Risk factors for digital stress in German public administrations.

OBJECTIVE: As the digitization of the working world progresses, the demands on employees change. Not least, this is true for the setting of public administrations in Germany, which is currently affected by the transformation to E-Government. This study aims to identify and describe a risk cluster of digitally stressed employees in public administrations. METHODS: An online sample of 710 employees from three public administrations in North Rhine-Westphalia were surveyed about digital stress (7 items) and several potential risk factors (19 items) derived from the current research. In the first step, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis is used to detect the risk cluster. This is followed by a comparison to the group of the remaining employees regarding their risk profiles. RESULTS: The analysis states that the digitally stressed cluster accounts for approximately ten percent of the public administration's employees of the total sample. Employees in the risk cluster are less satisfied with on-site work overall, experience less collegial support on-site, experience less collegial support in the home office, resign more often, are more likely to feel overwhelmed, are less educated, are older in age and more often have relatives in need of care. CONCLUSION: This work was able to identify and describe a group of digitally stressed rather than left-behind employees in public administrations to bring awareness to potentially destructive factors in the digital transformation process but eventually to social inequalities. The findings offer the basis for interventions to arise and evoke potential for further research.

Effects of Exposure to Carbon Dioxide in Potash Miners.

Potash miners can become exposed to carbon dioxide (CO2) during the blasting of basalt intrusions or loading and transporting the blasted salt. In a cross-shift study, we compared physiological effects of acute exposure to elevated CO2 concentrations in miners after long-term exposure to evaluate the possible health risks. A group of 119 miners was assessed by clinical examination, lung function tests, and blood gas content directly before and after the shift. A cumulative CO2 exposure was measured using personal monitors. The miners were categorized as low (<0.1 vol.%, n = 83), medium (<0.5 vol.%, n = 26), and high (>0.5 vol.%, n = 10) CO2 exposed subjects. We found no significant differences among the three groups. Lung function testing revealed no conspicuous findings, and chronic health effects were not observed in the miners either. In conclusion, no significant adverse effects could be found in potash miners exposed to elevated CO2 concentrations. Therefore, the mining authorities allow potash mining operations for 4 h at ambient CO2 up to 1.0 vol.% and for 2 h at CO2 not exceeding 1.5 vol.% per shift.

Human exposure to airborne aniline and formation of methemoglobin: a contribution to occupational exposure limits.

Aniline is an important starting material in the manufacture of polyurethane-based plastic materials. Aniline-derived methemoglobinemia (Met-Hb) is well described in exposed workers although information on the dose-response association is limited. We used an experimental design to study the association between aniline in air with the formation of Met-Hb in blood and the elimination of aniline in urine. A 6-h exposure of 2 ppm aniline in 19 non-smoking volunteers resulted in a time-dependent increase in Met-Hb in blood and aniline in urine. The maximum Met-Hb level in blood (mean 1.21 ± 0.29 %, range 0.80-2.07 %) and aniline excretion in urine (mean 168.0 ± 51.8 µg/L, range 79.5-418.3 µg/L) were observed at the end of exposure, with both parameters rapidly decreasing after the end of exposure. After 24 h, the mean level of Met-Hb (0.65 ± 0.18 %) returned to the basal level observed prior to the exposure (0.72 ± 0.19 %); whereas, slightly elevated levels of aniline were still present in urine (means 17.0 ± 17.1 vs. 5.7 ± 3.8 µg/L). No differences between males and females as well as between slow and fast acetylators were found. The results obtained after 6-h exposure were also comparable to those observed in four non-smoking volunteers after 8-h exposure. Maximum levels of Met-Hb and aniline in urine were 1.57 % and 305.6 µg/L, respectively. Overall, our results contribute to the risk assessment of aniline and as a result, the protection of workers from aniline-derived adverse health effects at the workplace.

Exposure assessment of potash miners at elevated CO2 levels.

PURPOSE: In a potash mine in the center of Germany, stationary measurements 40 cm above ground level have revealed occasional increases in the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels that exceed the 0.5 vol.% German occupational exposure limit (OEL). This study, therefore, aimed to examine the individual exposures of potash miners to CO2 at their underground workplaces. METHODS: 119 miners were equipped with personal CO2 detectors to log the individual CO2 exposures during underground work. We decided to use electrochemical monitors due to their compactness and minimal mass. Furthermore, generated CO2 measurements with precipitated overshooting and false positive CO2 values were studied using diverse CO2 test gases and different fumigation times. RESULTS: The personal detectors showed short-term CO2 peak exposures at very high concentrations in a limited number of workers. Twenty-two threshold limit value violations were observed according to the present OEL, and the personal CO2 monitoring allowed categorization into three exposure groups, low (n = 83), moderate (n = 26) and high burdens (n = 10) of CO2. CONCLUSIONS: The electrochemical sensors used have numerous properties that can potentially influence the assessment of exposures. The current findings suggest that assessing similar exposure scenarios, with respect to elevated and strongly fluctuating CO2 concentrations, the behavior of electrochemical sensors should be taken into consideration.

Occupational exposure of air crews to tricresyl phosphate isomers and organophosphate flame retardants after fume events.

Aircraft cabin air can possibly be contaminated by tricresyl phosphates (TCP) from jet engine oils during fume events. o-TCP, a known neurotoxin, has been addressed to be an agent that might cause the symptoms reported by cabin crews after fume events. A total of 332 urine samples of pilots and cabin crew members in common passenger airplanes, who reported fume/odour during their last flight, were analysed for three isomers of tricresyl phosphate metabolites as well as dialkyl and diaryl phosphate metabolites of four flame retardants. None of the samples contained o-TCP metabolites above the limit of detection (LOD 0.5 µg/l). Only one sample contained metabolites of m- and p-tricresyl phosphates with levels near the LOD. Median metabolite levels of tributyl phosphate (TBP), tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) (DBP 0.28 µg/l; BCEP 0.33 µg/l; DPP 1.1 µg/l) were found to be significantly higher than in unexposed persons from the general population. Median tris-(2-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) metabolite levels were significantly not higher in air crews than in controls. Health complaints reported by air crews can hardly be addressed to o-TCP exposure in cabin air. Elevated metabolite levels for TBP, TCEP and TPP in air crews might occur due to traces of hydraulic fluid in cabin air (TBP, TPP) or due to release of commonly used flame retardants from the highly flame protected environment in the airplane. A slight occupational exposure of air crews to organophosphates was shown.

DigiFuehr 2.0: Novel insights for digital leadership.

OBJECTIVES: Against the background of e-government, it is discussed whether self-organization represents an independent component of digital leadership. Addressing this research question, the instrument "DigiFuehr" is being expanded to include the aspects of self-determination and coordination. The aim is to test the model quality of three adapted scales against the already established support-focusing version. METHODS: Based on an online survey of n = 422 employees at visual display unit workstations in German municipal administrations in April 2022, the original version of DigiFuehr as well as one reduced and two extended versions were validated considering their local and global model fit. RESULTS: All four scales show a good local fit with regard to internal consistency (Cronbach's α), discriminatory power, and dimensionality. Only the scale extended by two items also offers a sufficient global fit and is thus most suitable as a predictor for psychological stress, work satisfaction, and satisfaction with the professional exchange during homeworking. CONCLUSIONS: With "DigiFuehr 2.0", an improved version of the original scale is available. Self-organization is not a component independent of the support dimension, but a further important indicator of a latent digital leadership culture. Neither should come at the expense of the other.

Considerations for the design and technical setup of a human whole-body exposure chamber.

Exposures to air contaminants, such as chemical vapors and particulate matter, pose important health hazards at workplaces. Short-term experimental exposures to chemical vapors and particles in humans are a promising attempt to investigate acute effects of such hazards. However, a significant challenge in this field is the determination of effects of co-exposures to more than one chemical or mixtures of chemical vapors and/or particles. To overcome such a challenge, studies have to be conducted under standardized exposure characterization and real time measurements, if possible. A new exposure laboratory (ExpoLab) was installed at IPA, combining sophisticated engineering designs with new analytical techniques, to fulfill these requirements. Low-dose as well as high-dose exposure scenarios are achieved by means of a calibration-gas-generator. Exposure monitoring can be carried out with a high performance real time mass spectrometer and other suitable analyzers (e.g. gas chromatograph). Numerous automated security facilities guarantee the physical integrity of the volunteers, and the waste atmosphere is removed using either charcoal filtration or catalytic post-combustion. Measurements of sulfur hexafluoride, carbon dioxide, aniline and carbon black are presented to demonstrate the performance of the exposure unit with respect to the temporal and spatial stability of generated atmospheres. The variations of generated contents in the atmospheres at steady state are slightly higher than the measurement precision of the analyzers (the typical standard deviation of generated atmospheres is < 2%). The technical components of ExpoLab and its monitoring systems ensure high quality standards in validity and reliability of generating and measuring exposure atmospheres.

Increased metal concentrations in exhaled breath condensate of industrial welders.

It was the aim of this study to evaluate the effect of different devices on the metal concentration in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and to prove whether working conditions in different welding companies result in diverse composition of metallic elements. The influence of two collection devices (ECoScreen, ECoScreen2) on detection of metallic elements in EBC was evaluated in 24 control subjects. Properties of ECoScreen and a frequent use can alter EBC metal content due to contamination from metallic components. ECoScreen2 turned out to be favourable for metal assessment. Concentrations of iron, nickel and chromium in EBC sampled with ECoScreen2 were compared between non-exposed controls and industrial welders. Metal concentrations in EBC were higher in 36 welders recruited from three companies. Exposure to welding fumes could be demonstrated predominantly for increased iron concentrations. Concentrations of iron and nickel differed by working conditions, but chromium could not be detected in EBC.

In vivo monitoring of epidermal absorption of hazardous substances by confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Presently, percutaneous absorption of potentially hazardous chemicals in humans can only be assessed in animal experiments, in vitro, or predicted mathematically. Our aim was to demonstrate the proof-of-principle of a novel quantitative in vivo assay for percutaneous absorption: confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy (CRS). The advantages and limitations of CRS for health risk assessments are discussed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 2-butoxyethanol, toluene, and pyrene were applied in pure form, diluted in water, or in ethanol on the skin of three healthy volunteers. CRS measurements were done following application for 15 min and 3 hours. The concentrations of the three substances as a function of distance to the skin surface were calculated and further analyzed with regard to mass transport into the stratum corneum (µg/cm(2)) and the flux through the stratum corneum (µg/cm(2)h). The results were compared with the available data from literature. RESULTS: Considering the preliminary nature of these data, good accordance with data from the literature was observed. In addition, we observed that 2-butoxyethanol penetrates markedly faster when dissolved in water as compared to ethanol. This observation is also in agreement with previous results. CONCLUSIONS: CRS has the potential to provide fast, accurate and reliable results for advanced studies of in vivo percutaneous absorption kinetics of hazardous substances in human skin. This will require further research with other substances and under differing conditions.

Current status of emergency treatment of chemical eye burns in workplaces.

Chemical eye burns present an avoidable, but frequent, occupational injury with potentially detrimental consequences for the quality of life and occupational rehabilitation of the injured. A periodical review of guidelines is required to assure the optimal emergency management. We reviewed the literature with emphasis on current German guidelines, primarily MEDLINE. If the crucial first-line measure, the injury prevention has failed and an eye burn has been sustained, the immediate and copious rinsing of the eye is the pivotal emergency treatment modality. Whereas the immediacy and sufficiency of the emergency rinsing are largely unanimous, there is an ongoing debate about the benefits and risks of specific rinsing solutions, and regular updates on guidelines and recommendations for the emergency treatment are warranted. The easiest and readily available rinsing solution is tap water, which fulfils the crucial criteria conveniently in most industrialized countries: purity, sterility, and neutral pH. Other rinsing solutions are proposing higher osmolality to stabilize the physiological pH, because of their superior buffering capacity. However, there is no compelling evidence for a substantial benefit, and some reports suggest that there could be unwanted side effects. In combination with the substantially increased expenditure and a more complex handling procedure, currently a general recommendation of any other solution than tap water is not warranted.

How to evaluate digital leadership: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing digitalization of the working environment, the demands on managers are changing fundamentally to the point of an emerging field of research in digital leadership. Municipal administrations are particularly affected by the digital transformation processes. Therefore, a score to measure the construct of digital leadership competence in the context of virtual-based workstation was developed and tested. METHODS: Based on an online survey with n = 546 employees at virtual-based workstations in municipal administrations in 2020, the instrument is tested regarding selectivity (coefficients), dimensionality (principal component analysis), homogeneity (inter-product-moment correlations), reliability (Cronbach's α) and construct validity (correlation with general leadership skills). RESULTS: The instrument can be considered selective, one-dimensional, homogeneous, reliable and constructively valid in the sense of the formulated hypotheses. By integrating the employees' perspective, the instrument aims to be one of the first of its kind to initiate a scientific further discourse. Among other things, the categorization of the co-determination component as either traditional or digital leadership can be discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The developed instrument for measuring digital leadership performs well concerning the aspects of discriminatory power, one-dimensionality, homogeneity, reliability as well as construct validity. It aims to induce further research and a scientific discourse on the topic of health-oriented leadership within the world of work 4.0.

Use of a calibration gas generator for irritation threshold assessment and as supplement of dynamic dilution olfactometry.

Human odor and mucosal membrane irritation thresholds are used as criteria for assessing air quality in occupational and environmental settings. Unfortunately, reported threshold values still differ by several orders of magnitude rendering most standard compilations of little practical utility. Thus, in view of the need to repeat odor threshold measurements with a reliable methodology, a new technical approach based on original equipment manufacturer integrated solutions is presented. To test applicability, a calibration gas generator was used to continuously generate a fixed odor vapor concentration. Different dilution steps were realized by coupling to a purchasable olfactometer. Comparison with the "standard," that is, odor stimulus supply via sample bags revealed good correspondence. As a second step, the calibration gas generator was used to generate rapid changes in stimulus concentration between consecutive trials. Irritation thresholds were measured with an ascending series of ammonia concentrations generated from an aqueous solution. The obtained thresholds lay within the range previously reported. The introduced technology enables quick and reliable odor stimulus generation and provides flexibility in choosing the optimal start concentration, the step-size between dilutions, and the range of stimulus concentrations. Errors from usage of rotameters or sample bags can be avoided.

Comparison between exhaled breath condensate analysis as a marker for cobalt and tungsten exposure and biomonitoring in workers of a hard metal alloy processing plant.

OBJECTIVE: Cobalt (Co), Tungsten (W) and Tungsten Carbides (WC) are major constituents of hard metal alloys. Whereas little is known about potential health hazards due to tungsten carbide exposure, occupational exposure to cobalt has been shown to induce a variety of respiratory diseases. Since the concentration of a potentially hazardous substance in the target organ is the most meaningful risk indicator in occupational medicine, the detection of hard metals in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been proposed to be a valuable instrument. The present study examines the correlation of Co and W concentrations in EBC and urine with one another and various spirometrical and clinical parameters to scrutinize this potential. METHODS: A total of 62 subjects (90.3% males, age 40.6 +/- 9.2 years) were recruited from a hard metal processing plant in Germany. Examinations included the airborne workplace exposure, a complete spirometry, measurements of Co and W concentrations in EBC and urine with high resolution inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). RESULTS: Air concentrations ranged between 0.0019 mg/m(3) and 0.074 mg/m(3) for Co and 0.012 mg/m(3) and 0.021 mg/m(3) for W. Median urine concentrations and interquartile ranges of the exposed subjects ranged from 0.81 (0.0-1.46) microg/l for Co and 30.5 (14.5-57.7) microg/l for W. Median breath condensate metal concentrations and interquartile ranges ranged from 8.4 (5.0-13.9) microg/l for Co and 8.8 (4.4-18.5) microg/l for W. Urine concentrations of Co and W were closely related to the airborne workplace exposure that had been assessed by air monitoring. EBC concentrations of Co and W showed no correlations to urinary W and Co concentrations and the ambient monitoring results of the individual workplace, respectively. Cobalt EBC concentration was elevated in subjects who reported to have suffered from respiratory disease; both Co and W concentrations in EBC, however, decreased with increasing spirometrical signs of obstruction. CONCLUSION: According to our study, urinary concentrations of Co and W seem to be more reliable indicators of current workplace exposure than EBC concentrations. As far as new methods and exposure matrices for valid concentration measurements in respiratory organs and possible hazardous effects--especially of cobalt--in the lung are concerned, the present results are less clear-cut, and further research is required.

Mental Strain of Immigrants in the Working Context.

Inability to work due to reported mental strain and psychiatric disorders is rising in Germany these days. Meanwhile the country's net migration is positive. While there is empirical evidence for a healthy migrant effect regarding the physical health in the beginning (mostly accompanied by a subsequent convergence effect), the mental health of migrants remains partly understudied. In order to evaluate the migrant's share in the rise of reported mental strain in Germany, 4000 employees were surveyed by means of an online access panel. About 16 percent of them revealed a migration background. Their Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) score is slightly yet significantly above the German autochthonous' one both using bi- and multivariate analysis, indicating that there is a specific vulnerability rather than a healthy migrant effect regarding mental strain at work.

Subjective complaints in persons under chronic low-dose exposure to lower polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been in widespread industrial use in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite a worldwide reduction, environmental exposure remains an issue especially in contaminated buildings. Due to the ubiquitous presence and poor degradation of PCBs, public health concerns continue to exist; however, evidence on the actual health effects of chronic low-dose exposure is scanty. The objective of the present study is an assessment of subjective complaints of exposed subjects in comparison to a non-exposed control group and their inter-relation to plasma levels of PCB congeners. The plasma concentrations of PCB congeners were measured in 583 subjects who had worked for an average of 14.7+/-9.6 years in a contaminated building in Germany, and 205 control subjects working in a non-contaminated building. Subjective complaints were assessed with the 24-item 'Giessen Subjective Complaints List' (GSCL-24). The subjects under chronic low-dose exposure scored significantly higher values on all the GSCL subscales except 'stomach complaints' in comparison to the non-exposed subjects and a 'normal' sample derived from the literature. However, thorough statistical analysis revealed no correlation of symptoms and PCB congener plasma concentration; the scores on the subscale 'exhaustion were even higher in subjects with low PCB concentration. Subjects working in a PCB-contaminated building report more subjective complaints in comparison to non-exposed subjects, but the complaints are not related to current PCB plasma concentrations.

Development and verification of a toxicokinetic model of polychlorinated biphenyl elimination in persons working in a contaminated building.

BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic and slowly degrading substances that have been in widespread industrial use in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite a worldwide reduction, environmental exposure remains an issue; the assessment of an individual's level of exposure at a given time in retrospect requires valid toxicokinetic modeling of the different PCB congeners. OBJECTIVES: To develop and verify a toxicokinetic model of the in vivo-degradation of PCB 28 and 52 in adult humans. METHODS: The plasma concentrations of PCB congeners were measured in 583 persons working in a contaminated building for an average of 14.7+/-9.6 years. The values were adapted to a simple pharmacokinetic model (yt = y0 x (1 - e(-kt))); the steady state concentration y0 was estimated based on the median values of persons working exposed more than 10 years. RESULTS: The steady state concentration of PCB 28 was 0.10 microg/l, that of PCB 52 0.02 microg/l. The half-life of the congeners was estimated based on a logarithmic regression analysis according to the model mentioned above; it was 2.18 (95% CI: 1.91-2.54) years for PCB 28 and 3.95 (95% CI: 3.55-4.45) years for PCB 52, respectively. Stepwise elimination of persons with very long employment duration did not reduce the estimated half-life. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated half-life is higher than previously published data especially for PCB 52. Possible reasons and implications of this finding are discussed.

Secondary prevention of allergic symptoms in a dairy farmer by use of a milking robot.

BACKGROUND: Animal-derived allergens include lipocalins which play an increasing role in occupational respiratory sensitizations. The prevention of sensitization in stock farming is often difficult due to intense exposure, with traditional milking still requiring close animal contact. Complete avoidance of allergen exposure is only possible if stock farming is abandoned. This is, however, often not feasible in small dairy plants because of the resulting loss of income. CASE PRESENTATION: In a 37-year-old female farmer daily asthmatic complaints appeared, associated with cow dust-derived allergen exposure by milking with a conventional device. Respiratory symptoms increased during a period of 12 years. Allergic bronchial asthma was diagnosed, caused by sensitization against cow dust-derived allergens, as demonstrated by positive skin prick test and by detection of IgE antibodies. In a separate specific inhalation challenge test using a 10% extract of cow dust-derived allergens a 330% increase of airway resistance was detected. To enable further dairy farming, a milking robot was installed in 1999, i.e., an automatic milking system. The novel milking technique reduced the daily exposure from over 2 hours to approximately 10 min. The clinical course after the installation of the milking robot was favourable, with less frequent allergic and asthmatic symptoms. Furthermore, asthma medication could be reduced. Improvement was noted also in terms of lung-function and decreased total serum IgE. CONCLUSION: The case presented and the evidence from the literature indicates that the strategy of exposure minimization to allergens at workplaces can be an effective alternative to total elimination. In farmers with cow dust allergy a milking robot is an appropriate technical measure to minimize allergen-exposure.

Hemoglobin adducts of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, acrylonitrile and acrylamide-biomarkers in occupational and environmental medicine.

In a chemical plant, ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) were used for the production of surfactants for the textile industry. Within health supervision, we investigated the internal exposure of the workers using hemoglobin adducts as parameters of biochemical effects. The 95th percentile for N-2-hydroxyethylvaline (HEV) was 1280 pmol/g globin (=29.4 microg/l blood) in blood from exposed workers compared with 100 pmol/g globin (or 2.3 microg/l) in controls. N-(R,S)-2-hydroxypropylvaline (HPV) both in workers and controls was below the detection limit (80 pmol/g globin or 2 microg/l). The levels of the adducts of acrylonitrile (ACN) and acrylamide (AA) were also determined, though they were mainly accounted for by smoking and diet. Median values of N-2-cyanoethylvaline (CEV) were below 4 pmol/g globin (or 0.1 microg/l) in non-smokers (n=24) and 131 pmol/g globin (or 3.3 microg/l) in smokers (n=38). Median values of N-2-carbamoylethylvaline (AAV) were 22 pmol/g globin (or 0.6 microg/l) in non-smokers compared with 89 pmol/g globin (or 2.4 microg/l) in smokers. Correlations were found between smoking habits and adduct levels of CEV and AAV.

Evidence for increased internal exposure to lower chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in pupils attending a contaminated school.

External and internal exposure to six WHO-indicator congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) as well as subjective health complaints of a group of 377 pupils attending a PCB-contaminated school were compared with a control group of 218 pupils attending a non-contaminated school. Indoor air of the contaminated school revealed total PCB concentrations (sum of six indicator congeners times 5) ranging between 690 and 20,800 ng/m3 (median 2044 ng/m3). The lower chlorinated congeners PCB 28, 52, 101 were the prevailing contaminants (median 33, 293, and 66 ng/m3). Using improved analytical procedures at least one of the lower chlorinated congeners could be detected in 95% of the blood samples of pupils attending the contaminated school. Median concentrations for PCB 28, 52, 101, and for the sum of lower chlorinated congeners were 6, 9, 5, and 22 ng/l blood plasma, respectively, whereas the corresponding values in the control group were all < 1 ng/l. In contrast, no significant differences were found for the higher chlorinated congeners (PCB 138, 153, 180) which were detected in 1-2 orders of magnitude higher concentrations in both groups. Due to the dietary intake of these congeners similar total PCB levels were found (95th percentile 1070 and 1010 ng/l plasma in participants of the contaminated and control school). Using the Giessen Subjective Complaint List for Children and Adolescents no statistically significant differences in health complaints were observed between both groups of children. It is concluded that exposure of pupils to PCB in indoor air of the contaminated school caused increased blood concentrations of lower chlorinated congeners. Compared to background levels the detected excess body burden was very low indicating no additional health risk. Exposure was not associated to any specific subjective complaints.