Beck Nicole, Balanay Jo Anne G, Johnson Terri
a Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion , East Carolina University , Greenville , North Carolina.
b Department of Statistics , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2018 Feb;15(2):105-116. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1392530.
Groundskeepers spend most of the year working outdoors, exposing them to heat and solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and increasing their risk to related adverse health effects. Various studies on heat and UV exposures in different occupations have been published, but those on groundskeepers are rare. The purpose of this study was to assess the exposure to heat stress and solar UV radiation among groundskeepers in an eastern North Carolina university setting. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index using a heat stress monitor and UV effective irradiance (UV) index using a digital UV meter were recorded in various work areas three times a day (morning, noon, afternoon) and during three seasons (spring, summer, fall). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD), and Pearson Correlation tests. The mean (±SD) WBGT index was the highest in the afternoon (25.4 ± 5.0°C), summer (27.8 ± 3.1°C), and July (29.0 ± 2.6°C); the mean UV index was the highest at noon, summer and June (0.0116 ± 0.0061, 0.0101 ± 0.0081, and 0.0114 ± 0.0089 mW/cm, respectively). Differences in the mean WBGT and UV indices within the time periods of day, seasons and months were significant (P < 0.01). The overall correlation between WBGT and UV indices was moderate (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) but lack of correlation was found during different times of the day during the fall and summer seasons. The largest percentages of WBGT indices exceeding the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values (TLVs) for different workloads were found in the afternoon (11.3-40.7%), summer (14.6-56%), and July (28.8-76.3%). The mean UV for noon (0.0116 mW/cm) and afternoon (0.0100 mW/cm) exceeded the TLV for 30-min exposure. This study shows that groundskeepers are potentially exposed to excessive heat stress and UV radiation, and are at risk to developing heat- and UV-related illnesses. The study findings will be beneficial in implementing recommended control measures to prevent heat stress and UV exposure among groundskeepers and other similar outdoor workers.
场地管理员一年中的大部分时间都在户外工作，这使他们暴露在高温和太阳紫外线（UV）辐射下，增加了他们出现相关不良健康影响的风险。关于不同职业中高温和紫外线暴露的各种研究已经发表，但针对场地管理员的研究却很少。本研究的目的是评估北卡罗来纳州东部一所大学环境中场地管理员的热应激和太阳紫外线辐射暴露情况。使用热应激监测仪记录湿球黑球温度（WBGT）指数，使用数字紫外线计记录紫外线有效辐照度（UV）指数，每天在不同工作区域记录三次（上午、中午、下午），并在三个季节（春季、夏季、秋季）进行记录。数据分析采用描述性统计、方差分析（ANOVA）、Tukey 真实显著差异（HSD）和 Pearson 相关性检验。平均（±标准差）WBGT 指数在下午（25.4±5.0°C）、夏季（27.8±3.1°C）和 7 月（29.0±2.6°C）最高；平均紫外线指数在中午、夏季和 6 月最高（分别为 0.0116±0.0061、0.0101±0.0081 和 0.0114±0.0089 mW/cm²）。一天中的时间段、季节和月份内，平均 WBGT 和紫外线指数的差异具有显著性（P<0.01）。WBGT 和紫外线指数之间的总体相关性为中等（r = 0.42，P<0.01），但在秋季和夏季的不同时间段内未发现相关性。在下午（11.3 - 40.7%）、夏季（14.6 - 56%）和 7 月（28.8 - 76.3%）发现，不同工作量下超过美国政府工业卫生学家会议（ACGIH）阈值限值（TLV）的 WBGT 指数百分比最高。中午（0.0116 mW/cm²）和下午（0.0100 mW/cm²）的平均紫外线超过了 30 分钟暴露的 TLV。本研究表明，场地管理员可能暴露于过度的热应激和紫外线辐射下，有患与热和紫外线相关疾病的风险。研究结果将有助于实施推荐的控制措施，以预防场地管理员和其他类似户外工作者的热应激和紫外线暴露。
