Occupational Health News and Research

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Anxiety and sleep problems

People who suffer from anxiety from stressful life situations may be more likely to experience sleep disturbances for at least the first six months after the event, according to a study published in the November 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 Nov 2007

Returning to stressful jobs puts heart attack victims at risk of another attack

According to a new study heart attack survivors who return to jobs which are stressful run the risk of having another heart attack.

10 Oct 2007

Types of sleep and risk of mortality

The first study to assess the stability of three aspects of sleep behavior in relation to long-term mortality finds an increased risk of mortality in short sleep, long sleep and frequent use of medications, according to a study published in the October 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 Oct 2007

Job stress and work environment can contribute to depression

Job stress and a lack of social support in the workplace were associated with major episodes of depression in men, according to a study led by a University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry psychologist.

1 Oct 2007

Lead-based paint found in Nigerian products

A multinational team of environmental and occupational health researchers has found that consumer paints sold in Nigeria contain dangerously high levels of lead.

27 Sep 2007

New project aims to come up with a water quality standard for activities other than swimming

When health officials find the water quality is unsafe for swimming at Lake Michigan beaches, warnings are quickly posted. But those who pleasure boat, canoe, kayak or fish along the Chicago and Calumet river systems don't have the protection of environmental standards.

13 Sep 2007

Genetic susceptibility to diet-induced obesity

Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center have identified a genetically-transmitted metabolic defect that can lead to obesity in some individuals.

25 Jul 2007

Manual material handling advice and assistive devices for preventing and treating back pain in workers

Back pain is the number one cause of worker-compensation complaints, second only to the common cold in causing lost workdays.

20 Jul 2007

Genes play a large role in sour taste perception

Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center report that genes play a large role in determining individual differences in sour taste perception.

12 Jul 2007

Number one son the smart one!

Scientists in Norway have confirmed after carrying out a large study that the order people are born in within a family may influence how smart they are.

25 Jun 2007

Adjustable chairs reduce shoulder and neck pain

Adjustable-height chairs with ergonomically curved seats can significantly reduce neck and shoulder pain in garment workers, according to a new study in the April 20 issue of Spine.

24 Apr 2007

Assessing exposure to airborne nanomaterials

New methods and tools for measuring exposure to airborne engineered nanomaterials will be required to protect the health of workers in nanotechnology-related jobs, estimated to total 10 million people by 2014, according to two occupational health experts writing in the inaugural issue of the journal Nanotoxicology.

18 Apr 2007

Emerging threats demand new approach to disaster preparedness

The SARS epidemic, the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and avian influenza all underline a growing need for preparedness planning that addresses multiple hazards and coordinates all levels of government and society, said a panel of public health experts today at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C.

3 Apr 2007

Blueprint for influenza pandemic

The American Public Health Association (APHA) today released its blueprint for strengthening the nation's pandemic preparedness, amid persistent concerns about a potential influenza pandemic.

22 Feb 2007

Effects of nanotechnology on health and environment

University of Florida engineering student Maria Palazuelos is working on nanotechnology, but she's not seeking a better sunscreen, tougher golf club or other product - the focus of many engineers in the field.

30 Jan 2007

Men with increased body mass index significantly more likely to be infertile

Men with increased body mass index (BMI) were significantly more likely to be infertile than normal-weight men, according to research conducted at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

4 Sep 2006

Bipolar disorder costs twice as much in lost productivity as major depressive disorder

Bipolar disorder costs twice as much in lost productivity as major depressive disorder, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has found. Each U.S. worker with bipolar disorder averaged 65.5 lost workdays in a year, compared to 27.2 for major depression.

4 Sep 2006