Skip to main content

The simultaneous effects of thermal stress and air pollution on body temperature of Tehran traffic officers

Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering volume 18, pages 279–284 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Global warming and air pollution are among the most important problems all over the world. Considering the key role of traffic officers who saliently deal with traffic management and are in full, constant and direct exposure to thermal stress and air pollution index, this study aims to investigate the simultaneous effects of these factors on the body temperature of traffic officers in the main squares of Tehran.

Methods

This study was conducted among 119 traffic officers who were working in 29 squares of Tehran, located near the active pollutant’s stations during 2017. Samples were selected by the census method. Environmental parameters such as air temperature (dry and wet), radiation temperature, the level of air pollution in the main squares and characteristics of officers such as body temperature and the Wet-Bulb-Globe-Temperature (WBGT) index were evaluated. Data were analyzed through independent samples t-test and factorial ANOVA with a p value of p ≤ 0.05 in SPSS software.

Results

There was no significant relationship between air pollution and ear temperature, but there was a statistically significant difference between the wet-bulb temperature and the ear temperature (t = 26.4, P < 0.001). The interaction effect of air pollution and wet-bulb temperature on the ear temperature was also significant (F = 3.98, P = 0.048).

Conclusion

Exposure to heat and air pollution affects body temperature, with its greatest impact on the temperature of the ear. More studies are recommended to be conducted in these field and other factors such as demographic and environmental factors at different times of the year should be investigated. Accordingly, some interventions should be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of officers based on the findings of the research.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  1. Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty [Internet]. 2018.

  2. Kjellstrom T, Holmer I, Lemke B. Workplace heat stress, health, and productivity - an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change. Glob Health Action. 2009;2:https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v2i0.2047.

  3. Tustin AW, Lamson GE, Jacklitsch BL, Thomas RJ, Arbury SB, Cannon DL, et al. Evaluation of occupational exposure limits for heat stress in outdoor workers - United States, 2011-2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(26):733–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hansen A, Pisaniello D, Varghese B, Rowett S, Hanson-Easey S, Bi P, et al. What can we learn about workplace heat stress management from a safety regulator complaints database? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(3):459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Arbury S, Jacklitsch B, Farquah O, Hodgson M, Lamson G, Martin H, et al. Heat illness and death among workers - United States, 2012-2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(31):661–5.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Arbury S, Lindsley M, Hodgson M. A critical review of OSHA heat enforcement cases: lessons learned. J Occup Environ Med. 2016;58(4):359–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Rogers B, Stiehl K, Borst J, Hess A, Hutchins S. Heat-related illnesses: the role of the occupational and environmental health nurse. AAOHN J. 2007;55(7):279–87 quiz 88-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Xiang J, Bi P, Pisaniello D, Hansen A. Health impacts of workplace heat exposure: an epidemiological review. Ind Health. 2014;52(2):91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Acharya P, Boggess B, Zhang K. Assessing heat stress and health among construction Workers in a Changing Climate: a review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Krzyzanowski M, Kuna-Dibbert B, Schneider J. Health effects of transport-related air pollution. WHO Regional Office for Europe: Denmark; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  11. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Health & Education. [Internet]. August 22, 2016. Available from: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/exposure/air-pollution/.

  12. Kampa M, Castanas E. Human health effects of air pollution. Environ Pollut (Barking, Essex: 1987). 2008;151(2):362–7.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Air Quality Index (AQI). Local air quality conditions and forecasts. [Internet]. August 31, 2016, Available from http://airnow.gov.

  14. Effects of air pollution [Internet]. 2013 [cited 1/31/2017]. Available from: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects.

  15. Topey MM, editor The association between lung Cancer and air pollution in Trinidad: A Mixed Methods Literature Review. Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad; Spring 2016.

  16. Oakes M, Baxter L, Long TC. Evaluating the application of multipollutant exposure metrics in air pollution health studies. Environ Int. 2014;69:90–9.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Brook RD, Rajagopalan S, Pope CA 3rd, Brook JR, Bhatnagar A, Diez-Roux AV, et al. Particulate matter air pollution and cardiovascular disease: an update to the scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2010;121(21):2331–78.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Scammell MK. Qualitative environmental Health Research: an analysis of the literature, 1991–2008. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118:1146–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Health & Environmental Effects of Air Pollution [Internet]. 2017. Available from: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/air/aq/health-and-env-effects-air-pollutions.pdf.

  20. Fast Facts about Health Effects of Air Pollution [Internet]. 5/2012. Available from: http://deohs.washington.edu/sites/default/files/FastFacts_AirPollution_12MAY10.pdf.

  21. Naddafi K, Hassanvand MS, Yunesian M, Momeniha F, Nabizadeh R, Faridi S, et al. Health impact assessment of air pollution in megacity of Tehran, Iran. Iranian J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2012;9(1):28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Dehghan A, Khanjani N, Bahrampour A, Goudarzi G, Yunesian M. The relation between air pollution and respiratory deaths in Tehran, Iran- using generalized additive models. BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Dutta P, Rajiva A, Andhare D, Azhar GS, Tiwari A, Sheffield P, et al. Perceived heat stress and health effects on construction workers. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2015;19(3):151–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Al-Bouwarthan M, Quinn MM, Kriebel D, Wegman DH. Assessment of heat stress exposure among construction Workers in the hot Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia. Ann Work Expo Health. 2019;63(5):505–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Beck N, Balanay JAG, Johnson T. Assessment of occupational exposure to heat stress and solar ultraviolet radiation among groundskeepers in an eastern North Carolina university setting. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2018;15(2):105–16.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Flouris AD, Dinas PC, Ioannou LG, Nybo L, Havenith G, Kenny GP, et al. Workers' health and productivity under occupational heat strain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2018;2(12):e521–e31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zamanian Z, Sedaghat Z, Hemehrezaee M, Khajehnasiri F. Evaluation of environmental heat stress on physiological parameters. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2017;15:24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ghorani-Azam A, Riahi-Zanjani B, Balali-Mood M. Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran. J Res Med Sci. 2016;21:65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Goldberg MS, Wheeler AJ, Burnett RT, Mayo NE, Valois MF, Brophy JM, et al. Physiological and perceived health effects from daily changes in air pollution and weather among persons with heart failure: a panel study. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2015;25(2):187–99.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Barn P, Giles L, Heroux ME, Kosatsky T. A review of the experimental evidence on the toxicokinetics of carbon monoxide: the potential role of pathophysiology among susceptible groups. Environ Health: A Glob Access Sci Sour. 2018;17(1):13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. McCarron G. Air pollution and human health hazards: a compilation of air toxins acknowledged by the gas industry in Queensland’s Darling downs. Int J Environ Stud. 2018;75(1):171–85.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Monthly weather forecast and climate, Tehran, Iran [Internet]. 2020 [cited 1/31/2020].

  33. Air Quality Index (AQI). Local air quality conditions and forecasts. [Internet]. 2016.

  34. Ren C, O'Neill MS, Park SK, Sparrow D, Vokonas P, Schwartz J. Ambient temperature, air pollution, and heart rate variability in an aging population. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;173(9):1013–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. O'Neill MS, Hajat S, Zanobetti A, Ramirez-Aguilar M, Schwartz J. Impact of control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics on the estimated associations of temperature and daily mortality. Int J Biometeorol. 2005;50(2):121–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Orru H, Ebi KL, Forsberg B. The interplay of climate change and air pollution on health. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2017;4(4):504–13.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Chen K, Wolf K, Breitner S, Gasparrini A, Stafoggia M, Samoli E, et al. Two-way effect modifications of air pollution and air temperature on total natural and cardiovascular mortality in eight European urban areas. Environ Int. 2018;116:186–96.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Qin RX, Xiao C, Zhu Y, Li J, Yang J, Gu S, et al. The interactive effects between high temperature and air pollution on mortality: a time-series analysis in Hefei. China Sci Total Environ. 2017;575:1530–7.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Breitner S, Wolf K, Devlin RB, Diaz-Sanchez D, Peters A, Schneider A. Short-term effects of air temperature on mortality and effect modification by air pollution in three cities of Bavaria, Germany: a time-series analysis. Sci Total Environ. 2014;485–486:49–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the “Iran National Science Foundation” and “University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences”

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, kodakyar Ave., daneshjo Blvd., Evin, Tehran, 1985713834, Iran

    Negar Pourvakhshoori, Mohsen Poursadeghiyan & Mehrdad Farrokhi

  2. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Hamid Reza Khankeh

  3. Social Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni

Authors
  1. Negar Pourvakhshoori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohsen Poursadeghiyan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hamid Reza Khankeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mehrdad Farrokhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehrdad Farrokhi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pourvakhshoori, N., Poursadeghiyan, M., Khankeh, H.R. et al. The simultaneous effects of thermal stress and air pollution on body temperature of Tehran traffic officers. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 18, 279–284 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00463-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00463-2

Keywords

  • Stress
  • Heat
  • Air pollution
  • Traffic officer