P-560 CO-EXPOSURE OF WORKERS TO AIR POLLUTANTS AND A WARMING CLIMATE: SIGNIFICANCE OF MEDICAL MONITORING PROGRAMS

Abstract

Introduction Increasing earth’s surface temperatures, and its contribution to the deterioration of air quality has resulted in increasing cardiopulmonary related health risks. Globally, over one billion workers are exposed to these changing climatic conditions including increases in heat indices, ground ozone levels, and particulate levels. Scientific literature supports the health benefits of establishing air quality indices and subsequent action alerts for the general community. The aim is to review literature on medical monitoring programs that can identify those workers who are at increased risk for the health effects of both elevated ambient temperatures and poor air quality and determine the role of an occupational program that takes into account both air quality and heat indices. Methods An occupational medicine literature review searching for heat-related illness outcomes in workers was conducted and investigated how the air pollutant levels and the level of heat exposure combined may impact worker health. Results While heat and air pollution are independent risk factors, they also act as synergistic health stressors for workers. Discussion More attention must be paid to co-exposure of heat and air pollution in workers. Air quality measures need to be incorporated into the heat illness prevention program for a more comprehensive approach in occupational medical monitoring programs as its own independent index to improve protection of workers. More information will be needed to codify the interventions based on the air quality indices. Conclusion Employee heat illness prevention programs should take into account the effects of air quality as well as traditional heat indices.