More women die in heatwaves, but biology 'isn't main cause'
In country after country, more women are dying from the heat than men. But researchers say biology isn't the main reason. Age, working conditions, and unequal access to rest may drive the gap.
Recent heatwaves in Europe have revealed that more women are dying than men, despite claims that biology is the main cause. Germany's heat season of 2022 saw 56% more heat-related deaths among women, and this trend is continuing this year. However, experts argue that hormonal differences and body composition do not explain the disparity.
Rather, factors such as living conditions and social environment play a larger role. Women are more likely to seek medical help, which could contribute to the higher death count. Additionally, women often work in environments with less heat safety measures and are responsible for household tasks that may be impacted by heat stress, such as cooking and cleaning.
The root cause of this disparity lies in social structures, where women are disproportionately exposed to heat stress in their work.
Written by urgent.news from Deutsche Welle Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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