A structured review of the associations between breast cancer and exposures to selected organic solvents.

Introduction: Our objective was to identify published, peer-reviewed, epidemiological studies that estimated associations between the risk of developing or dying from malignant breast cancer and past exposure to selected organic solvents with reactive metabolites, to delineate the methods used and to synthesize the results.

Content: We undertook a structured review of case-control and cohort studies used to investigate breast cancer risk and exposure to selected organic solvents that produce reactive metabolites in the body. We used SCOPUS, MEDLINE (Ovid) and Web of Science databases from 1966 to December 31, 2023 to identify epidemiological studies that estimated associations between the risk of developing or dying from malignant breast cancer and past exposure to selected organic solvents with reactive metabolites and organic solvents combined as a group.

Determinants of Post-COVID Ill-Health in a Cohort of Canadian Healthcare Workers.

Objective: We aimed to estimate prevalence of post-COVID conditions (PCCs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) and to identify predisposing factors.

Methods: A cohort of Canadian HCWs completed four questionnaires during the pandemic. At the final questionnaire, HCWs reported conditions attributed to earlier COVID-19.

Availability, use, and impact of workplace mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers.

We investigated the availability and use of workplace mental health (MH) supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) and measured anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) completed at four contacts 2020-2022. Reports were available for 4400 HCW working with patients. Half the HCWs had a clinically significant HADS score at one or more contacts Access to MH supports increased during the pandemic, with 94% reporting access to some workplace support by 2022: 47% had made use of at least one support.

Work Characteristics, Workplace Support, and Mental Ill-Health in a Canadian Cohort of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify determinants of mental health in healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cohort of Canadian HCW completed four questionnaires giving details of work with patients, ratings of workplace supports, a mental health questionnaire, and substance use. Principal components were extracted from 23 rating scales.

Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 IgG response and decay in Canadian healthcare workers: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) from an interprovincial Canadian cohort gave serial blood samples to identify factors associated with anti-receptor binding domain (anti-RBD) IgG response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Methods: Members of the HCW cohort donated blood samples four months after their first SARS-CoV-2 immunization and again at 7, 10 and 13 months. Date and type of immunizations and dates of SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected at each of four contacts, together with information on immunologically-compromising conditions and current therapies.

Excess risk of COVID-19 infection and mental distress in healthcare workers during successive pandemic waves: Analysis of matched cohorts of healthcare workers and community referents in Alberta, Canada.

Objectives: To investigate changes in risk of infection and mental distress in healthcare workers (HCWs) relative to the community as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed.

Methods: HCWs in Alberta, Canada, recruited to an interprovincial cohort, were asked consent to link to Alberta's administrative health database (AHDB) and to information on COVID-19 immunization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Those consenting were matched to records of up to five community referents (CRs).

Determinants of Sickness Absence Duration After Mild COVID-19 in a Prospective Cohort of Canadian Healthcare Workers.

Objective: The aim of the study is to identify modifiable factors associated with sickness absence duration after a COVID-19 infection.

Methods: Participants in a prospective cohort of 4964 Canadian healthcare workers were asked how many working days they had missed after a positive COVID-19 test. Only completed episodes with absence ≤31 working day and no hospital admission were included.

The association between the incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer and occupational exposure to selected organic solvents, Montreal, Canada, 2008-2011.

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women and recognized risk factors explain 25%-47% of cases. Organic solvents are used widely in the workplace and exposure may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, yet there are insufficient data to confirm this hypothesis. We sought to determine whether past occupational exposures to selected organic solvents were associated with the incidence of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women in Montréal, Canada.

Occupational health and safety, metal exposures and multi-exposures health risk in Canadian electronic waste recycling facilities.

Electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) involves manual operations that expose workers to toxic metals. We aim to describe occupational health and safety practices and workers' exposures to metals in the Canadian formal e-recycling industry, and to estimate the health risk associated with multiple exposures. This cross-sectional study documented practices through observations and questionnaires, and assessed metal exposures using personal air samples and biomarkers.

The evolution of workplace risk for Covid-19 in Canadian healthcare workers and its relation to vaccination: A nested case-referent study.

Background: During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, studies demonstrated that healthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk of infection. Few modifiable risks were identified. It is largely unknown how these evolved over time.

Spatial modeling of ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds in Montreal, Canada.

Unlabelled: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are components of the complex mixture of air pollutants within cities and can cause various adverse health effects. Therefore, it is necessary to understand their spatial distribution for exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.

Objectives: The objective was to model measured concentrations of five VOCs within the city of Montreal, Canada, developing spatial prediction models that can be used in health studies.

The association between the incidence of post-menopausal breast cancer and residential greenness.

Background: There is little data as to whether exposure to residential greenness is associated with the incidence of breast cancer. Lack of physical activity and obesity are two of the accepted risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer and living near green areas may contribute to an active lifestyle and maintaining a normal body mass index and, consequently, residential greenness may be associated with lower incidence rates.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether there was an association between past exposure to residential greenness and the incidence of invasive postmenopausal breast cancer among Canadian women living in Montreal, Quebec, in the mid-2000s.

Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs: what about hospital sanitation personnel?

Objective: Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ANPs) occurs mainly through dermal contact. Our study was set up to assess the potential exposure of hospital sanitation (HS) personnel, for whom almost no data are available, through contamination of surfaces they regularly touch.

Methods: In the oncology departments of two hospitals around Montreal, surface wipe samples of 120-2000 cm were taken at 10 sites cleaned by the HS personnel and five other sites frequently touched by nursing and pharmacy personnel.

Can Silicone Passive Samplers be Used for Measuring Exposure of e-Waste Workers to Flame Retardants?

Silicone passive samplers were assessed for measuring personal exposure to 37 flame retardants at three Québec e-waste recycling facilities. Silicone brooches ( = 45), wristbands ( = 28), and armbands ( = 9) worn during a ∼8 h work shift accumulated detectable amounts of 95-100% of the target compounds. Brooch concentrations were significantly correlated with those from active air samplers from which we conclude that the brooches could be used to approximate inhalation exposure and other exposures related to air concentrations such as dermal exposure.

Overlapping vulnerabilities in workers of the electronics recycling industry formal sector: A commentary.

Vulnerabilities in workers performing electronics recycling (e-recycling) in the informal sector worldwide have been well documented. However, the growing e-recycling industry in the formal sector still brings many challenges to protect the health of workers and their environment. This commentary aims to draw attention to the overlooked vulnerabilities faced by the workers of the e-recycling industry formal sector in high-income countries and discuss the potential impact on health inequalities experienced by these workers.

Multi-exposures to suspected endocrine disruptors in electronic waste recycling workers: Associations with thyroid and reproductive hormones.

Electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) exposes workers to substances such as flame retardants and metals. Some of them are known or suspected endocrine disruptors that could affect hormonal homeostasis and eventually result in adverse health outcomes. Our aim was to measure biological concentrations of organophosphate ester (OPE) metabolites, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), mercury, lead and cadmium in e-recycling workers, and to explore associations with thyroid and sexual hormones.

The impact of night shift work on breast cancer: Results from the Burden of Occupational Cancer in Canada Study.

Background: We estimated the proportion and number of female breast cancer cases in Canada attributable to night shift work, a probable cause of breast cancer.

Methods: Levin's equation was used to calculate population attributable fractions (PAFs) among Canadian women who ever worked night/rotating shifts from 1961 to 2000, accounting for labor turnover and survival to the year 2011. The calculated PAFs were applied to 2011 Canadian breast cancer incidence statistics to obtain the number of attributable cases.

The current burden of cancer attributable to occupational exposures in Canada.

Exposure to occupational carcinogens is often overlooked as a contributor to the burden of cancer. To estimate the proportion of cancer cases attributable to occupational exposure in Canada in 2011, exposure prevalence and levels of 44 carcinogens were informed by data from the Canadian carcinogen exposure surveillance project (CAREX Canada). These were used with Canadian Census (between 1961 and 2011) and Labour Force Survey (annual surveys between 1976 and 2013) data to estimate the number of workers ever exposed to occupational carcinogens.

Halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in the air of electronic waste recycling facilities: Evidence of high concentrations and multiple exposures.

Background: In response to a worldwide increase in production of electronic waste, the e-recycling industry is rapidly rowing. E-recycling workers are exposed to many potentially toxic contaminants, among which flame retardants (FRs), mainly suspected of being endocrine disruptors, are thought to be the most prevalent.

Objective: To conduct an exposure assessment of four chemical groups of FRs in Canadian e-recycling facilities, and to identify the main cofactors of exposure.

Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Organic Flame Retardants: A Systematic Review.

Background: Flame retardants (FRs) are widespread in common goods, and workers in some industries can be exposed to high concentrations. Numerous studies describe occupational exposure to FRs, but the diversity of methods and of reported results renders their interpretation difficult for researchers, occupational hygienists, and decision makers.

Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to compile and summarize the scientific knowledge on occupational exposure to FRs as well as to identify research gaps and to formulate recommendations.

Expostats: A Bayesian Toolkit to Aid the Interpretation of Occupational Exposure Measurements.

Introduction: Interpretation of exposure measurements has evolved into a framework based on the lognormal distribution. Most available practical tools are based on traditional frequentist statistical procedures that do not satisfactorily account for censored data and are not amenable to simple probabilistic risk statements. Bayesian methods offer promising solutions to these challenges.

Agreement in Occupational Exposures Between Men and Women Using Retrospective Assessments by Expert Coders.

Objectives: To estimate the level of agreement and identify notable differences in occupational exposures (agents) between men and women from retrospective assessments by expert coders.

Methods: Lifetime occupational histories of 1657 men and 2073 women from two case-control studies, were translated into exposure estimates to 243 agents, from data on 13882 jobs. Exposure estimates were summarized as proportions and frequency-weighted intensity of exposure for 59 occupational codes by sex.