The effect of tropical deforestation on heat exposure and subsequent human health outcomes remains understudied, especially among an increasingly vulnerable population – healthy, adult subsistence workers in rural industrializing tropical countries. We report on a field experiment that estimated the short-term effects of heat exposure from deforestation on cognitive performance. We randomly assigned rural, adult subsistence workers in East Kalimantan, Indonesia to deforested or forested settings, and standard or high incentive piece rate payments. Participants worked in forested or deforested settings for up to 90 minutes, where ambient and black globe temperatures in deforested areas were, on average, 2.1°C and 10°C higher. After completing the experimental task, participants were asked to take a validated general cognitive assessment test (CAT) and episodic memory test (EMT). We found participants in deforested settings had statistically significant lower scores on both CAT and EMT. Effects were largely driven by heat effects on male participants and those working after noon. Our results highlight how heat exposure from tropical deforestation may lead to declines in cognitive performance even in favorable work settings. Policymakers should consider how land use planning that takes into account the cooling services of trees can play a significant role in increasing resilience to heat from climate and land use change in the tropics.

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热带森林砍伐导致的高温暴露降低了农村工人的认知能力：一项实验研究

热带森林砍伐对高温暴露和随后的人类健康结果的影响仍未得到充分研究，尤其是在日益脆弱的人群中——热带工业化农村国家的健康成年自给工人。我们报告了一项实地实验，该实验估计了森林砍伐导致的热暴露对认知能力的短期影响。我们将印度尼西亚东加里曼丹的农村成年自给工人随机分配到森林砍伐或森林覆盖的环境中，以及标准或高奖励计件工资。参与者在森林或森林砍伐的环境中工作长达 90 分钟，森林砍伐地区的环境温度和黑球温度平均分别高出 2.1°C 和 10°C。完成实验任务后，参与者被要求进行经过验证的一般认知评估测试 (CAT) 和情景记忆测试 (EMT)。我们发现森林砍伐环境中的参与者在 CAT 和 EMT 上的得分在统计学上显着较低。影响主要是受热效应对男性参与者和中午后工作的人的影响。我们的结果强调了即使在有利的工作环境中，来自热带森林砍伐的高温暴露可能会导致认知能力下降。政策制定者应考虑考虑到树木冷却服务的土地利用规划如何在提高热带气候和土地利用变化带来的热量恢复能力方面发挥重要作用。影响主要是受热效应对男性参与者和中午后工作的人的影响。我们的结果强调了即使在有利的工作环境中，来自热带森林砍伐的高温暴露可能会导致认知能力下降。政策制定者应考虑考虑到树木冷却服务的土地利用规划如何在提高热带气候和土地利用变化带来的热量恢复能力方面发挥重要作用。影响主要是受热效应对男性参与者和中午后工作的人的影响。我们的结果强调了即使在有利的工作环境中，来自热带森林砍伐的高温暴露可能会导致认知能力下降。政策制定者应考虑考虑到树木冷却服务的土地利用规划如何在提高热带气候和土地利用变化带来的热量恢复能力方面发挥重要作用。