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Environmental exposure to asbestos and the risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Asbestos is a carcinogen associated with lung cancer, but few studies have examined the increased risk of lung cancer due to environmental asbestos exposure. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer. We searched for articles on non-occupational or environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. Our review included 15 studies, and except studies on ingestion exposure we performed a meta-analysis for 13 studies with respect to the type of exposure (neighbourhood and domestic/ho...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kwak, K., Kang, D., Paek, D. Tags: Systematic review Source Type: research

Early detection of prostate cancer in firefighters: a register-based study of prognostic factors and survival
Conclusions Younger age and better prognostic factors at PCa diagnosis among firefighters and other occupations with requirements for health check-ups than cases in the general population may indicate an increased diagnostic intensity, likely contributing to elevated PCa incidence in such occupations. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Jakobsen, J., Veierod, M. B., Grimsrud, T. K., Fossa, S. D., Hammarström, B., Kjaerheim, K. Tags: Open access Practice Source Type: research

Long-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 incidence: a prospective study of residents in the city of Varese, Northern Italy
Conclusions Long-term exposure to low levels of air pollutants, especially PM2.5, increased the incidence of COVID-19. The causality warrants confirmation in future studies; meanwhile, government efforts to further reduce air pollution should continue. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Veronesi, G., De Matteis, S., Calori, G., Pepe, N., Ferrario, M. M. Tags: Press releases, COVID-19 Environment Source Type: research

Hospitalised heat-related acute kidney injury in indoor and outdoor workers in the USA
Conclusions Workers were hospitalised with HR-AKI in diverse industries, including indoor facilities. Because of under-reporting and underascertainment, national surveillance databases underestimate the true burden of occupational HR-AKI. Clinicians should consider kidney risk from recurrent heat stress. Employers should provide interventions, such as comprehensive heat stress prevention programmes, that include acclimatisation protocols for new workers, to prevent HR-AKI. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Shi, D. S., Weaver, V. M., Hodgson, M. J., Tustin, A. W. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Risks of COVID-19 by occupation in NHS workers in England
Conclusions After allowance for possible bias and confounding by non-occupational exposures, we estimated that relative risks for COVID-19 among most patient-facing occupations were between 1.5 and 2.5. The highest risks were in those working in additional clinical services, nursing and midwifery and in allied health professions. Better protective measures for these staff groups should be a priority. COVID-19 may meet criteria for compensation as an occupational disease in some healthcare occupations. Trial registration number ISRCTN36352994. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: van der Plaat, D. A., Madan, I., Coggon, D., van Tongeren, M., Edge, R., Muiry, R., Parsons, V., Cullinan, P. Tags: COVID-19 Workplace Source Type: research

Unionisation and injury risk in construction: a replication study
Conclusions Company unionisation was associated with a lower risk of lost-time workers’ compensation injury claims, corroborating a similar study from an earlier time period. The protective effect of unionisation declined as company size decreased. In contrast to the previous study, a positive relationship between company unionisation and no-lost-time claim incidence was not found, due in part to a methodological refinement. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Robson, L. S., Landsman, V., Latour-Villamil, D., Lee, H., Mustard, C. Tags: Open access Workplace Source Type: research

Risk of major chronic diseases in transport, rescue and security industries: a longitudinal register-based study
Conclusions We observed considerable health disparities from chronic diseases across transport, rescue and security industries, with workers in seafaring and land transport generally bearing the greatest relative burden. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Herttua, K., Ahrenfeldt, L. J., Paljarvi, T. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Association between occupational exposure to irritant agents and a distinct asthma endotype in adults
Conclusion Occupational exposure to irritants was associated with a distinct respiratory endotype suggesting oxidative stress and neutrophilic inflammation as potential associated biological mechanisms. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Andrianjafimasy, M. V., Febrissy, M., Zerimech, F., Dananche, B., Kromhout, H., Matran, R., Nadif, M., Oberson-Geneste, D., Quinot, C., Schlünssen, V., Siroux, V., Zock, J.-P., Le Moual, N., Nadif, R., Dumas, O. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Lifetime high occupational physical activity and total and cause-specific mortality among 320 000 adults in the NIH-AARP study: a cohort study
Conclusion Participating in high OPA was not consistently associated with a higher mortality risk, after adjustments for education and smoking factors. Workers in high OPA should be aware that they might not be getting all well-known health benefits of being physically active if they are only very active at work. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Martinez Gomez, D., Coenen, P., Celis-Morales, C., Mota, J., Rodriguez-Artalejo, F., Matthews, C., Saint-Maurice, P. F. Tags: Editor's choice Workplace Source Type: research

Physical activity health paradox: reflections on physical activity guidelines and how to fill research gap
Researchers, policy-makers, health professionals and the general population acknowledge the health benefits of regular physical activity.1 While adults predominantly are physically active as part of their job (ie, occupational physical activity), the evidence on physical activity and health is mainly limited to physical activity during leisure time.2 Researchers have questioned if occupational physical activity provides the same health benefits as leisure time physical activity—termed the physical activity health paradox.3 A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2018 among almost 200 000 participants found high oc...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Holtermann, A. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

RE: epidemiology of chronic kidney disease of undetermined aetiology in Taiwanese farmers
We appreciate the reader’s response1 to our study on chronic kidney disease of undetermined or non-traditional aetiology (CKDu or CKDnT) among Taiwanese farmers.2 Indeed, in Table 1 of the original article, the difference between serum creatinine among farmers and non-farmers was not significant. It could be explained by the fact that the renal function of most of the participants was within the normal range, and only a small part (3.1% in farmers vs 1.3% in non-farmers) met the criteria for CKD; therefore, on average, the difference between renal function among farmers and non-farmers was not significant (Table 1 in...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - January 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Chang, C.-J., Yang, H.-Y. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

RE: epidemiology of chronic kidney disease of undetermined aetiology in Taiwanese farmers
Chang and Yang investigated the possible risk factors of chronic kidney disease of undetermined aetiology (CKDu) in Taiwanese farmers with special reference to heat stress.1 The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence OR (95% CI) of farmers versus non-farmers for CKDu was 1.45 (1.10 to 1.90), and prevalence of dehydration in farmers was higher than that in non-farmers. They made an emphasis on thermal hazards for CKDu in farmers, and I present my queries about the study. First, there is no difference in serum creatinine in farmers and non-farmers,2 and procedures for estimating glomerular filtration rate may not affect th...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - January 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kawada, T. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Integrating vocational rehabilitation and mental healthcare to improve the return-to-work process for people on sick leave with depression or anxiety: results from a three-arm, parallel randomised trial
Conclusions Although INT did not hasten the process of return-to-work, it yielded better outcome with regard to proportion in work compared with MHC and SAU. The findings suggest that INT compared with SAU is associated with a few, minor health benefits. Overall, INT yielded slightly better vocational and health outcomes, but the clinical significance of the health advantage is questionable. Trial registration number NCT02872051. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - January 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Hoff, A., Poulsen, R. M., Fisker, J., Hjorthoj, C., Rosenberg, N., Nordentoft, M., Bojesen, A. B., Eplov, L. F. Tags: Open access Practice Source Type: research

Self-reported psychological distress and self-perceived health in residents living near pesticide-treated agricultural land: a cross-sectional study in The Netherlands
Conclusions This study provides no evidence that residential proximity to pesticide treated-crops is associated with PD or poorer perceived health. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - January 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Simoes, M., Huss, A., Janssen, N., Vermeulen, R. Tags: Environment Source Type: research

HLA-DPB1 E69 genotype and exposure in beryllium sensitisation and disease
Conclusions Risk of CBD increases with E69 allele frequency and increasing exposure, although no gene by environment interaction was found. A decreased risk of BeS with increasing exposure and lack of exposure response in CBD cases may be due to the limitations of reconstructed exposure estimates. Although reducing exposure may not prevent BeS, it may reduce CBD and the associated health effects, especially in those carrying E69 alleles. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - January 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Crooks, J., Mroz, M. M., VanDyke, M., McGrath, A., Schuler, C., McCanlies, E. C., Virji, M. A., Rosenman, K. D., Rossman, M., Rice, C., Monos, D., Fingerlin, T. E., Maier, L. A. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research