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The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Assessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination at an early stage and to help prevent spread between... (Review)
Review
Assessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination at an early stage and to help prevent spread between employees and to the general population. Measuring workers' exposure can facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of protective and mitigation measures in place. The aim of this scoping review is to give an overview of available methods and those already implemented for airborne virus' exposure assessment in different occupational and indoor environments. The results retrieved from the different studies may contribute to the setting of future standards and guidelines to ensure a reliable risk characterization in the occupational environments crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. The search aimed at selecting studies between January 1st 2010 and June 30th 2023 in the selected databases. Fifty papers on virus exposure assessment fitted the eligibility criteria and were selected for data extraction. Overall, this study identified gaps in knowledge regarding virus assessment and pinpointed the needs for further research. Several discrepancies were found (transport temperatures, elution steps, …), as well as a lack of publication of important data related to the exposure conditions (contextual information). With the available information, it is impossible to compare results between studies employing different methods, and even if the same methods are used, different conclusions/recommendations based on the expert judgment have been reported due to the lack of consensus in the contextual information retrieved and/or data interpretation. Future research on the field targeting sampling methods and in the laboratory regarding the assays to employ should be developed bearing in mind the different goals of the assessment.
PubMed: 38908595
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174016 -
Environment International Jun 2024Childhood exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or lead (Pb) is associated with epigenetic modifications. However, the effects of their co-exposures on...
Associations of co-exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lead (Pb) with IGF1 methylation in peripheral blood of preschool children from an e-waste recycling area.
BACKGROUND
Childhood exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or lead (Pb) is associated with epigenetic modifications. However, the effects of their co-exposures on IGF1 (Insulin-like growth factor 1) methylation and the potential role in child physical growth are unclear.
METHODS
From our previous children study (N = 238, ages of 3-6), 75 children with higher total concentrations of urinary ten hydroxyl PAH metabolites (∑OH-PAHs) from an e-waste recycling area, Guiyu, and 75 with lower ∑OH-PAHs from Haojiang (reference area) were included. Pb and IGF1 P2 promoter methylation in peripheral blood were also measured. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to estimate individual associations, overall effects and interactions of co-exposure to OH-PAHs and Pb on IGF1 methylation were further explored using Bayesian kernel machine regression.
RESULTS
Methylation of IGF1 (CG-232) was lower (38.00 vs. 39.74 %, P < 0.001), but of CG-207 and CG-137 were higher (59.94 vs. 58.41 %; 57.60 vs. 56.28 %, both P < 0.05) in exposed children than the reference. The elevated urinary 2-OHPhe was associated with reduced methylation of CG-232 (B = -0.051, 95 % CI: -0.096, -0.005, P < 0.05), whereas blood Pb was positively associated with methylation of CG-108 (B = 0.106, 95 %CI: 0.013, 0.199, P < 0.05), even after full adjustment. Methylations of CG-224 and 218 significantly decreased when all OH-PAHs and Pb mixtures were set at 35th - 40th and 45th - 55th percentile compared to when all fixed at 50th percentile. There were bivariate interactions of co-exposure to the mixtures on methylations of CG-232, 224, 218, and 108. Methylations correlated with height, weight, were observed in the exposed children.
CONCLUSIONS
Childhood co-exposure to high PAHs and Pb from the e-waste may be associated with IGF1 promoter methylation alterations in peripheral blood. This, in turn, may interrupt the physical growth of preschool children.
PubMed: 38908275
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108833 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jun 2024Humans are extensively exposed to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), an emerging group of organic contaminants with potential nephrotoxicity. Nevertheless, the...
Humans are extensively exposed to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), an emerging group of organic contaminants with potential nephrotoxicity. Nevertheless, the estimated daily intake (EDI) and prognostic impacts of OPFRs have not been assessed in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this 2-year longitudinal study of 169 patients with CKD, we calculated the EDIs of five OPFR triesters from urinary biomonitoring data of their degradation products and analyzed the effects of OPFR exposure on adverse renal outcomes and renal function deterioration. Our analysis demonstrated universal OPFR exposure in the CKD population, with a median EDI of 360.45 ng/kg body weight/day (interquartile range, 198.35-775.94). Additionally, our study revealed that high tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) exposure independently correlated with composite adverse events and composite renal events (hazard ratio [95 % confidence interval; CI]: 4.616 [1.060-20.096], p = 0.042; 3.053 [1.075-8.674], p = 0.036) and served as an independent predictor for renal function deterioration throughout the study period, with a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate of 4.127 mL/min/1.73 m (95 % CI, -8.127--0.126; p = 0.043) per log ng/kg body weight/day of EDI. Furthermore, the EDI and EDI were positively associated with elevations in urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and kidney injury molecule-1 during the study period, indicating the roles of oxidative damage and renal tubular injury in the nephrotoxicity of OPFR exposure. To conclude, our findings highlight the widespread OPFR exposure and its possible nephrotoxicity in the CKD population.
PubMed: 38908056
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116625 -
Journal of Occupational Medicine and... Jun 2024In a previous study from 2018, 38 wheel loader assembly workers were examined, showing high exposures to transient and high-frequency vibrations. After the...
BACKGROUND
In a previous study from 2018, 38 wheel loader assembly workers were examined, showing high exposures to transient and high-frequency vibrations. After the investigation, preventive measures were immediately implemented to reduce the vibration exposure. In 2022, a follow-up study was carried out to examine the effect of these measures.
METHODS
The follow-up study included 35 (27 men and 8 women) of the original 38 workers. They were divided into two groups, 24 workers with ongoing vibration exposure and 11 workers, not vibration exposed since 2018. All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent a thorough examination, including several neurophysiological tests and a comprehensive assessment of musculoskeletal symptoms. The questionnaire responses and on-site vibration level measurements formed the basis for the individual vibration exposure assessment.
RESULTS
In 2018, clear differences were noted between the two groups regarding vibration perception thresholds (VPT), needle test, 2-PD (2-point discrimination), and monofilament test with deviating results in the unexposed group. The difference between the two groups was significantly smaller at the follow-up examination in 2022, where differences remained for VPT and monofilament tests, with deviating test results in the unexposed group. When comparing variable values between 2018 and 2022 within the exposed and unexposed groups, respectively, the unexposed group showed mostly unchanged values, while a deterioration was observed for VPT, needle test and temperature sensitivity test among the exposed workers during follow-up. The prevalence of VWF (Vibration white fingers) was around 30-40% and neuropathy around 75% among exposed workers during follow-up compared to about 60% and 85% respectively, in the unexposed group.
CONCLUSION
The overall categorization of white fingers and neuropathy, according to the Stockholm Workshop Scale, remained largely unchanged in both study groups from 2018 to 2022. The introduction of cost-effective and relatively simple preventive measures may have contributed to this result. Throughout the follow-up period, the number of exposed workers who developed musculoskeletal disorders and newly reported cases of vibration injuries at the factory decreased. Without this preventive program, increased vascular and nerve symptoms would most likely have occurred during follow-up due to continued vibration exposure.
PubMed: 38907277
DOI: 10.1186/s12995-024-00425-6 -
Environment International Jun 2024Emerging evidence has linked arsenic exposure and metabolic homeostasis, but the mechanism is incompletely understood, especially at relatively low concentrations. In...
Emerging evidence has linked arsenic exposure and metabolic homeostasis, but the mechanism is incompletely understood, especially at relatively low concentrations. In this study, we used a mouse model to evaluate the health impacts and metabolic toxicity of arsenic exposure in drinking water at environmentally relevant levels (0.25 and 1.0 ppm). Our results indicated that arsenic damaged intestinal barrier and induced arsenic accumulation, oxidative stress, and pathological changes in the liver and illum. Interestingly, arsenic increased the hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), while reduced serum TG and TC levels. The liver transcriptome found that arsenic exposure caused transcriptome perturbation and promoted hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating the exogenous fatty acids degradation and apolipoproteins related genes. The serum metabolomics identified 74 and 88 differential metabolites in 0.25 and 1.0 ppm, respectively. The KEGG disease and subcellular location analysis indicated that arsenic induced liver and intestinal diseases, and the mitochondrion might be the target organelle for arsenic-induced toxicity. Co-enrichment of transcriptome and metabolome identified 24 metabolites and 9 genes as metabolic toxicity biomarkers. Moreover, 40 male (20 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cases and 20 healthy controls) was further selected to validate our findings. Importantly, the significantly changed L-palmitoylcarnitine, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, 2-hydroxycaproic acid and 6 genes of Hadha, Acadl, Aldh3a2, Cpt1a, Cpt2, and Acox1 were found in the NAFLD cases. The results from integrated multi-omics and chemical-protein network analysis indicated that L-palmitoylcarnitine played a critical role in metabolic toxicity by regulating mitochondrial fatty acids β-oxidation genes (Cpt1a, Cpt2). In conclusion, these findings provided new clues for the metabolic toxicity of arsenic exposure at environmentally relevant levels, which involved in the late-life NAFLD development. Our results also contribute to understanding the human responses and phenotypic changes to this hazardous material exposure in the environment.
PubMed: 38906090
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108819 -
Noise & HealthIn view of the hazards of occupational noise exposure, this study investigated the relationship between occupational noise exposure and gestational hypertension in...
OBJECTIVE
In view of the hazards of occupational noise exposure, this study investigated the relationship between occupational noise exposure and gestational hypertension in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China to provide inspiration and reference for reducing the occurrence of gestational hypertension.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study analyzed the clinical data of 316 pregnant women in Taizhou City admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from May 2020 to May 2023. In accordance with Acoustic Environment Quality Standards (GB3096-2008), 60 dB was used as the cut-off point. These pregnant women were divided into the low noise group (LNG, n = 161) and high noise group (HNG, n = 155) according to the noise exposure level in the working environment. This also study compared the noise exposure, blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipid (BL), fetal size, and heart rate (HR), and analyzed the relationship of noise exposure with BP, FBG, BL, fetal size, HR, and occurrence of gestational hypertension.
RESULTS
The HNG had higher noise exposure level (P < 0.001), BP, FBG, BL and HR (P < 0.001), larger fetal size (P < 0.001) and higher occurrence of gestational hypertension (P < 0.05) compared with the LNG. Correlation analysis showed that noise exposure level was positively correlated with BP, FBG, BL, HR, and fetal size (P < 0.001) and had the strongest association with gestational hypertension.
CONCLUSION
Occupational noise exposure has adverse effects on pregnant women and fetuses. Pregnant women should pay attention to their exposure to occupational noise to prevent gestational hypertension. The results of this study must be further verified and generalized.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Noise, Occupational; Adult; Occupational Exposure; Blood Pressure; Blood Glucose; Heart Rate
PubMed: 38904825
DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_62_24 -
Noise & HealthThis study aims to explore the effect of noise in the emergency department on the occupational burnout and the resignation intentions of medical staff.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to explore the effect of noise in the emergency department on the occupational burnout and the resignation intentions of medical staff.
METHODS
This retrospective study selected 42 medical staff (group A) in the emergency department of our hospital from March 2020 to March 2021 and 39 medical staff (group B) in the rehabilitation department during the same period as research subjects. Noise levels in the daily working environment of medical staff were collected. The Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey and Intent to Leave Scale was used to evaluate occupational burnout and resignation intention. A multivariate linear regression analysis was adopted to explore the effects of noise exposure level in the emergency department on occupational burnout and resignation intention.
RESULTS
The scores of emotional fatigue, work apathy and sense of achievement in group A were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05), among which reverse scoring was adopted for sense of accomplishment. Group A had significantly higher scores of resignation intention I, resignation intention II and resignation intention III than group B (P < 0.001). The department of group A had significantly higher noise level than that of group B (P < 0.001). The Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that noise level in the emergency department was correlated with the occupational burnout and resignation intention of medical staff (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The emergency department is exposed to a high noise level, which is correlated with the occupational burnout and resignation intentions of medical staff. Therefore, hospitals should give importance to noise exposure in the emergency departments and adopt positive coping strategies to reduce the effect of noise on medical staff and the resignation rate.
Topics: Humans; Emergency Service, Hospital; Burnout, Professional; Male; Female; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Intention; Noise, Occupational; Surveys and Questionnaires; Medical Staff, Hospital; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 38904808
DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_127_23 -
Noise & HealthExcessive noise is unpleasant and induces several physiological and psychological effects. Noise pollution is a potential threat to humans, particularly those... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Excessive noise is unpleasant and induces several physiological and psychological effects. Noise pollution is a potential threat to humans, particularly those continuously exposed for extended periods throughout the day over many years. This review aims to examine the various auditory and non-auditory outcomes associated with prolonged exposure to noise pollution.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The review utilized a combination of relevant keywords to search the electronic databases. After screening based on the applied selection criteria for title, abstract, and full text, 44 articles were finally selected for critical review.
RESULTS
We identified and analyzed research findings related to noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep disturbances along with non-auditory issues such as annoyance, cognitive impairments, and mental stress associated with cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, the existing studies were compared and collated to highlight the unique challenges and significance of noise pollution as a distinctive environmental concern and to explore the ongoing efforts in its research and prevention, including the early detection and potential reversal of noise-induced hearing loss.
CONCLUSION
The fundamental health consequences of noise pollution underscore the need for extensive research encompassing emerging noise sources and technologies to establish a health management system tailored to address noise-related health concerns and reduce noise exposure risk among populations. Finally, further research is warranted to ensure improved measurement of noise exposure and related health outcomes, especially in the context of occupational noise.
Topics: Humans; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Tinnitus; Noise; Environmental Exposure; Sleep Wake Disorders; Noise, Occupational; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stress, Psychological; Cognitive Dysfunction
PubMed: 38904803
DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_124_23 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024This study aimed at investigating the relationship between occupational exposure to external ionising radiation and central nervous system (CNS) tumours mortality in...
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at investigating the relationship between occupational exposure to external ionising radiation and central nervous system (CNS) tumours mortality in healthcare workers working in France.
DESIGN AND SETTING
The Occupational Radiation-Induced Cancer in Medical staff (ORICAMs) nested case-control study was conducted based on the dosimetric records of the national register of occupational dosimetry (Système d'information de la surveillance de l'exposition aux rayonnements ionisants).
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS
33 CNS tumour deaths occurred between 2002 and 2012 among the ORICAMs cohort composed of 164 015 healthcare workers. Each case was matched to five controls alive at the time of the corresponding case's death, based on sex, year of birth, date of enrolment in the cohort and duration of follow-up. All participants were badge monitored for external radiation exposure, expressed in H(10). Conditional logistic regression was used to analyse the dose-response relationship between radiation dose and CNS mortality.
RESULTS
Cases were exposed to a mean cumulative career radiation dose of 5.8±13.7 (max: 54.3) millisievert (mSv) compared with 4.1±15.2 (142.2) mSv for controls. No statistically significant association was found between CNS tumour mortality and cumulative whole-body career dose (OR=1.00, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.03), duration of exposure (OR=1.03; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.12) or age at first exposure (OR=0.98; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.06).
CONCLUSION
We found no evidence of an association between external radiation exposure and CNS tumour risk in healthcare workers. Limitations of the study include low statistical power and short duration of follow-up.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Exposure; Case-Control Studies; France; Male; Female; Health Personnel; Adult; Middle Aged; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Radiation, Ionizing; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Occupational Diseases; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Logistic Models; Risk Factors; Radiation Exposure
PubMed: 38904132
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084285 -
Sleep Advances : a Journal of the Sleep... 2024We previously reported that during a 45-day simulated space mission, a dynamic lighting schedule (DLS) improved circadian phase alignment and performance assessed once...
STUDY OBJECTIVES
We previously reported that during a 45-day simulated space mission, a dynamic lighting schedule (DLS) improved circadian phase alignment and performance assessed once on selected days. This study aimed to evaluate how DLS affected performance on a 5-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) administered multiple times per day on selected days.
METHODS
Sixteen crewmembers (37.4 ± 6.7 years; 5F) underwent six cycles of 2 × 8-hour/night followed by 5 × 5-hour/night sleep opportunities. During the DLS ( = 8), daytime white light exposure was blue-enriched (~6000 K; Level 1: 1079, Level 2: 76 melanopic equivalent daytime illuminance (melEDI) lux) and blue-depleted (~3000-4000 K; L1: 21, L2: 2 melEDI lux) 3 hours before bed. In the standard lighting schedule (SLS; = 8), lighting remained constant (~4500K; L1: 284, L2 62 melEDI lux). Effects of lighting condition (DLS/SLS), sleep condition (5/8 hours), time into mission, and their interactions, and time awake on PVT performance were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models.
RESULTS
The DLS was associated with fewer attentional lapses (reaction time [RT] > 500 milliseconds) compared to SLS. Lapses, mean RT, and 10% fastest/slowest RTs were worse following 5 compared to 8 hours of sleep but not between lighting conditions. There was an effect of time into mission on RTs, likely due to sleep loss. Overall performance differed by time of day, with longer RTs at the beginning and end of the day. There were more lapses and slower RTs in the afternoon in the SLS compared to the DLS condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Future missions should incorporate DLS to enhance circadian alignment and performance. This paper is part of the Collection.
PubMed: 38903700
DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae032