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http://dx.doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2018.43.1.009

Status and Awareness of Excessive Heat Exposure among Agricultural Workers  

Lee, Dong-Hyun (Department of Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
Kim, Dong-Seob (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
Chung, Jin-Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
Lee, Kwan (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
Lim, Hyun-Sul (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of agricultural medicine and community health / v.43, no.1, 2018 , pp. 9-17 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: This study was to assess the status and awareness of excessive heat exposure among agricultural workers. Methods: We selected a total of 90 farmers from a villages of Gyeongju-si, during August, 2015. We carried out the temperature measurement for nine times and derived Health Index (HI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. We compared the HI, WBGT and excessive heat warnings. Status of high temperature exposure, lifestyle, medical history, and awareness about excessive health related exposure illness assessed using survey questionnaires. Results: The matching rates between the WBGT and the HI during excessive heat warning were high, but when it was a non-excessive heat warning, there were days of excessive HI or WBGT. Out of 90 farmers surveyed, 78 cases (86.7%) were in their 60s and older age group. Slightly more than two third (71.1%) farmers were farming in the dawn-morning (71.1%), and the daily working hours were less than 4 hours (54.4 %), but only 23.3% among farmers took regular breaks. Of total, 14.4% farmers experienced excessive heat exposure related illness in order of tiredness, lethargy, dizziness, headaches, and sweating. Overall, the awareness of the danger for excessive heat and the heat wave warnings were high at 70.0% and 74.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Politically, the excessive heat warnings should not be taken into account the simple temperature measurement but, have to consider WBGT and HI standards at the same time. Farmers need to be promoted and educated to prevent the excessive heat related illness by periodically increasing their rest time during farming.
Keywords
Farmers; Heat; Exposure; Illness; Awareness;
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