Environmental Heat Stress Among Young Working Women: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Increasing frequency and severity of heat waves pose significant risks to outdoor workers' health and income.
• Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heat stress due to physiological changes and the need to protect fetal development.
• Existing research suggests a link between elevated maternal body temperature during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify changes in core body temperature (Tcore) in young working women during outdoor and indoor work on hot, humid days.
• To investigate the relationship between threshold temperatures and adverse pregnancy effects, including teratogenicity and miscarriage.

Main Methods:

• Tympanic temperatures were measured using infrared ear thermometers.
• Workplace temperatures were recorded using Lascar Data Loggers.
• Exploratory interviews and content analysis were used for qualitative data collection.

Main Results:

• Outdoor working women exhibited higher body temperatures compared to their indoor counterparts.
• Elevated body temperatures were observed during and after work activities in hot conditions.

Conclusions:

• Working outdoors on hot, humid days may elevate pregnant women's core body temperature to levels potentially inducing fetal anomalies or destruction.
• Findings underscore the critical need for heat safety measures for pregnant outdoor workers to mitigate reproductive risks.