https://medicalxpress.com/occupational-medicine-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Occupational medicine 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 available evidence, published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-workers-pesticide-exposure-linked-heightened.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:30:03 EDT news704970182 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% of participants experienced persistent, clinically significant sleep problems, despite having no known history of sleep disorders. Even more concerning, almost 92% met the clinical threshold for a sleep disorder at least once during the study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-potential-crisis-workers-links-stress.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:20:03 EDT news704463781 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. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-mindful-digital-technology-workplace-burnout.html Fri, 24 Jul 2026 08:00:01 EDT news704097782 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 UT San Antonio reveals that the specific words these workers use to describe their most stressful calls can provide early warning signs of depression and anxiety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-word-choice-linked-depression-anxiety.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:20:13 EDT news703239182 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. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-neck-pain-stem-poor-stress.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:30:18 EDT news703155905 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, the biological triggers that turn silica exposure into life-threatening lung inflammation and scarring have remained poorly understood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-airway-cells-immune-trigger-silicosis.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:20:01 EDT news702543899 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 over work tasks and an increased ability to complete work within regular working hours. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-hybrid-women.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:20:05 EDT news702210158 Bending forward and, to a lesser extent, walking a lot at work in early pregnancy may raise the risk of miscarriage, finds a large study of more than 470,000 Danish women, published online in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-lot-miscarriage-early-pregnancy.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:30:03 EDT news700990336 Mesothelioma deaths and diagnoses continue to rise in the United States despite decades of asbestos regulation and reduced industrial use, according to a new national analysis from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mesothelioma-cases-deaths-decades-asbestos.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT news700387621 Occupational burnout is a growing threat to care quality, workforce retention and physician well-being. Pregnant and postpartum physicians-in-training are especially at risk, facing stigma, limited support, and physical demands, alongside major role transitions and increased responsibilities at home. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-parental-package-burnout-physician-trainees.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:03 EDT news697797181 Mothers who work in jobs where they are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals or experience high stress have higher odds of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggest the findings of original research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-autism-spectrum-disorder-child-linked.html Tue, 12 May 2026 18:30:02 EDT news697710904 Man-made "forever chemicals" have been detected in 98.8% of blood tests, in a new study which examined more than 10,500 samples. The findings are the latest indication to suggest that nearly every single person in the US is living with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—and usually multiple—in their system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-multiple-chemicals-people.html Fri, 08 May 2026 08:40:06 EDT news697447801 Researchers from National Jewish Health have conducted what is believed to be the largest systematic review of silicosis in mineral miners. Silicosis is an irreversible lung disease caused by the inhalation of respirable (breathable) crystalline silica dust, and—while preventable—it is not treatable and can be disabling. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-disease-global-pits-demand-critical.html Tue, 05 May 2026 16:00:06 EDT news697214461 If you piled all of Phoenix's pavement into one spot, it would be enough to cover San Francisco four times over. Roads, parking lots, and other paved surfaces blanket a lot of land—an estimated 40% of Arizona's capital city. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-asphalt-bad-health.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:00:01 EDT news696075781 Professional wrestlers die nearly three years earlier than people of the same age and sex, new research from Macquarie University shows. The findings are published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study—the largest of its kind—analyzed the survival of more than 1,000 male and female wrestlers who performed for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and its predecessor organizations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pro-spectacle-deadly-toll-fans.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:20:03 EDT news696072601 A new study finds that lead chromate pigments are used in more than 90% of the lead paints that are being sold in Mexico. Lead Chromate is a well-known human carcinogen and a lead poisoning hazard. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-toxic-shelves-mexico-products.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:00:04 EDT news696003782