Human Health Impacts of Climate Change

Feb 6, 2023

OEHHA conducts human health studies that have found relationships between higher temperatures and adverse health outcomes such as death and illness, including hospital visits, emergency room visits, and birth defects . In these studies, we often focus on heat-related effects by restricting our data to the warm season in California over multiple years. We discuss methodological issues involved in studying health effects from temperature and air pollution and use two types of human health studies to examine acute effects of temperature. The studies have helped identify groups who are vulnerable to heat-related mortality and illness. To obtain our data for analysis, we generally rely on records available for public use, where we examine variables such as daily levels of air pollutants, race/ethnic group, age group, highest education level completed, disease category or subgroup, underlying cause of death, date of outcome occurrence, and zip code or county of residence.

We collaborate on health studies with other institutions, including: California Air Resources Board, California Department of Public Health, California Energy Commission, California Environmental Protection Agency, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Climate Action Team, Kaiser Division of Research, Mediterranean Climate Change Consortium, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Fact Sheets and Other Public Information Documents

Pregnancy and heat - Protecting yourself and your baby. This fact sheet describes why pregnant people and their developing babies are especially susceptible to heat, how to recognize signs of heat illness, and how to stay cool and reduce the risk of heat illness.
NEW Embarazo y calor: Protegiéndose a sí misma y a su bebé. La hoja informativa describe por qué las personas embarazadas y sus bebés en desarrollo son especialmente susceptibles al calor, cómo reconocer los signos de las enfermedades causadas por el calor y cómo mantenerse frescos y reducir el riesgo de enfermedades causadas por el calor.
NEW 孕婦與高溫──保護您自己和您的寶寶。該情況說明書描述了孕婦及其發育中的嬰兒特別容易受到高溫影響的原因，辨別中暑症狀的方法，以及保持涼爽並降低中暑風險的措施。
NEW 孕期与高温——保护您自己和您的宝宝。该情况说明书描述了孕妇及其发育中的婴儿特别容易受到高温影响的原因，辨别中暑症状的方法，以及保持凉爽并降低中暑风险的措施。
NEW 임신과 열 — 자기 자신과 아기를 보호하세요. 사실 자료는 임신한 여성과 성장 중인 태아가 특히 열에 취약한 이유, 열병의 징후를 인식하는 방법, 몸을 시원하게 유지하고 열병의 위험을 줄이는 방법에 대해 설명합니다.
NEW Mang thai và nhiệt nóng- Bảo vệ bản thân và em bé của quý vị. Tờ thông tin này miêu tả lý do tại sao những người mang thai và thai nhi đang phát triển của họ đặc biệt dễ bị ảnh hưởng bởi nhiệt nóng, cách nhận biết các dấu hiệu của bệnh do nhiệt, cũng như cách giữ mát và giảm nguy cơ mắc bệnh do nhiệt.
NEW Pagbubuntis at matinding init - Protektahan ang iyong sarili at ang iyong sanggol. Inilalarawan ng factsheet kung bakit ang mga babaeng buntis at kanilang mga sanggol ay mas mahina sa init, kung paanong makikilala ang mga senyales ng sakit dulot ng init, at kung paanong mapapanatiling malamig at mabawasan ang panganib ng sakit dulot ng init.

Published Health Studies

Climate change is a global phenomenon and requires the participation of a variety of local, national and international entities to curb its negative effects. The State of California has been a pioneer on the national stage in identifying the health effects associated with climate change.

Over the years, OEHHA has contributed to the growing body of literature linking harmful health effects to increasing temperatures and heat waves. Our studies have identified subpopulations that are particularly sensitive to heat, specifically the elderly, pregnant women and children, as well as people who reside in coastal areas. (Coastal areas are typically cooler, and their residents are less acclimated to sudden temperature increases and often do not have air conditioners, particularly in northern California.) Such findings enable OEHHA to target our information and messages to the most critical audiences about the need to take proper precautions during heat waves and hot days.

2022

Regional research-practice-policy partnerships in response to climate-related disparities: Promoting health equity in the Pacific
Heat-related illness in clinical practice
Impacts of wildfire particulate matter emissions on respiratory and cardiovascular health in California
Smoke and COVID-19 case fatality ratios during California wildfires
Selecting exposure data and identifying relevant exposure windows for birth outcome studies

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Study of California infant deaths suggests heat exposure may be linked to infant mortality

2014

Note: This link provides access to portions of a privately produced television documentary including an interview with OEHHA staff scientist Dr. Rupa Basu. Opinions expressed in the documentary are those of the individuals involved and are not official policies or positions of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the California Environmental Protection Agency or the State of California.