Journal of agricultural medicine and community health (농촌의학ㆍ지역보건)

Korean Society for Rural Medicine and Community Health (한국농촌의학지역보건학회)
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Status and Awareness of Excessive Heat Exposure among Agricultural Workers

일부 농업인의 고온노출에 대한 실태와 인지도 조사

  • Lee, Dong-Hyun (Department of Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Dong-Seob (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Chung, Jin-Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Kwan (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lim, Hyun-Sul (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine)
  • 이동현 (동국대학교 의학전문대학원) ;
  • 김동섭 (동국대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실) ;
  • 정진욱 (동국대학교 의학전문대학원 내과학교실) ;
  • 이관 (동국대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실) ;
  • 임현술 (동국대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실)
  • Received : 2018.02.10
  • Accepted : 2018.02.27
  • Published : 2018.03.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study was to assess the status and awareness of excessive heat exposure among agricultural workers. Methods: We selected a total of 90 farmers from a villages of Gyeongju-si, during August, 2015. We carried out the temperature measurement for nine times and derived Health Index (HI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. We compared the HI, WBGT and excessive heat warnings. Status of high temperature exposure, lifestyle, medical history, and awareness about excessive health related exposure illness assessed using survey questionnaires. Results: The matching rates between the WBGT and the HI during excessive heat warning were high, but when it was a non-excessive heat warning, there were days of excessive HI or WBGT. Out of 90 farmers surveyed, 78 cases (86.7%) were in their 60s and older age group. Slightly more than two third (71.1%) farmers were farming in the dawn-morning (71.1%), and the daily working hours were less than 4 hours (54.4 %), but only 23.3% among farmers took regular breaks. Of total, 14.4% farmers experienced excessive heat exposure related illness in order of tiredness, lethargy, dizziness, headaches, and sweating. Overall, the awareness of the danger for excessive heat and the heat wave warnings were high at 70.0% and 74.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Politically, the excessive heat warnings should not be taken into account the simple temperature measurement but, have to consider WBGT and HI standards at the same time. Farmers need to be promoted and educated to prevent the excessive heat related illness by periodically increasing their rest time during farming.

농작업 시 고온에 대한 노출 실태를 파악하고, 고온 노출에 대한 인지도를 조사하여 농업인의 고온성질환 예방 방안을 모색하고자 이 연구를 시행하였다. 경주시 일부 농촌 마을을 농작업 중 고온노출 장소로 선정하였다. 여름 동안 총 9회의 환경 측정을 실시하였다. 측정을 통해 열지수와 WBGT를 산출하였고, 이들과 현재 우리나라 기상청에서 폭염 경보 및 주의보의 기준으로 제시하고 있는 일별 최고기온을 비교하였다. 설문조사는 같은 지역 농업인 90명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 설문조사는 일대일 면접조사로 진행되었으며, 설문조사서는 고온 노출 실태, 생활 행태, 병력, 온열질환에 대한 인지도 등에 관한 항목으로 구성하였다. 폭염경보 및 주의보 시 WBGT(Wet Bulb Glove Temperature index)와 열지수의 일치율은 높았으나, 비폭염주의보 시 WBGT가 초과되는 경우가 있었다. 조사대상자는 총 90명이었고, 연령별은 60대 이상이 78명(86.7%)이었다. 작업은 주로 새벽-오전(71.1%)에 하였으며, 하루 야외 작업시간은 4시간 미만(54.4%)이 가장 많았으나, 주기적 휴식을 하는 경우는 23.3%이었다. 온열질환 경험률은 14.4%이었고, 증상으로는 피곤, 무기력, 현기증, 두통, 땀 등의 순이었다. 전반적으로 온열질환 및 폭염주의보에 대한 인지도는 각각 70.0%, 74.4%로 높았다. 정책적으로 폭염주의보 발령 시에는 단순한 기온만 고려할 것이 아니라 WBGT기준과 열지수를 동시에 고려하여야 할 것이다. 농업인에게는 농작업 시 휴식 시간을 주기적, 양적으로 늘려 온열질환을 예방하도록 홍보 및 교육을 하여야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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