Journal of Occupational Health最新文献

{"title":"Perceived traffic and road-surface exposures are associated with recent musculoskeletal complaints among motorcycle couriers.","authors":"Mehmet Akif Güler","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag056","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Motorcycle couriers work in traffic-intensive and physically demanding environments, but evidence on recent musculoskeletal complaints in this occupational group remains limited. This study estimated the 7-day prevalence of neck, shoulder, and low back complaints among motorcycle couriers and examined associations with self-reported working-condition indicators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 286 actively working motorcycle couriers in Konya, Türkiye. Six perceived working-condition indicators-traffic, air pollution, noise, road irregularity/vibration, heat, and cold exposure-were assessed using 0-10 numeric rating scales. Recent neck, shoulder, and low back complaints were assessed separately for the previous 7 days. Associations were estimated using modified Poisson regression with robust variance. Perceived traffic exposure and perceived road irregularity/vibration exposure were prespecified as the main indicators of interest.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 7-day prevalence of complaints was 55.9% for the neck, 52.8% for the shoulder, and 71.0% for the low back. In extended-adjusted models, higher perceived traffic exposure and higher perceived road irregularity/vibration exposure were consistently associated with all 3 complaint outcomes. These associations remained after false discovery rate correction, although they were attenuated in mutually adjusted sensitivity analyses. Secondary indicators showed more region-specific and less consistent associations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Recent musculoskeletal complaints were common among motorcycle couriers. Perceived traffic exposure and perceived road irregularity/vibration exposure were the most consistent self-reported working-condition indicators associated with reported complaints. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence that objectively measured occupational exposures contributed to the complaints and warrant confirmation in longitudinal studies using objective exposure assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13677067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149002062","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":"Young adults with a history of depression and/or anxiety: the role of sociodemographic and health-related factors in not being sickness absent.","authors":"Jurgita Narusyte, Iman Alaie, Annina Ropponen, Mo Wang, Pia Svedberg","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf077","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The continuity of mental health problems from childhood to adulthood is well acknowledged, as is the impact on work ability. However, knowledge is scarce about individuals who maintain work ability and have no sickness absence (SA), despite mental health problems. The aim was to identify sociodemographic and health-related factors among private and public employees with a history of depression and/or anxiety, and no SA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cohort study included 9039 Swedish twin individuals born between 1975 and 1986, with and without a history of depression and/or anxiety, and employed in the private or public sectors. Survey data from 2005 were used to classify self-rated depression, anxiety, and overall health. Data on SA, education, occupational class, outpatient health care use, and prescribed antidepressants were obtained from national registries. Participants were prospectively followed for SA from 2006 to 2020. Logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Approximately 37% of individuals with previous depression and/or anxiety were not on SA during follow-up, compared with 54% of those without such history. Lower use of antidepressants implied higher odds for no SA among both private (OR: 2.09; 95% CI, 1.64-2.66) and public (OR: 2.38; 95% CI, 1.78-3.19) employees with previous depression and/or anxiety. Having fewer visits to outpatient health care was significantly associated with no SA (ORs: 2.22-3.60). Being a white-collar worker implied higher odds for no SA only among those privately employed (OR: 1.39; 95% CI, 1.10-1.76).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Primarily, health-related factors seemed to play a role in no SA among young employees with previous depression and/or anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145833921","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":"Applicability of infrared thermography in occupational health for multidisciplinary clinical decision-making: a systematic review with narrative synthesis.","authors":"Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz, Aline da Rosa Pizarro, Joice Simionato Vettorello, Gabriela Laudares A de Oliveira, Sérgio Martin Gonzalez Montaño, Clarice A Bonow","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag050","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To identify and synthesize evidence on the applications of infrared thermography in the assessment of work-related conditions and to examine its contribution as a noninvasive, adjunctive, and complementary tool to support multidisciplinary clinical assessment and decision-making in occupational health.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a systematic review with narrative synthesis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement; it was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Nine bibliographic databases were searched without date or language restrictions. Critical appraisal used Joanna Briggs Institute tools selected according to study design.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Database searches identified 317 records, and 7 additional reports were identified through other methods. Forty-nine studies published from 1975 to 2025 were included. Infrared thermography characterized thermal patterns, monitored occupational exposures and physiological responses, documented changes following interventions or across assessed conditions, and contributed to exploratory screening or predictive models. Applications addressed peripheral vascular responses to cold and vibration, musculoskeletal loading, heat stress, fatigue and drowsiness, respiratory protection, and emerging computational technologies. Observational designs predominated, with heterogeneous protocols and several small or convenience samples. No included study was classified as a diagnostic accuracy study.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, infrared thermography was used primarily as a noninvasive, adjunctive, and complementary imaging method to document skin-surface temperature distribution and thermal patterns in occupational contexts. When interpreted alongside occupational history and clinical, physiological, ergonomic, and environmental information, thermographic findings may contribute to multidisciplinary clinical assessment and decision-making. Methodological limitations and heterogeneity warrant caution when transferring findings across work-related conditions and occupational settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13636911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148887759","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":"COVID-19 vaccination status and motivators among Canadian health care workers: are they different from the general population?","authors":"Camille Léger, Vincent Gosselin Boucher, Frédérique Deslauriers, Samir Gupta, Maximilien Vakambi Dialufuma, Michael Vallis, Simon L Bacon, Kim L Lavoie","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To determine the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Canadian health care workers (HCWs) and identify motivators for COVID-19 vaccination, compared with the general population (GPop).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>As part of the iCARE study, 4 cross-sectional age-, sex-, and province-weighted population-based samples of 12 009 Canadians aged 18+ years were recruited between May 2021 and February 2022. Participants self-reported HCW and vaccine status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 738 participants identified as HCWs, with 8.5% being vaccine hesitant, versus 12.6% of the GPop (P = .005). In multivariate analyses, those with a chronic disease were less likely (HCW odds ratio [OR] = 0.34; GPop OR = 0.77) and parents with children <18 years of age in the household were more likely (HCW OR = 2.29; GPop OR = 1.39) to be vaccine hesitant. Needing only a single-dose vaccine (86%; 82.6%), and vaccine safety (46%; 42%) and effectiveness (38%; 37%) were most likely to motivate hesitant HCWs and GPop to get vaccinated.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings highlight less vaccine hesitancy in HCWs compared with the GPop, despite demographic and motivator correlates being similar. In terms of policy implications, shared interventions emphasizing vaccine safety, reduced illness severity, shorter disease duration, and the advantages of single-dose options may benefit all groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146086095","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":"Association between allergic rhinitis and work productivity in a nonclinical setting: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yasuhiro Sekine, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hyogo Horiguchi, Go Muto, Eriko Miyajima, Naoki Kikuchi, Akizumi Tsutsumi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf071","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent condition in Japan that negatively affects workers by reducing their productivity. However, previous studies primarily focused on patients with severe AR symptoms. This exploratory study aimed to examine the association between AR, including mild cases, and reduced work productivity in the general working population. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted between March and April 2024, recruiting adult workers living in the Kanto region through a health care center and affiliated companies. Absenteeism, presenteeism, and weekly economic costs were compared between individuals with and without AR. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between AR severity and productivity. A causal mediation analysis was also conducted to explore the indirect effects of depressive symptoms, positive and negative affect, and sleep quality on the association between AR and presenteeism.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 555 participants, 347 (62.5%) reported having AR, whereas 208 (37.5%) reported not having AR or were unsure. No significant differences were observed in absenteeism or presenteeism between the AR and non-AR/unknown groups. In the AR group, AR severity was significantly associated with increased presenteeism (unstandardized partial regression coefficient B = 4.19; 95% CI, 3.48-4.90; P < .001). Causal mediation analysis revealed a significant total natural indirect effect (TNIE) only for depressive symptoms (TNIE = 5.246; 95% CI, 0.059-10.432; P = .047).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In the nonclinical setting, the overall impact of AR on work productivity may be limited among Japanese workforces.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12788859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714866","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":"Association between participation in community activities and work engagement: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Misako Uetsuki, Tomohisa Nagata, Takahiro Mori, Kiminori Odagami, Masako Nagata, Koji Mori","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag028","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>It is well established that participation in community activities is positively associated with mental and physical health and overall well-being. However, little is known about the effect of community activities on work. We investigated the association between work engagement (measured in 2023) and frequency of worker participation in 2 types of community activities: community contribution activities and hobby-learning activities (measured in 2022).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a prospective cohort study comprising a baseline survey in 2022 and a follow-up survey in 2023. The sample comprised workers aged ≥20 years from different industries in Japan. Data for 14 526 participants aged 20-65 years were analyzed. Participants answered an online questionnaire to report the frequency of 2 types of community activities. Work engagement was assessed using the Japanese version of the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. We used multiple regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The multivariate analysis showed that participation in community contribution activities was significantly associated with higher work engagement compared with no participation (B = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.38-1.98 for at least once per week; B = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.38-1.64 for 1-3 times per month; and B = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.16-0.76 for several times per year). Participation in hobby-learning activities was significantly associated with higher work engagement compared with no participation (B = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.16-1.22 for at least once per week).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest a potential association between participation in community activities and higher work engagement.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13285995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147941826","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":"Effects of participatory organizational interventions on mental health and work performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Asuka Sakuraya, Mako Iida, Kotaro Imamura, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hiroki Asaoka, Emiko Ando, Akiomi Inoue, Reiko Inoue, Mai Iwanaga, Hisashi Eguchi, Yasumasa Otsuka, Yuka Kobayashi, Yu Komase, Kazuto Kuribayashi, Natsu Sasaki, Kanami Tsuno, Ayako Hino, Takeshi Ebara, Akihito Shimazu, Norito Kawakami, Akizumi Tsutsumi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag024","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Participatory organizational interventions (POIs) may improve workers' mental health and work performance, but evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cluster-randomized controlled trials (cRCTs) remains limited. The meta-analysis has not been updated since it was published in 2015; a previous study focused on health care workers; and potential outcomes have not been adequately examined. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of POIs on mental health and work performance among workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The current study searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society for papers published up until November 11, 2022. Eligible studies were cRCTs assessing the effects of POIs on mental health or work performance. The risks of bias were evaluated by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for cRCTs and meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen cRCTs were included in the systematic review, and 8 cRCTs in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed a nonsignificant beneficial effect on mental health conditions [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.04; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.03], positive mental health (SMD = -0.004, 95% CI, -0.077 to 0.068), and work performance (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.13).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study did not confirm that POIs had a statistically significant effect on mental health or work performance. However, several studies that reported favorable results tended to emphasize active and structured participation, alignment with workers' needs, and attention to organizational context. Further research is needed to identify the conditions under which the interventions are effective.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13225270/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147729024","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":"Occupational ergonomic risk factors and neuropathic pain among South Korean workers: a cross-sectional analysis.","authors":"Jeong Woo Park, Mo-Yeol Kang, Seong-Sik Cho, Seong-Soo Choi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Research on the impact of ergonomic risk factors on neuropathic pain is limited. Accordingly, this study investigated the relationship between ergonomic risk exposure and neuropathic pain in a population of South Korean workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were obtained from the third and fourth rounds of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study. Neuropathic pain was identified using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) screening tool. The association between ergonomic risk factors and neuropathic pain was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were estimated after adjusting for relevant confounding factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two-wheeled vehicle operation (OR = 3.66; 95% CI, 1.26-10.58), manual material handling (OR = 2.81; 95% CI, 1.63-4.85), kneeling or squatting (OR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1.35-4.53), repetitive hand or finger motions (OR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.38-3.19), trunk flexion, extension, or lateral bending (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.25-3.63), and wrist twisting, pushing or pulling with upper limbs (OR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.08-3.34) were significantly associated with neuropathic pain in the fully-adjusted model.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study supports a link between ergonomic risk factors and neuropathic pain among South Korean workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13251740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147690820","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":"Climatic effects on urinary hippuric acid concentrations: a 3-year occupational health study in a manufacturing workforce.","authors":"Yuchi Maeda, Masaaki Matsunaga, Yuito Hosaka, Satoshi Michii, Nanpei Hattori, Koji Ishikawa, Atsuhiko Ota","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf070","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Various factors influence urinary hippuric acid concentrations; however, the role of climatic factors on such concentrations has not been thoroughly investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study examined the correlation between urinary hippuric acid concentrations and climatic factors. Data were obtained from health examinations of 2236 employees at a large manufacturing company who used organic solvents over a 3-year period. Each participant underwent a health examination for organic solvent use during both the summer (June to August) and winter (December to February). Urinary hippuric acid concentrations were log-transformed, and a linear mixed-effects model was applied to assess their association with average temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure recorded in Nagoya City, Japan.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In a multivariate linear mixed-effects model including all meteorological variables, average temperature showed a significant positive association with log-transformed urinary hippuric acid concentrations (estimate = 0.013; 95% CI: 0.007-0.020; P < .001). This corresponds to an estimated 1.3% increase in urinary hippuric acid concentrations per 1°C rise in temperature. In contrast, neither average atmospheric pressure nor relative humidity showed a statistically significant association (P = .981 and P = .817, respectively). Among the confounding variables, smoking was significantly positively associated with concentration (P = .001), whereas alcohol consumption showed a significant negative association (P = .031).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Urinary hippuric acid concentrations exhibited seasonal variation among workers at a large manufacturing company, with elevated levels observed during the summer. These findings underscore the importance of considering climatic factors when interpreting urinary metabolic biomarkers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12788858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145660301","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":"Chronic inhalation exposure to 0.5 ppm of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol induces histopathological changes in olfactory, respiratory, and skin tissue of mice.","authors":"Takanari Wakayama, Mio Miyake, Yuki Ito, Naoko Oya, Hirotaka Sato, Masato Sawada, Kazunobu Sawamoto, Michihiro Kamijima","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag016","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>2-Ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) is a volatile organic compound that can cause sick building syndrome and can be released from flooring materials for more than 10 years through the hydrolysis of compounds with 2-ethylhexyl moieties. Previous studies using mice have raised concerns about tissue-damaging effects on the olfactory epithelium (OE), olfactory bulb (OB), brain, lungs, and skin. A subchronic mouse study observed degeneration of OE at concentrations as low as 20 ppm. However, the effects of long-term exposure to 2EH remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the histopathological effects of chronic exposure to 2EH relative to its airborne concentration.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ten-week-old male ICR mice were exposed to 0, 0.5, 10, or 100 ppm 2EH by inhalation for 8 h/d, 5 d/wk, for 6 months. Subsequently, histopathological analysis was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 0.5 ppm, acute and chronic inflammation were observed in the OE and alveoli, with tissue repair in the OE, and thickening of the epithelium and smooth muscle in the bronchi. Metaplasia of OE in the respiratory epithelium was induced at 10 and 100 ppm. At all concentrations, the number of mature neurons in the OE and immature neurons in the OB decreased, suggesting that olfactory nerve activity was suppressed. Fibroblasts increased in the dorsal skin. Microglia in the hippocampus and amygdala increased in number.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Chronic inhalation exposure at airborne concentrations of 2EH as low as 0.5 ppm caused inflammation in the OE, OB, segmental bronchi, and alveoli, and affected the target area of OB neurons.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13220336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499334","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}