The Effect of Heat Waves on Mental Health in a Temperate Australian City

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify mental, behavioral, and cognitive disorders that may be triggered or exacerbated during heat waves, predisposing individuals to heat-related morbidity and mortality. Design: Using health outcome data from Adelaide, South Australia, for 1993–2006, we estimated the effect of heat waves on hospital admissions and mortalities attributed to mental, behavioral, and cognitive disorders. We analyzed data using Poisson regression accounting for overdispersion and controlling for season and long-term trend, and we performed threshold analysis using hockey stick regression. Results: Above a threshold of 26.7°C, we observed a positive association between ambient temperature and hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders. Compared with non–heat-wave periods, hospital admissions increased by 7.3% during heat waves. Specific illnesses for which admissions increased included organic illnesses, including symptomatic mental disorders ; dementia ; mood (affective) disorders ; neurotic, stress related, and somatoform disorders ; disorders of psychological development ; and senility. Mortalities attributed to mental and behavioral disorders increased during heat waves in the 65- to 74-year age group and in persons with schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders. Dementia deaths increased in those up to 65 years of age. Conclusion: Our results suggest that episodes of extreme heat pose a salient risk to the health and well-being of the mentally ill. Relevance to Clinical or Professional Practice: Improvements in the management and care of the mentally ill need to be addressed to avoid an increase in psychiatric morbidity and mortality as heat waves become more frequent.Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke, Philip Ryan, Dino Pisaniello and Graeme Tucke

Perceptions of Heat-Susceptibility in Older Persons: Barriers to Adaptation

The increase in the frequency of very hot weather that is a predicted consequence of climate change poses an emerging threat to public health. Extreme heat can be harmful to the health of older persons who are known to be amongst the most vulnerable in the community. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the ability of older persons to adapt to hot conditions, and barriers to adaptation. A qualitative study was conducted in Adelaide, Australia, involving focus groups and interviews with stakeholders including key personnel involved in aged care, community services, government sectors, emergency services and policy making. Findings revealed a broad range of factors that underpin the heat-susceptibility of the aged. These were categorized into four broad themes relating to: physiology and an age-related decline in health; socioeconomic factors, particularly those influencing air conditioning use; psychological issues including fears and anxieties about extreme heat; and adaptive strategies that could be identified as both enablers and barriers. As a consequence, the ability and willingness to undertake behavior change during heatwaves can therefore be affected in older persons. Additionally, understanding the control panels on modern air conditioners can present challenges for the aged. Improving heat-health knowledge and addressing the social and economic concerns of the older population will assist in minimizing heat-related morbidity and mortality in a warming climate

Risk factors, health effects and behaviour in older people during extreme heat: A survey in South Australia

Older people had a high incidence of hospitalisation during the 2009 heat wave in South Australia. We sought to explore resilience, behaviours, health risk factors and health outcomes during recent heat waves for a representative sample of independently living residents. A telephone survey of 499 people aged 65 years and over was conducted, and included both metropolitan and rural residences. A variety of adaptive strategies were reported, with 75% maintaining regular appointments and activities during the heat. However, 74% took medication for chronic disease and 25% assessed their health status to be fair to poor. In a multivariate model, factors associated with heat health outcomes included medication for mental health, heart failure, diabetes or respiratory health, reporting a reduced health status, use of mobility aids and being female. Compared with younger participants, those over 75 had more check-up calls and visits by family, friends and neighbours. However, confidence to call on support was associated with indicators of social isolation. The study indicates that older people are generally resilient, but interventions addressing multi-morbidity and medication interactions and social isolation should be developed.Monika Nitschke, Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson, Graeme Tucker, Jodie Avery and Eleonora Dal Grand

The dynamics of ligand exchange processes on magnesium (II), scandium (III) and yttrium (III) ions / by Dino Luigi Pisaniello

Typescript (photocopy)x, 152 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, 198

Test atmosphere generation report Pisaniello 1988 full.pdf

Describes a system of generating test atmospheres for occupational and environmental health. The system can be used for calibrating air sampling devices. It has been used for generating test atmospheres for studies of the skin absorption of toxic vapours and gase

Occupational exposure to organophosphorus pesticides: Two datasets containing glove performance and skin penetration experimental data, for use in exploratory case studies of factors influencing glove performance and skin penetration

This research comprises two types of data (glove performance studies and skin penetration studies) conducted in the Occupational & Environmental Hygiene Laboratory, The University of Adelaide, Thebarton campus between 2012 and 2015. In the studies, four formulated Organophosphorus Pesticides (OPs) (omethoate, mevinphos, dichlorvos and diazinon) were tested at full strength (concentrated) and application strength (diluted). Experiments were conducted at room temperature and an elevated temperature (37'C for skin studies, 45'C for glove performance studies). For the glove performance studies, the OPs were tested against two brands of elbow length PVC gloves (as unused, with exposure to UV and abrasion) and two types of disposable gloves used by the South Australian Ambulance workers (as individual and in combination), using ASTM permeation test cells. For the skin studies, the OPs were tested by in vitro approach, on donated abdominal human skin using static Franz diffusion cells.<br><br>2 Excel Files, 400 pages, 10Mb<br

Young worker injury experience in South Australia 1998-2007

This special report has been compiled by The University of Adelaide and provides an overview of young worker injury claims experience for a 10-year period. It aims to highlight occupational injury epidemiology and time trends, and will be of interest to public health practitioners dealing with adolescents and young adults