HOW EXTREME HEAT AND POOR SANITATION ENDANGER THE HEALTH OF WOMEN IN OUTDOOR JOBS

Studies show that the combination of excessive heat exposure and limited fluid intake significantly raises the risk of health problems for women

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It's a humid Friday afternoon at the M.G.R. Nagar market in Chennai. Piles of vegetables line the street, and fish are kept in ice boxes, under shade, to prevent spoilage in the stifling heat of May.

R. Ponni, a 60-year-old vendor, is busy vying for customers. In a few hours, the market will reach its busiest time of the day. Ponni starts her day by shopping for vegetables early in the morning, heads home to cook before returning to the market at noon.

"Earlier, when I was younger, I could manage better. I used to be a hawker. Now, I can't imagine carrying a basket on my head and walking around. Even sitting in one place tires me out in this heat. It's becoming increasingly difficult," she said.

The relentless heat demands constant hydration. Ponni carries a 2-liter water bottle, carefully monitoring how much she drinks at a time. She does this for two reasons: to ration her water and to avoid the need to urinate, since there's no proper toilet at the market. Her home is three kilometres away, and walking is the only way to get there — so she can't go to the bathroom whenever she needs to.