American journal of industrial medicine最新文献

{"title":"An Under-Recognized Burden: Occupational Injuries in Adolescents and Young Adults Presenting to Emergency Care in Türkiye","authors":"Bilge Akkaya,&nbsp;Caner Cebeci,&nbsp;Emine Sarcan,&nbsp;Fatma Şule Erdem,&nbsp;Ahmet Serkan Özcan,&nbsp;Orkun Aydın,&nbsp;Betül Öztürk,&nbsp;Ali Güngör,&nbsp;Nilden Tuygun","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70100","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70100","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Occupational injuries in adolescents and young adults are a significant public health burden. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, injury patterns, and outcomes of young workers presenting to a pediatric emergency department in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This retrospective study analyzed 192 young workers (aged 14–21 years) who presented to the emergency department between January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2025. Injuries were classified according to the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS), ILO hazardous work criteria, and “severe injury” definitions. Statistical analysis compared adolescent workers (14–17 years) and young adult workers (18–21 years).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The median age of the cases was 18 years (IQR 16–20), and 156 (81.3%) were male. The most common types of injury were soft tissue damage (<i>n</i> = 44, 22.9%) and blunt/penetrating trauma (<i>n</i> = 43, 22.4%). The most common anatomical sites of injury were the hand-wrist (<i>n</i> = 72, 37.5%) and eye (<i>n</i> = 37, 19.3%) regions. A total of 43 (22.3%) cases worked in occupations that were not age-appropriate and 39 (20.3%) patients met the criteria for “severe injury.” Surgical intervention was performed on 32 patients (16.7%), while permanent sequelae developed in 25 cases (13%). Notably, despite the need for medical intervention, no official work accident report was found in 69 (35.9%) cases, and 48 (25%) patients had recorded follow-up presentations for occupational injuries.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Occupational injuries in young workers are a serious public health problem with high morbidity and surgical requirement rates. The reporting gap between clinical reality and official records indicates that these cases are under-recognized. Pediatric emergency departments are critical monitoring points for documenting these injuries, developing preventive policies, and identifying hazardous working conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 8","pages":"666-673"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148148171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asbestos-Related Respiratory Diseases in Spain: Insights From the Spanish Registry","authors":"Galo Granados,&nbsp;María-Jesús Cruz,&nbsp;Isabel Urrutia-Landa,&nbsp;Olaia Bronte-Moreno,&nbsp;Sandra Dorado-Arenas,&nbsp;Carmen Diego-Roza,&nbsp;Irene Nieto-Codesido,&nbsp;Santiago Rodríguez-Segade-Alonso,&nbsp;Raquel Ruiz-Ferreras,&nbsp;Ana Fernández-Tena,&nbsp;Rosirys Guzmán-Taveras,&nbsp;Aida Quero-Martínez,&nbsp;María Encarnación Barroso-Medel,&nbsp;Eva María Rosillo-Hernández,&nbsp;Antonio Santa Cruz-Siminiani,&nbsp;Marta Hernández-Olivo,&nbsp;Cristina Martínez-González,&nbsp;Pilar Cebollero,&nbsp;Belén Marín-Martínez,&nbsp;Tamara Gutiérrez-Urra,&nbsp;Pablo Sanchez-Salcedo,&nbsp;Fernando Romero-Valero,&nbsp;Sara Calero Pardo,&nbsp;Federico Madrid-SanMartin,&nbsp;Jaime Signes Costa,&nbsp;Enric Burés-Sales,&nbsp;Mª Belén Safont-Muñoz,&nbsp;Juan José Ruíz-Cubillán,&nbsp;Jaume Ferrer-Sancho","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70093","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although many Spanish workers have been exposed to asbestos, asbestos-related diseases (ARD) have not been widely reported in this country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the data recorded in the Spanish Registry of asbestos-derived diseases.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A retrospective observational study was conducted based on data reported between September 19, 2018, and May 15, 2023, covering 11 Spanish autonomous communities. Variables included demographic data, type of exposure, symptoms, pulmonary function tests, radiological studies, and initial and follow-up diagnoses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One thousand seven hundred and twenty-one cases were reported, with a mean age of 75.2 years. The majority were men (96.7%) and were smokers or former smokers (78.8%). Occupational exposure accounted for 98.3% of cases, mainly in the naval sector (70%). Pleural plaques were the most prevalent diagnosis (82.1%), followed by asbestosis (14.9%) and lung cancer (11%). During follow-up, 181 new diagnoses were made, including lung cancer (23.76%) and mesothelioma (11.6%). The overall mortality rate was 13.4%, with lung cancer being the leading cause of death.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study provides a first overview of ARD in Spain. The most notable findings are the importance of shipyards as a source of exposure, the predominance of pleural plaques and the number of new diagnoses made during the follow-up, and the need for continuous surveillance and early diagnosis to mitigate asbestos-related adverse effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 8","pages":"614-621"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147959596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations Between Nonstandard Work Schedules and Abnormal Sleep Duration and Weekend Catch-Up Sleep: Findings From a Nationally Representative Sample of Middle-Aged Workers in Japan","authors":"Huilin Wang,&nbsp;Hideyuki Kobayashi,&nbsp;Masaya Takahashi,&nbsp;Kyoko Suzuki,&nbsp;Tomohiro Takami","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70087","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70087","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Owing to the rise of the 24/7 economy, many workers operate around the clock. However, few studies have explored the association between specific types of nonstandard work schedules (NWSs) and sleep.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using a nationally representative sample of middle-aged workers (<i>n</i> = 14,675) in Japan, we investigated the associations between four types of NWSs (evening, morning, both morning and evening, and night schedules) and abnormal sleep duration on weekdays and weekend catch-up sleep (WCS) via multinomial logistic regression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Compared to daytime work schedules, all four types of NWSs were associated with increased risks of very short (&lt; 5 h) and long (≥ 9 h) sleep duration and short (1 h) WCS. Night schedules were associated with the highest risk of very short sleep duration, whereas both morning and evening schedules were associated with the highest risk of short (5 h) and long sleep duration. Additionally, both morning and evening, and night schedules were associated with increased risks of moderate (2 h) and long (≥ 3 h) WCS. Stratification revealed sex-related differences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Work timing is independently associated with abnormal sleep duration and WCS. Furthermore, the associations differ across different types of NWSs. These findings provide insights into worktime arrangements in workplaces to promote sleep health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"548-559"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147809583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Respirable Dust Exposure in Western Australian Mining: Trends, Variability, and Implications for Occupational Health","authors":"Renee N. Carey,&nbsp;Susan Peters,&nbsp;Nicholas de Klerk,&nbsp;Fraser Brims,&nbsp;Peter Franklin","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70086","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mining workers are exposed to a range of respiratory hazards, including respirable dust. While exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the mining industry has been found to be common, less is known about trends in measured levels of exposure to respirable dust overall.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study analyzed 109,442 personal respirable dust measurements collected from Western Australian mines between 1986 and 2014. Data were sourced from an industry-wide monitoring database and modeled using mixed-effects regression, adjusting for sampling characteristics (year of measurement, duration, reason), mine type, and job title. Differences in trends over time between mine types were also examined.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall geometric mean respirable dust concentrations declined from 0.393 mg/m³ in 1986–1990 to 0.181 mg/m³ in 2011–2014, representing an average annual decrease of 3.51% (95% confidence interval −3.63% to −3.39%). Modeled exposure levels varied by mine type, with the highest levels observed in iron ore mines (GM 0.489 mg/m³ in 1986 through to 0.197 mg/m³ in 2014) and exploration (GM 0.665 mg/m³ in 1994 through to 0.172 mg/m³ in 2014). Temporal trends varied by mine type, with a steeper decline in exposure levels seen in exploration activities in particular.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Exposure to respirable dust in Western Australian mines has decreased substantially over the past three decades, although higher levels persist in some jobs and activities. While this suggests that existing controls have been broadly effective, the presence of these higher exposures indicates that further measures may be required.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"540-547"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajim.70086","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147809544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Workplace Productivity Cost Associated With Psychological Distress in the United States","authors":"Abay Asfaw,&nbsp;Toni Alterman,&nbsp;Regina Pana-Cryan","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70085","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70085","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Psychological distress (PD) is negatively associated with workplace productivity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To estimate the potential workplace productivity cost of PD related to absenteeism and presenteeism in the United States, and to break down this cost by broad industry sector.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, which included questions on absenteeism and presenteeism, and applied a human capital approach to quantify absenteeism and presenteeism cost associated with PD. We measured PD using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and categorized the presence or severity of PD as: no (K6 = 0), mild (K6 = 1–4), moderate (K6 = 5–12), and severe (K6 ≥ 13) PD. We used workers reporting no PD as the reference group. Our regression models included sociodemographic, economic, health, and workplace covariates.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In 2021, 16,356 sampled adults represented 151 million US workers. Among these workers, 3.8 million (2.5%) reported experiencing severe, 24.0 million (15.9%) moderate, and 57.4 million (38.0%) mild PD. Our regression estimates suggest that the total PD-related absenteeism and presenteeism cost that year was between United States Dollars (USD) 90.1 and 118.2 billion, excluding additional costs related to injury, turnover, disability claims, and early retirement. We also observed statistically significant differences in estimated total and per-worker cost of PD across seven broad industry sectors. Total PD-related cost was highest in the services sector (USD 53.9 billion), followed by healthcare and social assistance (USD 19.7 billion) and wholesale and retail trade (USD 12.4 billion). On a per-worker basis, we observed the highest cost in healthcare and social assistance (USD 950), services (USD 732), and wholesale and retail trade (USD 731).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings showed large and uneven burden of PD across different industries manifested through absenteeism and presenteeism. This burden may be reduced, and productivity enhanced, through improvement in work organization, the implementation of psychosocial risk management strategies, and the expansion of mental health interventions. Investments in workplace mental health may generate returns comparable to other capital investments largely through lowering absenteeism and presenteeism costs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"525-539"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147832710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Into the Artificial Intelligence System Life Cycle","authors":"Jared Bierbrier,&nbsp;Arif Jetha","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70090","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are rapidly transforming the workplace, performing tasks once limited to human intelligence such as decision-making, prediction, and pattern recognition. While AI adoption offers opportunities to improve productivity, it can also create new occupational hazards and alter working conditions in ways that may harm worker health, safety, and wellbeing. Despite broader and growing attention to safe and responsible AI, there is limited integration of occupational health and safety (OHS) principles into AI design and adoption decisions. This paper outlines a framework for embedding an OHS perspective throughout the AI system life cycle, from problem definition to system retirement. The framework aims to ensure that safety, fairness, and worker wellbeing are prioritized in AI. We describe key OHS goals for each phase of the AI life cycle and describe practical strategies to support implementation. These strategies include participatory co-design with workers, equitable data collection, model training and validation that identify and minimize safety risks, transparent deployment practices, and continuous monitoring and retraining guided by risk management frameworks. We emphasize collaboration among AI system developers, OHS professionals, and worker and workplace representatives, to anticipate and address emerging risks. Integrating OHS principles into the AI system life cycle not only helps prevent harm but also fosters worker trust, strengthens system reliability, and promotes sustainable technological adoption. Embedding OHS principles into AI development ensures that the technology contributes to, rather than compromises, the protection and wellbeing of workers in a changing world of work.</p>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"491-502"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajim.70090","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147873106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agricultural Injuries With Dementia: Double Whammy?","authors":"Kanika Arora,&nbsp;Jonathan Davis,&nbsp;Lila B. Basnet,&nbsp;Julie Bobitt","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70082","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70082","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nearly 40% of US farmers are over 65 years old. Some emerging evidence links agricultural occupational exposure to increased dementia risk. However, little is known about dementia and injury outcomes in agricultural settings.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We employed data from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use File (ACS-TQP-PUF) (2017–2021), identifying individuals aged ≥ 60 with (1) agricultural injuries and dementia (Group 1; <i>N</i> = 318), (2) agricultural injuries without dementia (Group 2; <i>N</i> = 21,361), and (3) dementia without agricultural injuries (Group 3; <i>N</i> = 231,231). Injury mechanisms were compared across groups using chi-square tests. Injury severity was assessed via Injury Severity Score and the use of intensive care unit (ICU) or surgical care by hospitalized patients. Generalized ordered logit and logistic regression models estimated associations between group membership and injury severity, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Falls caused 94% of traumatic injuries in individuals with dementia alone but accounted for only 35% of injuries in those with both agricultural injuries and dementia. Group 1 and Group 2 experienced a broader range of injury mechanisms including motor vehicle traffic, transport, and environmental incidents. Compared to Group 3, Group 1 had higher probability of experiencing major injuries and receiving ICU/surgical care. Injury severity was largely similar between Groups 1 and 2.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study provides suggestive evidence that older adults with dementia and agricultural injuries experience more severe outcomes than those in nonagricultural settings. Future research should explore this group in greater depth as well as the implications for dementia caregivers in agricultural communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"575-582"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajim.70082","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147687755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Civilian Occupational Exposure to Vapors, Gas, Dust, or Fumes and Respiratory Health Among United States Military Veterans","authors":"Sahra Mohazzab-Hosseinian,&nbsp;Carrie A. Redlich,&nbsp;Anna M. Korpak,&nbsp;Andrew K. I. Timmons,&nbsp;Nicholas L. Smith,&nbsp;Karen S. Nakayama,&nbsp;Farrah Kheradmand,&nbsp;Vincent S. Fan,&nbsp;Michael Jerrett,&nbsp;Philippe R. Montgrain,&nbsp;Christine H. Wendt,&nbsp;Ware G. Kuschner,&nbsp;Emily S. Wan,&nbsp;Eric Garshick,&nbsp;Paul D. Blanc","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70083","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70083","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated associations of self-reported and job exposure matrix (JEM) assigned civilian occupational exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes (VGDF) with respiratory symptoms among previously deployed US Veterans.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An interviewer-administered questionnaire ascertained self-reported civilian occupational VGDF exposure. A JEM categorized occupational VGDF based on longest-held civilian occupation and industry of employment. Models tested associations of self-reported and JEM-assigned VGDF with dyspnea, chronic bronchitis (CB), or wheeze, adjusting for smoking and other covariates.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Among 1868 participants (mean age 37.8 ± 13.1 years); 1654 (89%) males; the median occupational duration was 6 years. The prevalence of JEM-assigned VGDF exposure or self-reported civilian occupational VGDF exposure was 31% for both, with modest agreement between them (kappa 0.48). Any JEM VGDF exposure was statistically significantly associated with increased odds of CB (odds ratio [OR]) 1.75; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.05–2.20). Self-reported VGDF exposure was less strongly associated with increased CB odds (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.85–1.86). JEM alone demonstrated a statistically significant association with CB (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.31–2.68); combined JEM and self-reported VGDF demonstrated a similar but not statistically significant association with CB (OR 1.68; 95% CI 0.90–2.35). Self-reported VGDF alone was not positively associated with CB, dyspnea, or wheeze.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Civilian occupational VGDF exposures (assessed by self-report and JEM) were common. Exposure to VGDF was most consistently associated with increased odds of CB, underscoring the need to consider civilian occupational factors when assessing Veterans' health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"503-511"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajim.70083","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in Work Arrangements, Psychosocial Working Conditions, and Worker Well-Being Between 2018 and 2022: Evidence From the General Social Survey","authors":"Tapas K. Ray,&nbsp;Regina Pana-Cryan,&nbsp;Anasua Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70088","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used national-level data to compare worker demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, work arrangements, psychosocial working conditions, safety and health, job security, wages and benefits, and worker health and well-being before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2018, and in the late stage of the pandemic, in 2022. Understanding these changes helps inform some of the potential ways these factors may shape the future of work.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed self-reported and publicly available data from the 2018 and 2022 waves of the General Social Survey (GSS)—Quality of Worklife (QWL) module, focusing on adults working part-time or full-time. We describe differences in the broad categories of interest mentioned above, as well as subcategories within each. For example, we assessed changes in psychosocial working conditions by focusing on subcategories that included job demands, job control, role conflict, resource adequacy, job support, work flexibility, and work and family interface, that is, the boundaries between work and family life. We used Mann–Whitney tests to assess statistically significant changes, using weighted, nationally representative worker samples (<i>N</i> = 1473 in 2018; <i>N</i> = 2112 in 2022).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Between 2018 and 2022, we observed two changes in work arrangements; the share of independent contractors increased (from 12.4% to 14.4%) while the share of those working full-time decreased (from 81.3% to 78.5%). Psychosocial conditions exhibited mixed trends; job demands and control showed marginal improvement, while role conflict, resource adequacy, and job support worsened. The share of workers who mainly worked at home increased (6.6%–17.2%), alongside those experiencing family-work conflict (from 26% to 32%). Health and well-being also worsened, with more workers reporting lower job satisfaction and very often feeling used up (from 13.1% to 16.0%). In addition, workers reported more days in poor mental health (from 3.6 to 4.4 days) and days with activity limitations (from 1.6 to 2.2) in the past 30 days.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The quality of worklife in 2022 differed meaningfully from 2018, though not uniformly for better or worse. For example, increases in working at home and the share of independent contractor arrangements suggest different potential long-term consequences for worker well-being. Continued monitoring and more nuanced analyses are essential to understanding the evolving future of work.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"560-574"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147866426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum PFAS in Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Firefighters From Six U.S. Airport Fire Departments","authors":"Miriam M. Calkins,&nbsp;Yiwen Liu,&nbsp;Gavin Horn,&nbsp;Antonia M. Calafat,&nbsp;Judith M. Graber,&nbsp;Shawn C. Beitel,&nbsp;Alberto J. Caban-Martinez,&nbsp;Julianne Cook Botelho,&nbsp;Randy Krause,&nbsp;Rob Mathis,&nbsp;Jeff Hughes,&nbsp;Casey Grant,&nbsp;Jaclyn M. Goodrich,&nbsp;Amy Nematollahi,&nbsp;Alesia M. Jung,&nbsp;Alissa D. Coleman,&nbsp;Sally Littau,&nbsp;Brooke A. Hawkes,&nbsp;Alexander C. Mayer,&nbsp;Jefferey L. Burgess","doi":"10.1002/ajim.70084","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajim.70084","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a source of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for firefighters working in aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) settings. However, data characterizing the association between serum PFAS concentrations and exposure risk factors for ARFF firefighters are limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this cross-sectional study, ARFF firefighters (<i>N</i> = 193) from six U.S. commercial airports provided serum for quantification of nine PFAS and completed a survey in 2019-2020. A drinking water sample from each fire station was also analyzed for 29 PFAS. Serum PFAS concentrations were compared with demographically-similar participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify factors associated with serum PFAS concentrations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Geometric mean serum concentrations of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) branched isomers, and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were statistically higher in ARFF firefighters compared with NHANES participants. PFAS were detected in tap water at three fire departments, but only one department was characterized by detection of select PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, and PFHxS) in both water and serum. Past employment, detection of PFAS in drinking water, and age were positively associated with select PFAS concentrations; a recent change in workplace AFFF behavior or practice, female sex, and Black race exhibited inverse associations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants reporting changes in workplace behavior, policy, or practice had lower summed PFAS concentrations, suggesting these measures may help reduce exposure. Continued research is needed to evaluate exposure reduction strategies for firefighters, particularly those working in ARFF settings.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7873,"journal":{"name":"American journal of industrial medicine","volume":"69 7","pages":"512-524"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajim.70084","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}