Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2609711
Jenna L Gibbs
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly heightened public awareness of respiratory protection, yet a critical gap persists in evidence-based guidance and appropriately designed filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), such as N95s, for youth (≤18 years of age) in the U.S. This commentary, informed by the author's international experiences training agricultural youth living and working on farms and insights gleaned from a systematic review, highlights an urgent need for better FFR solutions for this population. Acknowledging the sensitive nature of this topic and the early stage of the science, the evidence suggests that current FFR designs and regulatory frameworks are predominantly adult-centric, neglecting the unique physiological and anthropometric characteristics of growing children and adolescents. Industrial hygienists, health care providers, and public health professionals have crucial roles to play in advocating for youth-specific FFR designs, standardized fit-testing protocols, and ethical pediatric medical evaluations.
{"title":"Call to action: Youth and filtering facepiece respirator (FFRs).","authors":"Jenna L Gibbs","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2609711","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2609711","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly heightened public awareness of respiratory protection, yet a critical gap persists in evidence-based guidance and appropriately designed filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), such as N95s, for youth (≤18 years of age) in the U.S. This commentary, informed by the author's international experiences training agricultural youth living and working on farms and insights gleaned from a systematic review, highlights an urgent need for better FFR solutions for this population. Acknowledging the sensitive nature of this topic and the early stage of the science, the evidence suggests that current FFR designs and regulatory frameworks are predominantly adult-centric, neglecting the unique physiological and anthropometric characteristics of growing children and adolescents. Industrial hygienists, health care providers, and public health professionals have crucial roles to play in advocating for youth-specific FFR designs, standardized fit-testing protocols, and ethical pediatric medical evaluations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145917812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2589127
Edward J Calabrese
This Commentary challenges the longstanding paradigm that the vast majority of cancers and many other serious aging-related diseases are principally due to environmental contamination. In contrast, it is argued that the major cause of aging-related diseases is the massive generation of oxy radicals produced by normal metabolic processes which, over time, initiate and promote the vast spectrum of aging-related diseases. This perspective leads to the conclusion that our bodies pose our biggest public health and medical threats. Failure to identify the major targets of aging-related diseases by environmental and public health agencies has resulted in incorrect priorities, the wasteful misdirection of funding, and the failure to improve the public health.
{"title":"Changing the paradigm: The biggest polluter and threat to your health is your body.","authors":"Edward J Calabrese","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2589127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This Commentary challenges the longstanding paradigm that the vast majority of cancers and many other serious aging-related diseases are principally due to environmental contamination. In contrast, it is argued that the major cause of aging-related diseases is the massive generation of oxy radicals produced by normal metabolic processes which, over time, initiate and promote the vast spectrum of aging-related diseases. This perspective leads to the conclusion that our bodies pose our biggest public health and medical threats. Failure to identify the major targets of aging-related diseases by environmental and public health agencies has resulted in incorrect priorities, the wasteful misdirection of funding, and the failure to improve the public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145917755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2589130
Kevin H Dunn, Jessica L Rinsky, Nancy Burton, Karl Feldmann, Alberto M Acosta, Hani M Mohamed, Lindsay Zielinski, Nakia S Clemmons, Chris Edens, Linda Bell, Jessica C Smith, Troy L Ritter, Melisa Willby, Rebecca Whisenhunt, Victoria Greer, Mitchell A Garber, Abdoulaye Diedhiou
In September 2022, public health officials identified a legionellosis outbreak among workers at a manufacturing facility. Upon recognition of the outbreak, public health officials and company management investigated to identify the source and prevent additional cases. Facility management assembled an inventory of potential water sources and worked with a consultant to conduct sampling. Legionella bacteria were cultured from bulk water samples collected from two water jet cutters and a floor scrubber. All other sampling locations had no Legionella identified by culture. Legionellosis cases were distributed throughout the facility. Floor scrubbers were used to clean up water that spilled from the water jet cutters and to clean the floors adjacent to employee work areas. After multiple cycles of cleaning and disinfection of the water jet cutters and floor scrubbers, repeat sampling revealed no Legionella detected. Company management returned the equipment to service in November 2022 with a maintenance, disinfection, and monitoring plan; no additional cases of legionellosis among employees have been reported. Evidence indicates that water jet cutters provided a conducive environment for Legionella growth, while floor scrubbers may have also contributed to employee exposure. This case study describes a remediation plan and illustrates the importance of identifying all potential Legionella sources and maintaining a comprehensive water management program to protect workers from Legionella and other waterborne pathogens.
{"title":"Remediation of novel sources linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in a manufacturing facility.","authors":"Kevin H Dunn, Jessica L Rinsky, Nancy Burton, Karl Feldmann, Alberto M Acosta, Hani M Mohamed, Lindsay Zielinski, Nakia S Clemmons, Chris Edens, Linda Bell, Jessica C Smith, Troy L Ritter, Melisa Willby, Rebecca Whisenhunt, Victoria Greer, Mitchell A Garber, Abdoulaye Diedhiou","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2589130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In September 2022, public health officials identified a legionellosis outbreak among workers at a manufacturing facility. Upon recognition of the outbreak, public health officials and company management investigated to identify the source and prevent additional cases. Facility management assembled an inventory of potential water sources and worked with a consultant to conduct sampling. <i>Legionella</i> bacteria were cultured from bulk water samples collected from two water jet cutters and a floor scrubber. All other sampling locations had no <i>Legionella</i> identified by culture. Legionellosis cases were distributed throughout the facility. Floor scrubbers were used to clean up water that spilled from the water jet cutters and to clean the floors adjacent to employee work areas. After multiple cycles of cleaning and disinfection of the water jet cutters and floor scrubbers, repeat sampling revealed no <i>Legionella</i> detected. Company management returned the equipment to service in November 2022 with a maintenance, disinfection, and monitoring plan; no additional cases of legionellosis among employees have been reported. Evidence indicates that water jet cutters provided a conducive environment for <i>Legionella</i> growth, while floor scrubbers may have also contributed to employee exposure. This case study describes a remediation plan and illustrates the importance of identifying all potential <i>Legionella</i> sources and maintaining a comprehensive water management program to protect workers from <i>Legionella</i> and other waterborne pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145911998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2573663
James E Dennison
Methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States has been a significant problem since the 1960s. Beyond impacts to the users, two additional consequences of the meth problem are ongoing exposure to non-users in contaminated homes and the subsequent remediation costs. This study provides estimates of the number of contaminated properties, the number of exposed non-users, and the costs associated with remediation in the U.S., nationally and by state. Surveys of the frequency or incidence of residential contamination are difficult to perform and are scarce. A survey found that ∼3.5% of housing units (HUs) in the Boulder, Colorado, area were contaminated as of 2018. Estimates of contamination rates from meth smoking, manufacture, and decontamination provided the net rate of HUs affected. The rate equation was integrated to estimate the number of contaminated HUs, the number of people living in contaminated HUs, and the potential remediation costs from 1990 to 2022. Currently, more than 5.5 million (4%) of U.S. HUs are estimated to be contaminated, and the estimated annual cost to remediate all contaminated HUs is $12 billion; this is in addition to the $240 billion required to remediate the backlog of contaminated HUs. Thirteen million people are estimated to be currently living in contaminated HUs. These estimates indicate that meth-contaminated housing is an environmental health and economic issue in the U.S. that has been previously under-recognized. Additional studies are needed on the incidence of contaminated HUs, their health effects, fate and transport mechanisms, and remediation methods.
{"title":"Methamphetamine-contaminated residences in the United States: Assessment of the environmental health significance of thirdhand exposure.","authors":"James E Dennison","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2573663","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2573663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Methamphetamine (meth) use in the United States has been a significant problem since the 1960s. Beyond impacts to the users, two additional consequences of the meth problem are ongoing exposure to non-users in contaminated homes and the subsequent remediation costs. This study provides estimates of the number of contaminated properties, the number of exposed non-users, and the costs associated with remediation in the U.S., nationally and by state. Surveys of the frequency or incidence of residential contamination are difficult to perform and are scarce. A survey found that ∼3.5% of housing units (HUs) in the Boulder, Colorado, area were contaminated as of 2018. Estimates of contamination rates from meth smoking, manufacture, and decontamination provided the net rate of HUs affected. The rate equation was integrated to estimate the number of contaminated HUs, the number of people living in contaminated HUs, and the potential remediation costs from 1990 to 2022. Currently, more than 5.5 million (4%) of U.S. HUs are estimated to be contaminated, and the estimated annual cost to remediate all contaminated HUs is $12 billion; this is in addition to the $240 billion required to remediate the backlog of contaminated HUs. Thirteen million people are estimated to be currently living in contaminated HUs. These estimates indicate that meth-contaminated housing is an environmental health and economic issue in the U.S. that has been previously under-recognized. Additional studies are needed on the incidence of contaminated HUs, their health effects, fate and transport mechanisms, and remediation methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145756879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2589136
David A Parks, Seth A Finley, Priscilla M Tjandra, Leslie L Baker, Allegra Yeley, Arthur L Miller
Miners face a variety of respiratory hazards on the job, including exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which can lead to adverse health outcomes such as silicosis and lung cancer-both potentially fatal lung diseases. Infrared spectrometry offers the possibility of portable end-of-shift quantification of RCS at mine sites. However, some mine dusts contain minerals that may interfere with this quantification method, as their infrared absorbance bands overlap with those of silica. To evaluate the impact of such interferences, potential mineral interferants were identified in the geologies of 27 metal mines using the United States Geological Survey and Mindat.org databases. These mines were selected based on historically high RCS levels, as evidenced in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) field-sampling database, and on the number of employees potentially exposed. The significance of 44 potential interferants was evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), by measuring their absorbance per unit mass in the α-quartz doublet region of the spectrum (816-767 cm-1). The extent to which each mineral interfered with this region was quantified as its integrated absorbance relative to RCS. This quantification of interference provides data critical for the timely and portable quantification of RCS in mine dusts. Of the 44 specimens analyzed, three (goethite, azurite and actinolite), which are not mentioned in the standard infrared methods for quantification of RCS, were found to interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more. Despite being commonly mentioned as interferants in the literature, the feldspars Albite and Anorthite did not interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more.
{"title":"Evaluating the interference potential of minerals in infrared absorbance-based quantification of respirable crystalline silica in mine dusts.","authors":"David A Parks, Seth A Finley, Priscilla M Tjandra, Leslie L Baker, Allegra Yeley, Arthur L Miller","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2589136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Miners face a variety of respiratory hazards on the job, including exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which can lead to adverse health outcomes such as silicosis and lung cancer-both potentially fatal lung diseases. Infrared spectrometry offers the possibility of portable end-of-shift quantification of RCS at mine sites. However, some mine dusts contain minerals that may interfere with this quantification method, as their infrared absorbance bands overlap with those of silica. To evaluate the impact of such interferences, potential mineral interferants were identified in the geologies of 27 metal mines using the United States Geological Survey and Mindat.org databases. These mines were selected based on historically high RCS levels, as evidenced in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) field-sampling database, and on the number of employees potentially exposed. The significance of 44 potential interferants was evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), by measuring their absorbance per unit mass in the α-quartz doublet region of the spectrum (816-767 cm<sup>-1</sup>). The extent to which each mineral interfered with this region was quantified as its integrated absorbance relative to RCS. This quantification of interference provides data critical for the timely and portable quantification of RCS in mine dusts. Of the 44 specimens analyzed, three (goethite, azurite and actinolite), which are not mentioned in the standard infrared methods for quantification of RCS, were found to interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more. Despite being commonly mentioned as interferants in the literature, the feldspars Albite and Anorthite did not interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2569365
Z Johnson, J Slagley, N Schaal, D Mattie, C Edwards, F Feldman
This retrospective cohort epidemiological study investigated the relative risks of hearing loss associated with ototoxicants in combination with noise exposure. Utilizing United States Department of Defense (DoD) industrial hygiene and hearing conservation data, this research expanded on a 2020 study conducted on Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, applying a similar methodology to Hill AFB, Utah, adding 893 evaluated individuals. Grouped into twelve exposure combinations with a minimum of 3 years of exposure duration, the study assessed various hearing loss indicators, including DoD Significant Threshold Shift (STS) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) STS. Ototoxic substances consistently elevated relative risk (RR) compared to noise-only exposure groups, but none reached significance at the 95% confidence level. Incorporating Hill AFB to findings from Tinker AFB (n = 2,372) revealed exposure groups with a RR greater than one for developing a NIOSH STS were significant at the 95% confidence level, with the greatest RR coming from the metal, solvent, continuous noise exposure group in the left ear at 2,000 Hz (RR = 2.25; 1.96-2.57). Logistic regression modeling identified age and audiogram duration between first and last audiogram (as a surrogate for duration of exposure) as significant independent variables for hearing loss indicator development prediction.
{"title":"Retrospective cohort study of pure tone audiometry hearing changes from ototoxic metals and solvents, continuous noise, and impulse noise exposures at Hill Air Force Base from 2005 to 2019.","authors":"Z Johnson, J Slagley, N Schaal, D Mattie, C Edwards, F Feldman","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2569365","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2569365","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This retrospective cohort epidemiological study investigated the relative risks of hearing loss associated with ototoxicants in combination with noise exposure. Utilizing United States Department of Defense (DoD) industrial hygiene and hearing conservation data, this research expanded on a 2020 study conducted on Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, applying a similar methodology to Hill AFB, Utah, adding 893 evaluated individuals. Grouped into twelve exposure combinations with a minimum of 3 years of exposure duration, the study assessed various hearing loss indicators, including DoD Significant Threshold Shift (STS) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) STS. Ototoxic substances consistently elevated relative risk (RR) compared to noise-only exposure groups, but none reached significance at the 95% confidence level. Incorporating Hill AFB to findings from Tinker AFB (<i>n</i> = 2,372) revealed exposure groups with a RR greater than one for developing a NIOSH STS were significant at the 95% confidence level, with the greatest RR coming from the metal, solvent, continuous noise exposure group in the left ear at 2,000 Hz (RR = 2.25; 1.96-2.57). Logistic regression modeling identified age and audiogram duration between first and last audiogram (as a surrogate for duration of exposure) as significant independent variables for hearing loss indicator development prediction.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145661428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2540834
Geneviève Picard, Tisha Prakash, France Labrèche, Sabrina Gravel
The dental workforce comprises a variety of professions, most of which are predominantly occupied by women. Dental workers can be exposed to numerous toxic chemicals such as mercury, methacrylate polymers, and silica. This scoping review aims to synthesize the scientific literature on quantified chemical exposures and to identify research gaps in occupational chemical hazards faced by dental professionals. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute approach and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using three concepts to search PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science: workers, dental care, and chemicals. Studies from high-income countries, published in French or English between 2000 and 2024 and reporting direct quantitative exposure data, were included. A descriptive analysis presents exposures measured in urine, blood, and air samples for the most assessed chemicals. Thirty articles were included in the review, with two-thirds focused on exposures of dentists and none of denturists. Exposure assessments most often focused on mercury (n = 17 studies), followed by nitrous oxide (n = 6), methacrylate compounds (n = 4), and silica (n = 3). Most studies showed exposure levels below occupational exposure standards; however, certain aerosol-releasing tasks could exceed recommended occupational exposure limits of 0.025 mg/m³ for mercury and silica. Dental students in a simulation laboratory were exposed to a 4-hr mercury vapor level up to 3 mg/m3, and dentists' exposure in clinics reached 0.45 mg/m³. Silica concentrations were below occupational exposure limits in dental clinics but reached twice the standard in a dental laboratory during prosthodontics polishing activities. The review emphasizes the need for comprehensive exposure assessments among dental workers and highlights the lack of focus on denturists, dental technicians, and dental assistants. To adequately assess the overlooked risks posed by multi-exposures to chemicals among dental workers, future studies need to analyze and report on exposures and risks stratified by occupation, task, and sex.
牙科工作人员包括各种职业,其中大多数主要由妇女占据。牙科工作者可能会接触到许多有毒化学物质,如汞、甲基丙烯酸酯聚合物和二氧化硅。本综述旨在综合量化化学暴露的科学文献,并确定牙科专业人员面临的职业化学危害的研究空白。本综述遵循乔安娜布里格斯研究所的方法和PRISMA-ScR指南,使用三个概念来搜索PubMed, Embase和Web of Science:工人,牙科保健和化学品。研究纳入了2000年至2024年间以法语或英语发表并报告直接定量暴露数据的高收入国家的研究。一项描述性分析显示了在尿液、血液和空气样本中测量的暴露程度,其中评估的化学物质最多。30篇文章被纳入综述,其中三分之二的文章关注的是牙医的暴露,而不是牙科医生。暴露评估最常集中于汞(17项研究),其次是氧化亚氮(6项)、甲基丙烯酸酯化合物(4项)和二氧化硅(3项)。大多数研究显示暴露水平低于职业暴露标准;然而,某些气溶胶释放任务可能超过建议的汞和二氧化硅0.025 mg/m³的职业接触限值。牙科学生在模拟实验室中暴露在高达3 mg/m3的汞蒸气中4小时,牙医在诊所中的暴露量达到0.45 mg/m³。牙科诊所的二氧化硅浓度低于职业暴露限值,但在牙科实验室进行修复抛光时,二氧化硅浓度达到了标准的两倍。该综述强调需要对牙科工作者进行全面的暴露评估,并强调缺乏对牙科医生、牙科技师和牙科助理的关注。为了充分评估牙科工作者多次接触化学品所造成的被忽视的风险,未来的研究需要分析和报告按职业、任务和性别分层的接触和风险。
{"title":"Occupational exposures to chemicals in dentistry: A scoping review.","authors":"Geneviève Picard, Tisha Prakash, France Labrèche, Sabrina Gravel","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2540834","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2540834","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The dental workforce comprises a variety of professions, most of which are predominantly occupied by women. Dental workers can be exposed to numerous toxic chemicals such as mercury, methacrylate polymers, and silica. This scoping review aims to synthesize the scientific literature on quantified chemical exposures and to identify research gaps in occupational chemical hazards faced by dental professionals. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute approach and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using three concepts to search PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science: workers, dental care, and chemicals. Studies from high-income countries, published in French or English between 2000 and 2024 and reporting direct quantitative exposure data, were included. A descriptive analysis presents exposures measured in urine, blood, and air samples for the most assessed chemicals. Thirty articles were included in the review, with two-thirds focused on exposures of dentists and none of denturists. Exposure assessments most often focused on mercury (<i>n</i> = 17 studies), followed by nitrous oxide (<i>n</i> = 6), methacrylate compounds (<i>n</i> = 4), and silica (<i>n</i> = 3). Most studies showed exposure levels below occupational exposure standards; however, certain aerosol-releasing tasks could exceed recommended occupational exposure limits of 0.025 mg/m³ for mercury and silica. Dental students in a simulation laboratory were exposed to a 4-hr mercury vapor level up to 3 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, and dentists' exposure in clinics reached 0.45 mg/m³. Silica concentrations were below occupational exposure limits in dental clinics but reached twice the standard in a dental laboratory during prosthodontics polishing activities. The review emphasizes the need for comprehensive exposure assessments among dental workers and highlights the lack of focus on denturists, dental technicians, and dental assistants. To adequately assess the overlooked risks posed by multi-exposures to chemicals among dental workers, future studies need to analyze and report on exposures and risks stratified by occupation, task, and sex.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"970-986"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2542346
Eun Gyung Lee, Suzanne E Tomasi, Allyson W O'Connor, Madison Lawless, Yong-Sook Eo
Waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) are anesthetic gases and vapors that are released or leaked into the surrounding environment during the delivery of anesthesia to patients and anesthesia recovery. In the last few decades, considerable efforts have been made to reduce WAG exposure for healthcare professionals who work in operating rooms (ORs) by using control measures such as scavenging systems and enhanced ventilation. Limited information is available regarding exposure assessment for healthcare workers in postanesthetic care units (PACUs) in hospitals. WAGs are associated with several adverse health effects, including reproductive-related health outcomes. However, previous studies have reported conflicting findings regarding the association between reproductive outcomes and WAG exposure. Before researching the associations between WAG exposures among PACU workers and health risks, it is essential to assess the current levels of exposure to WAGs in PACUs. This review paper describes the existing status of healthcare workers' exposure to WAGs in PACUs, discusses knowledge gaps, and provides recommendations on future research priorities.
{"title":"Occupational exposures to halogenated waste anesthetic gases in healthcare professionals.","authors":"Eun Gyung Lee, Suzanne E Tomasi, Allyson W O'Connor, Madison Lawless, Yong-Sook Eo","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2542346","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2542346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) are anesthetic gases and vapors that are released or leaked into the surrounding environment during the delivery of anesthesia to patients and anesthesia recovery. In the last few decades, considerable efforts have been made to reduce WAG exposure for healthcare professionals who work in operating rooms (ORs) by using control measures such as scavenging systems and enhanced ventilation. Limited information is available regarding exposure assessment for healthcare workers in postanesthetic care units (PACUs) in hospitals. WAGs are associated with several adverse health effects, including reproductive-related health outcomes. However, previous studies have reported conflicting findings regarding the association between reproductive outcomes and WAG exposure. Before researching the associations between WAG exposures among PACU workers and health risks, it is essential to assess the current levels of exposure to WAGs in PACUs. This review paper describes the existing status of healthcare workers' exposure to WAGs in PACUs, discusses knowledge gaps, and provides recommendations on future research priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"987-1000"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2600252
J Thomas Pierce
{"title":"\"The Action Level<sup>®</sup>\".","authors":"J Thomas Pierce","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2600252","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2600252","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D29-D30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145723986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2025.2540824
Samantha Curtis, Avian White, Lok Pokhrel, Jo Anne G Balanay
Workers employed in recreational settings, such as sporting events, may be potentially exposed to hazardous noise levels, increasing the risk of temporary and permanent hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the occupational noise exposures of ushers employed in an indoor arena during 12 National Hockey League games in eastern North Carolina. Participants were monitored for personal noise exposure during games using noise dosimeters. Area noise monitoring was conducted at arena level 1 using a sound level meter and in a production office using a noise dosimeter. Ten of 12 games (83.3%) had at least one 8-hr TWA noise exposure measurement that exceeded the ACGIH® TLV® of 85 dBA, while one (8.3%) exceeded the OSHA PEL of 90 dBA. The differences in Lavg and 8-hr TWA noise levels by game were statistically significant (p < 0.01) for both ACGIH and OSHA noise metrics. All of the 8 arena sections (100%) had at least one 8-hr TWA noise exposure measurement that exceeded the ACGIH TLV, while one (12.5%) exceeded the OSHA PEL. The differences in Lavg, 8-hr dose and 8-hr TWA by arena seating level were not statistically significant (p = 0.11 to 0.36) for both OSHA and ACGIH metrics. Although the overall 8-hr TWA noise exposure levels (76.5 ± 4.6 dBA using OSHA metric; 83.7 ± 3.7 dBA using ACGIH metric) did not exceed the OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV, respectively, employees during professional hockey games may be exposed to hazardous noise as demonstrated by the percentages of 8-hr TWA noise measurements exceeding the OSHA PEL (1.1%) and ACGIH TLV (24.2%). Study findings may be beneficial for identifying practical and feasible control measures to reduce noise exposures of workers at the arena during professional hockey games and may be used to estimate attendee noise exposures and to improve arena design for noise reduction.
{"title":"Occupational noise exposure of ushers during National Hockey League games in an indoor arena.","authors":"Samantha Curtis, Avian White, Lok Pokhrel, Jo Anne G Balanay","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2540824","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2540824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Workers employed in recreational settings, such as sporting events, may be potentially exposed to hazardous noise levels, increasing the risk of temporary and permanent hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the occupational noise exposures of ushers employed in an indoor arena during 12 National Hockey League games in eastern North Carolina. Participants were monitored for personal noise exposure during games using noise dosimeters. Area noise monitoring was conducted at arena level 1 using a sound level meter and in a production office using a noise dosimeter. Ten of 12 games (83.3%) had at least one 8-hr TWA noise exposure measurement that exceeded the ACGIH<sup>®</sup> TLV<sup>®</sup> of 85 dBA, while one (8.3%) exceeded the OSHA PEL of 90 dBA. The differences in L<sub>avg</sub> and 8-hr TWA noise levels by game were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.01) for both ACGIH and OSHA noise metrics. All of the 8 arena sections (100%) had at least one 8-hr TWA noise exposure measurement that exceeded the ACGIH TLV, while one (12.5%) exceeded the OSHA PEL. The differences in L<sub>avg</sub>, 8-hr dose and 8-hr TWA by arena seating level were not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.11 to 0.36) for both OSHA and ACGIH metrics. Although the overall 8-hr TWA noise exposure levels (76.5 ± 4.6 dBA using OSHA metric; 83.7 ± 3.7 dBA using ACGIH metric) did not exceed the OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV, respectively, employees during professional hockey games may be exposed to hazardous noise as demonstrated by the percentages of 8-hr TWA noise measurements exceeding the OSHA PEL (1.1%) and ACGIH TLV (24.2%). Study findings may be beneficial for identifying practical and feasible control measures to reduce noise exposures of workers at the arena during professional hockey games and may be used to estimate attendee noise exposures and to improve arena design for noise reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"946-958"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144958055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}