Details:

Alternative Title:
Am J Ind Med
Personal Author:
Moyce, Sally ; Armitage, Tracey ; Mitchell, Diane ; Schenker, Marc
Moyce, Sally ; Armitage, Tracey ; Mitchell, Diane ; Schenker, Marc Less -
Description:
Background

Kidney damage is associated with increased workload in high ambient temperatures, and may represent a pathway to chronic kidney disease of unknown origin in agricultural workers. We tested the associations of workload and heat with acute kidney dysfunction in California agricultural workers.

Methods

We recruited a convenience sample of 471 agricultural workers from 29 farms in California during two summer harvest seasons. Sustained 3-minute maximum workload was estimated using accelerometer data collected from Actical monitors and individual heat load through elevations in core body temperature. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined by a change in serum creatinine of ≥0.3mg/dL or ≥1.5 times the pre-shift creatinine over the course of the work shift. Associations between AKI and workload were modeled using logistic regression, controlling for demographic, physiologic, and occupational variables.

Results

357 workers (75.8%) had accelerometer readings in the moderate workload category, 93 (19.7%) had readings in the vigorous category. 177 (36%) had elevations of core body temperature ≥1°C. 72 workers (14.9%) demonstrated evidence of AKI after a single day of agricultural work. Workload category was associated with an increased adjusted odds of AKI (1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-3.51). Piece rate work was also associated with increased adjusted odds of AKI (3.02, 95% CI1.44-6.34).

Conclusions

Heavy occupational workload and piece-rate work were associated with acute effects on renal health of agricultural workers. This indicates that occupations requiring high physical effort put workers at risk for AKI, possibly independent of ambient and core body temperature. Changes to agricultural practices may reduce the risk for renal disorders for these workers.


Subject:
[+]
Acute Kidney Injury
Agricultural Workers
Article
Chronic Kidney Disease Of Unknown Origin
Metabolic Equivalents
Occupational Risk Factors
Temperature

Source:
Am J Ind Med. 63(3):258-268
Pubmed ID:
31773783
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC7002174
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
R01 OH010243/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; U54 OH007550/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; U54OH007550/ACL/ACL HHS/United States
R01 OH010243/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; U54 OH007550/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; U54OH007550/ACL/ACL HHS/United States Less -
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:8879efcf2653050ebed3dc098dc69561e33b0f47370ba999d6f4d7a71283282d
File Type:

Supporting Files

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