Heat related research papers

Over summer, South Australia experiences periods of extremely hot weather. These extreme heat events, where maximum temperatures are above 40°C over a number of days with little relief during the night, have resulted in some people becoming ill. However, illness from the heat can be prevented.

Researchers at SA Health have been working with The University of Adelaide to investigate how to prevent poor health during extreme heat. The areas of research include:

• the types of health effects from extreme heat
• who is at risk and what are the risk factors
• how climate change is predicted to affect extreme heat events

Reports, summaries of research papers and peer-reviewed publications can be accessed from the links below. Topics include:

• health impacts of heatwaves in the Adelaide metropolitan area
• older people
• culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• community, climate change and extreme heat
• how heat affects the workplace

If only an abstract is available for the article you want to read, please contact monika.nitschke@sa.gov.au to request a full version of the article.

Health impacts of heatwaves in the Adelaide metropolitan area

• Regional morbidity and mortality during heatwaves in South Australia Susan Williams, Kamalesh Venugopal, Monika Nitschke, John Nairn, Robert Fawcett, Chris Beattie, Graeme Wynwood, Peng Bi. International Journal of Biometeorology, 2018.
• Heat-health warnings in regional Australia: examining public perceptions and responses Susan Williams, Scott Hanson-Easey, Monika Nitschke, Stuart Howell, John Nairn, Chris Beattie, Graeme Wynwood, Peng Bi. Environmental Hazards, 2018.
• The impact of daily temperature on renal disease incidence: an ecological study Matthew Borg, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke, Susan Williams, Stephen McDonald. Environmental Health, 2017.
• Extreme heat and the risk to your health - an article for health practitioners (PDF 892KB) Monika Nitschke, Alana Hansen, Susan Williams, Peng Bi. Department for Health and Wellbeing, 2018 (Published in MedicSA, 2017).
• Risk factors of direct heat-related hospital admissions during the 2009 heatwave in Adelaide, Australia: a matched case-control study Ying Zhang, Monika Nitschke, Antoinette Krackowizer, Keith Dear, Dino Pisaniello, Philip Weinstein, Graeme Tucker, Sepehr Shakib, Peng Bi. BMJ Open, 2016.
• Risk factors for deaths during the 2009 heat wave in Adelaide, Australia: a matched case-control study Ying Zhang, Monika Nitschke, Antoinette Krackowizer, Keith Dear, Dino Pisaniello, Philip Weinstein, Graeme Tucker, Sepehr Shakib, Peng Bi. International Journal of Biometeorology, 2016.
• Evaluation of a heat warning system in Adelaide, using case-series analysis Monika Nitschke, Graeme Tucker, Alana Hansen, Susan Williams, Ying Zhang, Peng Bi. BMJ Open, 2016.
• Heat and health in Adelaide, South Australia: assessment of heat thresholds and temperature relationships Susan Williams, Monika Nitschke, Thomas Sullivan, Graeme R Tucker, Philip Weinstein, Dino L Pisaniello, Kevin A Parton, Peng Bi. Science of The Total Environment, 2012.
• Risk factors for direct heat-related hospitalisation during the 2009 Adelaide heatwave - a case crossover study Ying Zhang, Monika Nitschke, Peng Bi. Science of The Total Environment, 2012.
• Impact of two recent extreme heat episodes on morbidity and mortality in Adelaide, South Australia - a case-series analysis Monika Nitschke, Graeme R Tucker, Alana L Hansen, Susan Williams, Ying Zhang, Peng Bi. Environmental Health, 2011.
• Extreme heat arrangements in South Australia: an assessment of trigger temperatures Susan Williams, Monika Nitschke, Graeme Tucker, Peng Bi. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2011.
• The unfolding story of heat waves in metropolitan Adelaide (PDF 545KB) Monika Nitschke, Graeme Tucker. Department of Health South Australia, 2009.
• The effect of heat waves on mental health in a temperate Australian city Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke, Philip Ryan, Dino Pisaniello, Graeme Tucker. Environmental Medicine, 2008.
• The effect of heat waves on hospital admissions for renal disease in a temperate city of Australia Alana L Hansen, Peng Bi, Philip Ryan, Monika Nitschke, Dino Pisaniello, Graeme Tucker. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2008.
• Morbidity and mortality during heatwaves in metropolitan Adelaide Monika Nitschke, Graeme R Tucker, Peng Bi. The Medical Journal of Australia, 2007.

^ Back to top

Older people

• Heat-health behaviours of older people in two Australian states Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Monika Nitschke, Graeme Tucker, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson, Eleonora Dal Grande, Jodie Avery, Ying Zhang, Liza Kelsall. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2014. 
• Adaptive capabilities in the elderly during extreme heat events in South Australia - a report (PDF 289KB) Monika Nitschke, Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson, Graeme Tucker, Eleonora Dal Grande, Jodie Avery. Department of Health South Australia and University of Adelaide, 2013.
• Risk factors, health effects and behaviour in older people during extreme heat Monika Nitschke, Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson, Graeme Tucker, Jodie Avery, Eleonora Dal Grande. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013.
• Perceptions of heat-susceptibility in older persons - barriers to adaptation Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke, Dino Pisaniello, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2011.
• Older persons and heat-susceptibility: the role of health promotion in a changing climate Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke, Dino Pisaniello, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2011. 

^ Back to top

Culturally and linguistically diverse communities

• Extreme heat and cultural and linguistic minorities in Australia: perceptions of stakeholders Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke, Arthur Saniotis, Jill Benson, Yan Tan, Val Smyth, Leigh Wilson, Gil-Soo Han, Lillian Mwanri, Peng Bi. BMC Public Health, 2014.
• Vulnerability to extreme heat and climate change: is ethnicity a factor? Alana Hansen, Linda Bi, Arthur Saniotis, Monika Nitschke. Global Health Action, 2013
• Adaptation in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Arthur Saniotis, Monika Nitschke, Jill Benson, Yan Tan, Val Smyth, Leigh Wilson, Gil-Soo Han. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, 2013.

^ Back to top

Community, climate change and extreme heat

• Developing health-related indicators of climate change: Australian stakeholder perspectives Maryam Navi, Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke, Scott Hanson-Easey, Dino Pisaniello. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017.
• Potential Health Outcome and Vulnerability Indicators of Climate Change for Australia: Evidence for Policy Development Maryam Navi, Dino Pisaniello, Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 2016.
• Building community resilience to heat waves in South Australia Arthur Saniotis, Alana Hansen, Debbie Kralik, Paul Arbon, Monika Nitschke, Peng Bi. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 2015.
• Heatwaves and climate change: applying the health belief model to identify predictors of risk perception and adaptive behaviours in Adelaide, Australia Derick A. Akompab, Peng Bi, Susan Williams, Janet Grant, Iain A. Walker, Martha Augoustinos. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013.
• Public understanding of climate change and adaptation in South Australia Scott Hanson-Easey, Peng Bi, Sue Williams, Monika Nitschke, Arthur Saniotis, Ying Zhang, Katherine Hodgetts. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, 2013.
• Extreme heat and health: perspectives from health service providers in rural and remote communities in South Australia Susan Williams, Peng Bi, Jonathan Newbury, Guy Robinson, Dino Pisaniello, Arthur Saniotis, Alana Hansen. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013.
• Awareness of and attitudes towards heat waves within the context of climate change among a cohort of residents in Adelaide, Australia Derick A. Akompab, Peng Bi, Susan Williams, Janet Grant, Iain A. Walker and Martha Augoustinos. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012.
• Engaging stakeholders in an adaptation process: governance and institutional arrangements in heat-health policy development in Adelaide, Australia Derick A. Akompab, Peng Bi, Susan Williams, Arthur Saniotis, Iain A. Walker, Martha Augoustinos. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2012

^ Back to top

How heat affects the workplace

• Heatwave and work-related injuries and illnesses in Adelaide, Australia: a case-crossover analysis using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) as a universal heatwave index Blesson M. Varghese, Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke, John Nairn, Scott Hanson-Easey, Peng Bi. Dino Pisaniello, International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2019.
• The effects of ambient temperatures on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses: Evidence from Adelaide, Australia 2003–2013 Blesson Varghese, Adrian Barnett, Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Scott Hanson-Easey, Jane Heyworth, Malcolm R Sim, Dino Pisaniello. Environmental Research, 2019.
• Correlates of Occupational Heat-Induced Illness Costs: Case Study of South Australia 2000 to 2014 Jianjun Xiang, Alana Hansen, Dino Pisaniello, Keith Dear, Peng Bi. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2018.
• What Can We Learn about Workplace Heat Stress Management from a Safety Regulator Complaints Database? Alana Hansen, Dino Pisaniello, Blesson Varghese, Shelley Rowett, Scott Hanson-Easey, Peng Bi, Monika Nitschke. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018.
• Are workers at risk of occupational injuries due to heat exposure? A comprehensive literature review Blesson M. Varghese, Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello. Safety Science, 2018.
• Workers’ perceptions of climate change related extreme heat exposure in South Australia: a cross-sectional survey Jianjun Xiang, Alana Hansen, Dino Pisaniello, Peng Bi. BMC Public Health, 2016.
• Perceptions of Workplace Heat Exposure and Controls among Occupational Hygienists and Relevant Specialists in Australia Jianjun Xiang, Alana Hansen, Dino Pisaniello, Peng Bi. PLOS One, 2015.
• Working smart: An exploration of council workers' experiences and perceptions of heat in Adelaide, South Australia Jessica Lao, Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke, Scott Hanson-Easey, Dino Pisaniello. Safety Science, 2015.
• Associations between high temperature and work-related injuries in Adelaide, 2001-2010 Jianjun Xiang, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Alana Hansen, Thomas Sullivan. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014.
• The impact of heatwaves on workers׳ health and safety in Adelaide, South Australia Jianjun Xiang, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Alana Hansen. Environmental Research, 2014.
• Extreme heat and occupational heat illnesses in South Australia, 2001-2010 Jianjun Xiang, Alana Hansen, Dino Pisaniello, Peng Bi. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014.
• Health impacts of workplace heat exposure: an epidemiological review Jianjun Xiang, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Alana Hansen. Industrial Health, 2013.