were not always fatal. Thirty years later, water immersion and patient treatments mimicking sweat evaporation were found to be effective, with the adage of cool first, transport later being adopted. We gradually acquired an understanding of thermoeffector function during heat storage, and learned about challenges to other regulatory mechanisms. In our second topic, we explore cold tolerance and intolerance. By the 1930s, hypothermia was known to reduce cutaneous circulation, particularly at the extremities, conserving body heat. Cold-induced vasodilatation hindered heat conservation, but it was protective. Increased metabolic heat production followed, driven by shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, even during exercise and work. Physical endurance and shivering could both be compromised by hypoglycaemia. Later, treatments for hypothermia and cold injuries were refined, and the thermal after-drop was explained. In our final topic, we critique the numerous indices developed in attempts to numerically rate hot and cold stresses. The criteria for an effective thermal stress index were established by the 1930s. However, few indices satisfied those requirements, either then or now, and the surviving indices, including the unvalidated Wet-Bulb Globe-Thermometer index, do not fully predict thermal strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Notley
- Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Duncan Mitchell
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Nigel A S Taylor
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and Physiological Equivalent Temperature as Predicative Models of Medical Stress in a Marathon: Analysis of 30 Years of Data From the Twin Cities Marathon. Clin J Sport Med 2023; 33:45-51. [PMID: 36205927 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES : Assess the relationships between wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and physiologic equivalent temperature (PET) at the start of a northern latitude marathon and their associations with medical stress and transfers to the emergency room (ER) when the race environment is unexpectedly warm, and participants are not acclimatized. DESIGN : Retrospective review. SETTING : Twin Cities Marathon from 1990 to 2019. PARTICIPANTS : Runners competing in the Twin Cities Marathon. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES : Start WBGT (prospectively collected) and PET (retrospectively calculated). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : Marathon race starters and finishers and race day medical data (eg, medical stress, number of medical encounters, and number of ER visits). RESULTS : The mean WBGT was 7.4°C (range -1.7°C to 22.2°C), and the meant PET was 5.2°C (range -16.7°C to 25.9°C). PET was not determined to be a significant predictor of medical stress (P = 0.71); however, a significant quadratic association between WBGT and medical stress was found (P = 0.006). WBGT (P = 0.002), but not PET (P = 0.07), was a significant predictor of the number of ER visits. CONCLUSIONS Start WBGT was a better predictor of medical stress and ER visits than PET at the Twin Cities Marathon over a 30-year period. The start WBGT may be a better tool to predict race day environment medical safety.
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Romaszko J, Dragańska E, Jalali R, Cymes I, Glińska-Lewczuk K. Universal Climate Thermal Index as a prognostic tool in medical science in the context of climate change: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154492. [PMID: 35278561 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of the impact of meteorological factors on the epidemiology of various diseases and on human pathophysiology and physiology requires a comprehensive approach and new tools independent of currently occurring climate change. The thermal comfort index, i.e., Universal Climate Thermal Index (UTCI), is gaining more and more recognition from researchers interested in such assessments. This index facilitates the evaluation of the impact of cold stress and heat stress on the human organism and the assessment of the incidence of weather-related diseases. This work aims at identifying those areas of medical science for which the UTCI was applied for scientific research as well as its popularization among clinicians, epidemiologists, and specialists in public health management. This is a systematic review of literature found in Pubmed, Sciencedirect and Web of Science databases from which, consistent with PRISMA guidelines, original papers employing the UTCI in studies related to health, physiological parameters, and epidemiologic applications were extracted. Out of the total number of 367 papers identified in the databases, 33 original works were included in the analysis. The selected publications were analyzed in terms of determining the areas of medical science in which the UTCI was applied. The majority of studies were devoted to the broadly understood mortality, cardiac events, and emergency medicine. A significant disproportion between publications discussing heat stress and those utilizing the UTCI for its assessment was revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Romaszko
- Department of Family Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Ewa Dragańska
- Department of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Rakesh Jalali
- School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Iwona Cymes
- Department of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
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Human-Nature Interactions during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Moscow, Russia: Exploring the Role of Contact with Nature and Main Lessons from the City Responses. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11060822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Urban green spaces (UGS) as essential elements of the urban environment provide multiple ecosystem services including benefits for physical and mental health. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have influenced human relationships with nature. Based on empirical research, this article explores the pathways and implications of human-nature interactions during and after COVID-19 and how human health and well-being could be supported by contact with nature. The article discusses the reasons that attract people to visit UGS (value of UGS, their perceptions, ways of contact with urban nature, etc.). It also analyses the effects of social isolation on the usage and perception of UGS during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The research revealed current needs for UGS and their role in adaptation of urban development and greening strategy. For this purpose, an online questionnaire survey among residents of Moscow was conducted in April–July of 2020 when restrictive measures were imposed in the city in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, non-participatory observations and photo documentation were used to supplement the data on UGS visitation and use. The GIS mapping method was applied to analyze the UGS provision (availability and accessibility of UGS). Moreover, expert interviews were conducted aiming to explore the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban fabric and life of the citizens. The aim was to reveal the main tendencies that can be used in the adaptation of urban development plans, especially regarding UGS and human-nature interactions. The results show that citizens (both survey respondents and experts) highly value urban nature as a tool for coping with COVID-19 challenges. They underlined a need for accessible UGS, most notably for breathing fresh air, reducing stress, relaxing, and observing and enjoying nature. The survey also revealed the particular health effects resulting from the reduction of UGS visitations due to COVID-19 restrictions. Several changes in human-nature interactions were also observed: many respondents especially missed spending time outdoors and meeting other people. That highlights the fact that while UGS normally provides places for social integration and socializing, during the COVID-19 isolation UGS were especially valued in regard to physical health and well-being (self-recovery). Both respondents and experts expressed their opinions regarding the future development of UGS network and how the UGS’s structure and design should be adapted to the current challenges. The claimed interests/preferences included the need for providing all residents equal access to UGS in a time of pandemics and post pandemics. A set of limitations and directions for future research of UGS was suggested.
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MANTZIOS KONSTANTINOS, IOANNOU LEONIDASG, PANAGIOTAKI ZOE, ZIAKA STYLIANI, PÉRIARD JULIEND, RACINAIS SÉBASTIEN, NYBO LARS, FLOURIS ANDREASD. Effects of Weather Parameters on Endurance Running Performance: Discipline-specific Analysis of 1258 Races. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022; 54:153-161. [PMID: 34652333 PMCID: PMC8677617 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study evaluated how single or combinations of weather parameters (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar load) affect peak performance during endurance running events and identified which events are most vulnerable to varying weather conditions. METHODS Results for the marathon, 50-km racewalking, 20-km racewalking, and 10,000-, 5000-, and 3000-m steeplechase were obtained from the official Web sites of large competitions. We identified meteorological data from nearby (8.9 ± 9.3 km) weather stations for 1258 races held between 1936 and 2019 across 42 countries, enabling analysis of 7867 athletes. RESULTS The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) across races ranged from -7°C to 33°C, with 27% of races taking place in cold/cool, 47% in neutral, 18% in moderate heat, 7% in high heat, and 1% in extreme heat conditions, according to the World Athletics classification. Machine learning decision trees (R2 = 0.21-0.58) showed that air temperature (importance score = 40%) was the most important weather parameter. However, when used alone, air temperature had lower predictive power (R2 = 0.04-0.34) than WBGT (R2 = 0.11-0.47). Conditions of 7.5°C-15°C WBGT (or 10°C-17.5°C air temperature) increased the likelihood for peak performance. For every degree WBGT outside these optimum conditions, performance declined by 0.3%-0.4%. CONCLUSION More than one-quarter of endurance running events were held in moderate, high, or extreme heat, and this number reached one-half when marathons were excluded. All four weather parameters should be evaluated when aiming to mitigate the health and performance implications of exercising at high intensities in a hot environment with athletes adopting heat mitigation strategies when possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- KONSTANTINOS MANTZIOS
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, GREECE
| | - LEONIDAS G. IOANNOU
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, GREECE
| | - ZOE PANAGIOTAKI
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, GREECE
| | - STYLIANI ZIAKA
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, GREECE
| | - JULIEN D. PÉRIARD
- University of Canberra, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Canberra, AUSTRALIA
| | - SÉBASTIEN RACINAIS
- Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Research and Scientific Support Department, Doha, QATAR
| | - LARS NYBO
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section for Integrative Physiology, University of Copenhagen, DENMARK
| | - ANDREAS D. FLOURIS
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, GREECE
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Hollander K, Klöwer M, Richardson A, Navarro L, Racinais S, Scheer V, Murray A, Branco P, Timpka T, Junge A, Edouard P. Apparent temperature and heat-related illnesses during international athletic championships: A prospective cohort study. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2021; 31:2092-2102. [PMID: 34333808 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
International outdoor athletics championships are typically hosted during the summer season, frequently in hot and humid climatic conditions. Therefore, we analyzed the association between apparent temperature and heat-related illnesses occurrence during international outdoor athletics championships and compared its incidence rates between athletics disciplines. Heat-related illnesses were selected from illness data prospectively collected at seven international outdoor athletics championships between 2009 and 2018 using a standardized methodology. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was calculated as a measure of the apparent temperature based on weather data for each day of the championships. Heat-related illness numbers and (daily) incidence rates were calculated and analyzed in relation to the daily maximum UTCI temperature and between disciplines. During 50 championships days with UTCI temperatures between 15℃ and 37℃, 132 heat-related illnesses were recorded. Average incidence rate of heat-related illnesses was 11.7 (95%CI 9.7 to 13.7) per 1000 registered athletes. The expected daily incidence rate of heat-related illnesses increased significantly with UTCI temperature (0.12 more illnesses per 1000 registered athletes/°C; 95%CI 0.08-0.16) and was found to double from 25 to 35°C UTCI. Race walkers (RR = 45.5, 95%CI 21.6-96.0) and marathon runners (RR = 47.7, 95%CI 23.0-98.8) had higher heat-related illness rates than athletes competing in short-duration disciplines. Higher UTCI temperatures were associated with more heat-related illnesses, with marathon and race walking athletes having higher risk than athletes competing in short-duration disciplines. Heat-related illness prevention strategies should predominantly focus on marathon and race walking events of outdoor athletics championships when high temperatures are forecast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Hollander
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Milan Klöwer
- Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andy Richardson
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
| | | | - Sébastien Racinais
- Research and Scientific Support, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Andrew Murray
- Knowledge Translation Team, Sport and Exercise, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.,Public Health and Medical Team, Fife, UK
| | - Pedro Branco
- European Athletics Medical & Anti-Doping Commission, European Athletics Association (EAA), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Toomas Timpka
- Athletics Research Center, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Astrid Junge
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,Swiss Concussion Center, Schulthess Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Edouard
- European Athletics Medical & Anti-Doping Commission, European Athletics Association (EAA), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences (LIBM EA 7424), University of Lyon, University Jean Monnet, Saint Etienne, France.,Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
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Hung SC, Yang CC, Liu CF, Kung CT, Lee WH, Ho CK, Chuang HY, Yu HS. The Association Pattern between Ambient Temperature Change and Leukocyte Counts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18136971. [PMID: 34209878 PMCID: PMC8296857 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ambient temperature change is one of the risk factors of human health. Moreover, links between white blood cell counts (WBC) and diseases have been revealed in the literature. Still, we do not know of any association between ambient temperature change and WBC counts. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between ambient temperature change and WBC counts. We conducted this two-year population-based observational study in Kaohsiung city, recruiting voluntary community participants. Total WBC and differential counts, demographic data and health hazard habits were collected and matched with the meteorological data of air-quality monitoring stations with participants’ study dates and addresses. Generalized additive models (GAM) with penalized smoothing spline functions were performed for the trend of temperature changes and WBC counts. There were 9278 participants (45.3% male, aged 54.3 ± 5.9 years-old) included in analysis. Compared with stable weather conditions, the WBC counts were statistically higher when the one-day lag temperature changed over 2 degrees Celsius, regardless of whether colder or hotter. We found a V-shaped pattern association between WBC counts and temperature changes in GAM. The ambient temperature change was associated with WBC counts, and might imply an impact on systematic inflammation response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Chiang Hung
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (S.-C.H.); (C.-K.H.)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-F.L.); (C.-T.K.); (W.-H.L.)
| | - Chen-Cheng Yang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
| | - Chu-Feng Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-F.L.); (C.-T.K.); (W.-H.L.)
| | - Chia-Te Kung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-F.L.); (C.-T.K.); (W.-H.L.)
| | - Wen-Huei Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-F.L.); (C.-T.K.); (W.-H.L.)
| | - Chi-Kung Ho
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; (S.-C.H.); (C.-K.H.)
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Chuang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, Research Center for Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7312-1101
| | - Hsin-Su Yu
- College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
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