Summer outdoor temperature and occupational heat-related illnesses in Quebec (Canada)

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.07.018· OSTI ID:22447546

Adam-Poupart, Ariane ^[1]; Smargiassi, Audrey ^[1]; Busque, Marc-Antoine; Duguay, Patrice ^[2]; Fournier, Michel ^[3]; Zayed, Joseph ^[1]; Labrèche, France ^[1]

---

1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC (Canada)
2. Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montreal, QC (Canada)
3. Direction de santé publique, Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, Montreal, QC (Canada)

Background: Predicted rise in global mean temperature and intensification of heat waves associated with climate change present an increasing challenge for occupational health and safety. Although important scientific knowledge has been gathered on the health effects of heat, very few studies have focused on quantifying the association between outdoor heat and mortality or morbidity among workers. Objective: To quantify the association between occupational heat-related illnesses and exposure to summer outdoor temperatures. Methods: We modeled 259 heat-related illnesses compensated by the Workers' Compensation Board of Quebec between May and September, from 1998 to 2010, with maximum daily summer outdoor temperatures in 16 health regions of Quebec (Canada) using generalized linear models with negative binomial distributions, and estimated the pooled effect sizes for all regions combined, by sex and age groups, and for different time lags with random-effect models for meta-analyses. Results: The mean daily compensation count was 0.13 for all regions of Quebec combined. The relationship between daily counts of compensations and maximum daily temperatures was log-linear; the pooled incidence rate ratio (IRR) of daily heat-related compensations per 1 °C increase in daily maximum temperatures was 1.419 (95% CI 1.326 to 1.520). Associations were similar for men and women and by age groups. Increases in daily maximum temperatures at lags 1 and 2 and for two and three-day lag averages were also associated with increases in daily counts of compensations (IRRs of 1.206 to 1.471 for every 1 °C increase in temperature). Conclusion: This study is the first to quantify the association between occupational heat-related illnesses and exposure to summer temperatures in Canada. The model (risk function) developed in this study could be useful to improve the assessment of future impacts of predicted summer outdoor temperatures on workers and vulnerable groups, particularly in colder temperate zones. - Highlights: • 259 heat-related compensated illnesses were modeled with ambient temperature • An overall risk ratio of 1.419 (95% CI 1.326–1.520) for every 1 °C increase was found • Risk estimates were similar for men and women and by large age groups. • There were little lag effects (IRRs of 1.206 to 1.471 for every 1 °C increase)

• OSTI ID: 22447546
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 134; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE GROUPS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
AUGMENTATION
CHARGES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DICTIONARIES
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISTRIBUTION
FUNCTIONS
HAZARDS
HEAT
MEN
MORTALITY
PONDS
QUEBEC
RANDOMNESS
SAFETY
SEX
TEMPERATE ZONES