Open AccessHeat Index in Migrant Farmworker Housing: Implications for Rest and Recovery From Work-Related Heat Stress
Author(s) -
Sara A. Quandt,
Melinda F. Wiggins,
Haiying Chen,
Werner Bischoff,
Thomas A. Arcury
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2012.301135
Subject(s) - extreme heat , heat stress , environmental health , rest (music) , work (physics) , index (typography) , air conditioning , medicine , heat illness , geography , meteorology , climate change , engineering , mechanical engineering , ecology , atmospheric sciences , world wide web , computer science , cardiology , biology , geology
Although the health risk to farmworkers of working in hot conditions is recognized, potential for excessive heat exposure in housing affecting rest and recovery has been ignored. We assessed heat index in common and sleeping rooms in 170 North Carolina farmworker camps across a summer and examined associations with time of summer and air conditioning use. We recorded dangerous heat indexes in most rooms, regardless of time or air conditioning. Policies to reduce heat indexes in farmworker housing should be developed.