GLORIA

GEOMAR Library Ocean Research Information Access

Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
Filter
  • Articles  (46)
  • Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures  (29)
  • Musculoskeletal  (9)
  • Open access, Other exposures  (5)
  • Open access, Editor's choice  (3)
  • 11
    Publication Date: 2015-05-16
    Description: Background Combustion-generated fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity. Both traffic-related air pollution and residential wood combustion may be important, but few studies have compared their impacts. Objectives To assess and compare effects of traffic-related and woodsmoke PM 2.5 on endothelial function and systemic inflammation (C reactive protein, interleukin-6 and band cells) among healthy adults in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration to introduce indoor PM 2.5 exposure gradients. Methods We recruited 83 healthy adults from 44 homes in traffic-impacted or woodsmoke-impacted areas to participate in this randomised, single-blind cross-over intervention study. PM 2.5 concentrations were measured during two consecutive 7-day periods, one with filtration and the other with ‘placebo filtration’. Endothelial function and biomarkers of systematic inflammation were measured at the end of each 7-day period. Results HEPA filtration was associated with a 40% decrease in indoor PM 2.5 concentrations. There was no relationship between PM 2.5 exposure and endothelial function. There was evidence of an association between indoor PM 2.5 and C reactive protein among those in traffic-impacted locations (42.1% increase in C reactive protein per IQR increase in indoor PM 2.5 , 95% CI 1.2% to 99.5%), but not among those in woodsmoke-impacted locations. There were no associations with interleukin-6 or band cells. Conclusions Evidence of an association between C reactive protein and indoor PM 2.5 among healthy adults in traffic-impacted areas is consistent with the hypothesis that traffic-related particles, even at relatively low concentrations, play an important role in the cardiovascular effects of the urban PM mixture. Trial registration number http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01570062).
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 12
    Publication Date: 2015-03-17
    Description: Objectives Perceived time pressure at work has increased in most European countries during recent decades. Time pressure may be harmful for employees’ health and well-being. The aim of this register-based follow-up study is to investigate whether the effects of time pressure on long sickness absence vary by the level of working time control. Methods The data are taken from the Finnish Quality of Work Life Survey 2003 (n=3400), a representative sample of Finnish employees, combined with a register-based follow-up from Statistics Finland covering the years 2002–2006. In the 2003 survey, employees were asked about their perceived time pressure and to what extent they had control over working time. The register data included information on long-term (more than 10 days) sickness absence. A negative binomial model was used in the analysis of long-term sickness absence days during 2004–2006. The results are adjusted for several background and work-related factors and controlled for baseline absenteeism in 2002. Results High working time control decreased and high time pressure increased long-term sickness absence. The highest incidence of long-term sickness absence was found in time strain situations (high time pressure, low time control). However, there was no statistical interaction between working time control and time pressure. Conclusions Establishments that use working time control as a human resource instrument may benefit from reduced absenteeism. However, following the ‘strain’ hypothesis it is insufficient to focus solely on working time control as high time pressure maintains its detrimental effect on employees’ health.
    Keywords: Musculoskeletal
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 13
    Publication Date: 2015-03-17
    Description: Objectives Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been associated with adverse respiratory and systemic outcomes. Physical activity (PA) in polluted air may increase pollutant uptake and thereby health effects. The authors aimed to determine the short-term health effects of TRAP in healthy participants and any possible modifying effect of PA. Methods Crossover real-world exposure study comparing in 28 healthy participants pulmonary and inflammatory responses to four different exposure scenarios: 2 h exposure in a high and low TRAP environment, each at rest and in combination with intermittent moderate PA, consisting of four 15 min rest and cycling intervals. Data were analysed using mixed effect models for repeated measures. Results Intermittent PA compared to rest, irrespective of the TRAP exposure status, increased statistically significant (p≤0.05) pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (34 mL), forced vital capacity (29 mL), forced expiratory flow (FEF 25–75% ) (91 mL)), lung inflammation (fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, FeNO, (0.89 ppb)), and systemic inflammation markers interleukin-6 (52.3%), leucocytes (9.7%) and neutrophils count (18.8%). Interquartile increases in coarse particulate matter were statistically significantly associated with increased FeNO (0.80 ppb) and neutrophil count (5.7%), while PM 2.5 and PM 10 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 and 10 µm in diameter, respectively) increased leucocytes (5.1% and 4.0%, respectively). We found no consistent evidence for an interaction between TRAP and PA for any of the outcomes of interest. Conclusions In a healthy population, intermittent moderate PA has beneficial effects on pulmonary function even when performed in a highly polluted environment. This study also suggests that particulate air pollution is inducing pulmonary and systemic inflammatory responses.
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 14
    Publication Date: 2015-01-10
    Description: Background Six research groups independently conducted prospective studies of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) incidence in 54 US workplaces in 10 US States. Physical exposure variables were collected by all research groups at the individual worker level. Data from these research groups were pooled to increase the exposure spectrum and statistical power. Objective This paper provides a detailed description of the characteristics of the pooled physical exposure variables and the source data information from the individual research studies. Methods Physical exposure data were inspected and prepared by each of the individual research studies according to detailed instructions provided by an exposure subcommittee of the research consortium. Descriptive analyses were performed on the pooled physical exposure data set. Correlation analyses were performed among exposure variables estimating similar exposure aspects. Results At baseline, there were a total of 3010 participants in the pooled physical exposure data set. Overall, the pooled data meaningfully increased the spectra of most exposure variables. The increased spectra were due to the wider range in exposure data of different jobs provided by the research studies. The correlations between variables estimating similar exposure aspects showed different patterns among data provided by the research studies. Conclusions The increased spectra of the physical exposure variables among the data pooled likely improved the possibility of detecting potential associations between these physical exposure variables and CTS incidence. It is also recognised that methods need to be developed for general use by all researchers for standardisation of physical exposure variable definition, data collection, processing and reduction.
    Keywords: Musculoskeletal
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 15
    Publication Date: 2014-12-17
    Description: Objectives To estimate the numbers of workers exposed to known and suspected occupational carcinogens in Canada, building on the methods of CARcinogen EXposure (CAREX) projects in the European Union (EU). Methods CAREX Canada consists of estimates of the prevalence and level of exposure to occupational carcinogens. CAREX Canada includes occupational agents evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as known, probable or possible human carcinogens that were present and feasible to assess in Canadian workplaces. A Canadian Workplace Exposure Database was established to identify the potential for exposure in particular industries and occupations, and to create exposure level estimates among priority agents, where possible. CAREX EU data were reviewed for relevance to the Canadian context and the proportion of workers likely to be exposed by industry and occupation in Canada was assigned using expert assessment and agreement by a minimum of two occupational hygienists. These proportions were used to generate prevalence estimates by linkage with the Census of Population for 2006, and these estimates are available by industry, occupation, sex and province. Results CAREX Canada estimated the number of workers exposed to 44 known, probable and suspected carcinogens. Estimates of levels of exposure were further developed for 18 priority agents. Common exposures included night shift work (1.9 million exposed), solar ultraviolet radiation exposure (1.5 million exposed) and diesel engine exhaust (781 000 exposed). Conclusions A substantial proportion of Canadian workers are exposed to known and suspected carcinogens at work.
    Keywords: Open access, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 16
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Publication Date: 2014-12-17
    Description: In this first edition of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for 2015 we have introduced a new front cover. We have decided to retire the ‘word cloud’, which has adorned the front cover since May 2012. This word cloud was based on the frequency of words contained in articles published in OEM prior to that date and after more than two and a half years it was becoming increasingly out of date. Our new front cover retains the blue colour scheme and continues the tradition of OEM being known as the ‘blue journal‘ amongst occupational health journals. The central feature of the new cover is a globe which signifies the wide reach of OEM around the world. For this first edition, we have selected a group of pictures which illustrate a range of hazardous working environments, as well as motor vehicle exhausts, an increasingly recognised contributor to a wide...
    Keywords: Musculoskeletal
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 17
    Publication Date: 2014-12-17
    Description: Introduction We evaluated associations between three a-cellular measures of the oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) and acute health effects. Methods We exposed 31 volunteers for 5 h to ambient air pollution at five locations: an underground train station, two traffic sites, a farm and an urban background site. Each volunteer visited at least three sites. We conducted health measurements before exposure, 2 h after exposure and the next morning. We measured air pollution on site and characterised the OP of PM 2.5 and PM 10 using three a-cellular assays; dithiotreitol (OP DTT ), electron spin resonance (OP ESR ) and ascorbic acid depletion (OP AA ). Results In single-pollutant models, all measures of OP were significantly associated with increases in fractional exhaled nitric oxide and increases in interleukin-6 in nasal lavage 2 h after exposure. These OP associations remained significant after adjustment for co-pollutants when only the four outdoor sites were included, but lost significance when measurements at the underground site were included. Other health end points including lung function and vascular inflammatory and coagulation parameters in blood were not consistently associated with OP. Conclusions We found significant associations between three a-cellular measures of OP of PM and markers of airway and nasal inflammation. However, consistency of these effects in two-pollutant models depended on how measurements at the underground site were considered. Lung function and vascular inflammatory and coagulation parameters in blood were not consistently associated with OP. Our study, therefore, provides limited support for a role of OP in predicting acute health effects of PM in healthy young adults.
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 18
    Publication Date: 2014-10-09
    Description: The 2014 International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) meeting in Chicago, USA, focused on the theme: ‘Challenges for Occupational Epidemiology in the 21st Century’. These are exciting times and with them come no end to challenges faced by occupational epidemiology. And participants eagerly engaged in vigorous discussion on a number of current concerns with both wisdom and wit. Ultimately each individual must decide what challenges are most important and how best to address those selected for first order attention. Nonetheless, some overview of challenges could prove worthwhile and so six general areas are provided as a focus for consideration. Concentrating on important problems Acting on what we find Advancing occupational disease and injury surveillance Relying on worker self-reports Looking at data Addressing health disparities Concentrating on the important problems We always run the risk of studying what we know how to study...
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 19
    Publication Date: 2014-09-09
    Description: The fetus and infant are especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental agents that disrupt developmental processes because their organs are rapidly growing and developing, their metabolism is immature and their intakes can be greater relative to their body weight. In utero and early postnatal stressors, including environmental contaminant exposures, can permanently change the body's structure, physiology and metabolism, predisposing individuals to the development of serious chronic pathologies later in life (eg, cardiovascular, respiratory and neurodegenerative disease), a hypothesis grounded in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm for which there is a growing evidential basis. Up to relatively recently, good epidemiological evidence for early-life developmental effects was available only for a few pollutants, mostly at high-level exposure, such as lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). 1 The past decade has seen rapid increase in the study of effects of environmental agents at lower doses on...
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
  • 20
    Publication Date: 2014-07-11
    Description: Objectives To investigate the association between preeclampsia and maternal exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM 10 ) and 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) mass and sources. Methods Our analysis was based on a hospital cohort of pregnant women (N=3182) residing in Barcelona, Spain, during 2003–2005. Positive matrix factorisation source apportionment (PMF2) was used to identify sources of PM 10 and PM 2.5 samples obtained by an urban background monitor, resulting in detection of eight sources. We further combined traffic-related sources (brake dust, vehicle exhaust and secondary nitrate/organics) to generate an indicator of combined traffic sources. Logistic regression models were developed to estimate the association between preeclampsia and exposure to each PM source and mass separately during the entire pregnancy and trimester one, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results For the exposure during the entire pregnancy, we found a 44% (95% CI 7% to 94%) and a 80% (95% CI 4% to 211%) increase in the risk of preeclampsia associated with one IQR increase in exposure to PM 10 brake dust and combined traffic-related sources, respectively. These findings remained consistent after an alternative source apportionment method (Multilinear Engine (ME2)) was used. The results for PM 2.5 mass and sources and also exposure during trimester one were inconclusive. Conclusions: Risk of preeclampsia was associated with exposure to PM 10 brake dust and combined traffic-related sources.
    Keywords: Air pollution, air quality, Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. More information can be found here...