Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology

Measuring Long-Term Exposure to Wildfire PM2.5 in California: Time-Varying Inequities in Environmental Burden

Casey JA
Padula AM
David J X González
Elser H
Aguilera R
Northrop AJ
Tartof SY
Mayeda ER
Braun D
Dominici F
Eisen EA
Morello-Frosch R
Benmarhnia T
2023

Introduction: While considered extreme events, wildfires will lengthen and strengthen in a changing climate, becoming an omnipresent climate-sensitive exposure. However, few studies consider long-term exposure to wildfire fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ). Here, we present a conceptual model to assess longterm wildfire PM2.5 exposure and evaluate disproportionate exposures among marginalized communities. Methods: We used 2006-2020 California census tract-level daily wildfire PM2.5 concentrations generated from monitoring data and statistical techniques to derive five long-term wildfire PM2....

Exposure to Metalworking Fluids and Cancer Incidence in the United Auto Workers-General Motors Cohort

Hilary Colbeth
Kevin Chen
Sally Picciotto
Sadie Costello, PhD, MPH
Ellen A Eisen
2023

In previous studies, investigators have reported increased risks of specific cancers associated with exposure to metalworking fluids (MWFs). In this report we broadly examine the incidence of 14 types of cancer, with a focus on digestive, respiratory, and hormonal cancers, in the United Auto Workers-General Motors (UAW-GM) cohort, a cohort of workers exposed to MWFs (1973-2015). The cohort included 39,132 workers followed for cancer incidence. Cox models yielded estimates of adjusted hazard ratios, with categorical variables for lagged cumulative exposure to 3 types of MWF (straight...

Associations between prenatal and early-life air pollution exposure and lung function in young children: exploring influential windows of exposure on lung development

Andreas M Neophytou
Liza Lutzker, MPH
Kristen M Good
Jennifer K Mann
Elizabeth M Noth
Stephanie M Holm
Sadie Costello
Tim Tyner
Kari C Nadeau
Ellen A Eisen
Fred Lurmann
S Katharine Hammond
John R Balmes
2023
Background:

Evidence in the literature suggests that air pollution exposures experienced prenatally and early in life can be detrimental to normal lung development, however the specific timing of critical windows during development is not fully understood.

Objectives:

We evaluated air pollution exposures during the prenatal and early-life period in association with lung function at ages 6–9, in an effort to identify potentially influential windows of exposure for lung development.

Methods:

Our study population consisted of 222 children aged 6–9 from the Fresno-...

Distribution of working hour characteristics by race, age, gender, and shift schedule among U.S. manufacturing workers

Jacqueline M Ferguson
Patrick T Bradshaw
Ellen A Eisen
David Rehkopf
Mark R Cullen
Sadie Costello
2023

Shift work is a common occupational exposure, however, few studies have examined aspects of shift work beyond night work and long hours, such as rotational patterns or weekend work, which may contribute to poor health through disruption of the body's circadian rhythms. In this manuscript, we calculated the prevalence of working hour characteristics using algorithms for type (e.g., day), duration, intensity, rotational direction, and social aspects (e.g., weekend work) in a nationwide cohort of American manufacturing workers (N = 23,044) between 2003 and 2014. Distributions of working...

Suicide prevention-related Google searches and subsequent emergency department visits in California and Arizona, 2007-2015

Hilary Colbeth
Sidra Goldman-Mellor
Ellen A Eisen
Krista Neumann
Ralph Catalano
Corinne A Riddell
2024

Introduction: United States emergency departments (ED) visit rates for nonfatal self-harm increased by 42% from 2001 to 2016. Previous suicide mortality research has provided conflicting evidence on the use of suicide-related Internet searches as a surveillance tool for self-harm and suicidal ideation. However, few have used rigorous approaches to account for autocorrelation at the aggregate level, and none have focused on Internet searches related to suicide prevention.

Methods and results: Over a 9-year study period (2007-2015), suicidality-...

Validity of self-reported night shift work among women with and without breast cancer

Vestergaard JM
Haug JND
Dalbøge A, Bonde JPE
Garde AH, Hansen J
Hansen ÅM
Larsen AD
Härmä M
Costello, Sadie
Kolstad HA
2024

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the validity of self-reported information on ever-night shift work among women with and without breast cancer and illustrate the consequences for breast cancer risk estimates.

Methods During 2015–2016, 225 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 1800 matched controls without breast cancer employed within the Danish hospital regions during 2007–2016 participated in a questionnaire-based survey. Their reported night shift work status was linked with objective payroll register day-by-day working hour data from the Danish...

Biomass smoke exposure and somatic growth among children: The RESPIRE and CRECER prospective cohort studies in rural Guatemala

Wenxin Lu
Alisa Jenny
Carolina Romero
Anaite Diaz-Artiga
Andrea Kuster
Eduardo Canuz
Ajay Pillarisetti
John P. McCracken
Wenzhong Huang
Kirk R. Smith
John Balmes
Lisa M. Thompson
2024

Background: Cooking-related biomass smoke is a major source of household air pollution (HAP) and an important health hazard. Prior studies identified associations between HAP exposure and childhood stunting; less is known for underweight and wasting. Few studies had personal HAP measurements. Methods: 557 households in rural Guatemala were enrolled in the CRECER study, the follow-up study of the RESPIRE randomized intervention trial. They were assigned to three groups that received chimney stoves at different ages of the study children. Multiple personal carbon monoxide (CO) exposure...

06/20/2024: Advancing Lead Safety: Key Regulatory Updates in California

About this event

Join the AIHA Northern California Section and COEH for a deep dive into lead safety. Discuss upcoming revisions to the lead-related construction standards under Title 17, the requirements of Senate Bill 1076, and opportunities for public comment on proposed changes. Explore the role of California’s Occupational Blood Lead Registry in tracking and managing work-related lead exposure, how the data collected helps prevent lead poisoning, and how data can inform safe work practices. Finally, summarize revisions to Cal/OSHA’s lead standards and the goals of...

Hot, Dusty, and Smoky: Navigating Extremes, Climate Change Impacts on OEH

Conference Sessions are Now Available Online, On-Demand

Climate change is pressing public health crisis that is already impacting the world of work. Join the Northern California Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health for a deep dive into the chemical, biological, and physical hazards of navigating climate extremes. Learn about the rising prevalence of Valley Fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling dust or soil particles, particularly in drought-affected regions. Discuss the impacts of rising temperatures on worker safety, heat-related illness, and...

Do the Change with Simon Camponuri

Join us for our conversation with Simon Camponuri! Discover his untraditional journey from premed student, to wildlife researcher, and finally to Valley Fever researcher, and explore how his drive to explore his various passions led him to a field he feels fulfilled in.