Probing the occurrence, sources and cancer risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 in a humid metropolitan city in China.

Fifty-two consecutive PM2.5 samples from December 2021 to February 2022 (the whole winter) were collected in the center of Chongqing, a humid metropolitan city in China. These samples were analysed for the 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 PAHs) to explore their composition and sources, and to assess their cancer risks to humans. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs (ng m-3) ranged from 16.45 to 174.15, with an average of 59.35 ± 21.45. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) indicated that traffic emissions were the major source (42.4%), followed by coal combustion/industrial emission (31.3%) and petroleum leakage/evaporation (26.3%). The contribution from traffic emission to the 16 PAHs increased from 40.0% in the non-episode days to as high as 46.2% in the air quality episode during the sampling period. The population attributable fraction (PAF) indicates that when the unit relative risk (URR) is 4.49, the number of lung cancer cases per million individuals under PAH exposure is 27 for adults and 38 for seniors, respectively. It was 5 for adults and 7 for seniors, when the URR is 1.3. The average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors was 0.25 × 10-6, 0.23 × 10-6, 0.71 × 10-6, and 1.26 × 10-6, respectively. The results of these two models complemented each other well, and both implied acceptable PAH exposure levels. Individual genetic susceptibility and exposure time were identified as the most sensitive parameters. The selection and use of parameters in risk assessment should be further deepened in subsequent studies to enhance the reliability of the assessment results.

Risk assessment of pollutants in flowback and produced waters and sludge in impoundments.

Due to the growing hydraulic fracturing (HF) practices in China, the environmental risks of pollutants in flowback and produced waters (FPW) and sludge in impoundments for FPW reserves have drawn increasing attention. In this context, we first characterized the comparative geochemical characteristics of the FPW and the sludge in impoundments that collected FPW from 75 shale gas wells, and then the risks associated with the pollutants were assessed. The results demonstrated that four organic compounds detected in the FPW, naphthalene, acenaphthene, dibutyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, were potential threats to surface waters. The concentrations of trace metals (copper, cadmium, manganese, chromium, nickel, zinc, arsenic, and lead) in the FPW and sludge were low; however, those of iron, barium, and strontium were high. The accumulation of chromium, nickel, zinc, and lead in the sludge became more evident as the depth increased. The environmental risks from heavy metals in the one-year precipitated sludge were comparable to those reported in the environment. However, the radium equivalent activities were 10-41 times higher than the recommended value for human health safety, indicating potential radiation risks. Although hydrophobic organic compounds, such as high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs), benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene (BTEX), tended to accumulate in the sludge, their environmental risks were within tolerable ranges after proper treatment. Multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), such as those for macrolide, lincosamide, streptogramin (MLS), tetracycline, and multidrug resistances, were detected in the shale gas wastewaters and sludge. Therefore, the environmental risks of these emerging pollutants upon being discharged or leaked into surface waters require further attention.

The Association Between Changes in Employee Sleep and Changes in Workplace Health and Economic Outcomes.

Sleep disturbance is negatively associated with workplace productivity. This study sought to identify whether or not changes in sleep from 2012 to 2013 were associated with changes in health risks, medical conditions, or workplace economic outcomes. Employees of a Fortune 100 financial services corporation were categorized based on changes in self-reported hours of sleep from 2012 to 2013 and compared based on their health risk factors, medical conditions, health care costs, and productivity measures. Consistently poor sleepers had more health risks and medical conditions compared to consistently optimal sleepers. Sleep improvers had a significant reduction in lost on-the-job productivity while consistently poor sleepers and downgraders had significantly more lost productivity compared to optimal sleepers. Employers may wish to incorporate sleep education initiatives as part of their overall health and wellness strategy.

Association Between Employee Sleep With Workplace Health and Economic Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep can impact occupational functioning. The current study examines health risks, medical conditions, and workplace economic outcomes associated with self-reported hours of sleep among employees. METHODS: Employees of a global financial services corporation were categorized on the basis of their self-reported average hours of sleep. Differences in health care costs, productivity measures, health risks, and medical conditions were analyzed by hours of sleep while controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS: A strong U-shaped relationship between health care costs, short-term disability, absenteeism, and presenteeism (on-the-job work loss) and the hours of sleep was found among employees. The nadir of the "U" occurs for 7 or 8 hours of sleep per night. CONCLUSIONS: Worksite wellness programs often address health risks and medical conditions and may benefit from incorporating sleep education.

Evaluation of a Workplace-Based Sleep Education Program.

INTRODUCTION: Poor sleep is common among working adults. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with health problems. A healthy sleep educational program (using webinars and other intranet-based resources) was offered to employees of a financial services corporation. METHODS: In 2015, a total of 357 employees (50% completion rate) completed both a pre- and post-program questionnaire assessing sleep quality and workplace productivity. RESULTS: Many aspects of sleep statistically improved from T1 to T2 for program participants. These included improvements in hours of sleep, sleep quality, ease of getting asleep, feeling rested, nights of poor sleep, job performance, days of sleepiness, and others. Employees reporting any limitation in productivity also showed significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: This workplace healthy sleep intervention was associated with significant improvements in sleep quality and quantity among program participants.

Evaluation of a Workplace-Based Migraine Education Program.

OBJECTIVE: Migraine affects approximately 10% of working-age adults and is associated with increased health care costs, absenteeism, and presenteeism in the workplace. A migraine education program was offered to United States employees of a global financial services organization. METHODS: Two hundred forty three employees (46% response rate) completed both a baseline and 6-month follow-up migraine questionnaire. The program included webinars, E-mailed educational tips, and intranet-based resources. RESULTS: No change was found in the frequency of migraines but improvements were observed in the severity, workdays missed, effectiveness at work during migraine, and work/activity limitations. Participants reported taking action to identify and reduce migraine triggers. CONCLUSIONS: A worksite disease education program for migraine headache has the potential to significantly impact lost productivity and absenteeism for migraineurs.

A Worksite Occupational Health Clinic-Based Diabetes Mellitus Management Program.

This study is an analysis of a workplace diabetes management program offered to employees of a Fortune 100 financial services corporation located in the United States. The 12-month worksite-based educational program was for employees who were at risk for diabetes, had prediabetes, or were diagnosed with diabetes. This employed population, with health benefits, generally had acceptable control of their diabetes at the start of the program. They statistically improved most self-efficacy measures, but improvement in biometric tests at 6 and 12 months were not significantly different from baseline. Mean hemoglobin A1c at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months was 7.2%, 7.2%, and 7.3%, respectively. At 12 months, about 40% of preprogram survey participants completed all screenings and the post-program questionnaire. Disease management programs at the workplace can be an important component in helping employees enhance their knowledge of diabetes and maintain and improve their health.

The association of self-reported employee physical activity with metabolic syndrome, health care costs, absenteeism, and presenteeism.

OBJECTIVE: To examine employees' self-reported physical activity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risks and their association with health-related workplace outcomes. METHODS: Employees participated in a health risk appraisal in 2010. Generalized Linear Modeling was used to test the association between MetS risk factors, physical activity, and the outcome measures while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: MetS was found in 30.2% of employees. Health care costs for employees with MetS who reported sufficient exercise (150 or more minutes/week) totaled $2770 compared with $3855 for nonsufficient exercisers. The percentage of employees with MetS who had absenteeism and presenteeism was also significantly lower for employees achieving sufficient physical activity. All risk factors for MetS were mitigated for regular exercisers. CONCLUSIONS: Employers should consider programs and services to support regular aerobic exercise to address the growing prevalence and costs of MetS in the workforce.

Evaluation of a comprehensive employee wellness program at an organization with a consumer-directed health plan.

OBJECTIVE: Consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) are popular among employers in the United States. This study examined an employee wellness program and its association with employee health in an organization that recently initiated a CDHP. METHODS: This retrospective observational analysis compared the health risks, employer-paid health care costs, and short-term disability absences of employees of a large financial services corporation from 2009 to 2010. RESULTS: The two-time health risk appraisal participants had a significant improvement in the percentage of employees in the overall low-risk category. The average annual employer-paid medical and pharmacy costs did not significantly change. For employees who improved their health risk category, there was a commensurate change in costs and absences. CONCLUSIONS: In a difficult economic climate, this organization began a health promotion program for employees as well as a new CDHP benefit structure. No short-term reduction in health care usage or overall health status was observed.

Reduction in health risks and disparities with participation in an employer-sponsored health promotion program.

There is an increasing awareness among employers and health care providers that health care needs to be tailored to address the diversity of the workforce. Population-based data have shown significant differences in health behaviors and health risks among different racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine health risks and changes in health risks over time in an employed population at a financial services corporation. This large financial services corporation is naturally concerned about any disparities in health among employees. The study population consists of employees who participated in the organization's medical plan and also the annual health risk appraisal questionnaire in both 2009 and 2010. Significant demographic differences exist among the four ethnic groups studied: whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. At baseline, African American employees had a significantly higher average number of health risks measured by the health risk appraisal, but they also experienced the greatest improvement in health risks by time 2. There were differences in the health risk profiles of the ethnic groups, with certain risk factors being more prevalent among some ethnicities than among others. The health care costs were not significantly different among the groups studied here. It is likely that other large employers may also find health risk differences among employees belonging to various ethnicities. Future research in this field should seek to understand the reasons behind differences in health among ethnic groups and how best to address them so that all employees can achieve a high level of health and wellness.