Heat Exposure and Birth Weight

In light of the anticipated rise in global temperatures, our study underscores the implications of climate change, particularly global warming, on early human health. Employing a regression framework and analyzing data from 50 developing countries, our investigation, featuring between-sibling comparisons, reveals a 0.333-g or 0.011 % reduction in a child’s weight at birth with each additional day where the maximum temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius during the prenatal period. Notably, the adverse effects are pronounced in the second trimester, with each extra day of temperatures surpassing 35 degrees Celsius associated with a 0.433-g or 0.014 % reduction in birth weight. Advocating for global initiatives, we stress the urgency of policy interventions to safeguard pregnant women and addressing the potential long-term impact of climate change on human development.