Annals Of Work Exposures and Health最新文献

{"title":"The relation of musculoskeletal disorders to ergonomic work demands in welders and electrical workers: a prospective Canadian cohort study.","authors":"Nicola Cherry, Jeremy Beach, Jean-Michel Galarneau","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Musculoskeletal disorders are known to result from physical demands at the workplace. Identification of risks specific to particular trades may encourage work modification to prevent new onset conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a Canadian cohort study of male and female welders and electrical workers, we collected self-reports of low-back pain, shoulder pain, and symptoms suggestive of vibration white finger (VWF) at each 6-monthly contact for up to 5 yr. Physician records of back and shoulder/joint disorders and Raynaud's syndrome were extracted from the Alberta administrative health database (AHDB). At each contact, participants completed questions on ergonomic work factors. We computed cumulative hours exposed for 6 factors: whole-body vibration, hand-arm vibration, manipulating heavy objects, working at or above shoulder height, working while crouching or kneeling, and work in cold environments. The relation of current and log cumulative exposures to health outcomes was identified by proportional hazards regression, adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, smoking, anxiety, and depression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1,885 workers recruited January 2011 to September 2017, 872 welders and 812 electrical workers recorded symptoms and workplace demands on at least one occasion, with 693 welders and 567 electrical workers matched to the AHDB. In final models, whole-body vibration was related overall to each self-reported health outcome with backpain risk most in evidence for male welders (HR = 1.10 log increase/h of exposure: 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.15, P < 0.001). Working in a crouching position and in cold temperatures also contributed to back pain in welders. Cumulative hours working at or above shoulder height increased welders' risk of shoulder pain (HR = 1.07 log increase/h of exposure: 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.11, P = 0.001). Working at or above shoulder height was related to both back and shoulder pain in the electrical trades, where cumulative exposure to hand-arm vibration was an additional factor for shoulder pain (HR = 1.06 log increase/h of exposure: 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.10, P = 0.007). Manipulating heavy loads was a further risk factor for back and shoulder pain for women in electrical work. There were only 3 incident cases of Raynaud's syndrome in physician records: symptoms suggestive of VWF related strongly to work in cold environments but not to hand-arm vibration. Physician records of back pain did not reflect specific workplace demands, but physician records of shoulder/joint conditions were greater, overall, in those with longer exposure to whole-body vibration and to current hand-arm vibration in electrical workers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Vibration, a well-recognized hazard, was a risk factor for all outcomes but with whole-body vibration more evidently a risk for welders and hand-arm vibration for electrical workers. The final models of risk factors differed importantly betwe","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental and occupational exposure to erionite and related health risks: progress and prospects.","authors":"Grace Chen, Andrea 't Mannetje, Jennifer A Salmond, Jeroen Douwes","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Erionite, a naturally occurring fibrous zeolite classified as a human carcinogen, is believed to be more potent than asbestos in causing mesothelioma. However, unlike asbestos, erionite has rarely been used for commercial purposes and, as a result, knowledge about exposure pathways is limited. This paper provides a narrative review of the current knowledge regarding the associations between erionite exposure, health effects and exposure circumstances.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medline/PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched up to the end of 2024 using keywords related to erionite exposure and health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 26 peer-reviewed journal articles reporting on the health effects of erionite exposure, specifically mesothelioma and lung cancer, with mesothelioma being the most extensively studied outcome. Of these, 12 studies focussed on erionite-exposed populations in Turkey, 8 examined health effects among Turkish migrants in northern Europe, and 6 investigated erionite-related health risks in North America (3 in the United States and 3 in Mexico). These studies showed a very high incidence of mesothelioma, often in relatively young individuals, from the Cappadocia region of Turkey, with well-documented environmental exposures to erionite, contributing to a high proportion of all deaths (21% to 51%) in affected villages. Evidence of lung cancer associated with erionite exposure was also found. There is also evidence of erionite exposure-associated mesothelioma in Guanajuato, central Mexico. In the United States, erionite exposure-associated health effects (not mesothelioma) have been reported among people occupationally exposed to erionite. Studies on environmental exposures have shown outdoor concentrations ranging from 0.001 f/ml to 0.3 f/ml, while indoor concentrations have ranged from 0.005 to 1.38 f/ml. Occupational exposure to erionite has been less studied, with only one study in forestry workers showing elevated exposures to erionite ranging from non-detectable to 0.36 f/cc. Erionite deposits have also been identified in other countries such as Italy and New Zealand, but exposures and associated health effects have not yet been studied in these regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is clear evidence that environmental exposure to erionite in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, and Guanajuato in central Mexico are causally associated with the high mesothelioma rates observed in these areas. Evidence for other parts of the world where there is naturally occurring erionite is limited. This review has highlighted significant knowledge gaps, and advocates for further research on occupational exposure to erionite fibres and associated health effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of air recirculation and humidification systems on wood dust exposure during woodworking.","authors":"Anne Straumfors, Ine Pedersen, Erika Zardin Brinchmann, Torunn Kringlen Ervik, Anani Afanou, Kristine H Anmarkrud, Monica Eidhammer, Oda A H Foss, Nils Petter Skaugset","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Employees in the woodworking industry, including carpentry workshops, wood product factories, and the wooden house industry, are exposed to wood dust at work. In Norway, this industry is exempt from regulations banning air recirculation, intended to prevent harmful substance buildup in working environments. While wood dust exposure is linked to increased risks of cancer and respiratory diseases, eliminating the exemption could have significant economic consequences for companies reliant on heated air recirculation during winter. A detailed characterization of the exposure is needed to evaluate the health risks associated with recirculated air. Wood dust contains components like resin acids, endotoxins, fungi, bacteria, monoterpenes, and aldehydes, which can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Understanding these exposures is crucial for evaluating whether existing occupational exposure limits (OELs) adequately protect workers' health. This study aimed to assess wood dust and associated exposures in companies with and without air recirculation or humidification. Between 2019 and 2023, full-shift personal aerosol sampling was conducted in 23 companies during winter. Samples were analyzed for wood dust mass, endotoxin, bacteria and fungi, resin acid, monoterpenes, and aldehydes. Log-transformed exposure data were analyzed by mixed models using company types and work-related conditions as fixed effects. Results showed average exposure below OELs but with significant variability. About 25% of measurements exceeded the OEL for inhalable wood dust of 1 mg/m3. Air recirculation had mixed effects; it lowered the monoterpene exposure by 95% (from GM 597 µg/m3 to GM 27 µg/m3) but increased the GM microbial exposure 2 to 5 times across companies. The impact of air recirculation varied across company types. For building element production, it nearly doubled the wood dust exposure from soft woods (from GM 0.15 mg/m3 to GM 0.27 mg/m3), while for door/window manufacturers, exposure was nearly halved compared to those not using air recirculation (from GM 0.44 mg/m3 to GM 0.25 mg/m3). Air humidification lowered the inhalable dust exposure by 59% across the company (from GM 1.36 mg/m3 to 0.56 mg/m3) but led to increases in monoterpene by 90 % (from GM 86 µg/m3 to GM 792 µg/m3) and microbial exposure by up to 64%. Companies manufacturing interior products without a humidification system had resin acid exposure levels that were 10 times higher (GM 3323 ng/m3) compared to those with a humidification system (GM 344 ng/m3). The variability in exposures was mostly influenced by company-specific practices. Evaluation of preventive measures should therefore be tailored to the individual company.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of heat stress and protective clothing on healthcare workers: health, performance, and well-being in hospital settings.","authors":"Razan Wibowo, Malte Satow, Caroline Quartucci, Tobias Weinmann, Daniela Koller, Hein A M Daanen, Dennis Nowak, Stephan Bose-O Reilly, Stefan Rakete","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Heat stress poses a recognized threat to human health. Despite growing evidence, its impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) remains underexplored. This study evaluates occupational heat stress in HCWs, assessing physiological responses and subjective well-being.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve HCWs from a German university hospital were monitored in non-air-conditioned intensive care units (ICU) and non-ICU settings during the summer of 2022 (mean indoor temperature of 26.5 °C) and again in the autumn of the same year or in March 2023 (mean indoor temperature of 23.6 °C). Physiological data (core body temperature, heart rate, and skin temperature) and subjective perceptions were measured using wearable sensors and questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In summer, mean core body and skin temperatures were higher by 0.4 °C and 0.3 °C, respectively. ICU workers exhibited higher heart rates and reported greater mental demands, frustration, and discomfort, particularly when using personal protective equipment (PPE). Common symptoms included sweating, fatigue, and headaches.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed some evidence suggesting that elevated indoor temperatures and reported PPE usage contribute to increased HCWs' heat strain, which could potentially affect health, safety, and performance. Given the observed trends, we recommend considering cooling vests and revising workplace standards to mitigate heat stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"European harmonization of asbestos exposure assessment: comparing PCM, SEM, and TEM to derive conversion factors.","authors":"Remy Franken, Peter Tromp, Torunn Kringlen Ervik, James Staff, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Céline Eypert-Blaison, Anders Brostrøm, Annapaola Cannizzaro, Maria Teresa Sanchez Cabo, Maria Rosaria Bruno, Ana Sofia Fonseca, Laurie Davies, Pål Graff, Suzanne Spaan","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After the European ban on the use of asbestos, exposure assessment of asbestos became imperative for ensuring compliance with safety standards. However, each European country has their own legislation and requirements, including measurement strategies, analytical techniques such as the microscope used as well as occupational exposure limits (OELs). The recent EU directive (EU) 2023/2668 significantly lowered the OEL for asbestos from 100,000 fibres/m³ 8-h time-weighted average to either 2,000 fibres/m³ when counting fibres between 0.2 and 3 µm in diameter, or 10,000 fibres/m³ when counting fibres thinner than 0.2 µm and dictates a transition from optical to electron microscopy analysis by the end of 2029. This change impacts Member States that rely on phase-contrast microscopy (PCM) to quantify asbestos concentrations, prompting the need for a standardized comparison between different analytical methods. Therefore, our study investigated whether conversion factors could be developed, enabling comparison of results obtained with different analytical techniques. To achieve this, a phased approach was applied, involving a survey of measurement strategies implemented by different countries in Europe, a literature search, and analysis of in-house data to explore differences between analytical techniques. Standardized conversion factors were developed via (i) direct comparison of concentrations from analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and/or PCM, (ii) a multiple linear regression model, and (iii) via log probability plots from raw data on fibre dimensions. Ten institutes from the 'Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health' (PEROSH) asbestos network participated in this study. The results showed that SEM and PCM were the most commonly used analytical techniques, with TEM also being used in 3 countries. OELs and measurement standards/protocols varied across countries, and most employed national derived standards for measurements. Conversion factors overall showed that measurements analysed by TEM resulted in higher fibre concentrations followed by PCM and SEM. Although conversion factors were developed, these were influenced by factors such as material type, applied energy, and local controls, preventing the derivation of a general conversion method.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144141242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New York City occupations at-risk of heat stress: integrating O*NET and BLS data for occupational insights.","authors":"A Michael Ierardi, Brian Pavilonis","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Extreme heat poses a growing threat to occupational health and safety in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan region with projections indicating substantial increases in heat wave events and heat-related mortality in the coming decades. We, therefore, aimed to identify NYC occupations at greatest heat stress risk using publicly available data. Two databases were mapped and merged to compile available occupational information for job titles in the NYC metropolitan region. Two certified industrial hygienists identified variables within these databases to include in a heat stress risk model and weighted these accordingly. Inter-rater reliability and agreement statistics were calculated. The final model was applied to the merged database to identify the scope of the NYC-region worker population potentially impacted by heat stress. The final merged database included 717 Standard Occupational Classification codes with data for 407 categories from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), as well as employment and wage data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regarding the risk model, the raters' variable selection and weighting were generally consistent and entailed the inclusion of 11 variables. Upon applying the final risk model to the merged database, 178 880 total workers were found to constitute the top 25 at-risk job titles with total employment n > 500, with more than half of this identified workforce classified as landscaping and groundskeeping workers (n = 51 790) and construction laborers (n = 46 390). Our analysis successfully identified NYC occupations at greatest risk of heat stress, achieving our aim and providing a foundation for targeted mitigation strategies. The success of any extreme heat mitigation policies will depend on effective enforcement and outreach to impacted workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of occupational exposure risk experienced by a cohort of workers exposed to acrylonitrile using a register-based information system.","authors":"Alberto Scarselli, Antonietta Porzio, Alessandro Marinaccio","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaf021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to explore the extent of exposure to acrylonitrile in workplaces in Italy and its potential implications for workers' health.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Exposure measurements data (n = 31,599) on acrylonitrile reported in the period 1996 to 2022 to the Italian national register of occupational exposures, called SIREP, were collected and analysed. Concurrent exposures with other occupational carcinogens were investigated using SPSS 2-step cluster analysis. A retrospective register-based cohort mortality study was performed, and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated linking exposure data to national mortality statistics in the period 2005 to 2020.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most of the exposures occurred in the chemical industry (88%). Exposure to multiple occupational carcinogens was detected frequently (92% of exposed workers). Elevated proportions of deaths from lung and brain cancer, as well as Parkinson's disease, were found among exposed male workers (SMR = 1.3, CI: 1.0 to 1.7; SMR = 1.8, CI: 1.0 to 3.2; and SMR = 2.8, CI: 1.2 to 6.8, respectively). Among other cancers, increased proportions of deaths from multiple myeloma (SMR = 2.9, CI: 1.4 to 5.7), leukemia (SMR = 3.7, CI:1.2 to 11.4), and mesothelioma (SMR = 4.2, CI: 2.2 to 8.1) were also found.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The monitoring of occupational exposures for the prevention of related risks is the main goal of epidemiological surveillance systems such as SIREP. Some acrylonitrile exposure circumstances deserve special attention, especially in the chemical and plastic industries. The excesses mortality from Parkinson's disease, lung cancer, and brain cancer constitute an actual concern for acrylonitrile exposed workers and warrant the implementation of further prevention measures and investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144101084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A quantitative solar ultraviolet radiation job-exposure matrix for Europe.","authors":"Else T Würtz, Kirsten Pugdahl, Morten Fenger-Grøn, Ina A Berglind, Mark P C Cherrie, Anna Dahlman-Höglund, Kasper Grandahl, Jelena Macan, Alberto Modenese, Hilde Notø, Svetlana Solovieva, Kurt Straif, Marc Wittlich, Sven Connemann, Timo Heepenstrick, Peter A Philipsen, Stephan Westerhausen, Calvin B Ge, Johnni Hansen, Cheryl E Peters, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Vivi Schlünssen, Henrik A Kolstad","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf011","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Outdoor workers are exposed to high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR causes skin cancer and is a risk factor for cataract and other short- and long-term health effects, but there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the exposure-response relations based on quantitative measures of UVR exposure. We developed a quantitative UVR job-exposure matrix (JEM) for the general working population of Europe.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three experts from each of Northern, Central, and Southern Europe rated duration of outdoor work for all 372 occupations defined by the International Standard Classification of Occupations from 1988 (ISCO-88(COM)). A systematic literature search identified 12 studies providing 223 sets of summary workday UVR exposure for 49 ISCO-88(COM) occupations based on 75,711 personal workday measurements obtained from 2,645 participants and reported as arithmetic mean standard erythemal dose (SED). We combined the expert ratings with the measured occupational UVR exposure data and estimated harmonized workday UVR exposures for all 372 occupations in a linear mixed effects model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Monotonically increasing workday UVR exposure of 0.68, 1.57, 1.80, and 2.49 SED were seen by increasing expert ratings of 0, 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and ≥5 h of daily outdoor work. The UVR exposure showed a 6-fold increase from lowest to highest exposed occupation. Farm hands, roofers, concrete placers, and other occupations within craft and related trades were among the highest exposed, while bartenders, wood-processing-plant operators, and several white-collar occupations who typically work indoor were among the lowest exposed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This quantitative JEM for solar UVR exposure proves able to provide substantial discrimination between occupations, shows good agreement with expert assessments, and may facilitate epidemiological studies characterizing the exposure-response relation between occupational solar UVR exposure and different health effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"415-428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High levels of heat stress among sugarcane workers in Thailand.","authors":"Tadpong Tantipanjaporn, Andrew Povey, Holly A Shiels, Martie van Tongeren","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>With continued global warming, the effects of elevated temperatures on the health of agricultural workers are a particular concern. This study characterized the levels of heat stress in Thai sugarcane workers and investigated whether season and harvesting method were associated with it.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three hundred sugarcane workers in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand, were recruited, and information on demographics, working conditions, and clothing characteristics was collected from participants during the cooler months (n = 152 participants, mid-January to mid-February) and hotter month (n = 148, March). Heat stress was measured using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, and the WBGT instruments were operated for a full work shift in the sugarcane fields where the participants worked. One-hour time weighted average (TWA) effective WBGT (WBGTeff-1hrTWA) estimates were determined for different times of the day based on the measured WBGT and clothing adjustment factor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average WBGTeff-1hrTWA in the cooler months ranged from 22.5 °C during the early morning to 31.3 °C during the hottest time of the day, and for the hotter month, it ranged from 25.4 °C to 33.9 °C, respectively. The measured WBGT, natural wet-bulb temperature (Tnwb), dry-bulb temperature (Tdb), globe temperature (Tg), air velocity (Av), and absolute water vapor pressure (ea) were all statistically significantly higher in the hotter month than in the cooler months. Harvesting during the hotter month and harvesting burnt sugarcane were significantly associated with increased effective WBGT. The harvesters' heat stress in both seasons exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists - Threshold limit value for 72.7% of the working time in the cooler months and 90.9% in the hotter month.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The heat stress in Thai sugarcane workers was high in both seasons, particularly in the hotter month and when harvesting burnt sugarcane. This results in a very high risk of developing heat-related health effects, and measures are needed to reduce heat stress. Heat stress in agricultural and other outdoor work in tropical climates is an immediate and growing problem.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"401-414"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12018072/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143122078","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":"Cleaning as high-risk activity for respiratory particulate exposure during additive manufacturing of sand moulds and its preceding silica sand coating process.","authors":"Ntoko Lucas Matlhatsi, Sonette du Preez, Cornelius J Van Der Merwe, Stephanus J L Linde","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf010","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxaf010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a known cause of respiratory diseases, such as silicosis and lung cancer. Binder jetting additive manufacturing (AM) uses silica sand coated with sulphonic acid as feedstock material and operators are potentially exposed to RCS during various activities associated with AM. This includes the cleaning of the AM machine and associated equipment. This study aimed to investigate particulate exposures associated with additive manufacturing of sand moulds and its preceding silica sand coating process.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The particle size distribution (PSD) and particle shape analysis of different forms of silica sand (virgin, coated, and used) was determined using a Malvern Morphologi G3 automated microscope and the structural characteristics was measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Personal exposure and area monitoring for airborne respirable dust and RCS were performed using MDHS 14/4 and NIOSH 7602, while real-time particle number concentrations of 0.3 to 10 µm sized particles was measured using the TSI Aerosol Particle Counter (APC). Monitoring was performed for 2 operators over 8 d and included 3 d of coating, one day of cleaning the AM machine, and 4 d of printing during which 3 identical parts were manufactured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to the PSD analysis, virgin and used silica sand particles were mostly in the respirable size range (d(0.9) = 3.98 ± 0.72 µm; and d(0.9) = 6.51 ± 2.71 µm, respectively), while coated sand was mostly in the inhalable size fraction d(0.5) = 29.76 ± 42.91 µm). The wt% results of the XRD analysis for the bulk virgin, coated and used silica sand were 97.3%, 92.6%, and 96.8% quartz, respectively. Personal exposure to RCS exceeded the exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 when the operator used compressed air to clean the coating machine's filter (0.112 mg/m3) and exceeded the action level on the day the AM machine was cleaned (0.70 mg/m3). The results for real-time particle number concentrations of 0.3 to 10 µm sized particles showed peaks while the cleaning activities such as dry sweeping were performed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The personal exposure to RCS was the highest on days when cleaning activities that used compressed air and dry sweeping took place. The high quartz content of the silica sand feedstock material and the respirable size of the virgin and used silica sand particles means that cleaning activities pose an RCS exposure risk to AM operators. Nine recommendations are made to reduce exposure to RCS during cleaning activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"429-441"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}