Heat stress and heat strain among outdoor workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
exposure assessment
heat strain
heat stress
kidney disease
occupational health
Journal
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology
ISSN: 1559-064X
Titre abrégé: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101262796
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2023
07 2023
Historique:
received:
07
10
2022
accepted:
13
03
2023
revised:
02
03
2023
medline:
7
8
2023
pubmed:
12
4
2023
entrez:
11
4
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
There is growing attention on occupational heat stress in Central America, as workers in this region are affected by a unique form of chronic kidney disease. Previous studies have examined wet bulb globe temperatures and estimated metabolic rates to assess heat stress, but there are limited data characterizing heat strain among these workers. The aims were to characterize heat stress and heat strain and examine whether job task, break duration, hydration practices, and kidney function were associated with heat strain. We used data from the MesoAmerican Nephropathy Occupational Study, a cohort of 569 outdoor workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua who underwent workplace exposure monitoring, including continuous measurement of core body temperature (T Median WBGTs were relatively high (>27 °C) at most sites, particularly when work shifts spanned the afternoon hours (e.g., 29.2 °C among plantain workers). Sugarcane workers, especially cane cutters in both countries and Nicaraguan agrichemical applicators, had the highest estimated metabolic rates (medians: 299-318 kcal/hr). Most workers spent little time on break (<10% of the shift), as determined by physical activity data. Overall, sugarcane workers-particularly those in Nicaragua-experienced the highest T This is the largest study to-date examining heat stress and strain among outdoor workers in Central America. Workers at sugar companies regularly experienced T This study examined levels of occupational heat stress and heat strain experienced among outdoor workers in five industries in El Salvador and Nicaragua. We characterized heat stress using wet bulb globe temperatures and estimated metabolic rate and heat strain using core body temperature and heart rate. Sugarcane workers, particularly cane cutters and Nicaraguan agrichemical applicators, performed more strenuous work and experienced greater levels of heat strain. Impaired kidney function was associated with higher heart rates and core body temperatures.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
There is growing attention on occupational heat stress in Central America, as workers in this region are affected by a unique form of chronic kidney disease. Previous studies have examined wet bulb globe temperatures and estimated metabolic rates to assess heat stress, but there are limited data characterizing heat strain among these workers.
OBJECTIVE
The aims were to characterize heat stress and heat strain and examine whether job task, break duration, hydration practices, and kidney function were associated with heat strain.
METHODS
We used data from the MesoAmerican Nephropathy Occupational Study, a cohort of 569 outdoor workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua who underwent workplace exposure monitoring, including continuous measurement of core body temperature (T
RESULTS
Median WBGTs were relatively high (>27 °C) at most sites, particularly when work shifts spanned the afternoon hours (e.g., 29.2 °C among plantain workers). Sugarcane workers, especially cane cutters in both countries and Nicaraguan agrichemical applicators, had the highest estimated metabolic rates (medians: 299-318 kcal/hr). Most workers spent little time on break (<10% of the shift), as determined by physical activity data. Overall, sugarcane workers-particularly those in Nicaragua-experienced the highest T
SIGNIFICANCE
This is the largest study to-date examining heat stress and strain among outdoor workers in Central America. Workers at sugar companies regularly experienced T
IMPACT STATEMENT
This study examined levels of occupational heat stress and heat strain experienced among outdoor workers in five industries in El Salvador and Nicaragua. We characterized heat stress using wet bulb globe temperatures and estimated metabolic rate and heat strain using core body temperature and heart rate. Sugarcane workers, particularly cane cutters and Nicaraguan agrichemical applicators, performed more strenuous work and experienced greater levels of heat strain. Impaired kidney function was associated with higher heart rates and core body temperatures.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37041408
doi: 10.1038/s41370-023-00537-x
pii: 10.1038/s41370-023-00537-x
pmc: PMC10403352
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
622-630Subventions
Organisme : NIEHS NIH HHS
ID : R01 ES027584
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIEHS NIH HHS
ID : F31 ES030974
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIEHS NIH HHS
ID : T32 ES014562
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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