Manipulating Na occupation and constructing protective film of P2-Na_(0.67)Ni_(0.33)Mn_(0.67)O_(2) as long-term cycle stability cathode for sodium-ion batteries

P2-Na_(0.67)Ni_(0.33)Mn_(0.67)O_(2)(NNMO)is promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to its high specific capacity and fast Na+diffusion rate.Nonetheless,the irreversible P2-O_(2)phase transformation,Na+/vacancy ordering,and transition metal(TM)dissolution seriously damage its cycling stability and restrict its commercialization process.Herein,Na occupation manipulation and interface stabilization are proposed to strengthen the phase structure of NNMO by synergistic Zn/Ti co-doping and introducing lithium difluorophosp(LiPO_(2)F_(2))film-forming electrolyte additive.The Zn/Ti co-doping regulates the occupancy ratio of Nae/Nafat Na sites and disorganizes the Na+/vacancy ordering,resulting in a faster Na+diffusion kinetics and reversible P2-Z phase transition for P2-Na_(0.67)Ni_(0.28)Zn_(0.05)Mn_(0.62)Ti_(0.05)O_(2)(NNZMTO).Meanwhile,the LiPO_(2)F_(2)additive can form homogeneous and ultrathin cathode-electrolyte interphase(CEI)on NNZMTO surface,which can stabilize the NNZMTO-electrolyte interface to prevent TM dissolution,surface structure transformation,and micro-crack generation.Combination studies of in situ and ex situ characterizations and theoretical calculations were used to elucidate the storage mechanism of NNZMTO with Li PO_(2)F_(2)additive.As a result,the NNZMTO displays outstanding capacity retention of 94.44%after 500 cycles at 1C with 0.3 wt%Li PO_(2)F_(2),excellent rate performance of 92.5 mA h g^(-1)at 8C with 0.1 wt%Li PO_(2)F_(2),and remarkable full cell capability.This work highlights the important role of manipulating Na occupation and constructing protective film in the design of layered materials,which provides a promising direction for developing high-performance cathodes for SIBs.

Emergency physicians’ occupational risks in China

With the rapid development of emergency medicine,emergency physicians are working around the clock,[1]including additional workloads due to sudden public health emergencies and disasters.Occupational risks for emergency physicians are significantly high due to an increasing number of patients with acute and severe diseases,an increased workload.

The joint Laplace transforms for killed diffusion occupation times

The approach of Li and Zhou(2014)is adopted to find the Laplace transform of occupation time over interval(0,a)and joint occupation times over semi-infinite intervals(-∞,a)and(b,∞)for a time-homogeneous diffusion process up to an independent exponential time e_(q)for 0<a<b.The results are expressed in terms of solutions to the differential equations associated with the diffusion generator.Applying these results,we obtain explicit expressions on the Laplace transform of occupation time and joint occupation time for Brownian motion with drift.

Socio-Demographic and Occupational Aspects of HIV-HBV Co-Infection in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR): Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: HIV-HBV co-infection is a major public health problem that has not been sufficiently explored in the Central African workplace. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of HIV-HBV co-infection among people who living with HIV (PLHIV) in the infectious and tropical diseases department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de lAmiti Sino-Centrafricaine in Bangui. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021 in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department at the Amiti Sino-Centrafricaine University Hospital. It included the files of all PLHIV, which included the results of HBV serology. A standardized form was used to collect socio-demographic and professional data by documentary review. Data was analysed using Epi-Info 7 software. Means, proportions were calculated as well as Chi square witch was significant if p-value was below 0.05. Results: The study included 265 patients, 188 were women (70.1%) and 77 men (29.1%), giving a sex ratio of 0.45. Mean age was 35.8 years, higher in men (40 years) than in women (35.8 years) (p 0.0001). The age groups 25 to 34 (37.7%) and 35 to 44 (33.6%) were in the majority (71.3%). The majority of PLHIV were unemployed (57.1%), including housewives (43.0%). HBV prevalence was 14.3%, including 7.2% among the unemployed, who account for half of all co-infections. The search for associations between HIV-HBV co-infection and all socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status) and socio-professional categories showed no significant difference (p 0.05). Conclusion: PLHIV were predominantly young adults, female, and unemployed;no occupation was significantly associated with co-infection. The vast majority of co-infected people were not covered by the occupational health system (unemployed or informal sector). Urgent action is needed to improve workers access to occupational medicine in CAR.

Outcome of Nurses with Occupational Dermatitis

Background: Occupational dermatitis is considered as the second most common occupational disease. It accounts for 25% of all lost workdays. Several international studies reported a prevalence of occupational dermatitis in healthcare workers between 17% and 55%. This study aims to identify factors that affect the professional outcome of nurses suffering from occupational dermatitis. Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study concerning nurses declared having occupational dermatitis in the central region of Tunisia. A synoptic sheet related to socio-professional and administrative data was completed. A self-administered Questionnaire going over medical and occupational characteristics was completed during a direct interview. Results: The study involved forty nurses working in four public hospitals in the center of Tunisia. Only 37 workers were included in the study. A professional reclassification was introduced among 19 workers (51% of study population). Work-station adaptation was requested in 14 cases (38%). Exposure to allergens in the workplace was eliminated in 20 cases. Two study participants were transferred to other departments (5.4%) and three people retired (8.1%). A statistically significant association was found between professional reclassification and a history of allergic manifestations (p = 0.003). Similarly, a significant association was found between professional reclassification and the allergic agent (p = 0.014). Workstation layout was significantly associated with a history of allergic manifestations (p = 0.039), the palm hand location (p = 0.04), professional eviction (p Conclusion: This study identified the main factors influencing the occupational outcome of nurses suffering from occupational dermatitis. This outcome depended on a history of atopy (especially allergic rhinitis) and sensitization to allergens (thiuram mix).

Building Fe atom–cluster composite sites using a site occupation strategy to boost electrochemical oxygen reduction

The high-temperature pyrolysis process for preparing M–N–C single-atom catalyst usually results in high heterogeneity in product structure concurrently contains multiscale metal phases from single atoms(SAs),atomic clusters to nanoparticles.Therefore,understanding the interactions among these components,especially the synergistic effects between single atomic sites and cluster sites,is crucial for improving the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity of M–N–C catalysts.Accordingly,herein,we constructed a model catalyst composed of both atomically dispersed FeN4 SA sites and adjacent Fe clusters through a site occupation strategy.We found that the Fe clusters can optimize the adsorption strength of oxygen reduction intermediates on FeN4 SA sites by introducing electron-withdrawing–OH ligands and decreasing the d-band center of the Fe center.The as-developed catalyst exhibits encouraging ORR activity with halfwave potentials(E1/2)of 0.831 and 0.905 V in acidic and alkaline media,respectively.Moreover,the catalyst also represents excellent durability exceeding that of Fe–N–C SA catalyst.The practical application of Fe(Cd)–CNx catalyst is further validated by its superior activity and stability in a metalair battery device.Our work exhibits the great potential of synergistic effects between multiphase metal species for improvements of singleatom site catalysts.

The Enforcement of Occupational Safety and Health Requirements in Public and Private Sectors in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates

Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsiveness toward enforcement measures and a lack of self-regulatory approaches within companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation methods practised in Abu Dhabi with those in developed countries with established OSH regulatory bodies. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to gather primary research data. Workers from various industries in Abu Dhabi were sampled on purpose and asked to respond to questionnaires and interviews on OSH protocol awareness and implementation, and circumstances of workplace incidence. Results: The findings of this study showed that the enforcement of OSH requirements in UAE positively correlated to a reduction in the rate of work-related injury and improved business performance. The quantitative research data showed that the energy sector had the highest score (15) while the tourism sector had the lowest score (5.3) in occupational health systems and improvements in business efficiency and productivity. Implications: The outcomes of this study shed light on the importance of implementing OSH Guidelines for companies to empower their safety managers to fully enforce OSH requirements in their organisations. In conclusion, effective OSH enforcement requires cooperation between general workers and OSH managers and facilitation from business owners.

Emerging Professions:The Versatile Future of Jobs Embracing a new occupational paradigm with greater digitalization,intelligence,flexibility,and personalization

As technology continues to revolutionize industries,spawning new economic models and patterns,the internet and digital development have created a wave of new occupations and positions.Statistics show that in 2023,China’s total workforce stood at 402 million,with 84 million individuals engaged in new forms of employment.

Item-Level Analysis of the Revised Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Performance Evaluation Applied in Practice

Competency-based assessments for healthcare professionals are critical for safe and effective client outcomes. Rehabilitation clinical skill competency assessments must be validated and revised to produce safe and skilled practitioners. The revised American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) instrument measures occupational therapy student performance to determine readiness for practice. The assessment includes thirty-seven competencies that address both profession specific clinical skills and general professional behavior skills. The objective of this study was to use Rasch methods to explore the use of the revised FWPE in actual fieldwork practice and to determine the instrument’s psychometric properties when separating the item components into two distinct subdomains: General Health Professions Competences and Occupational Therapy-Specific Competencies. Internal construct validity and test reliability were analyzed using data from 149 occupational therapy students after completing their initial Level II A fieldwork clinical internship. This study examined the item difficulty hierarchy, item fit, person-fit to model, person separation index, person separation reliability coefficient, strata, ceiling and floor effect, and unidimensionality of the FWPE instrument as a whole and as two separate domains. With the exception of not meeting the criteria for unidimensionality, the full FWPE instrument and the Occupational Therapy-Specific Competencies subdomain showed acceptable item-level psychometrics for reliability and precision. While the General Health Professions Competencies subdomain showed good item-level psychometrics, it was below the criterion for reliability and only separated the sample into two strata. Results support the validity, reliability, and clinical use of the revised FWPE full instrument and the Occupational Therapy-Specific Competencies subdomain to measure entry-level clinical skill competencies in practice.

Assessment of Occupational Radiation Exposure for Radiotherapy Healthcare Workers at Kenyatta National Hospital Using Thermoluminescence Dosimeter LiF:Mg,Ti

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is the largest public referral hospital with a comprehensive cancer treatment facility in East and Central Africa. Occupational radiation monitoring is a significant technique for demonstrating compliance of radiation regulatory limits. The objective of the study was to carry out assessment of occupational radiation exposure among radiotherapy personnel at KNH using thermoluminescence dosimeter, TLD. KNH staff were monitored using dosimeter type TLD-100 made of LiF:Mg,Ti, on monthly basis. The reader system used for analysis was Harshaw 8800. The measurement established the average monthly accumulated occupational personnel dose for KNH to be 0.21 mSv and 0.29 mSv for Hp (10) and Hp (0.07) respectively. The accumulated dose results were within the maximum acceptable dose of 1.67 mSv/month and 41.6 mSv/month for Hp (10) and Hp (0.07) respectively. The investigation results were higher than the acceptable public limit of 0.08 mSv/month. Moreover, incidences were noted where the fetus dose limit 0.42 was also exceeded. Evaluation of statistical dose exposure among doctors, nurses and radiographers’ measurement results were within ±0.02 mSv. The study established the average KNH occupational radiation exposure levels for both Hp (10) and Hp (0.07) were within the ICRU recommendation, validating radiation protection safe practice. Data analysis of healthcare workers did not indicate exposure trend biased to any healthcare profession. Hence radiation risk cut across all professional categories. It is recommended that Radiation Monitoring program be reviewed to include non-clinical staff who access the facility. Radiation reporting should not be limited to one facility, but reflect cases where workers are involved in multiple multiple jobs.

Application Value of Early Comprehensive Rehabilitation Nursing in Patients with Occupational Asthma

Background Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to asthma-causing substances in an occupational setting. Its incidence is closely related to the degree of industrial development, but also related to the nature of asthma. In some specific industries, such as workers who are exposed to asthmatic isocyanates for a long time, the incidence of occupational asthma can reach 5%-10%, and the incidence of occupational asthma can even reach 50% or higher among workers engaged in the detergent industry who are in contact with proteolytic enzymes for a long time. Objective To analyze the clinical value of early comprehensive rehabilitation nursing for patients with occupational asthma, methods a total of 48 patients with occupational asthma who were admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were divided into control group and study group by random number table method The disappearance time of chest tightness and shortness of breath, the disappearance time of wheezing and cough, and the FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) indexes before and after treatment were compared between the two groups after nursing, the disappearance time of clinical symptoms in the study group was shorter than that in the control group, and the levels of FEV1, FVC and PEF were higher than those in the control group, and the P < 0.05 was significantly improved.

The Moderating Effect of Organizational Identification on Occupational Stress and Insomnia Among Nurses

Objective:To explore the relationship between organizational identification,occupational stress,and insomnia among nurses and to analyze the moderating role of organizational identification between occupational stress and insomnia.Methods:Through stratified sampling,720 nurses working in a tertiary A-level hospital in Shandong Province from March to May 2021 were surveyed using an effort-reward imbalance questionnaire,an organizational identification questionnaire,and the Athens Insomnia scale.Results:Organizational identification was negatively correlated with occupational stress and insomnia(r_(1)=-0.121,P_(1)<0.01;r_(2)=-0.144,P_(2)<0.01).Occupational stress was positively correlated with insomnia(r=0.379,P<0.01).Organizational identity significantly moderated nurses’occupational stress and insomnia(β=-0.192,t=-2.558,P<0.05).Conclusion:Occupational stress and organizational identification can predict insomnia.Organizational identification could negatively mediate the relationship between occupational stress and insomnia.Improving organizational identification may help alleviate insomnia symptoms by relieving occupational stress.

Prevalence of Occupational Injury and Knowledge of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Accessibility among Healthcare Workers in Mogadishu, Somalia

Introduction: Healthcare workers in Mogadishu, Somalia face significant occupational injury risks, particularly needle stick injuries, with 61.1% reporting incidents. This poses a serious threat to their health, leading to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Despite the high prevalence of injuries, awareness of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility is relatively high, with 84.0% of respondents aware of it. However, there are gaps in knowledge and implementation, as evidenced by variations in availability of PEP. Improving workplace safety measures, providing comprehensive training on injury prevention and PEP protocols, and ensuring consistent availability of PEP in healthcare facilities are crucial steps to safeguard the well-being of healthcare workers in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among hospital workers in Mogadishu, Somalia, focusing on professionals from various healthcare facilities. The study targeted nurses, doctors, laboratory personnel, and pharmacists. Purposive sampling was employed, resulting in a sample size of 383 calculated using Fisher’s sample size formula. Data were collected using coded questionnaires entered into Microsoft Excel 2019 and analyzed with SPSS software to generate frequencies and proportions, presented through frequency tables and pie figures. Results: The study in Mogadishu, Somalia, examined the prevalence of occupational injuries and knowledge of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility among healthcare workers. Findings indicate a high prevalence of injuries, with 61.1% reporting incidents, predominantly needle stick injuries (60.6%). Despite the majority seeking prompt medical attention (72.0%), work-related illnesses affected 53.2% of respondents, notably work-related stress (59.5%). While most received training on injury and illness prevention (68.9%), gaps exist in PEP awareness, with 16.0% unaware of it. Nonetheless, 84.0% were aware, predominantly through health facilities (52.0%). Availability of PEP was reported by 71.3% in healthcare facilities, with variations in shift availability. The majority reported guidelines for PEP use (55.7%). Efforts are needed to bolster PEP awareness and ensure consistent availability in healthcare facilities to safeguard worker health. Conclusion: High prevalence of occupational injuries among healthcare workers, with needle stick injuries being the most common (60.6%). Despite this, 84.0% of respondents were aware of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), primarily learning about it from health facilities (52.0%). While 71.3% reported the availability of PEP in their facility, 28.7% noted its unavailability. These results emphasize the need for improved education and accessibility of PEP to mitigate occupational injury risks.

Evaluation of Digits-in-Noise Test and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults Screening in Patients with Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Objective:To explore the clinical evaluation role of the Digits-in-Noise(DIN)test and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults Screening(HHIA-S)for patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss and to observe and analyze their application values.Methods:Fifty patients with suspected occupational noise-induced hearing loss were randomly selected from the Department of Otolaryngology at the hospital as the research target.The collection period for the research cases spanned from January 2022 to November 2023,and all patients had a history of noise exposure.The DIN test and HHIA-S were used for hearing examinations,with clinical,comprehensive diagnosis serving as the gold standard to study their diagnostic performance.Results:The compliance rate of the DIN test was 88.00%,the HHIA-S’s compliance rate was 80.00%,and the combined compliance rate was 94.00%.The compliance rate of the DIN test and the combined compliance rates of the patients were statistically significant compared to the clinical gold standard data(P<0.05),while there was no difference between the compliance rate of the HHIA-S and the gold standard(P>0.05).The data shows that the sensitivity of the combined diagnosis is significantly higher than the sensitivity data of the DIN test and HHIA-S examination alone(P<0.05).Its specificity is 100.00%,and the accuracy data of the joint diagnosis in the degree were higher than those of the DIN test alone(P>0.05)and the HHIA-S alone(P<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss,the joint evaluation of the DIN test and HHIA-S can significantly improve their diagnostic value with high sensitivity and accuracy.

基于注意力机制和Mogrifier LSTNet的道路交通占有率预测

提出一种改进的LSTNet深度学习框架用于交通占有率数据预测。采用不同大小的卷积核来捕捉时间序列数据中不同时间范围内的模式和趋势,并融合CBAM注意力机制可以在通道维度和空间维度上自适应地调整特征的权重。通过引入Mogrifier机制多次迭代交替更新LSTM的输入门和遗忘门的权重,以更好地捕捉序列数据中的长期依赖关系。而AR模型充分考虑了数据集的自相关性帮助模型更好地理解历史信息。实验结果表明,提出的模型相对绝对值误差为0.3497,明显优于其他模型,能够有效提高交通占有率的准确预测。

Downregulation of Serum PTEN Expression in Mercury-Exposed Population and PI3K/AKT Pathway-Induced Inflammation

Objective This study investigated the impact of occupational mercury(Hg) exposure on human gene transcription and expression, and its potential biological mechanisms.Methods Differentially expressed genes related to Hg exposure were identified and validated using gene expression microarray analysis and extended validation. Hg-exposed cell models and PTEN lowexpression models were established in vitro using 293T cells. PTEN gene expression was assessed using qRT-PCR, and Western blotting was used to measure PTEN, AKT, and PI3K protein levels. IL-6 expression was determined by ELISA.Results Combined findings from gene expression microarray analysis, bioinformatics, and population expansion validation indicated significant downregulation of the PTEN gene in the high-concentration Hg exposure group. In the Hg-exposed cell model(25 and 10 μmol/L), a significant decrease in PTEN expression was observed, accompanied by a significant increase in PI3K, AKT, and IL-6 expression.Similarly, a low-expression cell model demonstrated that PTEN gene knockdown led to a significant decrease in PTEN protein expression and a substantial increase in PI3K, AKT, and IL-6 levels.Conclusion This is the first study to report that Hg exposure downregulates the PTEN gene, activates the PI3K/AKT regulatory pathway, and increases the expression of inflammatory factors, ultimately resulting in kidney inflammation.

Epidemiology of work-related hand and wrist injuries in a referral center: A descriptive study

BACKGROUND Occupational hand and wrist injuries(OHWIs)account for 25%of work-related accidents in low-and middle-income countries.In Colombia,more than 500000 occupational accidents occurred in 2021,and although the rate declined to less than 5%in 2020 and 2021,at least one in four accidents involved a hand or wrist injury.AIM To describe the OHWIs in workers seen at the emergency room at a second-level hospital in Colombia.METHODS An observational study was performed using data from workers who experienced OHWIs and attended a second-level hospital,between June,2020 and May,2021.The overall frequency of OHWIs,as well as their distribution by sociodemo-graphic,clinical,and occupational variables,are described.Furthermore,association patterns between sex,anatomical area(fingers,hand,wrist),and type of job were analyzed by correspondence analysis(CA).RESULTS There were 2.101 workers treated for occupational accidents,423(20.3%)were cases of OHWIs,which mainly affected men(93.9%)with a median age of 31 years and who worked mainly in mining(75.9%).OHWIs were more common in the right upper extremity(55.3%)and comprised different types of injuries,such as contusion(42.1%),laceration(27.9%),fracture(18.7%),and crush injury(15.6%).They primarily affected the phalanges(95.2%),especially those of the first finger(25.7%).The CAs showed associations between the injured anatomical area and the worker’s job that differed in men and women(explained variance>90%).CONCLUSION One out of five workers who suffered occupational accidents in Cundinamarca,Columbia had an OHWI,affecting mainly males employed in mining.This occupational profile is likely to lead to prolonged rehabilitation,and permanent functional limitations.Our results might be useful for adjusting preventive measures in cluster risk groups.

Beyond Stitches: Analysis of Disease Burden in a Bangladeshi RMG Factory

Introduction: Bangladesh has experienced remarkable growth in RMG over the past 25 years. With the knitwear industry providing more than 4 million direct jobs, providing better occupational health and safety of workers remains a challenge. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to analyze the disease burden of a RMG factory, and to highlight occupational health risks. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed for this analysis. A 17-month data entry (January 2020 - May 2021) was gathered from the factory in-house clinic. The socio-demographic and clinical diagnosis entries of 8421 entries were analyzed. Result: The population of the factory workers is 5370, where 40% (2148) are female workers and 60% (3222) are male workers. The mean age of respondents is 30 years, with a SD of ±7 years. Among the chief complaints, the most common was vomiting (14%;2262) fever (14%;2247), runny nose (11%;1842), cough (9%;1465), and loose motion (8%;1364). In the diagnosis categories, gastrointestinal diseases were more predominantly diagnosed (35%;2978), followed by viral fever (21%;1772), neurological diseases (16.5%;1389) and musculoskeletal disorders (9%;768). The average cost of medicine for each respondent is BDT 36. The factory covered costs of all medication for 99% (8380) of respondents. Only 0.5% (37) was referred to a tertiary hospital for further evaluation. Conclusion: Garments workers suffer mostly from long-term occupational health hazards. Factory owners and policy makers can contribute in various ways to improving primary healthcare options for workers.

A Comparison of Airborne Formaldehyde Field Measurements Collected in an Anatomic Pathology Laboratory

Environmental monitoring of airborne formaldehyde (FA) using sensitive methodologies is fundamental to prevent health risks. The objective of this study was to compare three different FA monitoring methods during the daily activities of an anatomic pathology laboratory. Daily eight-hour measurements deriving from Radiello® passive diffusive samplers (PDS), NEMo XT continuous optical sensor (COS), and multi-gas 1512 photoacoustic monitor (MPM) were simultaneously compared over a period of 14 working days. Given the different daily distributions of the measurements performed by the three devices, all measurements were time-aligned for comparison purposes. The 95% limit of agreement (LOA) method was applied to estimate the degree of concordance of each device with respect to the others. Formaldehyde arithmetic mean measured using PDS was 32.6 ± 10.4 ppb (range: 19.8 - 62.7). The simultaneous measures performed by COS and MPM were respectively 42.4 ± 44.8 ppb (range: 7.0 - 175.0) and 189.0 ± 163.7 ppb (range: 40.0 - 2895.4). The MPM geometric mean (171.3 ppb) was approximately five times higher than those derived from COS (32.3 ppb) and PDS (31.4 ppb). The results of the LOA method applied to log-transformed FA data showed the same systematic discrepancies between MPM and the other two devices. A good agreement between PDS and COS could lead to a tailored approach according to the individual specificity of these techniques. This tool may be useful for accurately assessing the risk of FA exposure among healthcare workers. However, the limited specificity of the MPM does not support its use as a monitoring method for FA in the workplace.

Prevalence of Work-Aggravated Asthma among Bakery Workers in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associated factors among bakery workers in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four (4) months from 18 December 2019 to 18 April 2020. Two questionnaires were used, one on employees and the other on the indoor environment of bakeries. In addition, a spirometry test was performed on all bakery workers. Statistical analysis was performed using stata 15.1 software. Results: A total of 599 bakery employees, including bakers (59.73%), sales assistants/ cashiers (23.52%), cleaners (6.34%) and administrative staff (10.18%), were investigated. The mean age was 30.8 ± 8 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) = 2.2. Asthma symptoms were found in 95 (15.86%) employees, of whom 74 (77.9%) had work-related asthma and 11 (14.9%) had asthma aggravated by work. The factors associated with work-aggravated asthma were personal or family history of allergy or atopy [ORa = 3.75;CI95%: 1.56 - 8.93;p = 0.003], exposure to dust [ORa = 5.01;CI95%: 1.43 - 7.50;p = 0.011] and humidity level (60% - 70%) [ORa = 1.80;CI 95%: 0.99 - 3.28;p = 0.05]. Conclusion: Work-aggravated asthma is a reality in bakeries in Abidjan, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9%. Two of the three factors associated with this condition suggest a link with indoor air pollution. Combating air pollution in these establishments must therefore be a priority for the relevant authorities, in order to provide employees with a working environment that protects their health.