Recent trends in respirable crystalline silica and elemental carbon exposure in the Ontario, Canada mining industry.

Introduction: Mining is a high-hazard industry with significant occupational disease risks. Despite this there is limited data describing current exposure conditions. The aim of this short communication is to share recent exposure data from underground mines in Ontario, Canada.

Increased health risk from co-exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Epidemiological insight from e-waste workers in Hong Kong.

The alarming surge in electronic waste (e-waste) in Hong Kong has heightened concerns regarding occupational exposure to a myriad of pollutants. Among these, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates (PAEs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are prevalent and known for their harmful effects, including the induction of oxidative stress and DNA damage, thereby contributing to various diseases. This study addresses gaps in knowledge by investigating exposure levels of these pollutants-measured via hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs), phthalate metabolites (mPAEs), and PFASs-in urine from 101 e-waste workers and 100 office workers.

Updating a diesel engine exhaust job-exposure matrix with published measurement data.

A job-exposure matrix (JEM) is a tool that can estimate diesel engine exhaust (DEE) exposures. JEMs based on expert judgment or measurement data are limited by the information available at the time of development. Over time, more information about hazardous exposures is understood through additional measurements and peer-reviewed publications.

Urinary metals and their associations with DNA oxidative damage among e-waste recycling workers in Hong Kong.

Recycling electronic waste (e-waste) poses risks of metal exposure, potentially leading to health impairments. However, no previous study has focused on this issue in Hong Kong. Therefore, from June 2021 to September 2022, this study collected urine samples from 101 e-waste workers and 100 office workers in Hong Kong to compare their urinary levels of metals using ICP-MS.

Association of residential greenness with incident allergic rhinitis among adults: A prospective analysis of UK Biobank.

Background: Limited studies have assessed the impact of residential greenness exposure on allergic rhinitis in adults, and its relationship with ambient air pollutants remains unknown.

Objective: To investigate the association of residential greenness with allergic rhinitis incidence and explore the mediation effects of ambient air pollutants in adults using data from a prospective cohort study in UK Biobank.

Methods: Greenness was defined as the area-weighted mean of greenness coverage based on the land used data from the Generalized Land Use Database for England (GLUD) 2005 in the UK Biobank.

Estimated daily intake and cumulative risk assessment of organophosphate esters and associations with DNA damage among e-waste workers in Hong Kong.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are extensively used as additives in various products, including electronic equipment, which becomes e-waste when obsolete. Nevertheless, no study has evaluated OPEs exposure levels and the related health risks among e-waste workers in Hong Kong. Therefore, 201 first-spot morning urine samples were collected from 101 e-waste workers and 100 office workers to compare eight urinary OPE metabolites (mOPEs) levels in these groups.

Assessing Neurobehavioral Alterations Among E-waste Recycling Workers in Hong Kong.

Background: E-waste workers in Hong Kong are handling an unprecedented amount of e-waste, which contains various neurotoxic chemicals. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the neurological health status of e-waste workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of neurobehavioral alterations and to identify the vulnerable groups among Hong Kong e-waste workers.

Artificial intelligence and the work-health interface: A research agenda for a technologically transforming world of work.

The labor market is undergoing a rapid artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. There is currently limited empirical scholarship that focuses on how AI adoption affects employment opportunities and work environments in ways that shape worker health, safety, well-being and equity. In this article, we present an agenda to guide research examining the implications of AI on the intersection between work and health.

Silicosis, asbestosis, and pulmonary fibrosis in Ontario, Canada from 1996 to 2019.

Background: Silicosis is a fibrotic lung disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Historically, silicosis was common among miners and other professions in the 20th century, and in recent decades has re-emerged in coal mining and appeared in new workplaces, including the manufacture of distressed jeans and artificial stone countertops.

Methods: Physician billing data for the province of Ontario between 1992 and 2019 were analyzed across six time-periods (1993-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2019).

Barriers and Facilitators in the Creation of a Surveillance System for Solar Radiation-Induced Skin Cancers.

Outdoor workers are exposed to many hazards, including solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Identifying, reporting, analyzing and tracking the exposures or health outcomes of outdoor workers have not generally been formally considered. This article aims to summarize the best practices/strategies for creating an occupational sun exposure or skin cancer surveillance system for outdoor workers and to understand the key barriers and facilitators to the development of such a system.

Tailored Sun Safety Messages for Outdoor Workers.

Background: Messaging surrounding skin cancer prevention has previously focused on the general public and emphasized how or when activities should be undertaken to reduce solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. Generic messages may not be applicable to all settings, and should be tailored to protect unique and/or highly susceptible subpopulations, such as outdoor workers. The primary objective of this study was to develop a set of tailored, practical, harm-reducing sun safety messages that will better support outdoor workers and their employers in reducing the risk of solar UVR exposure and UVR-related occupational illnesses.

Workers' compensation experience in some Indigenous Northern Ontario communities.

Background: There is a dearth of research about occupational health and safety experience in Indigenous communities and compensation applications from Indigenous workers appear limited.

Objective: This qualitative descriptive study was designed to explore workers' compensation experiences in some Canadian Indigenous communities.

Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct focus groups (n = 25 participants) in three Northeastern Ontario (NEO) Indigenous communities and at one NEO Indigenous employment centre.

Occupational Exposure of Canadian Nail Salon Workers to Plasticizers Including Phthalates and Organophosphate Esters.

Personal exposure of nail salon workers to 10 phthalates and 19 organophosphate esters (OPEs) was assessed in 18 nail salons in Toronto, Canada. Active air samplers ( = 60) and silicone passive samplers, including brooches ( = 58) and wristbands ( = 60), were worn by 45 nail salon workers for ∼8 working hours. Diethyl phthalate (median = 471 ng m) and diisobutyl phthalate (337 ng m) were highest in active air samplers.

Break-even Analysis of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Exposure Interventions in the Construction Sector.

Objective: We investigated long-term economic impacts of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) removal interventions in the construction at the societal level.

Methods: We estimated costs and benefits of two RCS exposure interventions, use of "respirators" and "wet method," over a 30-year time period. We identified economic impacts of the interventions under four different scenarios.

Potential risk factors associated with COVID-19 in health care workers.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) have been recognized as being at higher risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection; however, relevant factors and magnitude have not been clearly elucidated.

Aim: This study was aimed to describe COVID-19 infections among hospital employees at a large tertiary care hospital located in Ontario, Canada from March to July 2020, towards better understanding potential risk factors.

Methods: Data on all HCWs with either a positive COVID test or a high-risk exposure from March to July 2020 were analyzed.

Aluminum dust exposure and risk of neurodegenerative diseases in a cohort of male miners in Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: We estimated associations between respirable aluminum exposure through McIntyre Powder (MP), a fine-sized aluminum and aluminum compound powder, and neurological disease in a retrospective cohort of mining workers from Ontario, Canada. Outcomes included Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's with other dementias, Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism, and motor neuron disease.

Methods: The cohort was created by linking a database of mining workers' work history to healthcare records.

Diesel Engine Exhaust Exposure in the Ontario Civil Infrastructure Construction Industry.

Objectives: Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is a known lung carcinogen and a common occupational exposure in Canada. The use of diesel-powered equipment in the construction industry is particularly widespread, but little is known about DEE exposures in this work setting. The objective of this study was to determine exposure levels and identify and characterize key determinants of DEE exposure at construction sites in Ontario.

Estimating Historical Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Mining Industry in Ontario, Canada Using a Newly Developed Exposure Database.

Objectives: To use the recently developed Ontario Mining Exposure Database (OMED) to describe historical silica exposure in the Ontario metal mining industry and identify predictors of historical silica exposure.

Methods: Personal respirable crystalline silica (RCS) data for metal mines were extracted from OMED and included both individual and summary measures, where multiple exposure measurements (n > 1) were aggregated and entered as a single exposure value (n = 1). Data were stratified by sample location (underground/surface) for analysis.

Economic evaluation of interventions to reduce solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure among construction workers.

Solar ultraviolet radiation is one of the most common occupational carcinogens in Canada and is responsible for approximately 5,556 non-melanoma skin cancers per year. A large part of these cases are preventable by reducing solar ultraviolet radiation exposure. In this study, investigators estimated the potential economic impacts of different solar ultraviolet radiation reduction interventions among construction workers, as they are one of the largest at-risk occupational groups.

Exploratory study to determine if risk factors for occupational skin disease vary by type of food processing operation.

Background: Occupational skin disease (OSD) is a common health issue in the food processing sector. However, risk factors for OSD are suspected to differ according to the nature of the operation.

Objective: To ascertain if the risk factors for OSD vary depending on the type of food processing operation, namely meat processing vs.