Search Results (280)

Particulate atmospheric pollution poses a global threat to human health. Metals enter the body through inhalation attached to these particles. Certain vulnerable groups are more susceptible to toxicity because of age, physiological changes, and chronic and metabolic diseases and also workers because of high and cumulative exposure to metals. A narrative review was conducted to examine the effects of key metals—arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, manganese, nickel, vanadium, and zinc—on vulnerable populations, analyzing articles published over the past decade. Some of these metals are essential for humans; however, excessive levels are toxic. Other non-essential metals are highly toxic. Shared mechanisms of toxicity include competing with other minerals, oxidative stress and inflammation, and interacting with proteins and enzymes. Prenatal and childhood exposures are particularly concerning because they can interfere with neurodevelopment and have been associated with epigenetic changes that have long-term effects. Occupational exposure has been studied, but current exposure limits for specific metals appear dangerous, emphasizing the need to revise these standards. Older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with metabolic diseases are among the least studied groups in this review, underscoring the need for more research to understand these populations better and create effective public health policies. Full article

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is increasingly understood as a precision-oriented neuromodulation therapy capable of influencing distributed basal ganglia–thalamo–cortical and cerebellothalamic networks. Although its symptomatic benefits in Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia are well established, the extent to which DBS supports motor learning, adaptive plasticity, and participation in rehabilitation remains insufficiently defined. Traditional interpretations of DBS as a focal or lesion-like intervention are being challenged by electrophysiological and imaging evidence demonstrating multiscale modulation of circuit dynamics. Objectives and methods: DBS may enhance rehabilitation outcomes by stabilizing pathological oscillations and reducing moment-to-moment variability in motor performance, thereby enabling more consistent task execution and more effective physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech–language interventions. However, direct comparative evidence demonstrating additive or synergistic effects of DBS combined with rehabilitation remains limited. As a result, this potential is not fully realized in clinical practice due to interindividual variability, limited insight into how individual circuit architecture shapes therapeutic response, and the limited specificity of current connectomic biomarkers for predicting functional gains. Results: Technological advances such as tractography-guided targeting, directional leads, sensing-enabled devices, and adaptive stimulation are expanding opportunities to align neuromodulation with individualized circuit dysfunction. Despite these developments, major conceptual and empirical gaps persist. Few controlled studies directly compare outcomes with versus without structured rehabilitation following DBS. Heterogeneity in therapeutic response and rehabilitation access further complicates the interpretation of outcomes. Clarifying these relationships is essential for developing precision-informed frameworks that integrate DBS with rehabilitative strategies, recognizing that current connectomic and physiological biomarkers remain incompletely validated for predicting functional outcomes. Conclusions: This review synthesizes mechanistic, imaging, and technological evidence to outline a network-informed perspective of DBS as a potential facilitator of rehabilitation-driven functional improvement and identifies priorities for future research aimed at optimizing durable functional restoration. Full article

In this study, for the first time urinary NMR-based metabolomics was applied to investigate the physiological alterations associated with occupational exposure in ceramic manufacturing workers. Multivariate analysis revealed a distinctive metabolic signature with exposure, characterized by a depletion of both aliphatic and aromatic amino acids and a concomitant accumulation of branched-chain amino acid catabolites. Alterations in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, including citrate and succinate, suggest an involvement of mitochondrial energy metabolism, reflecting adaptive responses to oxidative stress and increased protein turnover. Notably, glycine levels were found increased, consistent with its central role in antioxidant defense and xenobiotic detoxification. Furthermore, changes in urinary host–microbiome co-metabolites, such as 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and phenylacetylglycine, indicate the potential modulation of gut microbial activity in response to occupational exposure. While limited by the small cohort, this study demonstrates the feasibility of NMR-based urinary metabolomics for the non-invasive biomonitoring of workers and suggests its potential as a useful tool for detecting subtle metabolic perturbations associated with complex occupational exposures. Full article

Repeated exposure to low-level blast overpressure (BOP) during controlled detonations is an emerging occupational health concern for military breachers and Special Operations Forces personnel, given accumulating evidence that chronic exposure may produce subtle, subclinical neurotrauma. This study derived a latent neuroinjury construct integrating three complementary domains of brain health—post-concussive symptoms, working-memory performance, and circulating biomarkers—to determine whether breachers exhibit coherent patterns of neurobiological alteration. Symptom severity was assessed using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ), and working memory was assessed with the N-Back task and a panel of thirteen neuroproteomic biomarkers was measured reflecting astroglial activation, neuronal and axonal injury, oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and neurotrophic regulation. Experienced Canadian Armed Forces breachers with extensive occupational BOP exposure were compared with unexposed controls. Bayesian latent-variable modeling provided probabilistic evidence for a chronic, subclinical neurobiological signal, with the strongest contributions arising from self-reported symptoms and smaller but consistent contributions from the biomarker domain. Working-memory performance did not load substantively on the latent factor. Several RPQ items and circulating biomarkers showed robust loadings, and the latent neuroinjury factor was elevated in breachers relative to controls (97% posterior probability). The pattern is broadly consistent with subclinical neurobiological stress in the absence of measurable cognitive impairment, suggesting early or compensated physiological alterations rather than overt dysfunction. This multidomain, biomarker-informed framework provides a mechanistically grounded and scalable approach for identifying subtle neurobiological strain in military personnel routinely exposed to repetitive low-level blast. It may offer value for risk stratification, operational health surveillance, and the longitudinal monitoring of neurobiological change in high-risk occupations. Full article

Accurate interpretation of multimodal wearable data remains challenging in occupational environments due to heterogeneous sensing modalities, motion artifacts, and dynamic work conditions. This study proposes and validates an adaptive multimodal clustering framework for occupational health monitoring. The framework jointly models physiological, activity, and location data from 24 highway-maintenance workers, incorporating a silhouette-guided feature-weighting mechanism, multi-scale temporal change-point detection, and KDE-based spatial analysis. Specifically, the analysis identified three distinct and interpretable behavioral–physiological states that exhibit significant physiological differences (p < 0.001). Notably, it reveals a predominant yet heterogeneous baseline state alongside acute high-intensity and episodic surge states, offering a nuanced view of occupational risk beyond single-modality thresholds. The integrated framework provides a principled analytical workflow for spatiotemporal health risk assessment in field settings, particularly for vibration-intensive work scenarios, while highlighting the complementary role of physiological indicators in low- or static-motion tasks. This framework is particularly effective for vibration-intensive tasks involving powered tools. However, to mitigate potential biases in detecting static heavy-load activities with limited wrist motion (e.g., lifting or carrying), future extensions should incorporate complementary weighting of physiological indicators such as heart rate variability. Full article

Stress is a pervasive global health concern that adversely contributes to morbidity and reduced productivity, yet it often remains unquantified due to its subjective and variant presentation. Although artificial intelligence offers an encouraging path toward automated monitoring of mental states, current state-of-the-art approaches are challenged by the reliance on single-source data, sparsity of labeled samples, and significant class imbalance. This paper proposes NeuroStrainSense, a novel deep multimodal stress detection model that integrates three complementary datasets—WESAD, SWELL-KW, and TILES—through a Transformer-based feature fusion architecture combined with a Variational Autoencoder for generative data augmentation. The Transformer architecture employs four encoder layers with eight multi-head attention heads and a hidden dimension of 512 to capture complex inter-modal dependencies across physiological, audio, and behavioral modalities. Our experiments demonstrate that NeuroStrainSense achieves a state-of-the-art performance with accuracies of 87.1%, 88.5%, and 89.8% on the respective datasets, with F1-scores exceeding 0.85 and AUCs greater than 0.89, representing improvements of 2.6–6.6 percentage points over existing baselines. We propose a robust evaluation framework that quantifies discrimination among stress types through clustering validity metrics, achieving a Silhouette Score of 0.75 and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.76. Comprehensive ablation experiments confirm the utility of each modality and the VAE augmentation module, with physiological features contributing most significantly (average performance decrease of 5.8% when removed), followed by audio (2.8%) and behavioral features (2.1%). Statistical validation confirms all findings at the p < 0.01 significance level. Beyond binary classification, the model identifies five clinically relevant stress profiles—Cognitive Overload, Burnout, Acute Stress, Psychosomatic, and Low-Grade Chronic—with an expert concordance of Cohen’s κ = 0.71 (p < 0.001), demonstrating the strong ecological validity for personalized well-being and occupational health applications. External validation on the MIT Reality Mining dataset confirms the generalizability with minimal performance degradation (accuracy: 0.785, F1-score: 0.752, AUC: 0.849). This work underlines the potential of integrated multimodal learning and demographically aware generative AI for continuous, precise, and fair stress monitoring across diverse populations and environmental contexts. Full article

Background: Climate change is intensifying extreme heat exposure in Mediterranean agricultural systems. Migrant workers engaged in outdoor fieldwork are a highly vulnerable population with limited access to resources. Crucially, there is a notable lack of data on how heat affects these workers in this specific region. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the physiological effects of high-temperature exposure by quantifying and correlating indirect indicators of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (sodium and potassium losses, sweat, body weight, and blood pressure). Methods: An observational study was conducted over nine consecutive days involving ten agricultural participants, yielding 90 observations. Measurements of body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweat loss, and sodium and potassium concentrations were taken before, during, and after daily field activity. Results: Results showed considerable interindividual variability in thermophysiological responses. Participants lost an average of 0.8 kg (range –9.1 to +3.6 kg) and produced 3.91 L of sweat (range 1.9–6.4 L), with sodium and potassium losses of 4932 mg and 646 mg, respectively. Sweat loss correlated with sodium (r = 0.414, p = 0.001) and potassium (r = 0.791, p < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure was moderately associated with weight loss (r = 0.576, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Sweat loss was the main driver of electrolyte depletion, with marked interindividual variability. Monitoring sweat-related indicators and diastolic blood pressure could help detect dehydration risk in agricultural workers exposed to extreme heat. Targeted hydration strategies and occupational health education are essential to mitigate these risks. Full article

Women in mining face unique health and safety challenges due to anatomical and physiological differences, making the assessment and management of ergonomic risks in underground coal mines critical. This study examines the ergonomic experiences of female mineworkers through six focus-group discussions, each comprising eight participants, using a qualitative research design involving women actively engaged in core mining activities at three South African mines. Findings reveal that mining equipment and work environments often fail to accommodate the physiological needs of female workers, exposing them to a range of ergonomic hazards. Beyond physical risks, the study highlights organizational and systemic shortcomings, including inadequate implementation of existing policies and regulations. Poor hygiene in toilet facilities was also reported, with three out of eight participants taking medication for urinary tract infections, underscoring gaps in occupational health provision. The findings emphasize the urgent need for mine-specific ergonomic programs developed through participatory approaches, as part of a broader strategy to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and improve working conditions for female mineworkers. The establishment of the Women in Mining Forum further indicates that the industry is not yet fully prepared to support women in underground mining, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to create a safer, more inclusive work environment. Full article

Interior space quality in certified office buildings is key in supporting the health and well-being of occupants. Daylight, which regulates the human circadian rhythm and affects physiological processes and productivity, is crucial. This study’s objective was to determine how a building’s architecture and selected elements of its interior such as partitions and finishing material parameters affect sunlight distribution in workspaces and its biological effectiveness, as measured using Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML). The environment’s impact on the non-visual potential of a space was also assessed (in relation to the M/P ratio). To achieve these objectives, we used a 3D model of an office building floor to simulate natural lighting in various configurations, for a cool temperate climate using Solemma’s ALFA 2025 software. This research was conducted using simulations only, with no in situ measurements. The study assessed melanopic light intensity for specific zones and workstation groups. The impact of ceiling colors and the five colors given to partitions of different heights located between desks was also determined. The study evaluated the relationship between photopic and melanopic intensity and found that, as the height of the partitions increased, especially with cloudy skies, the importance of these planes’ colors increased. Blues had a positive effect on the space’s non-visual potential, while oranges showed significant decreases in EML relative to lux, by up to 25%. This research underscores the importance of light’s non-visual impact and the consideration of these aspects at every design stage, especially interior design, to provide a comfortable work environment and its long-term benefits. We also proposed natural light exposition optimization strategies that can support proper circadian rhythm. Full article

Occupational demands, such as load carriage in tactical professions, do not discriminate based on sex. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in metabolic cost of a loaded pack march between the sexes in both absolute and relative terms. Twelve Army personnel (six males and six females) volunteered to complete three identical load carriage marches (5 km at 5.5 km/h, carrying 30 kg), across flat (on road) and undulating (gravelled path) terrain as part of a larger equipment trial. Heart rate (HR) response (HR average and maximum) was monitored with a Polar Team Pro unit and oxygen consumption with VO Master Pro (VO₂ average and maximum) with the level of significance set at 0.05. There were no significant differences in age, years of experience, absolute loads carried, or completion time for each of the three events. Male soldiers were significantly taller (182.3 ± 6.2 cm vs. 167.4 ± 6.9 cm), heavier (88.2 ± 8.7 kg vs. 70.9 ± 10.6 kg), carried significantly less relative load (34.3 ± 3.4% vs. 43.2 ± 7.5%), and had significantly greater predicted VO_2max (56.7 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min vs. 45.0 ± 2.9 mL/kg/min). A linear mixed model identified a significant main effect of sex on both average HR (β = −1.10) and peak HR (β = −1.27), and on average VO₂ (β = −0.68), but not peak VO₂. While the study was not powered to detect sex differences, the large effect sizes observed suggest meaningful physiological differences warranting further investigation. Female soldiers faced significantly greater metabolic costs when carrying the same loads and moving at the same speed and across the same terrain as their male counterparts. Adequate recovery and pacing strategies should be considered for these events, especially during training. Full article

Chronic psychological stress impairs neuroendocrine balance and increases the risk of mental health disturbances, including anxiety, sleep disruption, and low mood. The gut–brain axis has emerged as a promising target for stress modulation, particularly through psychobiotic interventions. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of a combined psychobiotic formulation (Neuralli Mood), comprising live Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) and heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (HT-PS23), on the psychological and physiological stress responses in a high-stress occupational population. A total of 116 healthy participants with elevated perceived stress (PSS ≥ 14), primarily firefighters, were randomly assigned to receive the dual-strain supplement or placebo for 8 weeks. Stress-related outcomes were assessed by using validated psychological scales and serum biomarkers. Compared with placebo, the psychobiotics group showed significantly greater reductions in overall job stress perception (JSS), state anxiety (STAI), and insomnia severity (ISI) (all p < 0.05). Additionally, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and norepinephrine levels were significantly reduced post-intervention, whereas cortisol levels remained unchanged. These findings suggested that combining live and heat-treated psychobiotic strains may provide a safe and effective strategy for alleviating psychological stress and regulating neuroendocrine function in high-risk populations. Full article

Traditional centennial olive groves represent ecologically valuable agroecosystems that support both biodiversity and cultural heritage across Mediterranean landscapes. On Lesvos Island, Greece, which marks the westernmost limit of the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) distribution, these centennial olive trees serve as essential nesting resources for this regionally Vulnerable species. However, the tree-level mechanisms determining den-site suitability remain insufficiently understood. We examined 288 centennial olive trees, including 36 with confirmed dens, integrating structural, physiological, and thermal metrics to identify the attributes influencing den occupancy. Our results showed that squirrels consistently selected older and taller olives with broad crowns and high photosynthetic activity, indicating a preference for vigorous, architecturally complex trees that provide stable microclimatic conditions. Infrared thermography revealed that occupied trees exhibited lower trunk temperature asymmetries and stronger thermal buffering capacity, highlighting the role of microclimatic stability in den-site selection. Overall, our findings show that den-site selection in S. anomalus is shaped by the interplay of structural maturity, physiological performance, and thermal coherence. By linking tree function to den-site suitability, our work advances a mechanistic understanding of microhabitat selection and emphasizes the importance of centennial olive trees as biophysical refugia within traditional Mediterranean agroecosystems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lead, a toxic heavy metal, is widely recognized as a hazardous environmental contaminant capable of disrupting physiological homeostasis by altering stress response mechanisms and impairing pulmonary function. A comparable detrimental factor is tobacco smoking, which represents one of the most prevalent addictions worldwide. The presented study aimed to evaluate the combined impact of cigarette smoking and occupational lead exposure on selected oxidative stress biomarkers and pulmonary function parameters. Methods: 453 male employees working in a zinc smelter were recruited for participation in the study. Participants were subsequently divided into two groups: current smokers (n = 209) and former smokers (n = 244). Each group was then further subdivided according to blood lead concentration into subgroups with high (>35 μg/dL) and low (<35 μg/dL) lead levels. Venous blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of oxidative stress parameters, including total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein thiol content (PSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the oxidative stress index (OSI). In addition, spirometric evaluation was conducted. Results: Former smokers demonstrated significantly more favorable oxidative stress profiles and superior spirometric outcomes compared with current smokers. No statistically significant associations were observed between lead exposure levels and either biochemical or spirometric parameters. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking appears to exert a stronger adverse influence on oxidative balance and pulmonary function than occupational lead exposure. Full article

Background: Obesity and insomnia are prevalent public health issues with shared behavioral and physiological pathways. However, their interplay remains understudied in occupational cohorts. Obesity and insomnia are prevalent public health issues with shared behavioral and physiological pathways. However, their interplay remains understudied in occupational cohorts. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, and insomnia severity with multiple obesity indices in a large population of Spanish workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 84,898 workers (2021–2024). Data were obtained from annual occupational health assessments conducted across multiple Spanish regions between 2020 and 2024. Insomnia severity was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), dietary quality using the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS-14), and physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Adiposity was measured using Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), the Clínica Universidad de Navarra–Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE), and the Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations adjusted for age, sex, education, and occupational social class. Results: Higher ISI scores were significantly and independently associated with elevated adiposity across all indices, with the strongest association observed for METS-VF (odds ratio = 1.19, 95% CI 1.14–1.25, p < 0.001). Women showed higher mean CUN-BAE and METS-VF values than men (CUN-BAE: 37.4 ± 6.2 vs. 25.6 ± 6.4; p < 0.001; METS-VF: 5.7 ± 0.7 vs. 6.4 ± 0.6; p < 0.001), despite lower BMI (25.3 ± 4.8 vs. 26.8 ± 4.3; p < 0.001). Lower physical activity (OR = 5.70; 95% CI 4.91–6.50), poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR = 3.29; 95% CI 2.88–3.70), smoking (OR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.22–1.36), and lower occupational class (Class III: OR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.56–1.97) were also significantly associated with higher obesity markers. Associations were more pronounced among women and participants with severe insomnia symptoms. Conclusions: Insomnia severity, sociodemographic disadvantage, and unhealthy behaviors (low physical activity, poor diet, smoking) were all independent correlates of general and visceral adiposity. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive workplace health programs that integrate sleep quality assessment, dietary improvement, and physical activity promotion to prevent obesity and its metabolic consequences. Full article

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychological stress remain major occupational health challenges among teaching professionals in adult education, yet their interconnected causes are often underexplored. This narrative review aims to identify multifactorial risk factors that contribute to these conditions and to propose a comprehensive framework that enhances understanding of teaching professionals’ well-being. A systematic synthesis of recent epidemiological and occupational health studies was conducted to analyse both immediate and underlying determinants across human, workplace, organisational, and socioeconomic dimensions. The findings reveal that more than two-thirds of teaching professionals experience WMSDs, particularly in the neck and lower back, while psychological stress affects over seventy percent globally. The combined effects of poor ergonomics, prolonged static postures, excessive workload, and limited organisational support contribute significantly to both physical and psychological strain. Broader contextual influences such as job insecurity, insufficient institutional resources, and societal undervaluation further intensify these risks. The review identifies a reciprocal relationship between physical discomfort and psychological distress, where each condition amplifies the other through behavioural and physiological mechanisms. The proposed integrative framework establishes a foundation for targeted interventions and evidence-based policy, promoting a shift toward holistic, system-oriented approaches to occupational health for teaching professionals in professional education settings. Full article