Measures of Work-life Balance and Interventions of Reasonable Accommodations for the Return to Work of Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review.

Background: Nearly half of patients diagnosed with cancer are in the middle of their traditional working age. The return to work after cancer entails challenges because of the cancer or treatments and associated with the workplace. The study aimed at providing more insight into the occupational outcomes encountered by workers with cancer and to provide interventions, programs, and practices to support their return to work.

Occupational Physicians' Management of Workers With Multiple Sclerosis in Italy: Results From a Survey.

Background: This study, conducted on a sample of Italian occupational physicians (OPs), aimed to gather data regarding professional activity and their needs in managing workers with multiple sclerosis.

Methods: A convenience sample of OPs recruited by e-mail invitation to the list of Italian Society of Occupational Medicine members was considered. A total of 220 OPs participated between July and October 2022.

Covid-19 Occupational Risk Incidence and Working Sectors Involved During the Pandemic in Italy.

Background: Starting from March 2020 until December 2021, different phases of Covid-19 pandemic have been identified in Italy, with several containing/lifting measures progressively enforced by the National government. In the present study, we investigate the change in occupational risk during the subsequent pandemic phases and we propose an estimate of the incidence of the cases by economic sector, based on the analysis of insurance claims for compensation for Covid-19.

Methods: Covid-19 epidemiological data available for the general population and injury claims of workers covered by the Italian public insurance system in 2020-2021 were analyzed.

Relation of the work ability index to fitness for work in healthcare and public employees in a region of Northeastern Italy.

Purpose: Work ability indicates an individual's capacity to match job demands according to his/her physical and mental conditions and work circumstances. Occupational physicians should take into consideration the global health status of a worker in order to correctly assess if he/she is fit for the job. The aim of this study was to verify the association between fitness for work evaluation and Work Ability Index scores, as well as individual factors (age, gender, and anthropometric characteristics) and work-related variables (job type, years of working duration).

Evaluation of Systemic Genotoxic/Oxidative and Proinflammatory Effects in Workers of a Titanium Dioxide Production Plant.

This study is aimed at evaluating whether the occupational exposure to TiO during the industrial production process is able to induce genotoxic, oxidative, and inflammatory effects on blood, biomonitoring the same workers that showed micronucleus induction in the exfoliated buccal cells, as previous published. The final aim was to find sensitive and suitable biomarkers to evaluate potential early toxicity of occupational exposure to TiO. On the same 40 workers involved in the manufacture of TiO pigment, 5 office workers, and 18 controls previously studied, we used formamidopyrimidine glycosylase- (Fpg-) comet assay on lymphocytes to evaluate genotoxic/oxidative effects and detected cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF) release by ELISA to evaluate proinflammation.

The challenges of managing patients with cancer in the workplace: Needs, opportunities and perspectives of occupational physicians.

Cancer is a global major public health problem since it is a leading cause of death, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 worldwide and the most recent epidemiological data suggested that its global impact is growing significantly. In this context, cancer survivors have to live for a long time often in a condition of disability due to the long-term consequences, both physical and psychological. These difficulties can seriously impair their working ability, limiting the employability.

A follow-up study on workers involved in the graphene production process after the introduction of exposure mitigation measures: evaluation of genotoxic and oxidative effects.

During nanomaterial (NM) production, workers could be exposed, particularly by inhalation, to NMs and other chemicals used in the synthesis process, so it is important to have suitable biomarkers to monitor potential toxic effects. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduction of exposure mitigation measures on workers unintentionally exposed to graphene co-pollutants during production process monitoring the presumable reduction of workplace NM contamination and of early genotoxic and oxidative effects previously found on these workers. We used Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay and Fpg-comet test, resulted the most sensitive biomarkers on our first biomonitoring work, to measure the genotoxic effects.

[A national survey on occupational safety and health: the role of the health and safety representatives.].

The IMPAcT-RLS2 survey is part of a larger context of INSuLa2 research program; its first edition was conducted in 2014 and targeted to all prevention professionals, investigating occupational health and safety (OSH) protection issues perceived by the various professionals' point of view. The survey addressed to Health and Safety Representatives (HS reps.), focused on three regional contexts, was further implemented in 2016 through the IMPAcT-RLS survey, which involved a sample representative at national level, by company size and economic activity sector consisting of about 2,100 subjects.

Spatial and temporal distribution of the prevalence of unemployment and early retirement in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: We aimed to summarise the prevalence of unemployment and early retirement among people with MS and analyze data according to a spatio-temporal perspective.

Methods: We undertook a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SciVerse ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. We included any peer-reviewed original article reporting the prevalence of unemployment and early retirement in the working-age population with MS.

Occupational outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review.

Objectives: To update the knowledge on the occupational outcomes associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), systematically examine the extent, scope and nature of the pre-existing literature and identify research gaps in the existing literature.

Design: Scoping review.

Data Sources: A comprehensive database search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SciVerse ScienceDirect and Web of Science was performed.

The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers: An Italian Retrospective Study.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) played an essential role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) and the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) developed a retrospective study to analyze and understand trends and characteristics of infections among HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic. Between May and September 2020, Italian Regions retrospectively collected anonymous data regarding HCWs infected from the beginning of the pandemic until 30 April 2020 from their administrative sources through a questionnaire asking for socio-demographic and occupational information about the characteristics of contagion and disease outcome.

Cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the protection of workers from exposure to radon at work: A first application to Italian retail shops.

For the implementation of the requirements in the Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (2013 EUBSS), the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is generally considered a useful tool to compare different radon policies aimed at reducing radon exposure both at home and at work. In the framework of the EU funded RADPAR project, a methodology to perform CEA analysis of radon control in dwellings was developed - and used also for WHO's radon recommendations of 2009 - and it is based on the evaluation of the health effectiveness in terms of life years and/or QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) gained. In this work, starting from the RADPAR model used for dwellings, a so-called RADPAR4workplaces model was developed to carry out CEA focused on reduction of radon exposure at workplaces.

Occupational Exposure in Industrial Painters: Sensitive and Noninvasive Biomarkers to Evaluate Early Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress.

This study aimed to identify sensitive and noninvasive biomarkers of early cyto-genotoxic, oxidative and inflammatory effects for exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in shipyard painters. On 17 (11 spray and 6 roller) painters (previously characterized for VOCs exposure to toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, ethyl acetate) and on 18 controls, we performed buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay; Fpg-comet assay on lymphocytes; detection of urinary 8-oxoGua (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine), 8-oxodGuo (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine) and 8-oxoGuo (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine), and cytokines release on serum. We found induction of cyto-genotoxicity by BMCyt assay and inflammatory effects (IL-6 and TNFα) in roller painters exposed to lower VOC concentrations than spray painters.

Risk assessment at work and prevention strategies on COVID-19 in Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, with considerable public health and socio-economic impacts that are seriously affecting health and safety of workers, as well as their employment stability. Italy was the first of many other western countries to implement extended containment measures. Health workers and others employed in essential sectors have continued their activity, reporting high infection rate with many fatalities.

Biomonitoring of workers employed in a titanium dioxide production plant: Use of buccal micronucleus cytome assay as noninvasive biomarker to evaluate genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.

We aimed to evaluate whether TiO production process induces genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the first target organ of inhalable particles by a sensitive and noninvasive biomarker of effect. Final aim was to find a useful and suitable tool to assess and manage the risk of TiO occupational exposure. We enrolled 40 workers employed in TiO production, 5 office workers, and 18 external controls.

Occupational exposure to graphene and silica nanoparticles. Part II: pilot study to identify a panel of sensitive biomarkers of genotoxic, oxidative and inflammatory effects on suitable biological matrices.

The available biomonitoring studies on workers producing/handling nanomaterials (NMs) focused on potential effects on respiratory, immune and cardio-vascular system. Aim of this study was to identify a panel of sensitive biomarkers and suitable biological matrices to evaluate particularly genotoxic and oxidative effects induced on workers unintentionally exposed to graphene or silica nanoparticles during the production process. These nanomaterials have been chosen for 'NanoKey' project, integrating the workplace exposure assessment (reported in part I) with the biomonitoring of exposed workers reported in the present work.

Improving the job-retention strategies in multiple sclerosis workers: the role of occupational physicians.

Several studies evaluated whether a person with multiple sclerosis is employed or not and investigated the main symptoms that hinder the job performance. However, despite occupational physicians are fundamental in managing disabled subjects, there is a serious lack of data regarding their role in improving employability of these workers. In this regard, we assessed occupational physicians' professional activity and training/updating needs in order to identify and develop management tools, operative procedures and training programs helpful to support and implement adequate job-retention strategies.

Young Workers' Access to and Awareness of Occupational Safety and Health Services: Age-Differences and Possible Drivers in a Large Survey of Employees in Italy.

Young workers are in particular need of occupational safety and health (OSH) services, but it is unclear whether they have the necessary access to such services. We compared young with older workers in terms of the access to and awareness of OSH services, and examined if differences in employment conditions accounted for age-differences. We used survey data from Italy (INSuLA 1, 2014), with a sample of 8000 employed men and women aged 19 to 65 years, including 732 young workers aged under 30 years.

Biomarkers of early genotoxicity and oxidative stress for occupational risk assessment of exposure to styrene in the fibreglass reinforced plastic industry.

This study aimed to identify sensitive and not-invasive biomarkers of early genotoxic/oxidative effect for exposure to styrene in the fibreglass reinforced plastic manufacture. We studied 11 workers of a plastic manufacture using open molding process (A), 16 workers of a manufacture using closed process (B) and 12 controls. We evaluated geno/cytotoxic effects on buccal cells by Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay and genotoxic/oxidative effects on lymphocytes by Fpg-comet test.

Economic impact of malignant mesothelioma in Italy: an estimate of the public and social costs.

Background: Despite their considerable interest for public health policies and for occupational disease management and assessment, the economic costs of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) for society have not been fully estimated or even frequently discussed.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of mesothelioma in Italy by assessing the overall societal cost of the disease, applying an econometric model.

Methods: We analyzed two main cost groups, public and social.

The perspective of European researchers of national occupational safety and health institutes for contributing to a European research agenda: a modified Delphi study.

Objectives: This study, developed within the frame of the Partnership for European Research on Occupational Safety and Health joint research activities and based on the frame designed by the 2013 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) study, is the first example of using the points of view of European occupational safety and health (OSH) researchers.The objective is to identify priorities for OSH research that may contribute to the achievement of present and future sustainable growth objectives set by the European strategies.

Methods: The study was carried out using a modified Delphi method with a two-round survey.

Collaboration of occupational physicians with national health system and general practitioners in Italy.

A good cooperation between occupational physicians and other healthcare professionals is essential in order to achieve an overall improvement of workers/patients' well-being. Unfortunately, collaboration between occupational physicians and other physicians is often lacking or very poor. In this context, using a self-administered questionnaire, we investigated the cooperation of Italian occupational physicians with the National Health System (NHS) facilities and with the general practitioners in order to identify any potential critical issues that may hinder an effective and collaborative relationships between these professionals.

[National survey on workplace safety and prevention services: regional differences].

Background: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Services, with inspections and support activities to workers and to enterprises, have a relevant role in the field of safety and health in the workplace.

Objectives: The aim of this study, part of the INSuLa Project, is to realize a national survey about risk perception of OSH and awareness about OSH issues in the context of the Italian OSH legislative framework (Legislative Decree 81/08 and subsequent modifications and integrations) implementation, with involvement of the OSH Services operators.

Methods: The Survey involved a representative national sample of the OSH Services operators.

Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey.

Objectives: Occupational medicine is a discipline continually evolving in response to technological advances, changes in workplaces and production processes, emergence of new occupational risks and diseases and modifications in regulatory framework for occupational health and safety. Therefore, the recurrent revaluation of professional activity, information demands and education and training needs of occupational physicians is essential in order to identify methodologies and tools that may contribute to improvement of their professional knowledge and competency. In this regard, we conducted the first large-scale national survey of Italian occupational medicine physicians to define their demographic and professional activity and to assess their information demands, training and updating needs.

Evaluation of uptake, cytotoxicity and inflammatory effects in respiratory cells exposed to pristine and -OH and -COOH functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

Toxic effects were reported for pristine-multi-wall carbon nanotubes (p-MWCNTs) while the role of the functionalization on MWCNT-induced toxicity is not yet well defined. We evaluated on human alveolar (A549) epithelial cells and normal bronchial (BEAS-2B) cells exposed to p-MWCNTs, MWCNTs-OH and MWCNTs-COOH: uptake by TEM, cell viability by different assays, membrane damage by the LDH assay and cytokine release by ELISA. The aims of the present study were to: (i) confirm MWCNT cytotoxicity mechanisms hypothesized in our previous studies; (ii) identify the most reliable viability assay to screen MWCNT toxicity; and (iii) to test our model to clarify the role of functionalization on MWCNT-induced toxicity.