Ocean heat waves linked with poorer health among children in coastal communities
Marine heat waves—periods of abnormally warm ocean temperatures—may have negative health effects on children who live in coastal communities in low- and middle-income countries, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A recent study led by researchers at Penn State and the University of North Carolina has found that marine heat waves, periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures, may negatively impact the health of children living in coastal communities in low- and middle-income countries. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that exposure to marine heat waves is linked to increased risks of acute and chronic malnutrition, as well as child mortality.
This is likely due to marine heat waves disrupting fish populations, which are a crucial source of protein and micronutrients for many coastal communities. The researchers emphasize that climate change is affecting various Earth systems that are critical to human health and survival, particularly in coastal communities that rely on the ocean for food and financial support.
They argue that more attention should be given to the unique climate-related risks faced by coastal populations, including the increasing frequency and severity of marine heat waves.
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