How Blackouts During Heat Waves Amplify Mortality and Morbidity Risk

Details

• Personal Author:
  Augenbroe G ; Broadbent A ; Georgescu M ; Grijalva S ; Gronlund CJ ; Harlan S ; Hondula D ; Krayenhoff ES ; Lanza K ; Larsen, Lee B. ; Mallen E ; O'Neill MS ; Rajput M ; Stone B Jr.
• Description:
  The recent concurrence of electrical grid failure events in time with extreme temperatures is compounding the population health risks of extreme weather episodes. Here, we combine simulated heat exposure data during historical heat wave events in three large U.S. cities to assess the degree to which heat-related mortality and morbidity change in response to a concurrent electrical grid failure event. We develop a novel approach to estimating individually experienced temperature to approximate how personal-level heat exposure changes on an hourly basis, accounting for both outdoor and building-interior exposures. We find the concurrence of a multiday blackout event with heat wave conditions to more than double the estimated rate of heat-related mortality across all three cities, and to require medical attention for between 3% (Atlanta) and more than 50% (Phoenix) of the total urban population in present and future time periods. Our results highlight the need for enhanced electrical grid resilience and support a more spatially expansive use of tree canopy and high albedo roofing materials to lessen heat exposures during compound climate and infrastructure failure events. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Chemistry, Analytic Environment Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Mining Occupational Health Safety Waste Management
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Extreme Heat Event Climate Change Compound Climate Electrical Power Generation Heat-related Mortality Heat Exposure Hot Environments Infrastructure Failure Infrastructure Failure Events Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Temperature Effects Urban Heat Management

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• ISSN:
  0013-936X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Arizona ; Georgia ; Massachusetts ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067886
• Citation:
  Environ Sci Technol 2023 Jun; 57(22):8245-8255
• Contact Point Address:
  Brian Stone, Jr., School of City & Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
• Email:
  stone@gatech.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Science and Technology
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:08e3a2f9abcf6d32600d63370c3b5900b86a917e83749dd2ce4dd97e5295ae010ea1c019e7dc9d127b7bd8343ee248d6f2a98d845c49aed0ae5bb94796113baa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230123/cdc_230123_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.29 MB ]