Risk for renal injury from heat-related stress among outdoor workers and the imperative for climate-responsive health policies

TL;DR

Outdoor workers are at risk of kidney damage from extreme heat, and the paper highlights the need for climate-responsive health policies to protect them.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the need for comprehensive and adaptive health policies to address heat-related renal injury in outdoor workers.

Findings

Outdoor workers are at risk of acute and chronic kidney damage due to extreme heat exposure.

Current health policies in the U.S. face barriers in addressing heat-related stress effectively.

Climate-responsive strategies are needed to protect workers in diverse geographic regions.

Abstract

Exposed to prolonged and extreme heat, outdoor workers face significant risks of acute and chronic kidney damage, including acute kidney injury and chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities. Growing concerns over heat-related health issues in temperate, continental, and dry climates call for adaptive public health strategies that span diverse geographic areas. This communication reviews the policies in the United States addressing heat-related stress, identifies barriers to implementing effective health policies, and provides recommendations underscoring the need for comprehensive policy development to safeguard this high-risk population against climate-induced health threats.