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Humid heat's nonlinear impact on school-age children' sleep health: Evidence from Guangdong, China.

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Title: Humid heat's nonlinear impact on school-age children' sleep health: Evidence from Guangdong, China.
Authors: Gao, Yuan1 (AUTHOR), Lin, Li-Zi1,2 (AUTHOR), Bao, Wen-Wen2 (AUTHOR), He, Wan-Ting2 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Yun-Ting2 (AUTHOR), Dong, Guang-Hui1,2 (AUTHOR) donggh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn, He, Shenjing1 (AUTHOR) sjhe@hku.hk
Source: Environmental Research. Nov2025:Part 2, Vol. 285, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: School children, Sleep hygiene, Health impact assessment, Hazards, Moisture, Overpressure (Education), Heat index
Geographic Terms: Guangdong Sheng (China), China
Abstract: Subtropical and tropical high-density cities are increasingly facing threats of humid heat and associated health issues under global warming. However, the nonlinear impact of humid heat on sleep health remains inadequately understood. This study utilizes data from Guangdong Province, China, and focuses on the often-neglected group of school-age children. Natural cubic spline (NCS) method is employed to assess the nonlinear impacts of humid heat exposures (air temperature (T), wet bulb temperature (W), Humidex (H)) on their sleep health. The exposure-disorder association curves indicate that humid heat is associated with significant increases of risks regarding sleep cycle and nighttime sweating, especially at mild and extreme levels. The relative risks (RRs) for the overall sleep disorder (SD) range from 1.146 (95 % CI: 1.032, 1.271) to 1.172 (1.062, 1.293) at the 50th percentile (T of 27.2 °C, W of 23.6 °C, and H of 36.8 °C). At the 99th percentile (T of 33.4 °C, W of 28.1 °C, and H of 46.4 °C), the RRs increase to between 1.249 (1.075, 1.450) and 1.353 (1.123, 1.629). Compared to traditional climate indicators, it is discovered that compound indicators better reveal the health impacts of high levels of humid heat exposure, highlighting incorporating humidity in health studies in these areas. Moreover, this study presents evidence and reveals that academic pressures heighten school-age children's vulnerability to humid heat, which cannot be mitigated by improving residential environments alone. Tailored strategies include enhancing thermal comfort in exercise areas and improve green spaces in neighborhoods and on campus. [Display omitted] • Humid heat significantly raises school-age children's risks of sleep cycle problems and sweating. • Risks are the highest at mild and extreme levels, with RRs reaching 1.146–1.172 and 1.249–1.353. • Compound indicators better reveal humid heat's health impact when above moderate levels. • Academic pressures increase school-age children's sensitivity to humid heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:Subtropical and tropical high-density cities are increasingly facing threats of humid heat and associated health issues under global warming. However, the nonlinear impact of humid heat on sleep health remains inadequately understood. This study utilizes data from Guangdong Province, China, and focuses on the often-neglected group of school-age children. Natural cubic spline (NCS) method is employed to assess the nonlinear impacts of humid heat exposures (air temperature (T), wet bulb temperature (W), Humidex (H)) on their sleep health. The exposure-disorder association curves indicate that humid heat is associated with significant increases of risks regarding sleep cycle and nighttime sweating, especially at mild and extreme levels. The relative risks (RRs) for the overall sleep disorder (SD) range from 1.146 (95 % CI: 1.032, 1.271) to 1.172 (1.062, 1.293) at the 50th percentile (T of 27.2 °C, W of 23.6 °C, and H of 36.8 °C). At the 99th percentile (T of 33.4 °C, W of 28.1 °C, and H of 46.4 °C), the RRs increase to between 1.249 (1.075, 1.450) and 1.353 (1.123, 1.629). Compared to traditional climate indicators, it is discovered that compound indicators better reveal the health impacts of high levels of humid heat exposure, highlighting incorporating humidity in health studies in these areas. Moreover, this study presents evidence and reveals that academic pressures heighten school-age children's vulnerability to humid heat, which cannot be mitigated by improving residential environments alone. Tailored strategies include enhancing thermal comfort in exercise areas and improve green spaces in neighborhoods and on campus. [Display omitted] • Humid heat significantly raises school-age children's risks of sleep cycle problems and sweating. • Risks are the highest at mild and extreme levels, with RRs reaching 1.146–1.172 and 1.249–1.353. • Compound indicators better reveal humid heat's health impact when above moderate levels. • Academic pressures increase school-age children's sensitivity to humid heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00139351
DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122360