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British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen... Sep 2017There is a significant body of evidence describing the benefits of using systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) agents, such as chemotherapy, biological, hormone and...
There is a significant body of evidence describing the benefits of using systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) agents, such as chemotherapy, biological, hormone and antibiotics, to treat people diagnosed with cancer (Cancer Research UK, 2017). However, the potential improvements in survival outcomes must be regularly weighed against the risk of adverse health effects associated with exposure to them. For patients, the risks are balanced against the need to treat the cancer. For health professionals, the risks simply result from the occupational exposure that can occur when caring for patients receiving these drugs. Collectively referred to as cytotoxic agents, SACTs are known to be toxic; they are considered carcinogenic to humans, and are classified as hazardous (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 2010).
Topics: Cytotoxins; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Neoplasms; Occupational Exposure; Practice Guidelines as Topic; United Kingdom
PubMed: 28981321
DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2017.26.Sup16b.S3 -
Workplace Health & Safety Feb 2018Methylene chloride is an industrial solvent used in commercial paint strippers and degreasing agents. This chemical is widely used in consumer products, yet without...
Methylene chloride is an industrial solvent used in commercial paint strippers and degreasing agents. This chemical is widely used in consumer products, yet without appropriate protections, exposure may lead to death. Already banned in some countries, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed limiting its use in the United States.
Topics: Humans; Methylene Chloride; Occupational Exposure; Solvents; United States
PubMed: 29053053
DOI: 10.1177/2165079917736319 -
Archives of Toxicology Nov 2020Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also termed endotoxin, is an integral structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and has been a focus of bioaerosol... (Review)
Review
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also termed endotoxin, is an integral structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and has been a focus of bioaerosol research for many years. Endotoxin is nearly ubiquitous in the environment; however, exposure at specific workplaces, such as waste collecting, livestock farming, agriculture, the textile industry has been associated with adverse health effects. The aim of this review is to summarize studies published in the last 10 years on endotoxin measurement and health effects due to endotoxin in occupational settings. The search was mainly performed using MEDLINE (Pubmed), focusing on publications related to the determination of endotoxin, inhalative occupational endotoxin exposure, and health effects. The review shows that despite the well-established methods available to measure endotoxin, a global comparison of studies still remains difficult because the details of sampling strategies and exposure assessment are variable and depend on the specific workplace situation. Thus, health-based threshold limit values still cannot be derived on the basis of available data. Since endotoxin is only one component in a heterogeneous bioaerosol mixture, the question remains open on how to evaluate and record the additional effects of the other components. In particular, there is a lack of intervention studies investigating the effectiveness of protective measures with respect to health outcome. In addition, the studies selected in this review show a wide range of endotoxin exposure, even within one industry or sector. The level of exposure seems to depend more on the specific task performed and the way it was performed rather than on the profession or industry itself. The identification of hot spots of exposure, as well as methods of communication on hazards and possible protective measures, seem to remain important tasks in occupational health protection.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Dust; Endotoxins; Humans; Industry; Inhalation Exposure; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Threshold Limit Values; Workplace
PubMed: 32910236
DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02905-0 -
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Feb 2018This review explores animal allergen exposure in research laboratories and other work settings, focusing on causes and prevention. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review explores animal allergen exposure in research laboratories and other work settings, focusing on causes and prevention.
RECENT FINDINGS
(1) Consistent with the hygiene hypothesis, there is new evidence that early childhood exposure to pets produces changes in the gut microbiome that likely lead to a lower risk of allergy. (2) Anaphylaxis from laboratory animal bites occurs more frequently than suggested by prior literature. (3) Animal allergens represent an occupational hazard in a wide variety of work settings ranging from fields that work with animals to public settings like schools and public transportation where allergens are brought into or are present in the workplace. Exposure to animal allergens can result in allergy, asthma, and anaphylaxis. Animal allergy has been most studied in the research laboratory setting, where exposure reduction can prevent the development of allergy. Similar prevention approaches need to be considered for other animal work environments and in all settings where animal allergens are present.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Asthma; Humans; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 29453631
DOI: 10.1007/s11882-018-0755-0 -
Annals of Work Exposures and Health Oct 2018Occupational exposure to mycotoxins is supposedly very frequent, but it is rarely reported in the scientific literature. Several recent studies described occupational... (Review)
Review
Occupational exposure to mycotoxins is supposedly very frequent, but it is rarely reported in the scientific literature. Several recent studies described occupational exposure to the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) mycotoxin in different occupational settings. Previously, exposure to other mycotoxins was shown in the animal husbandry and food processing sectors, confirming that occupational exposure cannot be negligible. However, no guidelines or standard methodologies are available for helping occupational hygienists to consider mycotoxin exposure in their interventions. This article reviews the literature on this problem and recommends some actions for the better management of this risk factor in occupational settings, especially where environmental conditions are favorable to fungal presence.
Topics: Aflatoxin B1; Dust; Humans; Mycotoxins; Occupational Exposure; Risk Management
PubMed: 30099513
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxy070 -
American Journal of Industrial Medicine May 2023Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of chemicals used in nearly all sectors of industry and many consumer products. Their resistance to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of chemicals used in nearly all sectors of industry and many consumer products. Their resistance to degradation, however, means that PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and bioaccumulate. PFAS exposure has also been linked to a variety of adverse health effects. Occupational PFAS exposure is of particular concern as research on PFAS exposure in worker populations has historically been limited and generally restricted to fluorochemical plant workers involved in PFAS production.
METHODS
A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed scientific literature was conducted to investigate which worker populations may experience occupational exposure to PFAS. Serum PFAS levels reported in various occupations were analyzed and compared to serum PFAS levels published on the general public exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water and the study population of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
RESULTS
Our analysis indicates that professional ski waxers and firefighters may be exposed to several different PFAS at levels often similar to or higher than levels among fluorochemical plant workers and individuals in communities with PFAS-contaminated drinking water, and higher than levels in the general public. PFAS serum level data on other occupations were largely absent.
CONCLUSIONS
Results highlight a need for additional research on occupational PFAS exposures and concomitant environmental exposures in these populations. Research on exposure levels in occupations and industries known or suspected to utilize PFAS is critically needed to foster informed recommendations for exposure mitigation measures to protect workers from adverse health effects of PFAS exposure.
Topics: Humans; Nutrition Surveys; Drinking Water; Fluorocarbons; Occupational Exposure; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 36573587
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23454 -
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Feb 2016Epidemiological studies on exposure to pesticides and risk of prostate cancer (PC) provide inconsistent results. We aimed to explore various potential sources of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Epidemiological studies on exposure to pesticides and risk of prostate cancer (PC) provide inconsistent results. We aimed to explore various potential sources of heterogeneity not previously assessed and to derive updated risk estimates from homogenous studies. We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases for case-control and cohort studies published from 1985 to April 2014. We assessed the quality of the articles using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was explored using subset analyses and metaregression. Fifty-two studies were included in the review and 25 in the meta-analysis. No association was found between low exposure to pesticides and PC, but association was significant for high exposure, pooled OR 1.33 (1.02 to 1.63), I(2)=44.8%, p=0.024. Heterogeneity was explained by a number of variables including method used to assess exposure. Pooled OR was weak and non-significant for studies measuring serum pesticide level, 1.12 (0.74 to 1.50), I(2)=0.00%, p=0.966. For studies applying self-reporting of exposure, pooled estimate was 1.34 (0.91 to 1.77), I(2)=0.00%, p=0.493, while a high significant association was detected for grouped exposure assessment, 2.24 (1.36 to 3.11), I(2)=0.00%, p=0.955. In spite of a weak significant association detected when pooling ORs for high occupational exposure to pesticides, the magnitude of the association was related to the method of exposure assessment used by the original studies. A family history-pesticide exposure interaction was also observed for a number of pesticides.
Topics: Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides; Prostatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 26644457
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102692 -
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift Apr 2020A previously presented study investigated the impact of recent pesticide exposure on cytological signs of genotoxicity and on symptoms of intoxication in 71 male...
A previously presented study investigated the impact of recent pesticide exposure on cytological signs of genotoxicity and on symptoms of intoxication in 71 male coffee workers in the Dominican Republic. An unexpected finding of this study was that conventional farming workers, among other symptoms, reported fewer children than controls working in organic farms without pesticide use. This study set out to investigate possible reasons for the latter difference. One statistical problem of this analysis is that the age of the workers is a strong predictor for the number of children and available data on the exposure determinants "duration of pesticide exposure" as well as "age at first pesticide exposure" are correlated with age. To correctly control statistics for these confounding parameters, different approaches to best control for age were explored. After careful elimination of the age-related confounding factors, a reduced number of children was still observed in exposed workers. The clearest effect is seen in those workers that reported first exposure before the age of 20 years. Socioeconomic factors could still confound that finding, but a direct effect of early life pesticide exposure is the most likely explanation of the observation.
Topics: Agriculture; Child; Coffee; Farmers; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides
PubMed: 31701219
DOI: 10.1007/s00508-019-01566-z -
Canadian Journal of Public Health =... Jun 2016Registries are one strategy for collecting information on occupational exposure and disease in populations. Recently leaders in the Canadian occupational health and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Registries are one strategy for collecting information on occupational exposure and disease in populations. Recently leaders in the Canadian occupational health and safety community have shown an interest in the use of occupational exposure registries. The primary goal of this study was to review a series of Canadian exposure registries to identify their strengths and weaknesses as a tool for tracking occupational exposure and disease in Canada. A secondary goal was to identify the features of an exposure registry needed to specifically contribute to prevention, including the identification of new exposure-disease relationships.
METHODS
A documentary review of five exposure registries from Canada was completed. Strengths and limitations of the registries were compared and key considerations for designing new registries were identified.
RESULTS
The goals and structure of the exposure registries varied considerably. Most of the reviewed registries had voluntary registration, which presents challenges for the use of the data for either surveillance or epidemiology. It is recommended that eight key issues be addressed when planning new registries: clear registry goal(s), a definition of exposure, data to be collected (and how it will be used), whether enrolment will be mandatory, as well as ethical, privacy and logistical considerations.
CONCLUSIONS
When well constructed, an exposure registry can be a valuable tool for surveillance, epidemiology and ultimately the prevention of occupational disease. However, exposure registries also have a number of actual and potential limitations that need to be considered.
Topics: Canada; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Population Surveillance; Registries
PubMed: 27348098
DOI: 10.17269/cjph.107.5039 -
The Science of the Total Environment Nov 2022Telomere length is a common biomarker for the cumulative effect of environmental factors on aging-related diseases, therefore an association has been hypothesized... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Telomere length is a common biomarker for the cumulative effect of environmental factors on aging-related diseases, therefore an association has been hypothesized between occupational exposure to pesticides and shorter telomere length.
OBJECTIVE
This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to examine the association between telomere length and occupational exposure to pesticides.
METHODS
We systematically searched in SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Lilacs, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases for all observational studies containing measurements of telomere length on groups occupationally exposed to pesticides. Data were synthesized through qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. We estimated the associations between exposed and non-exposed groups by using the natural log of the response ratio (lnRR). Heterogeneity was quantified using the Cochran Q test and I statistics.
RESULTS
Six studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis, with a total of 480 participants exposed to pesticides. The time of exposure evaluated 391 participants that had a range of 5 to >30 years of occupational exposure. Most studies presented shorter telomere length in the occupationally exposed group. From the six studies included in the meta-analysis, three presented telomere length measurement as a single copy gene (T/S), and three presented telomere length measurement as base pairs (bp). The statistical analysis pooled estimates (log ratio of means) of the telomere length in both measurements (T/S and bp) showed a shortening of telomere length in the exposed group when compared with the non-exposed (control) group. Two of six studies reported longer telomere length in the group exposed to pesticides.
DISCUSSION
Our findings suggest an association between occupational exposure to pesticides and shorter telomere length. However, we found a small number of studies to include in our meta-analysis, being required more high-quality studies to strengthen our findings and conclusions.
Topics: Biomarkers; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides; Telomere
PubMed: 35914599
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157715