In a groundbreaking initiative to address health disparities among farmworkers, researchers at Emory University are developing an innovative sensor to predict and prevent heat-related illnesses. The project, led by Roxana Chicas, an assistant professor at Emory’s School of Nursing, aims to protect agricultural workers who face increasing risks as global temperatures continue to rise.
The sensor, designed to be worn on the chest, continuously monitors vital signs such as skin temperature, heart rate, and physical activity. By tracking these metrics, the device can anticipate when a worker is at risk of developing heat illness and issue a timely alert. This technology could prove crucial in an industry where workers are often responsible for their own safety due to limited heat protection regulations.
Chicas emphasizes the severity of the issue, noting that farmworkers can experience body temperatures so high that they are “essentially … working with fevers.” Her research has shown that most farmworkers tested were chronically dehydrated, even when drinking fluids throughout the day, and many showed signs of acute kidney injury after just one workday.
The project, a collaboration between Emory and engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, received a $2.46 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 2022. The team has been working closely with farmworkers to ensure the sensor meets their needs, designing it to be comfortable, sweat-resistant, and non-intrusive during agricultural work.
With temperatures breaking records and no federal standards in place to protect workers from extreme heat, this sensor could offer a vital form of protection for vulnerable farmworkers.
See “The quest to protect farmworkers from extreme heat” (October 15, 2024)