Vulnerability to heat and ozone among older adults: Results from a household survey in Houston, TX
Abstract
Extreme heat and air pollution are leading causes of weather-related human mortality in the United States. Although population-based studies have demonstrated associations between ambient air pollution, extreme heat, and human health, few studies focused on the differential exposure to heat and air pollution indoors, as well the role of social and behavioral factors that increase indoor exposure. The interdisciplinary project, Heat and Ozone in Metropolitan Environments: Assessing Indoor Risks (HOME AIR), investigated vulnerability of older adults to extreme heat and ozone in Houston, Texas with the goal to better understand and reduce negative health impacts. A semi-structured household survey was developed and implemented in the summer of 2017 in Houston. The survey aimed to better understand how people age 65 and older living in Houston are affected by extreme heat and air pollution and to better identify circumstances and behaviors that may exacerbate exposure and vulnerability. In this presentation we will outline the study methodology and describe the survey results. Despite widespread air conditioning availability throughout Houston, 25% of survey respondents experienced heat stress; 25% experienced ozone-related health symptoms. We will discuss behavioral and socio-economic factors that contributed to the increased indoor exposure and the risk of adverse health outcomes among the 300 survey respondents. We will also discuss the integration of the survey results into the overall HOME AIR modeling framework.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMGH34A..10W
- Keywords:
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- 0240 Public health;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 1630 Impacts of global change;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 4313 Extreme events;
- NATURAL HAZARDS;
- 4330 Vulnerability;
- NATURAL HAZARDS