ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the combined burden of heat and air quality exposure in Washington State agriculture by (1) characterizing the spatiotemporal pattern of heat and PM_2.5 exposures during wildfire seasons; (2) describing the potential impact of these combined exposures on agricultural worker populations; and (3) identifying data gaps for addressing this burden in rural areas. Methods: We combined county-level data to explore data availability and estimate the burden of heat and PM_2.5 co-exposures for Washington agricultural workers from 2010 to 2018. Quarterly agricultural worker population estimates were linked with data from a weather station network and ambient air pollution monitoring sites. A geographical information system displayed counties, air monitoring sites, agricultural crops, and images from a smoke dispersion model during recent wildfire events. Results: We found substantial spatial and temporal variability in high heat and PM_2.5 exposures. The largest peaks in PM_2.5 exposures tended to occur when the heat index was around 85°F and during summers when there were wildfires. Counties with the largest agricultural populations tended to have the greatest concurrent high heat and PM_2.5 exposures, and these exposures tended to be highest during the third quarter (July–September), when population counts were also highest. Additionally, we observed limited access to local air quality information in certain rural areas. Conclusion: Our findings inform efforts about highest risk areas, times of year, and data availability in rural areas. Understanding the spatiotemporal pattern of exposures is consistent with the precision agriculture framework and is foundational to addressing equity in rural agricultural settings.

摘要

目标：通过（1）表征野火季节期间热量和 PM _2.5暴露的时空模式，评估华盛顿州农业暴露于高温和空气质量的综合负担；(2) 描述这些组合暴露对农业工人群体的潜在影响；(3) 确定数据差距以解决农村地区的这一负担。方法：我们结合县级数据来探索数据的可用性并估计热量和 PM _2.5的负担2010 年至 2018 年华盛顿农业工人的共同暴露。季度农业工人人口估计数与气象站网络和环境空气污染监测站点的数据相关联。在最近的野火事件中，地理信息系统显示了县、空气监测站点、农作物和烟雾扩散模型的图像。结果：我们发现高温和 PM _2.5暴露存在显着的时空变异性。PM _2.5暴露的最大峰值往往出现在热指数约为 85°F 和夏季发生野火时。农业人口最多的县往往同时发生高温和 PM _2.5暴露，而这些暴露往往在第三季度（7 月至 9 月）最高，当时人口数量也最高。此外，我们观察到在某些农村地区获得当地空气质量信息的机会有限。结论：我们的研究结果为有关农村地区最高风险地区、一年中的时间和数据可用性的工作提供了信息。了解暴露的时空模式与精准农业框架一致，是解决农村农业环境公平问题的基础。