%0 Journal Article
%T Variation of daily warm season mortality as a function of micro-urban heat islands
%J Journal of epidemiology and community health
%D 2009
%A Smargiassi, A.
%A Goldberg, Matthew S.
%A Plante, C.
%A Fournier, M.
%A Baudouin, Y.
%A Kosatsky, Tom
%V 63
%N 8
%P 659-664
%X 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>
%G en
%I BMJ Publishing Group
%@ 0143-005X
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2008.078147