Farhang Dehghan S, Mousavi Kordmiri H, Fallah Madvari R, Abasi Balochkhaneh F. The Effects of Climate Change on the Health of Outdoor Workers. AOH 2020; 4 (2) :528-529
URL:
http://aoh.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-217-en.html
1- Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- PhD student of occupational health engineering, school of public health, Hamadan university of medical sciences, Hamadan, Iran
3- PhD student, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
4- M.Sc., Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , faezehabasi72@yahoo.com
Abstract: (1762 Views)
The phenomenon of climate change occurs as a result of factors such as dynamic earth processes or external factors such as changes in the intensity of sunlight or human activity. External factors affecting the climate are often referred to as climate forces, including processes such as fluctuations in the intensity of sunlight, distortions in the direction of the Earth's motion, and increased greenhouse gas concentrations. The causes of this increase can be attributed to the increase in heat, CO2, and greenhouse gases, resulting in an increase in atmospheric ozone, resulting in an increase in UV radiation at the Earth's surface (1). As a result of climate change, the prevalence of heat stroke, kidney disease, neurological and mental problems, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diarrhea, infectious diseases, contagious diseases and food chain disruption in onshore and marine ecosystems, increased ocular disease , Increase immune deterioration and increase skin cancer (2).
Despite many advances in cooling technologies and heating strategies, the inability of the body to fully control the thermal energy produced remains a serious health concern. In 2012, heat-related illnesses caused the highest number of weather-related casualties in the United States due to cardiac arrest and caused other heat-related illnesses (3). As a result, increasing heat in response to climate change can cause many health problems, including heat stress and its associated effects, for workers, especially workers in the open air.
Heat stress is a non-specific physiological response to the body when exposed to high temperatures. Also, according to the National Occupational Safety and Health Report of the United States during 1983- 2001, most cases of heat-induced illness in mines occur during the workday shift (4). This can be due to the higher daytime heat. Increasing body temperature and decreasing body fluid (hydration) have a negative effect on behavior including physical exhaustion, irritability, numbness, miscarriages, decreased appetite and vomiting effects, decreased appetite, fatigue, and fatigue. It has the effect of reducing efficiency, safety and efficiency. In addition, investigating the role of heat stress on accidents has shown that very high and low temperatures are statistically significantly related to unsafe behaviors of workers (5). In some studies, exposure to heat stress in open-pit mines was determined based on the temperature index of the burners compared to the standard in all workplaces above the recommended limit (6, 7). Consequently, it can be concluded that climate change can be a greater threat to outdoor workers.
Climate change is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases and a decrease in atmospheric ozone, which in turn increases the amount of UV radiation that can affect everyone, especially outdoor workers. As a result, climate change has a positive and significant relationship with increasing UV radiation. Various studies have shown that excessive exposure to UV radiation can include the risk of eye damage (cataracts, photocrititis), sunburn, immunosuppression, and skin cancer. As a result, outdoor workers are more affected by UV radiation as a result of climate change. Consequently, preventive measures should be taken to reduce exposure to heat and UV radiation to reduce the effects of climate change. As a result, measures should be taken to reduce exposure to outdoor workers. These may include training in the proper use of personal protective equipment, a periodic health check of workers to assess their health and disease prevention, the formulation of necessary regulations, guidelines and standards regarding cultural and climatic characteristics and their performance in outdoor occupations. Country, drinking cool water at work, preparing posters about heat stress and UV radiation in the workplace and its side effects and reducing its effects, shift work in people exposed to heat stress and UV radiation, preventing people with heart disease Outdoors, the use of special creams to reduce exposure UV can be pointed.
Type of Study:
Editorial |
Subject:
Special Received: 2020/01/24 | Accepted: 2020/04/8 | Published: 2020/04/8