Rodolfo Rodriguez, Director of the Ramon Mugica Scientific Station, and David Rizzano, Director of the Department of Architecture, contributed an article to the book “Selected Topics in Environmental Health.”
Written by Gabriela Hernandez. November 28, 2023.
Professors and researchers in University of Piura He wrote the joint article “Urban Heat Islands: Their Impact on Comfort and Human Health,” for the Selected Topics in Environmental Health publication, which he edited. National Academy of Medicinewhich addresses critical issues related to environmental health in the country.
Featured topics include the impact of heavy metals on health, air and water pollution, temperature, and environmental health policies.
20 authors, specialists from various fields of knowledge, educational institutions, public and private bodies, participate in this publication. It will be presented on December 1 at the Convention Center of the Peruvian Medical School, in Miraflores-Lima.
“Urban heat island: its impact on human comfort and health”
In their article, researchers from UDEP Exploring the phenomenon of urban heat island (UHI) formation, a thermal process that occurs in urban and suburban areas.
Doctors Rodriguez and Rissano analyze this thermal phenomenon that occurs in large cities and highlight its formation due to the irregular growth of cities and the use of building materials with thermal properties different from natural areas.
The text explores factors in the formation of urban heat islands, such as thermal properties of materials, urban planning geometry, vehicle density, human causes and replacement of natural soil cover.
Moreover, these islands are classified into subsurface, surface, and aerial, each of which has its own characteristics. Progress in studying this urban phenomenon around the world, in Latin America and Peru, is reviewed.
The article “Urban heat islands: their impact on human comfort and health” provides a historical overview of ICU studies, from the first pioneering work in England to international developments and studies conducted in South America, with particular emphasis on research conducted in Mexico. Santiago de Chile, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Lima.
Likewise, the authors detailed the effects of ICUs on human comfort, highlighting the influence of climatic factors such as radiation, temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addition, it addresses the direct and indirect impact on health, ranging from disorders such as fatigue caused by dehydration, combined with surf or heatstroke, and respiratory problems due to increased air pollution.
Likewise, the article emphasizes the importance of urban planning to mitigate the formation of UHI, integrating the concepts of smart cities, urban ecology and bioclimatic architecture. Furthermore, the crucial contribution of increasing green spaces was highlighted as one of the best ways to mitigate these phenomena, with special attention to water availability and its sustainable use.
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