Research Citing Mexican Statistics Released
Young Adults Exposed to Hot and Humid Conditions
Death Toll Higher Than Elderly
A study from Mexico has drawn attention by showing that more deaths occur among young people than the elderly in hot and humid heatwave conditions.
According to the Associated Press (AP), based on research recently reported in Science, one of the world's top three scientific journals, when temperatures reach around 30 degrees Celsius (upper 80s Fahrenheit) with 50% humidity, more deaths occurred among those aged 35 and under than among those aged 50 and over. This study was based on an investigation of heatwave-related deaths in Mexico from 1998 to 2019.
In June, a worker exhausted from the heatwave is drinking a beverage at a construction site in Mexico. Photo by AP Yonhap News
The research team analyzed the age groups of people who died in hot and humid environments and found that while there was one death among those aged 50 and over, 32 deaths occurred among young people aged 18 to 35. In particular, the increase in deaths due to heatwaves was about nine times higher in the 18-35 age group compared to those aged 50 and above.
The researchers are conducting further studies to understand why more young people die during heatwaves. It is difficult to explain these results based solely on demographic data.
The AP reported that factors such as many young people working outdoors in Mexico where they cannot escape the heat, and the young population’s lack of awareness about their limits in enduring heat, are presumed to be reasons behind the high number of heatwave deaths among the youth. It is common for young people engaging in outdoor activities under extremely hot and humid conditions to show confidence in their health but become exposed to risks like heatstroke.
The research team also studied mortality rates due to extreme cold and found that for every one young person who died, there were more than 300 deaths among those aged 50 and over, showing a significant difference. This indicates that while young people are vulnerable to heatwaves, many elderly individuals face physical difficulties during extreme cold.
The problem lies in the fact that as global warming continues, hot and humid conditions are becoming increasingly severe. Jeffrey Shreider, a co-author of the study and a climate economist at Columbia University, explained, "We found that young people are particularly vulnerable to hot and humid environments," adding, "As the Earth's temperature rises, mortality rates among the youth could increase." The research team is conducting additional studies to determine whether this phenomenon is unique to Mexico or if similar situations occur in other regions.
Marina Romanello, director of Lancet Countdown, an organization monitoring physical impacts of climate change, said, "All age groups are at risk due to rising temperatures," and added, "This study shows that an age group previously considered relatively safe is not actually so."
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