International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health最新文献

Objectives: E-waste recycling releases toxic metals into the environment, posing a considerable threat to children's health. Since 2012, China has implemented strict regulations and import controls on the e-waste industry. This study investigates the six-year trends of urinary metal levels and health risks in preschool children, including exposure levels, health risks, and association with hemoglobin.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 762 preschool children in Guiyu, China. We measured levels of 20 urinary metals and hemoglobin levels. To explore the independent and joint associations between metals and hemoglobin, multiple linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression models were used.

Results: Most metals decreased significantly over the period, but some metals remained relatively constant or even increased. Among the metals, lead may be a potential biomarker for e-waste control. The Hazard Index of four metals (nickel, arsenic, cadmium, and lead) exceeded 1 for 98.3% of children. The carcinogenic risk of nickel and arsenic exceeded the threshold for every child and 99.1% of children, respectively. Urinary metal and excretion levels were higher in female. Single metal and mixture metal exposures were significantly correlated with hemoglobin levels and highlight the gender-specific associations.

Conclusions: Urinary metal levels showed a significant downward trend over time under e-waste control, but the risks from nickel and arsenic remain concerning. Female children face higher risks from metal exposure and elevated hemoglobin levels.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss among welders, grinders, and stampers in a district of Ningbo City, identify distinct subtypes of hearing loss, and explore associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using occupational health examination records and on-site environmental monitoring data from enterprises in a district of Ningbo City in 2023. A data-driven clustering approach with a Gaussian mixture model, was used to identify subtypes of hearing loss. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with hearing loss.

Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 54.24% among welders (n = 695), 58.95% among grinders (n = 497), and 64.36% among stampers (n = 390). Increased age, male sex, high noise exposure, and employment within the Construction and Related Services were significant risk factors. Three subtypes of hearing loss were identified: Class 1 (mild, flat threshold elevation at 4-6 kHz), Class 2 (steep threshold elevation at 3-6 kHz), and Class 3 (elevation in speech-frequency ranges). Class 2 was the most prevalent and showed the strongest association with occupational noise exposure.

Conclusion: Hearing loss is common among welders, grinders, and stampers, with stampers being the most affected. Class 2 audiometric pattern was consistent with noise - induced hearing loss. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive measures in high-risk occupational settings.

Purpose: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the risk of spontaneous abortions, congenital anomalies, and stillbirths among women professionally exposed to anaesthetic gases.

Methods: This study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), and we followed the PRISMA 2020 checklist to develop the study protocol. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed using specific keywords to identify observational studies involving women professionally exposed to anaesthetic gases. Data were extracted and analysed using a random-effects model.

Results: A total of 32 studies were included, involving 155,437 healthcare professionals exposed to anaesthetic gases. The analysis revealed an increased risk of spontaneous abortions (OR = 1.47; 95% CI [1.19-1.81]), congenital anomalies (OR = 1.37; 95% CI [1.09-1.73]), and stillbirths (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: [1.09-1.86]) among these women. The risks varied across different professions and countries, with moderate heterogeneity observed in the analyses.

Conclusion: This study confirms an elevated risk of spontaneous abortions, congenital anomalies, and stillbirths in women professionally exposed to anaesthetic gases. These findings highlight the need for preventive measures to minimize exposure and underscore the importance of further research to clarify the risks and develop effective strategies.

Registration: International prospective register of systematic reviews; registration number: CRD42023450226.

Purpose: After vision, hearing is the most important sensory mechanism for obtaining essential and critical information during flight operations. Pilots are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to excessive noise which usually causes permanent and incurable hearing damage. This study investigated the hearing status of Iranian pilots and explored the relationship between the severity of their impairment, age, work experience and flight hours.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, eligible pilots were selected. Demographic information, job characteristics, flight hours and auditory complaints were collected. Subsequently, the pilots underwent hearing tests (Pure tone Audiometry) and the hearing threshold was measured at different frequencies.

Results: the study involved 100 pilots (57 fixed-wing pilots and 43 helicopter pilots) with the mean age of 47.77 ± 7.53 years (28-64 years). The average and standard deviation of work experience in all the studied subjects was equal to 24.84 ± 8.44 years. 55 pilots had no auditory impairments, while 45 were diagnosed with some form of hearing impairment. The findings indicate that older age, longer work experience, and more flight hours are significantly associated with greater hearing impairments. Individuals with any level of hearing impairment (slight to mild) had higher age, more work experience, and flight hours compared to those with normal hearing. Helicopter pilots exhibited higher hearing loss severity across frequencies compared to fixed-wing pilots, with statistically significant differences at 2000 Hz for the left ear and 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz for the right ear. The comparison between the two ears showed that the hearing threshold in any of the flight devices (fixed wing or helicopter), in any of the investigated frequencies, has no significant difference between the left and right ears.

Conclusion: Exposure to loud noise during flights can significantly impact the hearing of pilots. The severity of hearing loss in helicopter pilots is higher across all frequencies compared to fixed-wing pilots. Increased age, work experience, and flight hours are significantly associated with higher severity of hearing loss in both ears. Regular auditory assessments for pilots, especially helicopter pilots, are essential for early detection and monitoring of noise-induced hearing loss.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, where environmental pollution and uneven policy implementation may further exacerbate disease transmission. This study aims to assesss the short and long-term impacts of environmental factors, particularly fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and TB prevention policies on new TB incidence in Vietnam.

Methods: Panel data from 63 provinces from 2005 to 2023 were analyzed using the SYS-GMM model to estimate the effects of PM_2.5, temperature, per capita income, provincial government health expenditure, and the government's National Strategy for TB Prevention of 2014 on TB incidence. Long-term effects were also analyzed using long-term multipliers.

Results: PM_2.5 had a statistically significant positive effect on TB incidence, consistent with prior findings that fine particulate matter damages respiratory defenses and increases infection risk. The long-term multiplier of PM_2.5 was even higher, indicating cumulative effects over time. Temperature was also positively correlated with the incidence of TB, while per capita income and health expenditure were negatively associated with TB incidence. The long-term impact of income was stronger than the short-term effect, highlighting the growing health benefits of economic development. The government's National Strategy for TB Prevention of 2014 was found to be statistically insignificant.

Conclusion: Air pollution significantly increases TB incidence in Vietnam in the short and long term. In the context of climate change and persistent pollution, combining environmental and TB prevention strategies is essential to achieving the goal of TB elimination.

Purpose: In the context of climate change, extreme ambient temperatures pose a major threat to human health. This study aims to provide detailed insights into how extreme temperatures and potential confounders affect respiratory morbidity.

Methods: We employed a 14-year time series analysis (2006-2019) in southern Germany, applying penalized distributed lag non-linear models to estimate exposure-response relationships between extreme temperatures and respiratory health outcomes, considering emergency outpatient treatments and hospital admissions at the emergency department of the University Hospital Augsburg. We thereby explored the roles of relative humidity and seasonal influenza as potential confounders and vulnerabilities related to age and gender.

Results: We found significantly elevated relative risks (RRs) for the short-term cumulative effect (Lag: 0-3 days) of extreme heat and the long-term cumulative effect (Lag: 0-21 days) of extreme cold on outpatient treatments and hospital admissions. Seasonal influenza was identified as a significant confounder, with attributable fractions comparable to those of cold temperatures. A sub-period analysis (2006-2012 and 2013-2019) revealed a correlation between the recent rise in temperature and the strong increase in the estimated short-term cumulative effect of extreme heat on hospital admissions (2006-2012, RR: 1.08 (95%CI [0.91, 1.27]) vs. 2013-2019, RR: 1.32 (95%CI [1.15, 1.51]).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that extreme temperatures significantly affect respiratory morbidity, with notable influences from seasonal influenza. Sub-period analysis indicated that rising temperatures are already translating into measurable effects on respiratory health, foreshadowing the potentially devastating impacts of global warming on human health. Our results thereby provide highly relevant insights to support targeted public healthcare interventions.

Objective: Shift work disrupts the circadian rhythm and may increase the risk of metabolic disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. This systematic review aimed to synthesize observational studies on the association between shift work and MASLD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to November 25, 2024, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data were extracted and summarized based on pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Both data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two authors, with disagreements resolved through consensus.

Results: Nine studies met the criteria and were included in the review, including various occupational groups. Most studies reported a positive association between shift work and MASLD, with stronger effects observed in workers exposed to long-term or frequent shift work. Subgroup and interaction analyses suggested that gender, age, lifestyle, chronotype, and occupational factors may modify this association, while body mass index was identified as a potential mediator of the relationship between shift work and MASLD. However, methodological issues, such as imprecise exposure and outcome measurements and a lack of time-varying analysis, limit causal interpretation.

Conclusion: The systematic review supports an association between shift work and increased MASLD risk. Further prospective studies with rigorous designs and diverse populations, as well as stronger mechanistic evidence, are needed to establish a causal link between shift work and MASLD.

Objective: Algorithmic Management (AM) is increasingly shaping work environments across various sectors, influencing how tasks are assigned and monitored. While concerns have been raised regarding its potential impact on worker health, empirical evidence remains limited. This study examines the association between level of AM exposure and adverse health outcomes among logistics workers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online survey, targeting logistics workers in Sweden. AM exposure was measured using an 11-item scale capturing aspects such as task allocation, surveillance, and performance monitoring. Health outcomes included psychological distress, musculoskeletal pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, and occupational accidents.

Results: Higher AM exposure was associated with increased prevalence of psychological distress (PR 2·12, 95% CI 1·49-3·02), occupational accidents (PR 1·92, 95% CI 1·22-3·01), headaches (PR 1·68, 95%CI 1·09-2·58), and musculoskeletal pain (PR 1·54, 95% CI 1·23-1·92). Stratified analyses revealed stronger associations for drivers, particularly regarding psychological distress, headaches, and sleep disturbances, while warehouse workers exhibited less consistent patterns.

Conclusions: These findings highlight AM as a potential occupational health hazard, particularly when involving high levels of automated oversight and direction. While AM can enhance efficiency, its impact on worker well-being and public health warrants further attention and potentially mitigation strategies to inform policies that balance technological advancements with worker health protection.