In the scorching summer heat of California’s Imperial Valley, the sky is dark when Raul Cruz arrives at the sugarcane fields, preparing to begin his laborious day. To combat temperatures that rise to extreme levels, he starts work at 4 a.m., wrapping up by mid-morning to avoid the worst of the heat. Despite his long tenure of 15 years in this field, Cruz admits the oppressive heat is mentally taxing as they strive to finish their labor before temperatures climb.
This year, researchers from San Diego State University are working to unravel the picture of heat stress affecting farmworkers in these oppressive conditions. Their goal is to understand where heat is most extreme and develop ways to alleviate the potential health consequences of this rising heat caused by climate change.
“Workers could potentially suffer serious health issues,” explains project leader Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, who emphasizes the need for timely action to safeguard the health of these essential workers.
As the heat can be relentless in Imperial Valley, Cruz's plea mirrors the sentiments of many workers: “We just have to because we need to beat the heat.” However, the mental and physical strains remain a heavy burden.
This effort reflects an urgent need to protect farmworkers, especially as California sees one of the highest rates of heat-related illnesses among agricultural workers.
Understanding how conditions vary based on their location and farming practices could yield actionable insights. With sensors capturing real-time data on body temperature and environmental factors, researchers are also mapping extreme heat conditions to inform future agricultural policies aimed at worker safety.
Looking forward, researchers like Lopez-Galvez hope to expand their studies to similar agricultural regions in Yuma, Arizona, to address the widespread impacts of climate change on farmworker health.
