{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 on health status of self-employed workers.","authors":"Se-Eun Oh, Sangjun Choi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiaf017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status of self-employed workers by comparing their status before and during the pandemic, using nationwide data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The final study included 16,620 and 14,342 self-employed participants in the 5th (2017) and 6th (2020-2021) surveys. Musculoskeletal symptoms, systemic fatigue, headache, and eye strain, as well as mental health status, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Gender, age, education level, and income were adjusted for the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess pre- and peri-pandemic changes in the health status based on working conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the pre-pandemic period, all aspects of health status of self-employed individuals surveyed during the peri-pandemic period showed deterioration. Back pain increased 3.4 times (adjusted OR 3.44, 95% CI: 3.15-3.75) compared to the pre-pandemic period, followed by anxiety, which increased 2.1 times (adjusted OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.79-2.54). For single-person businesses, the overall health status showed statistically significant deterioration, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of these groups during this period.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study confirmed that the physical and mental health status of self-employed individuals significantly deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. These findings suggest the need for government health protection policies for vulnerable groups, such as self-employed individuals, during future pandemics when social control measures are implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573291","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":"Demographic and work-related correlates of general and workplace loneliness among employees in Japan: A large-scale descriptive cross-sectional study.","authors":"Norito Kawakami, Akihito Shimazu, Hisashi Eguchi, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Keiichi Matsuzaki, Reiko Inoue, Naoki Kikuchi, Yasuhiro Sekine, Akizumi Tsutsumi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiaf015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Research was limited on demographic and work-related characteristic of general and workplace loneliness. The present descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to know demographic and work-related correlates of general and workplace loneliness in a general working population of Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited 25,000 persons aged 20 years old or older and employed by a company, organization, or government agency. We limited the sample to only employees for this analysis. Demographic and work-related characteristics were assessed by a self-report questionnaire. General and workplace loneliness were measured by single-item questions and dichotomized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 24,021 respondents were subjected for the analysis. Prevalences of general and workplace loneliness were 9.0% and 8.3%, respectively. Those who responded \"others\" or refused to a gender question (possibly gender minority), middle-aged, being not married, low household income, manufacturing sector (compared to some service sectors), and long working hours were associated with both general and workplace loneliness. Middle-aged groups and work hours were significantly associated with workplace loneliness after adjusting for general loneliness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Common demographic and work-related correlates were found for both general and workplace loneliness. Middle-age and working long hours may be a factor for workplace loneliness, independent of general loneliness, in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557109","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":"How many truck drivers would have sleep disorders? : Investigation on lifestyle and stress on insomnia among Japanese male truck drivers.","authors":"Ryoya Aoki, Takashi Miyachi, Yuta Sugano, Choichiro Kanke, Teiichiro Yamazaki, Kazuo Mishima, Kyoko Nomura","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiaf012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate how many drivers would have sleep disorders and what factors would be most associated with chronic insomnia symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study of 505 truck drivers in Akita prefecture was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire and health checkup data. We defined insomnia based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edition (ICSD-3), sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) with a simple four-variable screening tool, and restless legs syndrome (RLS) with RLS/Willis-Ekbom disease diagnostic criteria. Investigated factors included sleep duration, driving characteristics, caffeine types (foods and beverage) and amounts, caffeine intake timing, state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), individual stress, and other covariates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of suspected SAS was 23.2% (n = 154), and that of RLS was 0.8% (n = 5). After excluding those, chronic insomnia symptoms were present in 36/505 drivers (7.1%). After adjusting for covariates, a logistic model demonstrated that drinking habits (Odds ratio, OR 6.21, 95% Confidence Interval, CI:1.07-35.8), caffeine intake before sleep (OR 2.65, 95% CI:1.09-6.45), sleep duration on days off (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.05), and STAI score (OR 12.8, 95% CI: 2.53-64.2) were significantly associated with chronic insomnia symptoms. STAI was significantly positively correlated with individual stress, such as family worries (r = 0.22), relationships with non-partners (r = 0.28), and health (r = 0.23).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study revealed that one fourth of male truck drivers had sleep disorders that require further medical evaluation. For male truck drivers, a lifestyle modification and stress relief may be a key to address insomnia.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143441170","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":"Carcinogenicity assessment: \"Modern Toxicology\" considerations from an experience in the evaluation of a carbon nanotube.","authors":"Jun Kanno","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiaf013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The novel properties and functions of nanomaterials have naturally alerted the toxicologists to the fact that such materials may also have novel effects on the human body and living organisms. In particular, materials with high stability or biopersisteny have been shown to have a tendency to accumulate in the body, leading to chronic toxicity including carcinogenicity. However, at the early stages of toxicity research, the information is often limited to the effects of short-term exposure studies, and findings on chronic effects are very much delayed. In this context, it was rather exceptional that studies on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have started with the verification of their potential to induce mesothelioma. This toxicological endpoint was expected on the basis of existing knowledge of asbestos and asbestos-like fiber particles. This movement has led to the achievement of the original mission of the \"Modern Toxicology\", which is \"to achieve a win-win situation where both industrial promotion and safety assurance are ensured by communicating and sharing toxicity information to developers and consumers at a stage before mass production and consumption begins, that is, before massive exposure of the general public begins\". Inaccurate toxicity assessments of asbestos in the 1980s and 1990s allowed its spread to our living environment, which is difficult to decontaminate, and the damage still continues to this day. However, the case described here could be an example of realizing the proposition that 'nanomaterials, the flagship of high technology, must not repeat the same mistakes.'</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143441167","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":"Health effects of indium compounds in animal experiments.","authors":"Akiyo Tanaka","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiaf007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Before 2000, very little attention had been paid to the health effects of indium, a rare metal, because there was very little information in the literature on its toxicity. A fatal case of indium-tin oxide (ITO) inhalation occurred in 2001, followed by concerns regarding occupational exposure to indium compounds and their health effects. Epidemiological studies and case reports have established a causal relationship between the inhalation of insoluble indium compounds, mainly ITO and the development of lung damage. This review has focused on the results of animal studies of ITO and other insoluble indium compounds. Available data indicate that insoluble indium compounds such as ITO, indium arsenide (InAs), indium phosphide (InP), copper indium gallium, and diselenium (CIGS) solar cell materials are toxic to the lungs of animals. In addition to lung damage, ITO nanoparticles have been found to cause kidney damage, while InAs, InP, and ITO cause testicular damage. Furthermore, InP has demonstrated compelling evidence of its carcinogenic potential in long-term inhalation studies using rats and mice, which was evident in rats exposed to ITO. Based on the results of these animal experiments, the International Agency for Research on Cancer evaluated InP as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) and ITO as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2 B). Hence, occupational exposure of humans to insoluble indium compounds not only causes lung damage, but also lung carcinogenesis and kidney or testicular damage. Greater attention should be directed towards human occupational exposure to insoluble indium compounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143189552","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}
Erick Messias, Enoch K Azasu, Nawar Nayeem, Ping-I Lin, Richard Grucza
{"title":"Suicide deaths by occupation skill level and educational attainment in the United States.","authors":"Erick Messias, Enoch K Azasu, Nawar Nayeem, Ping-I Lin, Richard Grucza","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the association between suicide deaths and both occupational skill level and educational attainment in the United States.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Suicide deaths, employment, education, and demographic data from the 2021 National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death Files, for ages 18-64 with a lifetime history of employment, were combined with comparable participants from the 2020-2022 Current Population Survey. Outcomes of interest were associations between suicide death and occupational skill level, assessed as a 5-level variable, and educational attainment. Logistic regression models were used to estimate these associations before and after adjusting for educational attainment, age, and sex, in each racial/ethnic subpopulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found a significant gradient in suicide death across occupational skill levels, with lower-skill occupations associated with higher suicide rates than higher-skill occupations. This gradient was more pronounced among non-Hispanic White (NHW) people and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) people than Hispanic people. However, upon controlling for educational attainment, this association was attenuated, indicating that the initial link was likely confounded by education.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that educational attainment is a more robust predictor of suicide risk than occupational skill level. Targeted interventions addressing educational and ethnic disparities within higher-risk occupational groups can mitigate suicide risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11827085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142895459","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":"Application of machine learning for detecting high fall risk in middle-aged workers using video-based analysis of the first 3 steps.","authors":"Naoki Sakane, Ken Yamauchi, Ippei Kutsuna, Akiko Suganuma, Masayuki Domichi, Kei Hirano, Kengo Wada, Masashi Ishimaru, Mitsuharu Hosokawa, Yosuke Izawa, Yoshihiro Matsumura, Junichi Hozumi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae075","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Falls are among the most prevalent workplace accidents, necessitating thorough screening for susceptibility to falls and customization of individualized fall prevention programs. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a high fall risk prediction model using machine learning (ML) and video-based first 3 steps in middle-aged workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants to provide training data (n = 190, mean [SD] age = 54.5 [7.7] years, 48.9% male) and validation data (n = 28, age = 52.3 [6.0] years, 53.6% male) were enrolled in this study. Pose estimation was performed using a marker-free deep pose estimation method called MediaPipe Pose. The first 3 steps, including the movements of the arms, legs, trunk, and pelvis, were recorded using an RGB camera, and the gait features were identified. Using these gait features and fall histories, a stratified k-fold cross-validation method was used to ensure balanced training and test data, and the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CI were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 77 gait features in the first 3 steps, we found 3 gait features in men with an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI, 0.879-0.939) for fall risk, indicating an \"excellent\" (0.9-1.0) classification, whereas we determined 5 gait features in women with an AUC of 0.670 (95% CI, 0.621-0.719), indicating a \"sufficient\" (0.6-0.7) classification.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that fall risk prediction can be developed based on ML and the first 3 steps in men; however, the accuracy was only \"sufficient\" in women. Further development of the formula for women is required to improve its accuracy in the middle-aged working population.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11848130/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950452","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":"Adverse effects of nanoparticles on humans.","authors":"Yasuo Morimoto, Hiroto Izumi, Taisuke Tomonaga, Chinatsu Nishida, Hidenori Higashi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It was previously thought that the particles inhaled by humans and having adverse effects were micron-sized; particles with a particularly high content of crystalline silica were thought to have harmful effects. In recent years, manufactured materials have been further refined to nano-level particles, and it has been reported that these ultrafine particles have different adverse effects, making it necessary to perform occupational health management for chemicals that differ from micron-sized particles. Here we report the adverse effects of carbon nanotubes, welding fumes, and organic substances as examples of nanoparticles.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11849340/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143074745","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":"Decoding the molecular enigma behind asbestos and fibrous nanomaterial-induced carcinogenesis.","authors":"Shinya Toyokuni, Yingyi Kong","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae064","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The natural fibrous mineral, asbestos, has been useful in industry for many centuries. In the 1960s, epidemiology recognized the association between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, and in 1987 the International Agency for Research on Cancer designated all kinds of asbestos as Group 1 carcinogens. However, various scientific enigmas remained regarding the molecular mechanisms of asbestos-induced mesothelial carcinogenesis. This review article was undertaken to reveal and summarize recent discoveries to resolve those enigmas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected recent important findings from our own laboratory and others to explain why mesothelial cells are the target for asbestos-induced carcinogenesis and what are the key molecular mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The long incubation period of 30-40 years for mesothelial carcinogenesis after asbestos exposure allows the asbestos fibers to go through the pulmonary parenchyma from the central to peripheral portions and ultimately reach the parietal mesothelium by piercing visceral pleura. Asbestos fibers have affinity for hemoglobin and histones, thus accumulating iron on the surface while traveling through the lung. Mesothelial cells are phagocytic cells, engulfing iron-coated asbestos fibers. Accordingly, homozygous deletion of the p16INK4a tumor suppressor gene, a signature of excess iron-induced carcinogenesis, is acquired through oxidative DNA damage. Recently, exosome-dependent iron transfer from asbestos-fed macrophages to mesothelial cells was reported. Similar molecular mechanisms are observed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes of ~50-nm diameter.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical dimensions, biopersistence, and affinity to iron/histones are essential for fibrous material to be carcinogenic to mesothelial cells. Therefore, local iron reduction may be a strategy to prevent mesothelial carcinogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11830428/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143052744","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":"Oxidative and nitrative DNA damage induced by industrial chemicals in relation to carcinogenesis.","authors":"Yusuke Hiraku","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf003","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Many chemicals have been used for industrial purposes, and some of them are carcinogenic to humans. However, the molecular mechanisms of their carcinogenetic effects have not been well understood. Reactive oxygen species are generated from industrial chemicals and contribute to carcinogenesis. Particles and fibers are accumulated in respiratory systems by inhalation exposure and cause chronic inflammation. Under inflammatory conditions, reactive nitrogen species are generated from inflammatory and epithelial cells. These species cause oxidative and nitrative DNA damage, leading to carcinogenesis. We carried out experiments on DNA damage induced by various industrial chemicals and investigated their molecular mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined oxidative DNA damage induced by industrial chemicals using DNA fragments derived from human cancer-relevant genes by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry we also examined the formation of 8-nitroguanine (8-nitroG), a DNA lesion formed under inflammatory conditions, in lung tissues and cultured cells exposed to industrial chemicals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Benzene and o-toluidine metabolites caused oxidative damage to DNA fragments in the presence of Cu(II). H2O2 and Cu(I) were generated during oxidation of these chemicals and involved in DNA damage. 8-NitroG formation was observed in lung tissues of asbestos-exposed mice and humans. Carbon nanomaterials and indium compounds induced 8-nitroG formation in human lung epithelial cells via the release of damage-associated molecular patterns from exposed cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Various industrial chemicals are considered to induce carcinogenesis by causing oxidative and nitrative DNA damage. These findings provide an insight into risk assessment of industrial chemicals and prevention of carcinogenesis in workplaces.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143033292","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}