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Occupational medicine news
Pilots, flight attendants have greater risk of radiation-related cancer death than other professions
Of more than 500 occupations in the United States, flight attendants and pilots have the highest and second-highest proportions of radiation-related cancer deaths, a new study has found.
14 hours ago
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New gas-switching approach could one day make deep-sea decompression safer and faster
Deep-sea divers must be careful to prevent decompression sickness, also known as "the bends," when ascending from the high-pressure depths of the ocean. Failing to do so can result in anything from muscle cramps and skin ...
New research documents growing silicosis epidemic among quartz countertop workers
A new report documenting California's rapidly growing silicosis epidemic among quartz countertop workers underscores the urgent need for a national effort focused on stronger surveillance, earlier diagnosis and policy interventions ...
Aug 13, 2026
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Lead-contaminated soil tracked indoors can create hazardous indoor conditions even in houses without lead paint
Lead contamination in soil tracked inside homes can cause dangerous indoor lead dust levels even in residences with no interior lead-based paint, according to researchers with the Rutgers Environmental, Occupational and Health ...
Aug 12, 2026
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Women with endometriosis may lose a month's salary each year
Menstrual leave and flexible work arrangements are the forms of support women with endometriosis say would help them most, according to a new study by researchers at Semmelweis University published in Preventive Medicine ...
Aug 12, 2026
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27% of UK health care workers report long COVID symptoms
More than one in four UK health care workers have been affected by long COVID, with symptoms lasting beyond three months, according to an NHS research program involving a UCL team.
Aug 11, 2026
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Night shift work linked to a higher risk of long COVID
The first evidence that night work and chronic insomnia may increase the risk of developing long COVID comes from a new study led by ISGlobal, a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, in collaboration with the Germans ...
Aug 6, 2026
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Workers' pesticide exposure linked to 60–70% heightened motor neuron disease risk
Workplace exposure to pesticides (herbicides and insecticides) is linked to a 60%–70% heightened risk of the most common form of motor neuron disease—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS for short—finds a synthesis of the ...
Aug 4, 2026
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Longer careers may leave younger, disadvantaged workers spending more years in poor health
The average age of the German population is rising. Coupled with the growing labor shortage, these demographic trends pose major challenges for pension systems. According to proposals from the Pension Security Commission, ...
Aug 4, 2026
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In US veterans, rates of ALS associated with military branch and rank
Compared with Army veterans, male veterans of the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard have higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while Marine veterans have lower rates, according to a new study published July ...
Jul 29, 2026
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A potential sleep crisis among workers over 50: Study links work-related stress to range of well-being issues
Sleep disturbances are far more common among workers in middle to later life than previously believed, according to a study that links work-related stress to a range of well-being issues. Researchers found that nearly 70% ...
Jul 28, 2026
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Four-paper series broadens sex workers' health focus beyond HIV prevention
A new four-paper series in The Lancet Public Health reflects a two-year collaboration among researchers at San Diego State University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Global Network of Sex Work ...
Jul 28, 2026
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Conventional lecterns outperformed by ergonomic prototype in usability tests
Lecterns have been a feature of public speaking for centuries. Research in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics has developed a new design based on body measurements and working patterns of university ...
Jul 28, 2026
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Mindful use of digital technology could reduce workplace burnout, study finds
Employees who engage with digital technology more mindfully are better protected against technostress, exhaustion and poorer mental well-being—and a new tool can now measure this capacity, according to new research.
Jul 24, 2026
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Rates of opioid toxicity deaths highest among construction and trades workers, study finds
Between 2018 and 2024, those who worked in construction and trades made up approximately one-third of deaths from opioid toxicity in Ontario where occupation was known, according to a report released this week by the Ontario ...
Jul 24, 2026
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Mental health programs alone won't fix psychological injury among public safety workers
A recent Ontario Coroner's Review documented 34 deaths by suicide among correctional workers over the past 15 years, with 17 of those deaths occurring since 2020.
Jul 20, 2026
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Black and Asian doctors up to 30 times less likely to get training posts in some specialties
Black and Asian doctors in the UK are up to 30 times less likely to be offered medical training posts in some specialties than white candidates, data published exclusively by The BMJ today show.
Jul 15, 2026
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Word choice linked to depression and anxiety symptoms in 911 dispatchers
Emergency call takers and dispatchers serve as the invisible frontline of public safety, navigating life-or-death crises over phone lines and radios without ever seeing the outcomes of their efforts. Now, a new study from ...
Jul 14, 2026
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Workplace violence clusters around specific routines, times, locations in forensic psychiatric inpatient care
A recent study from the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Eastern Finland published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing found that reported incidents of severe workplace violence in forensic ...
Jul 14, 2026
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Six medical societies call for immediate adoption of enhanced radiation protection in fluoroscopy labs
Health care professionals performing minimally invasive procedures in fluoroscopy laboratories, often called "cath labs," should no longer have to accept preventable radiation exposure and orthopedic injuries as part of their ...
Jul 14, 2026
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Neck pain at work may stem from poor sleep, stress and high workload—not just bad posture, AI study shows
Artificial intelligence could predict an individual office worker's risk of musculoskeletal injury in specific body parts, a study by QUT health and data scientists has found.
Jul 13, 2026
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What World Cup football can teach us about managing fatigue in extreme conditions
A football player standing over a penalty in a hot, high-altitude stadium is dealing with more than pressure. His body is trying to keep cool. His heart and breathing may be working harder. Less oxygen is reaching his muscles. ...
Jul 9, 2026
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Airway cells, not immune cells, trigger silicosis: New understanding of a deadly disease
Silicosis—a devastating, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust—is surging worldwide, fueled by a new wave of aggressive cases in young tradespeople working with engineered stone. Despite its growing impact, ...
Jul 6, 2026
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Hybrid work improves the work experience—particularly for women
The transition to hybrid work has improved the psychosocial work environment among white-collar employees, according to new research from Umeå University. Positive effects include more accessible leadership, greater autonomy ...
Jul 2, 2026
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