Heat-related fatalities are increasing in the United States, raising concerns about the future impact of rising temperatures. Scientists have gained insight into what to expect in the next few decades. “With the escalating frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change, it is essential to understand how this will affect public health,” explains Sameed Khatana, a cardiologist at the University of Pennsylvania. While our bodies can tolerate high temperatures to some extent, prolonged exposure pushes our limits (SN: 6/21/24).
Khatana and his team explored two potential scenarios based on different levels of greenhouse gas emissions. By analyzing data on extreme temperature days and related deaths from 2008 to 2019, they estimated current mortality rates linked to extreme heat. Using future projections of temperature trends and population growth, they predicted a significant increase in heat-related deaths by mid-century under both emission scenarios.
According to their findings, between 2036 and 2065, annual fatalities could double with lower emissions or triple with higher emissions.
2024-09-20 14:00:00
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