BACKGROUND: Physical activity in hot environments has been associated with impaired kidney function. We aimed to quantify the association between occupational physical activity and kidney function over one work shift in female agricultural workers exposed to environmental heat. METHODS: We measured occupational physical activity in female berry pickers in Huelva, Spain, using movement intensity, based on vector magnitude units (VMU), and heart rate (HR). For both, we calculated the mean (VMU_mean
HR_mean), standard deviation (VMU_sd
HR_sd), and 3-minute 95 RESULTS: Ninety women aged 37.4 ± 5.7 years were exposed to a mean WBGT of 25.2 (±3.6)°C and light intensity physical activity (HR_mean of 94 (±9)bpm). Of those, 26% experienced heat strain, 68% were dehydrated, and 7% presented with AKI at the end of the shift. Higher VMU_sd was associated with higher Scr_dif (β:0.029 (95% CI: 0.00
0.058) and meeting the threshold for AKI (OR:1.6 (95% CI:0.8
3.2)), We observed higher NGAL_dif with higher VMU_mean (β:1.944 (95% CI: 0.139
3.748)) per 100 VMU_mean increase. The positive association between HR_mean and SCr_dif was stronger among women with heat strain (interaction p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In female harvest workers, high means and variations in VMU over a single one shift worked under hot conditions were associated with kidney injury, as assessed by urinary biomarkers, though there is limited evidence for any change in kidney function. Precautiously, large changes in physical activity intensity over one work shift should be avoided to protect from renal injury.