A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala

The journal of climate change and health Pub Date : 2025-01-03 DOI:10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100408

Jaime Butler-Dawson , Diana Jaramillo , Lyndsay Krisher , Karely Villarreal Hernandez , Laura Calvimontes , Miranda Dally , Yaqiang Li , Katherine A. James , Richard J. Johnson , Daniel Pilloni , Alex Cruz , Joshua Schaeffer , John Adgate , Lee S. Newman

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Abstract

Background

An increasing number of women are performing farm labor in agrarian societies due to the out-migration of men impacted by the effects of climate change. Thus, it is important to understand how changing climatic conditions affect women's risk of occupational heat stress and other health issues.

Methods

For this longitudinal pilot study, we characterized repeat individual-level particulate matter (PM₅, aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 5 micrometers) and heat exposures and measured kidney function markers during workdays and rest days among female sugarcane workers in Guatemala. We used logistic mixed models with repeated measures to evaluate associations between kidney function and exposures.

Results

We observed that 45 % of the workers had reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 90 mL/min/1.73 m²) during the study. Levels of dehydration based on a urinary specific gravity >1.020 (28 %), acidic urine (30 %), and low potassium levels (31 %) were common. Environmental exposures (PM₅ and heat index) were significantly higher on workdays compared to rest days. Reduced kidney function was associated with increasing median heat index (odds ratio [OR]: 1.63, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.08), low urine pH (OR: 4.21, 95 % CI: 1.08–16.40), and municipal drinking water source (OR: 6.52, 95 % CI: 1.23–34.57).

Discussion

The results from this study suggest that repeated occupational exposure to high levels of heat contributes to a reduction in renal function among these workers.

Conclusions

These findings can inform preventive strategies to better address women's health in the workplace, such as reducing heat stress and dehydration.

Abstract Image

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危地马拉女工高温和颗粒物暴露与肾脏健康的工作和下班评估

背景在农业社会中，由于受到气候变化影响的男性向外迁移，越来越多的妇女从事农业劳动。因此，了解不断变化的气候条件如何影响妇女职业性热应激和其他健康问题的风险是很重要的。方法在这项纵向先导研究中，我们对危地马拉女性甘蔗工人在工作日和休息日的重复个人水平颗粒物（PM5，空气动力学直径≤5微米）和热暴露进行了研究，并测量了肾功能指标。我们使用重复测量的logistic混合模型来评估肾功能与暴露之间的关系。结果我们观察到45%的工人肾功能下降(估计肾小球滤过率[eGFR] <；90 mL/min/1.73 m2)。基于尿比重1.020（28%）、酸性尿（30%）和低钾水平（31%）的脱水水平是常见的。环境暴露（PM5和热指数）在工作日明显高于休息日。肾功能降低与中位热指数升高（比值比[OR]: 1.63, 95%可信区间[CI]: 1.29-2.08）、尿pH值降低（比值比[OR]: 4.21, 95% CI: 1.08-16.40）和市政饮用水来源（比值比：6.52,95% CI: 1.23-34.57）有关。本研究的结果表明，反复暴露在高水平的高温下会导致这些工人的肾功能下降。这些发现可以为更好地解决女性工作场所健康问题提供预防策略，例如减少热应激和脱水。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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