Concurrent Particulate Matter and Heat Exposure in Working and Non-working Women in Rural Guatemala.

Abstract

High temperatures and air pollution exposure are individually known risks to human health, with amplifying adverse health effects during periods of co-exposure. This study compared co-occurring individual-level exposures to particulate matter (PM₅, aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 5 micrometers) and heat among women in residential and agricultural settings in Guatemala. We measured personal and ambient exposure to PM₅, temperature, and humidity among 21 female sugarcane workers in the fields and on their off days. We measured similar exposures among a group of 30 community members not involved in sugarcane work. We collected 171 personal PM₅ measurements across 18 sampling days. The median workday personal PM₅ concentration was 271 μg/m³, which was 3.6-fold higher than ambient area levels in the fields. The median personal PM₅ concentration was 95.8 ug/m³ for off-work days and 83.5 ug/m³ for community days. The average workday individual-level temperature and humidity were 39.4°C and 82.4%, respectively, with significantly lower temperatures on off-work and community days. The women workers and community members were exposed to high levels of PM₅ and heat in both occupational and residential settings. Research needs to consider individual-level exposures at both work and home to help tailor more effective comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce risks.