Electric vehicles and health: A scoping review.

Background: The health impacts of the rapid transition to the use of electric vehicles are largely unexplored. We completed a scoping review to assess the state of the evidence on use of battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles and health.

Methods: We conducted a literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus, and Environmental Science Collection databases for articles published January 1990 to January 2024.

Large-scale agricultural burning and cardiorespiratory emergency department visits in the U.S. state of Kansas.

Background: Prescribed agricultural burning is a common land management practice, but little is known about the health effects from the resulting smoke exposure.

Objective: To examine the association between smoke from prescribed burning and cardiorespiratory outcomes in the U.S.

Communication channels for receiving air quality alerts among adults in the United States.

Exposure to air pollution is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular effects, particularly among people with underlying respiratory and heart disease. It is therefore important for individuals with respiratory and heart disease to be aware of air quality. However, information about the most effective communication channels for disseminating air quality alerts is limited.

Trends in Clinical Severity of Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019-Premier Hospital Dataset, April 2020-April 2021.

Background: Clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may vary over time; trends in clinical severity at admission during the pandemic among hospitalized patients in the United States have been incompletely described, so a historical record of severity over time is lacking.

Methods: We classified 466677 hospital admissions for COVID-19 from April 2020 to April 2021 into 4 mutually exclusive severity grades based on indicators present on admission (from most to least severe): Grade 4 included intensive care unit (ICU) admission and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV); grade 3 included non-IMV ICU and/or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation; grade 2 included diagnosis of acute respiratory failure; and grade 1 included none of the above indicators. Trends were stratified by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and comorbid conditions.

Patient-Provider Discussions About Strategies to Limit Air Pollution Exposures.

Introduction: Exposure to air pollution negatively affects respiratory and cardiovascular health. The objective of this study was to describe the extent to which health professionals report talking about how to limit exposure to air pollution during periods of poor air quality with their at-risk patients.

Methods: In 2015, a total of 1,751 health professionals completed an online survey and reported whether they talk with their patients about limiting their exposure to air pollution.

Air Quality Awareness Among U.S. Adults With Respiratory and Heart Disease.

Introduction: Poor air quality affects respiratory and cardiovascular health. Information about health risks associated with outdoor air quality is communicated to the public using air quality alerts. This study was conducted to assess associations of existing respiratory and heart disease with three aspects of air quality awareness: awareness of air quality alerts, discussing with a health professional strategies to reduce air pollution exposure, and avoiding busy roads to reduce air pollution exposure when walking, biking, or exercising outdoors.

Audiogram notches in noise-exposed workers.

Objectives: Diagnostic criteria for noise-induced hearing loss include the audiometric notch, yet no standardized definition exists. This study tested whether objective notch metrics could match the clinical judgments of an expert panel.

Design: A panel of occupational physicians, otolaryngologists, and audiologists reviewed audiograms of noise-exposed workers.

Hearing loss in migrant agricultural workers.

Background: Farmers have high rates of hearing loss, yet little is known about the hearing status of migrant agricultural workers. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess the prevalence and impact of hearing loss in this population.

Methods: One hundred fifty migrant and seasonal agricultural workers were surveyed at a series of health fairs held at migrant camps.

Incidence of asthma among aluminum workers.

Exposures to respiratory irritants encountered in aluminum smelters in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand have been suggested as the cause of "potroom asthma." However, there remains disagreement in North America regarding the existence of this entity. This study was designed to assess whether asthma occurs excessively among potroom workers and if so, delineate dose-response relationships for possible causal risk factors.