Daily allergy burden and heart rate characteristics in adults with allergic rhinitis based on a wearable telemonitoring system

Background: Allergic rhinitis includes a certain degree of autonomic imbalance. However, no information is available on how daily changes in allergy burden affect autonomic imbalance. We aimed to estimate associations between daily allergy burden (allergy symptoms and mood) and daily heart rate characteristics (resting heart rate and sample entropy, both biomarkers of autonomic balance) of adults with allergic rhinitis, based on real-world measurements with a wearable telemonitoring system. Methods: Adults with a tree pollen allergy used a smartphone application to self-report daily allergy symptoms (score 0–44) and mood (score 0–4), and a Mio Alpha 2 wristwatch to collect heart rate characteristics during two pollen seasons of hazel, alder and birch in Belgium. Associations between daily allergy burden and heart rate characteristics were estimated using linear mixed effects distributed lag models with a random intercept for individuals and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Analyses included 2497 participant-days of 72 participants. A one-point increase in allergy symptom score was associated with an increase in next-day resting heart rate of 0.08 (95% CI: 0.02–0.15) beats per minute. A one-point increase in mood score was associated with an increase in same-day sample entropy of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.34–1.26) × 10−2. No associations were found between allergy symptoms and heart rate sample entropy, nor between mood and resting heart rate. Conclusion: Daily repeated measurements with a wearable telemonitoring system revealed that the daily allergy burden of adults with allergic rhinitis has systemic effects beyond merely the respiratory system.</p

Heat and health in Antwerp under climate change: Projected impacts and implications for prevention

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;BACKGROUND: &lt;/b&gt;Excessive summer heat is a serious environmental health problem in several European cities. Heat-related mortality and morbidity is likely to increase under climate change scenarios without adequate prevention based on locally relevant evidence.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;METHODS: &lt;/b&gt;We modelled the urban climate of Antwerp for the summer season during the period 1986-2015, and projected summer daily temperatures for two periods, one in the near (2026-2045) and one in the far future (2081-2100), under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. We then analysed the relationship between temperature and mortality, as well as with hospital admissions for the period 2009-2013, and estimated the projected mortality in the near future and far future periods under changing climate and population, assuming alternatively no acclimatization and acclimatization based on a constant threshold percentile temperature.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;RESULTS: &lt;/b&gt;During the sample period 2009-2013 we observed an increase in daily mortality from a maximum daily temperature of 26°C, or the 89th percentile of the maximum daily temperature series. The annual average heat-related mortality in this period was 13.4 persons (95% CI: 3.8-23.4). No effect of heat was observed in the case of hospital admissions due to cardiorespiratory causes. Under a no acclimatization scenario, annual average heat-related mortality is multiplied by a factor of 1.7 in the near future (24.1deaths/year CI 95%: 6.78-41.94) and by a factor of 4.5 in the far future (60.38deaths/year CI 95%: 17.00-105.11). Under a heat acclimatization scenario, mortality does not increase significantly in the near or in the far future.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;CONCLUSION: &lt;/b&gt;These results highlight the importance of a long-term perspective in the public health prevention of heat exposure, particularly in the context of a changing climate, and the calibration of existing prevention activities in light of locally relevant evidence.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Physical characteristics of the back are not predictive of low back pain in healthy workers: A prospective study

Background. In the working population, back disorders are an important reason for sick leave and permanent work inability. In the context of fitting the job to the worker, one of the primary tasks of the occupational health physician is to evaluate the balance between work-related and individual variables. Since this evaluation of work capacity often consists of a physical examination of the back, the objective of this study was to investigate whether a physical examination of the low back, which is routinely performed in occupational medicine, predicts the development of low back pain (LBP). Methods. This study is part of the Belgian Low Back Cohort (BelCoBack) Study, a prospective study to identify risk factors for the development of low back disorders in occupational settings. The study population for this paper were 692 young healthcare or distribution workers (mean age of 26 years) with no or limited back antecedents in the year before inclusion. At baseline, these workers underwent a standardised physical examination of the low back. One year later, they completed a questionnaire on the occurrence of LBP and some of its characteristics. To study the respective role of predictors at baseline on the occurrence of LBP, we opted for Cox regression with a constant risk period. Analyses were performed separately for workers without any back antecedents in the year before inclusion ('asymptomatic' workers) and for workers with limited back antecedents in the year before inclusion ('mildly symptomatic' workers). Results. In the group of 'asymptomatic' workers, obese workers showed a more than twofold-increased risk on the development of LBP as compared to non-obese colleagues (RR 2.57, 95%CI: 1.09 - 6.09). In the group of 'mildly symptomatic' workers, the self-reports of pain before the examination turned out to be most predictive (RR 3.89, 95%CI: 1.20 - 12.64). Conclusion. This study showed that, in a population of young workers wh no or limited antecedents of LBP at baseline, physical examinations, as routinely assessed in occupational medicine, are not useful to predict workers at risk for the development of back disorders one year later

urinary metabolomics study of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

Exposure to hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) may occur in several occupational activities, placing workers in many industries at risk for potential related health outcomes. Untargeted metabolomics was applied to investigate changes in metabolic pathways in response to Cr(VI) exposure. We obtained our data from a study population of 220 male workers with exposure to Cr(VI) and 102 male controls from Belgium, Finland, Poland, Portugal and the Netherlands within the HBM4EU Chromates Study. Urinary metabolite profiles were determined using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and differences between post-shift exposed workers and controls were analyzed using principal component analysis. Based on the first two principal components, we observed clustering by industrial chromate application, such as welding, chrome plating, and surface treatment, distinct from controls and not explained by smoking status or alcohol use. The changes in the abundancy of excreted metabolites observed in workers reflect fatty acid and monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism, oxidative modifications of amino acid residues, the excessive formation of abnormal amino acid metabolites and changes in steroid and thyrotropin-releasing hormones. The observed responses could also have resulted from work-related factors other than Cr(VI). Further targeted metabolomics studies are needed to better understand the observed modifications and further explore the suitability of urinary metabolites as early indicators of adverse effects associated with exposure to Cr(VI).publishersversionpublishe

usefulness of measurement of blood chromium levels in the assessment of occupational Cr(VI) exposure

Funding Information: This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733032 and received co-funding from the author's organizations and/or Ministries. Luxembourg entered the study at a later stage and thus financed the study at its own means. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsOccupational exposures to hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) can occur in welding, hot working stainless steel processing, chrome plating, spray painting and coating activities. Recently, within the human biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU), a study was performed to assess the suitability of different biomarkers to assess the exposure to Cr(VI) in various job tasks. Blood-based biomarkers may prove useful when more specific information on systemic and intracellular bioavailability is necessary. To this aim, concentrations of Cr in red blood cells (RBC-Cr) and in plasma (P–Cr) were analyzed in 345 Cr(VI) exposed workers and 175 controls to understand how these biomarkers may be affected by variable levels of exposure and job procedures. Compared to controls, significantly higher RBC-Cr levels were observed in bath plating and paint application workers, but not in welders, while all the 3 groups had significantly greater P–Cr concentrations. RBC-Cr and P–Cr in chrome platers showed a high correlation with Cr(VI) in inhalable dust, outside respiratory protective equipment (RPE), while such correlation could not be determined in welders. In platers, the use of RPE had a significant impact on the relationship between blood biomarkers and Cr(VI) in inhalable and respirable dust. Low correlations between P–Cr and RBC-Cr may reflect a difference in kinetics. This study showed that Cr-blood-based biomarkers can provide information on how workplace exposure translates into systemic availability of Cr(III) (extracellular, P–Cr) and Cr(VI) (intracellular, RBC-Cr). Further studies are needed to fully appreciate their use in an occupational health and safety context.publishersversionpublishe

HBM4EU chromates study: determinants of exposure to hexavalent chromium in plating, welding and other occupational settings

Work-related exposures in industrial processing of chromate (chrome plating, surface treatment, and welding) raise concerns regarding the health risk of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). In this study, performed under the HBM4EU project, we focused on better understanding the determinants of exposure and recognising how risk management measures (RMMs) contribute to a reduction in exposure. HBM and occupational hygiene data were collected from 399 workers and 203 controls recruited in nine European countries. Urinary total chromium (U-Cr), personal inhalable and respirable dust of Cr and Cr(VI), and Cr from hand wipes were collected. Data on the RMMs were collected by questionnaires. We studied the association between different exposure parameters and the use of RMMs. The relationship between exposure by inhalation and U-Cr in different worker groups was analysed using regression analysis and found a strong association. Automatisation of Cr electroplating dipping explained lower exposure levels in platers. The use of personal protective equipment resulted in lower U-Cr levels in welding, bath plating, and painting. An effect of wearing gloves was observed in machining. An effect of local exhaust ventilation and training was observed in welding. Regression analyses showed that in platers, exposure to an air level of 5 µg/m3 corresponds to a U-Cr level of 7 µg/g of creatinine. In welders, the same inhalation exposure resulted in lower U-Cr levels reflecting toxicokinetic differences of different chromium species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HBM4EU chromates study - Usefulness of measurement of blood chromium levels in the assessment of occupational Cr(VI) exposure

Occupational exposures to hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) can occur in welding, hot working stainless steel processing, chrome plating, spray painting and coating activities. Recently, within the human biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU), a study was performed to assess the suitability of different biomarkers to assess the exposure to Cr(VI) in various job tasks. Blood-based biomarkers may prove useful when more specific information on systemic and intracellular bioavailability is necessary. To this aim, concentrations of Cr in red blood cells (RBC-Cr) and in plasma (P-Cr) were analyzed in 345 Cr(VI) exposed workers and 175 controls to understand how these biomarkers may be affected by variable levels of exposure and job procedures. Compared to controls, significantly higher RBC-Cr levels were observed in bath plating and paint application workers, but not in welders, while all the 3 groups had significantly greater P-Cr concentrations. RBC-Cr and P-Cr in chrome platers showed a high correlation with Cr(VI) in inhalable dust, outside respiratory protective equipment (RPE), while such correlation could not be determined in welders. In platers, the use of RPE had a significant impact on the relationship between blood biomarkers and Cr(VI) in inhalable and respirable dust. Low correlations between P-Cr and RBC-Cr may reflect a difference in kinetics. This study showed that Cr-blood-based biomarkers can provide information on how workplace exposure translates into systemic availability of Cr(III) (extracellular, P-Cr) and Cr(VI) (intracellular, RBC-Cr). Further studies are needed to fully appreciate their use in an occupational health and safety context.Highlights: - Suitability of blood biomarkers was evaluated to assess occupational Cr(VI)exposure; - Bath platers and painters had higher Red Blood Cells-Cr levels compared to controls; - Bath platers, painters and welders had higher plasma-Cr levels compared to controls; Red Blood Cells- and Plasma-Cr were highly correlated with inhalable Cr(VI) in platers; Blood-Cr biomarkers can provide information on systemic and intracellular availability.This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733032 and received co-funding from the author’s organizations and/or Ministries. Luxembourg entered the study at a later stage and thus financed the study at its own means.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The HBM4EU chromates study – Outcomes and impacts on EU policies and occupational health practices

Within the EU human biomonitoring initiative (HBM4EU), a targeted, multi-national study on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was performed. Cr(VI) is currently regulated in EU under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and under occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation. It has recently been subject to regulatory actions to improve its risk management in European workplaces. Analysis of the data obtained within the HBM4EU chromates study provides support both for the implementation of these regulatory actions and for national enforcement programs and may also contribute to the updating of occupational limit values (OELs) and biological limit values for Cr(VI). It also provides useful insights on the contribution of different risk management measures (RMMs) to further reduce the exposure to Cr(VI) and may support the evaluation of applications for authorisation under REACH. Findings on chrome platers’ additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure highlight the need to also pay attention to this substance group in the metals sector. A survey performed to evaluate the policy relevance of the HBM4EU chromates study findings supports the usefulness of the study results. According to the responses received from the survey, the HBM4EU chromates study was able to demonstrate the added value of the human biomonitoring (HBM) approach in assessment and management of occupational exposure to Cr(VI). For future occupational studies, we emphasise the need for engagement of policy makers and regulators throughout the whole research process to ensure awareness, relevance and uptake of the results in future policies.Highlights: Potential policy impact of the HBM4EU chromates study is presented and discussed; Surveyed policy makers confirmed policy relevance of biomonitoring results; Study considered to support national enforcement and further lowering of OELs; Added value of HBM in the management of occupational exposure to Cr(VI) was demonstrated; Close co-operation with regulators to support policy uptake is emphasised.Funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733032 and received co-funding from the author's organizations and/or Ministries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The HBM4EU chromates study – Outcomes and impacts on EU policies and occupational health practices

Funding Information: The recently completed EU human biomonitoring initiative (HBM4EU, www.hbm4eu.eu/about-hbm4eu/), was a European Joint Programme that aimed to harmonise the collection and use of biomonitoring data to better understand human exposure to chemicals in the environment, in occupational settings and through the use of consumer products to improve chemical risk assessment and management efforts, and to support policy making (Ganzleben et al., 2017). Within the context of the HBM4EU project several priority substances were selected for investigation based on the most important needs of policy makers and risk assessors, as well as common needs of participating countries and a broad range of other stakeholders including trade unions (Ougier et al., 2021). Many of the priority substances, along with having an important economic role, also pose health risks for workers due to their occupational use. One of the priority substances was hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), which was the main focus of the first of a series of three different HBM4EU occupational studies (Santonen et al. 2019a, 2022), the other two being focussed on electronic waste (E-waste) and diisocyanates exposures (Jones et al., 2022; Scheepers et al., 2021). In addition to Cr(VI), it was recognised that in chrome plating activities there may also be exposure to another group of HBM4EU priority chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). PFASs, including PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), have been used as mist suppressants in chrome plating baths to prevent the evaporation of Cr(VI) vapours (Blepp et al., 2017; Gluge et al., 2020). Although PFOS has now been largely replaced in the EU, many of its substitutes in chrome plating activities are also PFASs which may cause similar health and environmental concerns.Occupational exposure to Cr(VI) has been associated with an increased risk of lung and sinonasal cancers and is suspected to lead to gastrointestinal tract cancers (den Braver-Sewradj et al., 2021; ECHA 2013; IARC 2012). In addition, it is a common cause of occupational asthma, allergic dermatitis and there is a concern for adverse effects on reproductive health (Sun and Costa 2022). Exposure to Cr(VI) may occur in several occupational activities, e.g., in welding, Cr(VI) electroplating and other surface treatment processes such as paint application and removal of old paint containing Cr(VI) (SCOEL 2017). In order to limit the workers’ exposure to Cr(VI) in the EU, Cr(VI) is currently regulated under both the European regulation (EC 1907/2006) on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the EU Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work (CMRD) (EU 2004). The current binding Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) set under the EU Directive 2004/37/EC is 10 μg/m3 (8-h time-weighted average (8-h TWA)) until January 17, 2025. After that period, the OEL (8-h TWA) will be reduced to 5 μg/m3. For welding, plasma-cutting processes and similar work processes that generate fumes, there is a derogation with an OEL of 25 μg/m³ (8-h TWA) until January 2025; after that date the OEL (8-h TWA) of 5 μg/m3 will be applicable. France, the Netherlands and Denmark already have stricter limits, with an OEL of 1 μg/m3 (8-h TWA) for Cr(VI) in all uses (Beskæftigelsesministeriet 2020; Ministère du travail, 2012; MinSZW 2016). In the US, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has published, for inhalable Cr(VI) compounds, a threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.2 μg/m3 (8-h TWA) and a TLV Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 0.5 μg/m3 (ACGIH 2021). No EU-wide biological limit values (BLVs) for Cr(VI) are available, however some Member States have set BLVs for occupational exposure to Cr(VI), measured as urinary chromium (U–Cr). For example, France and Finland have derived BLVs of 2.5 μg/L and 10 μg/L corresponding to their respective OELs of 1 μg/m3 and 5 μg/m3 for Cr(VI) (ANSES 2017; STM 2020). The German Research Foundation (DFG 2020) has established biological exposure equivalents for carcinogenic substances (EKA values), ranging from 12 to 40 μg/L for U–Cr. These correspond to exposures ranging between 30 and 100 μg/m3 soluble alkaline chromate and/or Cr(VI) containing welding fumes over an 8-h work shift (Bolt and Lewalter 2012). Since these current national BLVs are mainly based on studies from plating workers, they include uncertainties especially concerning their applicability to workplaces other than the electroplating industry. One of the main aims of the HBM4EU chromates study was to provide EU relevant data on the current occupational Cr(VI) exposure to support the regulatory risk assessment and decision-making process. In addition, exposure to PFASs was evaluated in a subset of workers performing chrome plating activities.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733032 and received co-funding from the author's organizations and/or Ministries. The project team would like to thank all the companies and workers who participated in the HBM4EU chromates study and all the experts who have contributed to the conduct of the study. Participants of the HBM4EU chromates study workshop and policy questionnaires are also acknowledged. Mr. Jouko Remes and Dr. Kia Gluschkoff (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health) are acknowledged for their assistance with the statistical analyses and figures. Funding Information: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733032 and received co-funding from the author's organizations and/or Ministries. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsWithin the EU human biomonitoring initiative (HBM4EU), a targeted, multi-national study on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was performed. Cr(VI) is currently regulated in EU under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and under occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation. It has recently been subject to regulatory actions to improve its risk management in European workplaces. Analysis of the data obtained within the HBM4EU chromates study provides support both for the implementation of these regulatory actions and for national enforcement programs and may also contribute to the updating of occupational limit values (OELs) and biological limit values for Cr(VI). It also provides useful insights on the contribution of different risk management measures (RMMs) to further reduce the exposure to Cr(VI) and may support the evaluation of applications for authorisation under REACH. Findings on chrome platers’ additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure highlight the need to also pay attention to this substance group in the metals sector. A survey performed to evaluate the policy relevance of the HBM4EU chromates study findings supports the usefulness of the study results. According to the responses received from the survey, the HBM4EU chromates study was able to demonstrate the added value of the human biomonitoring (HBM) approach in assessment and management of occupational exposure to Cr(VI). For future occupational studies, we emphasise the need for engagement of policy makers and regulators throughout the whole research process to ensure awareness, relevance and uptake of the results in future policies.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin