Burnt by the sun: disaggregating temperature's current and future impact on mortality in the Turkish context

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Ozen I. C.

NEW PERSPECTIVES ON TURKEY, cilt.64, ss.81-116, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 64
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1017/npt.2021.6
  • Dergi Adı: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON TURKEY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, ABI/INFORM, American History and Life, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.81-116
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Hot temperature, Mortality, Mediterranean region, Heterogeneity, Age groups, HEAT-RELATED MORTALITY, CLIMATE-CHANGE, HUMAN HEALTH, VARIABILITY, MORBIDITY, WAVE, STRESS, EUROPE, RISK
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Our study plans to quantify the effect of higher temperatures on different critical Turkish health outcomes mainly to chart future developments and to identify locations in Turkey that may be potential vulnerable hotspots. The general structure of the temperature mortality function was estimated with different fixed-level effects, with a specific focus on the mortality effect of maximum apparent temperature. Regional models were fitted to pinpoint the thresholds where the temperature-mortality relation changes, thus investigating whether the thresholds are determined nationally or regionally. The future patterns were estimated by extrapolating from future temperature trends: analyzing possible future mortality trends under the restricting assumption of minimal acclimation. Using the fixed effect regression structure, social and developmental variables acting as heat effect modifiers were also identified. In the largest dataset, the initial fixed effect regression specification supports the hypothesis summarized by the U-shaped relationship between temperature and mortality. This is a first corroboration for Turkish climate and health research. In addition, intermediation effects were substantiated for the level of urbanization and population density, and the human development and health development within provinces. Regional heterogeneity is substantiated by the mortality-temperature relationship and the significant threshold deviations from the national average.