Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Occupational health risk assessment, exposure monitoring, and medical surveillance in the UK, EU, and US: a comparative analysis and implications for occupational disease prevention in Korea.","authors":"Sangjun Choi, Kyong-Hui Lee, Kyung Ehi Zoh, Dong-Hee Koh, Won Kim, Kwonchul Ha, Dong-Uk Park","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e18","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e18","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although most countries maintain occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation to prevent occupational diseases, the legal codification and integration of occupational health risk assessment (HRA), exposure monitoring, and medical surveillance vary substantially across jurisdictions; therefore, this study compared the legal frameworks of Korea, the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), and the United States (US) to examine the linkage among these elements, assess whether they support estimation of individual cumulative past exposure, and derive implications for improving occupational disease prevention in Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative comparative legal analysis examined employer obligations related to quantitative exposure monitoring, HRA, and medical surveillance under the OSH systems of the UK, the EU, the US, and Korea. Primary statutes and subordinate regulations were systematically reviewed to assess how these elements are mandated, linked, and supported by record-keeping provisions enabling cumulative exposure estimation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The UK and the EU explicitly require HRA as a regulatory starting point and link exposure monitoring and medical surveillance to the outcomes of risk assessment, with targeted hazard-based provisions for intrinsically high-risk agents. The US adopts a hybrid approach, imposing mandatory monitoring and medical surveillance for high-hazard substances under 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910 Subpart Z while relying on general statutory duties elsewhere. Korea applies broad list-based requirements for exposure monitoring and medical surveillance that are largely independent of HRA outcomes and do not include legally mandated variables necessary for systematic cumulative exposure estimation. In contrast, the UK, the EU, and partially the US provide legal mechanisms, including long-term record-keeping provisions, that enable reconstruction of individual cumulative occupational exposure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Strengthening the integration of HRA, exposure monitoring, and medical surveillance-together with improved record-keeping structures that support cumulative exposure reconstruction-may contribute to more effective occupational disease prevention and long-term medical surveillance in Korea.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e18"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome following acute lithium hydroxide dust exposure at a battery material production plant: a case series of 16 workers.","authors":"Chul Gab Lee, Soo Hyeong Park, Jeong Joon Park, Han Soo Song, Hyeon Kyeong Ko, Sung Ho Yoon","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e17","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e17","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) is an acute-onset form of irritant-induced asthma that occurs after a single high-concentration exposure to irritants. Although RADS has been documented for chlorine, ammonia, and acid fumes, no published case series has attributed RADS to lithium hydroxide (LiOH) dust inhalation. We report the clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and longitudinal management of 16 workers with persistent respiratory symptoms following acute occupational LiOH exposure at a battery cathode material production facility.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>In March 2024, a silicone connector failure resulted in the leakage of approximately 50-100 kg of LiOH powder at a facility in Korea, exposing over 500 workers. Sixteen workers (15 men, 1 woman; mean age 53.4 years) with persistent respiratory symptoms were evaluated at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Most patients presented with cough and sputum production; 56.3% (9/16) exhibited nocturnal or early-morning exacerbation. Methacholine challenge testing was performed in 10 patients, with positive results in three patients (PC20 [provocative concentration causing a 20% decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second]: 1.36-6.74 mg/mL). By the Brooks 1985 criteria, one case was classified as definite RADS, four as probable, six as possible, and five as unlikely; American College of Chest Physicians 2008 cross-validation yielded identical classifications. Workers' compensation recipients had significantly longer follow-up (18-23 months) compared to non-recipients (1-3 months). Pharmacological management was symptom-directed, combining leukotriene receptor antagonists, mucolytics, antihistamines, and acid-suppressive therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Acute high-concentration LiOH dust inhalation may induce RADS characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The extreme alkalinity, high water solubility, and exothermic dissolution of LiOH provide a plausible mechanistic framework for airway injury. Clinicians should consider RADS in workers presenting with persistent respiratory symptoms after alkaline dust exposure, even when routine investigations are unremarkable. Attention should also be given to the psychological burden associated with prolonged, poorly recognized symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148424628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reframing welders' parkinsonism: from the \"idiopathic\" label to biological causation and legal recognition.","authors":"Chul Gab Lee","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e20","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Korea, welders diagnosed with \"idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD)\" often face denial of workers' compensation, as \"idiopathic\" is interpreted as excluding occupational contribution. This narrative review examines whether a categorical distinction between iPD and \"toxic parkinsonism\" is defensible on diagnostic, pathological, neuroimaging, epidemiological, causal-inference, and legal grounds. The 2024 NSD-ISS (Neuronal α-synuclein disease Integrated Staging System) and SynNeurGe (Synuclein-Neurodegeneration-Gene) frameworks challenge categorical use of the \"idiopathic\" label by defining Parkinson's disease (PD)-related disease biologically, irrespective of etiology. Nonhuman primate studies show that chronic low-dose manganese exposure can produce nigrostriatal deficits and α-synuclein aggregation overlapping with PD biology. Dichotomous use of FP-CIT dopamine transporter imaging or levodopa responsiveness to separate manganese poisoning from iPD is therefore scientifically unsound, as chronic welding exposure can induce presynaptic dysfunction and treatment responses indistinguishable from PD. Epidemiological findings diverge methodologically: direct clinical examination has reported elevated parkinsonism prevalence among welders, whereas administrative cohorts have generally found no increased PD risk. This divergence is plausibly explained by differences in case ascertainment, exposure assessment, healthy-worker-survivor selection, and disease latency. Bradford Hill and Rothman frameworks support a causal interpretation, although validated biomarkers and dose-response thresholds remain undefined. Under Korea's Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, causation is evaluated as a \"proximate causal relationship\" rather than strict scientific proof. A multi-hit model integrating genetic predisposition, aging, and cumulative environmental exposure supports recognition under this standard, and compensation eligibility should not depend on whether the diagnosis label is 'PD' or 'parkinsonism.' When parkinsonian symptoms occur in welders with at least approximately 20,000 exposure-weighted welding hours, or with substantial high-intensity exposure such as confined-space welding, inadequate ventilation, or flux-cored arc welding, occupational contribution should be considered under a weight-of-evidence approach. This criterion is sufficient for recognition but is not a necessary condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e20"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148563092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea risk and low back pain among shift workers in a tire manufacturing factory.","authors":"Sunjin Jung, Seunghyeon Cho, Suwhan Kim, Kyung Wook Kang, JiHwan Kim, Won-Ju Park","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e15","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e15","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among industrial workers, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly recognized as a factor influencing pain modulation. This study evaluated the association between OSA risk, assessed by the STOP-Bang questionnaire, and LBP among shift workers in a tire manufacturing factory.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 976 male shift workers from a tire manufacturing factory were analyzed. OSA risk was assessed using the STOP-Bang questionnaire and classified as low, moderate, or high. LBP and musculoskeletal pain were defined as self-reported symptoms occurring within the preceding 6 months. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with workers at low OSA risk, those at moderate and high risk had significantly higher odds of LBP (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.02-2.20; p = 0.038; and OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.20-2.55; p = 0.004, respectively). Similarly, moderate and high OSA risk were independently associated with increased odds of musculoskeletal pain (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.26-2.73; p = 0.002; and OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.26-2.68; p = 0.002, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among male shift workers, elevated OSA risk is independently associated with a higher prevalence of LBP and musculoskeletal pain. Systematic workplace screening for OSA risk using the STOP-Bang questionnaire may support occupational health assessments by identifying shift workers with elevated OSA risk who are more likely to report pain-related morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148309859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between relative handgrip strength and glycemic control among male automobile manufacturing workers using vibration tools in South Korea.","authors":"Dong-Jae Seo, Hyun Joong Kim, Yongjin Kim, Jaewon Mun, Jong-Han Leem, Shin-Goo Park, Dong-Wook Lee, Hwan-Cheol Kim","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e14","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e14","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although the association between handgrip strength and glycemic control has been reported, studies conducted exclusively within specific occupational groups remain limited. To explore the association between handgrip strength and metabolic health in industrial settings, this study examined the relationship between relative handgrip strength and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among male automobile manufacturing workers using vibration tools in South Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 66,212 occupational health examination records collected at Inha University Hospital between January 2024 and April 2025, a total of 3,365 workers with HbA1c and handgrip strength measurements were identified. After excluding duplicates (n = 1,536), female workers (n = 2), and records without Hb and estimated glomerular filtration rate, 1,823 male participants were included in the final analysis. Relative handgrip strength was calculated as the maximum value of bilateral grip strength divided by body mass index. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between relative handgrip strength and HbA1c, adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, current hypertension, current dyslipidemia, current hypoglycemic-agents use, family diabetes history, leisure-time physical activity, and resistance exercise.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Relative handgrip strength was inversely associated with HbA1c levels (B: -0.060; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.081 to -0.039; p < 0.001). The association was strongest among normoglycemic participants (B: -0.185; 95% CI: -0.305 to -0.065; p = 0.003). Effect size was reduced but significantly associated among individuals with prediabetes (B: -0.115; 95% CI: -0.180 to -0.050; p < 0.001) and further attenuated to a borderline significance in individuals with diabetes (B: -0.023; 95% CI: -0.050 to 0.003; p = 0.082). These findings indicate that greater muscle strength relative to body size is related to better glycemic control.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Handgrip strength was associated with HbA1c levels in industrial workers. This study suggests that handgrip strength may provide complementary information on metabolic health in occupational settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13188909/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between heavy metal exposure and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the elderly: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2017.","authors":"Jongwon Jung, Ji Young Ryu","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e13","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e13","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a primary cause of mortality in the elderly. Exposure to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury has been suggested to increase CVD risk by inducing reactive oxygen species and inflammatory responses. The elderly are particularly susceptible to heavy metal exposure, which may increase their CVD risk. Despite this potential risk, evidence specifically focusing on the association between blood heavy metal levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a key predictor of CVDs, in the elderly remains limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the relationship between blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations and hsCRP in the elderly.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 884 subjects (385 men, 499 women) aged 65 years and older without CVD history from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2017. Because KNHANES is a two-stage stratified clustered sample, all analyses applied stratum, cluster, and weight. Estimated geometric means (GMs) of hsCRP across demographic factors and heavy metal quartiles were compared using a complex samples general linear model (CSGLM). The association between blood heavy metals and hsCRP was examined using CSGLM, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, smoking status, alcohol consumption, education, physical activity, monthly income, and underlying diseases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The estimated GM of hsCRP differed significantly by blood lead quartile (p = 0.035) and showed a significant increasing trend (p for trend = 0.019). In CSGLM analysis, elevated blood lead concentrations were significantly associated with increased hsCRP (β = 0.176, p = 0.032) after adjustment. However, blood mercury and cadmium concentrations showed no significant associations with hsCRP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The observed association between blood lead concentrations and hsCRP suggests that elevated blood lead may contribute to increased CVD risk in the elderly. Given the susceptibility of this population, subsequent investigations are warranted to confirm this association and develop preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13178164/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders using machine learning approaches: a systematic review.","authors":"Muhammad Irfan Mohd Sallehhudin, Siti Munira Yasin, Mohamad Rodi Isa, Tajul Rosli Razak, Muhamad Syazni Mohamad Asraff, Nur Adilla Che Rameli, Muhammad Muaz Shahriman-Teruna, Muhammad Muzzammil Mohamad Salleh, Mohamad Zuhair Mohamed Yusoff, Muhammad Hariz Ammar Khebir","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e10","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e10","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) remain a major cause of occupational disability and productivity loss worldwide. Traditional statistical methods have identified numerous associated factors; however, they often struggle to capture complex non-linear relationships and interactions across multiple domains of risk. Machine learning (ML) offers an alternative analytical approach for modelling such multidimensional relationships.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420250605234), literature searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies applied ML methods to identify factors associated with WRMSDs using cross-sectional study designs. Included studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, representing workers from healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and service sectors across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Frequently applied ML algorithms included random forest, support vector machine, and artificial neural networks, demonstrating strong internal discriminative performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.80-0.99), although the absence of external validation in several studies suggests a potential risk of overfitting. Commonly identified factors included age, sex, awkward posture, vibration exposure, prolonged working hours, stress, and burnout. Psychosocial factors, including post-traumatic stress disorder, job stress, and depression, were ranked among the most influential predictors within ML models.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ML models demonstrate strong capability in discriminating WRMSDs risk and identifying multidimensional risk factors compared with traditional statistical approaches. These models highlight complex interrelationships between ergonomic and psychosocial exposures. Future research should incorporate external validation, objective exposure measurements, and standardized ML reporting frameworks to enhance methodological transparency and generalizability.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e10"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between working ≥10 hours per day and satisfaction with work environment among wage workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study using data from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey.","authors":"Rae-Yun Kim, Dong-Woo Kim, Yoon-Soo Jang, Na-Rae Lee, June-Hee Lee, Kyung-Jae Lee","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e9","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long working hours have been associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes; however, evidence regarding their relationship with satisfaction with work environment remains limited, particularly when long working hours are defined using a specific daily threshold. This study examined the association between working ≥10 hours per day and satisfaction with work environment among Korean wage workers, focusing on the cumulative number of such workdays per month.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey. A total of 24,269 wage workers aged ≥18 years were included after excluding self-employed workers, unpaid family workers, shift workers, and respondents with missing data. Working ≥10 hours per day was categorized as 0, 1-9, and ≥10 days per month. Satisfaction with work environment was categorized as satisfied or dissatisfied. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dissatisfaction with work environment according to the number of long working days, adjusting for demographic and occupational characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with workers who did not work ≥10 hours per day, those who worked 1-9 days and ≥10 days per month showed progressively higher levels of dissatisfaction with work environment. After adjustment for demographic and occupational factors, the odds of dissatisfaction with work environment were significantly higher among workers who worked ≥10 hours per day for 1-9 days per month (OR: 1.380; 95% CI: 1.145-1.665) and ≥10 days per month (OR: 2.106; 95% CI: 1.627-2.725), demonstrating a dose-response relationship.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among the analytic sample of Korean wage workers included in this study, working ≥10 hours per day was associated with greater dissatisfaction with work environment, with a dose-response pattern according to the number of long working days per month.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089155/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occupational Diseases in Mongolia: A Retrospective Analysis (1975-2023) with a 30-Year Trend Study.","authors":"Sansartsetseg Tsendjav, Myagmarchuluun Sainnyambuu, Otgonbayar Damdinbazar, Ulzii-Orshikh Ragchaabazar, Gantugs Yundendorj","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e12","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e12","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational diseases represent a significant global public health challenge, yet reliable data from transitioning economies remain limited. This study aimed to analyze newly confirmed occupational disease cases in Mongolia over a 50-year period (1975-2023), identifying long-term trends and the prevalence of leading disease categories.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective, record-based study was conducted using quantitative data from 10,233 officially confirmed and compensated cases of occupational diseases resulting in an officially certified loss of labor capacity. Incidence rates per 100,000 workers were calculated for the 1992-2023 period. Leading diseases were classified by organ system, with focused analyses on respiratory diseases, occupational poisonings, and neurological disorders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dust- and particulate-induced respiratory diseases accounted for the largest proportion of cases (57.4%), followed by occupational neurological disorders (16.2%) and occupational poisonings (8.0%). From 1992 to 2023, incidence rates among male workers were consistently 3-7 times higher than those among female workers. Analysis of exposure duration showed mean durations of 13.6 ± 4.9 years for silicosis (J62) and 20.7 ± 10.7 years for inorganic substance poisoning (T57). While respiratory diseases were predominant historically, occupational neurological diseases demonstrated an increasing trend after 2015.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Occupational neurological disorders are showing an increasing trend in Mongolia, reflecting a shift in the national occupational disease pattern. However, as the registry is based on the national compensation framework, these findings likely reflect recognized cases rather than the true epidemiological incidence, suggesting potential underreporting. Strengthening surveillance beyond the compensation system and improving diagnostic capacity for a broader range of work-related conditions are essential for effective prevention and policy development.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13178162/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of sleep disturbance associated with work-related activities during free time in South Korea: a cross-sectional study with mediation analysis.","authors":"Ohwi Kwon, Hye-Eun Lee, Mo-Yeol Kang","doi":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e11","DOIUrl":"10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e11","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to investigate the associations between work-related activities during free time, including frequency of working during free time and use of communication devices for work during free time, and sleep disturbance. It further explores the underlying mechanisms through mediation analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were analyzed from 21,473 participants of the seventh Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS, 2023). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep disturbance. Three sequential models were constructed to evaluate the effects of weekly working hours and shift work on sleep disturbance risk. Mediation analysis was conducted to identify pathways linking work-related activities during free time and sleep disturbance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Those who worked during their free time daily showed significantly higher risk of sleep disturbance (OR: 4.17; 95% CI: 2.64-6.58). Similarly, daily use of communication devices for work during free time was associated with an increased risk (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.57-2.13). These associations remained robust even after adjusting for weekly working hours and shift work. Mediation analysis revealed that \"worry about work while at home\" was the primary mediator for device use (13.7%; 95% CI: 0.11-0.18), while \"feeling too tired for housework after work\" was the strongest mediator for working during free time (26.6%; 95% CI: 0.22-0.32).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results indicate that engaging in work-related activities during free time elevates the risk of sleep disturbance, independent of long working hours or shift patterns. Mediation analysis revealed that the strongest effects were driven by the behavioral and psychological dimensions of work-family conflict. These findings suggest that sleep disturbance arises primarily from the erosion of work-life boundaries, fueled by persistent work-related rumination and the spillover of professional burdens into free time.</p>","PeriodicalId":46631,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":"38 ","pages":"e11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089142/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}