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Impact of temperature and pollution on health outcome

Guest Editors

Om P. Kurmi, PhD, Coventry University, UK
Worradorn Phairuang, PhD, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Chih-Da Wu, PhD, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan


BMC Public Health invited submissions for a Collection focusing on the impact of temperature and pollution on health outcome. As the global community grapples with the complex interplay between environmental factors and human health, this Collection aims to illuminate the multifaceted relationship between temperature variations, pollution levels, and health outcomes. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing evidence-based strategies to safeguard public health in the face of environmental challenges, informing policies and interventions for healthier, more resilient communities worldwide.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Om P. Kurmi, PhD, Coventry University, UK

Dr Om P. Kurmi is a distinguished respiratory and environmental epidemiologist who has held senior positions at renowned institutions such as the University of Oxford and McMaster University. Currently, he works as an associate professor in epidemiology and healthcare research at Coventry University and leads the cluster on life course epidemiology. His extensive research portfolio includes work on the health impacts, particularly lung health associated with airborne pollutants, climate change and lifestyle factors in children and adults in low- and middle-income countries. He has worked on several large prospective cohorts across all geographical regions, including in biobank studies. Notably, he has initiated a large family cohort in Nepal to investigate key health determinants, specifically focusing on children's lung health. He is the current chair of the Respiratory Epidemiology Group of the European Respiratory Society and a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health.

Worradorn Phairuang, PhD, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

Dr Worradorn Phairuang is a faculty member of the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Dr Phairuang’s main research focuses on the chemical and physical characteristics of airborne nanoparticles (PM0.1) and human health impact. His interests cover all the natural and anthropogenic sources, particularly biomass burning, including forest fire and agricultural residue burning. Dr Phairuang’s ongoing activities include continuously monitoring atmospheric pollutants, such as ambient nanoparticles and black carbon, at selected sites in Asian countries and evaluating their health effects.

Chih-Da Wu, PhD, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Professor Chih-Da Wu is a professor at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. He obtained a PhD in Forestry from National Taiwan University and pursued postdoctoral studies at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research focuses on investigating the effects of air pollution, environmental greenness, and global warming on human health using GIS, remote sensing, and big data analysis. His recent work includes innovative air pollution modelling using Geospatial-Artificial Intelligence (Geo-AI) approaches to estimate the spatial variation of air pollution and bioaerosol concentration in 2D and 3D. He also examines the health effects of environmental factors, aiming to develop strategies for improving public health and environmental sustainability.

About the Collection

BMC Public Health invites submissions to our new Collection, Impact of temperature and pollution on health outcome.

As the global community grapples with the complex interplay between environmental factors and human health, this Collection aims to illuminate the multifaceted relationship between temperature variations, pollution levels, and health outcomes. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing evidence-based strategies to safeguard public health in the face of environmental challenges, informing policies and interventions for healthier, more resilient communities worldwide.

In recent years, our understanding of how environmental factors influence public health has expanded significantly. From heat waves exacerbated by climate change to urban air pollution, the effects of environmental conditions on health are becoming increasingly apparent. This Collection seeks to delve deeper into this critical intersection, exploring not only the direct health impacts of temperature and pollution but also the underlying mechanisms and potential mitigating strategies.
We welcome submissions across a range of topics, including but not limited to:

  • Heatwaves and cardiovascular health
  • Air pollution and respiratory diseases
  • Urban heat islands and vulnerable populations
  • Temperature extremes and mental health
  • Long-term exposure to air pollutants and health risks
  • Health disparities in polluted areas
  • Heat-related morbidity and mortality
  • Particulate matter pollution and adverse health effects 
  • Green spaces and mitigation of health hazards
  • Temperature variability and infectious diseases
  • Policy responses to temperature and pollution-related health issues


This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 


Image credit: © [M] Jon Anders Wiken / stock.adobe.com

  1. Depression poses a significant global public health challenge, affecting millions of people worldwide. The utilization of renewable energy holds potential for improving mental health by reducing air pollution ...

    Authors: Zheng Zhang, Huijie Xu, Cui Liping and Yuanyuan Wang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1676
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is a widely used insect repellent with potential neurotoxic effects. However, its impact on mental health in the general population remains unclear. This study investigates the ...

    Authors: Huangxin Zhu, Ruyi Tao, Qingyun Yu, Miao Yu, Yue Zhou and Qingan Fu
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1658
    Content type: Research Published on:

  5. The worldwide prevalence of renal disease is substantial, with a significant impact on public health and the economy due to the high rates of mortality and morbidity associated with this condition. It is antic...

    Authors: Jinshi Zhang, Binqi Wang, Binxian Ye, Bin Zhu and Yueming Liu
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1596
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. Air pollutants and outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) are known health risks, with established effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. However, their impact on cognitive function, particularly ...

    Authors: Hongmiao Tao, Guozhong Chen, Lin Wu and Hongqiang Lou
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1591
    Content type: Research Published on:

  7. This study evaluates the burden of ischemic stroke attributable to air pollution in China from 1990 to 2021, examines gender and age-specific differences, and projects future disease burden trends from 2022 to...

    Authors: Zhengfeng Yu, Xiuyun Zhang, Xiaomei Fu, Xuemin Jia, Mingyan Ju, Yuxuan Zhang, Yuying Li, Ying Yin and Fanjie Liu
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1567
    Content type: Research Published on:

  8. Recent Western studies link long-term particulate matter (PM) exposure to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) progression, but little is known for low- and middle–income countries. This study aimed to estimate the...

    Authors: Mengxiao Hu, Xiaowei Hao, Yunquan Zhang, Xiaofeng Sun, Meng Zhang, Jingyi Zhao and Qing Wang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1565
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. Dengue fever is a globally prevalent arbovirus disease that poses a serious challenge to global health. Therefore, analyzing the relationship between dengue fever incidence and meteorological factors and devel...

    Authors: Yunyun Cheng, Rong Cheng, Ting Xu, Xiuhui Tan, Yanping Bai and Jing Yang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1516
    Content type: Research Published on:

  10. Emerging evidence links air pollution to respiratory infections, yet systematic assessments in cold regions remain limited. This study evaluates the short-term effects of six major air pollutants on influenza-...

    Authors: Yang Pan, Laishun Yao, Biao Huang, Yinghua He, Changxi Xu, Xianda Yang, Yingying Ma, Zhidi Wang, Xingyu Wang, Hong Zhu, Man Wang, Lijun Song, Xiao Liu, Guiping Yu, Lin Ye and Liting Zhou
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1456
    Content type: Research Published on:

  11. Limited epidemiological evidence exists on the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollutants and respiratory pathogen infections. This study investigates the association between short-term air pol...

    Authors: Wenhan Cao, Huimin Huang, Zhenglin Chang, Zhiman Liang, Haiyang Li, Zhangkai Cheng and Baoqing Sun
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1411
    Content type: Research Published on:

  12. Urbanization and industrial activities have significantly contributed to the deterioration of air quality, with ambient particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) posing a major public health concern in most cities of d...

    Authors: Justus Kamara, Stephen Kishinhi, Asinta Manyele, Happiness Saronga and Jovine Bachwenkizi
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1314
    Content type: Research Published on:

  13. Climate change has significantly impacted the diurnal temperature range (DTR), particularly in tropical regions of China, where DTR fluctuations are more frequent. While previous studies have primarily focused...

    Authors: Wangyang Gu, Yabin Hu, Qinpeng Li, Huike Feng, Yihao Xue, Linling Xu, Yang Chen, Yushi Zhou, Shilu Tong and Shijian Liu
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1302
    Content type: Research Published on:

  14. There is growing evidence that exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with impaired cognitive function. However, limited studies have specifically examined the relationship between PM exposure and d...

    Authors: Jingyi Zhu, Shuaibo Wang, Peizheng Li, Fengping Li, Benchao Li, Lu Ma, Shuang Rong and Jingling Liao
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1289
    Content type: Research Published on:

  15. While acute appendicitis poses a significant disease burden worldwide, its etiology is not completely known. Previous studies have separately demonstrated its associations with ambient temperature and seasonal...

    Authors: On Tai Ken Yu, Xiaoting Jiang, Conglu Li, Yawen Wang, Yuchen Wei and Ka Chun Chong
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1191
    Content type: Research Published on:

  16. Prior research has yielded incongruent results about the association between air pollutants and offspring hemoglobin levels, as well as between air pollutants and child development. This may be because previou...

    Authors: Xingyi Jin, Di Wu, Fei Ge, Dan Cui, Ayidana Jumabieke, Xiaoli Wang, Rui Wang, Niannian Wang, Jihan Sun, Wang Liao, Da Pan, Li Shao, Shaokang Wang, Chunyan Yuan and Guiju Sun
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:1187
    Content type: Research Published on:

  17. Climate change is making the existing health problems worse and also introducing new health problem and therefore calls for a wider evaluation of climate sensitive global diseases. The review sought to assess ...

    Authors: Chalachew Yenew, Gashaw Melkie Bayeh, Asaye Alamneh Gebeyehu, Anley Shiferaw Enawgaw, Zufan Alamrie Asmare, Amare Genetu Ejigu, Tilahun Degu Tsega, Abathun Temesgen, Rahel Mulatie Anteneh, Zeamanuel Anteneh Yigzaw, Getasew Yirdaw, Sintayehu Simie Tsega, Ahmed Fentaw Ahmed and Almaw Genet Yeshiwas
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:914
    Content type: Systematic Review Published on:

  18. Metabolic diseases (MDs), exemplified by diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, have become increasingly prevalent with rising living standards, posing significant public health challenges. The MDs are infl...

    Authors: Jingjing Liu, Chang Liu, Zhangdaihong Liu, Yibin Zhou, Xiaoguang Li and Yang Yang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:831
    Content type: Research Published on:

  19. Both climate change and intentional injuries (suicide attempts and violence) are recognized as crucial factors that affect human health. Previous studies revealed the association between ambient temperatures a...

    Authors: Jiwoo Park, Jieun Oh, Whanhee Lee, Yeonsu Kim, Jeong Ho Park, Ho Kim and Seungsik Hwang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:457
    Content type: Research Published on:

  20. Particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) is a significant air pollutant known to adversely affect respiratory health and increase the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary dis...

    Authors: Huan Minh Tran, Feng-Jen Tsai, Yuan-Hung Wang, Kang-Yun Lee, Jer-Hwa Chang, Chi-Li Chung, Chien-Hua Tseng, Chien-Ling Su, Yuan-Chien Lin, Tzu-Tao Chen, Kuan-Yuan Chen, Shu-Chuan Ho, Feng-Ming Yang, Sheng-Ming Wu, Kian Fan Chung, Kin-Fai Ho…
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:424
    Content type: Research Published on:

  21. Although meteorological factors are connected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) incidence, available findings have been inconsistent. This study was performed to systematically evaluate t...

    Authors: Guangju Mo, Hongmei Zhu, Jing Li, Huaiping Zhu and Qiyong Liu
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:340
    Content type: Research Published on:

  22. The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) in California is one of the most polluted regions in the U.S. This study examined favorability for air pollution mitigation policies, interventions, and identified predictors among...

    Authors: Gilda Zarate-Gonzalez, Paul Brown and Ricardo Cisneros
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:263
    Content type: Research Published on:

  23. Air pollution has become a significant global public health concern, with evidence linking it to various adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. While numerous studies have ...

    Authors: Mehmet Kılınçer and Ersan Gürsoy
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2025 25:16
    Content type: Research Published on:

  24. Terpenes have been shown to have an effect on metabolic status. However, it is unclear how they are associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and whether insulin resistance (IR) mechanisms are involved.

    Authors: Dan’an Wang, Wei Zhang, Zhenni Zhao, Duanbin Li, Yuan Fang, Zijie Wang, Jingyi Lv, Yi Luan and Wenbin Zhang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:3587
    Content type: Research Published on:

  25. It is common to protect people from air pollution by wearing masks, but how much of its health effect on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the mask intervention a...

    Authors: Yulin Shi, Xiaonan Wang, Ning Li, WanWei Li, Xianfeng Meng, Baohua Wang and Xia Wan
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:3577
    Content type: Research Published on:

  26. Numerous existing studies reported the negative impacts of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on respiratory mortality. However, the evidence of related high-risk populations was considerably limited, especially asso...

    Authors: Hyewon Yun, Seoyeong Ahn, Jieun Oh, Cinoo Kang, Ayoung Kim, Dohoon Kwon, Sojin Ahn, Jiwoo Park, Jinah Park, Ejin Kim, Ho Kim and Whanhee Lee
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:3484
    Content type: Research Published on:

  28. People living with HIV (PLWH) are more vulnerable to infectious and non-infectious comorbidities due to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction. Air pollution is a major global health risk, contributing to...

    Authors: Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib, Suhas Ballal, Pooja Bansal, Kiran Bhopte, Abhay M. Gaidhane, Balvir S. Tomar, Ayash Ashraf, M. Ravi Kumar, Ashish Singh Chauhan, Sanjit Sah, Muhammed Shabil, Prakasini Satapathy, Diptismita Jena, Ganesh Bushi, Mahendra Pratap Singh…
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:3251
    Content type: Systematic Review Published on:

  30. During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-therapeutic interventions (NPIs), such as traffic restrictions, work stoppages, and school suspensions, have led to a sharp decline in the concentration of air pollutants in t...

    Authors: Chaohua Wei, Zhuchao Wu, Xinlan Mao, Zheyue Wang, Qiang Zhang, Weimin Kong, Jianning Xu, Jian Sun and Jianming Wang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:3069
    Content type: Research Published on:

  31. Particulate matter (PM), including the major risk factor for lung cancer (LC), greatly impacts human health. Although numerous studies have highlighted spatiotemporal patterns and PM-LC associations, these stu...

    Authors: Basanta Kumar Neupane, Bipin Kumar Acharya, Chunxiang Cao, Min Xu, Hemraj Bhattarai, Yujie Yang and Shaohua Wang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:2945
    Content type: Systematic Review Published on:

  32. Air quality health index (AQHI), as a developed air quality risk communication tool, has been proved to be more accurate in predicting air quality related health risks than air quality index (AQI) by previous ...

    Authors: Qiang Zeng, Yu Bai, Mengnan Zhang and Yang Ni
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:2895
    Content type: Research Published on:

  33. In February 2022, a fertilizer plant fire burned for four days and displaced thousands of residents, who were mainly low-income and Black or Latino, from their homes in Winston Salem, NC. In partnership with B...

    Authors: Rachel Zimmer, Ashley Strahley, Aylin Aguilar, Kimberly Montez, Deepak Palakshappa, Amresh Hanchate, Camila A. Pulgar, Mia Yang, Justin B. Moore, Rowie Kirby-Straker, Crystal Dixon and Callie L. Brown
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:2817
    Content type: Research Published on:

  34. Exposure to air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease-related deaths and morbidity, including stroke. However, few studies have examined the global stroke burden linked to air pollution. This study a...

    Authors: Yu-xiang Fan, Wen Zhang, Wei Li, Yong-jie Ma and Hong-qi Zhang
    Citation: BMC Public Health 2024 24:2786
    Content type: Research Published on: