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Mueller W, Smith A, Kuijpers E, Pronk A, Loh M. Worker perspectives on improving occupational health and safety using wearable sensors: a cross-sectional survey. Ann Work Expo Health 2024:wxae057. [PMID: 39002148 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxae057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Workplace exposure is an important source of ill health. The use of wearable sensors and sensing technologies may help improve and maintain worker health, safety, and wellbeing. Input from workers should inform the integration of these sensors into workplaces. We developed an online survey to understand the acceptability of wearable sensor technologies for occupational health and safety (OSH) management. The survey was disseminated to members of OSH-related organizations, mainly in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. There were 158 respondents, with over half (n = 91, 58%) reporting current use of wearable sensors, including physical hazards (n = 57, 36%), air quality (n = 53, 34%), and location tracking (n = 36, 23%), although this prevalence likely also captures traditional monitoring equipment. There were no clear distinctions in wearable sensor use between the reported demographic and occupational characteristics, with the exception that hygienists were more likely than non-hygienists (e.g. safety professionals) to use wearable sensors (66% versus 34%). Overall, there was an interest in how sensors can help OSH professionals understand patterns of exposure and improve exposure management practices. Some wariness was expressed primarily around environmental and physical constraints, the quality of the data, and privacy concerns. This survey identified a need to better identify occupational situations that would benefit from wearable sensors and to evaluate existing devices that could be used for occupational hygiene. Further, this work underscores the importance of clearly defining "sensor" according to the occupational setting and context.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Smith
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Eelco Kuijpers
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Healthy Living and Work, RAPID, Utrecht 3584 CB, The Netherlands
| | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Healthy Living and Work, RAPID, Utrecht 3584 CB, The Netherlands
| | - Miranda Loh
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
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Peters S, Undem K, Solovieva S, Selander J, Schlünssen V, Oude Hengel KM, Albin M, Ge CB, Kjellberg K, McElvenny DM, Gustavsson P, Kolstad HA, Würtz AML, Brinchmann BC, Broberg K, Fossum S, Bugge M, Christensen MW, Ghosh M, Christiansen DH, Merkus SL, Lunde LK, Viikari-Juntura E, Dalbøge A, Falkstedt D, Willert MV, Huss A, Würtz ET, Dumas O, Iversen IB, Leite M, Cramer C, Kirkeleit J, Svanes C, Tinnerberg H, Garcia-Aymerich J, Vested A, Wiebert P, Nordby KC, Godderis L, Vermeulen R, Pronk A, Mehlum IS. Narrative review of occupational exposures and noncommunicable diseases. Ann Work Expo Health 2024; 68:562-580. [PMID: 38815981 PMCID: PMC11229329 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxae045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Within the scope of the Exposome Project for Health and Occupational Research on applying the exposome concept to working life health, we aimed to provide a broad overview of the status of knowledge on occupational exposures and associated health effects across multiple noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) to help inform research priorities. METHODS We conducted a narrative review of occupational risk factors that can be considered to have "consistent evidence for an association," or where there is "limited/inadequate evidence for an association" for 6 NCD groups: nonmalignant respiratory diseases; neurodegenerative diseases; cardiovascular/metabolic diseases; mental disorders; musculoskeletal diseases; and cancer. The assessment was done in expert sessions, primarily based on systematic reviews, supplemented with narrative reviews, reports, and original studies. Subsequently, knowledge gaps were identified, e.g. based on missing information on exposure-response relationships, gender differences, critical time-windows, interactions, and inadequate study quality. RESULTS We identified over 200 occupational exposures with consistent or limited/inadequate evidence for associations with one or more of 60+ NCDs. Various exposures were identified as possible risk factors for multiple outcomes. Examples are diesel engine exhaust and cadmium, with consistent evidence for lung cancer, but limited/inadequate evidence for other cancer sites, respiratory, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases. Other examples are physically heavy work, shift work, and decision latitude/job control. For associations with limited/inadequate evidence, new studies are needed to confirm the association. For risk factors with consistent evidence, improvements in study design, exposure assessment, and case definition could lead to a better understanding of the association and help inform health-based threshold levels. CONCLUSIONS By providing an overview of knowledge gaps in the associations between occupational exposures and their health effects, our narrative review will help setting priorities in occupational health research. Future epidemiological studies should prioritize to include large sample sizes, assess exposures prior to disease onset, and quantify exposures. Potential sources of biases and confounding need to be identified and accounted for in both original studies and systematic reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Peters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Karina Undem
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Svetlana Solovieva
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40 FI-00032 TYÖTERVEYSLAITOS, Finland
| | - Jenny Selander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2 DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karen M Oude Hengel
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Princetonlaan 6 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Albin
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Calvin B Ge
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Princetonlaan 6 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Katarina Kjellberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Torsplan, Solnavägen 4, 113 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Damien M McElvenny
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Ave N, Currie EH14 4AP, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Per Gustavsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik A Kolstad
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette L Würtz
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2 DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bendik C Brinchmann
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stine Fossum
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Bugge
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mette Wulf Christensen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, box 7001 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Høyrup Christiansen
- Centre of Elective surgery, Region Hospital Silkeborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Falkevej 3. 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Suzanne L Merkus
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars-Kristian Lunde
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Eira Viikari-Juntura
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40 FI-00032 TYÖTERVEYSLAITOS, Finland
| | - Annett Dalbøge
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Falkstedt
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Morten Vejs Willert
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Else Toft Würtz
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Orianne Dumas
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Univ. Paris-Sud, Inserm, Équipe d’Épidémiologie respiratoire intégrative, CESP, 94807, Villejuif, France
| | - Inge Brosbøl Iversen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mimmi Leite
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
| | - Christine Cramer
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2 DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99. DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jorunn Kirkeleit
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 17 Block D 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 17 Block D 5009 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O box 1400 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Håkan Tinnerberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Gothenburg University, Huvudbyggnad Vasaparken, Universitetsplatsen 1, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Judith Garcia-Aymerich
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), carrer de la Mercè 12, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Anne Vested
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2 DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pernilla Wiebert
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Torsplan, Solnavägen 4, 113 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment & Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, box 7001 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Princetonlaan 6 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0450 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-Copenhagen 2400 NV, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Bültmann U, Broberg K, Selander J. Integrating a life course perspective in work environment and health research: empirical challenges and interdisciplinary opportunities. Scand J Work Environ Health 2024; 50:311-316. [PMID: 38934300 PMCID: PMC11212143 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A healthy working life is fundamental for individuals and society. To date, increasingly research connects the earlier, pre-working life to later working life experiences and beyond, recognizing that a worker’s health and exposure starts before the working life begins. The research, however, often lacks a fundamental understanding of (i) the underlying mechanisms and pathways accounting for differences in different life stages and (ii) the role of the social environment in shaping working life experiences. By integrating a life course perspective in our research and crossing disciplinary borders in rigorous, collaborative research, we may get a better understanding of the complex and dynamic interplay between work, environment and health.
A life course perspective for work environment and health research A life course perspective in work environment and health research emphasizes the importance of prior life experiences, including the environments in which individuals were raised and exposed, their familial and educational backgrounds, and their physical and mental health status before entering the workforce (1, 2). Life course research in different disciplines has been instrumental in developing more robust causal models (3, 4), particularly for understanding developmental health trajectories and socioeconomic health inequalities (eg, 5–7).
Adopting an interdisciplinary life course perspective in work environment and health research helps researchers answering questions as to whether and how the timing, duration, intensity, and context of past and present exposures (ie, pre-working, working, and non-working exposures) are associated with later life work and health outcomes. For instance, the ‘exposome paradigm’ is a concept used to describe the sum of occupational and environmental exposures an individual encounters throughout life, and how these exposures impact biology and health (8). In exposome research, a broad range of genetic, biological, chemical, physical, social and lifestyle factors is examined throughout the life course to provide a comprehensive picture of potential risk factors impacting working life health (9). In exposome research and beyond, it is important to examine how the exposure-outcome relationships are shaped by specific social, cultural and historical contexts (2). The conceptual framework of the ‘Social Exposome’ may help to integrate the social environment in conjunction with the physical environment into the exposome concept (10). Moreover, focusing on both historical and contemporary contexts is essential not only for advancing research but also for informing policy and practice, for example by identifying entry points for interventions.
Exposures during the life course During the individual’s life course, several vulnerable time windows for the impact of a multitude of exposures that potentially harm, protect or promote health, eg, occupational, environmental and social, can be distinguished. The (combinations of) exposures may operate in different life stages and contexts and – directly or indirectly via intergenerational transmission – contribute to health (figure 1). The individual may be particulary sensitive to harmful exposures or adverse experiences during developmental life stages, ie, pre/perinatal, childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and menopause/andropause. Other life stages may reflect vulnerable time windows due to a clustering of exposures, eg, work and family demands during parenthood, or an accumulation of exposures during the (working) life course at retirement and post-retirement age.
As illustrated in figure 1, occupational exposure(s) can be divided in exposure through the parents’ exposure (early in life) and an individuals’ own exposure (later in life). Already in the pre/perinatal life stage, occupational exposure starts through the intergenerational transmission of the parents’ occupational exposures. Current and bioaccumulated occupational exposure of chemicals and particles in the father at the time of conception can affect sperm quality. Together with the mother’s exposure to occupational exposures of chemicals and particles prior to conception – or chemicals, particles, physical factors, ergonomic load, organizational and (psycho-)social conditions at work during pregnancy – this may affect fetal development and later disease development during the child’s life course (11–15). During childhood, the growing child is exposed to parental occupational exposure(s), directly through chemicals and particles in the work clothes and skin or indirectly through organizational and psychosocial factors in the work environment that may increase the risk for mental and physical health problems in parents, which in turn may affect their parental rearing quality (16, 17).
During adolescence and early adulthood, individuals usually encounter their first direct occupational exposures through their first (student) job or jobs. Already from this life stage, occupational exposures may accumulate during the (working) life course and may affect not only the active working life but also the post working life. Also important to note is that brain plasticity is not limited to childhood, adolescence or young adulthood as it persists throughout life. Some studies indicate that high physical and chemical exposure during this life stage, can increase the risk of disease later in life (18). A poor psychosocial school or work environment in younger years may also increase the risk of adverse labour market outcomes and mental health problems later in life (19, 20). In adulthood, men and women often start with (the planning of) family formation. Some occupational exposures affect fecundability, others can increase the risk of pregnancy-related disease, such as preeclampsia, hypertension or diabetes, or affect the offspring (21, 22). Chemicals, heat and stress-related exposures affect the ability to conceive. During pregnancy, the bodily and mental systems are vulnerable with changes in the endocrine and inflammation response that can dysregulate the HPA-axis, resulting in a prolonged stress response. The placenta can filter out many hazards, but not all toxicants, such as methylmercury and arsenic (23, 24). Physical exposure, such as noise and vibration, but also shift and night work can affect the womb and cause fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and hearing impairment (eg, 12, 13, 25–27). During parenthood, occupational exposures may affect the parents’ (mental) health and work-family balance (28, 29). Many chemical and physical exposures have now manifested in disease, eg, allergy, asthma and musculoskeletal diseases (28). During menopause in women, with a drastic decrease in oestrogen, and the slow testosterone decline in men (sometimes referred to as andropause), dysregulations of the hormone system may disrupt and affect the individual’s susceptibility for occupational exposures in a way similar to environmental exposures (30). Towards retirement, the total cumulative occupational exposure burden over the working life course and the current exposure will affect the ability to stay at work and in the labor market. Post retirement, most direct occupational exposures have ceased, but others may have (bio-) accumulated over time and may cause health problems that manifest after retirement (31, 32).
Along with occupational exposures, a multitude of other exposures are present during the entire life course that may operate across different contexts to contribute to health (see figure 1). For instance, chemical, physical and social stressors during the life course leave traces (‘memories’) on the molecular and tissue levels that may affect later life health (33). Epigenetic marks act as heritable memories in the cell as they respond to different endogenous and exogenous signals and can be propagated from one generation of cells to the next generation of cells (33). Next to the epigenetic marks, the social environment and social determinants of health during the life course, eg, socio-economic and lifestyle factors, social relationships, social cohesion and support, are known to impact health and add to the multitude of exposures to be examined, among others in conjunction with the environmental exposome (eg, 34). In residential, family and school contexts, exposures such as air pollution, drinking water pollution, noise, artificial light at night, limited access to green space and crowding may play a role, as can adverse childhood experiences (eg, 35, 36). Moreover, on the overarching societal context, legislations, labor market conditions, norms, values and cultural aspects may affect worker health (2, 37).
Main knowledge gaps and challenges Both conceptual and empirical challenges have to be tackled when conducting work environment and health research with an interdisciplinary life course perspective. On the conceptual level, different paradigms and nomenclature still exist in the various disciplines examining the impact of (occupational) exposures on later life health outcomes, which contributes to fragmented research and publication thereof in specialized journals. On the empirical level, questions arise such as: Is it feasible to examine mechanisms and pathways across different exposure levels considering a life course perspective? Is the follow-up duration of existing birth and other cohorts sufficient to address the dynamic interplay between the work environment and health? Are the multifaceted, constantly changing contexts captured? Effect sizes are often small on an individual level and statistical power decreases when several rare assumptions have to be fulfilled to examine clusters or combinations of exposures and contexts in relation to health outcomes.
Big data, interdisciplinary research protocols and innovative, advanced statistical models to capture the life course perspective are needed to proceed beyond the exposome studies that are currently being finalized within the EU Horizon 2020 exposome call (https://www.humanexposome.eu). Moreover, a better understanding is needed of how occupational, environmental and social exposures affect individuals (i) in vulnerable time windows, eg, do exposures contribute to health advantages and/or disadvantages, and (ii) while transitioning between and within different life stages (38). Studies in different disciplines have focused on the childhood and retirement life stages, see eg, the research on the school-to-work transition or the work-to-retirement transition (39–41), but little is known about the menopause or andropause life stage. Last, rigorous examinations of different lifecourse models (eg, sensitive periods) and exposure models (eg, current, first, last, peak, single, chronic or accumulated), and their impact on health are needed within and across the different vulnerable time windows and life stages as exposure-outcome relationships may differ and thus call for targeted (preventive) policies and practices (42–44).
Interdisciplinary research opportunities The challenges towards a better understanding of the complex and dynamic interplay between the work environment and health provide ample opportunities for rigorous, collaborative quantitative and in-depth qualitative life course research across different research strands. Researchers from different disciplines, such as occupational and environmental medicine, epidemiology, toxicology, health science, sociology, psychology, demography, public (mental) health, and genetics to name a few, should not shy away from the complexity, but embrace the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to collectively address relevant research questions.
Interdisciplinary research opportunities are already present today and will emerge even more in the years to come as more cohorts designed as birth cohorts or multi-generational cohorts mature (eg, LifelinesNext, 45). Researchers have or get access to (national) registers, databases with individual-level internal and external exposure information and neighbourhood-level exposure information or linkages of all these exposure and health data, allowing them to examine the impact of exposures in advanced causal models on later life health. To illustrate the value of and research opportunities with existing data, Ubalde-Lopez and colleagues (46) recently argued that parental work-related data collected in birth cohorts is a valuable yet underutilized resource that could be exploited more fruitfully in the collaboration between birth cohort research, occupational epidemiology and sociology. Having said that, the authors also refer to the possible constraints of eg, cross-national comparative research in terms of technical (ie, harmonization) and ethical challenges (46).
In conclusion, to move research on the work environment and health forward, we call for a more integrated, interdisciplinary approach that considers the timing and accumulation of occupational, environmental and social exposures over the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Bültmann
- Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Farré X, Blay N, Espinosa A, Castaño-Vinyals G, Carreras A, Garcia-Aymerich J, Cardis E, Kogevinas M, Goldberg X, de Cid R. Decoding depression by exploring the exposome-genome edge amidst COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13562. [PMID: 38866890 PMCID: PMC11169603 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64200-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Risk of depression increased in the general population after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. By examining the interplay between genetics and individual environmental exposures during the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been able to gain an insight as to why some individuals are more vulnerable to depression, while others are more resilient. This study, conducted on a Spanish cohort of 9218 individuals (COVICAT), includes a comprehensive non-genetic risk analysis, the exposome, complemented by a genomics analysis in a subset of 2442 participants. Depression levels were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Together with Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS), we introduced a novel score; Poly-Environmental Risk Scores (PERS) for non-genetic risks to estimate the effect of each cumulative score and gene-environment interaction. We found significant positive associations for PERSSoc (Social and Household), PERSLife (Lifestyle and Behaviour), and PERSEnv (Wider Environment and Health) scores across all levels of depression severity, and for PRSB (Broad depression) only for moderate depression (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03-1.40). On average OR increased 1.2-fold for PERSEnv and 1.6-fold for PERLife and PERSoc from mild to severe depression level. The complete adjusted model explained 16.9% of the variance. We further observed an interaction between PERSEnv and PRSB showing a potential mitigating effect. In summary, stressors within the social and behavioral domains emerged as the primary drivers of depression risk in this population, unveiling a mitigating interaction effect that should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Farré
- Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Research Group on the Impact of Chronic Diseases and Their Trajectories (GRIMTra), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Natalia Blay
- Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Research Group on the Impact of Chronic Diseases and Their Trajectories (GRIMTra), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Ana Espinosa
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gemma Castaño-Vinyals
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Carreras
- Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Judith Garcia-Aymerich
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ximena Goldberg
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rafael de Cid
- Genomes for Life-GCAT Lab, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.
- Research Group on the Impact of Chronic Diseases and Their Trajectories (GRIMTra), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.
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Apostolopoulos Y, Sönmez S, Thiese MS, Olufemi M, Gallos LK. A blueprint for a new commercial driving epidemiology: An emerging paradigm grounded in integrative exposome and network epistemologies. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:515-531. [PMID: 38689533 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Excess health and safety risks of commercial drivers are largely determined by, embedded in, or operate as complex, dynamic, and randomly determined systems with interacting parts. Yet, prevailing epidemiology is entrenched in narrow, deterministic, and static exposure-response frameworks along with ensuing inadequate data and limiting methods, thereby perpetuating an incomplete understanding of commercial drivers' health and safety risks. This paper is grounded in our ongoing research that conceptualizes health and safety challenges of working people as multilayered "wholes" of interacting work and nonwork factors, exemplified by complex-systems epistemologies. Building upon and expanding these assumptions, herein we: (a) discuss how insights from integrative exposome and network-science-based frameworks can enhance our understanding of commercial drivers' chronic disease and injury burden; (b) introduce the "working life exposome of commercial driving" (WLE-CD)-an array of multifactorial and interdependent work and nonwork exposures and associated biological responses that concurrently or sequentially impact commercial drivers' health and safety during and beyond their work tenure; (c) conceptualize commercial drivers' health and safety risks as multilayered networks centered on the WLE-CD and network relational patterns and topological properties-that is, arrangement, connections, and relationships among network components-that largely govern risk dynamics; and (d) elucidate how integrative exposome and network-science-based innovations can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of commercial drivers' chronic disease and injury risk dynamics. Development, validation, and proliferation of this emerging discourse can move commercial driving epidemiology to the frontier of science with implications for policy, action, other working populations, and population health at large.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sevil Sönmez
- College of Business, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Matthew S Thiese
- Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mubo Olufemi
- Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lazaros K Gallos
- DIMACS, Center for Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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6
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VoPham T, White AJ, Jones RR. Geospatial Science for the Environmental Epidemiology of Cancer in the Exposome Era. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024; 33:451-460. [PMID: 38566558 PMCID: PMC10996842 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-23-1237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Geospatial science is the science of location or place that harnesses geospatial tools, such as geographic information systems (GIS), to understand the features of the environment according to their locations. Geospatial science has been transformative for cancer epidemiologic studies through enabling large-scale environmental exposure assessments. As the research paradigm for the exposome, or the totality of environmental exposures across the life course, continues to evolve, geospatial science will serve a critical role in determining optimal practices for how to measure the environment as part of the external exposome. The objectives of this article are to provide a summary of key concepts, present a conceptual framework that illustrates how geospatial science is applied to environmental epidemiology in practice and through the lens of the exposome, and discuss the following opportunities for advancing geospatial science in cancer epidemiologic research: enhancing spatial and temporal resolutions and extents for geospatial data; geospatial methodologies to measure climate change factors; approaches facilitating the use of patient addresses in epidemiologic studies; combining internal exposome data and geospatial exposure models of the external exposome to provide insights into biological pathways for environment-disease relationships; and incorporation of geospatial data into personalized cancer screening policies and clinical decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trang VoPham
- Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Alexandra J. White
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Rena R. Jones
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
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Apostolopoulos Y, Sönmez S, Thiese MS, Gallos LK. The indispensable whole of work and population health: How the working life exposome can advance empirical research, policy, and action. Scand J Work Environ Health 2024; 50:83-95. [PMID: 37952240 PMCID: PMC10927210 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The thesis of this paper is that health and safety challenges of working people can only be fully understood by examining them as wholes with interacting parts. This paper unravels this indispensable whole by introducing the working life exposome and elucidating how associated epistemologies and methodologies can enhance empirical research. METHODS Network and population health scientists have initiated an ongoing discourse on the state of empirical work-health-safety-well-being research. RESULTS Empirical research has not fully captured the totality and complexity of multiple and interacting work and nonwork factors defining the health of working people over their life course. We challenge the prevailing paradigm by proposing to expand it from narrow work-related exposures and associated monocausal frameworks to the holistic study of work and population health grounded in complexity and exposome sciences. Health challenges of working people are determined by, embedded in, and/or operate as complex systems comprised of multilayered and interdependent components. One can identify many potentially causal factors as sufficient and component causes where removal of one or more of these can impact disease progression. We, therefore, cannot effectively study them by an a priori determination of a set of components and/or properties to be examined separately and then recombine partial approaches, attempting to form a picture of the whole. Instead, we must examine these challenges as wholes from the start, with an emphasis on interactions among their multifactorial components and their emergent properties. Despite various challenges, working-life-exposome-grounded frameworks and associated innovations have the potential to accomplish that. CONCLUSIONS This emerging paradigm shift can move empirical work-health-safety-well-being research to cutting-edge science and enable more impactful policies and actions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sevil Sönmez
- University of Central Florida College of Business, Orlando, Florida, USA.
| | - Matthew S Thiese
- Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah School of Medicine and Weber State University, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lazaros K Gallos
- DIMACS, Center for Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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8
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Nacher M, Basurko C, Douine M, Lambert Y, Rousseau C, Michaud C, Garlantezec R, Adenis A, Gomes MM, Alsibai KD, Sabbah N, Lambert V, Epelboin L, Sukul RG, Terlutter F, Janvier C, Hcini N. Contrasted life trajectories: reconstituting the main population exposomes in French Guiana. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1247310. [PMID: 38274531 PMCID: PMC10808558 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1247310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In French Guiana, life expectancy is between 2 and 3 years below that of France, reflecting differences in mortality rates that are largely sensitive to primary healthcare and thus preventable. However, because poverty affects half of the population in French Guiana, global measurements of life expectancy presumably conflate at least two distinct situations: persons who have similar life expectancies as in mainland France and persons living in precariousness who have far greater mortality rates than their wealthier counterparts. We thus aimed to synthesize what is known about statistical regularities regarding exposures and sketch typical French Guiana exposomes in relation to health outcomes. We conducted a narrative review on common exposures in French Guiana and made comparisons between French Guiana and mainland France, between rich and poor in French Guiana, and between urban and rural areas within French Guiana. The most striking fact this panorama shows is that being a fetus or a young child in French Guiana is fraught with multiple threats. In French Guiana, poverty and poor pregnancy follow-up; renouncing healthcare; wide variety of infectious diseases; very high prevalence of food insecurity; psychosocial stress; micronutrient deficiencies; obesity and metabolic problems; and frequent exposure to lead and mercury in rural areas constitute a stunningly challenging exposome for a new human being to develop into. A substantial part of the population's health is hence affected by poverty and its sources of nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Nacher
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Célia Basurko
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Maylis Douine
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Yann Lambert
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Cyril Rousseau
- Centres délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins, Centre hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Celine Michaud
- Centres délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins, Centre hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Ronan Garlantezec
- Épidémiologie et science de l’exposition en santé-environnement (Elixir), Institut de Recherche en Santé Environnement et Travail (IRSET), Rennes, France
- Santé publique et épidémiologie, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Antoine Adenis
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | | | - Kinan Drak Alsibai
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Centre de Ressources Biologiques Amazonie, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Nadia Sabbah
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Service d’endocrinologie diabétologie, Centre hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Véronique Lambert
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Western French Guiana Hospital, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana
| | - Loïc Epelboin
- CIC INSERM, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | | | - Fredrik Terlutter
- Western French Guiana Hospital, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana
| | - Caroline Janvier
- Service de Psychiatrie, Centre hospitalier de Cayenne, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Najeh Hcini
- Amazonian Infrastructures for Population Health, Cayenne, French Guiana
- Western French Guiana Hospital, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana
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Persson Waye K, Löve J, Lercher P, Dzhambov AM, Klatte M, Schreckenberg D, Belke C, Leist L, Ristovska G, Jeram S, Kanninen KM, Selander J, Arat A, Lachmann T, Clark C, Botteldooren D, White K, Julvez J, Foraster M, Kaprio J, Bolte G, Psyllidis A, Gulliver J, Boshuizen H, Bozzon A, Fels J, Hornikx M, van den Hazel P, Weber M, Brambilla M, Braat-Eggen E, Van Kamp I, Vincens N. Adopting a child perspective for exposome research on mental health and cognitive development - Conceptualisation and opportunities. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117279. [PMID: 37778607 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Mental disorders among children and adolescents pose a significant global challenge. The exposome framework covering the totality of internal, social and physical exposures over a lifetime provides opportunities to better understand the causes of and processes related to mental health, and cognitive functioning. The paper presents a conceptual framework on exposome, mental health, and cognitive development in children and adolescents, with potential mediating pathways, providing a possibility for interventions along the life course. The paper underscores the significance of adopting a child perspective to the exposome, acknowledging children's specific vulnerability, including differential exposures, susceptibility of effects and capacity to respond; their susceptibility during development and growth, highlighting neurodevelopmental processes from conception to young adulthood that are highly sensitive to external exposures. Further, critical periods when exposures may have significant effects on a child's development and future health are addressed. The paper stresses that children's behaviour, physiology, activity pattern and place for activities make them differently vulnerable to environmental pollutants, and calls for child-specific assessment methods, currently lacking within today's health frameworks. The importance of understanding the interplay between structure and agency is emphasized, where agency is guided by social structures and practices and vice-versa. An intersectional approach that acknowledges the interplay of social and physical exposures as well as a global and rural perspective on exposome is further pointed out. To advance the exposome field, interdisciplinary efforts that involve multiple scientific disciplines are crucial. By adopting a child perspective and incorporating an exposome approach, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of how exposures impact children's mental health and cognitive development leading to better outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Persson Waye
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Jesper Löve
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Lercher
- Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Research Group "Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment", SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Klatte
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Dirk Schreckenberg
- Centre for Applied Psychology, Environmental and Social Research (Zeus GmbH), Hagen, Germany
| | - Christin Belke
- Centre for Applied Psychology, Environmental and Social Research (Zeus GmbH), Hagen, Germany
| | - Larisa Leist
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Gordana Ristovska
- Institute of Public Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, Skopje, Macedonia
| | - Sonja Jeram
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja M Kanninen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jenny Selander
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arzu Arat
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Lachmann
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany; Centro de Investigación Nebrija en Cognición (CINC), Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | - Charlotte Clark
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dick Botteldooren
- Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kim White
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands
| | - Jordi Julvez
- Institut D'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience Group (NeuroÈpia), Reus, Spain
| | | | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland and Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gabriele Bolte
- Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Achilleas Psyllidis
- Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - John Gulliver
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability & School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Hendriek Boshuizen
- Department for Statistics, Datascience and Mathematical Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Bozzon
- Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Janina Fels
- Institute for Hearing Technology and Acoustics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maarten Hornikx
- Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Peter van den Hazel
- International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety, Ellecom, the Netherlands
| | | | - Marco Brambilla
- Data Science Laboratory, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Irene Van Kamp
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands
| | - Natalia Vincens
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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10
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Angelucci A, Canali S, Aliverti A. Digital technologies for step counting: between promises of reliability and risks of reductionism. Front Digit Health 2023; 5:1330189. [PMID: 38152629 PMCID: PMC10751316 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1330189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Step counting is among the fundamental features of wearable technology, as it grounds several uses of wearables in biomedical research and clinical care, is at the center of emerging public health interventions and recommendations, and is gaining increasing scientific and political importance. This paper provides a perspective of step counting in wearable technology, identifying some limitations to the ways in which wearable technology measures steps and indicating caution in current uses of step counting as a proxy for physical activity. Based on an overview of the current state of the art of technologies and approaches to step counting in digital wearable technologies, we discuss limitations that are methodological as well as epistemic and ethical-limitations to the use of step counting as a basis to build scientific knowledge on physical activity (epistemic limitations) as well as limitations to the accessibility and representativity of these tools (ethical limitations). As such, using step counting as a proxy for physical activity should be considered a form of reductionism. This is not per se problematic, but there is a need for critical appreciation and awareness of the limitations of reductionistic approaches. Perspective research should focus on holistic approaches for better representation of physical activity levels and inclusivity of different user populations.
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11
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Verscheure E, Stierum R, Schlünssen V, Lund Würtz AM, Vanneste D, Kogevinas M, Harding BN, Broberg K, Zienolddiny-Narui S, Erdem JS, Das MK, Makris KC, Konstantinou C, Andrianou X, Dekkers S, Morris L, Pronk A, Godderis L, Ghosh M. Characterization of the internal working-life exposome using minimally and non-invasive sampling methods - a narrative review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117001. [PMID: 37683788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
During recent years, we are moving away from the 'one exposure, one disease'-approach in occupational settings and towards a more comprehensive approach, taking into account the totality of exposures during a life course by using an exposome approach. Taking an exposome approach however is accompanied by many challenges, one of which, for example, relates to the collection of biological samples. Methods used for sample collection in occupational exposome studies should ideally be minimally invasive, while at the same time sensitive, and enable meaningful repeated sampling in a large population and over a longer time period. This might be hampered in specific situations e.g., people working in remote areas, during pandemics or with flexible work hours. In these situations, using self-sampling techniques might offer a solution. Therefore, our aim was to identify existing self-sampling techniques and to evaluate the applicability of these techniques in an occupational exposome context by conducting a literature review. We here present an overview of current self-sampling methodologies used to characterize the internal exposome. In addition, the use of different biological matrices was evaluated and subdivided based on their level of invasiveness and applicability in an occupational exposome context. In conclusion, this review and the overview of self-sampling techniques presented herein can serve as a guide in the design of future (occupational) exposome studies while circumventing sample collection challenges associated with exposome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Verscheure
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rob Stierum
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Lund Würtz
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Dorian Vanneste
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara N Harding
- Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Mrinal K Das
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Konstantinos C Makris
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Corina Konstantinou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Xanthi Andrianou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Susan Dekkers
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lode Godderis
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Idewe, External Service for Prevention and Protection at work, Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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12
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Salles FJ, Frydas IS, Papaioannou N, Schultz DR, Luz MS, Rogero MM, Sarigiannis DA, Olympio KPK. Occupational exposure to potentially toxic elements alters gene expression profiles in formal and informal Brazilian workers. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116835. [PMID: 37543127 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemical elements, such as toxic metals, have previously demonstrated their ability to alter gene expression in humans and other species. In this study, microarray analysis was used to compare the gene expression profiles of different occupational exposure populations: a) informal workers who perform soldering of jewelry inside their houses (n = 22) in São Paulo (SP) State; and b) formal workers from a steel company (n = 10) in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state, Brazil. Control participants were recruited from the same neighborhoods without occupational chemical exposure (n = 19 in SP and n = 8 in RJ). A total of 68 blood samples were collected and RNA was extracted and hybridized using an Agilent microarray platform. Data pre-processing, statistical and pathway analysis were performed using GeneSpring software. Different expression was detected by fold-change analysis resulting in 16 up- and 33 down-regulated genes in informal workers compared to the control group. Pathway analysis revealed genes enriched in MAPK, Toll-like receptor, and NF-kappa B signaling pathways, involved in inflammatory and immune responses. In formal workers, 20 up- and 50 down-regulated genes were found related to antimicrobial peptides, defensins, neutrophil degranulation, Fc-gamma receptor-dependent phagocytosis, and pathways associated with atherosclerosis development, which is one of the main factors involved in the progression of cardiovascular diseases. The gene IFI27 was the only one commonly differentially expressed between informal and formal workers and is known to be associated with various types of cancer. In conclusion, differences in gene expression related to occupational exposure are mainly associated with inflammation and immune response. Previous research has identified a link between inflammation and immune responses and the development of chronic diseases, suggesting that prolonged occupational exposures to potentially toxic elements in Brazilian metal workers could lead to negative health outcomes. Further analysis should be carried out to investigate its direct effects and to validate causal associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Junqueira Salles
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira Cesar, CEP 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; The Human Exposome Research Group/ Expossoma e Saúde do Trabalhador - eXsat, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, Sao Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil.
| | - Ilias S Frydas
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece.
| | - Nafsika Papaioannou
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece.
| | - Dayna R Schultz
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece.
| | - Maciel Santos Luz
- Laboratory of Metallurgical Process, Institute for Technological Research, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Macedo Rogero
- Nutritional Genomics and Inflammation Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, 01246-904 São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Dimosthenis A Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece; National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece; Environmental Health Engineering, Science, Technology and Society Department, School for Advanced Study (IUSS), Pavia, Italy.
| | - Kelly Polido Kaneshiro Olympio
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira Cesar, CEP 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; The Human Exposome Research Group/ Expossoma e Saúde do Trabalhador - eXsat, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, Sao Paulo, SP, 01246-000, Brazil.
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13
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Münzel T, Sørensen M, Hahad O, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Daiber A. The contribution of the exposome to the burden of cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2023; 20:651-669. [PMID: 37165157 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00873-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Large epidemiological and health impact assessment studies at the global scale, such as the Global Burden of Disease project, indicate that chronic non-communicable diseases, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, caused almost two-thirds of the annual global deaths in 2020. By 2030, 77% of all deaths are expected to be caused by non-communicable diseases. Although this increase is mainly due to the ageing of the general population in Western societies, other reasons include the increasing effects of soil, water, air and noise pollution on health, together with the effects of other environmental risk factors such as climate change, unhealthy city designs (including lack of green spaces), unhealthy lifestyle habits and psychosocial stress. The exposome concept was established in 2005 as a new strategy to study the effect of the environment on health. The exposome describes the harmful biochemical and metabolic changes that occur in our body owing to the totality of different environmental exposures throughout the life course, which ultimately lead to adverse health effects and premature deaths. In this Review, we describe the exposome concept with a focus on environmental physical and chemical exposures and their effects on the burden of cardiovascular disease. We discuss selected exposome studies and highlight the relevance of the exposome concept for future health research as well as preventive medicine. We also discuss the challenges and limitations of exposome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Münzel
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Omar Hahad
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), PRBB building (Mar Campus), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreas Daiber
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
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14
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Zare Jeddi M, Galea KS, Viegas S, Fantke P, Louro H, Theunis J, Govarts E, Denys S, Fillol C, Rambaud L, Kolossa-Gehring M, Santonen T, van der Voet H, Ghosh M, Costa C, Teixeira JP, Verhagen H, Duca RC, Van Nieuwenhuyse A, Jones K, Sams C, Sepai O, Tranfo G, Bakker M, Palmen N, van Klaveren J, Scheepers PTJ, Paini A, Canova C, von Goetz N, Katsonouri A, Karakitsios S, Sarigiannis DA, Bessems J, Machera K, Harrad S, Hopf NB. FAIR environmental and health registry (FAIREHR)- supporting the science to policy interface and life science research, development and innovation. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1116707. [PMID: 37342468 PMCID: PMC10278765 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1116707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The environmental impact on health is an inevitable by-product of human activity. Environmental health sciences is a multidisciplinary field addressing complex issues on how people are exposed to hazardous chemicals that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations. Exposure sciences and environmental epidemiology are becoming increasingly data-driven and their efficiency and effectiveness can significantly improve by implementing the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) principles for scientific data management and stewardship. This will enable data integration, interoperability and (re)use while also facilitating the use of new and powerful analytical tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in the benefit of public health policy, and research, development and innovation (RDI). Early research planning is critical to ensuring data is FAIR at the outset. This entails a well-informed and planned strategy concerning the identification of appropriate data and metadata to be gathered, along with established procedures for their collection, documentation, and management. Furthermore, suitable approaches must be implemented to evaluate and ensure the quality of the data. Therefore, the 'Europe Regional Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science' (ISES Europe) human biomonitoring working group (ISES Europe HBM WG) proposes the development of a FAIR Environment and health registry (FAIREHR) (hereafter FAIREHR). FAIR Environment and health registry offers preregistration of studies on exposure sciences and environmental epidemiology using HBM (as a starting point) across all areas of environmental and occupational health globally. The registry is proposed to receive a dedicated web-based interface, to be electronically searchable and to be available to all relevant data providers, users and stakeholders. Planned Human biomonitoring studies would ideally be registered before formal recruitment of study participants. The resulting FAIREHR would contain public records of metadata such as study design, data management, an audit trail of major changes to planned methods, details of when the study will be completed, and links to resulting publications and data repositories when provided by the authors. The FAIREHR would function as an integrated platform designed to cater to the needs of scientists, companies, publishers, and policymakers by providing user-friendly features. The implementation of FAIREHR is expected to yield significant benefits in terms of enabling more effective utilization of human biomonitoring (HBM) data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Karen S. Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Viegas
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henriqueta Louro
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisbon and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jan Theunis
- VITO HEALTH, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO HEALTH, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Denys
- SpF— Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Clémence Fillol
- SpF— Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- SpF— Santé Publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Saint-Maurice, France
| | | | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Manosij Ghosh
- Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carla Costa
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal and EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Teixeira
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal and EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hans Verhagen
- Nutrition Innovation Center for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Food Safety and Nutrition Consultancy, Zeist, Netherlands
| | - Radu-Corneliu Duca
- Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Kate Jones
- HSE—Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Craig Sams
- HSE—Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Division, Chilton, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Tranfo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Institute Against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Monte PorzioCatone(RM), Italy
| | - Martine Bakker
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Nicole Palmen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Jacob van Klaveren
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Paul T. J. Scheepers
- Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Cristina Canova
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Natalie von Goetz
- Federal Office of Public Health, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Spyros Karakitsios
- HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimosthenis A. Sarigiannis
- HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Complex Risk and Data Analysis Research Center, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO HEALTH, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Kyriaki Machera
- Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, Greece
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nancy B. Hopf
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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15
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Guillien A, Ghosh M, Gille T, Dumas O. The exposome concept: how has it changed our understanding of environmental causes of chronic respiratory diseases? Breathe (Sheff) 2023; 19:230044. [PMID: 37492345 PMCID: PMC10365075 DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0044-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The exposome approach can help us better understand multifactorial respiratory diseases through multidisciplinary collaboration, harmonised resources and use of sophisticated methods addressing combined exposures and longitudinal data. https://bit.ly/3Ng9MNn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Guillien
- University of Grenoble Alpes, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, French National Center for Scientific Research, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
- Both authors contributed equally
| | - Manosij Ghosh
- Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Both authors contributed equally
| | - Thomas Gille
- Inserm UMR 1272 “Hypoxia & the Lung”, UFR Santé, Médecine, Biologie Humaine (SMBH) Léonard de Vinci, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Bobigny, France
- Dept. of Physiology and Functional Explorations, Avicenne University Hospital, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Seine-Saint-Denis (HUPSSD), Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Bobigny, France
- Dept. of Physiology and Functional Explorations, Jean Verdier University Hospital, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Seine-Saint-Denis (HUPSSD), Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Bondy, France
| | - Orianne Dumas
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Univ. Paris-Sud, Inserm, Equipe d'Epidémiologie Respiratoire Intégrative, CESP, Villejuif, France
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16
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Yates DH. Physiology and Biomarkers for Surveillance of Occupational Lung Disease. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 44:349-361. [PMID: 37072024 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1766119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory surveillance is the process whereby a group of exposed workers are regularly tested (or screened) for those lung diseases which occur as a result of a specific work exposure. Surveillance is performed by assessing various measures of biological or pathological processes (or biomarkers) for change over time. These traditionally include questionnaires, lung physiological assessments (especially spirometry), and imaging. Early detection of pathological processes or disease can enable removal of a worker from a potentially harmful exposure at an early stage. In this article, we summarize the physiological biomarkers currently used for respiratory surveillance, while commenting on differences in interpretative strategies between different professional groups. We also briefly review the many new techniques which are currently being assessed for respiratory surveillance in prospective research studies and which are likely to significantly broaden and enhance this field in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah H Yates
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
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17
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Turner MC. What is next for occupational cancer epidemiology? Scand J Work Environ Health 2022; 48:591-597. [PMID: 36228312 PMCID: PMC10546614 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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18
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Schlünssen V, du Prel JB, van Tongeren M, Godderis L, Turner MC, McElvenny D. Development of Harmonized COVID-19 Occupational Questionnaires. Ann Work Expo Health 2022; 67:4-8. [PMID: 35810354 PMCID: PMC9278210 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxac044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmonized tools and approaches for data collection can help to detect similarities and differences within and between countries and support the development, implementation, and assessment of effective and consistent preventive strategies. We developed open source occupational questionnaires on COVID-19 within COVID-19 working groups in the OMEGA-NET COST action (Network on the Coordination and Harmonisation of European Occupational Cohorts, omeganetcohorts.eu), and the EU funded EPHOR project (Exposome project for health and occupational research, ephor-project.eu). We defined domains to be included in order to cover key working life aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Where possible, we selected questionnaire items and instruments from existing questionnaire resources. Both a general occupational COVID-19 questionnaire and a specific occupational COVID-19 questionnaire are available. The general occupational COVID-19 questionnaire covers key working life aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the domains: COVID-19 diagnosis and prevention, Health and demographics, Use of personal protective equipment and face covering, Health effects, Work-related effects (e.g. change in work schedule and work-life balance), Financial effects, Work-based risk factors (e.g. physical distancing, contact with COVID-19-infected persons), Psychosocial risk factors, Lifestyle risk factors, and Personal evaluation of the impact of COVID-19. For each domain, additional questions are available. The specific occupational COVID-19 questionnaire focusses on occupational risk factors and mitigating factors for SARS-CoV2 infection and COVID-19 disease and includes questions about the type of job, amount of home working, social distancing, human contact (colleagues, patients, and members of the public), commuting, and use of personal protective equipment and face coverings. The strength of this initiative is the broad working life approach to various important issues related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 disease, and potentially future pandemics. It requires further work to validate the questionnaires, and we welcome collaboration with researchers willing to do this. A limitation is the moderate number of questions for each of the domains in the general questionnaire. Only few questions on general core information like ethnicity, demographics, lifestyle factors, and general health status are included, but the OMEGA-NET questionnaires can be integrated in existing questionnaires about sociodemographic and health-related aspects. The questionnaires are freely accessible from the OMEGA-NET and the EPHOR homepages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivi Schlünssen
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +45-28992499; e-mail:
| | - Jean Baptist du Prel
- Department of Occupational Health Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School or Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lode Godderis
- Centre for Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Michelle C Turner
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Damien McElvenny
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School or Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK,Research Group, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
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19
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Descatha A, Fadel M, Sembajwe G, Peters S, Evanoff BA. Job-Exposure Matrix: A Useful Tool for Incorporating Workplace Exposure Data Into Population Health Research and Practice. FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:857316. [PMID: 38455292 PMCID: PMC10910984 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2022.857316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Workplace exposures to physical, chemical, and psychosocial factors account for a large burden of chronic diseases. Obtaining useful estimates of current and past workplace exposures is challenging, particularly in large general population studies. Job-exposure matrices (JEMs) are a useful tool for exposure assessment, particularly when no individual level exposure data are available. A JEM provides a cross-tabulation of job titles (sometimes combined with industry) and estimated exposures to workers carrying out these jobs during different time periods. The major limitation of JEMs is that they do not account for individual variation in exposures within the same job. This limitation is offset by the advantages of low cost, wide applicability, lack of bias from self-reporting, and the ability to estimate exposures based on job titles when no other exposure data exist. There is growing use of JEMs in research examining the role of workplace exposures in the development of chronic diseases, and interest in their application to public health practice. This paper provides a scoping review of JEM use, some examples of JEMs, and brief guidance for the application of JEMs in epidemiological research. In conclusion, JEMs provide a useful tool for researchers and public health practitioners to estimate occupational exposures in large scale epidemiological studies relevant to many health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Descatha
- Univ Angers, CHU Angers, Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
- CHU Angers, Poisoning Control Center-Clinical Data Center,Angers, France
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Hofstra University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Marc Fadel
- Univ Angers, CHU Angers, Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Grace Sembajwe
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Hofstra University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Susan Peters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bradley A. Evanoff
- Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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