Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Cumulative risk assessment methodology applied to non-dietary exposures: developmental alterations in professional agricultural settings.","authors":"Luca Tosti, Martina Marazzini, Mohammed Kanadil, Francesca Metruccio","doi":"10.1186/s12995-025-00451-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-025-00451-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The safety assessment of combined exposure to xenobiotics has been an emerging topic for several years. Methodologies and approaches for cumulative risk assessment (CRA) are being developed primarily for the dietary risk assessment of pesticides, thus focusing only on consumer exposure. However, as highlighted in recent years, non-dietary exposures, such as those encountered by professionals in agricultural settings, may pose a significant risk due to their higher levels compared to dietary exposure. Despite this, existing methodologies for cumulative risk assessment (CRA) have not adequately addressed this critical aspect. In the EU, even if several legislations highlight the need to address the non-dietary CRA, no legal requirements are in place yet, therefore, there are no harmonized methodologies and approaches currently available. In a first step to fill this gap, this study is aimed at exploring CRA methodology applied to non-dietary exposure to pesticide in agricultural settings, specifically targeting operators, re-entry workers, and bystanders. The primary objective of the study was to verify the feasibility of an electronic register of plant protection treatments as data source for identifying and characterizing in field mixtures and consequently estimating cumulative non-dietary systemic exposure in real life. The relevant active substances selected for this investigation were those listed in foetal craniofacial alterations cumulative assessment groups (CAGs), established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for dietary CRA. Exposures to pesticides were estimated using European Union agreed mathematical models. The preliminary findings of this investigation effectively revealed the value of the register of treatments in assessing real-life plant protection products (PPP) usage in professional agricultural settings. In conclusion, the study provides encouraging insights into using the pesticide dietary CRA approach for non-dietary risk assessment in agricultural settings, underlining the necessity for further research and investigation of its feasibility for the evaluation of other acute effects but also for long-term effects related CAGs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11869452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143532078","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":"Herbicide-related health risks: key mechanisms and a guide to mitigation strategies.","authors":"Juthamas Hongoeb, Tanawut Tantimongcolwat, Francis Ayimbila, Waralee Ruankham, Kamonrat Phopin","doi":"10.1186/s12995-025-00448-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-025-00448-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Herbicides are a group of substances used to control undesired vegetation in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. They are recorded as the most consumed class among other pesticides, reaching nearly two million tons worldwide. Despite their effectiveness in weed control, the extensive utilization of herbicides has raised concerns regarding adverse effects on human health. However, comprehensive reviews addressing herbicide-related human health risks remain limited. This work aims to compile scientific evidence and possible underlying mechanisms to emphasize the hazards that need to be acknowledged, as well as to explore novel strategies for minimizing the impact on human health.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Scientific data on herbicide-related human health risks, including human-related data and non-human experimental research, were retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Pre-determined eligibility criteria were applied to select the final studies.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A narrative summary of evidence-based human incidence and laboratory experiments is presented to organize and highlight key findings. This indicates the life-threatening nature of herbicide exposure in humans, ranging from acute toxicity to the development of chronic diseases at any stage of life.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Herbicidal chemicals can harm individuals through various pathways, especially by inducing oxidative stress or directly disrupting molecular and cellular processes. Despite some conflicting findings, effective mitigation strategies are urgently needed to promote a safer society and protect human well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11863480/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143505253","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":"Toxic effects of chronic occupational mercury vapor exposure on female workers of childbearing age.","authors":"Yujie Pan, Kunlong Qu, Huiling Li, Yuguo Song","doi":"10.1186/s12995-025-00453-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-025-00453-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Few studies have been conducted on women of childbearing age with chronic mercury poisoning caused by mercury vapor exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Occupational exposure, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory tests, auxiliary examinations, treatment, and follow-up of 31 female workers with chronic mercury poisoning from a mercury thermometer processing factory who received inpatient treatment at our hospital between September 2021 and August 2022 were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 31 female workers of childbearing age (23-43 years) who were chronically exposed to mercury vapor (3-31 months), urinary mercury levels exceeded the normal range. The clinical manifestations were primarily neurological (96.77%). Renal pathology of the two female workers suggested membranous nephropathy in the first stage. Some female workers experienced menstrual abnormalities, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Treatment was mainly chelation therapy supplemented with antioxidants and other symptomatic supportive treatments. All patients achieved good results after discontinuing exposure to mercury vapor and receiving treatment. However, follow-up after discharge revealed that some female workers still had insomnia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Occupational mercury vapor exposure is hazardous to female workers of childbearing age and increases the risk of adverse effects on their reproductive health. Occupational protection and prevention of mercury exposure in female workers of reproductive age must be emphasized.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11808966/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143392061","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":"Principles of occupational medicine: an educational case study of hazards and risks for Dr \"Indiana\" Jones.","authors":"Thomas C Erren, Christopher Dietrich, Jonas Wallraff, Florian Glenewinkel, Andreas Pinger, Philip Lewis","doi":"10.1186/s12995-025-00452-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-025-00452-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the nature and consequences of hazards and risks in the workplace is critical to protecting people from harm.</p><p><strong>Educational case study: </strong>We review the fictional example of \"Indiana\" Jones as an educational vector to illustrate principles of occupational medicine in real-world scenarios.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>After reviewing the Jones saga regarding potential hazards (physical - biological - chemical - psychosocial), we provide a practical outlook on the workplace health for readers with a non-occupational medicine background.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11792418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143191103","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":"Silicosis prevalence and related issues in India: a scoping review.","authors":"Mukti Khetan, Bontha V Babu","doi":"10.1186/s12995-024-00445-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-024-00445-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Silicosis remains a major occupational health challenge in India. This review systematically examines the prevalence, risk factors, regional differences, and diagnostic tools specific to India's high-risk industries. Additionally, it assesses policy gaps and offers insights from diverse clinical and qualitative studies, aiming to inform targeted public health interventions and support the development of effective occupational health policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>For this review, data were extracted for each study, including author, location, design, study aims, sample size and characteristics, participant age, duration of silica exposure, diagnostic criteria, and primary outcomes. As an add-on analysis included, a random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of silicosis and assess variability among studies. The review also included qualitative analyses on awareness, diagnostic tools (e.g., CC16 protein), and differences in prevalence across various occupational groups and regions within India.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review initially identified 263 articles, narrowed down to 49 eligible studies on silicosis in India after exclusions and quality assessment. Among these, 11 prevalence studies (total sample size: 2072) showed an average silicosis rate of 31.39%. Specific studies reported high rates, including 52% among Rajasthan mine workers and 69.1% among Khambhat agate workers. Additionally, screening tools, like CC16 protein levels, showed promise for early diagnosis, while qualitative studies highlighted gaps in awareness and regulatory practices. Meta-analysis revealed a significant pooled prevalence (25.98%) and marked variability (I² = 98.86%), underscoring the need for targeted interventions and worker protections.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review of current knowledge on silicosis in India finds silicosis highly prevalent among workers in mining and stone industries, with gaps in regulatory enforcement and awareness. Biomarkers like CC16 offer the potential for early diagnosis, underscoring the need for preventive measures. Policy recommendations include stricter dust exposure limits, enhanced workers' education, routine screening, and improved access to protective equipment and health monitoring to reduce the risk of silicosis and health disparities in vulnerable occupational groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11776177/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067780","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":"Relationship between butyrylcholinesterase activity and hepatic transaminases: a cross-sectional study in agricultural workers from Peru.","authors":"Emily Ortiz-Delgado, Guido Bendezu-Quispe, Fernando Soncco-Llulluy, Jair Li, Jaime Rosales-Rimache","doi":"10.1186/s12995-025-00450-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-025-00450-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Chronic exposure to pesticides causes various adverse health effects, mainly at a neurological level. However, there is little evidence focused on liver tissue injury and transaminase activity as indicators of effect.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was designed based on medical-occupational records of workers from an agro-export company in Peru to associate the levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) transaminases (ALT and AST). Occupational medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and occupational information and laboratory values of BChE activity and transaminases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We evaluated 459 records, and 69.9% were men. The mean age was 34.9 ± 11.5 years. BChE, ALT, and AST levels were 6238.8 ± 709.1 U/l, 34.4 ± 12.5 U/l, and 22.4 ± 8.5 U/l, respectively. The proportion of inhibited BCHE and elevated transaminase levels was 15.3% and 21.6%, respectively. We found a significant association between BChE inhibition and elevation of transaminases (AST: PR = 0.798, 95%CI: 0.716-0.889; ALT: PR = 0.419, 95%CI: 0.239-0.736).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The potential usefulness of transaminases is shown as a biomarker of exposure and monitoring in occupational health programs for the agro-industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11740596/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143014445","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":"Impacts of hazardous noise levels on hearing loss and tinnitus in dental professionals.","authors":"Celia Zhang, Andrew Young, Samantha Rodriguez, Karen A Schulze, Bina Surti, Fadi Najem, Jiong Hu","doi":"10.1186/s12995-024-00447-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-024-00447-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hazardous noise exposure is an important health concern in many workplaces and is one of the most common work-related injuries in the United States. Dental professionals are frequently exposed to high levels of occupational noise in their daily work environment. This noise is generated by various dental handpieces such as drills, suctions, and ultrasonic scalers. Prolonged exposure to such noise levels is known to have adverse effects on hearing health. Despite the prevalence of occupational noise in dentistry, there is a paucity of research specifically examining the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in dental professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus, data were collected from 60 dental professionals, including participant demographics and audiometric thresholds. Thresholds were compared to the age- and sex-based reference ranges from the International Standards Organization (ISO 7029:2017).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results showed that 15-25% of males and 13-18% of females had hearing thresholds that exceeded 95th percentile limits based on the ISO normative age- and sex-distributions. Tinnitus was reported in 40% of the participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study is the first to examine the characteristics and prevalence of auditory dysfunctions in dental professionals compared to the ISO normative age and sex distributions of hearing status. Findings from this study highlight the need for increasing the awareness of occupational noise hazards among dental professionals and the importance of routine audiological monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"20 1","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11697800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928513","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":"Sowing seeds of awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of mental health literacy and help-seeking in Irish farmers.","authors":"Siobhan O'Connor, Anna Donnla O'Hagan, Joseph Firnhaber, Branagh R O'Shaughnessy, John McNamara, Gavin Breslin, Sinead O'Keeffe, Sandra M Malone","doi":"10.1186/s12995-024-00446-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-024-00446-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Farmers around the world are at risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation yet many avoid seeking help. In Ireland, farmers' mental health is a national concern, as farmers face barriers of masculine norms around help-seeking. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and relationship between mental health literacy and mental health help-seeking in the Irish farming community. It also aimed to identify if mental health literacy or mental health help-seeking differed depending on gender, age, education, health status and income level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of 351 Irish farmers' mental health literacy and help-seeking using validated psychometric measures: the Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS), the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), and the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Measure (MMHL).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Irish farmers' mental health literacy and help-seeking scores were interrelated. Though low, farmers' scores were comparable to the general population and higher than some European samples. Despite broadly favourable attitudes towards seeking professional mental health help, Irish farmers perceived significant barriers to accessing care and exhibited stoic health attitudes. Farmers with less education and men were particularly at risk.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Irish farmers' stoic attitudes may be a response to their perceived lack of services. Interventions providing mental health literacy education and improving access to existing mental health services are particularly important for this population of farmers.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"19 1","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11665200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878618","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":"Police officer occupational health: a model of organizational constraints, trauma exposure, perceived resources, and agency.","authors":"Royce Anders, Angélique Frapsauce, Celine Sauvezon, Daniel Gilibert","doi":"10.1186/s12995-024-00444-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-024-00444-3","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Police officers constitute a work force at high risk due to their highly demanding work conditions. In a realistic paradigm, these conditions, and other determinants of their psychological health, can be linked to a multitude of variables that interplay altogether. However, current literature that simultaneously models-quantitatively from observed data-such a multitude of variables is sparse. This study took upon this objective to further theoretical and applied understandings through a measurement framework on empirical data, and allow the data to drive some features of model development, such as variable groupings into factors, and paths between factors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 1312 officers from various police bureaus fully responded to a questionnaire composed of validated instruments for assessing factors related to psychological and occupational health, consisting of more than 25 variables. Statistical analyses were performed in progressing complexity, namely t-tests, correlations, multiple regression, factor analysis, and path analysis with latent factors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The regression analysis identified 10 significant variables, in which decision latitude, organizational justice, and work recognition/meaning were the most protective, and these 10 variables coincided with those found significant in the t-test and correlational results. In higher complexity, the latent path analysis resulted in a model of 6 factors: Psychological Health, Organizational Constraints, Trauma Exposure, Perceived Resources, Sense of Agency, and Esteem. Organizational Constraints (β = -0.32, inferred by psychological demands and role conflict), Perceived Resources (β = 0.31, social support, a self/work-esteem subfactor, and organizational justice), Sense of Agency (β = 0.30, decision latitude, hierarchical position, right to carry a firearm), and Trauma Exposure (β = -0.14, frequency/time since event, used a firearm, years of service) were found significantly associated with Psychological Health. Within each factor, specific variables could be identified as the most associated, such as role conflict for constraints, self/work-esteem for resources, decision latitude for agency, and frequency of and time since trauma for trauma exposure. Our results therefore encourage us to take into account not only agency, but also past professional experiences in models for managing well-being.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Providing police officers with social support at work, recognition, work meaning, fair proceedings and pay (organizational justice, especially for female and young officers), decision-making power (decision latitude), and minimizing conflictual information and procedures (role conflict) is of utmost importance. Officers with higher years of service, working in lower population cities, and who recently used their firearm, should be considered for trauma counseling. The degree of psycho","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"19 1","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11654389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856060","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":"Pathological characterization of lung fibrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with fluoro-edenite fibres by intrapleural injection.","authors":"Eva Tibaldi, Federica Gnudi, Daniele Mandrioli, Caterina Bruno, Amerigo Zona, Lucia Fazzo, Pietro Comba","doi":"10.1186/s12995-024-00434-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-024-00434-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An increased incidence of pleural mesotheliomas in Biancavilla (Italy) was attributed to the environmental exposure to fluoro-edenite (FE). Results from the Ramazzini Institute (RI) in vivo long-term study confirmed the evidence that exposure to FE fibres is correlated with an increase of malignant pleural mesotheliomas in Sprague-Dawley rats. Recently asbestosis-like features were substantiated in Biancavilla residents without known occupational exposures. Aim of this work was to establish whether FE induce lung fibrosis with a pathogenetic mechanism similar to other asbestiform fibres.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Original slides from the RI study were systematically re-examined to characterize the FE-induced lesions. Quantitative analysis of lung fibrosis was assessed following the Ashcroft method. Immunohistochemical analysis of protein involved in fibrotic responses and histochemical staining for FE-fibres identification were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Like asbestos, FE caused fibrotic lesions, pleural plaques or nodules and mesotheliomas. A significant increase of lung fibrosis (p < 0.001) was observed in the FE-treated groups compared to untreated controls. In the fibrotic responses to FE, vimentin was the most expressed protein, followed by collagen-I and alpha-SMA. Finally, ferruginous bodies, characterized by iron deposits and ferritin expression, were observed in FE-induced lesions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study confirmed that FE exposure promotes the onset of fibrotic lesions at pleural level, as fibrous plaques or nodules and fibrosis, through a mechanism similar to other form of asbestos. These results combined with epidemiological study reported in Biancavilla residents, corroborate the need to promote health and epidemiological surveillance plans of respiratory diseases in population living in FE contaminated sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"19 1","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11639117/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142820023","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}