The new scientific innovation of engineering nanoparticles (NPs) at the atomic scale (diameter<100nm) has led to numerous novel and useful wide applications in electronics, chemicals, environmental protection, medical imaging, disease diagnoses, drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, etc.. The manufactures and consumers of the nanoparticles-related industrial products, however, a...

Assessment of workplace physical exposures by self-reported questionnaires has logistical advantages in population studies, but is subject to exposure misclassification. This study measured agreement between eight self-reported and observer-rated physical exposures to the hands and wrists, and evaluated predictors of intermethod agreement. Workers (n = 341) from three occupational categories (c...

BACKGROUND We evaluated the agreement between a questionnaire and an observational checklist for exposure assessment in the setting of an upper-limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders (UWMSD) surveillance program in a population with a high level of physical exposures. METHODS A surveillance program was implemented in a large shoe factory. Physical exposures were assessed in 1996 by a sel...

Background: Occupational exposures do have a negative impact on the male reproductive system, but sometimes it is difficult to isolate a single insult. Workers can be exposed to a number of harmful physical, chemical and psychological factors in their working environment. During recent years, the various diseases and disorders caused by these stressors have drawn the attention of a number of re...

Background: Although idiopathic azoospermia is a common reason for male infertility, the known etiological factors for this disease are remarkably very little. Recent evidences suggest that some occupational physical and chemical hazards could have negative effects on reproductive function and semen quality parameters of exposed workers. This study conducted to compare demographic characteristi...

OBJECTIVES The aim was to construct and validate a gender-specific job exposure matrix (JEM) for physical exposures to be used in epidemiological studies of low back pain (LBP). MATERIALS AND METHODS We utilized two large Finnish population surveys, one to construct the JEM and another to test matrix validity. The exposure axis of the matrix included exposures relevant to LBP (heavy physical ...

BACKGROUND To prospectively evaluate associations between self-reported physical work exposures and incident carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS Newly employed workers (n = 1,107) underwent repeated nerve conduction studies (NCS), and periodic surveys on hand symptoms and physical work exposures including average daily duration of wrist bending, forearm rotation, finger pinching, using vibr...

OBJECTIVES Sleep is essential for human beings to live and work properly. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between occupational exposures to workplace risk factors and sleep disturbance in Korean workers. METHODS The data were drawn from the second Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS); a total of 7,112 paid workers were analyzed. The independent variables were occup...