Competitive study of heat-exposed and non-heat-exposed group of workers of Underground Coal Mines, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract Aim To identify prevalence and comparison of heat-induced illnesses among. Design: cross-sectional survey and comparison. Methods: Ingestible thermometric pills, skin temperature probes, US-NIOSH heat stress sheet and general questionnaire were used to study 50 coal cutters (25 from 5 hot mines (G1) and 25 from 5 non-hot mines (G2)). Results: The highest monitored temperature was 33.6 0C in mine 1 and humidity 83.3% in mine 3. Comparing values of two groups of mines, the p-value was < 0.001 for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and Dry Bulb Temperature, and 0.031 for Relative Humidity. The highest core body temperature (38.80C) and skin temperature (36.60C) were in workers of G1, who also reported symptoms of heat-illness for 3 + days/week. Post-shift samples (of blood and urine) from G1 showed that the hematocrit (%) reduced to 43.6 ± 2.1 from 45.4 ± 1.4, eGFR reduced from100 ± 19 to 94 ± 09 mL/min/1.72m2. Public contribution: Performing exertive work in hot environment prompts heat-induced-illnesses.