Journal of occupational and environmental medicine最新文献

Objectives: This study aimed to assess mutagenicity biomarkers among Egyptian textile dyeing workers, their alteration with gene polymorphism, and the changes in plasma proteins' expression.

Methods: Using a detailed questionnaire, a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 workers (106 textile dyeing exposed group and 106 control group). CBMN-Cyt assay, ERCC2 gene polymorphism, and plasma protein fractions were analyzed in workers' blood samples.

Results: Textile dye workers had significantly higher mutagenicity biomarkers than the control group. Mutant ERCC2 genotypes, dye exposure, exposure period, and formaldehyde levels significantly predicted mutagenicity biomarkers' levels. Dye-exposed workers also showed significant changes in plasma protein fractions.

Conclusion: Textile dyeing workers, particularly susceptible genotypes, are at mutagenic risk and have significant changes in plasma protein fractions. Those changes are usually the first detectable response to toxic exposures and can be useful as exposure biomarkers.

Objective: The purpose of study was to explore family caregiver perspectives on work-life balance while caring for adults with Parkinson's Disease.

Methods: The study was performed using a convergent mixed methods design and a revised adaptation of the Work-Life Conflict model. Caregivers completed surveys followed by semi-structured interviews (N = 40).

Results: Work-life balance is bidirectionally influenced by time, stress, and behavior across the working and caregiving role. Caregiver burden was offset by higher decision latitude at work. Supervisor support and coworker support was positively associated with work-life balance. Barriers included: physical, emotional, and financial stress and speech and cognitive changes of the care recipient.

Conclusion: The results of this study identify the influence of work-life imbalance on caregiver burden and stress; and generate discussion of potential solutions that optimize well-being and health of this working population.

Objective: Hotel workers are at risk for burnout. We tested the association between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and burnout.

Methods: Participants were recruited through social media and completed an online survey. ERI and burnout were analyzed using an adjusted multivariable regression model.

Results: 224 hotel workers were surveyed. 83% were female, 38% were guest room attendants, and 19% were in leadership. Most were white (62%), non-unionized (78%), and worked full-time (76%). The mean age was 39.4 (SD = 13). The mean burnout score was 41.8 (SD = 6.6, range of 20.0-59.0). 50.5% of participants reported high ERI, especially among leadership, food workers, and guest room attendants.

Conclusions: High ERI was associated with higher burnout. Older age was associated with reduced burnout. Hotel workers experience high levels of stress. Targeted interventions are necessary to foster coping and mitigate risk factors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to 1) examine the relationship between perceived work-related fatigue and performance fatigability, and 2) assess the impact of percent body fat (%BF) on perceived fatigue constructs in career firefighters.

Methods: Thirty-nine career firefighters completed body composition testing, the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery (OFER15) scale assessing three subscales of work-related fatigue (acute fatigue, chronic fatigue, and inter-shift recovery), and maximal leg extensor isometric strength testing prior to and following an isotonic fatiguing protocol.

Results: Performance fatigability was not associated with any of the OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue variables ( P ≥ 0.513). Greater %BF was associated with greater %∆ peak torque ( r = -0.41, P = 0.010) but none of the OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue variables ( P ≥ 0.638).

Conclusions: Performance fatigability was not associated with OFER15 perceived work-related fatigue, and greater adiposity negatively impacted performance fatigability but not perceived fatigability.

Objective: As the COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges for businesses and worker safety and health, an interdisciplinary team launched the COVID-19 Worksite Impact Survey to assess COVID-19-related impacts and responses at small and medium businesses in 10 North Carolina counties.

Methods: We collected data from October 2 to December 1, 2020, and analyzed survey results to evaluate businesses' operational changes, concerns, needs, pandemic preparedness, workplace health promotion programming, and infection control practices.

Results: Most businesses, including essential ones, were inadequately prepared for the pandemic and did not implement the most effective COVID-19 infection control practices. Larger businesses and those with existing preparedness practices or health promotion programs were more likely to implement effective measures.

Conclusions: We should be acting now to improve small and medium businesses' preparedness for future public health crises.

Objectives: As part of the "Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS)," a national prospective birth cohort study, we examined the association between the maternal work environment and psychological distress during pregnancy in Japan.

Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, we analyzed data from 42,797 participants, originally collected between 2011 and 2014. Associations between the maternal work environment and psychological distress (Kessler 6) were examined using generalized estimation equation models adjusted for confounding factors.

Results: Pregnant women who worked ≥51 h/week had a 1.19-fold higher odds ratio (OR) of psychological distress than those who worked 36-40 h/week (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.07-1.32). Pregnant women who worked ≥5 days/month of shift work had a 1.11-fold higher OR of psychological distress than those who worked 0 days/month (1.00-1.24).

Conclusions: We observed an association between the maternal work environment and psychological distress during pregnancy.

Objective: To identify the occupational factors that influence turnover intention among working women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 410 working women with LUTS from a 2022 survey. Occupational characteristics, including working hours, shift work, bathroom accessibility, sitting time, musculoskeletal strain, job stress, and emotional labor, were assessed through a structured self-reported questionnaire using validated tools. Multiple logistic regression was applied to analyze the association of these factors with turnover intention.

Results: Women who worked >52 h per week had an odds ratio of 2.02 for turnover intention compared to those who worked fewer hours. Higher job stress and emotional labor scores also were associated with increased turnover intention.

Conclusion: Women with LUTS have higher turnover intention due to vulnerability to long hours, job stress, and emotional labor.

Objectives: To explore the prospective associations of organisational changes with health outcomes among employees who remained in employment.

Methods: The study relied on the prospective data of the national French working conditions survey collected from employees and their employers in 2013, 2016 and 2019. The study sample included 4480 private sector employees. Organisational changes were assessed by the employers. The two health outcomes, collected from the employees, were psychological well-being and self-reported health. The prospective associations between organisational changes and health outcomes were studied using multilevel mixed-effects linear and robust Poisson regression models.

Results: No association was found between organisational changes and well-being and self-reported health.

Conclusions: Our study did not find significant prospective associations between organisational changes and two health outcomes among employees who remained in employment. More high-quality research is needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand federal workplace injury/illness trends.

Methods: Over 1.5 million federal and Postal Service employee workers' compensation (WC) claims from 2007 to 2022 were linked to employment data and analyzed.

Results: From 2007 to 2019, Falls, Slips, Trips represented the highest proportion of claims (30.7%), followed by Overexertion and Bodily Reaction (24.4%), Unclassified (16.4%), Contact with Objects and Equipment (13.1%), Violence and Other Injuries by Persons or Animals (8.8%), Transportation Incidents (4.0%), Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments (2.5%), and Fires and Explosions (0.24%).From 2020 to 2022, COVID-19 drove a major shift to Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments representing the highest proportion of claims (44.3%).

Conclusions: Claims data represent a potentially rich data source that employing agencies can use to focus prevention and treatment of injury/illness.

Objective: We examined the association between the occupations of pregnant women's partners and infant low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB).

Methods: Birth outcome data were collected from 46,540 participants enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Participants were recruited from January 2011 to March 2014. Associations between the occupations of pregnant women's partners and birth outcomes were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors.

Results: LBW and PB incidences were 7.5% and 4.1%, respectively. In the major occupational group, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of LBW for clerical (1.19; 1.03-1.37) and service workers (1.21; 1.05-1.39) were higher than those for professional and engineering workers. However, no associations existed between the major occupational groups of the pregnant women's partners and PB.

Conclusion: Partner's employment in clerical and service work increases the risk for LBW.