Heat summary - Chapter 12: chemicals and climate exposure
This page summarises Chapter 12 of the Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) report with a focus on the impact of heat on chemicals and climate exposure. This is part of the science and stats section for the hazard: heat.
Applies to England
CCHS navigation menu:
CCHS homepage
Topic: climate-related hazards
Hazard: all climate-related hazards, heat
Part of: heat summary - full HECC report
Key resources for HECC Chapter 12:
- Heat summary - Chapter 12: chemicals and climate exposure
- Chapter 12 full report (pdf)
Heat summary of Chapter 12
Human exposure to chemicals in the environment can negatively impact health. Changes to climatic factors like temperature, precipitation, humidity and erosion affect the behaviour of chemicals in the environment. These factors cause both direct releases of chemicals, as well as indirect reactions of chemicals in the environment.
Climate change is expected to cause the release of more chemicals into the environment, including harmful chemicals trapped in polar ice and high-altitude glaciers, which could melt due to hotter temperatures and release them.
Higher temperatures can also cause pollutants and pesticides to evaporate into the air, worsening air pollution and potentially leading to greater human exposure through air inhalation, leading to health issues like breathing and heart-related illness.
Heatwaves and hot weather can influence the transport and distribution of chemicals in the environment. Hot weather can also make pollutants like heavy metals more soluble, and it can also increase the movement of chemicals from soil and water into the atmosphere, meaning pollutants can affect wider areas.
Higher temperatures during heatwaves accelerate chemical reactions in the environment, leading to the formation of toxic by-products. For example, increased temperatures can enhance the conversion of mercury into its more toxic form, methylmercury, which can then accumulate in the food chain.
Heatwaves and hot weather can affect chemical storage and waste sites. Increased temperatures can lead to the release of stored chemicals into the environment.