INTRODUCTION: This article aimed to investigate the effect of heat stress on cognitive performance and the blood concentration of stress hormones among workers of a foundry plant. METHODS: Seventy workers within the exposed (35 people) and unexposed (35 people) groups were studied. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index was measured for heat stress assessment. The cognitive performance tests were conducted using the Stroop color word test (SCWT) before and during working hours. For the assessment of the serum level of cortisol and the plasma level of adrenaline and noradrenaline, blood samples were taken during working hours from both groups. RESULTS: Only for SCWT III was there a significant relationship between heat stress and test duration, error rate and reaction time. The laboratory test results revealed significantly higher concentrations of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the exposed subjects than in the unexposed group. There existed a positive correlation between cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline and WBGT index and also test duration and reaction time of SCWT III, and number of errors of SCWT I, SCWT II and SCWT III during work. CONCLUSION: Heat stress can lead to an increase in the blood level of stress hormones, resulting in cognitive performance impairment.
INTRODUCTION: This article aimed to investigate the effect of heat stress on cognitive performance and the blood concentration of stress hormones among workers of a foundry plant. METHODS: Seventy workers within the exposed (35 people) and unexposed (35 people) groups were studied. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index was measured for heat stress assessment. The cognitive performance tests were conducted using the Stroop color word test (SCWT) before and during working hours. For the assessment of the serum level of cortisol and the plasma level of adrenaline and noradrenaline, blood samples were taken during working hours from both groups. RESULTS: Only for SCWT III was there a significant relationship between heat stress and test duration, error rate and reaction time. The laboratory test results revealed significantly higher concentrations of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the exposed subjects than in the unexposed group. There existed a positive correlation between cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline and WBGT index and also test duration and reaction time of SCWT III, and number of errors of SCWT I, SCWT II and SCWT III during work. CONCLUSION: Heat stress can lead to an increase in the blood level of stress hormones, resulting in cognitive performance impairment.
Authors: June T Spector; Jennifer Krenz; Miriam Calkins; Dawn Ryan; Jose Carmona; Mengjie Pan; Anna Zemke; Paul D Sampson Journal: Appl Ergon Date: 2017-09-15 Impact factor: 3.661
Authors: Megan K Suter; Kristin A Miller; Ike Anggraeni; Kristie L Ebi; Edward T Game; Jennifer Krenz; Yuta J Masuda; Lianne Sheppard; Nicholas H Wolff; June T Spector Journal: Environ Res Lett Date: 2019-07-26 Impact factor: 6.793
Authors: Parvin Nassiri; Mohammad Reza Monazzam; Farideh Golbabaei; Somayeh Farhang Dehghan; Aliakbar Shamsipour; Mohammad Javad Ghanadzadeh; Mehdi Asghari Journal: J Environ Health Sci Eng Date: 2020-05-04
Authors: Masoud Hamerezaee; Somayeh F Dehghan; Farideh Golbabaei; Asad Fathi; Loghman Barzegar; Naseh Heidarnejad Journal: Saf Health Work Date: 2017-07-18