In the record-breaking warm June of 2023, nearly 900 more people died in the Netherlands than would normally be expected. The heat coincided with exceptionally high grass pollen concentrations and poor air quality. This unhealthy mix may have contributed to the excess mortality. And the problem wasn't limited to the Netherlands: extreme heat is estimated to have claimed the lives of 47,000 Europeans in 2023. As climate change progresses, these health risks will likely increase further.
This is why the GoHot study was recently launched: Healthy Coping with Heat and Pollen in a Changing Climate. Led by biologist Arnold van Vliet (Wageningen University), with thermophysiologist Hein Daanen (VU Amsterdam) as principal applicant, a consortium of 16 organisations has come together to investigate this urgent issue. The research is made possible through funding from ZonMw and brings together a wide range of expertise.
GoHot examines how exposure to heat, pollen, and air pollution affects our health. The team analyses existing data on mortality, hospital admissions, pollen concentrations, and environmental factors. Who faces the greatest risk? And which interventions are effective without inadvertently causing new problems?
For instance, ventilating your home on hot days may bring relief, but it can also allow more pollen and polluted air inside. The research also looks at the effect of simple strategies such as cooling clothing, foot baths, or even eating ice cream. However, knowing who is at risk, when and where, and what can be done, doesn’t automatically lead to behavioural change. The study also explores what motivates people and organisations to actually act on the information.
One of the key focus groups is vulnerable individuals, babies, for example. How do they respond to heat? Surprisingly little is known about this. To find out more, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is conducting a study involving babies aged 3 to 13 months. Parents and their babies take part in two safe and carefully monitored sessions that explore how infants regulate their body temperature. explains the study in more detail.
For more information on this research project, .