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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 -
Journal of Environmental and Public... 2021Noise is one of the most common worldwide environmental pollutants, especially in occupational fields. As a stressor, it affects not only the ear but also the entire...
INTRODUCTION
Noise is one of the most common worldwide environmental pollutants, especially in occupational fields. As a stressor, it affects not only the ear but also the entire body. Its physiological and psychological impacts have been well established in many conditions such as cardiovascular diseases. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding diabetes risk related to noises.
AIM
To evaluate the relationship between occupational exposure to noise and the risk of developing diabetes.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional analytical study enrolling two groups of 151 workers each. The first group (noise exposed group: EG) included the employees of a Tunisian power plant, who worked during the day shift and had a permanent position. The second group (unexposed to noise group: NEG) included workers assigned to two academic institutions, who were randomly selected in the Occupational Medicine Department of the Farhat Hached University Hospital in Sousse, during periodical fitness to work visits. Both populations (exposed and unexposed) were matched by age and gender. Data collection was based on a preestablished questionnaire, a physical examination, a biological assessment, and a sonometric study.
RESULTS
The mean equivalent continuous sound level was 89 dB for the EG and 44.6 dB for the NEG. Diabetes was diagnosed in 24 workers from EG (15.9%) and 14 workers from NEG (9.3%), with no statistically significant difference (=0.08). After multiple binary logistic regression, including variables of interest, noise did not appear to be associated with diabetes.
CONCLUSION
Our results did not reveal a higher risk of developing diabetes in workers exposed to noise. Further studies assessing both level and duration of noise exposure are needed before any definitive conclusion.
Topics: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Noise, Occupational; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 33828593
DOI: 10.1155/2021/1804616 -
Disease-a-month : DM Oct 2023
Topics: Humans; Blood-Borne Pathogens; Health Personnel; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 36357236
DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2022.101498 -
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 -
Skinmed 2022Dermatology involves various occupational hazards that threaten the safety of practicing dermatologists and may often go unrecognized and ignored. These dangers may... (Review)
Review
Dermatology involves various occupational hazards that threaten the safety of practicing dermatologists and may often go unrecognized and ignored. These dangers may appear minor but with the daily volume of patients examined by dermatologists do pose significant health risks. A review of the occupational hazards and exposures frequently encountered in the field of dermatology would be beneficial for both dermatologists and patients. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search of published studies from inception to May 30, 2021 using the terms "dermatology," "occupational exposure," and "biohazard" in PubMed-MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane Central to summarize occupational hazards in dermatology. (. 2022;20:177-184).
Topics: Dermatology; Humans; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 35779022
DOI: No ID Found -
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 -
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical... Apr 2022Review article on recent developments on inhalant food allergens associated with occupational respiratory allergy and asthma. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Review article on recent developments on inhalant food allergens associated with occupational respiratory allergy and asthma.
RECENT FINDINGS
This review has found that occupational inhalant allergy in food handling occupations is a common and recognisable clinical entity (class 3 food allergy) in high-risk food occupations such as bakeries and seafood processing. Aerosolised food proteins from plant or animal food sources, additives and biological food contaminants cause occupational sensitization, rhinitis and asthma. The risk of allergy may be enhanced across the food value chain as a result of food processing techniques including the introduction of new food allergens in the food matrix. Occupational food allergy and asthma can be prevented by improved health-based exposure standards, workplace control measures, education and training activities, and early diagnosis accompanied with exposure reduction.
SUMMARY
Future studies need to focus on exposure-response studies to establish improved exposure limits especially for flour dust, the relevance of cooked vs raw foods in influencing risk, identifying and characterising major inhalant food allergens accompanied with component resolved diagnostic approaches, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for common high-risk food sensitizers causing occupational rhinitis and asthma.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Asthma; Food Handling; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Occupations; Rhinitis
PubMed: 34923552
DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000804 -
Journal of Occupational and... Apr 2022To determine if occupational exposure to dioxins is associated with an increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if occupational exposure to dioxins is associated with an increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations.
METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis of serum dioxin levels and t(14;18) frequencies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 218 former chemical plant workers and 150 population controls.
RESULTS
The workers had significantly higher geometric mean serum levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (26.2 vs 2.5 ppt) and TEQ (73.8 vs 17.7 ppt) than controls. There were no significant differences in the prevalence or frequency of t(14;18) translocations in the workers compared to controls. Among former workers with current or past chloracne who were t(14;18) positive, the frequency of translocations significantly increased with quartiles of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and TEQ.
CONCLUSION
Chloracne appears to modulate the association between dioxin exposure and increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations.
Topics: Chloracne; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dioxins; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Occupational Exposure; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
PubMed: 34740219
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002427 -
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 -
Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT May 2022Frameworks for deriving occupational exposure limits (OELs) and OEL-analogue values (such as derived-no-effect levels [DNELs]) in various regulatory areas in the EU and...
Frameworks for deriving occupational exposure limits (OELs) and OEL-analogue values (such as derived-no-effect levels [DNELs]) in various regulatory areas in the EU and at national level in Germany were analysed. Reasons for differences between frameworks and possible means of improving transparency and harmonisation were identified. Differences between assessment factors used for deriving exposure limits proved to be one important reason for diverging numerical values. Distributions for exposure time, interspecies and intraspecies extrapolation were combined by probabilistic methods and compared with default values of assessment factors used in the various OEL frameworks in order to investigate protection levels. In a subchronic inhalation study showing local effects in the respiratory tract, the probability that assessment factors were sufficiently high to protect 99% and 95% of the target population (workers) from adverse effects varied considerably from 9% to 71% and 17% to 87%, respectively, between the frameworks. All steps of the derivation process, including the uncertainty associated with the point of departure (POD), were further analysed with two examples of full probabilistic assessments. It is proposed that benchmark modelling should be the method of choice for deriving PODs and that all OEL frameworks should provide detailed guidance documents and clearly define their protection goals by stating the proportion of the exposed population the OEL aims to cover and the probability with which they intend to provide protection from adverse effects. Harmonisation can be achieved by agreeing on the way to perform the methodological steps for deriving OELs and on common protection goals.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Risk Assessment; Threshold Limit Values
PubMed: 35188277
DOI: 10.1002/jat.4307