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Occupational medicine news
Culture change may help firefighters reduce cancer risk
A soot-caked helmet and grimy turnout gear have long been symbols of grit and experience among American firefighters. Yet exposure to contaminated equipment can increase the risk of cancer. Now, attitudes toward protective ...
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Biological changes in firefighters' urine and blood seen 24 hours after fighting a fire
New research from UTHealth Houston found firefighters experience measurable biological changes in their blood and urine within 24 hours of fighting a fire—changes that may help identify early cancer risk, the leading cause ...
Aug 24, 2026
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Officials warn wildland firefighters about the risks of using a supplement for smoke exposure
Fire and medical officials have issued warnings about a supplement offered to Western wildland firefighters who have been exposed to toxic chemicals while battling some of the country's biggest blazes.
Aug 23, 2026
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How being 'on‑call' for work can disrupt your sleep—even if the call never comes
It's 4 a.m., you've finally drifted off, and then the phone rings. It's work calling. You have to go in. The right to disconnect from work has been protected by law in Australia since 2024. This means most employees can refuse ...
Aug 21, 2026
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Cabin crew at greater risk of radiation‑based cancer than nuclear technologists, new study suggests
What jobs are most associated with deaths from radiation-related cancer? Surprisingly, the answer is cabin crew and pilots—ahead of nuclear technologists, whose work involves handling radioactive materials used in medical ...
Aug 20, 2026
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Healthy sleep patterns in midlife linked to longer working life expectancy
Healthy sleep patterns in midlife are linked to longer working life expectancy, findings from a large study of working-age men and women suggest. The study was published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Aug 18, 2026
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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.
Aug 17, 2026
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Small scheduling change can have big health benefits for night-shift physicians
University of Missouri researchers have found that a simple scheduling change can improve the health and well-being of physicians working overnight shifts.
Aug 17, 2026
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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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