Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health最新文献

{"title":"[Resilience of male middle managers in Company A when facing difficulties in performing their duties].","authors":"Hiroko Mogami, Satori Kakemoto","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-033-B","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-033-B","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to identify aspects of resilience in male middle managers working for Company A and to explore occupational health activities and nursing support to improve workers' mental health.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An inductive approach was applied for qualitative data analysis. Semi-structured interviews with ten male middle managers working for Company A with at least one year of managerial experience. The data were analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participating male middle managers displayed \"manifestations of distress\" related to \"workplace difficulties\", and obtained relief from distress by securing \"support for themselves at work\" and developing \"self-care strategies\". In their process to establish \"positivity regarding their service as a manager\", including achieving impacts they can be proud of and acquiring and demonstrating resilience, participating managers acquired skills to \"work well in their own way\" through <changes in working style> and <work-and-life balance>, and developed skills/qualities allowing them to be \"a good manager\".</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The development of resilience in male middle managers is a process that involves 1) experiencing temporary physical or mental challenges related to workplace difficulties, recovering and developing through intrinsic strengths and support from people around them, 2) adapting their working style as they acquire new skills in the process, and 3) enhancing managerial competence, ultimately fostering a positive view of their managerial role. This study identified four categories: \"facing difficulties in the workplace, meeting personal needs, developing an effective individual managerial style\", and \"evolving into a good manager\". These categories reveal a process of recovery and adaptation leading to \"establishment of a positive view of one's role as a manager\", supported by \"meeting personal needs in the workplace\" and synergistically influenced by multiple factors. The findings show that the \"establishment of a positive view of one's role as a manager\" is a series of processes through which male middle managers develop their managerial potential to contribute to organizational resilience and energy. To promote resilience, our findings suggest the importance of addressing individual and organizational concerns, such as systematically building an educational framework that integrates career support with self-care for managers responsible for line care, and recommending improvements to workplace environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"77-85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143569300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[The novel approach to chemical hazard control at work in Japan].","authors":"Shojiro Yasui","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-032-S","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-032-S","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"67-76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143461030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Introducing a participatory workplace environmental improvement program by a part-time occupational health physician: Barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies].","authors":"Sawako Kamo, Toru Yoshikawa, Yuka Ito, Kotaro Imamura, Koji Kandabashi, Hisashi Eguchi, Norito Kawakami, Daisuke Nishi, Natsu Sasaki","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-036-B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-036-B","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;Participatory workplace environmental improvement programs have proven to be effective in addressing mental health issues in the workplace. However, their implementation remains challenging. This study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers faced by part-time occupational health physicians in proposing and implementing such programs and to develop effective implementation strategies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among part-time occupational health physicians between September and October 2023. This survey examined their experiences in proposing workplace environment improvements, their knowledge of participatory workplace environmental improvement programs, and their experience in proposing and introducing such programs. It also assessed the facilitators and barriers to the introduction and implementation of such programs. Respondents who had proposed such a program to their client companies were asked to connect the research team with the individual responsible for workplace environmental improvement at those companies. After obtaining consent, we interviewed these individuals in November and December 2023 to explore the facilitators and barriers to introducing participatory workplace environmental improvement programs. The questionnaire and interview data were analyzed using the occupational health version of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and implementation strategies were developed with reference to expert recommendations for implementing change (ERIC).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Result: &lt;/strong&gt;We received 57 responses overall. Of the 49 respondents who were familiar with participatory workplace environmental improvement programs, 33 (67.8%) had proposed them. Of those with the proposed experience, 11 (33.3%) reported successful implementation. Interviews were conducted with representatives from two workplaces that implemented the program after receiving a proposal from their occupational health physicians and one that had yet to implement it. The analysis identified \"Relative Advantage, Tension for Change,\" and \"Implementation Climate\" as high-priority facilitators and barriers during the Pre-Proposal Internal Setting phase. During the proposal, additional factors such as \"trialability,\" \"formally appointed internal implementation leaders,\" \"self-efficacy,\" and \"relative priority\" were extracted. Based on the ERIC framework, \"Create a Learning Collaborative,\" \"Make Training Dynamic,\" \"Shadow Other Experts,\" and \"Identify and Prepare Champions\" were selected as feasible implementation strategies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;This study identified facilitators and barriers to introducing participatory workplace environmental improvement programs. Findings suggest that part-time occupational health physicians should provide educational materials and opportunities to build confidence among internal implementation leaders in client","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144145141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Checklist for occupational health professionals: Assessing suitability for online interviews using information and communication technology].","authors":"Yusaku Morita, Tetsuro Ishizawa, Koji Kandabashi, Hiroyuki Saito, Sonoko Sakuragi, Natsu Sasaki, Yukiko Sawada, Go Muto, Ayako Murayama, Chiaki Watanabe, Shigeyuki Kajiki","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2025-003-B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.2025-003-B","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, there is an increased opportunity for occupational health professionals to conduct online interviews. However, to the best of our knowledge, research regarding adaptation to online interviewing is limited. Therefore, we developed a checklist as a reference for decision-making regarding the adaptation of online interviews.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Through online interview-adaptation group work, we identified considerations for adaptation of online interviews, including promoters and barriers. Based on our findings, a prototype version of a checklist was created. Public comments on the prototype were collected, and a survey was conducted to verify the validity of the checklist.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-one volunteers participated in the group work, resulting in a prototype checklist consisting of eight major categories and 32 sub-categories. We received 15 public comments on the prototype and 64 responses to the survey. More than 50% of the respondents indicated that online interviews should be avoided or that they would face difficulties if conducted. Based on public comments and additional opinions from the survey, the final version of the checklist was completed.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>The final version of the online interview-adaptation checklist was confirmed as valid by experienced occupational health professionals. The checklist will guide appropriate decision-making regarding adaptation to online interviews.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144060769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Acute illness caused by the handling of chemicals in reports of worker casualties with ≥ 4 days of work absence or death in Japan in 2020].","authors":"Sumitaka Kobayashi, Makiko Nakano","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-037-E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-037-E","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>There are few reports of chemical-related illnesses in the Reports of Worker Casualties in Japan. Using these reports from 2020, this study analyzed the relationship between illnesses caused by chemical handling stratified by male or female sex, using the Japan Standard Industrial Classification (JSIC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our study included 244 patients from the Reports of Worker Casualties submitted to the Competent Labor Standards Inspection Office in 2020 with chemical-related illnesses resulting in at least 4 days of absence. Patients were classified into major and minor industrial groups using the JSIC. Simple and cross-tabulations were performed to assess characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 244 included patients, 236 were absent from work, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. The substances or product names of chemicals handled by the case group included one substance in 216 patients (88.5%) and two or more substances in 28 patients (11.5%). Dangerous and harmful materials other than those specified in special regulations accounted for 52.9% of the total. Of the 244 patients, 100% were reclassified into industrial divisions of the JSIC; 94.7% into major industrial groups and 63.9% into minor industrial groups. By industrial division, most workers were in manufacturing (43.9%), followed by construction (18.0%), services, N.E.C (9.0%), and wholesale and retail trade (7.4%). All workers in construction were males. The experience period was less than 1 year in 30.3% of the cases across a wide range of age groups ≤ 70 years old. The most frequently encountered disease sites (expected closure period of ≥ 1 month) were the lower limbs, followed by the upper limbs and the head. The most common diseases were integumentary diseases (67.2%), followed by poisoning (24.6%) and respiratory diseases (7.8%). The most common categories for health hazard classification (globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals) were specific target organ toxicity (single exposure) (36.5%), specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure) (25.4%), serious eye damage/irritation (25.4%), skin corrosion/irritation (23.0%), and acute toxicity (21.3%). All eight deaths occurred in workplaces with ≤ 49 employees.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To reduce the number of sick people and the expected period of absence from work, it is necessary to regularly check chemical safety after starting work, taking into account employee's years of experience and selecting appropriate protective equipment for the integumentary system (especially the upper limbs, lower limbs, and head [eyes]) based on chemical risk assessment; additionally, support should be provided for chemical management in small businesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144056214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Consideration of radiation dose management issues for healthcare workers in medical institutions: A questionnaire survey of participating institutions in a radiation management system implementation support project].","authors":"Hiroko Kitamura, Koichi Nakagami","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-035-B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-035-B","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;To clarify the current status and challenges of radiation dose management in medical institutions participating in the Radiation Management System (Radiation MS) Implementation Support Project and to provide insights for establishing and improving radiation management systems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A web-based questionnaire was administered to medical institutions nationwide that participated in the Radiation MS Implementation Support Project in 2022. Responses from 143 institutions that provided valid data and consent were obtained and analyzed. The survey assessed the structure of the radiation management system (comprising five elements), verification status and management of radiation workers, and implementation of awareness-raising activities regarding proper personal dosimeter use. Each questionnaire item was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests. To determine the optimal sequence for implementing the five elements of the radiation management system, correlation, logistic regression, decision tree (CART), and path analyses were conducted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Among the 143 institutions, 46.9% had established a radiation exposure management organization (e.g., a committee), and 55.9% had administrators who clarified radiation management policies and guidelines. Regarding radiation workers, only 32.6% of radiation management personnel were aware of whether their institution's radiation workers were also engaged in radiation work at other facilities (referred to as \"dual employment\"), whereas 35.0% were aware of confirmed cases of employees from other institution receiving dual employment. Additionally, 33.6% of the institutions did not conduct sufficient awareness-raising activities regarding proper personal dosimeter use. A comparison between clinics and hospitals revealed that Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems (OSHMS) were more widely implemented in clinics than in hospitals. Additionally, clinics demonstrated a better understanding of whether radiation workers were engaged in dual employment compared to hospitals. The establishment of a radiation exposure management organization was found to be crucial for building a radiation management framework. To facilitate implementation, clarifying policies and guidelines and establishing audit mechanisms were identified as priority measures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;This study identified several challenges related to the development of radiation management systems, appointment of radiation control personnel, and personal dose management of radiation workers. Moreover, priority measures were clarified for establishing a robust radiation management framework. Addressing these issues requires medical administrators to clarify policies and guidelines related to radiation management, develop audit mechanisms, and promote the establishment of radiation exposure management organizations. Furthermore, stre","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143797558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Comparison of sickness absences across industries: A cross-sectional study using the JILPT Data Archive].","authors":"Hiroatsu Suga, Teruyo Kitahara, Hiroji Tsujimura","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-006-B","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-006-B","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Assessing the risk of employee health problems according to firm characteristics (e.g., industry) can be used by companies to identify groups of workers with health problems and develop health-related policies. Previous studies have examined differences in the prevalence of diseases across industries; however, studies using sickness absences, which reduce productivity, are scarce. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in sickness absence rates across industries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>With permission for secondary use of archived data from the Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training (JILPT), we obtained data from private companies with 50 or more regular employees nationwide. Negative binomial regression was conducted using the number of sickness absences attributed to mental health, cancer, lifestyle-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease), and intractable diseases as the objective variables. The results were confirmed by an ordinal logistic regression. Firm characteristics other than industry were adjusted for firm size, age structure, medical examinations, labor unions, and flexible work systems.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of sickness absences due to mental health was high in the information and communications, medical care/welfare, and education/learning support industries because of lifestyle-related diseases, and heart disease was high in the transportation/postal industry. Cancer was high in the medical care/welfare industry. While older worker age groups had a lower incidence of mental health issues, a higher incidence of physical illnesses, excluding intractable diseases, was observed. The presence of a labor union was associated with sickness absences due to mental health, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease, and the availability of a flexible work system was associated with sickness absences due to mental health and heart disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The three industries with a high incidence of mental health leave had a high percentage of professional/technical workers and a common background of heavy workloads. In addition, role ambiguity, particularly in the education and medical industries, could lead to stress. The association between the transportation/postal industry and sickness absences due to lifestyle-related diseases and heart disease was probably influenced by work style and lifestyle, whereas the association between the medical care/welfare industry and sickness absences due to cancer was probably influenced by the high percentage of women in this industry. This study could not be adjusted for several variables examined in other studies, such as sex, and caution should be exercised when interpreting the results, especially regarding absences due to cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"35-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142981094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Work-relatedness of skin disease in a metalworking worker].","authors":"Shinji Kumagai","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-029-D","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-029-D","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"47-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Assessment of the application of atherosclerotic disease risk scores in the workplace].","authors":"Kazushirou Kurogi, Sakiko Yura, Kazuo Moriyama, Eri Tsuda, Naoki Yoshida, Masato Ito","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-022-B","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-022-B","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In occupational health activities in Japan, evaluating workers' fitness for work following health checkups is a primary task. Health checkups are used to identify workers at high risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases and conduct fit-for-work evaluations. However, identifying high-risk individuals based on a single risk factor may overlook those with multiple risk factors who have a high risk of developing cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Presently, we aimed to investigate the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score from a previous study by Hisayama (Hisayama study) and examine its use in the workplace.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Baseline data from health checkups conducted in 2010 of 41,815 employees (men; 34,024, women; 7,791) aged 19-64 years without previous cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease were analyzed. The relationship between baseline ASCVD risk scores and the incidence of ASCVD > 10 years (2011-2020) was examined using Cox regression analysis with hazard ratios (HR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the model's performance and determine optimal cut-off values for the identification of high-risk individuals in the workplace.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 10-year incidence of ASCVD was 2.6% (men; 3.0%, women; 0.8%). In men, each 1% increase in ASCVD risk score was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in ASCVD incidence (HR; 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.42-1.51, p < .001), which was observed from age 30 and even after multivariate adjustment. In women, univariate analysis showed an association between increased ASCVD risk score and incidence (HR; 3.19, 95% CI; 2.10-4.85, p < .001); however, this was not significant after adjustment. ROC analysis identified 1.62% as the optimal cut-off (sensitivity; 58.6%, specificity; 71.9%, positive predictive value [PPV]; 5.2%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The ASCVD risk score is a useful tool for risk management and prevention in the workplace, particularly for men. In women, this association disappeared after age adjustment, possibly due to reduced estrogen effects with aging. Based on the ROC analysis, stratifying at ≥ 1.5% for intervention, ≥ 2.0% (top 20%) for \"high risk,\" and ≥ 3.5% (PPV > 10%) for \"extremely high risk\" is advised. However, this study may have underestimated the risk levels; therefore, companies should adapt the use of ASCVD risk scores flexibly according to their circumstances.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"9-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142396508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Allergy and immunotoxicology in preventive and clinical medicine from theory to practice: Environmental factors in bronchial asthma].","authors":"Takeshi Hisada, Yasumitsu Nishimura, Kunio Dobashi, Takahiko Yoshida, Toshihiro Itoh, Yasuo Morimoto, Narifumi Suganuma, Qing Li, Hiroo Wada, Atsushi Ueda, Fujio Kayama, Kazuhiro Satoh, Minoru Satoh, Eiji Shibata, Tatsuya Takeshita, Hiroyuki Yanagisawa, Masashi Tsunoda","doi":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-009-A","DOIUrl":"10.1539/sangyoeisei.2024-009-A","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>According to the gene-environment interactions concept, the mechanism of health impairment can be explained by genetic factors, environmental factors, or their interaction. Physical and mental health effects resulting from environmental exposure may be classified either as toxicity, immune response, and allergic reaction. Moreover, despite the already established therapeutic approaches to bronchial asthma and decreasing mortality due to bronchial asthma, patients with difficult and severe asthma are increasing in number. This review outlines recent topics in the field of allergies, focusing on asthma.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Living environment-derived pollutants and their involvement in the pathogenesis of asthma and its exacerbation, referred to here as an exposome concept, comprises the three domains of internal, specific external, and general external. Living environment-derived pollutants include exposure to pollutants in workplaces, climate change, air pollution, microplastics, tobacco smoke, biodiversity change and loss, changing dietary habits, and the microbiome. These are associated with the modernization, urbanization, and globalization of human society. Although many novel compounds are currently available, their harmful health effects, such as allergy, are not thoroughly understood. Hence, the means to mitigate these are unknown. Dietary changes from a traditional diet rich in fish to a Western-style diet are considered critical environmental factors and therefore, associated with an increased prevalence of allergies. Cytokines, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25, and IL-33, released from the airway epithelium in response to various triggers (exposure to diverse environmental factors) are known as alarmins. Anti-alarmin antibodies are a promising therapeutic approach against severe and difficult allergic disorders. Collaboration between hospitals and clinics and occupational and clinical medicine is imperative for treating and managing severe asthma. In addition to avoiding environmental exposure, understanding the pathogenesis and exacerbation of asthma is essential for future research in the field of allergy and immunotoxicology.</p>","PeriodicalId":94204,"journal":{"name":"Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}