Exertional heat illness and acute injury related to ambient wet bulb globe temperature

Am J Ind Med. 2016 Dec;59(12):1169-1176. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22650. Epub 2016 Oct 24.

Abstract

Background: The Deepwater Horizon disaster cleanup effort provided an opportunity to examine the effects of ambient thermal conditions on exertional heat illness (EHI) and acute injury (AI).

Methods: The outcomes were daily person-based frequencies of EHI and AI. Exposures were maximum estimated WBGT (WBGTmax) and severity. Previous day's cumulative effect was assessed by introducing previous day's WBGTmax into the model.

Results: EHI and AI were higher in workers exposed above a WBGTmax of 20°C (RR 1.40 and RR 1.06/°C, respectively). Exposures above 28°C-WBGTmax on the day of the EHI and/or the day before were associated with higher risk of EHI due to an interaction between previous day's environmental conditions and the current day (RRs from 1.0-10.4).

Conclusions: The risk for EHI and AI were higher with increasing WBGTmax. There was evidence of a cumulative effect from the prior day's WBGTmax for EHI. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:1169-1176, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: WBGT; acute injuries; cumulative effect; exertional heat illness; heat stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disasters*
  • Gulf of Mexico / epidemiology
  • Heat Stress Disorders / epidemiology
  • Heat Stress Disorders / etiology*
  • Hot Temperature / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Humidity / adverse effects
  • Incidence
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
  • Petroleum Pollution / adverse effects*
  • Physical Exertion