This month’s heat wave may have subsided, but experts say extreme heat is no longer an occasional occurrence. As temperatures continue to rise across the United States, health experts warn that extreme heat remains the nation’s deadliest weather-related hazard. Researchers also say its dangers are not felt equally.
Several reports over the last few years have found that Black communities and other communities of color are often exposed to higher temperatures and face greater health risks during periods of extreme heat. Experts say those disparities are rooted in decades of housing, infrastructure and environmental policies that continue to shape how neighborhoods experience rising temperatures.
The issue recently drew renewed attention in a Word in Black opinion essay examining how extreme heat disproportionately affects Black communities. While writer Willy Blackmore highlighted the human impact of rising temperatures, research from universities and environmental organizations has found that historic disinvestment and discriminatory housing policies continue to leave many Black neighborhoods more vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.
Source: The Hidden Reason Extreme Heat Is More Dangerous In Many Black Communities
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