Archives of environmental & occupational health最新文献

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.

Traffic police play a crucial role in ensuring public safety and preventing accidents. This study assesses the occupational health of traffic police officers and brigade members in Gujarat. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 450 personnel, utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire and clinical examinations, including pulmonary function tests, blood tests, and lipid profiles. Results showed that male participants, particularly those with over 5 years of experience, had higher BMIs and reported elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and respiratory issues. Lung function declined with longer service, with significant reductions in FVC (p < 0.001) and FEV1 (p < 0.01). Female officers faced anemia, while male participants showed high cholesterol. Musculoskeletal discomfort, especially knee and back pain, was prevalent due to prolonged standing. These findings highlight the need for tailored health policies, regular checkups, protective gear, and ergonomic uniforms for Gujarat's traffic personnel.

Police officers' mental health issues can impair their ability to perform duties safely and increase the required medical care for public health and police organizations. This study investigated police officers' mental health status, identified related factors, and analyzed their paths using the PRECEDE (Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation) model. The results showed that 63.02% of the participants were in the potential stress group for mental health. Police officers' mental health was associated with resilience, social support, resource availability, health behaviors, job stress, and traumatic experiences. The path analysis showed that higher health behaviors and lower job stress were positively associated with better mental health. This study and model can guide the creation of health policies and intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of police officers.

The sub-chronic testicular toxicity of nitrate in immature and mature albino rats and its amelioration with ascorbic acid and curcumin was studied. Rats were divided into five groups: control, nitrate, nitrate + ascorbic acid, nitrate + curcumin and nitrate + ascorbic acid + curcumin. Nitrate at 250 mg/L in drinking water and ascorbic acid and curcumin at 100 mg/kg body weight were provided to rats for 42 days. A significant increase in level of malondialdehyde and decreases in sperm parameters; level of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone; antioxidant enzymes activity; and testis's histological alterations were observed in both age groups of rats due to nitrate, with immature rats being more affected. The testicular toxicity was more severe in immature rats compared to mature rats and effectively ameliorated by combination of ascorbic acid and curcumin, followed by curcumin and ascorbic acid individually in both age groups.

Evidence suggests that hearing loss may increase the risk of burnout. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between hearing loss and burnout among 292 industrial workers in the pharmaceutical, who were exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 db. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their hearing status: Normal Hearing, Acoustic Trauma, and Hearing Loss. Burnout was assessed using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), while general health was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. Regression analysis revealed that hearing status, age, and general health were significant predictors of burnout, with workers in the Hearing Loss group exhibiting the highest burnout scores. Paired t-tests showed that both the Hearing Loss and Acoustic Trauma groups had significantly higher burnout levels than matched normal hearing workers, even after adjusting for age, gender, and general health. These findings suggest hearing impairment contributes to burnout in noise-exposed industrial workers independent of confounding factors such as age or co morbidities.

Firefighters rely on teamwork, but their organizational health culture (OHC) is understudied. We aimed to develop and validate a 34-item OHC measurement tool. Data were collected from 543 Taiwanese and 28 US firefighters between May 2023 and March 2024. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (i.e., EFA and CFA) were conducted, and six factors of OHC-leadership support, leadership commitment, sleep and mental health policy, physical activity and nutrition policy, organizational approach, and sense of belonging-were identified. EFA was conducted using data from 271 Taiwanese firefighters, and CFA was performed on the rest, with the latter showing a good fit. We found that a better OHC was correlated with a healthier lifestyle and fewer posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms. We offer both English and traditional Chinese versions. The OHC's causal effects require further studies.

There is growing evidence that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may alter serum lipid concentrations; however, this topic is understudied in adolescents and Latin American populations. We aimed to characterize these associations among adolescents in Ecuador's main floricultural region. This cross-sectional study included 97 adolescents ages 11-17 years from Pedro Moncayo County, Ecuador. Generalized estimating equation models were applied to estimate the associations of serum perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) concentrations with serum lipids. Models were adjusted for age, gender, height, body mass index (BMI), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and hemoglobin concentrations. Significant inverse relationships between PFAS and triglycerides were observed in females (% lipid difference per 50% increase in: PFOS= -15.0% [95%CI: -24.72, -4.06], PFNA= -25.49% [-36.93, -12.00], and PFOA= -16.55% [-28.16, -3.07]) but not in males. No associations were observed between total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and any PFAS. PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA were inversely associated with triglycerides in adolescent females but not males. Further characterization of gender-specific associations of PFAS and blood lipids in adolescents is warranted.

Following a legionnaire's disease outbreak in Barcelona in 2022, sport fields' sprinklers were identified as potential sources of Legionella infection. The Agency of Public Health of Barcelona inspected all 40 urban municipal sports fields in the city. Legionella was found in 55% of them, including Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 in 11 samples. There were no statistically significant differences for Legionella detection according to the installation characteristics.These findings prompted the implementation of a set of preventive measures for risk mitigation and a specific control plan for sport fields.

This study aimed to explore blood lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) levels and their associations with cancers in Korean elders, using 4th to 7th KNHANES data. Subjects were aged 60 or above with available heavy metal blood test results. A total of 3,623 elders were included, and it was found that while Pb levels were lower, Hg and Cd levels were notably higher in females compared to males (p < 0.01). Furthermore, Hg and Cd showed divergent relationships with age (p < 0.01). Of particular note, A 1% elevation of whole-blood cadmium level was associated with significantly elevated risks of breast and lung cancers, with OR of 7.03 and 13.63, respectively (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the study underscores distinct age and gender disparities in Pb, Hg, and Cd levels among Korean elders and highlights the robust association between Cd and breast or lung cancer.