Occupational heat stress and associated productivity loss estimation using the PHS model (ISO 7933): a case study from workplaces in Chennai, India.

Heat stress is a major occupational problem in India that can cause adverse health effects and reduce work productivity. This paper explores this problem and its impacts in selected workplaces, including industrial, service, and agricultural sectors in Chennai, India

Rethinking Workplace Thermal Comfort in Climate Change Context

In the coming decades, global warming is likely to adversely change indoor thermal comfort without interventions. Select workplaces were assessed for indoor thermal comfort, workers’ health impacts with future projections for indoor thermal conditions. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitor was used to measure heat exposures and validated questionnaires captured workers perceptions on thermal discomfort. Average seasonal WBGT levels ranged between 30°C-33°C and ~66% of workers were working above safe limits. Workers (56%) who perceived thermal discomfort had significantly higher odds of reporting heat-related health symptoms (Adj.OR: 8.0;p-value=<0.0001). Passive cooling and climate smart workplaces can improve thermal comfort with energy-saving co-benefits

Climatic Influences on Canine Babesiosis: Patterns of Babesia Prevalence and Dynamics

This study investigates the prevalence of Babesia gibsoni and Babesia vogeli in Wayanad district Kerala, India, from January 2021 to December 2023, focusing on the impact of climatic factors on pathogen abundance. Canine babesiosis, caused by these protozoan parasites, poses a significant health threat to dogs globally. Despite the increasing incidence of the disease, there is limited research on the influence of specific climatic variables on the prevalence of B. gibsoni and B. vogeli in Kerala. An analysis of 350 canine blood samples was done by PCR to evaluate the prevalence of these pathogens and their correlation with climatic factors such as temperature, evaporation rate, relative humidity, and rainfall. Whole blood samples were collected from dogs exhibiting clinical signs of babesiosis were examined using PCR, while biometeorological data, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and evaporation rate, were simultaneously collected to explore their impact on parasite prevalence.  Our findings indicated a higher prevalence of B. gibsoni (58.33%) compared to B. vogeli (41.67%), with B. gibsoni showing peak incidence in 2022. Statistical analysis revealed that maximum temperature and evaporation rate were positively associated with the abundance of both species, whereas relative humidity and rainfall were negatively correlated. These results highlight the significant role of climatic conditions in the epidemiology of canine babesiosis, emphasizing the need for further research to understand how specific environmental factors influence pathogen transmission. Such insights are crucial for developing effective strategies to manage and mitigate the impact of these diseases in Kerala

Effectiveness of heat stress interventions among outdoor workers: a protocol paper

IntroductionHeavy work in scorching temperatures can cause dehydration and heat stress, which can lead to a number of heat-related diseases. Heavy work in intense heat without rest or hydration is the main cause. The “Water, Rest, Shade” (WRS) intervention program for outdoor workers in hot weather reduces heat stress.MethodsThis study follows a quasi-experimental design involving 250 outdoor workers from both agriculture and brick kilns. To assess the environmental heat exposure levels, Quest Temp 3 M WBGT Monitor will be used. Tympanic temperature, Heart rate (HR), Sweat rate (SwR), and Urine specific gravity (USG) to assess the physiological responses to heat exposure using standard protocols. Blood samples will be collected to measure serum creatinine and calculate Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and urine samples to measure pH, leucocytes, proteinuria, and hematuria. Then administer a validated and modified HOTHAPS questionnaire to capture the perception data. After the baseline assessments, Categorize the workers into two groups based on the selection criteria and the participants’ willingness. Then provide a week-long WRS intervention to the intervention group (IG). The non-intervention group will collect the same data without any intervention to assess the efficacy of the intervention by comparing both groups and measuring outcome indicators.Expected outcomeThe study will generate much-needed information to raise awareness of the importance of heat stress prevention for outdoor workers.ConclusionThis study will demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention, provide much-needed strategies for reducing heat stress, assess both health impacts and implementation quality, and design comprehensive workplace and labor laws aim to minimise risks to millions of unorganised outdoor workers health

Extreme Heat and COVID-19: The Impact on the Urban Poor in Asia and Africa

The research on which this report was based was funded by the UK Research and Innovation and the Global Challenges Research Fund through the Economic and Social Research Council (Award ES/T008091/1) and by the Scottish Funding Council as part of Cool Infrastructures, a multi-disciplinary project into life with heat in global cities. We also thank the Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for publication support.The study provides substantial new data on the direct as well as indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, thermal comfort and heat-related illness, in Jakarta (Indonesia), Hyderabad (India), Karachi and Hyderabad (Pakistan) and Douala (Cameroon). These cities are home to very large or rapidly growing low-income populations dealing with extreme heat. Alongside data on heat exposure and symptoms associated with heat-related illness, the report supplies supplementary data points on access to electricity, water, food, health services, as well as income and food intake during the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be of use to policy makers and researchers. The report is intended for use by governmental and non-governmental organisations in these cities and countries as they work to fine-tune policy and programme responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and avoid heat-related health impacts. Its broader findings are intended to be of use to inform interventions in urban areas facing similar challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia

Air pollution from household solid fuel combustion in India: an overview of exposure and health related information to inform health research priorities

Environmental and occupational risk factors contribute to nearly 40% of the national burden of disease in India, with air pollution in the indoor and outdoor environment ranking amongst leading risk factors. It is now recognized that the health burden from air pollution exposures that primarily occur in the rural indoors, from pollutants released during the incomplete combustion of solid fuels in households, may rival or even exceed the burden attributable to urban outdoor exposures. Few environmental epidemiological efforts have been devoted to this setting, however. We provide an overview of important available information on exposures and health effects related to household solid fuel use in India, with a view to inform health research priorities for household air pollution and facilitate being able to address air pollution within an integrated rural–urban framework in the future