BUDAPEST, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Hungarian scientific paper published on Sunday warns people of the extreme heatwaves' effects on human health.
According to the paper, entitled "The effects of climate change on our health and healthsystem," the research by experts of Hungarian National Public Health Institute reveals "significant associations between daily mean temperature and mortality."
A three-level heat health warning system based on the daily mortality and meteorological data of Budapest was introduced in 2005.
"In 2007, the strongest heat wave ever hit Hungary was recorded," the paper recalls. "Based on real time mortality data an excess mortality of 36 percent was recorded in the Central Hungarian Region."
The study notes that in the summer periods of 2003-2012, besides 2007, there were two more extreme hot summers: 2003 and 2012.
The excess mortality was greater during the heat waves in June-July than in August. The association of emergency ambulance calls and daily mean temperatures was also studied using the data of Budapest. The increase of temperature significantly increased the calls due to cardiovascular diseases, while the greatest impact was revealed in the calls due to malaise, according to the paper.
The paper calls for more effective preventive measures to be in place to decrease vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity to adverse health impacts of climate change.
