Impacts of Extreme Heat on Agricultural Worker Health: Economic Impacts and Policy Implications

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Exposure to extreme heat is known to severely affect human health, resulting in heat rash, heat exhaustion, acute kidney injury (AKI), mental health challenges, and even fatal conditions such as heat stroke. The existing regulations designed to protect agricultural workers against exposure to unsafe heat levels are insufficient to meet the rapidly evolving challenge of extreme temperature exposures. The rapidly evolving challenge of extreme heat exposure is predicted to increase in severity and frequency over the next decade. U.S. agricultural production contributes $1.1 trillion to the U.S. GDP. The economic and health impacts of failing to adapt and enforce protective policies, resulting in workplace absenteeism and farmworker hospitalizations, could result in profit losses, changes to food production, and increased food prices. METHODS: This peer-reviewed literature review examined the effects of extreme heat exposure on the health of agricultural workers (many of whom are underserved migrant laborers), and the areas in which existing policy must be adapted for future temperature projections. We examined the physiology of excess heat exposure and worker performance. We focused on the National Library of Medicine climate literature, with attention to California farmworker health research and regulations. RESULTS:Policy interventions to create protections for these workers include provision of climate-controlled rest areas, adequate housing, hydration, health training (including appropriate languages), and hot-weather workplace attire for agricultural workers. Considerations should also be made to other high-heat occupations such as rural firefighting. CONCLUSIONS:A 2-4 degree Celsius temperature increase by 2050 will result in a rise in the proportion of unsafe working days in the US from 25 to 40%. Existing national policy must be updated to reflect rapidly-approaching and drastic changes in heat patterns. KEYWORDS: Climate, temperature extremes, policy and practice, non-chemical stressors