"In many parts of the world, it will not be safe to work in the summer."

BarcelonaNot only have temperatures risen sharply this June, but so has sunshine, which has been 30% higher according to records from the Fabra Observatory. Data from the Meteorological Service of Catalonia show how the high solar irradiation has been three points above the historical average, with 342.5 hours of sunshine recorded, also a monthly record.

"We had a June with few clouds, which translates into more hours of effective sunshine. This means more hours of direct sunlight than usual, which also has an impact on human health," Toni Barrera Escoda, from Meteocat, explains to ARA. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the most important factor in molecular DNA damage and, therefore, in the risk of developing cancer. "We are at the peak of radiation right now. It is crucial to protect yourself from the sun outdoors," adds Barrera Escoda.

Not only radiation is harmful to health, but also the heat itself. A few days ago, the Carlos III Institute in Madrid quantified the excess mortality caused by high temperatures in Europe at more than 43,000 direct deaths. In the case of Catalonia, this figure was 43 in June alone, the highest figure in a decade. One of these deaths was A 51-year-old cleaning worker from Barcelona died in the midst of a heat wave..

According to Xavier Basagaña, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), heat is a major stressor of human health and is associated with mortality in two cases. On the one hand, heat strokes, which although they cause fewer deaths, prey on people who work outdoors, such as seasonal fruit and construction workers, and also on people who play outdoor sports. And on the other hand, heat waves, which are associated with higher mortality and hospitalizations due to worsening health problems. "It usually affects people with some underlying health problem, such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases," explains Basagaña. In these cases, the additional heat stress prevents the body from maintaining a constant temperature, which can lead to acute effects, such as heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory crises.

The same thing happens in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, or pregnant women, who also have more difficulty maintaining a constant body temperature and may have difficulty identifying thirst, which can lead to dehydration.

The humidity that keeps you awake

Furthermore, in the case of Barcelona, ​​humidity is a factor. "The body usually cools itself through perspiration. In conditions of high humidity, sweat can't evaporate, and therefore we don't experience the cooling effect, causing the body to overheat. That's why the combination of heat and humidity is very dangerous for humans and animals," recalls Markus Donat, an Icrea researcher.

As if that weren't enough, and given the prospect of increasingly hot, scorching nights in Barcelona, ​​high temperatures at night prevent deep, restful sleep, which has a significant negative impact on health. "The body usually cools down a little before sleeping, but if the environment prevents this, it can't recover from the heat stress of the day," notes Basagaña, who points out that recent scientific studies have linked episodes of high-temperature nights with more episodes of sleep apnea. They also link them with more workplace accidents the following day and greater aggressiveness and a higher level of conflict.

"Workers may be tired and less attentive. During the day, due to the heat, especially those who work outdoors can suffer from dizziness and fainting," says the researcher. That's why many companies already have protocols adapted for climate emergency situations, where schedules are modified and breaks are adjusted so that the workforce can hydrate well and rest.

However, Basagaña warns that sometimes there are regulations that contradict each other: "For example, the fruit harvest can be brought forward, as is the case with the fruit campaign in Lleida, which has been brought forward to avoid peak sunlight hours, but in other sectors, such as construction, this is unfeasible."

In this sense, ISGlobal is conducting a study with construction workers to assess the temperatures to which they are exposed and adapt work protocols. "If we continue with the current temperature rise, there will come a time when it will no longer be safe to work in the summer in many parts of the world," Basagaña insists.