Epidemiol Health.
2019;41:e2019025. 10.4178/epih.e2019025.
Health Effects of Underground Workspaces cohort: study design and baseline characteristics
- Dunleavy G
1 - Sathish T1,2
- Nazeha N1
- Soljak M1
- Visvalingam N1
- Bajpai R1,3
- Yap HS4
- Roberts AC4
- Thach TQ1
- Tonon AC5,6
- Soh CK4
- Christopoulos G7
- Cheung KL8
- de Vries H9
- Car J1
- Affiliations
-
- 1Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- 2Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- 3Research institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
- 4School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- 5Laboratório de Cronobiologia e Sono, Porto Alegre Clínicas Hospital (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- 6Postgraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- 7Division of Leadership, Management and Organisation, Nanyang Business School, College of Business, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- 8Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
- 9Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- KMID: 2502202
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019025
Abstract
- The development of underground workspaces is a strategic effort towards healthy urban growth in cities with ever-increasing land scarcity. Despite the growth in underground workspaces, there is limited information regarding the impact of this environment on workers’ health. The Health Effects of Underground Workspaces (HEUW) study is a cohort study that was set up to examine the health effects of working in underground workspaces. In this paper, we describe the rationale for the study, study design, data collection, and baseline characteristics of participants. The HEUW study recruited 464 participants at baseline, of whom 424 (91.4%) were followed-up at 3 months and 334 (72.0%) at 12 months from baseline. We used standardized and validated questionnaires to collect information on socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, medical history, family history of chronic diseases, sleep quality, health-related quality of life, chronotype, psychological distress, occupational factors, and comfort levels with indoor environmental quality parameters. Clinical and anthropometric parameters including blood pressure, spirometry, height, weight, and waist and hip circumference were also measured. Biochemical tests of participants’ blood and urine samples were conducted to measure levels of glucose, lipids, and melatonin. We also conducted objective measurements of individuals’ workplace environment, assessing air quality, light intensity, temperature, thermal comfort, and bacterial and fungal counts. The findings this study will help to identify modifiable lifestyle and environmental parameters that are negatively affecting workers’ health. The findings may be used to guide the development of more health-promoting workspaces that attempt to negate any potential deleterious health effects from working in underground workspaces.
Keyword
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- A Study on Air Pollution and Thermal Factors in Underground Shopping Center of Pusan Area
- Challenges in Selecting an Appropriate Heat Stress Index to Protect Workers in Hot and Humid Underground Mines
- Exposure to Particles and Nitrogen Dioxide Among Workers in the Stockholm Underground Train System
- A Method to Protect Mine Workers in Hot and Humid Environments
- Investigation of Health Hazards in the Underground Storage Facilities of Ginger Roots
