Archives of environmental & occupational health最新文献

Noise is an inevitable part of life, particularly in the workplace. Our goal was to determine psychological and cognitive morbidities associated with occupational noise exposure and their relation to serum GSK 3β. We recruited 80 male workers in a cross-sectional design ; 40 were the exposed group, and 40 were the control. Arabic version of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS 21), Montreal Cognitive Examination Basic (MoCA B) test, and serum GSK 3β were done for the studied groups. Noise-exposed workers were subjected to noise levels ranging from 80 to 86 dB. 37.5% of the exposed group showed statistically significant mild cognitive impairment compared to 15% of the controls. A statistically significant negative correlation existed between MoCA scores and noise exposure duration among the exposed. Serum GSK 3β levels were significantly higher among the exposed group compared to the control group . Additionally, workers with more severe psychological distress and cognitive deterioration also had higher levels of GSK 3β. Occupational noise exposure could negatively affect the cognitive and psychological health .

This study aimed to evaluate the changes of health outcomes in individuals who started and those who ceased working the night shift. Linear mixed models were used to determine whether the initiation and cessation groups differed from the control group in terms of annual changes in health outcomes. When comparing the control and initiation groups, The Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale showed significant increase compared to the control group, while the metabolic equivalent task scores showed significant decrease compared to the control group. The body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels showed significant increase compared to the control group, while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level showed significant decrease compared to the control group. This study identified depressive mood changes and decreased physical activity as the first manifestations of night shift work. An increase in BMI and worsening of lipid profiles were observed in the cessation group, relative to the control group.

This study assessed the genotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage associated with occupational exposure among gas station attendants. We performed buccal micronucleus cytome analysis and measured serum 8-OHdG levels in 32 pumpers and 32 control subjects. Cytotoxicity biomarkers were higher in the exposed group. No significant effect of smoking on cytogenetic parameters was found. In contrast, a higher frequency of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity biomarkers was observed in pumpers with more than 10 years of employment. Serum 8-OHdG levels were higher in pumpers. While the duration of working increased the serum 8-OHdG levels, smoking had no significant effect. Our findings reveal that gas station attendants are continuously exposed to benzene-induced toxicity at the cellular level. Workers may be at risk of developing cancer in the future, so they should be carefully monitored for the long-term effects.

Many occupational diseases can be prevented or at least mitigated, highlighting the importance of including occupational health education in medical curricula. We aimed to evaluate the knowledge levels of sixth-year students before and after occupational health courses, assess the effectiveness of teaching sessions, and identify necessary improvements in the presentations as part of our self-criticism. Pre- and post-training tests covering key aspects of occupational safety and health and occupational diseases, along with questions regarding students' opinions about the courses, were administered using the Kahoot application. Of 207 students, 191 (92.2%) participated in the study over six months within one academic year. An increase was observed in the number of students who answered all questions correctly after lectures. Additionally, 72.2% found the lecture duration sufficient, while 83.3% reported increased awareness. The study pinpointed the topics where mistakes were most frequent and highlighted these more effectively in future presentations.

Chronic exposure to heavy metals has been linked to lung, bladder, and prostate cancer risk, yet the evidence for nonsmoking, non-occupationally exposed individuals remains inconclusive. We conducted a preliminary investigation within the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition) Florence cohort to compare pre-diagnostic serum levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Tl, among subjects who developed lung, bladder, or prostate cancer during follow-up, and among matched non-cancer controls. For each cancer type, we included 50 cases paired with 50 same-age and -sex non-cancer subjects selected among never and long former smokers. Serum heavy metals levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Median concentrations did not significantly differ between cancer cases and matched controls for any heavy metal. This exploratory, population-based investigation does not support a role of heavy metals in the etiology of lung, bladder, and prostate cancer among nonsmokers.

The aim of this study was assessing the impact of Ionizing radiation (IR) exposure on thyroid function and cancer risk over an 11-year follow-up period among healthcare workers. A retrospective cohort of 585 hospital workers in Rome was carried out. Workers were categorized based on IR exposure levels in the period 2010 - 2020. Survival analysis was conducted to assess the development of thyroid abnormalities and tumors. Exposed workers exhibited a higher risk of developing thyroid alterations, notably hypothyroidism and goiter (HR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.17- 2.43), and a reduced likelihood of developing cancer (HR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.64). Gender and age were significant risk factors for thyroid alterations, with females and older individuals exhibiting higher susceptibility. This study suggests an increased thyroid issues but reduced cancer rates among exposed to low-dose IR compared to unexposed peers, underscoring the need for further research to enhance occupational health.

Long-term night shift (NS) work is known to affect the body's circadian rhythm, leading to chronic low-level inflammation. We aimed to evaluate this information for the first time through CRP-Albumin Ratio [CAR] and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio [NLR] levels. Design is descriptive, cross-sectional. After exclusion criteria, a total of 84 males were included in the study, 38 of whom had been working at NS for at least three months and 46 who had been working on the day shift. Both NLR and CAR levels were significantly higher in NS workers compared to day shift workers (2.19 [%95 CI 1.99-2.39]; 1.84 [%95 CI 1.65-2.03] p = 0.012 and 0.44 [%95 CI 0.32-0.56]; 0.24 [%95 CI 0.18-0.29] p = 0.002, respectively). This supports the idea that chronic low inflammation may occur as a result of disruption of the circadian rhythm.

We evaluated the association between urinary concentrations of phthalates/bisphenols mixtures and diabetes mellitus (DM) and poorly controlled DM, stratified by sex, and race/ethnicity in 2718 adults from the 2013 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. DM was self-reported or defined by glucose tests/hypoglycemic use. Poorly controlled DM was defined by HbA1c ≥ 8%. Principal component analyses allowed to identify three mixtures: (1) DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites), (2) LMW/BPs (bisphenol A, F, S, and low molecular weight phthalates), and (3) high molecular weight phthalates. Group weighted quantile sum regression showed that the DEHP mixture was associated with lower DM prevalence in women and "other races" participants. Conversely, the LMW/BPs mixture was associated with higher DM odds, mainly among Mexican Americans. Race/ethnicity seems to determine the association between the different exposure mixtures and DM prevalence and poorly controlled DM.

Objective: Rising temperatures and extreme weather pose a significant public health threat. Workers in low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable to heat stress, which can lead to psychological repercussions, including climate anxiety. This study investigated the psychological impacts of heat stress and coping strategies among workers in relation to climate anxiety.

Method: A cross-sectional survey of 800 indoor and outdoor workers was conducted in 2024. Environmental heat stress was measured using a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) monitor, defining heat stress as exceeding task-specific threshold limits. Heat strain indicators (HSIs) such as core body temperature (CBT) and urine specific gravity (USG) were assessed alongside perceived heat stress and psychological impacts using a validated HOTHAPS questionnaire.

Results: The WBGT exceeded recommended limits for 62% of workers (30.3 ± 5.0 °C). Among heat-exposed workers, 80% reported heat-related health symptoms, with a significant rise in HSIs, including CBT (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4-2.7). Psychological symptoms were prevalent in 94% of exposed workers, with heightened risks of climate anxiety (AOR = 2.8), stress (AOR = 2.7), and mental fatigue (AOR = 3.7). Women and summer months showed greater vulnerability.

Conclusion: Heat stress significantly affects psychological well-being among South Indian workers. Protective workplace policies are crucial to mitigating climate-induced psychological impacts.

Standard codes were assigned to each of up to 3 jobs reported by 12,498 healthy Australian participants of the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) aged ≥ 70 years. Ten job categories for men (n=5444; 92.5%) and 13 for women (n=6370; 90.8%) were generated by grouping like jobs. Inter-group distinctiveness was demonstrated by education, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors for men and women for the occupational groups. Among men, the highest odds of age-adjusted hypertension were in general managers (1.40; 95% CI 1.08, 1.81) and tradespersons (1.29; 1.05, 1.58), with associations attenuated after controlling for lifestyle factors. Among women, the highest odds of hypertension were in nurses (1.40; 95% CI 1.05, 1.87) and clerks/secretaries (1.28; 1.01, 1.62) in multivariate analysis. This analysis indicates that those who are healthy at ≥ 70 years with a healthy lifestyle may suffer minimal detriment in regard to hypertension status from lifetime occupation.