scholarly journals Epidemic of heat-related illnesses among workers exposed to hot working environments in the changing climate scenario

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidhya Venugopal ◽  
PK Latha ◽  
Tord Kjellstrom ◽  
Rebekah Lucas ◽  
Kristina Jakobsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Productivity Losses ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Hot Environments

Rising global temperatures, coupled with decreasing access to clean drinking water, may enhance the effects of heat exposure to general and working populations across the globe. People working in jobs that require moderate or heavy manual labor in hot environments are at particular risk caused by the combined effect of exposures to high environmental heat and internal heat production. Exposures to heat can lead to a range of clinical health effects such as fatigue, exhaustion, heat syncope, fainting, heat stroke or even death. Furthermore, heat-related physical exhaustion leads to a reduction of the worker's ability to work with consequent productivity losses that may cause substantial economic losses for the businesses. The result of such continuous heat exposures, manual work and repeated dehydration are also known to cause acute kidney injuries that can further develop into chronic kidney diseases. With the predicted rise in temperatures due to climate change, the health effects for the working population are expected to become worse without appropriate interventions. With this background, the present review focuses on the heat-related health illnesses with special attention to kidney disease among workers engaged in manual physical labor in different occupational sectors.

Heat exposure and workers’ health: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhyeong Lee ◽  
Yong Ho Lee ◽  
Won-Jun Choi ◽  
Seunghon Ham ◽  
Seong-Kyu Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Reproductive System ◽  
Health Effect ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Urinary System ◽  
Psychological System ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Objectives Several studies on the health effects of heat exposure on workers have been reported; however, only few studies have summarized the overall and systematic health effects of heat exposure on workers. This study aims to review the scientific reports on the health status of workers exposed to high temperatures in the workplace. Methods We reviewed literature from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies that address health effects of heat exposure among workers. Results In total, 459 articles were identified, and finally, 47 articles were selected. Various health effects of heat exposure on workers have been reported, such as heat-related diseases, deaths, accidents or injuries, effects on the urinary system, reproductive system, and on the psychological system. Conclusions Our review suggests that many workers are vulnerable to heat exposure, and this has a health effect on workers.

TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN EXERCISE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-702
Author(s):  
Sid Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Metabolic Heat ◽  
Warm Blood ◽  
Hot Environments ◽  
Large Increments

The central body temperature of a man rises gradually during the first half hour of a period of work to a higher level and this level is precisely maintained until the work is stopped; body temperature then slowly declines to the usual resting level. During prolonged work the temperature regulatory center in the hypothalamus appears to be reset at a level which is proportional to the intensity of the work and this setting is independent of environmental temperature changes ranging from cold to moderately warm. In hot environments the resistance to heat loss may be so great that all of the increased metabolic heat of work cannot be dissipated and the man's central temperature will rise above the thermostatic setting. If this condition of imbalance is continued long enough heat stroke will ensue. We have found that in a 3 mile race lasting only 14 minutes on a hot summer day a runner's rectal temperature may rise to 41.1°C., with heat stroke imminent. The physiological regulation of body temperature of men in warm environments and during the increased metabolic heat production of work is dependent on sweating to provide evaporative cooling of the skin, and on adjustments of cutaneous blood flow which determine the conductance of heat from the deeper tissues to the skin. The mechanisms of regulating these responses during work are complex and not entirely understood. Recent experiments carried out in this laboratory indicate that during work, sweating may be regulated by reflexes originating from thermal receptors in the veins draining warm blood from the muscles, summated with reflexes from the cutaneous thermal receptors, both acting through the hypothalamic center, the activity of which is increased in proportion to its own temperature. At the beginning of work the demand for blood flow to the muscles results in reflex vasoconstriction in the skin. As the body temperature rises the thermal demand predominates and the cutaneous vessels dilate, increasing heat conductance to the skin. Large increments in cardiac output and compensatory vasoconstriction in the abdominal viscera make these vascular adjustments in work possible without circulatory embarrassment.

scholarly journals Alpha-Lipoic Acid Protects Cardiomyocytes against Heat Stroke-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammatory Responses Associated with the Induction of Hsp70 and Activation of Autophagy

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hsin-Hsueh Shen ◽  
Yu-Shiuan Tseng ◽  
Ni-Chun Kuo ◽  
Ching-Wen Kung ◽  
Sherif Amin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipoic Acid ◽  
Myocardial Injury ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Mitochondrial Enzymes ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Anion Formation ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Heat stroke (HS) is a life-threatening illness and defined as when body temperature elevates above 40°C accompanied by the systemic inflammatory response syndrome that results in multiple organ dysfunctions. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) acts as a cofactor of mitochondrial enzymes and exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in a variety of diseases. This study investigates the beneficial effects of ALA on myocardial injury and organ damage caused by experimental HS and further explores its underlying mechanism. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 42°C until their rectal core temperature reached 42.9°C and ALA was pretreared 40 or 80 mg/kg (i.v.) 1.5 h prior to heat exposure. Results showed that HS-induced lethality and hypothermia were significantly alleviated by ALA treatment that also improved plasma levels of CRE, LDH, and CPK and myocardial injury biomarkers myoglobin and troponin. In addition, ALA reduced cardiac superoxide anion formation and protein expression of cleaved caspase 3 caused by HS. Proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and NF-κB pathways were significantly reduced by ALA treatment which may be associated with the upregulation of Hsp70. ALA significantly increased the Atg5-12 complex and LC3B II/LC3B I ratio, whereas the p62 and p-mTOR expression was attenuated in HS rats, indicating the activation of autophagy by ALA. In conclusion, ALA ameliorated the deleterious effects of HS by exerting antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capacities. Induction of Hsp70 and activation of autophagy contribute to the protective effects of ALA in HS-induced myocardial injury.

Heat

2020 ◽  
pp. 1687-1689
Author(s):  
Michael A. Stroud
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Heat Exhaustion ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Cold Core

Rising body temperature triggers behavioural and physiological responses including reduction in physical activity, alterations of clothing, skin vasodilatation, and sweating. Heat-related illness is relatively common, especially with high humidity or prolonged physical activity. Risk can be reduced by acclimatization with repeated heat exposure, but some individuals seem to be particularly susceptible. Clinical presentations of heat-related illness include (1) ‘heat exhaustion’—the commonest manifestation, with symptoms including nausea, weakness, headache, and thirst. Patients appear dehydrated, complain of being hot, and are flushed and sweaty. Treatment requires rest and fluids, given orally or (in severe cases) intravenously. (2) ‘Heat stroke’ victims often complain of headache, may be drowsy or irritable, and may claim to feel cold. Core temperature is usually 38–41°C, but the patient is shivering with dry, vasoconstricted skin. Treatment requires (a) aggressive rapid cooling; (b) close biochemical monitoring; (c) supportive care for organ failure. There is significant mortality.

scholarly journals P135: Administrative codes for heat illness: a validation study in Ontario, Canada

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S113-S113
Author(s):  
H. Baassiri ◽  
T. Varghese ◽  
M. Columbus ◽  
K. Clemens ◽  
J. Yan
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Sample Size Calculation ◽  
Physical Exertion ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Administrative Database ◽  
Heat Illness ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Icd 10

Introduction: Extreme heat events due to climate change are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, and may have an impact on human health. Administrative database studies using International Classification of Diseases 10th revision codes (ICD-10) are powerful tools to measure the burden of acute heat illness (AHI) in Canada. We aimed to assess the validity of the coding algorithm for emergency department (ED) encounters for AHI in our region. Methods: Two independent reviewers retrospectively abstracted data from 507 medical records of patients presenting at two EDs in Ontario between May-September 2015-2018. The Gold Standard definition of an AHI is chart-documented heat exposure with a heat related complaint, such as syncope while working outdoors on a hot day. To determine ICD coding algorithm positive predictive value (PPV), records that were previously coded as ICD-10 heat illnesses were compared to the Gold Standard for AHI. To determine sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp) and negative predictive values (NPV), the Gold Standard was compared to randomly selected records. A total of 326,702 ED visits were included in study period with 208 having an ICD-10 code related to heat illness. Sample size calculation demonstrated a need to manually review 62 previously coded heat illnesses and 931 random cases, of which 50 and 474 have been reviewed, respectively. In both abstractions, 20% of cases underwent a blinded duplicate review. Results: In our review of 474 random records, 2 cases were identified as AHI but without an appropriate ICD-10 code, 445 were not AHIs, and no cases had been identified as having an AHI ICD-10 inappropriately applied. In our review of 50 previously coded heat illnesses, 34 were found to be appropriately coded and 16 inappropriately coded, as AHI ICD-10. Average patient age and gender of heat illness vs non-heat illness ED presentations were 32 and 48 years of age and 49% and 64% male, respectively. The leading complaint in AHI was heat stroke/exhaustion (39%), followed by headaches (15%), dizziness (9%), shortness of breath (9%) and syncope/presyncope (6%). 76% of all heat illness presentations presented following a period of physical exertion. Conclusion: Final calculation of Sn, Sp, PPV, NPV for the algorithm will occur upon completion of the review. Preliminary results suggest that ICD-10 coding for AHI may be applied correctly in the ED. This study will help to determine if administrative data can accurately be used to measure the burden of heat illness in Canada.

scholarly journals Prediction of physiological exertion in hot environments using the JOS-2 thermoregulation model

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 02058
Author(s):  
Akihisa Nomoto ◽  
Yoshito Takahashi ◽  
Yoshiichi Ozeki ◽  
Masayuki Ogata ◽  
Shin-ichi Tanabe
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
High Accuracy ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Heat Island ◽  
Rate Measurement ◽  
Mean Skin Temperature ◽  
Local Skin ◽  
Hot Environments

In recent years, the outdoor summer environment in Japan has become progressively warmer due to the severity of the heat island phenomenon. The danger of heat stroke and thermal comfort outdoors in summer are regarded as problems. In order to evaluate these problems, it is important to evaluate physiological exertion in the human body. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the possibility of predicting physiological exertion in the human body with high accuracy in an outdoor environment during summer using the JOS-2 thermoregulation model developed by our research group. First, the Japanese metabolic rate in summer and autumn was measured for various activities, including sitting, standing, and walking. As a result, we found that the metabolic rate during sitting and standing was lower by about 10% in summer than in autumn. Next, using the obtained metabolic rate measurement as an input to the model, the experiment in an outdoor environment during summer was reproduced using JOS-2. The accuracy of the predicted mean skin temperature and local skin wettedness in an outdoor environment during summer was improved by choosing the appropriate input to the model.

scholarly journals Motivation for Heat Adaption: How Perception and Exposure Affect Individual Behaviors During Hot Weather in Knoxville, Tennessee

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisa L. Hass ◽  
Kelsey N. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Excessive Heat ◽  
Normal Behavior ◽  
Hot Weather ◽  
Heat Vulnerability

Heat is the deadliest meteorological hazard; however, those exposed to heat often do not feel they are in danger of heat-health effects and do not take precautions to avoid heat exposure. Socioeconomic factors, such as the high cost of running air conditioning, might prevent people from taking adaption measures. We assessed via a mixed-methods survey how residents of urban Knoxville, Tennessee, (n = 86) describe and interpret their personal vulnerability during hot weather. Thematic analyses reveal that many respondents describe uncomfortably hot weather based on its consequences, such as health effects and the need to change normal behavior, which misaligns with traditional heat-communication measures using specific weather conditions. Only 55% of those who perceived excessive heat as dangerous cited health as a cause for concern. Respondents who have experienced health issues during hot weather were more likely to perceive heat as dangerous and take actions to reduce heat exposure. Social cohesion was not a chief concern for our respondents, even though it has been connected to reducing time-delayed heat-health effects. Results support using thematic analyses, an underutilized tool in climatology research, to improve understanding of public perception of atmospheric hazards. We recommend a multi-faceted approach to addressing heat vulnerability.

scholarly journals Prevalence and distribution of feet lesions in dairy cows raised in the freestall

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Costa Ebling ◽  
Amanda Krummenauer ◽  
Gustavo Machado ◽  
Diego Zeni ◽  
Luis Paulo Carazzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Productivity Losses ◽  
Foot Diseases ◽  
Infectious Origin ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Foot Lesions ◽  
Sole Ulcers

Foot lesions are one of the main causes of productivity losses in the dairy industry. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of claudication and distribution of hoof lesions by associating them with preventive hoof trimming, as well as list the main causes of involuntary discarding and the main health problems reported in dairy farms. The study included 10 farms distributed in 7 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul state. The body condition score (BCS) and locomotion score (LS) of the cows were assessed. Hoof examination, lesion classification, and hoof trimming of the animals were performed. Of the 492 animals, 38.4% presented lameness and 36% had foot lesions, 81.4% of which were observed in the pelvic limbs and 19.6% in the thoracic limbs. Of the lesions in the limbs, 47.1% were of infectious origin and 52.9% were noninfectious. The main lesions were sole ulcers (31.6%), digital dermatitis (30.3%), thin soles (12%), and interdigital dermatitis (11.2%). Cows aged 4 to 6 years had a higher number of lesions and a higher LS. Preventive hoof trimming reduced the chances of lameness by 55% as the locomotive system was the main sanitary problem and the first reason for involuntary disposal of the farms. The results show that dairy cows raised in a free stall system have a high prevalence of claudication and foot diseases. These data should be taken into account when altering the livestock management of these animals in order to reduce significant economic losses in the herd.

Evaluating the effectiveness and practicality of a cooling vest across four industries in Hong Kong

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 511-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert P.C. Chan ◽  
Wen Yi ◽  
Francis K.W. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Physical Strain ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hot Environments ◽  
Cooling Garment ◽  
Phase Design ◽  
Occupational Settings

Purpose Extreme hot environments are prevalent in many occupational settings, and facilities management workers are no exception. Wearing suitable cooling garment is a useful means to alleviate heat strain and improving performance at heat exposure. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the cooling vest across four selected fields (i.e. construction, outdoor cleaning and horticulture, kitchen work and work involved manual handling at the airport) and identify the shortcomings of the cooling vest used by the participating workers. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a two-phase design: a quantitative questionnaire survey followed by qualitative in-depth interviews. Findings A remarkable physical strain alleviation (PSA) of 21.1 per cent (14.8 per cent in construction, 18.8 per cent in horticulture and cleaning, 27.4 per cent in kitchen and catering and 26.5 per cent in airport apron service) is achieved by the use of cooling vest in four industries. Despite the success of PSA, several shortcomings of the cooling vest were identified: easily stained color, heavy weight, short cooling time, inflexibility that presents a hazard around moving equipment, lack of industry-specific design, nondurable and thick fabric with poor permeability. Originality/value The findings of the current study do not only confirm the effectiveness of the cooling vest in alleviating heat strain and physical strain but also identify the major shortcomings upon which further improvements can be made.

Pre-existing inflammatory state compromises heat tolerance in rats exposed to heat stress

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. R186-R194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin Leong Lim ◽  
Gary Wilson ◽  
Lindsay Brown ◽  
Jeff S. Coombes ◽  
Laurel T. Mackinnon
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Heat Tolerance ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
The Core ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Severe Heat Stress

This study investigated the roles of endotoxemia and heat-induced tissue damage in the pathology of heat stroke. In groups of eight, male Wistar rats were treated with heat exposure only (HE), or heat exposure with turpentine (T+HE), dexamethasone (D+HE), and turpentine and dexamethasone combined (TD+HE). The rats remained sedated for 2 h after receiving the respective treatments, followed by heat exposure until the core temperature (Tc) was 42°C for 15 min; control rats received turpentine (T), dexamethasone (D), and turpentine and dexamethasone (TD) without heat stress. Blood samples were collected before treatment ( baseline I), after 2 h of passive rest ( baseline II), at Tc 40°C (T40), and 15 min after achieving Tc 42°C (T42). No rats died in the nonheat-stressed groups. Survival rate was lowest in the TD+HE rats (37.5%), followed by the HE (62.5%), T+HE (75%), and D+HE (100%) rats ( P < 0.05). The duration of survival at T42°C was shortest in the TD+HE rats (9.9 ± 6.2 min) ( P < 0.01), followed by the T+HE (11.3 ± 6.1 min) and the HE (12.2 ± 4 min) ( P < 0.05) rats. The increase in plasma IL-6 concentrations was highest in the T+HE (352%) and HE (178%) rats ( P < 0.05). D+HE treatment suppressed the increases in plasma aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and IL-6 and LPS concentrations during severe heat stress. Heat stroke can be triggered by endotoxemia or heat-induced tissue damage, and preexisting inflammation compromises heat tolerance, whereas blocking endotoxemia increases heat tolerance.

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