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Students’ Perceived Heat-Health Symptoms Increased with Warmer Classroom Temperatures

Author

Listed:
  • Shalin Bidassey-Manilal

    (Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Caradee Y. Wright

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Jacobus C. Engelbrecht

    (Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Patricia N. Albers

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Rebecca M. Garland

    (Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    Climatology Research Group, North West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Mamopeli Matooane

    (Tlhoeko Environmental Consultants, Maseru 100, Lesotho)

Abstract

Temperatures in Africa are expected to increase by the end of the century. Heat-related health impacts and perceived health symptoms are potentially a problem, especially in public schools with limited resources. Students ( n = 252) aged ~14–18 years from eight high schools completed an hourly heat-health symptom log over 5 days. Data loggers measured indoor classroom temperatures. A high proportion of students felt tired (97.2%), had low concentration (96.8%) and felt sleepy (94.1%) during at least one hour on any day. There were statistically significant correlations, when controlling for school cluster effect and time of day, between indoor temperatures ≥32 °C and students who felt tired and found it hard to breathe. Consistently higher indoor classroom temperatures were observed in classrooms constructed of prefabricated asbestos sheeting with corrugated iron roof and converted shipping container compared to brick classrooms. Longitudinal studies in multiple seasons and different classroom building types are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Shalin Bidassey-Manilal & Caradee Y. Wright & Jacobus C. Engelbrecht & Patricia N. Albers & Rebecca M. Garland & Mamopeli Matooane, 2016. "Students’ Perceived Heat-Health Symptoms Increased with Warmer Classroom Temperatures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:6:p:566-:d:71541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dapi N., Léonie & Rocklov, Joacim & Nguefack-Tsague, Georges & Tetanye, Ekoe & Kjellstrom, Tord, 2010. "Heat impact on schoolchildren in Cameroon, Africa: potential health threat from climate change," MPRA Paper 27335, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 06 Nov 2010.
    2. Liang, Han-Hsi & Lin, Tzu-Ping & Hwang, Ruey-Lung, 2012. "Linking occupants’ thermal perception and building thermal performance in naturally ventilated school buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 355-363.
    3. Rebecca M. Garland & Mamopeli Matooane & Francois A. Engelbrecht & Mary-Jane M. Bopape & Willem A. Landman & Mogesh Naidoo & Jacobus Van der Merwe & Caradee Y. Wright, 2015. "Regional Projections of Extreme Apparent Temperature Days in Africa and the Related Potential Risk to Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-28, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junjian Wang & Zijun Li & Gang Li & Yu Xu, 2023. "Heat Hazard Control in High-Temperature Tunnels: Experimental Study of Coupled Cooling with Ventilation and Partial Insulation for Synergistic Geothermal Extraction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Nicholas Ngepah & Regina Conselho Mwiinga, 2022. "The Impact of Climate Change on Gender Inequality in the Labour Market: A Case Study of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-28, October.
    3. Caradee Y. Wright & D. Jean du Preez & Danielle A. Millar & Mary Norval, 2020. "The Epidemiology of Skin Cancer and Public Health Strategies for Its Prevention in Southern Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Shalin Bidassey-Manilal & Caradee Yael Wright & Thandi Kapwata & Joyce Shirinde, 2020. "A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Thandi Kapwata & Michael T. Gebreslasie & Angela Mathee & Caradee Yael Wright, 2018. "Current and Potential Future Seasonal Trends of Indoor Dwelling Temperature and Likely Health Risks in Rural Southern Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Matthew F. Chersich & Caradee Y. Wright & Francois Venter & Helen Rees & Fiona Scorgie & Barend Erasmus, 2018. "Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Wellbeing in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.

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