SPPH OEH Seminar - Understanding the limits of heat tolerance in vulnerable populations in the face of rising global temperatures

By 2050, average summer temperatures in many areas across Canada will exceed 30°C (humidex equivalent exceeding 40°C). This will be paralleled by a near 5-fold increase in the number of extremely hot days from current levels. In response to this threat to population health, we must advance our understanding of the impacts of heat stress so that we can help Canadians adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures, which includes protecting workers in Ontario’s vital industries. In this presentation, we will examine the unique transformational research conducted by the Human and Environmental Research Unit of the University of Ottawa to define the human physiological tolerance to heat stress and how this practice-changing research is used to generate heat protection solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of all Canadians.

Glen Kenny
Professor
University of Ottawa