bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O8D.5 Physical activity as a moderator of effort-reward imbalance over time – results of the german lida-cohort study
Authors: Prel Jean-Baptist du , Borchart Daniela
Published: May 2020

Background

Work-related stress is widespread in modern societies and an important risk factor for common health impairments. The model of effort-reward imbalance (=ERI), one of the best-investigated occupational stress models, is associated with musculoskeletal and coronary heart diseases as well as depressive disorders. A common assumption is that physical activity (PA) antagonizes the harmful effects of distress on health. Yet, the evidence of the effect of PA on work-related stress, especially on ERI, is limited so far. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the effect of PA on ERI over time.

Methods

Work-related stress was measured by ERI and physical activity by a single question asking for the weekly frequency of physical activity leading to sweating or getting out of breath over two study waves (t1, t2). Multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education) was performed including interaction testing.

Results

Work-related stress at t1 was a significant predictor for work-related stress at t2. Physical activity at t2 - itself not significantly associated with work-related stress - had a significant moderating effect on work-related stress over two study waves. The higher the frequency of PA was, the lower the stress level at t2 in comparison to t1. This interaction of physical activity with ERI was also observable after adjustment for sociodemographic factors.

Discussion

We found a moderating effect of physical activity on ERI over time in agreement with former studies using other measures of work-related stress. A dose-response relationship of physical activity and ERI over two study waves was observable in our study. Regarding the detrimental effect of chronical stress on health, PA might be beneficial by mitigating the health hazards of ERI and their long-term consequences (e.g., loss of work force). Longitudinal studies over more than two waves have to prove our findings.
O8D.6 High physical workload and disability pension: a follow-up study of swedish men until 59 years of age
Authors: Kjellberg Katarina , Falkstedt Daniel , Linnersjö Anette , Hemmingsson Tomas
Published: May 2020

Background

In Sweden, the proportion of the population that remains in paid employment until normal retirement age of 65 years is less than 50% in blue-collar groups, compared to 60%–75% in white-collar occupations. High physical workload has been associated with early exits from the labor market through disability pensions (DP) in many studies. However, identified risk factors for DP from early life may be more prevalent among men in heavy manual occupations than in others. The aim was to investigate the association between high physical work load in middle age and DP before age 59, adjusting for social background, physical ability, psychological characteristics, lifestyle and education measured before labour market entrance.

Methods

The study is based on a Swedish conscription cohort of 49 321 men born 1949–1951. At enlistment 1969/1970 information was collected about cardiorespiratory fitness, social background, psychological characteristics and health behaviours, e.g. smoking. Physical workload was estimated with a job exposure matrix based on questions concerning heavy lifting, strenuous work postures, repetitive work and physically strenuous work from the Swedish Work Environment Surveys 1989–97. Mean values for men of a composite physical exposure variable were grouped into quartiles; high, medium-high, medium-low and low physical workload, and assigned to occupational titles from the census 1990. The study group was followed regarding DP from age 40 to 59.

Results

Exposure to high (HR 2.67, CI 95% 2.42–2.95), medium-high (HR 2.43, CI 95% 2.20–2.69) and medium-low (HR 1.31, CI 95% 1.18–1.47) physical workload, compared with low, were associated with DP up to age 59. The increased risks remained, but were clearly attenuated after adjustments for pre-labour market factors, especially psychological characteristics and education.

Conclusion

The results are in line with a major effect of high physical work load on disability pension, even though adjustments for pre-labour market factors clearly attenuated the risks.
P.1.05 Developing a workplace intelligence system for exposure-control in great britain (WISE-GB)
Authors: Chen Yiqun , Curran Andrew
Published: May 2020

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a risk based regulator for workplace health and safety in GB. It has an intelligence-led operational approach. To inform HSE’s risk control strategies, WISE-GB is developed to capture and integrate diverse but relevant data sources on an ongoing basis to generate intelligence, in a timely fashion, through enhanced analytic operation (i.e. statistical modelling, spatial and temporal analyses and expert interpretation) for monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of workplace exposure-control in GB.

A workshop was organised in October 2017 to bring stakeholders across HSE to develop a common vision for WISE-GB and to identify the next steps for development. WISE-GB will generate national representative intelligence on the patterns (levels and distributions) of risk exposure to important hazards, which should support: 1) risk assessment, prioritisation and targeting risk control efforts; and 2) monitoring and evaluation of interventions, where reliable intelligence on improvement of exposure-control is critical in linking positive changes in attitude and behavioural about workplace exposures to better prevention of work-related ill health.

A feasibility study will be presented, using Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) as an example, to illustrate WISE-GB development methods. This include: 1) capturing historical data as well as data gathered continuously through HSE operation and research, 2) accessing and utilisation inspection information, industry data, and data from other industrial countries to fill the potential data gaps; and 3) integrating diverse data sources to generate national representative intelligence. We will also demonstrate how the intelligence from WISE-GB contributes to the monitoring and evaluation of the HSE Health and Work programme on prevention of Occupational Lung Disease (OLD). These will help HSE towards developing a fit-for-purpose WISE-GB to generate real-time national picture of the effectiveness of exposure-control in GB workplaces.

© British Crown copyright (2019)
P.1.06 Effects of cigarette smoking on hearing loss in workers with noise exposure
Authors: Chu Po-Ching , Hsu Mrs Carrie
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Previous studies found that noise and cigarette smoking are risk factors of hearing loss. This study aimed to investigate effects of cigarette smoking and other factors on hearing loss.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 95 machine maintenance workers with noise exposure in an electronics industry. The databases of health examination and environmental monitoring were used, and the information on demographics, years of employment, habit of cigarette smoking, hearing levels of pure tone audiometry, and levels of personal noise exposure monitoring (TWA) were assessed. There were two definitions of hearing levels, which were the mean level (mean of bilateral 3K, 4K, 6 K Hz) and the maximal level (maximum of bilateral 3K, 4K, 6 K Hz). Linear regression was applied to explore the association.

Results

60.0%, 14.7%, and 25.3% workers were never smokers, ever smokers who had quit, and current smokers, respectively. The multivariable linear regression showed that current smokers had higher mean hearing level than never smokers (β=4.54, 95% CI=−0.10–9.19); age was associated with the mean hearing level (β=0.52, 95% CI=0.25–0.79). In additions, another multivariable model showed that current smokers had higher maximal hearing level than never smokers (β=8.36, 95% CI=0.28–16.43); age was associated with the maximal hearing level (β=0.91, 95% CI=0.45–1.38). Years of employment and noise exposure levels were not associated with hearing levels. Concerning workers aged 36 years or older, subgroup analysis found that the maximal hearing levels were 25 dB (never smokers), ever smokers who had quit (30 dB), and current smokers (45 dB), which had statistical significant (p=0.048).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that old age and current smoking were risk factors of hearing loss, and also call attention to the importance of preventing hearing loss including quitting smoking for noise exposure workers.
P.1.08 Connecting contractor safety management programs and worker perceived safety climate in commercial construction projects
Authors: Dale Ann Marie , Buckner-Petty Skye , Evanoff Bradley
Published: May 2020

Background

Leading indicators are preferred to identify injuries and fatalities in construction industry. Safety climate is a leading indicator of construction injuries yet it is not known how workers’ safety climate scores relate to safety programs of different maturity levels.

Methods

This study examined the relationship between safety program scores based on documents and contractor reported activities and project leading indicators of contractor safety climate, safety behaviors of workers and crews, and safety attitudes of coworkers from employee surveys. Hierarchical linear regression models accounted for contractor size and number of workers, nested in contractors within projects. Separate models examined the relationships between safety program scores and 1) contractor safety climate; 2) coworker attitude scores, 3) employees’ own behavior score, and 4) crew behavior scores.

Results

446 employees of 40 contractors from three commercial construction projects participated. Many contractors (n=16) had good safety programs with 15 or more safety activities (out of 17) from organizational management, worker participation, hazard identification, and training domains. Stronger safety programs had higher safety climate scores (5.15 point difference on a 100 point scale, p=0.05), better coworker safety attitudes (6.69 points, p=0.01), better crew safety behaviors (5.34 points, p=0.02) and higher self-rated behaviors (5.14 points, p=0.02) compared to safety programs with fewer safety items.

Conclusions

Contractors with more comprehensive safety programs were perceived to have stronger safety climate. Better safety programs were also associated with better self-reported safety performance of coworkers, crews, and individual workers. Stronger safety programs incorporated activities from all four domains Safety programs that include activities that cover safety of management and worker influence safety performance and safety climate as perceived by the workers.
P.1.09 Risk assessment of exposure to formaldehyde in university laboratories
Authors: Dehdashti Alireza
Published: May 2020

Objective

Formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical in laboratories and has been regarded as a potential hazard to health. Researchers and students who work in medical laboratories have potentially a higher risk of exposure to Formaldehyde. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of exposure to formaldehyde and its health effects in laboratories.

Methods

In a cross-sectional survey air samples were collected with charcoal tubes from 23 anatomy, pathology and histopathology laboratories. Personal and time weighted exposures of 102 samples were sampled and analyzed using OSHA method. A questionnaire was distributed to 83 participants engaged in laboratory activities to examine the adverse health effects of formaldehyde.

Results

Overall, 92.3% of the personal exposure levels were higher than the occupational exposure limit. The area concentrations ranged between 0.234 ppm and 3.45 ppm (mean=1.43 ppm, SD=0.45). Individual exposure levels in respiratory zone ranged 0.219 ppm and 1.96 ppm (mean=0.573 ppm, SD=0.39). The risk of Formaldehyde exposure levels were higher for researchers and technicians compared to students with a factor of two or three. Participants with a duration of exposure more than 2 years had an increased risk of health symptoms (Hazard ratio=1.4; Confidence Interval=0.8–3.7). Laboratory personnel reported physical fatigue (39.1%), headache (32.7%), breathing problems (21.1%), noise irritation (17.4%), and eye irritation (14.9%).

Conclusion

The concentration levels of Formaldehyde vapor in laboratory indoor air were higher compared to individual exposure levels. Work in laboratories is associated with exposure levels exceeding the recommended exposure limit and an increased risk of health complaints. Preventive measures are required to reduce the emission of airborne formaldehyde and prevalent health-related symptoms in academic medical laboratories.
P.1.11 ‘Creation of classification model using machine learning; to detect dysphonia work-related’
Authors: Gilbert Natalia , Assar Rodrigo , Martinez Rodrigo
Published: May 2020

The underdiagnosis of occupational disease causes severe damage to the health system. The classification of a disease as a professional is based on the decision on whether the present labor factors are sufficient for the generation of the disease, and this function is carried out by a qualified professional or committee.

Occupational dysphonia is one of the 5 most frequent occupational diseases in Chile, whose condition impact on the labor productivity and the quality of life of the patient. Today there are no unified criteria among the occupational qualification decisión makers to decide on the sufficient of laboral factors of occupational dysphonia disease.

Computerized systems have been developed to support clinical diagnosis decision-making process; among these, Machine Learning methods have been used to simulate the reasoning of the expert from the analysis and identification of complex patterns in large databases, so in this study it is suggested that the creation of a dysphonia classification model is possible employing Machine Learning tools. For this purpose, 103 cases obtained from patients with qualification results cause by dysphonia was analize in relation to the number of variables studied and their distribution for the observation of the characteristics that give identity to the groups studied. Subsequently, different classification models were developed using Machine Learning and the one that presented the best performance was chosen.

Statistical analyzes show that of the 6 models of Machine Learning elaborated, Random Forest was the one that presented the best performance (accuracity=0.83 and Kappa value=0.61), variables that manage to establish identity to each group represent 26.5% of the total of studied variables. The results in this work show the potential of the use of computer tools can be useful as a support tool for diagnosis of occupational disease.
P.1.12 Particulate matter measurement system using low cost sensor and internet of things
Authors: Ham Seunghon , Kang Seong-Kyu
Published: May 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an important keyword in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. IoT is expected to have a massive impact for human being, but these are still early days. IoT enables these objects to collect and exchange data through the wireless network, such as devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items that include electronic devices, software, sensors, and network connections. IoT is a technology that can be used and expanded in various applications such as industrial, manufacturing, medical and consumer products and so on. This research focuses specifically on the development of measurement systems for particulate matter using IoT technology for occupational as well as environmental settings. Currently, the government is providing the concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5/10) hourly. However, it is difficult to reflect personal exposure because it is installed on the top of a building. Therefore, this study shows development of the particulate matter measuring system using IoT and obtains the personal measurement data of the particulate matter. Also, to provide a further insight, we will also present how particulate matter measurement system works by showing some measurements collected with an experimental testbed deployed in our research group. Still, it is necessary to improve the quality of system and the convergence between pollutant measurement including particulate matter and IoT can provide new opportunities for occupational and environmental particulate matter measurement system.

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Gachon University research fund of 2018(GCU-2018–5259) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Science, ICT) (No. NRF-2017R1C1B1002717).
P.1.17 Working time, smoking, and caffeine intake by working type of taxi drivers in korea
Authors: Kim Hyoung-ryoul
Published: May 2020

Taxi drivers in Korea are known to work long hours and receive low wages. In addition, there are various forms of working, so that they can work 12 hours a day for 2 shifts, work only at night or day time, and drive a car whole day alone (14–15 hours a day). We surveyed their specific hours of work, and smoking and caffeine consumption. In this study, 11 business sites were selected for taxi companies in Seoul considering region and workplace size, and survey was conducted for all taxi drivers belonging to the relevant business sites. The questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, working hours and working conditions, violence experience, emotional labor status, physical and mental health status, sleep health, traffic accidents and traffic violation experience. A total of 698 respondents (39.6%) answered the questionnaire. 76.2% were working 25–26 days a month. 49.2% of the workers worked more than 60 hours per week and less than 70 hours per week. 52.8% of drivers were current smokers, and 65.9% of those who work fixed night shift were current smokers. The rate of taking caffeinated beverages was 90.4%, of which 75.5% were taking six or more cups a day. In the form of working for 14–15 hours a day alone and working in fixed night shift, more than 6 cups were consumed.

Taxi drivers are forced to work long hours on their own due to their low wage structure, and the frequency of smoking and caffeine ingestion is very high in order to maintain long working hours. In order to improve this situation, the introduction of the monthly salary system and regulation of working time should be applied.
P.1.19 Increased benefit generosity and the impact on workers’ compensation claiming behaviour: an interrupted time series study in victoria, australia
Authors: Lane Tyler , Gray Shannon , Sheehan Luke , Collie Alex
Published: May 2020

Objective

To measure the effect of legislated increases to workers’ compensation benefits on claiming behaviour.

Methods

Interrupted time series of workers’ compensation claims in Victoria, Australia (2008–2012), assessing 1) the overall effect of the legislation and 2) raising the wage replacement cap on higher earners, by condition type, in reference to a comparator of other Australian workers’ compensation jurisdictions.

Results

Overall claiming increased 11.7%, driven largely by musculoskeletal condition claims. There was no detectable effect on disability duration overall, though back/neck conditions were up 26.9%. Among higher earners, there was mixed evidence of an increase in claiming, though disability durations were up 32.9%, which was also driven by back/neck conditions. There was mixed evidence of an effect on mental health claims, suggesting either no response or a negative response to benefit generosity.

Conclusions

Findings mainly align with existing evidence: more generous benefits increase claiming and disability durations, primarily driven by back/neck musculoskeletal conditions. However, some mixed findings by injury group and among higher earners raise questions about confounders such as co-occurring events.
P.1.21 The establishment of a cohort study in a semiconductor company of south korea
Authors: Lee Jiae , Lee Gyeongho , Jung Woojin , Kim Enjung , Kim Gawon , Na Wonwoong , Lee Saeyoung
Published: May 2020

We have designed a ten-year prospective cohort study in semiconductor workers of South Korea. We aimed to determine the relationship between occupational exposure and not only cancers but also diseases related to reproductive toxicity such as spontaneous abortion and others. Further, we’re planning to establish a monitoring and surveillance system for the known and the unknown hazards like unexpected by-products. We were approved from Korea National Institute for Bioethics Policy (KoNIBP) for cohort establishment in July 2017. We held cohort information session of over two hundred times for entire employees. In these sessions, the employees were encouraged to participate to the cohort study with full explanation related to the establishment of cohort system including the necessity, value, and vision of the system. The consent form was included specific sub-categories depending on the characteristics and source of personal and sensitive information to be used. A total of 22 490 employees were agreed to participate to SHE (SKHynix Employees) cohort (the participation rate: 93 percent) and we built up the foundation of the cohort with these higher rates. Various data included in the consent form, such as personnel information, health examination information, and job exposure matrix (JEM) and others were collected and refined to identify health status of our employees. The cohort was built on the basis of the need of our own healthcare system, and the establishment and the analyses of cohort DB are expected to deduct of the high risk group through tracking and monitoring for risk factors and major diseases. It is also expected proactive prevention through blocking potential risks.
P.1.23 Gaps between international conventions and national asbestos ban policies: a global perspective
Authors: Lin Ro-ting
Published: May 2020

Introduction

There is an international consensus that the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop using asbestos. However, 80% of the global population lives in countries that lack any national policy that achieves a total ban on asbestos. We investigated whether national policies were in line with international conventions and identified countries that lag behind the global trend toward a total asbestos ban.

Methods

We obtained data on the year that each country implemented policies that ban chrysotile, crocidolite, and amosite. We also obtained the list of countries that have ratified the C162 Asbestos Convention and the Basel Convention, and their date of ratification. Data retrieved from the search databases were compiled for statistical analysis. We calculated the numbers and proportions of countries enforcing total bans, partial bans, and no bans.

Results

As of 2018, there were 62 countries implemented the total asbestos ban policy. Countries that ratified both conventions and countries that ratified either one or unratified any convention, we found the former group had a higher proportion of implementing total ban compared to the latter group (65% vs. 41%, p-value<0.05). However, some countries, such as Russia and Kazakhstan, are still among the biggest producers of asbestos, despite they have ratified C162. Asbestos may have been consumed longer in countries not ratifying conventions than those ratifying conventions.

Conclusions

Historical asbestos consumption and loose regulations have introduced challenges to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Although several countries have reoriented the national policy in line with the global trend of banning all types and forms of asbestos, the gap between adopting interventional conventions and developing national policies remain, warranting efforts to analyze driving forces behind successful political processes to ratify the international conventions, establish asbestos control limits, and eventually create a national policy for a total asbestos ban.
P.1.28 Air pollution and diseases: a practical tool for effective pubmed search
Authors: Curti Stefania , Mattioli Stefano
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To identify efficient PubMed search filters for the study of outdoor air pollution determinants of diseases.

Methods

We listed Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and non-MeSH terms that seemed pertinent to outdoor air pollutants exposure as determinants of diseases. Proportions of potentially pertinent articles retrieved by each term were estimated. We then formulated two filters: one ‘more specific’, one ‘more sensitive’. Their performances were compared with a gold standard of systematic reviews on associations between diseases and outdoor air pollution. We calculated, for both the filters, the number (of abstract) needed to read (NNR) to identify one potentially pertinent article, exploring three diseases potentially associated with outdoor air pollution.

Results

The combination of terms that yielded a threshold of potentially pertinent articles≥40% permitted to formulate the ‘more specific’ filter. On the basis of the combination of all search terms under study we formulated the ‘more sensitive’ filter. In comparison with the gold standard, the ‘more specific’ filter had the highest specificity (67.4%; with a sensitivity of 82.5%) and the ‘more sensitive’ filter had the highest sensitivity (98.5%; with a specificity of 47.9%). For the ‘more specific’ filter and the ‘more sensitive’ one the NNR to find one potentially pertinent article was 1.9 and 3.3, respectively.

Conclusions

The proposed search filters help investigating environmental determinants of medical conditions. We published them on: Curti S et al. PubMed search filters for the study of putative outdoor air pollution determinants of disease. BMJ Open. 2016;6 (12):e013092.
P.1.29 Communication and dissemination in the omega-net cost action
Authors: McElvenny Damien , Turner Michelle , Burdorf Alex , Pearce Neil , Mehlum Ingrid
Published: May 2020

OMEGA-NET (the Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts - http://omeganetcohorts.eu/) is a 4 year EU-funded COST Action that commenced in November 2017. The overarching concept of OMEGA-NET is to create a network to optimise and integrate occupational, industrial, and population cohorts at the European level, and to provide a foundation for an enhanced evidence base for the identification of health risks and gains related to occupation and employment to foster safe and healthy preventive strategies and policies.

OMEGA-NET has research and capacity-building objectives, including:

Coordinate and integrate cohorts on occupational health in Europe

Implement an online interactive tool with detailed information on existing cohorts

Facilitate work on harmonisation of occupational exposure and standardisation of health outcome information and new protocols for data collection

Connect scientific communities on occupational health in Europe

Provide networking and leadership opportunities for early career researchers, as well as researchers from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries

Provide training in occupational epidemiology and exposure assessment

Our stakeholders are at National, European (e.g. EU, EU–OSHA) and International levels (e.g. WHO, ILO). Scientists are under pressure to promote their research and the reasons for promoting OMEGA–NET include:

Attracting future research funding in occupational health;

Building new connections outside our Action, promoting research in other countries; and

Putting occupational epidemiology on the agenda of EU and international (and national) policy–makers

We will present our Science Communication and Dissemination Plan, which sets out how we are interacting with and influencing key high-level stakeholders, and what we hope to achieve. We hope OMEGA-NET will inform occupational health research priority setting and promote a lively discussion on communication of research in occupational health.
P.1.36 Occupational cohort studies: safeguarding a valuable resource
Authors: Venables Katherine , Fear Nicola , Carpenter Lucy , Keegan Thomas , Brooks Claire , Archer Gemma
Published: May 2020

An occupational cohort study is the most robust epidemiological design for studying the effects of workplace hazards and the findings can be extended to the general environment. A cohort may be time-consuming, expensive, and labour-intensive to set up but, once done, it can be extended forward in time, as well as laterally to incorporate new outcome variables, and it can also support nested case-control studies. It is therefore important that the human and material investment is preserved so that these valuable resources can be fully exploited.

In recent years, the bureaucratic burden on researchers in many countries has increased. In the UK, for example, research ethics, data protection, and data access application procedures have become more cumbersome, with an increase in the number of supporting documents required from researchers. Although fast-track procedures exist, epidemiological studies often require the same formal procedures and oversights as more invasive and potentially dangerous physiological and pharmacological studies.

Fortunately, there are now initiatives which support occupational cohort studies. The UK Medical Research Council (MRC), for example, published in 2014 a review and guidance about maximising the value of UK population cohorts and it has also set up a Cohort Strategic Review Group to pre-assess funding applications for new cohorts and for updates to existing cohorts (http://mrc.ukri.org). As another example, OMEGA-NET has been set up to ‘create a network to optimize and integrate occupational, industrial, and population cohorts at the European level’ (http://omeganetcohorts.eu/).

We propose that a checklist be defined for assessment of research protocols for new cohorts or updates to existing cohorts, in order to assist official committees in their work and streamline the approval process for both researchers and committees. EPICOH would be well-placed to draft and promulgate such a checklist, working with interested organisations, such as OMEGA-NET and the UK MRC.
P.1.37 A study of the incidence rate and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among workers of different job categories in taiwan
Authors: Yang Chen-Chang , Wu Hsin-Chien
Published: May 2020

Background

In Taiwan, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among people over the age of 20 years is as high as 19.7%. With the increase in age, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is even higher, with the prevalence being more than 30 years among those aged 45–65 years. Notably, very limited follow-up studies have examined the incidence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among workers of different job categories in Taiwan.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective follow-up study that included 6,284 Taiwanese subjects who had been working in the same job category for 5 years and who received periodic health checkups at a regional hospital from 2006 to 2017 to better understand the incidence rate and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan. All participants’ demographic data and health examination data were then analyzed. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the criteria proposd by the US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATP III).

Results

After an average follow-up of 6.0 years, the incidence rate of metabolic syndrome among workers who had been working in the same job category for five years was 32.42 per 1000 person-years. Moreover, the largest number of cases with metabolic syndrome appeared in the transportation industry.

Conclusion

The results of this study should help the employers of various industries to better plan health education and monitoring programs of their employees to ameliorate the incidence of metabolic syndrome.
P.1.38 Effects of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) genotype and nanomaterials exposure on heart rate variability
Authors: Wu Wei-te , Liou Saou-Hsing
Published: May 2020

Background

Although paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) associated antioxidant enzyme that has beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, whether PON1 Q192R polymorphism have any effect on cardiac autonomic function is yet to be investigated. Moreover, there is limited data regarding the influence of NPs exposure on HRV parameters in humans. The purpose of the study was to exam whether PON1 genotype or NPs exposure has an association with HRV levels.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 235 workers exposed to NM and 185 non-exposed controls from 14 NM handling plants in Taiwan from 2009 to 2011. For each participant, we collected blood specimens to determine the genotype of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism and PON1 paraoxonase and arylesterase activities. In addition, short-term HRV was tested.

Results

The results showed that PON1 Q192R genotype and PON1 paraoxonase/arylesterase activities associated with HRV, and was particularly noteworthy in RMSSD and HF. The relationship between NPs exposure and HRV was only found in workers exposed to nano-Ag, but the apparent relationship between NPs exposure and HRV is lacking.

Conclusions

It is a novel finding that both RR genotype of PON1 (Q192R) and activities of PON1 increased with HRV levels. PON1 Q192R genotype may play an important role in cardiac protection. Considering the global prevalence of NMs market, further studies of NPs-induced cardiac events and stresses still are required to establish.
P.1.40 Farmer’s suicide with the use of pesticides in different areas in spain
Authors: Zhao Guanlan , Ronda Elena , Barrio Gregorio , Regidor Enrique
Published: May 2020

Introduction

There is considerable interest in the potential relation of suicide with the pesticide. Agriculture is the leading professional sector for pesticide use in the world with a turnover of about 40 billion US dollars in 2010. According to the WHO report in 2014, autointoxication with agricultural pesticides contributes greatly to the global burden of suicide. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether suicide of farmers was associated with the use of pesticide in different areas during the period 2001–2011 in Spain.

Methods

The cohort study followed 9.5 million men in Spain from 2001 to 2011. Participants aged 20–64 years were employed in 2001. The study subjects were grouped as farmers and non-farmers. We divided Spain into two areas depending on both geographical location and the mean annual amount of pesticides used: southeast Spain and the rest of Spain. The southeast Spain shows higher use of pesticides than the rest of Spain. For three major causes of death (suicide, unintentional accidents and rest of causes of death), we estimated the age-standardized mortality rates per 1000,000 person-years of follow-up, the ratio of age-standardized mortality rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) between farmers and non-farmers in two areas were calculated.

Results

With respect to the rest area of Spain, farmers in the southeast showed a lower mortality rate of suicide and unintentional accidents, which mortality rate ratios were 0.74 (95% CI 0.65–0.85) and 0.57 (95% CI 0.52–0.62).

Conclusion

Our findings do no support a possible association between pesticide use and suicide of farmers in Spain.
P.2.01 Epidemiological studies of the porton down veterans: an update of cancer incidence and mortality to 2018
Authors: Archer Gemma , Keegan Thomas , Brooks Claire , Carpenter Lucy , Venables Katherine , Fear Nicola
Published: May 2020

Introduction

An update to the Porton Down Veterans Cohort study is planned for 2018–2021.

Background

Chemical warfare agents continue to be deployed by rogue states and terrorists, e.g. in Syria, Iraq, Tokyo, and Salisbury UK, yet their impact on long-term health is largely unknown. The Porton Down cohort comprises of 18 276 men who took part in the ‘human volunteer programme’ of chemical warfare agent research at Porton Down, UK, between 1941 to 1989, and a comparison group of 17 600 men who also served in the military. An original study linked veterans’ records to national registry data on cancer incidence and mortality up to 2004. By the end of 2004, 7306 of the Porton Down veterans and 6900 of the comparison cohort had died. The results showed Porton Down veterans had no overall excess of cancers (rate ratio (RR)=1.00, 95% CI 0.95–1.05) and a small (6%) excess of all-cause mortality (RR=1.06, 1.03–1.10) when compared with non-Porton Down veterans. Porton Down veterans had higher rates of certain cancers (e.g. ill-defined malignant neoplasms, andin situneoplasms) and specific causes of death (e.g. genitourinary, circulatory and external causes).

Objectives

The updated study aims to replicate the original analyses but with an additional 15 years of follow-up – estimated to increase the number of deaths available for study to c 22 200. This will improve statistical power, allowing exposures and outcomes of interest from prior literature to be examined at a level of detail not possible in the original study, e.g. nerve agent antidotes, riot control agents, neurological mortality, and rarer cancers.

Implications

Greater understanding of the long-term risks associated with exposure to chemical agents could lead to raised awareness among policy makers and health care providers, leading to improved diagnosis and quality of care.

Conflict of interest

None
O1D.2 Objective measurement of work-environment carcinogenic exposures in florida firefighters using silicone-based passive sampling wristbands
Authors: Caban-Martinez Alberto , Santiago Katerina , Baum Jeramy , Dikici Emre , Solle Natasha Shaefer , Daunert Sylvia , Deo Sapna , Kobetz Erin
Published: May 2020

Firefighters are likely to be exposed to many toxic chemicals in the performance of their work duties such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chemical exposures may occur through dermal, oral, or inhalation pathways. Passive sampling devices are used to sequester organic molecules through passive diffusion and provide time-weighted averages of chemical concentrations. This pilot study uses silicone-based wristbands as a personal passive sampler to detect known carcinogens during a 24 hour work shift. Twenty-four wristbands were deployed across various fire services throughout South Florida. Prior to deployment, bands were cleaned using a standardized cleaning protocol to remove contamination and optimize the surface for absorption. Wristbands were then packaged in air-tight bags to prevent contamination. Wristbands were worn on fire service personnel and collected at the end of a 24 hour work shift. Chemical contaminants were then extracted from the wristband and analyzed for PAHs—identified using the EPA IRIS, California Proposition 65, and IRAC datasets— using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The average number of chemicals found across all wristbands (n=24) was 23 with 4 categorized as carcinogenic to humans (i.e., Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[j]fluoranthene, Chrysene, and Naphthalene). All bands had at least one PAH present, specifically, 87.5% contained Benzo[b]fluoranthene (mean=5.23 ng/band), 50% contained Benzo[j]fluoranthene (mean=2.05 ng/band), 79.2% contained Chrysene (mean=9.55 ng/band), and 100% contained Napthalene (mean=176.53 ng/band). Actual types of exposure compounds is likely to be larger than the observed data as the group of PAHs detected was limited to three existing datasets. Silicone-based wristbands are feasible to use within the fire service to detect and characterize ambient hazardous chemical compounds. These personal self-samplers used during a 24 hour collection period identified various PAHs in the firefighter work environment. Objective measures of harmful chemical exposures in the fire service should be monitored with a comprehensive surveillance system that includes personal sampler devices.
P.2.04 Occupational skin disease in a tertiary occupational dermatologic clinic: a retrospective analysis from 2010 to 2017
Authors: Chang Heng-Hao , Wang Bour-Jr , Guo How-Ran , Lee I-Ru
Published: May 2020

Background

Occupational skin disease (OSD) is one of the most common occupational disorders in Taiwan. As reporting OSD was not compulsory, there was limited information on the exact causes and patient characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the causes and common allergens among OSD patients in Taiwan.

Methods

We recruited patients from Occupational Dermatology Clinic in National Cheng Kung University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Tainan city, between 1 January 2010 and 31 July 2017. Patch testing with European baseline series, additional occupation-oriented series, and personal material exposed at work or during daily life was carried out if the patients were suspected of allergic skin diseases.

Results

Among the 273 patients who received patch testing, 51 (18.7%) patients had a final diagnosis of OSD. 82.4% of the 51 patients were diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), 11.8% with irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), while the rest 5.9% with both. Patient reported 3.0 years of skin problem prior to the clinic visit. The vast majority of patients suffered from hand eczema. Epoxy resin workers, food workers, hairdressers and beauty salon beauticians were the most common occupations related to OSD. The most important allergens were nickel, fragrance mix I, potassium dichromate and paraben mix. Around half of the patients showed allergic reaction to their personal material.

Discussion

As worker compensation statistics may not accurately estimate the characteristics of OSD patients, our study was crucial to identify the high-risk groups as well as the common allergens related to their work. Although the results might not represent the proportion of patients of OSD in other clinic, drawing information from patch testing may reflect those patients of severer or longer duration of symptoms. Future occupational measures should be taken on these industries for the detection and prevention of OSD.
P.2.11 Vitamin D deficiency and hepatitis B virus infection and risk of hematological malignancies among korean semiconductor workers: a case-control study
Authors: Lee Seokwon , Yang Sarah , Koh Jaewoo , Kim Soo-Geun , Lee Kyoungho
Published: May 2020

Objectives

This study aims to identify an association between potential risk factors and risk of hematological malignancies, especially for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) and leukemia, among Korean semiconductor workers.

Methods

We collected 54 cases who ever worked over 30 days at a Korean semiconductor manufacturing company and were diagnosed as NHL (ICD-10 codes: C82–C85) and leukemia (C91–C95) from January 1 st 1998 to December 31 st 2017. A total of 324 controls, frequency matched by age and sex (1:6 ratios) with no diagnosis of hematological malignancies, were randomly selected. The information on work history, occupational exposure and medical examination data was also collected for the study analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) after adjusting age, sex, education, employment year, smoking, alcohol and body mass index.

Results

No significant association between hematological malignancies and occupational risk factors, including job title, cleanroom work and occupational exposures, was observed. As for leukemia, however, ORs were significantly increased by natural immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV) [HBsAg(-), HBsAb(+), HBcAb(+)] (OR=11.92, 95% confidential interval 1.05–135.89) and a past or current (ever) HBV infection [HBsAg(+/-), HBsAb(+/-), HBcAb(+)] (6.52, 1.51–28.10). Furthermore, ORs for NHL were also significantly increased by insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] (12–20 ng/mL) (10.67, 1.27–89.53) and deficient 25(OH)D levels (<12 ng/mL) (12.22, 1.37–109.16) (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Risk of hematological malignancies was not associated with occupational risk factors but significantly elevated by two factors, such as HBV infection and insufficient or deficient 25(OH)D level. A longitudinal cohort study is needed to confirm the association between these risk factors and cancers.
P.2.20 Epidemic of bladder cancer in japanese male workers exposed mainly to ortho-toluidine
Authors: Nakano Makiko , Omae Kazuyuki , Eitaki Yoko , Iwasawa Satoko , Fukai Kota , Yoshioka Noriyuki , Tanaka Shigeru , Koda Shigeki , Takebayashi Toru
Published: May 2020

Background

In 2012, ortho-toluidine (OT) was listed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based on epidemiologic observations in workers co-exposed to OT and aromatic amines. Between 2014 and 2017, 10 cases of bladder cancer (BC) were identified in Japanese males working at two plants of the same company manufacturing intermediates of organic dyes and pigments.

Objective

To describe the features of the BC epidemic at the plants.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 76 OT and/or aromatic amine-exposed workers including the 10 BC cases at the plants in 2017. The co-exposed aromatic amines were para-toluidine, ortho-anisidine, aniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline, and/or ortho-chloroaniline. Details of each worker’s job-site histories were obtained from the company records. Past medical symptoms and histories were checked in physician interviews. The subjects were divided into the BC group (n=10) and the non-BC group (n=66) and compared. No quantitative exposure data were available. The surrogate level of exposure to each aromatic amine was calculated as the summed job-weight-month in each process in each job-year.

Results

The mean ages of the non-BC and BC groups were 50 and 56 years and the durations of employment were 23 and 20 years, respectively. The smoking rate in both groups was 80%. Significantly higher rates of gross hematuria (70%) and cystitis (70%) were identified in the BC group’s past medical histories. In the BC group, the surrogate levels of exposure to OT were higher than those of exposures to other aromatic amines. The surrogate levels were high in the job processes of filtering, rinsing, drying and packing products.

Conclusions

The subjects with BC were associated with a high surrogate level of exposure to OT. OT-exposed workers with past histories of gross hematuria and cystitis need a careful follow-up.
P.2.21 Occupational pesticide exposure associated with a reduction of respiratory parameters in ethiopian farm workers
Authors: Negatu Beyene , Hans Kromhout
Published: May 2020

There are reports of unsafe occupational handling and use of pesticide in recently intensifying commercial farming systems in Ethiopia. Very few studies reported the effect of occupational pesticide exposure on smaller airway respiratory parameters of farm workers from low and middle-income counties. A cross-sectional spirometry survey was carried out on randomly selected 387 subjects with an objective of investigating whether occupational exposure to pesticides is associated with a reduction in values of smaller airway respiratory parameters. 206 occupationally exposed (142 male pesticide applicators and 64 female re-entry workers) selected from commercial farms and 180 occupationally un-exposed male and female individuals involved in the survey. After controlling for potential confounders, pesticide exposure in male study subjects was associated with reduced respiratory parameters of Forced Expired Flow at 25% of vital capacity (FEF25%) (l/s) [β=−0.69 (95% CI −1.11_−0.27)] and Forced Expired Flow at 75% of vital capacity (FEF75%) (l/s) [β=−0.49 (95% CI −0.78_−0.20]. Also a reduction in respiratory parameters of Forced Expired Flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF50%) [β=−0.52 (95% CI −0.95_−0.09)] was seen among exposed female subjects. The study indicated occupational exposure to pesticides is associated with a reduction of respiratory parameters of smaller airways in both male and female farm workers. Further longitudinal studies on respiratory parameters are warranted in Ethiopian farm workers.