Self-Assessed Threshold Temperature for Cold among Poultry Industry Workers in Thailand

The self-assessed threshold temperature for cold in the workplace is not well known. We asked 392 chicken industry workers in Thailand what they regard as the cold threshold (CT) and compared subgroups of workers using linear and quantile regressions by CT sextiles (percentiles P17, P33, P50, P67, and P83, from warmest to coldest). The variables of interest were sex, office work, and sedentary work, with age, clothing thermal insulation, and alcohol consumption as adjustment factors. The mean CT was 14.6 ◦C. Office workers had a 6.8 ◦C higher mean CT than other workers, but the difference ranged from 3.8 ◦C to 10.0 ◦C from P17 to P83. Sedentary workers had a 2.0 ◦C higher mean CT than others, but the difference increased from 0.5 ◦C to 3.0 ◦C through P17–P83. The mean CT did not differ between sexes, but men had a 1.6–5.0 ◦C higher CT at P17–P50 (>20 ◦C) and a 5.0 ◦C lower CT at P83 ( 0.35 m/s) worksites. We conclude that office, sedentary, and female workers and those working at warm, dry, and draughty sites are sensitive to the coldest temperatures, whereas male workers are sensitive even to moderate temperatures

Paraquat Exposure of Pregnant Women and Neonates in Agricultural Areas in Thailand

This study aimed to assess paraquat concentrations in the urine of women at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum and in the meconium of neonates. In all, 79 pregnant women were recruited from three hospitals located in agricultural areas in Thailand. The subjects were interviewed about personal characteristics, agricultural activities and pesticide use patterns. Paraquat was analyzed in urine and meconium using high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a fluorescence detector. The geometric mean (GSD) of urinary paraquat concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum were 2.04 (4.22), 2.06 (5.04) and 2.42 (5.33) ng/mL, respectively. The urinary paraquat concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum between agriculturist and non-agriculturist were not significantly different (p = 0.632, p = 0.915, p = 0.57 respectively). The geometric mean (GSD) of paraquat concentration in the meconium was 33.31 (4.59) ng/g. The factors predicting paraquat exposures among pregnant women and neonates included working outside, living near farmland, having family members who work on a farm, drinking well water and using herbicides or paraquat

Active commuting and work ability: A cross-sectional study of chicken meat industry workers in Thailand

There is ample evidence regarding positive health effects of cycling or walking to work (active commuting [AC]). However, little is known about the effects of AC on work ability. Therefore, we examined 422 Thai chicken meat industry workers who assessed their current work ability (CWA) compared to their lifetime best by assigning scores ranging from 0 to 10. The CWA was compared between active and non-active commuters using linear regression, cumulative distributions, and quantile regression. Overall, 46 workers (11%) were active commuters. The average CWA score was 8.2 (standard deviation, 1.3; range, 4–10). It was higher by 0.5 units (95% confidence interval: 0.2–0.8) in active commuters. Cumulative distributions showed higher CWA scores among active commuters throughout the CWA scale, with the greatest difference (one CWA unit) at scores of 8–9. This benefit of AC persisted after adjustments and was observed at the 33rd, 50th, and 67th percentiles of CWA but not at percentiles higher or lower than the aforementioned ones. The model-predicted CWA scores for selected combinations of personal and work-related factors were up to two units higher among active commuters. In conclusion, active commuters have better work ability than non-active commuters. However, the potential effects may be limited to workers with good work ability. Relevance to the industry: Since commuting is a necessary daily activity for most of the working population, AC may offer great potential to produce positive effects on work ability and health. AC should be encouraged and included in health promotion programs at national and organizational levels

Workplace Cold and Perceived Work Ability: Paradoxically Greater Disadvantage for More vs. Less-Educated Poultry Industry Workers in Thailand

The association between worksite temperature and perceived work ability (WA) in various educational classes remains unknown. Therefore, we interviewed 286 poultry industry workers in Thailand about their WA and linked their responses to worksite temperature. WA was based on the self-assessment of current work ability compared with their lifetime best ability (scores 0–10). Education was classified as high (university or vocational school) or low (less education). Temperature was classified as cold (−22–10◦C) or warm (10–23◦C). WA and the occurrence of a low WA were regressed on worksite temperature, education, and their interaction with the adjustment for sex, age, job category, physical work strain, moving between cold and warm sites, thermal insulation of clothing, relative humidity, and air velocity. The average worksite temperature was 10◦C for high- and 1◦C for low-educated workers. The average WA score was 8.32 (SD, 1.33; range, 4–10) and classified as low (<8) in 23% of the workers. In highly-educated workers, the adjusted mean WA decreased from 9.11 in the warm areas to 8.02 in the cold areas and the prevalence of a low WA increased from 11 to 30%, while no significant change was observed in less-educated workers. The WA score was estimated to decline by 10% more (95% CI, 4–16%) in the cold areas for the more vs. less-educated workers and the prevalence of a poor WA was estimated to increase 3.09 times (95% CI, 1.43–5.45) more. Highly-educated workers in this industry are a risk group that should be given customized advice

Acute Changes in Thyroid Hormone Levels among Thai Pesticide Sprayers

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of acute pesticide exposures and acute changes in thyroid hormones among Thai farmers. We recruited 78 farmers, who were scheduled to spray insecticides (chlorpyrifos and/or cypermethrin) or herbicides (paraquat and/or glyphosate). On the day before spraying, farmers collected their first morning void urine and went for blood collection. On the spray day, urine samples were collected at end of the spraying event and they were interviewed with questionnaires. The next morning, the first morning void urine and blood samples were collected. Blood samples were analyzed for thyroid hormones. Urine samples were analyzed for the metabolites of the pesticide sprayed. The results showed that the thyroid hormones, free triiodothyronine (FT3) and total triiodothyronine (T3) were significantly reduced as urinary chlorpyrifos metabolite increased the day after spraying. Total thyroxine (T4) significantly increased as cypermethrin metabolites increased the day after spraying. T4 significantly increased as urinary glyphosate levels increased; however, FT3 and T3 decreased significantly as urinary paraquat levels increased the day after spraying. These findings suggest that acute exposures to the pesticides chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, paraquat and glyphosate can produce acute effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, acutely altering thyroid hormone levels

Active commuting and work ability:a cross-sectional study of chicken meat industry workers in Thailand

Abstract There is ample evidence regarding positive health effects of cycling or walking to work (active commuting [AC]). However, little is known about the effects of AC on work ability. Therefore, we examined 422 Thai chicken meat industry workers who assessed their current work ability (CWA) compared to their lifetime best by assigning scores ranging from 0 to 10. The CWA was compared between active and non-active commuters using linear regression, cumulative distributions, and quantile regression. Overall, 46 workers (11%) were active commuters. The average CWA score was 8.2 (standard deviation, 1.3; range, 4–10). It was higher by 0.5 units (95% confidence interval: 0.2–0.8) in active commuters. Cumulative distributions showed higher CWA scores among active commuters throughout the CWA scale, with the greatest difference (one CWA unit) at scores of 8–9. This benefit of AC persisted after adjustments and was observed at the 33rd, 50th, and 67th percentiles of CWA but not at percentiles higher or lower than the aforementioned ones. The model-predicted CWA scores for selected combinations of personal and work-related factors were up to two units higher among active commuters. In conclusion, active commuters have better work ability than non-active commuters. However, the potential effects may be limited to workers with good work ability. Relevance to the industry: Since commuting is a necessary daily activity for most of the working population, AC may offer great potential to produce positive effects on work ability and health. AC should be encouraged and included in health promotion programs at national and organizational levels

Workplace cold and perceived work ability:paradoxically greater disadvantage for more vs. less-educated poultry industry workers in Thailand

Abstract The association between worksite temperature and perceived work ability (WA) in various educational classes remains unknown. Therefore, we interviewed 286 poultry industry workers in Thailand about their WA and linked their responses to worksite temperature. WA was based on the self-assessment of current work ability compared with their lifetime best ability (scores 0–10). Education was classified as high (university or vocational school) or low (less education). Temperature was classified as cold (−22–10°C) or warm (10–23°C). WA and the occurrence of a low WA were regressed on worksite temperature, education, and their interaction with the adjustment for sex, age, job category, physical work strain, moving between cold and warm sites, thermal insulation of clothing, relative humidity, and air velocity. The average worksite temperature was 10°C for high- and 1°C for low-educated workers. The average WA score was 8.32 (SD, 1.33; range, 4–10) and classified as low (&lt;8) in 23% of the workers. In highly-educated workers, the adjusted mean WA decreased from 9.11 in the warm areas to 8.02 in the cold areas and the prevalence of a low WA increased from 11 to 30%, while no significant change was observed in less-educated workers. The WA score was estimated to decline by 10% more (95% CI, 4–16%) in the cold areas for the more vs. less-educated workers and the prevalence of a poor WA was estimated to increase 3.09 times (95% CI, 1.43–5.45) more. Highly-educated workers in this industry are a risk group that should be given customized advice

Self-assessed threshold temperature for cold among poultry industry workers in Thailand

Abstract The self-assessed threshold temperature for cold in the workplace is not well known. We asked 392 chicken industry workers in Thailand what they regard as the cold threshold (CT) and compared subgroups of workers using linear and quantile regressions by CT sextiles (percentiles P₁₇, P₃₃, P₅₀, P₆₇, and P₈₃, from warmest to coldest). The variables of interest were sex, office work, and sedentary work, with age, clothing thermal insulation, and alcohol consumption as adjustment factors. The mean CT was 14.6 °C. Office workers had a 6.8 °C higher mean CT than other workers, but the difference ranged from 3.8 °C to 10.0 °C from P₁₇ to P₈₃. Sedentary workers had a 2.0 °C higher mean CT than others, but the difference increased from 0.5 °C to 3.0 °C through P₁₇–P₈₃. The mean CT did not differ between sexes, but men had a 1.6–5.0 °C higher CT at P₁₇–P₅₀ (&gt;20 °C) and a 5.0 °C lower CT at P₈₃ (&lt;10 °C). The CT was relatively high at warm (≥10 °C), dry (relative humidity &lt;41%), and drafty (air velocity &gt; 0.35 m/s) worksites. We conclude that office, sedentary, and female workers and those working at warm, dry, and draughty sites are sensitive to the coldest temperatures, whereas male workers are sensitive even to moderate temperatures