June T Spector1, Jennifer Krenz2, Miriam Calkins3, Dawn Ryan4, Jose Carmona5, Mengjie Pan6, Anna Zemke7, Paul D Sampson8. 1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: spectj@u.washington.edu. 2. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: jkrenz@u.washington.edu. 3. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: miriac@u.washington.edu. 4. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: dmryan@u.washngton.edu. 5. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: carmonaj@u.washington.edu. 6. Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: mpan1@u.washington.edu. 7. College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: Anna.Zemke@osumc.edu. 8. Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: pds@u.washington.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate potential mediators of the relationship between heat exposure and traumatic injuries in outdoor agricultural workers. METHODS: Linear mixed models were used to estimate associations between maximum work-shift Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGTmax) and post-shift vigilance (reaction time) and postural sway (total path length) in a cross-sectional sample of 46 Washington State tree fruit harvesters in August-September 2015. RESULTS: The mean (SD) WBGTmax was 27.4 (3.2)°C in August and 21.2 (2.0)°C in September. The mean pre-work-shift participant urine specific gravity indicated minimal dehydration. Twenty-four percent of participants exhibited possible excessive sleepiness. There was no association between WBGTmax and post-shift reaction time or total path length. CONCLUSIONS: Heat exposure was not associated with impaired vigilance or balance in this study, in which the overall mean (SD) WBGTmax was 25.9 (4.2)°C. However, the study identified opportunities to ensure adequate pre-work-shift hydration and to optimize sleep and work-shift timing in order to reduce occupational injury and heat-related illness risk.
BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate potential mediators of the relationship between heat exposure and traumatic injuries in outdoor agricultural workers. METHODS: Linear mixed models were used to estimate associations between maximum work-shift Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGTmax) and post-shift vigilance (reaction time) and postural sway (total path length) in a cross-sectional sample of 46 Washington State tree fruit harvesters in August-September 2015. RESULTS: The mean (SD) WBGTmax was 27.4 (3.2)°C in August and 21.2 (2.0)°C in September. The mean pre-work-shift participant urine specific gravity indicated minimal dehydration. Twenty-four percent of participants exhibited possible excessive sleepiness. There was no association between WBGTmax and post-shift reaction time or total path length. CONCLUSIONS: Heat exposure was not associated with impaired vigilance or balance in this study, in which the overall mean (SD) WBGTmax was 25.9 (4.2)°C. However, the study identified opportunities to ensure adequate pre-work-shift hydration and to optimize sleep and work-shift timing in order to reduce occupational injury and heat-related illness risk.
Authors: Leonidas G Ioannou; Josh Foster; Nathan B Morris; Jacob F Piil; George Havenith; Igor B Mekjavic; Glen P Kenny; Lars Nybo; Andreas D Flouris Journal: Temperature (Austin) Date: 2022-04-26
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: Christopher L Chapman; Hayden W Hess; Rebekah A I Lucas; Jason Glaser; Rajiv Saran; Jennifer Bragg-Gresham; David H Wegman; Erik Hansson; Christopher T Minson; Zachary J Schlader Journal: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Date: 2021-06-23 Impact factor: 3.210
Authors: Jacob F Piil; Jesper Lundbye-Jensen; Lasse Christiansen; Leonidas Ioannou; Lydia Tsoutsoubi; Constantinos N Dallas; Konstantinos Mantzios; Andreas D Flouris; Lars Nybo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-10-24 Impact factor: 3.240