Researching Heat Stress: Protecting Farmworkers in California

Tue Nov 11 2025 01:39:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As temperatures rise in California's Imperial Valley, researchers from San Diego State University are working to map rural heat and protect vulnerable farmworkers from heat stress.

In the sweltering California desert, farmworkers face dangerous working conditions due to extreme heat. Researchers at San Diego State University are conducting studies to understand heat stress levels within agricultural settings and explore better protections for workers. Their ongoing work seeks to map areas of extreme heat, highlight health risks associated with heat, and advocate for improved workplace guidelines to support farmworkers' health and safety.

Under the blazing sun of the Imperial Valley, Raul Cruz, a veteran sugarcane cutter, begins his day before dawn to cope with the harsh heat of California's desert crops. With rising temperatures due to climate change, farmworkers are increasingly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Researchers from San Diego State University (SDSU) are conducting important studies to assess the health risks of heat stress on farmworkers and identify key areas most affected by extreme heat.

Project leader Nicolas Lopez-Galvez emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, It's better to start acting sooner. The research team is collecting data on farmworkers’ physiological responses to heat stress while monitoring environmental conditions in the fields. This includes understanding varying impacts based on type of crops, work conditions, and the frequency of breaks taken.

With California already experiencing record temperatures, measures such as efficient irrigation practices are being evaluated for their effects on local microclimates. The research aims to inform policies that could improve protections for laborers, ensuring they can maintain their health while contributing to one of the nation's agricultural powerhouses.