International Journal of Biometeorology最新文献

{"title":"Effect of local mud application in patients with knee osteoarthritis - A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Deenadayalan Boopalan,&nbsp;Venugopal Vijayakumar,&nbsp;Shantichitra Kalidas,&nbsp;Poornima Ravi,&nbsp;Arthi Balakrishnan,&nbsp;Poonguzhali shanmugam,&nbsp;Velan Arumugam,&nbsp;Maheshkumar Kuppusamy,&nbsp;Govindasamy Karuppasamy","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02725-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02725-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mud therapy is a safe, cost-effective approach for Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), promoting healing through warmth and minerals, providing pain relief, and improving function. The main objective of the current review is to assess the effectiveness of local mud application for pain management in patients with Knee OA. The published papers were obtained from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrails.gov, Web of Science, and references from relevant systematic reviews from 1990 January to February 2023. Trials meeting the predefined criteria were included in this meta-analysis. The main focus of this study was to assess pain as a primary outcome measure. R software version 4.3.1 and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 1 were used to derive meta-analysis and risk of bias in the included studies. A meta-analysis was performed using the fixed-effects model to obtain a summary of treatment effects, which calculated the effect size (standardized mean difference; SMD) along with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI).</p><p>In the current meta-analysis, a total of ten studies with 560 Knee OA patients were included. Findings demonstrated significant effects of local mud application on pain (SMD: -0.36, 95% CI: -0.56, -0.16), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale (SMD: -0.49, 95% CI: -0.68, -0.29) for individuals suffering from Knee OA. The current study identified compelling evidence to support the recommendation of mud application as an effective intervention for individuals with Knee OA. While local mud application may serve as a supplementary therapy alongside conventional medical approaches for improved Knee OA management, additional high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to validate these findings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"1923 - 1934"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-024-02725-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141445192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the impact of weather on stroke in summer","authors":"Tianyi Hao,&nbsp;Xiaojia Wang,&nbsp;Suqin Han,&nbsp;Qing Yao,&nbsp;Jing Ding","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02724-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02724-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The objective of this study is to explore how changes in weather contribute to an increase in hospital admissions for stroke in summer. We collected 96,509 cases of stroke hospitalization data in Tianjin from 2016 to 2022 summer, along with corresponding meteorological data. The generalized additive model and distributed lag nonlinear model were used to analyze the lag and cumulative effects of temperature on stroke hospitalization. The research results show both the cold effect and the heat effect in summer would increase the risk of hospitalization. The effect of daily maximum temperature on stroke hospitalization was immediate when the temperature was higher, and delayed when the temperature was lower. However, the risk of stroke hospitalization increased more significantly with increasing temperature than with decreasing temperature. In the presence of one or more of the following three weather changes: sharp temperature increase, sharp temperature decrease, continuous high temperature, the daily number of stroke inpatients were higher than the average in the same period. 83% of the Inpatient-heavy events within the study period were caused by a combination of dramatic temperature changes and continuous high temperatures. In 48% of Inpatient-heavy events, continuous high temperature weather above 30℃ for at least 4 consecutive days were observed. And 55% of high temperature weather was accompanied by high humidity. When the daily relative humidity was greater than 70% and the daily maximum temperature was between 26 and 28℃ or more than 34℃, or the daily maximum temperature changes over 10℃ within 48 h, the number of daily inpatients was more than 1.2 times of the average daily inpatients. More attention should be paid to the combined effects of continuous high temperature and sudden temperature changes in summer stroke prevention.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"2015 - 2027"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-024-02724-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141441925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of PM2.5 on lung function and chronic respiratory diseases: insights from genetic evidence","authors":"Bin Feng,&nbsp;Jie Song,&nbsp;Shouying Wang,&nbsp;Ling Chao","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02728-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02728-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>PM_2.5 has been associated with various adverse health effects, particularly affecting lung function and chronic respiratory diseases. However, the genetic causality relationship between PM_2.5 exposure and lung function as well as chronic respiratory diseases remains poorly understood.</p><h3>Method</h3><p>We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal impact of PM_2.5 on lung function and chronic respiratory diseases. Instrumental variables were carefully selected, with significance thresholds (<i>P</i> &lt; 5 × 10^− 8), and linkage disequilibrium with an r² value below 0.001. Additionally, SNPs with an F-statistic exceeding 10 were included to mitigate potential bias stemming from weak instrumental variables. The primary analytical approach employed the Inverse Variance Weighted method, supplemented by the Weighted Median, MR-Egger, Simple Model, and Weighted Model. Furthermore, pleiotropy and heterogeneity were evaluated through the MR-Egger intercept test and Cochrane’s Q test, with a sensitivity analysis conducted using the leave-one-out method.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Eight SNPs significantly associated with PM_2.5 exposure were identified as Instrumental variables. Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant causal association between PM_2.5 exposure and lung function (FEV), with an OR of 0.7284 (95% CI: 0.5799–0.9150). Similarly, PM_2.5 exposure demonstrated a substantial causal effect on asthma, with an OR of 1.5280 (95% CI: 1.0470–2.2299). However, no causal association was observed between PM_2.5 exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with an OR of 1.5176 (95% CI: 0.8294–2.7768).</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>These findings emphasize the necessity for continued research efforts in environmental health to develop effective strategies for the prevention and management of chronic respiratory diseases.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"2049 - 2054"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141431014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ambient temperature and cardiovascular disease-related emergency room visits in Lanzhou, China from 2013 to 2019: A time-series study","authors":"Yilin Ye,&nbsp;Hongran Ma,&nbsp;Jiyuan Dong,&nbsp;Jiancheng Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02718-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02718-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study assessed the links between daily mean temperature and emergency room (ER) admissions for total and cause-specific cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Lanzhou, China from 2013 to 2019. A quasi-Poisson Generalized Additive Model (GAM) and a Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM) were used to determine the effects of temperature on total and cause-specific cardiovascular emergency visits. The relative risks (RR) at cold (hot) temperatures were calculated by comparing the 5th (95th) centile of temperature with the minimum morbidity temperature (MMT). Exposure–response curves demonstrating an inverted U-shape or an irregular M-shape association were observed between temperature and total and cause-specific CVD. The study found that both cold and hot temperatures had negative impacts on emergency room visits for various cardiovascular diseases. For people with total CVD, heart rhythm disturbances (HRD), or cerebrovascular diseases (CD), females were more sensitive to temperature than males, while for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF), males were more vulnerable to temperature. The &lt; 65 years old with total CVD, IHD, HRD, or CD was more susceptible to the effects of temperature. The results indicated that the relationship between temperature and total and cause-specific CVD was nonlinear, and susceptibility to temperature varied across disease subtype, gender, and age.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"1961 - 1972"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-024-02718-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141417112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perspectives of nature-based tourism-dependent communities on climate change in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.","authors":"Wame L Hambira, Oluwatoyin D Kolawole, Jarkko Saarinen, Oliver Moses, Kutlwano Mulale, Patricia K Mogomotsi","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02719-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02719-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The intensity and frequency of climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts and extreme rainfall events are projected to rise. This will increase the severity of their impacts across socio-ecological systems. Economic sectors such as nature-based tourism become more vulnerable because of their reliance on climate and natural capital as key resources. While attempts have been made to understand how climate change may impact tourists and the industry itself, little is known about the same on tourism-dependent communities. This paper determines the extent to which tourism-dependent communities are vulnerable to climate change in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, to enhance their wider livelihood the development of strategies for improving adaptive capacity, resilience, and reduced exposure sensitivities. A household survey of 172 households was conducted in three purposively selected villages of Mababe, Sankuyo and Khwai, actively involved in community-based tourism for their socio-economic development. Information sourced related to livelihood options, peoples' resilience, local risks, and hazards. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results indicate that respondents have observed climatic changes over the years such as increased temperatures, decreased rainfall, and increased frequencies of extreme events. The respondents attributed changes in natural capital to these observed climatic conditions in the form of desiccation, dwindling populations of some wildlife species, decreased fish stocks and reduced vegetation cover. This renders the tourism-dependent communities vulnerable as their livelihood is threatened. The paper thus concludes that climate change adaptation is an urgent priority for local communities who are already exposed to existing climatic and non-climatic stresses.</p>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141417113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causal association between environmental variables and the excess cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia: are we looking to the wrong side?","authors":"Juan David Gutiérrez,&nbsp;Julián Ávila-Jiménez,&nbsp;Mariano Altamiranda-Saavedra","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02723-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02723-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Our main aim was to estimate and compare the effects of six environmental variables (air temperature, soil temperature, rainfall, runoff, soil moisture, and the enhanced vegetation index) on excess cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia. We used epidemiological data from the Colombian Public Health Surveillance System (January 2007 to December 2019). Environmental data were obtained from remote sensing sources including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Data on population were obtained from the TerriData dataset. We implemented a causal inference approach using a machine learning algorithm to estimate the causal association of the environmental variables on the monthly occurrence of excess cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The results showed that the largest causal association corresponded to soil moisture with a lag of 3 months, with an average increase of 8.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.7–8.3%) in the occurrence of excess cases. The temperature-related variables (air temperature and soil temperature) had a positive causal effect on the excess cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is noteworthy that rainfall did not have a statistically significant causal effect. This information could potentially help to monitor and control cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, providing estimates of causal effects using remote sensor variables.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"2003 - 2013"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141330033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between the scarlet fever and meteorological factors, air pollutants and their interactions in children in northwest China","authors":"Donghua Li,&nbsp;Yanchen Liu,&nbsp;Wei Zhang,&nbsp;Tianshan Shi,&nbsp;Xiangkai Zhao,&nbsp;Xin Zhao,&nbsp;Hongmiao Zheng,&nbsp;Rui Li,&nbsp;Tingrong Wang,&nbsp;Xiaowei Ren","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02722-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02722-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Scarlet fever (SF) is an acute respiratory transmitted disease that primarily affects children. The influence of meteorological factors and air pollutants on SF in children has been proved, but the relevant evidence in Northwest China is still lacking. Based on the weekly reported cases of SF in children in Lanzhou, northwest China, from 2014 to 2018, we used geographical detectors, distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM), and bivariate response models to explore the influence of meteorological factors and air pollutants with SF. It was found that ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), temperature, pressure, water vapor pressure and wind speed were significantly correlated with SF based on geographical detectors. With the median as reference, the influence of high temperature, low pressure and high pressure on SF has a risk effect (relative risk (RR) &gt; 1), and under extreme conditions, the dangerous effect was still significant. High O₃ had the strongest effect at a 6-week delay, with an RR of 5.43 (95%<i>CI</i>: 1.74,16.96). The risk effect of high SO₂ was strongest in the week of exposure, and the maximum risk effect was 1.37 (95%<i>CI</i>: 1.08,1.73). The interactions showed synergistic effects between high temperatures and O₃, high pressure and high SO₂, high nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and high particulate matter with diameter of less than 10 μm (PM₁₀), respectively. In conclusion, high temperature, pressure, high O₃ and SO₂ were the most important factors affecting the occurrence of SF in children, which will provide theoretical support for follow-up research and disease prevention policy formulation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"1989 - 2002"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-024-02722-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141330035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Balneotherapy and cortisol levels: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Michele Antonelli,&nbsp;Federica Fasano,&nbsp;Licia Veronesi,&nbsp;Davide Donelli,&nbsp;Marco Vitale,&nbsp;Cesira Pasquarella","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02721-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02721-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The main objective of this review is to examine the impact of balneotherapy on serum and salivary cortisol concentrations. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and Google Scholar. The databases were screened from inception up until April 2024. After screening the scientific literature, 845 articles were retrieved and 17 studies, involving a total of 765 participants, were eventually included in the review. Among them, four were randomized controlled trials, five were non-randomized studies, and eight were pre-post studies with no control group. The evidence gathered in this review indicates a significant short-term reduction in cortisol levels in healthy individuals undergoing balneotherapy, particularly those experiencing high levels of stress. Conversely, in patients with rheumatic conditions (especially if elderly), increases in cortisol levels induced by balneotherapy can act as beneficial hormetic stress, reducing inflammatory mediators and improving pain and functional quality of life. The meta-analysis shows an overall trend of reduction in stress hormone levels, more pronounced in the intervention group undergoing mud-balneotherapy compared to the control group, a finding that, however, does not reach statistical significance (g=-0.11 [95% CI: -0.30; 0.08]; <i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Current scientific evidence demonstrates that balneotherapy has a positive impact on the regulation of cortisol levels. The regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the beneficial effects observed on health parameters and quality of life allow mud-balneotherapy to be classified as eustressful stimuli useful in preventing stress-related pathologies in healthy individuals and in alleviating symptoms in patients with chronic conditions. Future research on the topic is advised.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 10","pages":"1909 - 1922"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00484-024-02721-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141330032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do newborn lambs with black and white hair-coats in an equatorial semi-arid environment maintain homeothermy?","authors":"V. F. C. Fonsêca,&nbsp;J. D. C. Dos Santos,&nbsp;E. P. Saraiva,&nbsp;G. C. Xavier Neta,&nbsp;L. K. C. Morais,&nbsp;K. C. Bícego,&nbsp;W. E. Pereira,&nbsp;E. C. Pimenta Filho,&nbsp;G. A.B. Moura,&nbsp;V. Sejian,&nbsp;A. Fuller","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02710-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02710-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We assessed newborn lambs from two hair-coat sheep breeds, the black Santa Ines (<i>n</i> = 29) and white Dorper (<i>n</i> = 26), to determine how they behaviourally and physiologically respond to the prevailing thermal conditions in an equatorial semi-arid environment. Measurements of hair-coat surface temperature, rectal temperature and the lambs’ exposure to sun were recorded across the first 24 h of life every hour, after the lambs had received colostrum. Lambs and ewes were kept in a lambing pen and could freely move between a shaded area or be exposed to sun. During the study period, the air temperature ranged between 20 ºC and 34 ºC. When exposed to sun, lambs and ewes could experience as much as 1200 W m^-2 of solar irradiance. Santa Ines lambs exhibited higher (highest density interval at 95%, HDI) hair-coat surface temperatures than did Dorper lambs. Overall, both Santa Ines and Dorper lambs sustained homeothermy, with a mean rectal temperature ranging from 38.7 ºC to 39.1 ºC between night and daytime phase, and a mean amplitude of ~ 0.8 ºC. Nevertheless, from 10:00 to 15:00, some lambs were found to be moderately hyperthermic. Five Santa Ines and three Dorper lambs had rectal temperatures above 40 ºC, and one Santa Ines lamb, while exposed to sun, had a rectal temperature of 41.3 ºC. Over this time period, lambs were more likely to move to shade (HDI at 95%). From 00:00 to 06:00, despite the air temperature being lower than the hair-coat surface, favouring high rates of sensible heat loss to the environment, no lamb exhibited signs of hypothermia (rectal temperature &lt; 37.5 ºC). In conclusion, haired newborn lambs coped well with high levels of radiant heat during the daytime and lower temperatures at night. However, providing access to shade during the daytime is important to improve the welfare of newborn lambs delivered in equatorial semi-arid regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 9","pages":"1837 - 1846"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141330034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthy environments for athleTes (HEAT): environmental conditions along a 90 km ultra-marathon event, South Africa","authors":"H. Havenga,&nbsp;D. Gharbi,&nbsp;N. Sewry,&nbsp;B. Language,&nbsp;F. H. Neumann,&nbsp;J. M. Finch,&nbsp;T. Hill,&nbsp;J. Boulter,&nbsp;E. Jordaan,&nbsp;S. J. Piketh,&nbsp;M. Schwellnus,&nbsp;R. P. Burger","doi":"10.1007/s00484-024-02703-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00484-024-02703-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper provides an overview of the HEAT (Healthy Environments for AthleTes) project, which aims to understand the impact of environmental conditions on athlete health and performance during major sporting events such as long-distance running, cycling, and triathlons. In collaboration with the SAFER (Strategies to reduce Adverse medical events For the ExerciseR) initiative, the HEAT project carried out a field campaign at the 2022 Comrades Marathon in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The measurement campaign deployed seven weather stations, seven PM_2.5 monitors and one spore trap along the 90 km route to capture spatially representative measurements of complex micro-climates, allergenic aerospora, and particulate matter exposure. The results indicate that runners were exposed to moderate risk heat stress conditions. Novel findings from this initial campaign shows elevated and potentially harmful PM_2.5 levels at spectator areas, possibly coinciding with small fire events around the race day festivities. Our findings show values PM_2.5 levels over the WHO 24-h guidelines at all stations, while 2000 µg/m³ at two stations. However, the lack of an acute exposure standard means direct health impacts cannot be quantified in the context of a sport event. The HEAT project highlights important aspects of race day monitoring; regional scale climatology has an impact on the race day conditions, the microclimatic conditions (pollution and meteorology) are not necessarily captured by proximity instruments and direct environmental measurements are required to accurately capture conditions along the route.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":588,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biometeorology","volume":"68 9","pages":"1757 - 1771"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11461593/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141309396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}