Dwelling Characteristics Influence Indoor Temperature and May Pose Health Threats in LMICs

Teare, June; Mathee, Angela; Naicker, Nisha; Swanepoel, Cheryl; Kapwata, Thandi; Balakrishna, Yusentha; Preez, David Jean du; Millar, Danielle A.; Wright, Caradee Y.

doi:10.5334/aogh.2938

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Tiles and cement floors are quite similar in their thermal characteristics. Similar findings were seen in coastal community dwellings in the Eastern Cape province, where dwellings (not classrooms) with cement floors were cooler than dwellings with any other floor type [33].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Pule

Mathee

Melariri

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally conducive for learning and working. Here, we aimed to study the relations between indoor classroom temperatures and learner absenteeism as a proxy for children’s health and well-being. This one-year prospective study that spanned two calendar years (from June 2017 to May 2018) entailed measurement of indoor classroom temperature and relative humidity, calculated as apparent temperature (Tapp) and collection of daily absenteeism records for each classroom in schools in and around King Williams Town, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Classroom characteristics were collected using a standardized observation checklist. Mean indoor classroom temperature ranged from 11 to 30 °C, while mean outdoor temperature ranged from 6 °C to 31 °C during the sample period. Indoor classroom temperatures typically exceeded outdoor temperatures by 5 °C for 90% of the study period. While multiple factors may influence absenteeism, we found absenteeism was highest at low indoor classroom Tapp (i.e., below 15 °C). Absenteeism decreased as indoor Tapp increased to about 25 °C before showing another increase in absenteeism. Classroom characteristics differed among schools. Analyses of indoor classroom temperature and absenteeism in relation to classroom characteristics showed few statistically significant relations—although not exceptionally strong ones—likely because of the multiple factors that influence absenteeism. However, given the possible relationship between indoor temperature and absenteeism, there is a learning imperative to consider thermal comfort as a fundamental element of school planning and design. Furthermore, additional research on factors besides temperature that affect learner absenteeism is needed, especially in rural areas.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Pule

Mathee

Melariri

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This corroborates the link between the chaotic, dense and unregulated urbanisation typical of slums and intense heat exposure 46 . Combined with poverty, poor housing conditions and little access to cooling options this poses serious health threats to people 47 .…”

Section: A Zoom On City Scale Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes

Mentaschi

Duveiller

Zulian

et al. 2022

Global Environmental Change

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface temperatures are generally higher in cities than in rural surroundings 1 . This phenomenon, known as surface urban heat island (SUHI), increases the risk of heat-related human illnesses and mortality 2 . Past global studies analysed this phenomenon aggregated at city scale or over seasonal and annual time periods [3][4][5][6] , while human impacts strongly depend on shorter term heat stress experienced locally. Here we develop a global long-term high-resolution dataset of daytime SUHI as urban-rural surface temperature differences. Our results show that across urban areas worldwide over the period 2003-2020, 3-day SUHI extremes are on average more than twice as high as the warm-season median SUHI, with local exceedances up to 10 K. Over this period, SUHI extremes have increased more rapidly than warmseason medians, and averaged worldwide are now 1.04 K or 31% higher compared to 2003. This can be linked with increasing urbanisation 7 , more frequent heatwaves 8 , and greening of the earth 9 , processes that are all expected to continue in the coming decades [10][11][12] . Within many cities there are hotspots where extreme SUHI intensity is 10 to 15 K higher compared to relatively cooler city parts. Given the limited human adaptability to heat stress 13 , our results advocate for mitigation strategies targeted at reducing SUHI extremes in the most vulnerable and exposed city neighbourhoods.

show abstract

Section: In Mexico City High Values Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes

Mentaschi¹,

Duveiller²,

Zulian³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface temperatures are generally higher in cities than in rural surroundings. This phenomenon, known as surface urban heat island (SUHI), increases the risk of heat-related human illnesses and mortality. Past global studies analysed this phenomenon aggregated at city scale or over seasonal and annual time periods, while human impacts strongly depend on shorter term heat stress experienced locally. Here we develop a global long-term high-resolution dataset of daytime SUHI as urban-rural surface temperature differences. Our results show that across urban areas worldwide over the period 2003-2020, 3-day SUHI extremes are on average more than twice as high as the warm-season median SUHI, with local exceedances up to 10 K. Over this period, SUHI extremes have increased more rapidly than warm-season medians, and averaged worldwide are now 1.04 K or 31% higher compared to 2003. This can be linked with increasing urbanisation, more frequent heatwaves, and greening of the earth, processes that are all expected to continue in the coming decades. Within many cities there are hotspots where extreme SUHI intensity is 10 to 15 K higher compared to relatively cooler city parts. Given the limited human adaptability to heat stress, our results advocate for mitigation strategies targeted at reducing SUHI extremes in the most vulnerable and exposed city neighbourhoods.

show abstract

Dwelling Characteristics Influence Indoor Temperature and May Pose Health Threats in LMICs

Cited by 14 publications

References 35 publications

Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes

Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About