Chief Editor Transition
I feel humbled and honored to have been selected to be the Chief Editor of theAnnals of Work Exposures and Health. Dr Noah Seixas led a number of substantial and impactful initiatives as Chief Editor that have distinguished the scope of the journal and addressed difficult topics in occupational health. I look forward to continuing the positive trajectory of the journal and serving the needs of our authors and readers. I hope to continue the rise in the impact factor, as this is a key marker by which the success of academic researcher is evaluated. Another plan is to broaden the authorship base to increase representation of...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - January 14, 2021 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
COVID-19, Health and Vulnerable Societies
This issue of theAnnals of Work Exposure and Health contains a paper by Peter Smith, John Oudyk, Guy Potter, and Cameron Mustard on workplace infection control procedures and mental health amongst Canadian non-healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study finds that adequate design and implementation of employer based infection controls has implications for the mental health of site-based workers. This is an important finding as the authors recognize with wider implications for managing worker and community health during the pandemic. It adds to a growing body of research on the pandemic ’s impacts on worker...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - January 6, 2021 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Occupational Asbestos Exposure and Kidney Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies
ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta-analysis did not show evidence of association between occupational asbestos exposure and kidney cancer mortality or incidence. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - December 26, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Labour Market Attachment, Workplace Infection Control Procedures and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Non-healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
ConclusionOur results suggest that the adequate design and implementation of employer-based ICP have implications for the mental health of site-based workers. As economies re-open the ongoing assessment of ICP and associated mental health outcomes among the workforce is warranted. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - December 14, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Skin Absorption of Bisphenol A and Its Alternatives in Thermal Paper
ConclusionsSkin absorption was in decreasing order: BPA> D-8>> BPS> PF201. These results are in agreement with their logKow and molecular weights. We provided here the necessary data to estimate the extent of skin absorption of BPA analogues, which is a necessary step in risk assessment, and ultimately evaluate public health risks posed by D-8, BPS, and PF201. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - December 12, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Incorporating Exposure Measurement Data from Similar Exposure Scenarios to Inform Exposure Modeling Estimates: A Demonstration Using Cluster Analysis and Bayesian Modeling
In conclusion, the cluster analysis approach may enable transparent selection of similar exposure scenarios for factoring into design-phase assessments and thereby improve exposure modeling estimates. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - December 12, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Future Prospects of Occupational Exposure Modelling of Substances in the Context of Time-Resolved Sensor Data
AbstractThis commentary explores the use of high-resolution data from new, miniature sensors to enrich models that predict exposures to chemical substances in the workplace. To optimally apply these sensors, one can expect an increased need for new models that will facilitate the interpretation and extrapolation of the acquired time-resolved data. We identified three key modelling approaches in the context of sensor data, namely (i) enrichment of existing time-integrated exposure models, (ii) (new) high-resolution (in time and space) empirical models, and (iii) new ‘occupational dispersion’ models. Each approach was ev...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 20, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Evaluation of Genetic Damage in Persons Occupationally Exposed to Antineoplastic Drugs in Serbian Hospitals
ConclusionsThe results of our study performed on a large sample confirmed the capacity of the CBMN Cytome assay to serve as a reliable biomarker of long-term ANPD exposure. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 18, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
A Bayesian Approach for Determining the Relationship Between Various Elongate Mineral Particles (EMPs) Definitions
AbstractA variety of dimensions (lengths and widths) of elongate mineral particles (EMPs) have been proposed as being related to health effects. In this paper, we develop a mathematical approach for deriving numerical conversion factors (CFs) between these EMP exposure metrics and applied it to the Minnesota Taconite Health Worker study which contains 196 different job exposure groups (28 similar exposure groups times 7 taconite mines). This approach comprises four steps: for each group (i) obtain EMP dimension information using ISO-TEM 10312/13794 analysis; (ii) use bivariate lognormal distribution to characterize overall...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 16, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Work Exposure to VOC in Storage Areas of Retail Stores
AbstractPoor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been linked to airway disease and early deaths. The ESQUISSE study of IAQ conducted by the French Research and Safety Institute (INRS), characterized the concentrations of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 10 retail stores and storage areas. The IAQ was generally better in sales areas than storage areas, which are more often unventilated and overloaded with new products. For example, in clothing stores, formaldehyde concentrations between 29.0 and 45.0 µg m−3 were measured in non-ventilated storage areas located in the basement; in sales areas, concentrations did not ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 4, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Effect of Gender Roles and Workplace Violence on the Professional Quality of Life and Wellbeing at Work Among Child Protection Workers
AbstractExposure to workplace violence puts child protection workers at risk for adverse occupational outcomes. While previous studies have identified protective and risk factors, individual differences in gender roles have yet to be explored. Moving beyond sex, the present study aims to examine the ways in which gender roles influence exposure to workplace violence, professional quality of life, and wellbeing at work among child protection workers. A randomized sample stratified by sex of 301 Canadian child protection workers (male: 15.6%, female: 84.4%) completed validated questionnaires of gender roles, professional qua...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 30, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
How Effective Is the Filtration of ‘KN95’ Filtering Facepiece Respirators During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
ConclusionsFFRs marking is not sufficient to conclude on the FFRs ’ efficiency. Visual inspection can not determine which samples are counterfeit or have manufacturing defects. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 30, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Work Characteristics, Body Mass Index, and Risk of Obesity: The National Quality of Work Life Survey
ConclusionsNight shift schedule and blue-collar work were related to increased BMI and obesity risk in US workers in 2014. Identifying risk factors in blue-collar work and redesigning jobs to reduce those risk factors, and reducing night shift work, could play a role in reducing the prevalence of obesity in the USA. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 30, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression in the Quantitative Analysis of Respirable Crystalline Silica by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
AbstractRespirable crystalline silica (RCS) overexposure can lead to the development of silicosis which is a chronic, irreversible, potentially fatal respiratory disease. The most significant prerequisite for any silica exposure control plan is an accurate occupational exposure assessment. The results of crystalline silica analysis are often affected by other mineral interferences and are influenced by an analyst ’s knowledge of mineralogy to accurately interpret infrared spectra and correct matrix interferences. Partial least squares (PLS) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) are two multivariate calibration methods to...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 23, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
A New Era for Occupational Hygiene
When we embarked on a change in the name of theAnnals of Occupational Hygiene in 2016, we understood that the nature of work and the health consequences of work were rapidly changing and that we needed to refocus the journal to respond to these changes. In that process, we also reaffirmed our belief in rigorous scientific methods and publication processes, along with our belief that the workplace, in all its myriad dimensions, was central to health and well-being of workers. We also acknowledged that worker health was a requirement of a healthy community and society. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 23, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
