Occupational Smoking Research Articles

The use of mobile app survey data to examine compliance with occupational smoking bans: A case study of seven countries

The use of mobile app survey data to examine compliance with occupational smoking bans: A case study of seven countries

Non-smoker protection and tobacco cessation

Non-smoker protection and tobacco cessation Abstract. Objective: Whereas, on the one hand, employees in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions (CAP) have to enforce smoking bans among patients, on the other hand, they have a high likelihood of being smokers themselves. Little data are available on the enforcement of smoking regulations and what cessation support is offered by CAP institutions. Method: In an online survey, n = 78 senior staff members or directors of German CAP institutions (41.9 % of all addressed CAP institutions) responded to questions on smoking regulations, exceptions, and cessation support for employees. Results: The enforcement of comprehensive smoking bans is rarely reported (<20 % of CAP institutions). Employees are exempted or allowed to smoke mostly outside of the building (e. g., in designated smoking areas: 69-78 % depending on ward type). Cessation support was offered by less than half of the CAP institutions (47%). Conclusions: The data presented point toward future areas for tobacco control in CAP care, including transparent regulations, staff training, and dissemination of support for occupational smoking cessation.

Explaining better hearing in Norway: a comparison of two cohorts 20 years apart - the HUNT study

BackgroundThe hearing function at a given age seems to have improved in more recent born cohorts in industrialized countries. But the reasons for the improvement have not yet been explained.MethodsWe investigated the extent to which better hearing in Norway is attributed to modifiable risk factors by using representative demographic and audiometric data from two cohorts of the Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT2 (1996–1998) and HUNT4 (2017–2019). We estimated natural indirect effects using causal inference methods in order to assess whether cohort improvement in hearing thresholds (HTs) was mediated by occupational noise exposure, recurrent ear infections, smoking and education.ResultsThe improvement in HTs from HUNT2 to HUNT4 was 2.8 and 3.0 dB at low respectively high frequencies. Together all risk factors mediated this improvement by 0.8 dB (95% CI 0.7–0.9) and 0.8 dB (95% CI 0.7–0.9) respectively, corresponding to mediated proportions of 27 and 28%. Substantial mediation was specifically found for occupational noise in men and recurrent ear infections in women (mediated proportions of 11 and 17% at high frequencies, respectively).ConclusionsIncreased education, less occupational noise exposure, ear infections and smoking contributed considerably to better hearing in Norway the last two decades.

Assessment of Ecological and Target Hazard Risks of Mercury Contaminated Water Along Makassar Coastal Areas, Indonesia

INTRODUCTION: The coastal area of Makassar city is a vulnerable area to various pollutants, most of which are generated by anthropogenic activities, such as home industry products, gold shop waste products, and household waste, starting from the coastal area in Barombong to the coastal villages in the Ujung Tanah subdistrict, with the highest level of mercury (Hg) concentration in the coastal area. Another source of potential Hg pollution in this area can be due to community activities at the fish landing base (PPI, Paotere). AIMS: The aims of this research were to analyze the Hg content in surface water collected from coastal areas of Makassar City and to analyze the target hazard risk effect due to the excessive exposure of water from the recognized as ecologically contaminated area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research applied an observational analytic design of cross-sectional studies. Direct measurement and laboratory sample analyses were conducted as well as a questionnaire was applied to obtain relevant, precise, and accurate data. Respondents’ characteristics related to education, habit, lifestyle, occupational smoking habits, and dietary were requested by the administered household interview questionnaire. Assay of the laboratory to analyze the magnitude of Hg in surface water was conducted. Respondents with volunteered based selected using stratified random sampling methods. RESULTS: Results of the analysis of Hg distribution in surface water used kriging interpolation method showed that the highest concentration of Hg was in stations (22 and 23) around Area of Anjungan Losari Beach and Area of Anjungan Mandar Losari with 1.0013 and 1.0012 mg/l, respectively. While the lowest were in station 2 with 0.0011 and in station 26 Pelindo Jetti area with 0.0013 mg/l, respectively. Ecological Risk assessment indicated that the areas with the highest risk of ecology were such as Near Dermaga Kayu Bangkoa with 9.8, the Tourism area of Karaeng Batjo Tomb 9.7, and Tanjung Bayang beach with risk ecology 9.1 units, respectively. Furthermore, the magnitude of Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values were 0.0093 in station 1 in Tourism area of Karaeng Batjo Tomb and 0.0089 units in station 24 of Port of Sukarno Hatta, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, Hg levels of contamination in water are still be tolerated in the current; however, its accumulate that potentially harmful in the near future. Ecological risk value was more than one that indicates at risks, although the THQ values are still below than the one that indicates safe.

Laryngeal cancer in two non-consanguineous people (spouses): a case report

The objective is to report a rare case of laryngeal cancer in spouses. Case report. A 59-year-old female patient was admitted to the Department of Head and Neck Tumors in December 2019 with complaints of hoarseness. In 1997, she had radiotherapy for T1N0M0 laryngeal cancer. After comprehensive examination, she was diagnosed with recurrent laryngeal cancer. The patient has undergone frontolateral laryngeal resection. A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to the Department of Head and Neck Tumors in November 2019 with T3N0M0 laryngeal cancer (diagnosed 2 months before). He has undergone extended frontolateral laryngeal resection followed by radiotherapy in the postoperative period. Discussion. Both patients had no risk factors, such as occupational hazards or smoking. However, both spouses had close relatives with cancer, what indicates their genetic predisposition to malignant tumors. The female patient was found to have human papilloma virus (HPV) in the tumor cells, whereas her spouse was HPV-negative, although rapid histology showed indirect signs of HPV, which does not exclude the elimination of HPV. Conclusion. In this rare case of laryngeal cancer diagnosed in two non-consanguineous spouses, the disease is likely to be caused by their hereditary predisposition, HPV infection, and the fact that they lived in the same socioeconomic conditions.

Cigarette smoking at workplace among resident physicians and nurses in Mansoura University Hospital

Smoking at workplace (WP) is common among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted upon resident physicians and nurses to determine the prevalence of WP smoking and its associated factors. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and occupational data, smoking history, nicotine dependence, and attitude toward smoking and its control in WP. More than one-fifths (22.7%) of residents and nurses were current WP smokers. Significant independent predictors are having shift work, high nicotine dependence, and having positive attitude toward smoking with AOR (95% CI): 29.4 (4.9–177.1), 18.2 (3.3–101.1), and 0.16 (0.02–0.84), respectively. The prevalence of smoking among resident physicians and nurses in Mansoura University Hospital is relatively high. Enforcement of WP smoking-free policies is required together with encouragement of positive attitude toward smoking cessation.

79 A Life Course Approach to Standing Balance: Risk Factors Across Life

Abstract Introduction Poor balance ability in mid and later life is associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Understanding what factors across life contribute to balance ability in the ageing population is important in order to prevent, delay or minimise balance decline. Our aim was to identify socioeconomic indicators, health behaviours, health status indicators and cognition that are associated with balance and identify how these associations varied by age and sex. Methods Data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study, were utilised (n=3111). Multilevel models examined associations between twelve different factors across life (maternal education, paternal occupational class, education, own occupational class, physical activity, smoking, diabetes, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular events, knee pain, depression and verbal memory) and one-legged standing balance (assessed at ages 53, 60-64 and 69). Results Men had better balance than women at age 53 (b=18.8% (95%CI: 13.6, 23.9), although this difference decreased with age (11.8% at age 60-64 and 7.6% at age 69). Low socioeconomic position, poor health behaviours, poor health status and lower cognition were associated with poorer balance at all three ages. For example, those from the lowest paternal occupational class had 29.6% (95% CI: 22.2, 38.8%) worse balance than those from the highest class. There were no sex differences in patterns of associations. Associations of balance with socioeconomic indicators, cognition and physical activity got smaller with age, while the associations with knee pain and depression increased. Discussion Factors across life that contribute to balance are multifaceted and complex. A multifactorial intervention to minimise balance decline and falls could be more appropriate than a single factor approach. Due to different patterns of association with age (i.e. knee pain or depression), different factors should be targeted depending on age.

Occupational metal exposures, smoking and diabetes.

Occupational metal exposures, smoking and diabetes.

Are prematurity and environmental factors determinants for developing childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus?

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of exposure to air pollutants and inhalable environmental elements during pregnancy and after birth until childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus(cSLE) diagnosis.Methods: This case–control study comprised 30 cSLE patients and 86 healthy controls living in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area. A structured and reliable questionnaire (kappa index for test-retest was 0.78) assessed demographic data, gestational and perinatal-related-factors, and exposure to inhalable elements during pregnancy and after birth (occupational exposure to inhalable particles and/or volatile vapor, and/or tobacco, as well as, the presence of industrial activities or gas stations near the home/work/daycare/school). Tropospheric pollutants included: particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO).Results: The median current age was similar between cSLE patients and healthy controls [16.0 (5–21) versus 15.0 (4–21) years, p = .32], likewise the frequency of female gender (87% versus 78%, p = .43). The frequencies of prematurity (30% versus 6%, p = .001), maternal occupational exposure during pregnancy (59% versus 12%, p < .001), exposure to volatile vapor (48% versus 8%, p < .001) and fetal smoking (maternal and/or secondhand) (37% versus 19%, p = .008) were significantly higher in cSLE patients compared with controls. In a multivariate analysis regarding the gestation period, maternal occupational exposure (OR 13.5, 95% CI 2.5–72.4, p = .002), fetal smoking (OR 8.6, 95%CI 1.6–47, p = .013) and prematurity (OR 15.8, 95%CI 1.9–135.3, p = .012) remained risk factors for cSLE development. Furthermore, exposure to secondhand smoking during pregnancy and after birth (OR 9.1, 95%CI 1.8–42.1, p = .002) was also a risk factor for cSLE development.Conclusions: Prematurity and environmental factors were risk factors for developing cSLE.

Absence of multiplicative interactions between occupational lung carcinogens and tobacco smoking: a systematic review involving asbestos, crystalline silica and diesel engine exhaust emissions

BackgroundTobacco smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, but it is not the sole causal factor. Significant proportions of workers are smokers and exposed to occupational lung carcinogens. This study aims to systematically review the statistical interaction between occupational lung carcinogens and tobacco smoking, in particular asbestos, crystalline silica and diesel engine exhaust emissions.MethodsArticles were identified using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, and were limited to those published in English or French, without limitation of time. The reference list of selected studies was reviewed to identify other relevant papers. One reviewer selected the articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers checked the eligibility of articles to be included in the systematic review. Data were extracted by one reviewer and revised by two other reviewers. Cohorts and case–control studies were analyzed separately. The risk of bias was evaluated for each study based on the outcome. The results of the interaction between the tobacco smoking and each carcinogen was evaluated and reported separately.ResultsFifteen original studies were included for asbestos-smoking interaction, seven for silica-smoking interaction and two for diesel-smoking interaction. The results suggested the absence of multiplicative interaction between the three occupational lung carcinogens and smoking. There is no enough evidence from the literature to conclude for the additive interaction. We believe there is a limited risk of publication bias as several studies reporting negative results were published.ConclusionThere are no multiplicative interactions between tobacco smoking and occupational lung carcinogens, in particular asbestos, crystalline silica and diesel engine exhaust emissions. Even though, specific programs should be developed and promoted to reduce concomitantly the exposure to occupational lung carcinogens and tobacco smoking.

Television viewing and fatty liver in early midlife. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Introduction. Both sedentary behaviour and fatty liver are associated with increased risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases, but their relationship remains unknown. We investigated the relationship of television (TV) viewing time with serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and Fatty Liver Index (FLI), and ultrasonographically assessed liver fat.Methods. A total of 1,367 adults of the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study (748 women, 619 men, aged 34–49 years) had fasting serum GGT, triglycerides, weight, height, and waist circumference, and self-reported TV time data from 2001, 2007, and 2011. Changes in GGT and FLI, and liver ultrasound images in 2011 were studied in groups with constantly low (≤ 1 h/d), moderate (1–3 h/d), or high (≥ 3 h/d) daily TV time, and in groups with ≥ 1 hour increase/decrease in daily TV time between 2001 and 2011.Results. Constantly high TV time was associated with higher GGT and FLI (P < 0.02 in both), and 2.3-fold (95% CI 1.2–4.5) increased risk of fatty liver regardless of age, sex, leisure-time and occupational physical activity, energy intake, diet composition, alcohol use, sleep duration, socioeconomic status, and smoking. Adjustment for BMI partly attenuated the associations.Conclusions. High TV viewing increases fatty liver risk. It may be one mechanism linking sedentary behaviour with increased cardiometabolic disease risks.

Bias from using occupational smoking prevalence to adjust occupational incidence cohort lung cancer mortality rates.

Objective:To describe how smoking correction factors based on comparing worker smoking prevalence with population smoking prevalence are biased if applied to an occupational incidence cohort.Methods:Relative rates of smoking for shorter-tenure workers derived from occupational cohort lung cancer studies were applied to incidence and prevalence population tenure distributions to calculate relative smoking estimates.Results:High smoking rates in short-tenure workers have little effect on prevalent worker rates (relative smoking estimates, 1.04 and 1.02) and much larger effect in occupational incidence populations (relative smoking estimates, 1.58 and 1.21), which have a much higher proportion of short tenure-workers.Conclusions:Smoking correction estimates derived from surveys of smoking habits in prevalent workers may introduce bias when applied to incidence workers because of very different proportions of short-tenure workers (length-time biased sampling).

Knowledge of Occupational Chemical Exposure and Smoking Behavior in Korean Immigrant Drycleaners

To examine the association between knowledge of chemical exposure at work and cigarette smoking among Korean immigrant drycleaners. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a total of 151 Korean immigrant drycleaners (mean age=49years, 64% male) from 96 drycleaning shops in a Midwestern state. The data were collected on demographic and work-related characteristics, knowledge of occupational chemical exposure, health concerns associated with chemical exposure, and smoking status. Approximately 25% of participants were current smokers. The multivariate regression showed that greater knowledge of occupational chemical exposures was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of current smoking [odds ratio (OR) .63; 95% confidence interval (CI) .41-.95]. Furthermore, male gender (OR 6.32; 95% CI 1.66-24.00), shorter-term residence in the US (OR .93; 95% CI .88-.98), and having multiple duties (OR 2.76; 95% CI 1.01-7.51) were important covariates associated with current smoking among Korean immigrant drycleaners. Knowledge on occupational chemical exposure was significantly associated with smoking among Korean immigrant drycleaners. Smoking cessation programs for this population should consider integrated approaches that incorporate work environment factors into individual and sociocultural components.

Three-Year Intervention Program to Prevent Hypertension in Workplaces in Tunisia: A Pre-Post Quasi-Experimental Design with Control Group

Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-year workplace intervention for healthy lifestyle promotion in the prevention of hypertension among employees. Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was employed to assess the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention program for corporate employees, which mainly consisted of educational videos and interactive teaching sessions with occupational physicians, healthy eating and smoking cessation workshops, free physical activity sessions for employees and free smoking cessation consultation in workplace. There were three workplace sites in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Results: The prevalence of screened hypertension decreased significantly in the intervention arm from 16.2% to 12.8% (p=0.02), but increased significantly in the control arm from 13.3% to 23.3% (p<0.001). Of note, obesity increased both in intervention and control arms. Assessment of hypertension prevalence according to weight status demonstrated a significant decrease in the intervention group among normal weight participants from 11.5% to 6.6% (p=0.009), but an increase in the control group albeit not statistically significant. Among overweight participants, hypertension decreased in intervention group from 18.9% to 13.5% (p=0.058), but increased significantly in control group from 13.1% to 23.1% (p=0.001). Among obese participants, the decrease in the prevalence of hypertension was not significant in intervention group (27.8% to 24.4%, p=0.48), however, it increased significantly in the control group from 22.4% to 34.3% (p=0.009). Determinants of hypertension were age > 35 years, male sex, overweight and obesity in the two groups. Overall, the intervention was negatively associated with hypertension in intervention group (OR= 0.61, CI 95% [0.47-0.8]). Conclusion: The intervention program was effective in decreasing the prevalence of hypertension among normal weight workers. However, additional strategies and/or time are need to combat hypertension among overweight and obese individuals.

Occupational Factors and Smoking Cessation among Unionized Building Trades Workers

The purpose of this study was to estimate the contribution of occupational factors to smoking cessation among building trades workers. Longitudinal data came from the MassBUILT smoking cessation intervention study for unionized building trades workers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the significant predictors of smoking cessation, which was defined as abstinence from smoking during the previous 7 days at the 1-month monitoring and prolonged abstinence for at least 6 months at the 6-month monitoring. Greater concern about exposure to occupational hazards was significantly associated with increased likelihood of smoking cessation at 1 month (odds ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.11). Additionally, smokers who had a more positive view of their unions had at least marginally increased likelihood of smoking cessation at 1 month. Furthermore, older age, higher levels of educational attainment and household income, and fewer cigarettes smoked per day were important covariates that predicted smoking cessation. Concerns about exposures to work hazards should be incorporated into comprehensive intervention approaches for building trades workers. Additionally, the findings emphasize that blue-collar workers with lower income and education levels and heavy smokers should be considered target groups for implementing cessation interventions.

Occupational Factors and Smoking Cessation Among Unionized Building Trades Workers

Occupational Factors and Smoking Cessation Among Unionized Building Trades Workers

Effects of smoking on the levels of urinary biomarkers of aromatic hydrocarbons in oil refinery workers

Occupational exposures to aromatic hydrocarbons may be overwhelmed by mainstream and secondary smoking exposures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of occupational exposures and smoking on benzene and toluene urinary metabolites. The metabolites were measured in pre and post-work shift urine specimens in oil refinery workers by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques. Post-shift concentration differences between non-smokers and smokers were statistically significant (at p-value < 0.05). Pre- and post-shift concentrations of urinary phenol (benzene biomarker) did not vary significantly for both non-smokers and smokers. Occupational exposures to toluene triggered an increase of post-shift levels (compared to pre-shift levels) of urinary cresol for non-smokers and workers who had less than 10 cigarettes during the work shift. For these groups, non-occupational exposures before and during the work shift did not vary. For smokers who did not smoke during the work shift and for those who had more than ten cigarettes during the shift, the post-shift levels of both cresol and hippuric acid were reduced approximately 30% lower than pre-shift levels. This is due to increased exposures to tobacco smoke before the work shift. The relationships between phenol and (cresol + hippuric acid) levels for non-smokers and smokers indicated that elevated co-exposures due to smoking result in the reduction of all metabolites levels in urine. These findings demonstrated that exposures to tobacco smoke may stochastically interfere with occupational exposures when biological monitoring is used to assess occupational health risks. Factors influencing the magnitude of the interference were specimen collection time (in relation to the timing of occupational exposures and excretion rates of biomarkers), smoking intensity and timing before and during the work shift.

Occupational social class, educational level, smoking and body mass index, and cause-specific mortality in men and women: a prospective study in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) cohort

To investigate the independent associations between occupational and educational based measures of socioeconomic status (SES) and cause-specific mortality, and the extent to which potentially modifiable risk factors smoking and body mass index (BMI) explain such relationships. Prospective population study of 22,486 men and women aged 39-79 years living in the general community in Norfolk, United Kingdom, recruited using general practice age-sex registers in 1993-1997 and followed up for total mortality using death certification to 2006. In men a strong inverse relationship was found between social class and all cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, with relative risk of social class V compared to I of 2.21 for all cause mortality (95% CI 1.54-3.17, P < 0.001). This was attenuated but not abolished after adjusting for modifiable risk factors, smoking and BMI, with relative risk of social class V compared to I for all cause mortality of 1.92 (95% CI 1.34-2.77, P < 0.001). A similar, but smaller effect was seen in women. Educational status was not associated with mortality independently of social class. Social class and education are not necessarily interchangeable measures of SES. Some but not all of the socioeconomic differential in mortality can be explained by potentially modifiable risk factors smoking and BMI. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying the association of each socioeconomic indicator with specific health outcomes is needed if we are to reduce inequalities in health.

Tobacco Smoking by Occupation in Australia and the United States: A Review of National Surveys Conducted between 1970 and 2005

Tobacco use represents a key issue in workplace health, and much can be learned from countries where occupational smoking data has been regularly collected on a national basis. This article reviews national smoking surveys previously conducted in Australia and the United States between 1970 and 2005, and examines their relevance to the field of occupational tobacco control. When the first preliminary research was undertaken over 35 years ago, tobacco smoking was a regular feature in the general population of both countries, albeit with higher rates often documented among blue collar workers. Recent national investigations however, suggest that certain historical differences in smoking prevalence rates by occupation are persisting as we enter the 21st century. Detailed examination also indicates that employee sub-groups, such as cleaners and construction workers, are now bearing much of the occupational smoking burden in Australia and the United States. As such, there is an urgent need for more aggressive and finely targeted tobacco control activities in the workplace, as well as increased cooperation between tobacco control organizations, labor unions and other stakeholders, so that they may more effectively combat this ongoing threat to workers' health.

Is the relation of social class to change in hearing threshold levels from childhood to middle age explained by noise, smoking, and drinking behaviour?

Recent work shows that variation in adult hearing function is related both to social class of origin and current social class. This study examines how much of this relationship after adjustment for childhood hearing impairment is explicable by occupational noise, current smoking, and alcohol consumption. A cohort of 9023 persons born in the UK during one week in 1958 was followed periodically, and hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were measured at 1 kHz and 4 kHz at age 45 years. Most (71% and 68%, at 1 kHz and 4 kHz respectively) of the relation to social class of origin of adult HTLs remains after adjustment for these other factors. For the relation to current social class, corresponding values are 64% and 44% (though varying by gender). The magnitude of social class effect is comparable to that of occupational noise. Susceptibility to hearing impairment is likely to be appreciably determined in early childhood.