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Environmental Health and Preventive... Aug 2020Although previous studies have underscored some unique inequalities in occupational mortality in Japan, many of these trends have been dramatically altered during recent...
BACKGROUND
Although previous studies have underscored some unique inequalities in occupational mortality in Japan, many of these trends have been dramatically altered during recent decades. We analyzed mortality data by occupation and industry in Japan, to determine whether differences remained by the mid-2010s for men in working-age population.
METHODS
We calculated age-standardized all-cause and cause-specific mortality, according to occupation and industry, among men aged 25-64 years in the 2015 fiscal year (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016). Occupational and industry-specific categories were defined using the Japan Standard Occupational Classification and Japan Standard Industrial Classification, respectively. Age-standardized mortality rates were computed using 5-year age intervals. Mortality rate ratios adjusted for age and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression. Cause-specific deaths were classified into four broad groups (cancers [C00-D48], cardiovascular diseases [I00-I99], external causes [V01-Y98], and all other diseases) based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10).
RESULTS
Clear mortality differences were identified by both occupation and industry among Japanese males. All-cause mortality ranged from 53.7 (clerical workers) to 240.3 (service workers) per 100,000 population for occupation and from 54.3 (workers in education) to 1169.4 (workers in mining) for industry. In relative terms, service workers and agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers had 2.89 and 2.50 times higher all-cause mortality than sales workers. Administrative and managerial workers displayed higher mortality risk (1.86; 95% CI 1.76-1.97) than sales workers. Similar patterns of broad cause-specific mortality inequality were identified in terms of both absolute and relative measures, and all broad cause-specific deaths contributed to the differences in mortality by occupation and industry.
CONCLUSIONS
Substantial differences in mortality among Japanese male workers, according to occupation and industry, were still present in 2015.
Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Humans; Industry; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 32758125
DOI: 10.1186/s12199-020-00876-3 -
BMC Public Health Jul 2022Prospective studies exploring the effects of psychosocial work factors on self-reported health (SRH) are lacking, especially those studying effect modifications. The...
Prospective associations between psychosocial work factors and self-reported health: study of effect modification by gender, age, and occupation using the national French working conditions survey data.
BACKGROUND
Prospective studies exploring the effects of psychosocial work factors on self-reported health (SRH) are lacking, especially those studying effect modifications. The objectives were to examine the prospective associations of these factors, and multiple exposures to these factors, with SRH in a national representative sample, and effect modifications by gender, age, and occupation.
METHODS
The prospective study relied on the three data collection waves (2013, 2016, and 2019) of the national French Working Conditions survey and was based on a sample of 15,971 employees, in good SRH at the beginning of the follow-up period. The occupational exposures were time-varying variables measured in 2013 and 2016, and included: 20 psychosocial work factors grouped into 5 broad domains, 4 exposures related to working time/hours and 4 physical-biomechanical-chemical exposures. The incidence of poor SRH three years later was the outcome. Discrete time Poisson regression models were performed using weighted data and with adjustment for gender, age, marital status, life events, and occupation.
RESULTS
Almost all the studied psychosocial work factors were predictive of poor SRH. Some physical-biomechanical-chemical exposures were found to predict poor SRH. Only rare effect modifications were observed according to gender, age, and occupation. Dose-response associations between multiple exposures and the incidence of poor SRH were observed for 4 among 5 domains of psychosocial work factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study underlined the effects of psychosocial work factors, as well as multiple exposure effects, on the incidence of poor SRH. However, most of these effects were the same across population groups related to gender, age, and occupation.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Exposure; Occupations; Prospective Studies; Self Report; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35854252
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13773-x -
BMC Public Health Jun 2017Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide, but some groups are at greater risk. We aim to evaluate vitamin D levels in different occupations and identify groups... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide, but some groups are at greater risk. We aim to evaluate vitamin D levels in different occupations and identify groups vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency.
METHODS
An electronic search conducted in Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text generated 2505 hits; 71 peer-reviewed articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Occupations investigated included outdoor and indoor workers, shiftworkers, lead/smelter workers, coalminers, and healthcare professionals. We calculated the pooled average metabolite level as mean ± SD; deficiency/insufficiency status was described as % of the total number of subjects in a given category.
RESULTS
Compared to outdoor workers, indoor workers had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-(OH)D) levels (40.6 ± 13.3 vs. 66.7 ± 16.7 nmol/L; p < 0.0001). Mean 25-(OH)D levels (in nmol/L) in shiftworkers, lead/smelter workers and coalminers were 33.8 ± 10.0, 77.8 ± 5.4 and 56.6 ± 28.4, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency (25-(OH)D < 50 nmol/L), was high in shiftworkers (80%) and indoor workers (78%) compared to outdoor workers (48%). Among healthcare professionals, medical residents and healthcare students had the lowest levels of mean 25-(OH)D, 44.0 ± 8.3 nmol/L and 45.2 ± 5.5 nmol/L, respectively. The mean 25-(OH)D level of practising physicians, 55.0 ± 5.8 nmol/L, was significantly different from both medical residents (p < 0.0001) and healthcare students (p < 0.0001). Nurses and other healthcare employees had 25-(OH)D levels of 63.4 ± 4.2 nmol/L and 63.0 ± 11.0 nmol/L, respectively, which differed significantly compared to practising physicians (p = 0.01), medical residents (p < 0.0001) and healthcare students (p < 0.0001). Rates of vitamin D deficiency among healthcare professionals were: healthcare students 72%, medical residents 65%, practising physicians 46%, other healthcare employees 44%, and nurses 43%. Combined rates of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency (25-(OH)D < 75 nmol/L) were very high in all investigated groups. Potential confounders such as gender and body composition were not consistently reported in the primary studies and were therefore not analyzed. Furthermore, the descriptions of occupational characteristics may be incomplete. These are limitations of our systematic review.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review demonstrates that shiftworkers, healthcare workers and indoor workers are at high risk to develop vitamin D deficiency, which may reflect key lifestyle differences (e.g. sunlight exposure). This may help target health promotion and preventive efforts.
Topics: Humans; Life Style; Occupational Health; Occupations; Prevalence; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Workplace
PubMed: 28637448
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4436-z -
Annals of Botany Nov 2019The patterns of niche occupation in functional trait space have been widely studied to understand the processes of community assembly, but are rarely linked to...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The patterns of niche occupation in functional trait space have been widely studied to understand the processes of community assembly, but are rarely linked to environmental conditions (here, stress and disturbance). In this study, we investigate (1) how the pattern of functional niche occupation, incorporating intraspecific trait variation and covariation, varies along experimental gradients of stress and disturbance, (2) whether habitat filtering and/or limiting similarity modify the pattern, and (3) whether their strength varies as a function of species richness or levels of stress and disturbance.
METHODS
We constructed an experimental system consisting of 24 herbaceous plant mesocosms under different levels of stress and disturbance, and measured ten traits on five individuals for each species in each mesocosm. We quantified the total functional niche volume occupied by an entire mesocosm, the functional niche overlap among species within a mesocosm and the average functional niche volume occupied per species, and investigated how these metrics varied from species-poor to species-rich mesocosms along gradients of stress and disturbance.
KEY RESULTS
Species richness and functional niche overlap correlated positively to disturbance at low and medium levels of stress, but peaked at the intermediate level of disturbance when stress was high. The total functional niche volume and average functional niche volume did not change significantly along these gradients. Compared to null models, each mesocosm occupied a smaller total functional niche volume (habitat filtering) and the species within each mesocosm overlapped less and were more functionally specialized (limiting similarity). Moreover, the standardized metrics (to the null expectations) did not change significantly under different levels of stress and disturbance.
CONCLUSIONS
This experimental evidence shows that both habitat filtering and limiting similarity determine the patterns of functional niche occupation and species richness, but their strength does not change along environmental gradients of stress and disturbance.
Topics: Ecosystem; Occupations; Phenotype; Plants
PubMed: 31420646
DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz140 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2023Work is a recognized social determinant of health. This became most apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers, particularly those in certain industries and...
Work is a recognized social determinant of health. This became most apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers, particularly those in certain industries and occupations, were at risk due to interaction with the public and close proximity to co-workers. The purpose of this study was to assess how states collected work and employment data on COVID-19 cases, characterizing the need for systematic collection of case-based specific work and employment data, including industry and occupation, of COVID-19 cases. A survey was distributed among state occupational health contacts and epidemiologists in all 50 states to assess current practices in state public health surveillance systems. Twenty-seven states collected some kind of work and employment information from COVID-19 cases. Most states (93%) collected industry and/or occupation information. More than half used text-only fields, a predefined reference or dropdown list, or both. Use of work and employment data included identifying high risk populations, prioritizing vaccination efforts, and assisting with reopening plans. Reported barriers to collecting industry and occupation data were lack of staffing, technology issues, and funding. Scientific understanding of work-related COVID-19 risk requires the systematic, case-based collection of specific work and employment data, including industry and occupation. While this alone does not necessarily indicate a clear workplace exposure, collection of these data elements can help to determine and further prevent workplace outbreaks, thereby ensuring the viability of the nation's critical infrastructure.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Social Determinants of Health; Occupations; Industry
PubMed: 36673956
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021199 -
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Jan 2022Ongoing shifts in economic structure from automation and globalisation can affect employment and mortality, yet these relations are not well described.
BACKGROUND
Ongoing shifts in economic structure from automation and globalisation can affect employment and mortality, yet these relations are not well described.
OBJECTIVE
We assess whether long-term employment and health outcomes relate systematically to structural change in the labour market, using the occupational Routine Task Intensity (RTI) score as indicator of exposure is to risks of outsourcing and technology-induced job loss.
METHODS
Using a cohort design and administrative data with national population coverage, we categorise all Norwegian employees in 2003 by the RTI score of their occupation and examine how this score correlates with employment and health outcomes measured in 2018 and 2019. The study sample counts 416 003 men and 376 413 women aged 33-52 in 2003.
RESULTS
The occupational RTI score at baseline is robustly associated with long-term employment, disability and mortality outcomes. Raw correlations are reduced after adjustment for potential confounders, but associations remain substantial in models controlling for individual covariates and in sibling comparisons. Working in an occupation with RTI score 1 SD above the mean in 2003 is associated with a raised probability of being deceased in 2019 of 0.24 percentage points (95% CI: 0.18 to 0.30) for men and 0.13 percentage points (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.24) for women, corresponding to raised mortality rates of 6.7% and 5.5%.
CONCLUSIONS
Individuals in occupations characterised by high routine intensity are less likely to remain employed in the long term, and have higher rates of disability and mortality.
Topics: Adult; Automation; Employment; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Norway; Occupations; Pensions; Risk Factors; Unemployment
PubMed: 34561277
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107598 -
British Journal of Cancer Apr 2010Prioritising control measures for occupationally related cancers should be evidence based. We estimated the current burden of cancer in Britain attributable to past...
BACKGROUND
Prioritising control measures for occupationally related cancers should be evidence based. We estimated the current burden of cancer in Britain attributable to past occupational exposures for International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) group 1 (established) and 2A (probable) carcinogens.
METHODS
We calculated attributable fractions and numbers for cancer mortality and incidence using risk estimates from the literature and national data sources to estimate proportions exposed.
RESULTS
5.3% (8019) cancer deaths were attributable to occupation in 2005 (men, 8.2% (6362); women, 2.3% (1657)). Attributable incidence estimates are 13 679 (4.0%) cancer registrations (men, 10 063 (5.7%); women, 3616 (2.2%)). Occupational attributable fractions are over 2% for mesothelioma, sinonasal, lung, nasopharynx, breast, non-melanoma skin cancer, bladder, oesophagus, soft tissue sarcoma, larynx and stomach cancers. Asbestos, shift work, mineral oils, solar radiation, silica, diesel engine exhaust, coal tars and pitches, occupation as a painter or welder, dioxins, environmental tobacco smoke, radon, tetrachloroethylene, arsenic and strong inorganic mists each contribute 100 or more registrations. Industries and occupations with high cancer registrations include construction, metal working, personal and household services, mining, land transport, printing/publishing, retail/hotels/restaurants, public administration/defence, farming and several manufacturing sectors. 56% of cancer registrations in men are attributable to work in the construction industry (mainly mesotheliomas, lung, stomach, bladder and non-melanoma skin cancers) and 54% of cancer registrations in women are attributable to shift work (breast cancer).
CONCLUSION
This project is the first to quantify in detail the burden of cancer and mortality due to occupation specifically for Britain. It highlights the impact of occupational exposures, together with the occupational circumstances and industrial areas where exposures to carcinogenic agents occurred in the past, on population cancer morbidity and mortality; this can be compared with the impact of other causes of cancer. Risk reduction strategies should focus on those workplaces where such exposures are still occurring.
Topics: Agricultural Workers' Diseases; Asbestos; Carcinogens; Coal Tar; Female; Humans; Incidence; Industry; Male; Mesothelioma; Neoplasms; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Occupations; United Kingdom
PubMed: 20424618
DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605637 -
Work (Reading, Mass.) Jan 2015Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic and occupational components. Although published studies have described several risk factors for OA,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic and occupational components. Although published studies have described several risk factors for OA, very few studies have investigated the occupational and genetic factors that contribute to this debilitating condition.
OBJECTIVE
To describe occupational and genetic factors that may contribute to the risk of developing (OA).
METHODS
A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the search terms osteoarthritis, occupation, work, and genetics.
RESULTS
Heavy physical work load was the most common occupational risk factor for OA in several anatomical locations. Other factors include kneeling and regular stair climbing, crawling, bending and whole body vibration, and repetitive movements. Numerous studies have also shown the influence of genetic variability in the pathogenesis of OA. Genetic variants of several groups of genes e.g., cartilage extracellular matrix structural genes and the genes related to bone density have been implicated in disease pathogenesis.
CONCLUSION
This review shows that occupational factors were extensively studied in knee OA unlike OA of other anatomical regions. Although genetic association studies performed to date identified a number of risk variants, some of these associations have not been consistently replicated across different studies and populations. Therefore, more research is needed.
Topics: Genetic Background; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Osteoarthritis; Risk Factors
PubMed: 24004806
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-131739 -
Scandinavian Journal of Work,... Dec 1984Mortality statistics have been formally collected in the United Kingdom since the time of John Graunt in 1692. The advent of birth and death registration in 1839...
Mortality statistics have been formally collected in the United Kingdom since the time of John Graunt in 1692. The advent of birth and death registration in 1839 established a reliable system of mortality rate calculations. Occupation was added to the sixth decennial census in 1851, and supplementary occupational mortality reports have been published since that date. The usefulness of these decennial supplements as hypothesis-generating exercises is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the validity of the standardized mortality ratio as an index of comparative mortality. Flaws in the collection and recording of causes of death and occupational status at death and during life are noted, and the ways in which standard reporting of these events could be improved are outlined.
Topics: Humans; Information Systems; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Records; Registries; United Kingdom
PubMed: 6535238
DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2308 -
Canadian Family Physician Medecin de... Jun 1999
Topics: Adult; Asthma; Disabled Persons; Eligibility Determination; Humans; Male; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Workers' Compensation
PubMed: 10386199
DOI: No ID Found