{"title":"The leadup to the artificial stone ban in Australia.","authors":"Deborah C Glass, Ryan F Hoy","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae085","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae085","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142638306","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":"Managing SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk in workplace COVID-19 outbreaks. Correspondence.","authors":"Hinpetch Daungsupawong, Viroj Wiwanitkit","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae086","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae086","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"114-115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142613737","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":"Occupational exposure to aerosols in two French airports: multi-year lung function changes.","authors":"Léa Touri, Adeline Tarantini, Carey Suehs, Erika Nogué, Caroline Marie-Desvergne, Muriel Dubosson, Ambre Dauba, Jean-Luc Ravanat, Véronique Chamel, Michel Klerlein, Sébastien Artous, Dominique Locatelli, Sébastien Jacquinot, Pascal Chanez, Isabelle Vachier, Nicolas Molinari","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae087","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As differential exposure to airport-generated aerosols may affect employee lung function, the main objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate spirometry measures among Air France employees. In addition, an exploratory exposure assessment to airport aerosol was performed in a small cohort of workers using personal monitoring devices. Change in lung function over a ~6.6-yr period was documented for office workers (n = 68) and mechanics (n = 83) at Paris-Roissy airport, France and terminal (n = 29), or apron (n = 35) workers at Marseille airport, France. Overall, an excessive decline in lung function was found for 24.75% of airport workers; excessive decline occurred more often for terminal workers (44.83%) as compared to mechanics (14.47%; P = 0.0056), with a similar tendency for apron workers (35.29%) as compared to mechanics (P = 0.0785). Statistically significant differences/tendencies were detected among the yearly rates of change for %-predicted values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and from 25% to 75% forced expiratory flow. For the latter variables, the terminal and/or apron workers at Marseille generally had significantly faster lung function decline as compared to office workers and/or mechanics in Paris, although the latter were exposed to a higher level of elemental carbon. No relation between lung function decline and exposure to airport tarmac environments was evidenced. Multivariate exploration of individual variables representing sex, smoking, atopy, respiratory disease, residential PM2.5 pollution, the peak size of particles in lung exhalates or exhaled carbon monoxide at the time of follow-up failed to explain the observed differences. In conclusion, this study documents the first evidence of excessive lung function decline among certain airport workers in France, although the identification of emission sources (environmental factors, aircraft exhaust, etc) remains challenging.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"17-33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142708963","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}
Ane Berger Bungum, Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg, Luise Mølenberg Begtrup, Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen, Maja Søndergård Worm, Jens Peter Bonde, Annett Dalbøge, Martin Byskov Kinnerup, Else Toft Würtz, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Vivi Schlünssen, Christine Cramer, Karin Biering, Kent Jacob Nielsen, Esben Meulengracht Flachs
{"title":"Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers with insufficient use of personal protective equipment in Denmark.","authors":"Ane Berger Bungum, Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg, Luise Mølenberg Begtrup, Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen, Maja Søndergård Worm, Jens Peter Bonde, Annett Dalbøge, Martin Byskov Kinnerup, Else Toft Würtz, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Vivi Schlünssen, Christine Cramer, Karin Biering, Kent Jacob Nielsen, Esben Meulengracht Flachs","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae075","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim was to evaluate the role of insufficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Prospective study within the COBRA cohort, including 15,127 HCW. Daily assessment of insufficient use of PPE, defined as self-reported PPE failure or noncompliance, in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection ascertained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Statistical analysis involved calculating incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The included HCW contributed to 780,515 risk days including 67,723 d (8.7%) with insufficient PPE use and 133 events (positive PCR test). Self-reported insufficient use of PPE was slightly associated with infection with COVID-19 in HCW, but the data were statistically consistent with parameter values ranging from a protective effect to a to a doubling in risk (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8; 2.3). Sensitivity analyses restricted to high-risk departments and to a period with a sufficient supply of PPE and a fully developed testing system, respectively, confirmed these findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Insufficient use of PPE among HCW during the pandemic in Denmark was uncommon but associated with a slightly increased risk of COVID-19 among HCW. However, the findings are uncertain due to the limited number of cases and the potential for misclassification bias stemming from the self-reported nature of the exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"96-103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142456852","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}
Fiona Hore-Lacy, Stella May Gwini, Christina Dimitriadis, Javier Jimenez-Martin, Ryan F Hoy, Jane Fisher, Malcolm R Sim, Karen Walker-Bone, Deborah C Glass
{"title":"Measuring improvements in occupational health and safety in the artificial stone benchtop industry.","authors":"Fiona Hore-Lacy, Stella May Gwini, Christina Dimitriadis, Javier Jimenez-Martin, Ryan F Hoy, Jane Fisher, Malcolm R Sim, Karen Walker-Bone, Deborah C Glass","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae084","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Workers in the stone benchtop industry in Australia are at high risk of silicosis due to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from the dry processing of artificial stone. In Victoria, Australia, a multifaceted response including education, regulatory changes, inspection site visits, and occupational health screening programme began in 2019. We aimed to review the success of this approach to safety practices in the industry.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were available from 2 sources: first, responses provided by workers during their occupational health screening (2019 to 2024), which included a systematic occupational history. Jobs examined included roles in the stone benchtop industry with RCS exposure and were analysed in relation to reported safety practices pre and postregulatory changes in August 2019, which prohibited unrestricted dry cutting. Second, data were obtained from the Regulator describing the numbers of visits to industry worksites and the numbers and types of compliance notices issued between 2018 and 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 1921 jobs from 1007 workers were eligible for analysis, of which 869 were prior to the 2019 regulatory change and 557 commenced after. The proportion of workers reporting \"never\" dry cutting rose from 17.3% to 67.2% (P < 0.001), use of recommended ventilation and respirator increased from 26.0% to 36.5% (P < 0.001), and 44.9% to 86.5% (P < 0.001), respectively. Of the 543 worksites visited (2757 site visits in total), 352 (64.8%) received at least one compliance notice and the types of notices varied over time. Administrative controls/housekeeping and health monitoring notices were the most common in 2019 to 2021 but tools/equipment notices increased substantially in 2022 onwards.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Prior to the changes, a large proportion of jobs involved unrestricted dry processing of artificial stone with inadequate protection. After the changes, practices improved although some jobs continued to involve dry processing without adequate control of dust.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This multifaceted approach vastly improved safety practices in the stone benchtop industry over 5 years. These data are relevant to occupational health and safety professionals and regulators in countries where artificial stone is used and potentially for implementation of new measures in response to a new workplace hazard in future.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"5-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11706797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142725071","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}
Toluwanimi M Oni, Sanjeewa Gamagedara, Evan L Floyd
{"title":"Desorption efficiency and holding capacity of acid-treated filters for nicotine sampling in vape shops.","authors":"Toluwanimi M Oni, Sanjeewa Gamagedara, Evan L Floyd","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae080","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Efficient sampling materials are essential for assessing nicotine levels in vape shops and other settings where nicotine exposures may exist. Two different treatments of Whatman glass fiber type A (GF/A) filters (sodium bisulfate treated and citric acid treated) were evaluated for nicotine capture, desorption efficiency, and holding capacity using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The Filters were treated with 0.8 mL of 0.1 M sodium bisulfate or citric acid solution and oven-dried (80 °C) for 30 min. Nicotine was desorbed off the filters using a modified analytical method. The average nicotine desorption efficiency for sodium bisulfate-treated GF/A filters (98.4%) was significantly higher than that of citric acid-treated GF/A filters (60.9%) over a range of 1-100 µg nicotine. Sodium bisulfate-treated and citric acid-treated GF/A filters experienced a 10% nicotine breakthrough after being dosed with about 550 and 2,750 µg of nicotine, respectively compared to 75 µg for untreated GF/A filters. Citric acid-treated GF/A filters had a much greater nicotine-holding capacity, but nicotine desorption from citric acid-treated GF/A filters was below the recommended criteria. Therefore, we recommend that sodium bisulfate-treated GF/A filters are employed for sample of nicotine with the GC-MS method.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"104-108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11706789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142493704","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":"Exposure to cooking fumes in cafeteria workers in Korean schools: a pilot study.","authors":"Daesung Lim, Yong Min Cho","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study measured cooking fumes to which workers in school cafeterias may be exposed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The measurement items were respirable dust, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. A total of 111 samples were obtained from 55 schools. Data on variables such as school size and daily cooking oil usage were collected. Correlation and association analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median of concentrations of respirable dust was 38.37 µg/m3 (min-max: 20.73-49.71 µg/m3). The concentrations of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide also showed levels that did not exceed 20% for occupational exposure limits. The increase in school size was significantly correlated with the increase in daily cooking oil usage and had a significant correlation with respirable dust concentration (Spearman's correlation coefficient, 0.36; P <0.05). The linear regression test results adjusting for other variables were also similar.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cooking food by frying at high heat using cooking oil can increase the exposure of kitchen workers to respirable dust.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"109-113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142456851","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}
Nestor Lögdal, Sven Svensson, Jennie Jackson, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Gunnar Bergström, David M Hallman
{"title":"Do job demands and resources differ between permanent and temporary eldercare workers in Sweden?","authors":"Nestor Lögdal, Sven Svensson, Jennie Jackson, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Gunnar Bergström, David M Hallman","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae077","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Eldercare organizations face high sickness absence rates and staff turnover and rely heavily on temporary workers to fill staffing gaps. Temporary workers may experience differences in job demands and resources compared with permanent workers, but this has been largely understudied.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare perceived job demands and resources between permanent and temporary Swedish eldercare workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Permanent and temporary eldercare workers in a Swedish municipality were invited to answer a digital survey on work environment conditions. Differences between permanent and temporary workers in job demands and resources were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance adjusted for age, sex, place of birth, and percent of full-time work and univariate analyses were conducted to consider differences in specific factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1076 permanent and 675 temporary workers received the survey, and the final study sample included 451 permanent and 151 temporary workers. Multivariate analyses revealed that temporary workers reported statistically significant lower job demands compared to permanent workers, but no statistically significant differences in resources were found between the groups. Univariate analyses showed that temporary workers reported lower quantitative demands, perceived exertion, and time spent bending forward, than permanent workers. These data suggest comparable support across groups, but a higher workload among permanent workers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings indicate that temporary workers experienced lower job demands than permanent workers, but that no notable difference was found in resources. Interventions aimed at distributing job demands more evenly among eldercare workers with different employment forms may be necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"71-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11706790/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142456850","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}
Delphine Bard, Graeme Hunwin, Andrew Thorpe, Kirsty Dewberry, Garry Burdett, Michael Hemingway
{"title":"Characterisation and modification of the porous metal foams used for the EN 15051-2 dustiness rotating drum test.","authors":"Delphine Bard, Graeme Hunwin, Andrew Thorpe, Kirsty Dewberry, Garry Burdett, Michael Hemingway","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae076","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two approaches were used to evaluate the performance of the reticulated metal foams used to size select and collect dust generated in the dustiness rotating drum tester according to the EN 15051-2 standard \"Workplace exposure-Measurement of the dustiness of bulk materials-Rotating drum test\". Firstly, the detailed performance of the metal foams was measured in a calm air chamber using a polydisperse aerosol of glass particles and assessed against the respirable conventions described in the EN 481 standard \"Workplace atmospheres-Size fraction definitions for measurement of airborne particles\". Secondly, the performance of the EN 15051-2 metal foam size selection for the respirable fraction was compared using the rotating drum dustiness test, with that of a cyclone set-up, using 4 polydisperse glass powders of different size distribution and dustiness potential. The research discusses further improvements to the EN 15051-2 standard and an approach to more closely match the EN 481 convention. In general, for the respirable fraction, the tests in this study demonstrated a conservative oversampling by the current EN 15051-2 metal foam set-up in comparison with the EN 481 convention. Calculations and tests showed an improved fit was achieved by reducing the inner diameter of the flanges separating the metal foams and the filter. This study also showed the importance of sealing the circumference of the metal foams when testing highly dusty powders. A direct comparison of the respirable dustiness fraction, measured by the current EN 15051-2 metal foams set-up and by a cyclone set-up, showed broad agreement. However, for extremely dusty powders, the metal foams can clog, and dust can accumulate between the 20 and 80 pores per inch foams.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"59-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142405973","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":"Measurements of dust and respirable crystalline silica during indoor demolition and renovation.","authors":"Johanne Ø Halvorsen, Pål Graff, Elin Lovise Folven Gjengedal, Torunn K Ervik","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae082","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxae082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increased focus on renovating and maintaining the existing building stock is an integral part of the circular economy, however this might pose challenges to workers health. The aim of this study was to assess the renovation workers' exposure to inhalable dust, thoracic dust, respirable dust, and respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Personal aerosol samples were collected as full shift samples from 92 workers to a total of 407 samples. Fourteen locations around Oslo, Norway was visited for multiple days with repeated measurements of the same individual. Particulate matter from 3 aerosol fractions, respirable, thoracic, and inhalable, were analyzed gravimetrically, and the respirable fraction was analyzed for RCS by NIOSH 7500 method for X-ray diffraction (XRD) with low temperature plasma ashing sample preparation. The total measured concentrations of respirable dust (n = 192) had a geometric mean (GM) of 0.88 mg/m3, RCS concentrations (n = 182) had a GM of 0.040 mg/m3, thoracic dust (n = 131) had GM 2.4 mg/m3, and inhalable dust (n = 84) had a GM of 8.5 mg/m3. The maximum measured concentrations were 29 mg/m3, 3.2 mg/m3, 65 mg/m3, and 163 mg/m3, respectively. Workdays involving tasks such as mechanical demolition and clearing out demolished materials led to the highest exposure levels of both dust and RCS. However, other workers at the renovation sites were indirectly exposed to a considerable amount of RCS. This study revealed substantial exposure to both RCS and dust during renovation, and protective measures are warranted to reduce exposure levels in the industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":" ","pages":"48-58"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11706796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142493705","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}