Industrial Health
Online ISSN : 1880-8026
Print ISSN : 0019-8366
ISSN-L : 0019-8366
Search
Advanced search
OR
Browse
Search
Volume 54, Issue 1
Displaying 1-14 of 14 articles from this issue
Show all abstracts
    • |<
    • <
    • 1
    • >
    • >|
Editorial
Original Articles
  • Communication, support and psychosocial work environment affecting psychological distress among working women aged 20 to 39 years in Japan
    Ayumi HONDA, Yutaka DATE, Yasuyo ABE, Kiyoshi AOYAGI, Sumihisa HONDA
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 5-13
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0003
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    When compared with their older counterparts, younger women are more likely to have depressive symptoms because they more often experience interrupted work history and a heavy childrearing burden. The purposes of the present study were 1) to investigate the possible association of psychosocial work environment with psychological distress and 2) to examine the way by which communication and support in the workplace affect to psychological distress among young women. We studied 198 women aged 20 to 39 yr in a cross-sectional study. The Kessler Scale-10 (K10 Scale) was used to examine psychological distress. In employees who experienced interpersonal conflict, those who had little or no conversations with their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 4.2), and those who received little or no support from their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 3.8) compared to those who had more frequent communication and received more support. Harmonious communication in the workplace can help prevent psychological distress among employees, which in turn may enable them to be satisfied with their work.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (525K)
  • Applicability of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in occupational heat stress assessment: a case study in brick industries
    Javad VATANI, Farideh GOLBABAEI, Somayeh Farhang DEHGHAN, Azam YOUSEFI
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 14-19
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0069
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    The present study aimed to investigate the applicability of Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) as an innovative and science-based index in public health researches, in occupational heat stress assessment. All indoor and outdoor workers (200 people) of Brick industries of Shahroud, Iran participated in the research. First, the environmental variables such as air temperature, wet-bulb temperature, globe temperature, air velocity and relative humidity were measured; then UTCI and WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) indices were calculated. Simultaneously, physiological parameters including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, oral temperature, skin temperature, tympanic temperature and heart rate of workers were measured. UTCI and WBGT indices were 34.2 ± 2°C, 21.8 ± 1.8°C in the outdoor environments and 38.1 ± 4.4°C, 24.7 ± 3.3°C at the indoor environments, respectively. There were the weak inverse relationships between UTCI and WBGT indices at the outdoor environments and physiological responses such as systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. However, there were no similar results for indoor environments. The significant relationships were found between UTCI and WBGT at both indoor and outdoor environments. Both UTCI and WBGT indices are suitable for assessing the occupational heat stress. Although, UTCI index seems more appropriate for heat stress assessment in the environments with low humidity and air velocity.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (431K)
  • Mental health and individual experience of unemployed young adults in Japan
    Aiko KITO, Takeji UENO
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 20-31
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0035
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    This study focused on the subjective experiences and mental health of young, unemployed adults in Japan. We explored how individuals describe their experiences of becoming unemployed and how these experiences influence their mental health within the current Japanese sociocultural context, using a social constructionist approach. We collected data from October 2012 to January 2013. Participants were 25 young unemployed Japanese job seekers (15 females), who were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy including snowball sampling. We conducted semi-structured interviews focusing on participants’ previous work and job search experience, their lifestyle and health, the social support they considered necessary, their future job-seeking plans, and their demographic characteristics. Using thematic analysis, we identified four key themes from the interview data: stress relief, re-energization for future work, new job skills acquisition, and lifestyle change. The findings indicate that unemployment is sometimes experienced as more beneficial than employment. This might be because of the poor working environment in Japan, the financial support participants received, and the experience of short-term unemployment. The findings suggest that intervention is necessary to help young adults in Japan find high-quality jobs and that we must promote fair employment and decent working conditions for them.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (474K)
  • Relationships of job demand, job control, and social support on intention to leave and depressive symptoms in Japanese nurses
    Yasuaki SAIJO, Eiji YOSHIOKA, Yasuyuki KAWANISHI, Yoshihiko NAKAGI, To ...
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 32-41
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0083
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    This study aims to elucidate the relationships among the factors of the demand-control-support model (DCS) on the intention to leave a hospital job and depressive symptoms. Participants included 1,063 nurses. Job demand, job control, and support from supervisors were found to be significantly related to both the intention to leave and depressive symptoms. Based on the odds ratios per 1 SD change in the DCS factors, low support from supervisors was found to be most related to the intention to leave, and low job control was found to be most related to depressive symptoms. In models that did not include “job demand” as an independent variable, 60-h working weeks were found to have a significantly higher odds ratio for depressive symptoms. Support from supervisors is more important in preventing intention to leave and depressive symptoms among nurses than is support from co-workers. Improving job control and avoiding long working hours may be important to prevent depressive symptoms.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (461K)
  • Development of a direct exposure system for studying the mechanisms of central neurotoxicity caused by volatile organic compounds
    Masanari KANEMITSU, Yukiko FUETA, Toru ISHIDAO, Shuji AOU, Hajime HORI
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 42-49
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0076
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in work places are neurotoxic. However, it has been difficult to study the cellular mechanisms induced by a direct exposure to neurons because of their high volatility. The objective of this study was to establish a stable system for exposing brain slices to VOCs. With a conventional recording system for brain slices, it is not possible to keep a constant bath concentration of relatively highly volatile solvents, e.g. 1-bromopropane (1-BP). Here we report a new exposure system for VOCs that we developed in which a high concentration of oxygen is dissolved to a perfused medium applying a gas-liquid equilibrium, and in which the tubing is made of Teflon, non adsorptive material. Using our system, the bath concentration of the perfused 1-BP remained stable for at least 2 h in the slice chamber. Both 6.4 and 2.2 mM of 1-BP did not change the paired-pulse response, but fully suppressed long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampal slices obtained from rats, suggesting that 1-BP decreases synaptic plasticity in the DG at the concentrations tested. Our new system can be applicable for investigating the underlying mechanisms of the neurotoxicity of VOCs at the cellular level.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (875K)
  • Work-family conflict and sleep disturbance: the Malaysian working women study
    Sanaz AAZAMI, Mosayeb MOZAFARI, Khadijah SHAMSUDDIN, Syaqirah AKMAL
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 50-57
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: September 30, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0086
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    This study aimed at assessing effect of the four dimensions of work-family conflicts (strain and time-based work interference into family and family interference into work) on sleep disturbance in Malaysian working women. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 325 Malaysian married working women. Multiple-stage simple random sampling method was used to recruit women from public service departments of Malaysia. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to measure the study variables and data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. We found that high level of the four dimensions of work-family conflicts significantly increase sleep disturbance. Our analyses also revealed an age-dependent effect of the work-family conflict on sleep disturbance. Women in their 20 to 30 yr old suffer from sleep disturbance due to high level of time-based and strain-based work-interference into family. However, the quality of sleep among women aged 30–39 were affected by strain-based family-interference into work. Finally, women older than 40 yr had significantly disturbed sleep due to strain-based work-interference into family as well as time-based family interference into work. Our findings showed that sleep quality of working women might be disturbed by experiencing high level of work-family conflict. However, the effects of inter-role conflicts on sleep varied among different age groups.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (459K)
  • Effects of mop handle height on shoulder muscle activity and perceived exertion during floor mopping using a figure eight method
    Mari-Anne WALLIUS, Saara M. RISSANEN, Timo BRAGGE, Paavo VARTIAINEN, P ...
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 58-67
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: September 30, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0108
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    The aim of this study was to investigate effects of mop handle height on electromyographic (EMG) activities of the shoulder muscles and perceived exertion for the shoulder area during floor mopping using a figure eight method. An experimental study with 13 cleaners was conducted using surface EMG and category ratio (CR-10) scale. EMG activity was recorded unilaterally from the upper trapezius, infraspinatus, anterior and middle deltoid muscles. Each subject performed four trials of mopping and each trial consisted of using a different mop handle height (mop adjustment at the level of shoulder, chin, nose and eye) in randomized order. EMG data were normalized to a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC). The muscle activities were assessed by estimating the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles of the amplitude probability distribution function (APDF) of the EMG signals and analysed by linear mixed model analysis. Results showed that shoulder muscle activity was significantly lower when the mop handle height was adjusted to shoulder level or chin level as compared to eye level. These findings were supported by subjective ratings of exertion. It seems that mop handle height adjustment between shoulder and chin level may be recommended as a basis for figure eight mopping.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (616K)
Short Communication
  • Do the bullies survive? A five-year, three-wave prospective study of indicators of expulsion in working life among perpetrators of workplace bullying
    Mats GLAMBEK, Anders SKOGSTAD, Ståle EINARSEN
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 68-73
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: August 28, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0075
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    In recent series of studies, we have shown that targets of workplace bullying are at risk of expulsion in working life, both from current employment (e.g. in terms of changing employer) and from working life itself (e.g. becoming unemployed). The most recent of these, Take It or Leave: A Five-Year Prospective Study of Workplace Bullying and Indicators of Expulsion in Working Life was recently published in Industrial Health, and the present short communication aims to follow up that paper, investigating the possible job “survival” of the perpetrators. A nationally representative sample was employed (n=1,613), and responses were gathered at three time points with a two-year and a five-year time-lag. Outcomes were intention to leave and sickness absence at T1, and sickness absence, change of employer, disability benefit recipiency and unemployment at T2 and T3. The results of regression analyses clearly indicate that the perpetrators’ occupational status is largely unchanged, and remains so over time, as opposed to earlier findings regarding the targets of bullying.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (426K)
Case Report
  • Silicosis and renal disease: insights from a case of IgA nephropathy
    Matteo RICCÒ, Elena THAI, Simone CELLA
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 74-78
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: September 30, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2014-0161
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    A 68-yr-old male, smoker, is admitted for proteinuria (2,800 mg/24 h) and reduced renal function (serum creatinine 2 mg/dl, GFR 35 ml/min). Renter, he started working 20-yr-old as a sandstone cave miner. Despite the high levels of silica dusts, he reported no mandatory use of airways protection devices during the first 25 yr of activity. No clinical or radiological signs of silicosis or pneumoconiosis where reported until the year of retirement (1997). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (91 mm/h) and C reactive protein (35 mg/l) suggested a pro-inflammatory status. High serum IgA was found (465 mg/dl). A renal biopsy identified glomerular sclerosis with IgA deposition, signs of diffuse vasculitis and tubular atrophia suggesting a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. Chest X-Rays showed emphysema and diffuse nodularity suggesting diagnosis of silicosis. Chest tomography was also positive for mild signs of silicosis with silicotic nodules and without honeycombing. IgA nephropathy is the most common type of glomerulonephritis worldwide. Several clues suggest a genetic or acquired abnormality of immune system as a trigger of the increased production of IgA. In our case report, simultaneous kidney and pulmonary disease could suggest same triggers (e.g. exposure to virus, bacteria or environmental agents) inducing IgA synthesis and pulmonary immune system activation.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (2085K)
Field Report
  • Relations of biomarkers of manganese exposure and neuropsychological effects among welders and ferroalloy smelters
    Hamid HASSANI, Farideh GOLBABAEI, Hamid SHIRKHANLOO, Mehdi TEHRANI-DOU ...
    2016 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 79-86
    Published: 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: January 29, 2016
    Advance online publication: September 30, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2014-0250
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Show abstractHide abstract
    The objective of present study was to assess relationship between biomarkers of Manganese (Mn) and neuropsychological effects. The study was carried out on 27 welders and 31 ferroalloy smelters as Mn-exposed groups and 30 office workers as unexposed controls. Air Mn concentrations were determined according to NIOSH method 7300. The biological samples were prepared using microwave assisted acid digestion and all samples were analyzed by graphite furnace- atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) in order to determine manganese. Questionnaire 16 (Q16) and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were used to evaluate the neuropsychological effects. The mean concentrations of air Mn for the welder and ferroalloy smelter groups were 0.023 ± 0.012 mg/m3 and 0.008 ± 0.005 mg/m3, respectively. Manganese concentrations in blood, urine, and toenail samples of exposed workers ranged between 1.80–32.60 (µg/l), 1.00–42.50 (µg/l), and 0.10–6.08 (µg/g), respectively. Mean Mn concentrations in all biological samples of cases were significantly higher than unexposed controls (p<0.05). A moderate relationship was observed between biomarkers of Mn exposure, air Mn, Q16 as well as some neurocognitive outcome measures. The present study shows that blood Mn, urine Mn and toenail Mn could be used to distinguish Mn-exposed workers from unexposed population at the group level.
    View full abstract
    Download PDF (460K)
Collegium Ramazzini
    • |<
    • <
    • 1
    • >
    • >|
feedback
 Top