Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action

Amita Bansal; Nicolas Cherbuin; Deborah L Davis; Michael J Peek; Amanda Wingett; Bruce K Christensen; Hazel Carlisle; Margaret Broom; Danielle A J M Schoenaker; Jane E Dahlstrom; Christine B Phillips; Sotiris Vardoulakis; Ralph Nanan; Christopher J Nolan

doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00134-1

Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action

Lancet Planet Health. 2023 Aug;7(8):e718-e725. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00134-1.

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
² National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
³ Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; ACT Government, Health Directorate, ACT, Australia.
⁴ School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia.
⁵ National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁷ Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia.
⁸ School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁹ School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Companion House Refugee Medical Service, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
¹⁰ Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Center Nepean, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia. Electronic address: christopher.nolan@anu.edu.au.

PMID: 37558352
DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00134-1

Abstract

Adverse environmental exposures in utero and early childhood are known to programme long-term health. Climate change, by contributing to severe heatwaves, wildfires, and other natural disasters, is plausibly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increase in the future burden of chronic diseases in both mothers and their babies. In this Personal View, we highlight the limitations of existing evidence, specifically on the effects of severe heatwave and wildfire events, and compounding syndemic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the short-term and long-term physical and mental health of pregnant women and their babies, taking into account the interactions with individual and community vulnerabilities. We highlight a need for an international, interdisciplinary collaborative effort to systematically study the effects of severe climate-related environmental crises on maternal and child health. This will enable informed changes to public health policy and clinical practice necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Environmental Exposure
Female
Humans
Infant
Mothers
Pandemics
Pregnancy
Wildfires*