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

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 hea...

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Main Authors: 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
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:The Journal of Climate Change and Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000774
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author 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
author_facet 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
author_sort Jaime Butler-Dawson
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-b29c0805e55f4a1dbc0262aad4ec12642025-08-20T02:56:10ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822025-03-012210040810.1016/j.joclim.2024.100408A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in GuatemalaJaime Butler-Dawson0Diana Jaramillo1Lyndsay Krisher2Karely Villarreal Hernandez3Laura Calvimontes4Miranda Dally5Yaqiang Li6Katherine A. James7Richard J. Johnson8Daniel Pilloni9Alex Cruz10Joshua Schaeffer11John Adgate12Lee S. Newman13Center for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Corresponding author at: Center for Health, Work &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health. 13001 E. 17th Pl., Ste. W3111, Aurora, CO 80045.Center for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USADepartment of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USADivision of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USAPantaleon, Guatemala City, GuatemalaPantaleon, Guatemala City, GuatemalaDepartment of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USADepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USACenter for Health, Work, &amp; Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USABackground: 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000774Heat stressWomenClimate changeAgricultureKidneys
spellingShingle 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
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
Heat stress
Women
Climate change
Agriculture
Kidneys
title A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala
title_full A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala
title_fullStr A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala
title_full_unstemmed A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala
title_short A work and off-work evaluation of female workers’ heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in Guatemala
title_sort work and off work evaluation of female workers heat and particulate matter exposures and kidney health in guatemala
topic Heat stress
Women
Climate change
Agriculture
Kidneys
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000774
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