medrxiv Subject Collection: Occupational And Environmental Health This feed contains articles for medRxiv Subject Collection "Occupational And Environmental Health"
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The nutritional and metabolic impact of night shift work in a real-world settingby Jassil, F. C., Phillips, N. E., Hemmer, A., Joris, C., Biancolin, A. D., Hartmeyer, S. L., Dorribo, V., Perrig, S., Genton, L., Sterpenich, V., Salathe, M., Pralong, J. A., Andersen, M., Pichard, C., Dibner, C., Collet, T.-H. on October 21, 2025 at 12:00 amGrowing evidence from large epidemiological and small lab-controlled studies links night shift work to impaired sleep, cognitive performance, and cardiometabolic health, but evidence from real-world occupational environments remains limited. Using multiple wearable devices and mobile health apps, alongside other objective and subjective assessment tools, we assess the nutritional intake and cardiometabolic […]
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Mixture of organic pollutants is associated with cognitive agingby Kalia, V., Manz, K. E., Benavides, J., Song, S., Vollmer, B. L., Yan, B., Goldsmith, J., Pennell, K. D., Stern, Y., Kioumourtzoglou, M.-A., Miller, G. W., Habeck, C., Gu, Y. on October 19, 2025 at 12:00 am
INTRODUCTIONEnvironmental organic pollutants impact brain function and cognitive aging, but the effects of real-world complex mixtures of these pollutants is unexplored. METHODSUsing data collected at two time points from 170 cognitively normal adults, we used hierarchical Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine the association between joint exposure to 49 organic pollutants and latent variables, derived […]
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Greenspace, air pollution, and respiratory health outcomes: A systematic review of cohort studiesby Vance, M. S., Lane, T. J., Ye, T. on October 19, 2025 at 12:00 am
Exposure to greenspace is associated with improved health outcomes, with proposed mechanisms including improved local air quality and health effects that reduce personal susceptibility to air pollution. This systematic review synthesises cohort study evidence on whether greenspace protects against air pollution effects on respiratory-related health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of cohort studies, […]
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A 10-Year Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Snake Bite Cases in Siraha Districtby Raut, A., Sah, P., Shrestha, S., Thapaliya, S. on October 14, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundSnakebite envenoming is a major public health concern in Nepal, particularly in agricultural regions such as Siraha District. It disproportionately affects rural populations, where delayed hospital presentation and harmful first-aid practices contribute to preventable morbidity and mortality. Despite global WHO strategies to reduce the snakebite burden by 2030, comprehensive long-term data from Nepal […]
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Enteric pathogen profiles of animal feces in Indianaby Heintzman, A., Keenum, I., Capone, D. on October 14, 2025 at 12:00 am
Southern Indiana has intensive livestock production, yet species-resolved fecal pathogen profiles are limited. At 10 sites in southern Indiana (April-June 2024), we collected 128 fecal specimens from 10 hosts: pigs (n=12), horses (12), cats (12), chickens (12), dogs (22), white-tailed deer (12), sheep (12), goats (12), cows (12), and humans (10). We extracted and assayed total nucleic acids using a custom […]
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A Flexible and Responsive Remote Study Design to Assess Gene Expression Changes During Wildfire Smoke Exposure with homeRNA, an At-home Blood Sampling Kitby Haack, A. J., Brown, L. G., Zeng, Y., Khan, T., Robertson, I. H., Kennedy, D. S., Adams, K. N., MacDonald, J. W., Bammler, T. K., Stefanovic, F., Moloney, K., Stolarczuk, J. E., Takezawa, M., Alizai, M. Y., Hassan, G. W., Lim, F. Y., Chaussabel, D., Walker, E. G., Errett, N. A., Berthier, E., Theberge, A. B. on October 14, 2025 at 12:00 am
Transcriptomic responses to wildfire smoke are difficult to study given the unpredictability of wildfires and the challenges of collecting blood during active disasters. To overcome these challenges, we developed a flexible study design leveraging homeRNA, our at-home blood collection and RNA stabilization kit. Between June 2021 and April 2022, 58 participants across 10 U.S. states collected 635 blood samples […]
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A randomized controlled trial of an interactive digital therapeutic for stress and burnout managementby Rischer, K. M., Betz, L. T., Riepenhausen, A., Meyer, B., Jacob, G. A., Frieling, H., Jauch-Chara, K. on October 14, 2025 at 12:00 am
This pragmatic randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of reviga, a self-guided digital intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy, in reducing work-related stress symptoms. A total of 290 adults experiencing significant stress and burnout were assigned to the intervention group (reviga + treatment as usual [TAU]; n = 147) or the control group (TAU only; n = 143). Intent-to-treat analyses […]
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Padel Sites in Metropolitan France: Spatial and sociodemographic Characterization of Residents Potential Noise Exposureby DUFOUR, J.-C., Bonnet, C. on October 9, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundThe rapid expansion of padel in France is raising coexistence issues with nearby residents due to its distinctive acoustic signature (impulsive, repetitive sounds). Several guides and recommendations advise minimum setback distances between padel courts and dwellings, yet no national-scale quantification of at-risk configurations was available for France or elsewhere. ObjectiveTo characterize, at the […]
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Developing an EMG-Based Distal Upper Extremity Tool for Assessing Risk of Distal Upper Extremity Symptoms: A Proof-of-Concept Comparative Evaluationby Fan, X., Rydgard, J., Hettiarachchi, P., Eliasson, K., Dahlqvist, C., Johansson, P. J. on October 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
Work-related distal upper extremity (DUE) disorders are common in hand-intensive occupations due to cumulative strain. Existing assessment tools rely on subjective ratings and often fail to capture dynamic workload over varied work schedules. This proof-of-concept study evaluated a surface electromyography (EMG)-based version of the Distal Upper Extremity Tool (EMG-DUET), designed to provide objective and […]
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Evidence for Aerosolized Environmental Bacterial Endotoxin as an Environmental Health Hazardby Yisrael-Gayle, K., Helderop, E. E., Morin, C., Polk, D., Qiu, X., Dingilian, H., del Castillo, D., Penuelas, V., Topacio, T. M., Freund, L., Drover, R., Gonzalez, D., Alaama, S. T., Husari, A., McGowan, E., Merwyn, R., Botthoff, J., Shapiro, M., Kongari, R., Aronson, E., Godzik, A., LeComte-Hinely, J., Wei, R., Cocker, D., Lo, D. D. on October 5, 2025 at 12:00 am
The high incidence of asthma near Californias Salton Sea is attributed to dust emitted from the exposed lakebed. A survey of clinical symptoms conducted in the region revealed distinct spatial distribution with strong geospatial correlations between asthma symptoms and prevailing wind direction as well as with PM10 levels. Mice exposed to dust collected across the region showed lung inflammation which was […]
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Restorative Justice Approaches to Conflict Management in Healthcare Workplaces: A Systematic Review Protocolby Shankar, R., Devi, F., Xu, Q. on October 3, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundHealthcare workplaces experience significant interpersonal conflicts affecting staff wellbeing, patient safety, and organizational performance. Traditional punitive approaches to conflict management often fail to address underlying issues, potentially perpetuating cycles of dysfunction. Restorative justice, emphasizing healing, accountability, and relationship repair over punishment, offers promising […]
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Systematic review of environmental factors associated with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome occurrences in humansby Lee, G., Kim, H.-K., Hidano, A., Jung, S.-m. on October 3, 2025 at 12:00 am
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease with high fatality risk in older adults, posing a growing public health threat in East Asia and potentially beyond. Yet, the role of environmental drivers in its transmission remains poorly understood, limiting effective control strategies. We systematically reviewed evidence on associations between environmental factors and SFTS […]
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Application of Large Language Models (LLM) for Automatic Classification of Work Accident Text Data: Verification of Accuracy and Practicalityby Ando, H., Matsugaki, R., Yamakawa, S., Ogami, A. on October 3, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundFalls are the most frequent type of occupational accident, making the development of effective countermeasures an urgent issue. Traditional accident analysis relies on manual classification of text data by experts, a process that is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Large Language Models (LLMs) offer the potential to significantly streamline this analysis process without the need for task-specific […]
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Differential Associations of Heat Metrics with Health Statistics: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Temperature Indicators and Mortality Across Thailand Provincesby Wels, J., Keanjoom, R., Gonzalez Hijon, J., Choosumrong, S. on October 2, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundAssessments of climate change health impacts often rely on ambient temperature, often neglecting the role of humidity and wind speed. This can be problematic in countries with high climate diversity and pronounced climate warming as it is the case in many South-East Asian nations. This study compared trends in multiple heat metrics (i.e., actual heat, Heat Index, Humidex and Apparent Temperature) across […]
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OIICS coding of agricultural injuries mined from Maine PCR records (2008-2022) reveals significant differences in injury source, event, and nature by age group and sexby Jones, L. E., Kern, M., Hansen-Ruiz, C. S., Krupa, N., Jenkins, P., Scott, E. on September 27, 2025 at 12:00 am
ObjectivesAgricultural injuries are known to be under-reported in existing surveillance systems. OIICS codes are a standardized classification system developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which ensure consistency in reporting and analysis of workplace incidents over time across industry sectors. Our study examines OIICS coded injuries obtained via mining emergency response (Pre-Hospital Care Report) […]
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Mortality Attributable to Drought, Wildfire Smoke, and Their Concurrent Added Effects in the Contiguous United Statesby Hu, Y., Chu, L., Wang, P., Abadi, A. M., Qiu, M., Chen, K. on September 25, 2025 at 12:00 am
Climate change has led to more frequent individual and concurrent drought and wildfire smoke events in the U.S., yet whether their concurrence adds to health burden remains understudied. We assessed the frequency of these events, developed a Two-Step Individual and Added Effect Estimation (TIAE) Model to evaluate their effects, and estimated the attributable mortality across 3,103 U.S. counties from 2007 to 2023. […]
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Comparison of Two National Noise Models: Progress Towards an Integrated Noise Model for Environmental Health Research in the United Statesby Huang, C.-H. S., Seto, E. on September 25, 2025 at 12:00 am
Two sound level maps currently exist for the contiguous United States. One was developed by the National Park Service (NPS) using machine learning methods and sound pressure level monitoring data, and the other by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) using transportation noise models of roadway, aviation, and rail sources. Developed for different purposes, each has distinct strengths and weaknesses. This […]
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The causal role of low supervisor support in accidental blood exposure among hospital healthcare workers: a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) analysis of the STRIPPS cohortby BUN, R. S., AIT BOUZIAD, K., DAOUDA, O. S., MILIANI, K., TEMIME, L., HOCINE, M. N., ASTAGNEAU, P. on September 19, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundAccidental blood exposures (AEB) are a major occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), with risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission. While organisational factors are known to influence safety, the specific causal pathways linking management quality to AEB risk remain poorly characterised. ObjectivesTo investigate the causal pathways linking organisational factors, particularly supervisor […]
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Effects of Working from Home on Musculoskeletal Pain and Coronaphobia during the COVID-19 Pandemicby Castelo, L. A., Junior, N. C., Civile, V. T., Costa, J. M., Matos, R. R., Trevisani, V. F. on September 17, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic impacted the physical and mental health of Brazilian workers, especially those who started acting in home-office. Changes in the workplace, increased physical inactivity and fear of contracting the disease, known as coronophobia, may be related to increased musculoskeletal pain. ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and coronophobia in home-office workers during […]
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Can vocational advice be delivered in primary care? The Work And Vocational advicE (WAVE) mixed method single arm feasibility study (NCT04543097)by Wynne-Jones, G., Sowden, G., Madan, I., Walker-Bone, K., Chew-Graham, C. A., Saunders, B., Lewis, M., Bromley, K., Jowett, S., Parsons, V., Mansell, G., Cooke, K., Lawton, S. A., Linaker, C., Pemberton, J., Cooper, C., Foster, N. E. on September 15, 2025 at 12:00 am
ObjectivesMost patients with health conditions necessitating time off work consult in primary care. Offering vocational advice (VA) early within this setting may help them to return-to-work (RTW) and reduce sickness absence. Previous research shows the benefits of VA interventions for musculoskeletal pain in primary care, but an intervention for a much broader primary care patient population has yet to be tested. […]
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Pilot proteomics study suggests elevated tumorigenesis-promoting biomarkers in healthy adults after air pollution exposureby Ding, V., Lu, D., Ji, Y., Johnson, M. M., Haddad, F., Kim, J. B., Horne, B. D., Park, J.-A., Nadeau, K. C., Desai, M., Maecker, H. T. on September 14, 2025 at 12:00 am
ObjectivesRecent studies have shown that immune and cardiometabolic biomarker levels increased in individuals exposed to ambient air pollution. We sought to explore the feasibility of identifying a pollution exposure signature using the Olink Explore platform in a small, pilot cohort of firefighters and age-matched controls in the Bay Area. MethodsDemographics and plasma samples were collected at two study […]
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Factors Influencing Road Safety Protocol Compliance among Commercial Vehicle Drivers at Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghanaby Addo, A. A., Arizie, F., Boakye, A. E., Charles-Unadike, V. O. on September 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundThe prevalence of compliance with road safety regulations among commercial motorcycle riders at Hohoe is observed to be moderate with a rate of 59.2%. This implies that while a significant proportion of riders adhere to some safety guidelines, others still engage in practices that could increase their risk of accidents. ObjectiveIn line with this, the study aimed to investigate the determinants of road […]
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Sex-stratified analysis of factors associated with attrition intent from the General Internal Medicine physician workforce in Switzerlandby Leitner, T., Egger, I., Streit, S., Moor, J. on September 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundThe healthcare sector has a shortage of physicians. Strategies to better retain medical professionals in the workforce in General Internal Medicine must rely on an in-depth understanding of factors associated with wanting to quit their job. Here, we investigated sex-specific associations of workplace-related and personal factors associated with wanting to quit work among physicians. MethodsIn a […]
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Cumulative and relativistic temperature metrics for public heat alerts: A new approach proposed for greater Vancouver, Canadaby Hu, A. T., Brauer, M., Lavigne, E., Henderson, S. on September 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundMany heat alert systems rely on fixed absolute temperature thresholds that may not fully characterize risk. Furthermore, absolute temperatures can vary widely across some urban areas, leading to the same absolute thresholds being associated with different risks. The impending modernization of meteorological services in Canada provides an opportunity to address these challenges with heat alerts in greater […]
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Monitoring Military Pilots with Textile Sensors: Physiological Responses and Signal Quality Under Extreme Conditionsby Rossi, R. M., Bauer, F., Stier, A., Bron, D., Annaheim, S. on September 5, 2025 at 12:00 am
Military pilots are exposed to severe physiological challenges during their missions that may affect cognitive and physical performance. Therefore, continuous monitoring potentially provides critical insights about the impact of extreme condition exposure on the fitness for duty of military pilots. We applied a textile-based monitoring system during training sessions with pilot aspirants to investigate the impact […]
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Overall Mortality and Comorbidities Associated with the Teaching Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study in Colombiaby Sanchez-Santiesteban, D., Bayona, H., Buitrago, G. on September 2, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundTeachers play a critical role in social and economic development, yet evidence on their health outcomes in Latin America remains scarce. In Colombia, teachers are generally classified in occupational risk level 1, a category considered to have minimal hazards. This study aimed to describe and compare mortality and comorbidities among teachers and non-teachers in the same risk category, and to explore […]
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A walk in the park – identifying healthy biomes using scent snapshotsby Kay, W. T., Lindstrom Battle, A. L., Humberstone, M., Tucker, M., Storer, K., Kite, G., Willis, K. on August 29, 2025 at 12:00 am
1Biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs) are carbon-based secondary metabolites emitted by all kingdoms of life, often playing roles in stress protection, growth modulation, and inter-organism communication. In plants, bVOCs such as terpenes (e.g., alpha-pinene, d-limonene) are highly prevalent and have been linked to diverse health benefits including stress reduction, enhanced cognitive function, and […]
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Sex differences in personal and work-related factors associated with impaired mental well-being among Swiss General Internal Medicine physiciansby Egger, I., Nater, C., Streit, S., Moor, J. on August 29, 2025 at 12:00 am
Introduction and aimsPhysicians are at risk for impaired mental health. In Switzerland, a lack of understanding of personal and workplace-related factors contributing to impaired physician well-being in women and men hinders the design of effective strategies to improve mental health of the healthcare workforce. In the present work, we focused on physicians of the General Internal Medicine (GIM) workforce and […]
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Source-specific exposure and burden of disease attributable to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in China’s residencesby Liu, N., Huang, C.-S., Yin, Y., Dai, X., Pei, J., Liu, J., Zhao, Z., Zhang, Y., Larson, T., Seto, E., Austin, E. on August 28, 2025 at 12:00 am
High-level exposure to indoor air pollutants (IAPs), including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has substantially contributed to the burden of disease in China over the past two decades. However, the source contributions to the indoor VOC-related health burden remain unknown. This study utilized a novel approach based on positive matrix factorization (PMF) of indoor multipollutant data to estimate the […]
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The Prevalence of Sexual Harassment in Internal Medicine in Switzerlandby Wassner, O., Nater, C., Barbier, J. M., Streit, S., Moor, J. on August 28, 2025 at 12:00 am
BackgroundSexual harassment (SH) impairs physician well-being and performance, yet data on the epidemiology of SH in Internal Medicine are scarce. Here, we set out to assess the frequency and patterns of SH experienced by physicians in Switzerland. MethodsWe performed secondary analyses of a web-based survey that focused on physicians and medical students well-being and career ambitions but also asked for past […]