Dr. Inyang Uwak
Directora de Investigaciónes y Política
Extreme Heat In Houston
Houston’s summers are no longer just uncomfortable; they are becoming a serious and escalating public health threat. Across the region, extreme heat is sending residents to emergency departments, worsening chronic health conditions, and placing the greatest burden on people who already face the highest barriers to care.
Recent Houston Health Department data highlight the urgency of action. Since Abril 1, 2026, to the time of publication, there have been 2,117 emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses and 33 extreme heat days. These figures are higher than last summer and demonstrate the need to treat heat as a public health priority.
Heat and air pollution go hand in hand
Extreme heat and air pollution are closely linked because they can amplify each other and exacerbate health risks. Traffic-related and industrial emissions contribute to heat by releasing heat-trapping greenhouse gases.
One example, though not a greenhouse gas, is ozone, which forms when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight and heat. The American Lung Association’s 2026 State of the Air report ranked the Houston-Pasadena area sixth worst nationally for ozone pollution. The Houston region remains in nonattainment for ozone under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Together, extreme heat and ozone increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Who is most at risk?
Extreme heat does not impact everyone equally. Houston-based surveillance data show that Hispanic residents, males, and adults aged 65 and older are among the most affected. Older adults face particular risk because aging reduces the body’s ability to regulate temperature, including sweating and cooling down effectively. Many older adults also take medications that interfere with heat regulation.
Outdoor and construction workers in Houston, more than 60% of whom are Hispanic, endure intense heat every day. Existing protections, such as mandatory water breaks and heat safety training, often fall short. Strengthening policies-like expanding protective regulations-is critical to safeguard worker health and demonstrate a commitment to occupational safety.
Also, some parts of Houston that are urban heat islands experience higher temperatures than other outlying areas due to sparse tree coverage, highways, and impermeable surfaces like concrete and asphalt, which absorb and radiate heat. These neighborhoods saw a 14F difference in temperature between the hottest and coolest areas, putting residents at risk.
Houston needs proactive heat resilience strategies
Effective response requires shifting from reactive spending to proactive resilience investments. Community-based strategies like expanding neighborhood cooling centers, investing in early warning systems, and creating heat action plans enable residents, service providers, and local governments to act before heat illness occurs.
Building heat resilience also means tackling the air pollution that fuels climate change. We must stand against regulatory rollbacks, strengthen clean air protections, and invest in strategies that cut emissions and safeguard our health.
Extreme heat impacts the economy
Heat-related illness not only harms health but also threatens the stability of entire households. Missed workdays, reduced productivity, medical bills, and caring for ill loved ones can drain incomes, increase financial strain, and deepen existing inequalities. By investing in heat resilience, we support families, workers, and Houston’s future.
The Bottom Line
Houston must implement specific policies and community actions such as expanding cooling centers, passing the right to air conditioning for rental housing ordinance, strengthening worker protections, and enforcing stronger emissions control to effectively address extreme heat and air pollution as interconnected public health threats.
As summers grow ever hotter, safeguarding our most vulnerable communities must become the core of every public health decision. Families, workers, and older adults in Houston deserve proactive policies that protect them before the next extreme heat day arrives.
Thank you for reading, and remember to stay cool and hydrated.
Referencias
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/climate/extreme-heat-pollution-health.html
Su, J., Jiao, L. & Xu, G. Intensified exposure to compound extreme heat and ozone pollution in summer across Chinese cities. npj Clim Atmos Sci 8, 78 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00966-5
Zhou, S., Liao, C., Wei, Z. et al. Heat and air pollution shape divergent mortality patterns across rural and urban United States. npj Environ. Soc. Sci. 1, 4 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44432-025-00005-x