Heat Waves And The Skin?
One obvious consequence of global warming is the more frequent occurrence of dangerous heat waves – but what, you might ask, do heat waves have to do with the skin? The simple answer is everything – as we shall soon see.
It may not be news to anyone that heat waves are hazardous to our health. Death Valley earned its name generations ago.
In 2003, not so very long ago, a heat wave in Northern Europe is estimated to have cost at least 35, 000 lives. Some authorities suggest that as many as 70, 000 lives were lost to the prolonged heat. Hot summers in the northern and central parts of Europe were uncommon in the past. Consequently, housing there did not need to be adapted for hot spells, and often lacked air conditioning or even good cross ventilation.
The city we live in, San Francisco, too, is typically cool during the summer, thanks to an abundant supply of marine fog, and most San Francisco homes do not have air conditioning. Thus, when the temperature soars into the upper 80’s, as it did the other day, our population is at risk for heat-related illnesses. [Read more…] about Climate Change And The Skin: Heat Waves
