Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"Low-cost sensors: Performance test and applications in occupational health studies related to exposure to respirable particles.","authors":"Rivelino M Cavalcante, Rafael Santos, Lara S Furtado, Nayara de O Gurjão, José Filho, Jarbas A N Silveira, Jorge B Soares, José A F Macedo","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589134","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Particulate matter (PM_2.5), recently classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), represents a major concern for human health, particularly in occupational environments. In response to the need for accessible monitoring tools, this study aimed to: (1) develop a low-cost device for PM_2.5 measurement, (2) evaluate its performance, (3) apply it in real-time workplace monitoring, and (4) Occupational health evaluation considering cancer risk associated with PM_2.5 exposure. The sensing device integrates particulate matter, temperature, and humidity sensors. It is built around a Single Board Computer (SBC) and supports local data storage, GPS compatibility, and Wi-Fi communication. The entire system operates at a total cost of less than USD 500, providing a low-cost yet comprehensive solution for environmental monitoring. Performance testing of the constructed device demonstrated \"good\" precision (R² = 0.66-0.68), a coefficient of variation between 4.5% and 21.3%, satisfactory accuracy, and a low detection limit. After validation, it was used to measure PM_2.5 concentrations in occupational environments, revealing temporal patterns strongly linked to human activity. The highest average concentrations were recorded during the daytime hours of weekdays (working hours), ranging from 12.25 µg/m³ to 240.19 µg/m³, while nighttime levels were lower (11.22 µg/m³ to 152.08 µg/m³, respectively). The results indicate that local activities are the main contributors to PM_2.5 emissions. On weekends, concentration decreased significantly in all periods, suggesting an overall reduction in line with the suspension of local activities. Occupational health assessed based on cancer risk associated with PM_2.5, assuming 24-hr exposure to the pollutant, showed exposure levels exceeded the annual limits recommended by the WHO and ASHRAE/USEPA across all monitored sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"219-229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing detection of asbestiform minerals in asbestos contaminated talc using FTIR and multivariate data analysis.","authors":"Sena Yang, Salman Alquwayi, Teresa Barone, Steven E Mischler, Taekhee Lee","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2601600","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2601600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Talc has been widely used for decades in cosmetic and personal care products because of its unique properties. However, certain talc deposits have historically been found to contain asbestiform minerals, making the detection of these contaminants critical for mitigating asbestos exposure risks in consumer products. To investigate this, laboratory generated mixtures of talc/anthophyllite asbestos and talc/tremolite asbestos were prepared at various concentrations. These mixtures underwent thorough processing with sodium polytungstate (SPT), a heavy liquid, followed by centrifugation, settling, and extraction of separated mineral components. Each extracted sample was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and mineral type was predicted through multivariate data analysis (Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA)). The PLS-DA model, trained on specific wavenumber regions displaying distinct mineral features, successfully identified anthophyllite and tremolite asbestos in most separated samples. However, in cases where misclassification occurred-where asbestiform minerals were labeled as talc or unassigned-a secondary separation procedure was required. The integration of heavy liquid separation, FTIR spectroscopy, and PLS-DA offers a promising approach for enhancing the detection of asbestiform minerals in asbestos-contaminated talc.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"230-236"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waste anesthetic gas control: From discovery to source control scavenging in the postanesthesia care unit.","authors":"James D McGlothlin, Elizabeth Borg Card, Erundia Krezischek, Mark Lies","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2596890","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2596890","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently highlighted the presence of waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) in Postanesthesia Care Units (PACUs), raising significant concerns about occupational exposures in these environments. Exposure to WAGs is associated with a range of adverse health effects, from symptoms such as headaches and0 fatigue to more severe outcomes, including cancer, genetic mutations, reduced fertility, miscarriages, and congenital anomalies. The primary source of WAGs in PACUs is patient exhalation, as individuals leave the operating rooms (ORs) with lungs containing approximately 95% unmetabolized anesthetic gases, which are subsequently released into the ambient air. While NIOSH has emphasized the need for exposure controls in ORs, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued general (5a1) duty citations regarding WAG exposure in ORs, the risks within PACUs remain poorly recognized. As a result, PACU workers, particularly nurses, are left vulnerable due to the lack of effective source control measures. Furthermore, many PACU nurses and healthcare leaders are unaware of the occupational hazards posed by WAG exposure. This paper provides a brief overview, from WAG discovery to source control in the PACU. This paper highlights health risks associated with exposure to waste anesthetic gases (WAGs), with a focus on contamination levels in PACUs as reported by NIOSH. Evidence indicates that general ventilation and standard air exchange rates are insufficient to mitigate exposure within the patient breathing zone in PACUs. Source control technologies offer a promising solution to this underrecognized hazard. The role of the industrial hygienist is emphasized as critical in implementing protective strategies and advancing occupational health and safety for PACU personnel.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"247-255"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145966156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"The Action Level^®\".","authors":"J Thomas Pierce","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2656101","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2656101","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D7-D8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147674270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating occupational exposures to the graphene family of nanomaterials: Implications for worker safety and health.","authors":"Matthew M Dahm, Seth McCormick, Mamadou Niang, Brian Christensen, Chen Wang, I-Chen Chen","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2633099","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2633099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterial, has garnered significant attention due to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, leading to its widespread application in various industries. However, the increasing utilization of this class of materials, also referred to as the graphene family of nanomaterials (GFNs), raises potential concerns regarding occupational exposures and health risks for workers. This study aimed to evaluate occupational exposures to GFNs across 11 primary and secondary manufacturing facilities operating in the U.S. A total of 44 workers participated in the study, with paired personal air samples collected for elemental carbon (EC) analysis at both the respirable and inhalable aerosol size fractions. The results revealed exposures with respirable EC concentrations ranging from <0.01 to 1825.23 µg/m³ with a geometric mean (GM) of 2.01 µg/m³ and inhalable concentrations from 0.01 to 6327.10 µg/m³ with a GM of 12.63 µg/m³. Notably, 38% of respirable samples exceeded a suggested occupational exposure band (OEB) of <10 µg/m³ established from a recent publication for GFNs, while 53% of inhalable samples exceeded the OEB. Primary manufacturing facilities that produce GFNs generally exhibited higher inhalable exposure levels compared to secondary manufacturers, likely due to the handling of larger quantities of dry powdered materials. Additionally, the use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment varied widely among facilities, impacting exposure levels. This study represents a crucial step in understanding any potential occupational risks associated with U.S. GFN exposures.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13034490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147369675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Special issue on firefighter safety and health.","authors":"Robert Agnew, Aurora Le","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2616208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2026.2616208","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":"23 3","pages":"131-132"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147530192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the interference potential of minerals in infrared absorbance-based quantification of respirable crystalline silica in mine dusts.","authors":"David A Parks, Seth A Finley, Priscilla M Tjandra, Leslie L Baker, Allegra Yeley, Arthur L Miller","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589136","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2589136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Miners face a variety of respiratory hazards on the job, including exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which can lead to adverse health outcomes such as silicosis and lung cancer-both potentially fatal lung diseases. Infrared spectrometry offers the possibility of portable end-of-shift quantification of RCS at mine sites. However, some mine dusts contain minerals that may interfere with this quantification method, as their infrared absorbance bands overlap with those of silica. To evaluate the impact of such interferences, potential mineral interferants were identified in the geologies of 27 metal mines using the United States Geological Survey and Mindat.org databases. These mines were selected based on historically high RCS levels, as evidenced in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) field-sampling database, and on the number of employees potentially exposed. The significance of 44 potential interferants was evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), by measuring their absorbance per unit mass in the α-quartz doublet region of the spectrum (816-767 cm^-1). The extent to which each mineral interfered with this region was quantified as its integrated absorbance relative to RCS. This quantification of interference provides data critical for the timely and portable quantification of RCS in mine dusts. Of the 44 specimens analyzed, three (goethite, azurite and actinolite), which are not mentioned in the standard infrared methods for quantification of RCS, were found to interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more. Despite being commonly mentioned as interferants in the literature, the feldspars Albite and Anorthite did not interfere with a magnitude of 10% or more.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"142-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12990387/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"The Action Level^®\".","authors":"J Thomas Pierce","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2645514","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2026.2645514","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D5-D6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detecting PPE concerns in OSHA complaints using machine learning to support infectious disease outbreak response.","authors":"Nora Y Payne, Emily J Haas","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2573665","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2573665","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Workers frequently struggle to acquire, maintain, and use personal protective equipment (PPE) during infectious disease outbreaks. Strategic PPE distribution, guidance, and interventions can help address these challenges, but the effectiveness of these measures depends on timely characterization of how these challenges manifest across the U.S. workforce-data which no U.S. public health surveillance system currently provides. This article describes a mechanism of generating such data by using a machine learning model to detect various PPE concerns in workplace safety complaints submitted to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A publicly available dataset of 78,770 OSHA complaints received during the COVID-19 pandemic was used to assess the feasibility of this approach. Results demonstrate that these OSHA complaints contained a substantial variety and number of PPE concerns, and that a machine learning model trained on these data was capable of detecting three types of PPE concerns with at least 90% precision and 90% recall: unavailable or inaccessible PPE, lack of PPE use among workers, and inadequate enforcement of PPE use. Furthermore, analyses of ML-facilitated detections were shown to elucidate national and industry-specific trends in worker PPE concerns. Although further development is needed to accurately detect a broader set of PPE concerns, the results of this study suggest that machine learning can help efficiently repurpose OSHA complaints to generate insightful real-time data on worker PPE concerns during future outbreaks.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"167-177"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12814767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145557075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health conditions in aircrew - Association with neurotoxic substances and other occupational factors.","authors":"G Hageman, P van Broekhuizen, J Nihom","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2582821","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2582821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aircrew are exposed to in-cabin engine oil and hydraulic fumes during work. A wide spectrum of symptoms, referred to as Aerotoxic Syndrome (AS), has been described in case series and health surveys. In addition, epidemiological studies have consistently shown elevated risks for breast cancer in females and for melanoma in both male and female aircrew members. The concentrations of neurotoxic, endocrine-disrupting, and carcinogenic components of fumes have been too low to explain chronic health effects. Instead, ionizing radiation, elevated ozone levels, and disruption of circadian rhythms have been considered as occupational risk factors for certain cancers in aircrew. This review examines the significance of these factors in the context of AS and cancers. A literature search in MEDLINE was conducted (via PubMed and ScienceDirect) for studies published up to May 2025 on (1) neuro- or immunotoxicity of contaminated cabin air, (2) increased cancer rate of cabin crew, and (3) suspected contributing occupational risk factors. From 672 screened titles and abstracts, 162 relevant full-text papers were selected and grouped into these three categories. An association between organophosphate exposure and elevated levels of neuronal auto-antibodies has been demonstrated with presentation of neurological symptoms of autoimmunity. By-products of ozone degradation appear to be more toxic than ozone itself and are both carcinogenic and neurotoxic. Disruption of circadian rhythms (night shifts) has been shown to influence the immune status of aircrew, change the metabolic degradation of toxic compounds, disrupt hormones (melatonin, cortisol), and could contribute to the risk of breast cancer among female crew members. Exposure to cosmic radiation has a suspected link to breast cancer. Overall, chronic exposure of aircrew to a mixture of neurotoxic compounds in conjunction with auto-immune mechanisms and external factors appears etiologically relevant for increased breast cancer risks in aircrew as well as for symptoms associated with AS. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, exposure to elevated ozone levels, ionizing radiation, and night-shift work with the disturbed circadian rhythms are contributing factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"191-207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146064362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}