Of Heat & Arctic Blasts - The Risks to Human Health

Abstract

The run-up to the FIFIA World Cup football tournament in Qatar and the significant rise in fuel costs has focussed the world’s attention on the environmental impact of climate change on human health. While it is true that the health impact of working outdoors in extreme heat is indeed harmful to human health and leads in increase mortality, what has been less in the news is (1) that the impact of even moderately cold environmental temperatures is by far much larger (9:1) on environmental determinants of mortality for vulnerable sections of the population, even in high-income countries such as UK or USA, and (2) that multi-factorial deprivation, fuelled by a legacy of imperialism, racism, oppression of migrants and socio-cultural exclusion in all societies vastly amplifies the adverse impact on health. Considerable attention has focused on institutional racism but less on how the intersection of cultural values, frameworks, and meanings shapes institutional policies and practices. [1] This article explores the impact of environmental temperatures on human health, the influence of socio-cultural inequalities, the current interventions and the case for a policy approach that includes the voice of professional and voluntary groups representing minority groups.