Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Correction: Vapors, gases, dusts and fumes at work and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analyses.","authors":"Victoria H Arrandale, Yizhi Zhang, Wendy Lou, Andrea C Tricco, Ambrose Lau, Ani Orchanian-Cheff, Paul K Henneberger, Susan M Tarlo","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00519-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00519-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609119","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":"Biomonitoring of acetylcholinesterase inhibition among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Raphael J Mwezi, Jones A Kapeleka, Rosevera Kombo, Yusuph Owanga, Sarah J Urasa, Marieke C J Dekker, William P Howlet, Richard Walker, Joseph Bukalasa, John-Mary Vianney","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00520-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00520-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Agricultural workers in Tanzania face substantial occupational health risks associated with pesticide exposure, yet national biomonitoring data remain limited. Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an established biomarker of pesticide exposure and early biological effect. This study evaluated erythrocyte AChE inhibition among agricultural workers across multiple farming systems and geographic regions in Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2025 within the framework of occupational safety assessments coordinated by the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA). A total of 1,387 agricultural workers from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro, Mbeya/Songwe, and Coastal regions were recruited using multistage stratified sampling. Participants were classified as pesticide-exposed workers if they directly handled pesticides during agricultural activities and as apparently unexposed workers if they had no direct occupational pesticide handling responsibilities. Erythrocyte AChE activity was measured using the Test-mate ChE Cholinesterase Test System (Model 400). Statistical analyses included independent-samples t-tests, one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), mixed-effects regression models, Pearson correlation analyses, and Tukey's Honest Significant Difference post-hoc tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pesticide-exposed workers had significantly lower AChE levels compared with apparently unexposed workers (21.52 ± 2.41 vs. 28.47 ± 6.93 U/g Hb; mean difference = 6.95 U/g Hb; 95% CI: 6.54-7.36; p < 0.001). Regional differences were observed, with Morogoro recording the lowest mean AChE level and the highest proportion of exposed workers. Sugarcane workers demonstrated lower mean AChE levels than other agricultural sectors. Mixed-effects modeling confirmed that occupational pesticide exposure remained significantly associated with reduced AChE activity after adjustment for farm-level clustering and covariates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates a strong association between occupational pesticide exposure and reduced erythrocyte AChE activity among agricultural workers across diverse farming systems in Tanzania. The findings support the integration of routine cholinesterase biomonitoring into occupational health surveillance programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13693038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149247125","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":"Field-based evaluation of hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat exposure among grounds maintenance workers in the southeastern United States: a pilot study.","authors":"Seunghyeon Yang, Nathan Chen, Claudiu T Lungu, Jonghwa Oh","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00523-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00523-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate simultaneous exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat among grounds maintenance workers.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Ten groundskeepers employed at a southern US institution were recruited. Individual workers' exposure to HAV and heat was monitored during their regular work shift for three days. HAV exposure was measured using tri-axial vibration dosimeters worn on both hands of the participants to obtain daily vibration exposure (A(8)) and vibration total value (a_hv) for each power tool used. Daily HAV exposure dose was determined using a_hv for all tools used and corresponding tool operation duration. Lifetime cumulative HAV exposure dose (a_hv-lifetime) was determined based on a_hv for all tools used and exposure history obtained from a questionnaire. Personal heat exposure was evaluated using a wearable device to collect estimated core body temperature (CBT). Environmental heat metrics, including heat index (HI) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), were determined using a WBGT monitor. Environmental parameters, including ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation, were also measured using a portable weather station.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean A(8) values of the ten individual workers ranged from 0.8 to 3.3 m/s² for the right hand and 0.7 to 2.9 m/s² for the left hand. Tool-specific mean a_hv ranged from 2.3 to 4.8 m/s² for the right hand and 2.6 to 6.2 m/s² for the left hand. The daily HAV exposure dose ranged from 6.2 to 23.7 m/s² for the right hand and from 4.6 to 23.4 m/s² for the left hand. The a_hv-lifetime range was 1,128.5 to 172,333.0 and 1,102.4 to 161,462.6 h∙m/s² for the right and left hands, respectively. The daily mean of estimated CBT of the individual workers ranged from 36.7 to 39.1 °C. The daily mean HI and WBGT values were from 20.7 to 48.9 °C and from 17.5 to 37.5 °C, respectively. The average ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were 30.3 ± 4.1 °C, 59.9 ± 14.5%, and 217.8 ± 248.5 W/m², respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>One groundskeeper's three-day average A(8) exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) action limit (AL) of 2.5 m/s². During the three-day full-time shift, 19.0% of total work hours exceeded the upper normal CBT range of 38 °C, and 66.0 and 65.4% of total work hours were at or above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s proposed high heat trigger for HI (32.2 °C) and WBGT (26.7 °C for heavy workload), respectively. These findings indicate that continuous monitoring for heat strain is needed for outdoor workers whose jobs require a high workload especially under the southeastern US summer climate.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13685117/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149229152","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":"Perceived employment vulnerability in Latin America in the context of a potential new pandemic: a multicountry cross-sectional study.","authors":"Christian R Mejía, Víctor Serna-Alarcón, Jamil Cedillo-Balcázar, Leonel Vega-Useche, Dalia Useche-Villamizar, Camilo Vega-Useche","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00521-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00521-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Emerging infectious disease threats may reactivate concerns about employment instability and economic disruption, particularly in regions marked by labor informality, social inequality, and limited social protection. Although the effects of COVID-19 on employment have been widely documented, less is known about how workers perceive the potential labor consequences of future health emergencies. This study aimed to assess perceived labor-related repercussions of a potential new pandemic among workers in Latin America.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from an online survey administered to workers from more than ten Latin American countries between June and July 2022, during the early phase of the 2022 mpox outbreak. Participants were asked about the expected impact of a potential new pandemic on their employment, salary, and overall work situation. Associations between perceived labor-related repercussions and sociodemographic and occupational factors were evaluated using Poisson generalized linear models with a log link and robust variance, adjusted for country of residence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 850 surveyed workers, 64.2% perceived that a potential new pandemic would have a considerable or very strong impact on their work. In the adjusted analysis, men reported a lower perceived impact than women (aPR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78-0.97; p = 0.009). Lower perceived impact was also observed among those engaged in virtual work (aPR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.93; p = 0.018) and hybrid work (aPR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73-0.97; p = 0.017), compared with in-person workers. No occupational sector showed a statistically significant difference compared with healthcare workers in the revised adjusted model, although the food sector had a higher, non-significant point estimate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Perceived labor-related vulnerability in the context of a potential new pandemic was substantial among workers in Latin America. Perceptions differed mainly according to sex and work modality, while occupational-sector estimates should be interpreted cautiously because of subgroup heterogeneity and limited precision.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13656704/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457315","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":"Associations of weekly working hours with biological aging and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: the role of lifestyle.","authors":"Tiina Föhr, Anna Kankaanpää, Aino Heikkinen, Mikaela Hukkanen, Christer Hublin, Jaakko Kaprio, Miina Ollikainen, Elina Sillanpää","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00518-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00518-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This explorative study investigated the associations between working hours, biological aging, and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and assessed the potential mediating role of lifestyle factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized data from the Older Finnish Twin Cohort, which comprised 9246 participants who had reported their weekly working hours in 1990. Biological aging was assessed using blood-based epigenetic aging measures in a subsample (n = 740). We used a counterfactual mediation approach. Lifestyle-related factors, including leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and sleep, were considered potential mediators. Between-within twin models were used to evaluate the extent to which shared familial factors confounded the observed associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the mean 28-year follow-up period, 20.5% of the participants died. Long hours were directly associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality, but only at the between-pair level; there were no associations with biological aging. However, long hours were indirectly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality through a higher BMI and smoking, and with an increased risk of CVD mortality through lower LTPA levels. Long hours were also indirectly associated with accelerated biological aging through smoking. Part-time work was indirectly associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality through a lower BMI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of this explorative study suggest that direct associations between long working hours, biological aging, and mortality are shaped by lifestyle-mediated pathways and shared familial factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148363202","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":"Vapors, gases, dusts and fumes at work and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analyses.","authors":"Victoria H Arrandale, Yizhi Zhang, Wendy Lou, Andrea C Tricco, Ambrose Lau, Ani Orchanian-Cheff, Paul K Henneberger, Susan M Tarlo","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00515-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00515-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease and stroke. A 2019 American Thoracic Society (ATS) statement estimated that 13-15% of all COPD is attributable to occupational exposures.</p><p><strong>Research question: </strong>This study reports on a systematic review with meta-analysis (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022302451) that was undertaken to characterize jobs and work exposures associated with an increased risk of developing COPD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five databases were searched (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Systematic reviews, Register of Controlled Trials) from inception until February 26, 2025. Studies published in English or Chinese that studied workers (or workplace exposures) in relation to COPD, chronic bronchitis (CB) or emphysema and reported on a minimum of 15 exposed cases, with a comparison group, were included. The National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute (NHLBI) Study Quality Assessment Tool was used. All reported estimates (e.g., RR, OR, HR) were extracted. Random effects models were used to estimate meta effect estimates (mEE) with 95% confidence intervals. Stratified models were constructed by study design, smoking, and sex, where possible.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After de-duplication, 9115 citations were screened. Following full-text review 257 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were cross-sectional (71%) and conducted in Europe or North America (68%). Most were fair quality (72%) with only 5.8% assessed as good quality. Results showed a consistent relationship between workplace exposure to vapours, gases, dusts or fumes (VGDF) for spirometry-defined COPD (mEE 1.51; 95% CI 1.31-1.73; n = 20 studies), self-reported COPD (mEE 1.48; 95% CI 1.23-1.77; n = 14) and chronic bronchitis (mEE 1.83; 95% CI 1.51-2.21; n = 29). This relationship was slightly stronger in non-smokers and was weaker among women.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>There was a consistent relationship of workplace exposures with both CB and COPD. The effect of occupational exposures on COPD outcomes appears to be at least additive with smoking.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>The project was registered with PROSPERO, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022302451). Date of registration: 5th April 2022.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13292429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148320150","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":"Why do occupational hygienists and physicians fail to communicate and collaborate when faced with chemicals in the workplace? A qualitative study from the Netherlands.","authors":"Julia M van Beekum, Dorine van Geuns, Floor Stuit, Gilbert W M Wijntjens, Jolanda Willems, Wendy Tijssen-Caan, Karin I Proper, Frederieke G Schaafsma","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00517-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00517-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Workers who handle hazardous substances are at risk of health impairments, occupational diseases and even premature death. Occupational diseases are preventable, but early detection, diagnosis and intervention remain inadequate. Therefore, we aim to gain insight into the determinants of timely identification of health effects caused by exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace as perceived by occupational health professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted seventeen online semi-structured interviews among Dutch occupational hygienists and occupational physicians on their perspectives and experiences in identifying chemical-related health effects in the workplace. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the data were analysed using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Occupational hygienists and occupational physicians experience limited knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy for timely identification of chemical-related health effects. These modifiable determinants hinder effective collaboration between these occupational health professionals in translating exposure to hazardous substances into health effects and vice versa. Moreover, different system-level determinants in the Netherlands further impede this collaboration. Existing tools for occupational health professionals reinforce this gap by supporting either exposure assessment or health effect evaluation, rarely bridging the two. As a result, current tools are often tailored to a single professional group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results from our study suggest that gaps in knowledge, skills and self-efficacy hinder timely identification of chemical-related health effects in the Netherlands. The findings of this study can inform the development of multidisciplinary interventions and multifaceted strategies aimed at improving prevention of chemical-related occupational disease and timely implementation of appropriate (workplace) measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13543342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303653","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":"Voice characteristics of iron and steel workers: an acoustic and self-reported cross-sectional study.","authors":"Gamze Yesilli-Puzella, İlknur Coşkun-Karaveli","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00516-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00516-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational environments with dust, noise, and high vocal demands can adversely impact voice production. Iron and steel workers encounter several environmental risk factors that may impair vocal function, nevertheless, objective acoustic and self-reported voice outcomes in this population have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the acoustic and self-reported voice characteristics of iron and steel manufacturing workers and compare these findings with those of a normophonic control group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional comparative research comprised 128 male participants: 64 steel and iron factory workers and 64 normophonic controls. Voice evaluation consisted of F0, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, smoothed cepstral peak prominence, Acoustic Voice Quality Index, maximum phonation time, Voice Handicap Index-10 and Voice-Related Quality of Life. Mann-Whitney U tests or Welch's t-tests were used for between-group comparisons, as appropriate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Iron and steel workers had significantly lower F0 and smoothed cepstral peak prominence values and higher jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, and Acoustic Voice Quality Index scores than controls (all p < 0.01). The maximum phonation time was significantly shorter in workers (p < 0.001). The mean Voice Handicap Index-10 score among workers exceeded the Turkish threshold, and the Voice-Related Quality of Life scores were significantly lower than those of controls (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Iron and steel industry workers had lower acoustic and self-reported markers of voice quality than normophonic individuals. These findings indicate that exposure to industrial noise and airborne irritants may be associated with subclinical changes in voice characteristics. In occupational health, a comprehensive voice assessment can serve as a time-saving, non-invasive screening tool to support early diagnosis and prevention of work-related voice problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411114/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148260075","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 blood manganese and cognitive function in a national representative survey.","authors":"Sahara Elfaks, Eric Amster","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00513-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00513-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Manganese (Mn) is an essential heavy metal, required for the normal development of many organ systems and is crucial to brain growth and development. At high exposure concentrations, Mn is a neurotoxicant. Mn exposure has been associated with motor, behavioral and cognitive impairment. Few studies have assessed the association between Mn exposure and cognitive function using NHANES data.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study re-explored the association between blood manganese concentrations and cognitive function through a re-analysis of NHANES 2011-2014 data using a larger combined sample and composite cognitive z-score methodology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A representative survey of the US population (60-80 years of age) completed objective cognitive function assessments and metal biomonitoring (n = 2,439). We created a composite cognitive z-score by using the average of the standardized scores of the six cognitive tests (three trials of CERAD Word List Learning Test, CERAD delayed recall, Animal fluency test and DSST) and compared to adjusted blood Mn. Linear regression was performed by constructing three models (univariate model, a model with all covariates and a model with only significant covariates). Confounding by gender, age, race/ethnicity, education level, total number of people in the family, smoking history and income (family monthly poverty level category) are included in the models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Median Mn was 8.71 µg/L with an IQR of 6.94-11.16. There was a statistically significant association between quartiles of blood Mn and composite z-score, only in the univariate model. However, in linear regression analyses, adjusting for potential confounders, blood Mn as a continuous variable was not statistically associated with the composite cognitive z-score (µg/L, β = 0.0038, 95% CI -0.004 to 0.012). The mean of composite z-score in the first quartile is the lowest compared to the mean of the second, third and fourth, with statistical significance. While the mean of the third quartile is the highest, followed by the fourth and then the second (0.022, 0.012 and 0.007, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that associations between blood manganese concentrations and cognitive performance at low environmental exposure levels are modest and attenuate after adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic confounders. Unlike some previous NHANES analyses that reported impaired cognition primarily among individuals with higher manganese exposure, we did not observe a consistent independent dose-response association across the broader population exposure range.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148165097","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":"Welding and brazing fumes and lung cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Yangwoo Kim, Eun Mi Kim, Inah Kim","doi":"10.1186/s12995-026-00512-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12995-026-00512-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous systematic reviews have adopted binary exposure classifications without characterizing the heterogeneity of welding fume exposures. We aimed to estimate lung cancer risk from welding fumes with systematic exposure characterization by process type, base material, and metal fume component, and to examine evidence for related high-temperature processes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science through July 2025 for cohort, case-control and other epidemiological studies. Exposure information was systematically extracted from full-text descriptions and classified by welding process, base material, and metal fume component. Separate random-effects meta-analyses were performed for comparative risk and standardized ratio estimates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 86 studies meeting inclusion criteria, 58 were included in quantitative synthesis after excluding 12 overlapping cohorts and 16 high-risk-of-bias studies; 39 comparative risk and 22 standardized ratio studies were analyzed. The pooled relative risk was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.36-1.67; I² = 39.4%) and standardized ratio was 1.32 (95% CI: 1.24-1.40; I² = 76.6%). The association was robust across subgroup analyses: studies adjusting for smoking (RR = 1.55; n = 31) and asbestos (RR = 1.53; n = 12) yielded estimates consistent with the overall finding. A significant dose-response gradient was observed for both comparative risk (p = 0.03) and standardized ratio studies (p = 0.013). Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) showed elevated point estimates, with stainless steel welding showing suggestive evidence of increased risk; however, secondary analyses were based on few studies with wide confidence intervals. Evidence of publication bias was detected but adjusted estimates remained significant. Evidence certainty was moderate for comparative risk and low for standardized ratio estimates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Welding fume exposure is associated with approximately 50% increased lung cancer risk, with consistent sensitivity analyses. Process-specific analyses suggest elevated risks for GMAW and stainless steel welding, though based on limited data, warranting further investigation alongside prioritized prevention efforts. Data on brazing, soldering, and flame cutting were limited, representing evidence gaps for future research.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>PROSPERO CRD420251238410.</p>","PeriodicalId":48903,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13224517/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145278","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}