The prevalence of seasickness in a population of French civilian sailors.

Background: Motion sickness, is the onset of a series of clinical signs when travelling in a means of locomotion. Boats are the most common source of kinetosis, causing seasickness. Although this condition is often benign, it can severely affect the quality of life of seafarers, as well as the quality of their work.

Assessment of mental health and psychosocial factors in French merchant officer cadets.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the existence of psychological pathologies and psychosocial risks among seafarers, particularly merchant navy officers. To date, there is no study of merchant navy officer cadets. First aims are to assess anxiety and depression disorders, framework, work strain and social support in this population.

Hearing Impairment in French Merchant Seafarers: Retrospective Study on Data from 8308 Audiometric Tests.

Background: A high level of occupational noise exposure has been noted in the fishing sector. Yet, less is known regarding other navigation groups, such as merchant seafarers, since a French study in the 1980s. This study assesses hearing impairment (HI) in a French merchant seafarers’ population.

Seafarers' mental health in the COVID-19 era: lost at sea?

Seafarers are exposed to several physical and psychosocial stressors. Recent studies highlighted specific disorders as fatigue, boredom and diseases as depression. Seafarers are also commonly exposed to post-traumatic stress disorder (piracy, accidents, threats).

Seafarers' Occupational Noise Exposure and Cardiovascular Risk. Comments to Bolm-Audorff, U.; et al. Occupational Noise and Hypertension Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2020, , 6281.

A German team published a new meta-analysis on the topic, "Occupational noise and hypertension risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis" in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [...

About the relationship between ship noise and the occurrence of arterial hypertension in seafarers.

No abstract because letter to editor.

Seasickness and its impact on researchers' work on board French oceanographic vessels.

Background: Seasickness (SS) is an often hidden pathology, but one that can significantly disrupt work on board. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of SS on the workability of workers on board vessels.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted on 250 oceanographers in 2015 during 3 months.

Comment on Oldenburg, M., Jensen, H.J. Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16071153.

Recently, Oldenburg M published an article in the journal "Communication" titled "Stress and Strain among Seafarers Related to the Occupational Groups" [...

Don't forget about seafarer's boredom.

Background: The question we asked was whether it is worthwhile screening for seafarers who are prone to boredom, and whose mental health might deteriorate on board because of the particular character of life at sea.

Materials And Methods: We used the Farmer and Sundberg Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS), validated in French, as well as the Zigmond and Snaith Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The survey was voluntary and responses were collected by means of questionnaires which were returned by post.

Respiratory assessment of refractory ceramic fibers in a heating technician population.

Refractory ceramic fibers (RCF) have been extensively used for insulation in condensing boilers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory exposure to these fibers among maintenance heating technicians. We first created a working group (Carsat Brittany and Finistère Occupational Health Services) and carried out a sampling strategy.

Exposure to phosphine in maritime transport: a real and important occupational risk: a report of three cases.

In maritime transport, to assess the risks of insect pests spreading, fumigation is recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Fumigant mostly used for foodstuffs is the phosphine gas generated by the reaction of aluminium phosphide and moisture in the atmosphere. In this article, we first discuss phosphine toxicity to humans and then we describe three cases of occupational exposure in maritime transport of cereals.

Occupational asthma in maritime environments: an update.

In 2006 we published our first review based on the available literature on occupational asthma in maritime environments in the "International Maritime Health" journal. Since then, we have obtained a great deal of new knowledge on asthma in seafood workers and fishermen and on the impact of exposures from sulphites preservatives, container fumigants etc. in maritime workers.

Skin Diseases Affecting High-Level Competition Sailors: Descriptive Study Carried Out During the 2012 AG2R Transatlantic Boat Race.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to identify skin disorders encountered in a population of sport sailors. Unlike merchant mariners and fishermen, there is sparse literature on this maritime population. Secondary objectives were to uncover on-board conditions that may contribute to dermatological problems in this population.

Acute phosphine poisoning on board a bulk carrier: analysis of factors leading to a fatal case.

Objectives: To determine accidental factors, clinical presentation and medical care in cases of seafarers presenting phosphine poisoning symptoms on board a bulk carrier. To consider primary prevention of this pathology, which can have extremely severe consequences.

Methods: To analyse circumstances resulting in toxic exposure to phosphine in the sea transport sector.

Skin infection by Staphylococcus aureus in a fisherman: difficulty in continuing work on board.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to understand why an infectious skin disease due to colonisation by Staphylococcus aureus methi-S led to disembarkation of a fisherman for treatment and follow-up.

Materials And Methods: While discussing this case we have analysed different reasons why the studied fisherman could not be successfully treated on board.

Results: A 42-year-old fisherman was first presented with skin lesions while fishing for hake.

Cardiovascular risk factors in seamen and fishermen: review of literature.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among sailors and their evolution over time.

Materials And Methods: This study is a review of the literature from Medline® database and the Medicina Maritima journal. With prevalence studies, the overall prevalence was calculated; 2 groups were created according to the study period (1990s vs.

Evaluation of the sensitisation to grains and its pulmonary impact in employees of the port of Brest silos.

Background: Evaluation of the sensitisation and levels of exposure to grains and its pulmonary impact ina population of Brest port silo employees.

Materials And Methods: We included exposed workers. The study consisted of clinical examination witha standardised questionnaire, blood samples, prick-tests, and spirometry tests.

Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk assessment in professional divers.

Background: The professional diver's activity implies body cardiovascular stress. Little data on cardiovascular risk factors is available. Some studies report a high prevalence of tobacco consumption.

A case of occupational asthma from metabisulphite in a fisherman.

Background: The objective was to describe a case of occupational asthma in a fisherman linked to the inhalation of metabisulphites, then to discuss the history and actions for prevention.

Material And Methods: We report the case of a fisherman fishing for Dublin bay prawn (Nephrops), who suffered from asthma after being exposed to metabisulphites. This case is compared with other cases in the occupational medical literature.

Occupational poisoning by carbon monoxide aboard a gas carrier. Report on 8 cases.

Objectives: - To determine the accidental factors and the clinical symptoms in eight cases of occupational poisoning of port workers by carbon monoxide. - To consider the primary prevention of this serious pathology occurring at work.

Methods: - To analyze the circumstances of the exposure to carbon monoxide in the employees in the naval repair sector.

Deaths on board: medical and legal implications for the maritime physician.

When death at sea occurs many people are implicated. The assignees of victims often look for detailed circumstances of deaths at sea, and the doctor, besides his preventative role, has to certify the death on board and try to determine the circumstances with a view to a legal investigation if it proves necessary. In this work are presented the main causes, facts, and characteristics of human deaths at sea, and the responsibility of the ship's doctor in case of death on board.

Occupational asthma in the commercial fishing industry: a case series and review of the literature.

We present a case series of snow crab-induced occupational asthma (OA) from a fishing and processing vessel, followed by a review of OA in the commercial fishing industry. OA is typically caused from an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction after respiratory exposure to aerosolized fish and shellfish proteins. It more commonly occurs due to crustaceans, but molluscs and fin fish are implicated as well.

Stress in seamen and non seamen employed by the same company.

Objectives: The aim of this survey was to compare the level of professional stress among seamen--crew members--who work on French oceanographic vessels to the one of technicians and engineers from the oceanographic institute, who board the ships to operate special equipment during sea voyages.

Method: Two questionnaires were used for collecting data: Langner's total health test (22 items) that investigates the level of psychical stress. Karasek's "Job Content Questionnaire" (38 items) used for investigation of strain at work, psychological pressure, decision latitude and social support.

Occupational asthma in maritime environment.

In the maritime environment, characterized by a great biodiversity, employees can be during their work exposed to chemical and above all biological substances. Some of them are the cause of occupational asthma. This is the case for some fished products such as crustaceans and mollusks and also for some products carried as cargo like cereals or chemicals used in the maintenance of ships.