Occupational and environmental medicine
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Comparative Study
Risk factors for and consequences of persistent lower respiratory symptoms among World Trade Center Health Registrants 10 years after the disaster.
The prevalence of persistent lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) among rescue/recovery workers, local area workers, residents and passers-by in the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) was analysed to identify associated factors and to measure its effect on quality of life (QoL) 10 years after 9/11/2001. ⋯ LRS, accompanied by mental health conditions and decreased QoL, have persisted for at least 10 years after 9/11/2001. Affected adults require continuing surveillance and treatment.
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To estimate incidence and trends in incidence of occupational diseases (ODs) in the Dutch construction sector. ⋯ In total, 13% of workers participating in WHS in the Dutch construction industry during 2014 had an OD diagnosed and reported by an OP. Over a 5-year period the annual incidence of reported ODs showed a statistically non-significant increase. Incidences in noise-induced hearing loss and contact dermatitis showed statistically significant increasing trends, 7% and 19%, respectively.
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To determine the prospective association between physical workload--in terms of specific physical exposures and the number of exposures--and long-term sickness absence (LTSA). ⋯ Several of the investigated types of physical workload were risk factors for LTSA when exceeding 25% of the work time. A higher number of combined physical workloads was associated with progressively increased risk. Our study underscores the importance of physical workload as risk factors for LTSA in the general working population as well as among blue-collar workers.
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Comparative Study
The effect of World Trade Center exposure on the latency of chronic rhinosinusitis diagnoses in New York City firefighters: 2001-2011.
To assess how the effect of World Trade Center (WTC) exposure on physician-diagnosed chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in firefighters changed during the decade following the attack on 9/11 (11 September 2001 to 10 September 2011). ⋯ The risk of CRS in FDNY firefighters appears increased with WTC-exposure, and has not diminished by time since exposure.
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To describe the health burden among Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) emergency medical service (EMS) workers and examine its association with work at the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site. ⋯ In this 12-year study, we documented a high burden of health conditions associated with WTC-exposure among FDNY EMS workers. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and treatment of this workforce.