International Journal of Biometeorology最新文献

Heat events pose a significant risk to public health. Cities are particularly at risk due to the urban heat island effect. The evidence for modifying effects of city characteristics on morbidity outcomes is weak. This research investigates the impact of heat on emergency medical services (EMS) utilization across 25 Bavarian (Germany) cities from 2018 to 2020, as well as the modifying influences of various city characteristics. Using the EMS data linked to the corresponding weather records, we quantified the impact of heat utilizing negative binomial modelling for each city individually. Overall estimates, expressed as the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF), were derived by fixed-effects meta-analysis. We evaluated the potential effect modification of city characteristics such as demographic factors, land use proportions and air pollution, using extended meta-analysis and meta-regression procedures. Datasets from government agencies were used for the indicators. Our dataset included 302,353 EMS operations across 25 cities. We identified a pooled PAF of 9.34% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 7.72%, 10.96%). In meta-regression, indicators representing a high proportion of elderly people, people in need of care and people with ischemic heart disease, significantly increased the heat effect. Among the air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) was found to be a significant amplifying effect modifier. In this study, we found that heat significantly increases the number of EMS operations, with some city characteristics modifying the effects. These insights can guide targeted mitigation measures and improve EMS planning under future sociodemographic and climate change scenarios.

Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) has emerged as a major threat to health among older adults, yet the effects of air pollution and physical activity on CMM remain insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to examine the associations between air pollutant exposure, physical activity, and CMM risk, and to analyze the potential moderating and mediating roles of physical activity in the relationship between pollutants and CMM. This study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2015-2020, including 17,718 participants. We assessed exposure levels to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, CO, and O₃, and categorized physical activity into four levels (Q1-Q4) based on metabolic equivalent quartiles. Cox regression models were employed to analyze the effects of pollutants and physical activity metabolic equivalents on CMM, with restricted cubic splines for dose-response analysis. Additionally, Baron & Kenny's method was applied to evaluate the mediating effect of physical activity. During the follow-up period, 741 participants developed CMM. After multivariate adjustment, all pollutants were significantly associated with increased CMM risk, with SO₂ (HR=2.768, 95% CI: 2.526-3.033) showing the most significant impact. Higher levels of physical activity demonstrated pronounced protective effects. Dose-response analyses revealed non-linear relationships between pollutants and CMM (P for nonlinear < 0.001), while physical activity exhibited a protective non-linear relationship with CMM (P for nonlinear = 0.037). Mediation analysis identified significant partial mediating effects of physical activity in the relationships between pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and O₃) and CMM, with mediation proportions ranging from 5.71% to 19.88%, with NO₂ showing the highest mediation proportion (19.88%). Long-term exposure to air pollutants is significantly associated with increased CMM risk, while higher levels of physical activity confer substantial protective effects. Pollutants may partially increase CMM risk indirectly by inhibiting physical activity.

Heat stress adversely impacts the physiological mechanisms responsible for thermoregulation and energy balance. To mitigate these effects, the current study was designed to evaluate the impact of microclimatic modifications on the performance and behavior of Murrah buffaloes during summer conditions. The study was conducted at the buffalo farm of the Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, India, from August to October 2024. Eighteen lactating Murrah buffaloes were divided into three treatment groups (six animals per group) in a loose housing system: (T₁) concrete flooring with corrugated asbestos roofing (control); (T₂) concrete flooring with glass wool (50 mm thickness) on the false ceiling and white paint on the upper side of the roof; and (T₃) concrete flooring with expanded polyethylene sheet (70 mm thickness) on the ceiling and white paint on the upper side of the roof. The study was aimed at assessing the effect of microclimatic modifications on the THI, milk yield, Milk composition and economics of these microclimatic modifications. THI was significantly lower in both T₂ and T₃ treatments as compared to the control group. Milk yield, peak yield, 6% FCM, and lactose content were numerically higher in the T2 and T3 groups, although the differences were not statistically significant. Fat percentage, total solids, and protein of milk were significantly higher in modified shed groups. Economic analysis revealed that microclimatic modifications led to higher income and profit as compared to asbestos sheds. In conclusion, microclimatic modifications, particularly the application of glass wool and expanded polyethylene sheets along with white paint on the roof, significantly alleviated heat stress, improved thermal comfort, and enhanced overall productivity of lactating Murrah buffaloes.

As extreme temperature events increase globally, the influences of non-optimal temperature on health outcomes are of increasing concern. However, whether there is a correlation between non-optimal apparent temperature (AT) and acne is unknown. To illustrate the association between non-optimal AT and acne, data of daily acne outpatient visits, meteorological factors, and air pollutants from 2015 to 2019 in Chongqing, China were obtained. A multi-center study using distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was employed to explore the possible association between short-term non-optimal AT and outpatient visits for acne. Stratified analyses by age and gender were carried out to verify vulnerable populations. Results showed that both cold and hot AT were significantly associated with acne. The significant single-lag effects of cold AT lasted from lag0 to lag3, and cumulative-lag effects lasted from lag00 to lag07, with the highest relative risk of 1.09 (95%CI: 1.03–1.17) on lag0, and 1.34 (95%CI: 1.17–1.53) on lag07, respectively. In term of hot AT, the significant single-lag effects were observed from lag0 to lag3 with cumulative-lag effects from lag00 to lag07, with peak relative risk of 1.08 (95%CI: 1.02–1.14) on lag0 and 1.17 (95%CI: 1.08–1.27) on lag03, respectively. Stratified analyses showed that young patients (< 25 years old) and males were more susceptible to non-optimal AT. We provide the first evidence that non-optimal AT can increase the risk of acne, particularly for young people and males. Our findings add new sights regarding the potential adverse effects of non-optimal temperature on skin diseases especially acne.

Anxiety symptoms may be affected by environmental factors. Changes in weather patterns have been linked to various mental health outcomes, but research focusing on wintertime and anxiety is still sparse. Thus, we investigate longitudinal associations between solar radiation, precipitation, and snow days during winter-time and self-reported anxiety symptoms in the following spring. We used data from 14,237 participants of the Swedish Longitudinal Survey of Health who responded to surveys in spring 2016 and 2018. Symptoms of anxiety was assessed using SCL-ANX4, a subscale of the Symptom Checklist-25. Data on the daily solar radiation and precipitation was averaged over November to January and linked to the health data and residence at municipal level for each participant. For snow days, sum of days with snow over the 3-month period was used. Within-individual design using conditional logistic regression was used. Models were adjusted for age, region, and the remaining meteorological variables. Although odds ratios for anxiety in association with 3-month average solar radiation (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.65–1.24) and precipitation (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79–1.05) were on the protective side, these associations were not statistically significant. We neither observed associations between snow days and anxiety symptoms, nor any significant effect modification by age, sex, civil status, job strain, occupational position, region, type of questionnaire, alcohol use, or physical activity (p-values for interactions > 0.05). Our findings do not demonstrate associations between wintertime weather conditions and symptoms of anxiety and call for further research from different geographical areas and populations.

Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) impose an immense burden to public health. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation might impact the spread of influenza. We examined associations between UV radiation and sunshine duration and influenza or ILI. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis including studies with UV radiation, UV index or sunshine duration as exposure and influenza/ILI as outcome. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using the Knapp-Hartung method to calculate the pooled relative risks (RR) of the associations between UV radiation and sunshine duration and influenza. Several sensitivity analyses were performed. 45 studies which met the eligibility criteria were included in the systematic review, of which 16 were included for meta-analysis, covering more than 1,000,000 influenza cases. The pooled results showed every 1 W/m² increase in solar radiation was significantly associated with a decrease in influenza incidence RR 0.996 95%-confidence interval [0.993 – 0.999]. In the meta-analysis of sunshine duration, pooled estimates showed no significant association between an increase in sunshine duration and influenza incidence (RR 1.003 [0.988 – 1.018]) per one hour increment. Results were robust for all sensitivity analyses. In this meta-analysis, an increase of UV radiation provided a protective effect, while sunshine duration showed no significant effect, perhaps due to lack of eligible studies on this relationship. Findings indicate that UV radiation could be a helpful parameter for predicting influenza incidence, specifically if other meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity and wind speed and their interrelationship with UV radiation are considered.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that significantly impacts individuals and society, contributing to the global disease burden. However, research on the association between meteorological factors and epilepsy across all age groups remains limited. To investigate the relationship between daily average temperature and epilepsy outpatient visits in Chongqing, the most populous city in western China, and to assess susceptibility differences by gender and age. We employed distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) to investigate the association between daily average temperature and epilepsy outpatient visits from January 2014 to December 2019 (a total of 2,191 days) in Chongqing. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses based on gender and age. During the study period, a total of 99,740 outpatient visits for epilepsy were recorded. Using the median daily average temperature (19.5 °C) as a reference, the single-day lag risk ratio (RR) of a low daily average temperature (5th percentile, 7.8 °C) on outpatient visits for epilepsy showed a persistent decrease throughout the entire lag period (from lag 0 to lag 12) and remained statistically significant from lag 0 to lag 3, with values of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10), 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.07), 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.05), and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), respectively. The cumulative RR peaked at lag 0–8 (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.36), and then remained relatively stable. The association between higher daily average temperatures and epilepsy outpatient visits was not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses indicated that males and individuals under 18 and over 65 years old were more vulnerable to the effects of low ambient temperatures on epilepsy risk. Season acts as an effect modifier in the association between low daily average temperature and epilepsy outpatient visits.

Silvopastoral systems integrating tree cover into pasturelands offer promising strategies to mitigate heat stress in tropical livestock production. This study evaluated the effects of shade from Eucalyptus urograndis on thermal comfort indices in Gyr and Girolando dairy cattle in the Brazilian Cerrado. Forty-eight lactating cows (24 Gir, 24 Girolando) were monitored over two years in two contrasting environments: no shade (full sun) and shade (silvopasture). Thermal indices, including rectal and surface temperatures (measured via infrared thermography), respiration rates, and panting scores, were analyzed alongside environmental data, such as the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). Cattle under shade consistently exhibited lower body temperatures, respiration rates, and panting scores, with significant differences amplified under heat stress conditions (THI > 74). Though both benefited from shade, Gyr cattle demonstrated better thermoregulatory responses than Girolando. Discriminant analysis accurately classified animals by system (> 92%) and breed (~ 71%) based on physiological traits. These results confirm that tree shade significantly enhances animal comfort in tropical pasture systems and supports the implementation of silvopastoral practices to improve dairy cattle welfare and resilience under climate stress.

Migratory habit was developed in birds in response to unfavorable winter conditions in their high-latitudinal breeding grounds. Autumn weather conditions should determine the decision on departure in Arctic birds. Large-bodied Bewick’s Swan Cygnus bewickii of the West Pacific population must pass mountain ranges and open sea between their Arctic breeding areas (Chaun delta in this study) and temperate winter quarters (Japan). In this paper we use data from individually telemetry tagged Bewick’s Swans (both families with young and adult individuals presumably non-breeders or failed in breeding) to analyze the prevailing meteorological factors at the point of their departure from their breeding/moulting grounds. We compare these conditions to those at their departure from major autumn stop-over sites in the Kolyma Lowland for the longest migration boot without stops to Sakhalin Island. We hypothesize different meteorolocal factors for a short longitudinal journey of the first migration boot and second the longest migration boot. We also predict a difference between families with young and adult swans in migration strategy. Families departed from their natal site in the Chaun delta significantly later than non-breeding adults; however, both groups left synchronously from stopover sites in the Kolyma Lowland. In the Chaun Delta, swan families were dependent on tailwinds and rainfall for the timing of their departures, with these factors working in conjunction with decreasing temperatures. In contrast, non-breeding swans did not take wind conditions into account but still avoided migration during rainy weather.

Peloid is a matured mud with healing and/or cosmetic properties, composed of a complex mixture of mineral or seawater with a clay-based material, that requires quality control prior to its application in therapeutic and dermocosmetic treatments. In this research, physico-chemical and biological analyses were performed to assess influence of the two mineralized waters on three residual smectitic soils. Seawater increased the electrical conductivity values of peloids (from 0.3 to 0.5 mS/cm to 68.0–73.8 mS/cm) and their organic matter content (from 2.6 to 4.7% to around 7%), whereas thermo-mineral water enhanced the cation exchange capacity (from 38.4 to 70.0 meq/100 g to 55.2–86.6 meq/100 g). The pH of peloids remained alkaline, and zeta potential values were stable throughout the maturation period. The concentrations of Pb, Co, Ni and V in samples exceed the acceptable limits established for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, hence further dermal bioacessibility assessment are required to substantiate their clinical safety before therapeutic use. Moreover, fecal indicator bacteria were not detected in the peloids, however thermo-mineral water peloids showed fungal contents slightly above recommended microbiological limits. The physico-chemical and microbiological characterization suggests that these peloids have potential therapeutic values, although further thermal and rheological characterization are required to assess their suitability.