International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

Objectives: The study investigated the concentrations of metals (chromium [Cr], manganese [Mn], cobalt [Co], nickel [Ni]) in the blood plasma and urine of Polish welders exposed to these elements contained in welding dust/fumes based on the results of biological monitoring, analyze the interrelationships between these elements, and attempt to correlate these data with telomere length. It is believed that telomere length can be considered a marker of exposure, including occupational. Analysis of questionnaire surveys was also taken into consideration.

Material and methods: The study included 118 male welders and 51 age-matched male controls. Metals analysis in plasma and urine were determined by ICP-MS technique. Telomere length was measured in blood genomic DNA using the qRT-PCR method.

Results: Welders had significantly higher plasma levels of Cr, Ni, and Mn (p < 0.0001, respectively). Total concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Mn in the urine of pre-shift subjects were significantly higher compared to controls. Cobalt concentration in urine of exposed welders was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than in control group. Telomere length was exactly the same in the welder group compared to the control (mean ± standard deviation 0.99±0.41 vs. 0.99±0.52, respectively). Plasma and urine metal concentrations and telomere length were also studied in groups of welders in relation to personal protection equipment. Differences were found in plasma and urine metal concentrations according to the aspirators used. Statistically significant linear correlations were found between plasma and urine concentrations of the determined elements both before and after the work shift.

Conclusions: The findings suggest a positive relationship between Ni and Mn (end-shift) concentrations and telomere length, the effect which remained statistically significant even after adjusting for age and metabolic status. This indicates a complex interplay between metal exposure and biological aging markers. However, the relationship between exposure to welding fumes and changes in telomere length in welders requires further in-depth research. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1).

The study focuses on setting outdoor exposure limits for wind turbine infrasound, as most countries currently have no specific limits for this type of noise. A review of the literature on the effects of wind turbine infrasound and the methods used worldwide to measure and assess environmental exposure to in- frasound formed the basis for setting limits. According to the literature, human tolerance to infrasound is defined by the hearing threshold, which is not yet standardized. Therefore, a G96 curve (corresponding to tones with the G-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) equal to 96 dB) was used to determine the mean hearing threshold in the 1-20 Hz frequency range. Infrasound that cannot be heard (or felt) is not annoying and does not cause other adverse health effects. The infrasound levels measured around wind farms are well below the hearing threshold. Few countries have set limits for infrasound in either outdoor or indoor environments. The study proposes the G-weighted equivalent SPL as the basis for assessing exposure to infrasound from wind turbines. It also specifies preliminary short-term indices (i.e., G-weighted equivalent SPLs for daytime [LGeq, D ] and nighttime [LGeq, N]) and long-term in- dices (i.e., averaged G-weighted day-evening-night infrasound level [LDEN(G)] and G-weighted night infrasound level [LN(G)]). In order to avoid annoyance and other possible harmful effects, regardless of land use, 90 dB was provisionally adopted as an acceptable value for LGeq, D and LDEN(G), and 85 dB for LGeq, N and LN(G). The study highlights the importance of considering specific exposure limits for wind turbine infrasound to ensure the well-being and comfort of people living near wind turbines. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1).

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in Europe. There are more and more young people and middle-aged patients with obesity, unrecognized hypertension and metabolic abnormalities. Professional soldiers should not have CVDs. Most cardiovascular risk factors can be controlled and identified.

Material and methods: The research was conducted as the online survey. During the study, the level of knowledge regarding to cardiovascular risk factors depending on several variables, was assessed. Moreover, the assess respondents' awareness of exposure and the level of knowledge about risk factors for CVDs and preventive measures in this area.

Results: Almost one-fourth of respondents (23.4%, N = 311) indicated the knowledge of most or all cardiovascular factors such as: high level of cholesterol, tobacco smoking, advanced aged, abdominal obesity, alcohol abuse and others. The respondents demonstrated a sufficient level of factors influencing the increase of cholesterol lev- els in the blood.

Conclusions: The results obtained during the study show that educational programs are necessary to raise awareness of cardiovas- cular risk factors and reduce incidence rate in the next step. Conducting training on harmful agents can result in raising general health awareness among Polish Soldiers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1).

Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess total fatigue levels among nursing staff who provide palliative care services, as well as to identify signifi- cant sociodemographic, occupational and cognitive predictors of self-perceived fatigue.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was car- ried out on a study group of 424 nurses that provide health care services in the palliative care units in Poland. The following scales were employed in the study: Fatigue Assessment Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Perceived Stress at Work and Professional Quality of Life Scale.

Results: The average total fatigue level in the study group was 20.78 (SD = 5.41). There was a positive relation- ship between gender, age, place of residence, marital status, education, perception of social support, occupational stress, and professional quality of life and perceived fatigue. In turn, there was a negative relationship between years of service and perception of social support in the "others" category and perceived fatigue.

Conclusions: The study's results show a significant relationship between perceived fatigue and sociodemographic, occupational and cognitive variables. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1).

Objectives: This communication is aimed at outlining the role of the National Register of Biological Agents (NRoBA) in the system of working conditions supervision in Poland.

Material and methods: The paper was prepared based on a review of Polish legislation related to employee health protection, as well as scientific literature and recommendations of expert organizations regarding the intentional use of biological agents.

Results: Polish law obliges employers to protect the health and safety of employees occupationally exposed to harmful agents. The State Sanitary Inspection and the State Labor Inspection supervise the employer's fulfillment of these obligations. Occupational exposure to biological agents may result from their in- tentional use (e.g., in the biotechnology industry or a scientific laboratory) or be related to their unintentional presence (e.g., in healthcare, sewage treatment plants, municipal waste management plants). Making a distinction between these 2 types of exposure is important for employers in rela- tion to their legal obligations. In the case of using harmful biological agents for scientific, industrial or diagnostic purposes, the employer is obliged to notify the State Sanitary Inspection. Such notifications from employers are gathered in the NRoBA. Its aim is to support hygiene supervision over the intentional use of biological agents and to increase the employer's attention to the protection of the health of employees exposed to these agents. The International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2023 published Technical Guidelines on Biological Hazards in the Working Environment, in which it recommended increasing the capacity for epidemiological surveillance by creating networks or dedicated websites to collect and analyze adverse events in employees of research and development laboratories. The NRoBA complies with these guidelines but in order to use it in epidemiological studies, it should be re-digitalized to extend the range of collected data.

Conclusions: The NRoBA in its present form has been used in Poland for almost 2 decades. Now it is time for re-digitalization to ensure its full compliance with the ILO recommendations and to use it in epidemiological studies. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(1).

Ionizing radiation is considered as a harmful factor to health. However, X‑rays are widely used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as those performed during cardiac interventions. Their use is particularly invaluable in saving life procedures when the risk of adverse effects of radiation is relatively low compared to the consequences of non-treated or treated with other invasive methods diseases. One branch of these types of medical procedures is interventional cardiology in pediatrics due to possible higher than in adults risks of developing cancer in exposed to ionizing radiation children. On the other hand, medical staff in particular physician, may be exposed to relatively high radiation levels during their work. Parallel with enlarging workload (growing number of procedures per year), high levels of cumulative doses to most exposed, and often not protected, parts of operator's body as eye lenses and brain may be achieved. Exposure to X‑rays in pediatric interventional cardiology is a worldwide point of scientific interest from around 65 years, however assessment and simulating low level doses is still developing. In this review found data presents various trials of evaluating doses or levels of exposure to both medical staff and patient as well as methods of optimization and protection against X‑rays in pediatric cardiac interventional procedures. The issue of establishing diagnostic reference levels was also taken into consideration during analysis. Thirty papers from period 2013 to 2023 were analyzed. The main assumption of this condensed review is to reveal radiation protection methods worldwide and in Poland. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(6):569-80.

Objectives: Defined as attending work while ill, presenteeism is highly prevalent and has negative consequences such as reduced productivity and lower well-being for workers. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of presenteeism among Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the risk factors.

Material and methods: Using data extracted from the second wave of the Korea Health Panel Survey in 2019-2021, this study assessed experience of presenteeism and the number of presenteeism days as the dependent variable. Independent variables included gender, age group, educational level, employment status, household income quartile, and the presence of chronic conditions. Two generalized estimating equation models were used.

Results: In 2019, 30.6% of participants reported experiencing presenteeism; this decreased to 17.9% in 2020 and 13.5% in 2021. The mean number of presenteeism days decreased from 2.30 days in 2019 to 1.46 days in 2020 and to 1.04 days in 2021. The participants were less likely to experience presenteeism in 2020 and 2021 than in 2019 (OR = 0.48 and OR = 0.36, respectively, p < 0.001). The risk of presenteeism is higher among women, younger age groups, participants with regular employment or on-contract positions, lower income, and chronic conditions than their counterparts. The number of presenteeism days significantly decreased in 2020 and 2021 (β = -0.44 and -0.78, respectively, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Workers were less likely to experience presenteeism in 2020 and 2021 than in 2019, and the number of presenteeism days decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The risk of presenteeism was associated with worker characteristics. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(6):617-29.

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the relationship between occupational factors and sleep disorders among employees in petrochemical enterprises.

Material and methods: All participants from the employees of Hainan Petroleum Refining and Chemical Enterprises were recruited by the cluster sampling in June 1, 2022. The questionnaire used in this research was primarily composed of 3 sections: demographic characteristics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and occupation-related factors affecting sleep disorders. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to balance the demographic characteristics of the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to analyze the independent factors influencing sleep disorders.

Results: A total of 952 valid questionnaires were collected. The frequency of sleep disorders among the 952 participants was 41.9% (N = 399). After PSM, 356 pairs were successfully matched. There was no statistical difference in socio-demographic characteristics between sleep disorder groups (p > 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that employees with weekly working time >40 h exhibited a higher likelihood of sleep disorders (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.09-2.82) than those working ≤40 h. Individuals exposed to high-temperature working environments were more likely to experience sleep disorders (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.12-2.81), while the sleep disorder risk in those with occupational stress was 2.67-fold (OR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.89-3.80). Employees in storage and transportation (OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.81-6.40) and other positions (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.03-2.75) displayed a higher risk of sleep disorders than operational workers.

Conclusions: The frequency of sleep disorders among employees in petrochemical enterprises is high. Weekly working hours, type of work position, high-temperature exposure, and high occupational stress are associated with increased risk of sleep disorders among petrochemical workers. Health policymakers should fully consider these factors in improving the sleep quality of petrochemical workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(6):591-601.

Objectives: The aim of this qualitative research study was to explore the barriers encountered by Ukrainian war migrants and refugees in accessing vaccinations in Poland and the challenges related to delivering vaccinations observed by healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Material and methods: The study was based on an analysis of data from 18 in-depth interviews with HCPs working with Ukrainian refugees conducted in Poland in July and August 2023. The authors analyzed the data using the UNICEF Journey to Health and Immunization (JHI) framework in order to identify bottlenecks and possible interventions that could solve existing problems in preventive healthcare for migrants.

Results: This qualitative study revealed that at each stage of the JHI, there were challenges related to vaccinating Ukrainian children in Poland, which were similar to those experienced in other countries - gaps in routine immunizations and the need to fill these gaps by ensuring refugee populations are fully included in routine immunization in the host country. The work environment, training, and communication with the Ukrainian mothers contribute to HCPs' engagement in increasing vaccine uptake among their patients. The HCPs' attitudes, skills, and experiences impacted their interactions with patients and participation in the immunization process. Healthcare professionals observed that the mother's journey was influenced by vaccine literacy level, competing priorities, individual barriers of access (e.g., language barrier, costs), as well as feelings associated with the decision to vaccinate a child, including worries about vaccine safety. The surrounding cultural norms, social support, and past experiences with the Ukrainian health system also influenced decisions on vaccinations.

Conclusions: Overcoming barriers related to vaccinations requires a comprehensive approach, starting with expanding HCPs' knowledge about migrants' rights to health services, including vaccinations, improving communication between patients and HCPs, building vaccine literacy/trust in vaccinations, and achieving vaccination coverage through tailored and flexible systemic solutions. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(6):602-16.