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The impact of heat and impaired kidney function on productivity of Guatemalan sugarcane workers

Author

Listed:
  • Miranda Dally
  • Jaime Butler-Dawson
  • Lyndsay Krisher
  • Andrew Monaghan
  • David Weitzenkamp
  • Cecilia Sorensen
  • Richard J Johnson
  • Elizabeth J Carlton
  • Claudia Asensio
  • Liliana Tenney
  • Lee S Newman

Abstract

Background: Climate change has implications for human health and productivity. Models suggest that heat extremes affect worker health, reduce labor capacity, and commodity supply. Chronic health conditions are on the rise internationally. However there is a paucity of direct empirical evidence relating increasing temperatures to both agricultural worker health and productivity. Methods and findings: We evaluated the relationship between temperature exposure, kidney function, and two measures of productivity—tons of commodity produced and job attrition, of 4,095 Guatemalan sugarcane cutters over a 6-month harvest. We used distributed lag non-linear models to evaluate associations between wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and productivity of workers with normal or impaired kidney function. The cumulative effect of exposure to a max WBGT of 34°C was 1.16 tons (95% CI: -2.87, 0.54) less sugarcane cut over the next five days by workers with impaired kidney function, compared to exposure to 29°C. Impaired kidney function was associated with premature workforce attrition. Workers starting the harvest season with impaired kidney function were more than twice as likely to leave employment (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.88, 4.32). Conclusions: Heat extremes may be associated with loss of agricultural worker productivity and employment, especially among those with impaired kidney function. Agricultural workers who develop health conditions, such as kidney disease, are particularly vulnerable in the face of climate change and increasing heat extremes. The resultant loss of employment and productivity has significant implications for global commodity supplies.

Suggested Citation

  • Miranda Dally & Jaime Butler-Dawson & Lyndsay Krisher & Andrew Monaghan & David Weitzenkamp & Cecilia Sorensen & Richard J Johnson & Elizabeth J Carlton & Claudia Asensio & Liliana Tenney & Lee S Newm, 2018. "The impact of heat and impaired kidney function on productivity of Guatemalan sugarcane workers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0205181
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gasparrini, Antonio, 2011. "Distributed Lag Linear and Non-Linear Models in R: The Package dlnm," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 43(i08).
    2. John P. Dunne & Ronald J. Stouffer & Jasmin G. John, 2013. "Reductions in labour capacity from heat stress under climate warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(6), pages 563-566, June.
    3. Kerstin K. Zander & Wouter J. W. Botzen & Elspeth Oppermann & Tord Kjellstrom & Stephen T. Garnett, 2015. "Heat stress causes substantial labour productivity loss in Australia," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 647-651, July.
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    1. Cecilia J. Sorensen & Lyndsay Krisher & Jaime Butler-Dawson & Miranda Dally & Lynn Dexter & Claudia Asensio & Alex Cruz & Lee S. Newman, 2020. "Workplace Screening Identifies Clinically Significant and Potentially Reversible Kidney Injury in Heat-Exposed Sugarcane Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Miranda Dally & Jaime Butler-Dawson & Cecilia J. Sorensen & Mike Van Dyke & Katherine A. James & Lyndsay Krisher & Diana Jaramillo & Lee S. Newman, 2020. "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and Recorded Occupational Injury Rates among Sugarcane Harvesters in Southwest Guatemala," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Miranda Dally & Jaime Butler-Dawson & Alex Cruz & Lyndsay Krisher & Richard J Johnson & Claudia Asensio & W Daniel Pilloni & Edwin J Asturias & Lee S Newman, 2020. "Longitudinal trends in renal function among first time sugarcane harvesters in Guatemala," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, March.

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