Establishing Digital Biomarkers for Occupational Health Assessment in Commercial Salmon Fishermen: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Physiology

Background:

• Commercial salmon fishing in Alaska is a high-risk occupation with a high mortality rate.
• Intense work periods lead to sleep deprivation and physical strain.
• Existing regulations have not significantly reduced mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that sleep deprivation, physical workload, and chronic stress negatively impact fishermen's health.
• To determine the feasibility of a study design to test this hypothesis.
• To assess the short- and long-term health effects on commercial salmon fishermen.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining biometric monitoring (heart rate variability, respiration, movement) with wearable devices.
• Collected observational data on sleep, weather, catch, and financial gain.
• Measured salivary cortisol levels multiple times daily for a holistic stress assessment.

Main Results:

• Data collection initiated in July 2017 and concluded in August 2019.
• Initial findings confirm the feasibility of the study methods for collecting relevant data.
• The protocol effectively gathers qualitative and quantitative data on the psychological and physiological impacts of fishing.

Conclusions:

• Biometric devices are crucial for measuring stress and activity in isolated, high-stress environments.
• Fishermen face unique challenges including isolation, extreme weather, and financial pressures.
• Long-term exposure to sleep deprivation and stress may increase cardiovascular disease risk in fishermen.