@article{ref1,
title="Variation of daily warm season mortality as a function of micro-urban heat islands",
journal="Journal of epidemiology and community health",
year="2009",
author="Smargiassi, A. and Goldberg, Matthew S. and Plante, C. and Fournier, M. and Baudouin, Y. and Kosatsky, Tom",
volume="63",
number="8",
pages="659-664",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Little attention has been paid to how heat-related health effects vary with the micro-urban variation of outdoor temperatures. In this paper we explore whether persons located in micro-urban heat islands are at higher risk of mortality during hot summer days. METHODS: Data used include 1) daily mortality for Montreal (Canada) for June-August 1990-2003, 2) daily mean ambient outdoor temperatures at the local International Airport and, 3) two thermal surface images (Landsat satellites, infra-red wave lengths). A city-wide temperature vs daily mortality function was established on the basis of a case-crossover design; this function was stratified according to the surface temperature at decedents' place of death. RESULTS: The risk of death on warm summer days in areas with higher surface temperatures was greater than in areas with lower surface temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that measures aimed at reducing the temperature in micro-urban heat islands (e.g. urban greening activities) may reduce the health impact of hot temperatures. Further studies are needed to document the variation of heat-related risks within cities and to evaluate the health benefits of measures aimed at reducing the temperature in micro-urban heat islands.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0143-005X",
doi="10.1136/jech.2008.078147",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2008.078147"
}