Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Research Articles

Effects evaluation of Heat Stress Index and workload to miner’s fatigue level in underground gold mining area PT Dwinad Nusa Sejahtera

Mining is an activity with a high risk of accidents in open pit and underground mining sites. Various factors that cause accidents have been found through accident investigation, such as miners’ fatigue. Miner’s fatigue can be caused by environmental factors and workload that can be controlled to make a safe and comfortable working environment and prevent accidents. This research objective is to evaluate the relationship between environment factors in the form of heat stress index using humidex method and workload to miner’s fatigue level in the underground mining area PT. Dwinad Nusa Sejahtera. This research was done by measuring the working environment to know humidex, workload and miners fatigue level. Working environment conditions in the underground gold mine of PT. Dwinad Nusa Sejahtera is in a hot and humid condition with wet temperature range are 28.5–32.9°C, dry temperature range are 29.7–33.0°C, globe temperature range are 29.7–33.5°C wet bulb globe temperature range are 29.0–32.1°C, relative humidity range are 83.1–100% and humidex are 49.5–59.5°C. Multivariate analysis of miner’s fatigue level in all activity groups shows that the humidex variable gives more significant effects than the workload variable.

Potential effect of heat adaptation on association between number of heatstroke patients transported by ambulance and wet bulb globe temperature in Japan

This study analyzed the association between heatstroke incidence and daily maximum wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) for all 47 prefectures in Japan by age group and severity using time-series analysis, controlling for confounders, such as seasonality and long-term trends. With the obtained association, the relative risk between the reference WBGT (defined as the value at which heatstroke starts to increase) and the daily maximum WBGT at 30 °C (RRwbgt30) of each prefecture were calculated. For the heatstroke data, the daily number of heatstroke patients transported by ambulance at the prefecture level, provided by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, was utilized. The analysis was conducted for age groups of 7–17 y, 18–64 y, and ≥65 y, and for severity of Deceased, Severe, Moderate (combined as DSM), and Mild. The analysis period was set from May 1 to September 30, 2015–2019. Finally, the correlation between RRwbgt30 and the average daily maximum WBGT during the analysis period (aveWBGTms) of each prefecture was analyzed to examine the regionality of heatstroke incidence. The result showed that RRwbgt30 is negatively correlated with aveWBGTms for the age group 18–64 y and ≥65 y (except for the age group 7–17 y) and for severity. The natural logarithm of the RRwbgt30 of all 47 prefectures ranged from 2.0 to 8.2 for the age group 7–17 y, 1.1 to 4.0 for the age group 18–64 y, 1.8 to 6.0 for the age group ≥65 y, and 1.0 to 3.6 for DSM, and 0.9 to 4.0 for Mild. This regionality can be attributed to the effects of heat adaptation, where people in hotter regions are accustomed to implementing measures against hot environments and are more heat acclimatized than people in cooler regions.

The Impacts of Urban Configurations on Outdoor Thermal Perceptions: Case Studies of Flat Bandar Tasik Selatan and Surya Magna in Kuala Lumpur

This study assesses the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in Flat Bandar Tasik Selatan (FBTS) and Surya Magna (SM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It aims to understand the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in outdoor spaces. The study addresses the following research questions: (1) Do urban configurations influence outdoor comfort? (2) Do urban configurations also have significant impacts on thermal perceptions? We mapped out the sites to understand their configurations. The research considered on-site measurements of the environmental conditions and carried out modelling and simulations (ENVI-met V3.1) of the sites. Mathematical models (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and Standard Effective Temperature (SET)) were used to determine the thermal indices and the impact of the urban configurations on outdoor comfort. The thermal indices varied from 25.44 to 34.75 °C. In terms of the main contribution of this work, the results show that in hot and humid climate regions, urban configurations plus other design variables (e.g., orientation towards the Sun’s path) and environmental parameters influence occupants’ comfort and perceptions. Our findings show that high solar radiation and the need for a better thermal environment in hot and humid climates are the contributing factors for developing alternative urban configurations.

Using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and Physiological Equivalent Temperature as Predicative Models of Medical Stress in a Marathon: Analysis of 30 Years of Data From the Twin Cities Marathon.

: Assess the relationships between wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and physiologic equivalent temperature (PET) at the start of a northern latitude marathon and their associations with medical stress and transfers to the emergency room (ER) when the race environment is unexpectedly warm, and participants are not acclimatized. : Retrospective review. : Twin Cities Marathon from 1990 to 2019. : Runners competing in the Twin Cities Marathon. : Start WBGT (prospectively collected) and PET (retrospectively calculated). : Marathon race starters and finishers and race day medical data (eg, medical stress, number of medical encounters, and number of ER visits). : The mean WBGT was 7.4°C (range -1.7°C to 22.2°C), and the meant PET was 5.2°C (range -16.7°C to 25.9°C). PET was not determined to be a significant predictor of medical stress (P = 0.71); however, a significant quadratic association between WBGT and medical stress was found (P = 0.006). WBGT (P = 0.002), but not PET (P = 0.07), was a significant predictor of the number of ER visits. Start WBGT was a better predictor of medical stress and ER visits than PET at the Twin Cities Marathon over a 30-year period. The start WBGT may be a better tool to predict race day environment medical safety.

Quantifying the impact of heat on human physical work capacity; part IV: interactions between work duration and heat stress severity

High workplace temperatures negatively impact physical work capacity (PWC). Although PWC loss models with heat based on 1-h exposures are available, it is unclear if further adjustments are required to accommodate repeated work/rest cycles over the course of a full work shift. Therefore, we examined the impact of heat stress exposure on human PWC during a simulated work shift consisting of six 1-h work-rest cycles. Nine healthy males completed six 50-min work bouts, separated by 10-min rest intervals and an extended lunch break, on four separate occasions: once in a cool environment (15 °C/50% RH) and in three different air temperature and relative humidity combinations (moderate, 35 °C/50% RH; hot, 40 °C/50% RH; and very hot, 40 °C/70%). To mimic moderate to heavy workload, work was performed on a treadmill at a fixed heart rate of 130 beats·min−1. During each work bout, PWC was quantified as the kilojoules expended above resting levels. Over the shift, work output per cycle decreased, even in the cool climate, with the biggest decrement after the lunch break and meal consumption. Expressing PWC relative to that achieved in the cool environment for the same work duration, there was an additional 5(± 4)%, 7(± 6)%, and 16(± 7)% decrease in PWC when work was performed across a full work shift for the moderate, hot, and very hot condition respectively, compared with 1-h projections. Empirical models to predict PWC based on the level of heat stress (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature, Universal Thermal Climate Index, Psychrometric Wet-Bulb Temperature, Humidex, and Heat Index) and the number of work cycles performed are presented.

Heat stress and incidence of acute kidney injury among agricultural workers in Spain

BackgroundHeat stress is associated with adverse health outcomes among workers, including acute kidney injury. We aimed to estimate the incidence of acute kidney injury over the course of the work shift and the association with heat stress among agricultural workers in Spain, where summer temperatures are high and heatwaves are expected to be frequent. MethodsMale agricultural workers were enrolled in two different harvesting seasons and provinces, as follows: summer in Alacant (n=43; September, 2018) and winter in Tarragona (n=52; November, 2018, and January, 2019). For each participant, we estimated exposure to heat stress during a work shift based on the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index and acute kidney injury cross-shift incidence, defined as an increase in post-shift serum creatinine by at least 0·3 mg/dL or at least 1·5 times the pre-shift serum creatinine concentration. We collected information on confounders. For a subsample of participants (n=54), we measured neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations before and after the working shift. We used regression models to assess if heat stress was a risk factor for acute kidney injury and increase in NGAL concentrations. FindingsThe mean WBGT was 24·5°C (SD 2·0; range 20·2–27·1) during the summer season and 14·2°C (8·0–20·7) during the winter season. Nine (21%) of 43 workers harvesting during summer were exposed to heat stress. Incidence of acute kidney injury was higher during the summer season (14 [33%] of 43 workers vs two [4%] of 52 workers). Heat stress was associated with cross-shift incidence of acute kidney injury (age-adjusted odds ratio 9·6, 95% CI 1·4–67·9). No differences in NGAL concentrations were observed between participants exposed to heat stress. InterpretationHeat stress is a risk factor for acute kidney injury among agricultural workers in Spain, even when environmental temperatures are not extreme. Monitoring acute kidney injury incidence among agricultural workers in Spain is important in the context of climate change, as frequent episodes of acute kidney injury can lead to chronic kidney disease. FundingCarlos III Health Institute and European Union.

Feasibility Study of Using Nebulizer-Retrofitted UAVs at Construction Projects: The Case Study of Residential Jobsites in Utah

Increased heat stress and air pollution are two major causes of health issues and productivity loss in the construction industry. This will be exacerbated by global warming and an increased possibility of extreme weather conditions in the future. Previous studies revealed that each 1°C rise in temperature reduces construction workers’ productivity by up to 2%. Also, it is found that a 10 μg/m3 particulate matter sized 2.5 μm (PM2.5) fluctuation over 25 days lowers workers’ daily production by 1%. As an effective dust control and cooling strategy, water spraying is used by practitioners to mitigate the effect of air pollution and heat-related problems on construction workers. Considering low costs and high mobility, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be considered as a potential alternative for ground-based, stationary water spraying systems. To this end, a case study approach is adopted in this project to investigate the feasibility of using nebulizer-retrofitted UAVs in controlling air pollution and reducing heat stress at construction job sites. The case study consists of two different residential job sites in the state of Utah: one in Salt Lake City and the other one in St. George. The main contribution of this study is to determine the effect of aerial water spraying on air temperature and pollution at job sites. The outcomes of this study show that the average wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) decreases 1.7° during the flight phase compared to average values for preflight and postflight phases. The aerial water spraying technique yields better and more water-efficient results in decreasing temperature at job sites compared to the existing approaches, such as stationary fans. Moreover, the results of PM variations illustrate that the mean value of particulate change was significantly different between flight and preflight (p=0.005), and flight and postflight (p<0.001) modes. Future studies should include the deployment of multiple drones flying simultaneously at job sites to cover larger areas.

Occupational heat exposure alone does not explain chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka

• The association of occupational heat exposure with CKDu remains debated. • kidney function of individuals in three occupational groups, farmers, fisherfolk and plantation workers in Sri Lanka was assessed. • CKDu risk was lowest in occupational group with highest heat exposure. • CKDu risk was higher among farmers and workers with low to moderate heat exposure. • Heat stress does not appear to be the main driver of CKDu. Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) is an emerging health concern in tropical farming communities. The role ofoccupational heat exposure as a potential driver of CKDu remains debated. Our study examines occupational heat exposure kidney health in three occupational groups in Sri Lanka. We recruited participants from three occupational groups from three climatic zones; fisherfolk from the dry and intermediate zones (N=225), paddy farmers from the intermediate zone (N=180) and tea plantation workers from the wet zone (N=70). Serum creatinine, cystatin-C, urea and uric acid, estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio were used as diagnostic criteria of renal impairment. CKDu susceptibility was at the highest among farmers (13.33%), with a significant differentce compared to the fisherfolk (5.36%; p=0.0003). Among the plantation workers, CKDu susceptibility was 5.71%, and it was not significantly different compared to the farmers (p=0.087) and the fisherfolk (p=0.427). Despite higher exposure to heat stress and dehydration, as indicated by the highest simplified wet bulb globe temperature (sWBGT) in the work environments, fisherfolk reported the lowest CKDu susceptibility, while farmers and workers with low to moderate heat exposure showed an increased incidence of abnormal renal function. Further, a multivariable regression analysis identified a significant effect of occupation (p=0.005), agrochemical exposure (p=0.001) and age (p=0.001) on the likelihood of CKDu susceptibility while the sWBGT in the working environments showed no significant effect (p=0.227). With the evidence from our findings, heat exposure alone does not appear to be the leading driver of CKDu in Sri Lanka, suggesting that the nephropathy is more likely to be associated with occupational risks such as agrochemical exposures.

Evaluation of Heat Stress Levels Inside Greenhouses during Summer in Korea.

Farmers working inside greenhouses during summer are at risk of heat-related illness. In this study, we compared the dry-bulb temperatures (DTs) and the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index inside and outside greenhouses. We then determined the criteria for appropriate working and resting times inside greenhouses. The measurements were performed during the hottest period in 2020 and 2021 for two greenhouses, representative of those commonly found in rural areas. A direct-reading WBGT index meter was used for these measurements, and Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) data were used to obtain regional DT data. DTs inside the greenhouses were significantly higher than the ASOS DTs (p < 0.001). In addition, the August WBGT index inside was significantly higher than that outside the greenhouses (p < 0.001). We found that the temperature during the period between 08:00 and 19:00 exceeded the international threshold of 28 °C for heat-acclimatized workers performing moderate-intensity work, above which heat stress becomes a concern. Our results revealed that the thermal index inside can be significantly higher than that found outside greenhouses. Therefore, when work is required inside greenhouses during the summer, stricter standards and safety measures should be considered.

Field study on the effect of space type, exercise intensity, and wet bulb globe temperature on thermal responses of exercisers

The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of three variables, i.e., space type, exercise intensity, and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), on the thermophysiological and subjective response of exercisers in hot and humid areas. A field survey was conducted in two types of exercise space, i.e., a semi-outdoor space and an indoor space with natural ventilation in Guangzhou, China, during the summer of 2019. The subjective responses of 36 subjects were collected through questionnaires. Three exercise intensities were evaluated at a WBGT of 27–30 °C: shooting (3.7 ± 1.4 MET), layup (5.2 ± 1.4 MET), and full-court dribbling shuttle run (7.2 ± 1.4 MET). The environmental and physiological data were recorded. The findings suggest that people should exercise in a semi-outdoor space rather than in an indoor space with natural ventilation in summer. Among the three variables, exercise intensity had the strongest influence on the thermal sensation vote and thermal acceptability vote, even the sweat feeling index only affected by exercise intensity. The WBGT significantly influenced the mean skin temperature. Thus, it is recommended that people exercise when the WBGT ≤29.4 °C. The WBGT was the optimum indicator of the thermal responses of exercisers compared with operative temperature and heat index. This study improves our understanding of the steady-state thermal responses of exercisers with high metabolic rates and indicates that semi-outdoor spaces are preferable when exercising in hot and humid areas compared with the naturally ventilated indoor spaces.

The serum irisin response to prolonged physical activity in temperate and hot environments in older men with hypertension or type 2 diabetes

Current labor demographics are changing, with the number of older adults increasingly engaged in physically demanding occupations expected to continually rise, which are often performed in the heat. Given an age-related decline in whole-body heat loss, older adults are at an elevated risk of developing heat injuries that may be exacerbated by hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Elevated irisin production may play a role in mitigating the excess oxidative stress and acute inflammation associated with physically demanding work in the heat. However, the effects of HTN and T2D on this response remain unclear. Therefore, we evaluated serum irisin before and after 3-h of moderate intensity exercise (metabolic rate: 200 W/m2) and at the end of 60-min of post-exercise recovery in a temperate (wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) 16 °C) and high-heat stress (WBGT 32 °C) environment in 12 healthy older men (mean ± SD; 59 ± 4 years), 10 men with HTN (60 ± 4 years), and 9 men with T2D (60 ± 5 years). Core temperature (Tco) was measured continuously. In the heat, total exercise duration was significantly lower in older men with HTN and T2D (both, p ≤ 0.049). Despite Tco not being different between groups, Tco was higher in the hot compared to the temperate condition for all groups (p < 0.001). Similarly, serum irisin concentrations did not differ between groups under either condition but were elevated relative to the temperate condition during post-exercise and end-recovery in the heat (+93.9 pg/mL SEM 26 and + 70.5 pg/mL SEM 38 respectively; both p ≤ 0.014). Thus, our findings indicate similar irisin responses in HTN and T2D compared to healthy, age-matched controls, despite reduced exercise tolerance during prolonged exercise in the heat. Therefore, older workers with HTN and T2D may exhibit greater cellular stress during prolonged exercise in the heat, underlying greater vulnerability to heat-induced cellular injury.

Prediction of the impact of climate change on the number of heatstroke patients in Tokyo, Japan with heat-adaptation effects

Background and Aim: Heatstroke has become a serious issue in Japan. To plan future adaptation measures, it is essential to understand to what extent the number of heatstroke patients will increase. Previous studies have predicted the number of heatstroke patients; however, they did not consider the effect of heat-adaptation. In this study, we conducted a future prediction study taking the effect of heat-adaptation into consideration. Methods: Japan, with its long north-south range, has a variety of climates, and it is necessary to explore its heat-adaptation effects. Our previous study showed that there was a positive correlation between the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) value at which heatstroke patients start to increase (WBGT threshold) and regional climate (average daily maximum WBGT between May and September: RCWBGT). Using the relationship, we translated this geographical effect of heat-adaptation to temporal adaptation by shifting the WBGT threshold to a higher side when the RCWBGT increases in the future owing to climate change. We focused on the age groups of 65+ yr, constituting the most vulnerable age group. Five future climate change scenarios and RCP8.5 scenario were adopted. All the data utilized in this study were public domain data and are available from the corresponding website. Results: In Tokyo, the number of heatstroke patients by mid-21st century will be 2.2 times as high as that of heatstroke patients at present and 6.9 times by the end of the century without heat-adaptation; however, the corresponding numbers will be 1.4 times and 2.5 times, respectively, with heat-adaptation. Conclusions: The increase in the number of heatstroke patients was projected to substantially reduce owing to the effect of heat-adaptation. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Climate Change Adaptation Research Program of the National Institute for Environmental Studies. Keywords: Climate change; Wet bulb globe temperature; Heatstroke; Impact assessment

Projection of combined vulnerability to air pollution and heat stress

Background: Climate change caused by anthropogenic emissions is associated with increase in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. Exposure to non-optimal temperature is related with 2-5 million deaths per year globally. In addition, air pollution has become a key concern for public health. Particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) is the largest environmental risk factor globally and is expected to worsen with projected increase in anthropogenic emissions. However, little is studied on vulnerability of combined exposure to these two environmental hazards under a changing climate. Methods: We use outputs from three CMIP6 models to project PM2.5 and Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) till end of the century under SSP126, 370 and 585 scenarios. We assessed the combined vulnerability of the exposed population, represented by vulnerability index(VI), to these two risk factors by factoring in the distribution of projected gross domestic product and education attainment (together termed socioeconomic indicator). Results: We find currently, 7% of the population (8% of the population above 65years) reside in regions with the highest vulnerability (mostly in Asia), which is projected to increase to 25% (and 32%) in 2050 under the SSP370 scenario. Globally, under all the three scenarios, percentage of population exposed to the most extreme VI was projected to increase till 2050, and decrease thereafter under SSP126, but under SSP585 and SSP370 scenarios, we found a significant increase in the population exposed to the most extreme VI. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, we present the first results on projections of combined vulnerability from exposure to two of the most hazardous environmental risk factors,by identifying their collocational hotspots across the globe. Our results may be used to assist decision making targeted towards averting exposure and excess deaths from heat stress and air pollution in the future decades.

Heat stress and incidence of acute kidney injury among agricultural workers in Spain

BACKGROUND AND AIM Heat stress (HS) is associated with adverse health outcomes among agricultural workers, including acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim on this study was to estimate the incidence of AKI over the course of the work shift and the association with HS among agricultural workers in Spain, where summer temperatures are high and heat waves are expected to be more frequent. METHODS Male agricultural workers were enrolled in the study in two different periods and provinces: summer harvesting season in Alacant (n=43, September 2018) and winter harvesting season in Tarragona (n=52, November 2018 and January 2019). For each participant we estimated exposure to HS during a work shift based on the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index (ISO 7243:2017) and AKI cross-shift incidence, defined as an increase in post-shift serum creatinine by at least 0.3 mg/ dl or at least 1.5 times the pre-shift serum creatinine levels. We collected information on potential confounders. For a subsample of participants (n=54), we measured neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels before and after the working shift. We used regression models to assess if heat stress is a risk factors for AKI and increase in NGAL levels. RESULTS Mean WBGT was 24.5 ᵒC (20.2-27.1) during the summer harvesting season and 14.2 ᵒC (8.0-20.7) during the winter harvesting season. Nine percent of workers harvesting during the summer months were exposed to HS. Incidence of AKI was higher during the summer harvesting season (33% versus 4%). HS was associated with cross-shift incidence of AKI [Age adjusted OR (95%CI) =9.6 (1.4, 67.9)]. No differences in NGAL levels were observed between participants exposed to HS. CONCLUSIONS Heat stress is a risk factor for AKI among agricultural workers in Spain even when environmental temperatures are not extremely hot. KEYWORDS Heat stress, Acute kidney injury, Agricultural workers, Mediterranean region

Comparison of heat-related mortality estimated using ambient temperature and wet-bulb globe temperature in Japan: Supporting evidence for heat health warning system

Comparison of heat-related mortality estimated using ambient temperature and wet-bulb globe temperature in Japan: Supporting evidence for heat health warning system

Establishing heat stress indicators for work in a warming world: multi-country field evaluation and consensus recommendations

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One third of the world labour force is frequently exposed to high heat stress at work, leading to significant health and labour implications. In a series of studies, we identified and validated the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs) for their capacity to protect individuals who work in the heat. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify all TSIs and provide reliable information regarding their use. Then, we identified the criteria to consider when adopting a TSI and we weighed their relative importance using a Delphi exercise with 20 experts from 12 countries. Finally, we conducted field experiments across nine countries (372 workers during 893 full work shifts) to evaluate the efficacy of the meteorology-based TSIs for protecting individuals working in the heat. RESULTS: Our search identified 340 instruments and indicators developed between 200 BC and 2019 AD. Of these, 187 can be mathematically calculated utilizing only meteorological data. Of these meteorology-based TSIs, 127 were developed for people who are physically active, and 61 of those are eligible for use in occupational settings. Two Delphi iterations were adequate to reach consensus within the expert panel (Cronbach’s α=0.86) for 17 criteria with varying weights to be considered when adopting a TSI. These criteria considered physiological parameters such as core/skin/mean body temperature, heart rate, and hydration status, as well as practicality, cost effectiveness, and health guidance issues. In the third study, when evaluated against the 17 Delphi criteria, the 61 meteorology-based TSIs for occupational settings scored from 4.7 to 55.4%. The indoor (55.4%) and outdoor (55.1%) Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (51.7%) scored higher compared to other TSIs (4.7-42.0%). CONCLUSIONS: We found that three TSIs are more efficacious and should be adopted to support evidence-based decision making and protect individuals who work in the heat.

Objectively-assessed physical activity and heat stress and the association with kidney function in female harvest workers in Spain

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Physical activity (PA) in hot environments has been associated with kidney damage. In harvest workers, PA has been primarily assessed by questionnaires in males. We aimed to study the association between objectively-measured PA intensity and incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) over the course of one work shift, in female harvest workers in Spain. METHODS: Ninety women working in greenhouses wore a Zephyr chest harness to measure PA intensity during one regular work shift in June 2020. We determined the mean (PA_mean), standard deviation (PA_sd), and 3-minute-maximum (PA_max, a proxy of peak PA intensity) of PA intensity (vector magnitude units). We estimated heat stress (HS) in greenhouses based on wet bulb globe temperature index (ISO 7243:2017). Serum creatinine and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were measured before and after the work shift. AKI was defined as an increase in post-shift serum creatinine by at least 0.3 mg/dl or at least 1.5 times the pre-shift serum creatinine levels. Additionally, we calculated pre-post-shift differences in NGAL. We used logistic regressions adjusted for age, body mass index, and HS. HS was also assessed as an effect modifier. RESULTS: PA_sd and PA_max seemed to be associated with AKI (OR=1.57 (95%CI=0.82;3.21) and 1.41 (0.71;2.85), respectively), but not PA_mean. There was no interaction between any of the PA variables and HS (p-value LRT&amp;#x3e;0.1). Mean (SD) increase in NGAL levels over the course of a work shift was higher among participants with AKI (27.8 (7.5)) compared to those without AKI (12.2 (2.7)). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that large changes and peaks in PA intensity should be avoided to protect renal function of harvest workers. Increased levels of NGAL among those with AKI are indicative of kidney damage among those with increased serum creatinine levels. KEYWORDS: Occupational physical activity, acute kidney injury, ambient heat stress

Method to set the wet bulb globe temperature criterion beyond which the heatstroke alert is issued

Method to set the wet bulb globe temperature criterion beyond which the heatstroke alert is issued

Hematological parameters in a population of male bakers exposed to high heat work environment.

The aim of this study was to determine the hematological changes associated with heat exposure in a population of bakers. Personal information was collected using a questionnaire, and a venous blood sample was drawn at the end of a work shift from the bakers and from a control group. The average wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index was measured in the workplaces of both the bakers and the controls. This cross-sectional study involved 137 bakers working in 20 bakeries and 107 controls who were comparable in terms of likely confounding factors. Hemoglobin and platelet values were abnormal among the bakers and statistically significantly different to the control group (P = 0.026, and P = 0.016 respectively). The average WBGT index in the bakeries was 37.4°C, while the average WBGT in the workplaces of the controls was 25.5°C, (P<0.0001). The changes in the bakers' hematological parameters were found to be associated with exposure to high environmental heat at bakeries, as measured by the WBGT index. Preventive measures should be introduced to reduce the adverse effect of heat exposure among bakers and directed toward the worker-equipment-environment triad.

Improving thermal comfort in the urban landscape of housing communities in tropical climate: A case study of Bang Chalong Community, Thailand

In developing countries, low-income housings seem to sacrifice quality over quantity. For a tropical country such as Thailand, where the temperature remains consistently high throughout the year, thermal comfort impacts living quality, especially in urban areas. Bang Chalong Community is a cluster of densely arranged mid-rise apartments in Samut Prakan, the peri-urban area of Bangkok, chosen by the NHA (National Housing Authority) to improve its living quality as a pilot project. While current literature investigates and explores solutions to mitigate thermal comfort in buildings, few studies focus on outdoor areas adjacent to buildings. This research aims to assess the outdoor hot-spot of the community, proposes appropriate attributes and design approaches to improve urban landscape elements leading to comfortable conditions, and recommends landscape design strategies for similar future development. The thermal condition was conducted using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) data logger on 25 locations. The ambient temperature (TG) was used as the indicator for thermal comfort. It is found that critical attributes affecting the thermal condition are 1) the type of surfaces – hardscape or soft scape, and 2) the amount of surface and time exposed to solar energy – shade or sunlight. The thermal comfort improvement, including potential uses by landscape design, was proposed under four strategies; shading, added green, orientation &amp; ventilation, and functional refinement. They are recommended to create suitable thermal comfort by landscape design for future development of a similar type