https://medicalxpress.com/occupational-medicine-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Occupational medicine 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 A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä shows that regular leisure-time physical activity started at a young age prevents a decrease in work ability at the end of a career. The result is societally significant, as productivity losses due to reduced work ability cost billions of euros annually. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-physical-ability-lifelong-childhood-career.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:03 EDT news693144841 Untreated obstructive sleep apnea may be costing the UK and US economies billions of pounds/dollars in lost productivity every year, with a considerable proportion of working-age adults experiencing symptoms indicative of the breathing disorder, suggests an analysis published online in the journal Thorax. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-obstructive-apnea-uk-economies-billions.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:30:01 EST news691058942 A study of U.S. veterans led by investigators at Mass General Brigham has identified a possible link between exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide and a rare melanoma subtype less likely to be related to sun exposure. The authors of the study, published in JAMA Dermatology, say this link warrants further examination to inform diagnostic strategies for people who may be at a greater risk for acral melanoma. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-agent-orange-exposure-factor-rare.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:43:32 EST news689445781 I have spent much of my professional life thinking about buildings—how they are designed, how they are constructed and how they shape daily life. But some structures matter far more than we usually admit. In places affected by war, the built environment does not simply fail; it actively reshapes trauma. Homes disappear. Hospitals fracture. Streets turn into obstacles instead of connections. And inside those damaged spaces, human beings are expected to keep functioning. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-health-workers-war-zones-built.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:50:03 EST news688741358