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Purpose The purpose of this study is to observe pattern of digital device use and the various ocular, visual and systemic symptoms associated with them during the lockdown period of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Two hundred and thirty-three volunteers were included in web-based open e-survey. The survey was designed on the 'Survey Monkey' website and distributed through social media platform. The information was collected regarding hours and numbers of digital devices along with numbers of digital activities carried out during the pandemic. A pretested symptom questionnaire was also included regarding ocular, visual and systemic symptoms before and during lockdown. The statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package of Social Science software. Results During the pandemic, most of the respondents were engaged in more than two digital activities (73.81%) over more than two digital devices (48.50%) for more than six days (65.66%). Maximum respondents were mobile users (97.85%) spending major time on social media (89.70%). Symptoms including watering eyes (P = 0.000), dry eyes (P = 0.000), shoulder pain (P = 0.020), back pain (P = 0.003) and headache (P = 0.043) showed positive correlation with hours of digital device use per day during lockdown, while itching eyes (P = 0.036) and pain behind eyes (P = 0.025) were the major symptoms in those engaged in a greater number of digital activities. Moreover, red eyes (P = 0.040) were more prominent in respondents using multiple devices for a greater number of hours. Conclusion A big jump in digital activities on multiple digital devices was seen during lockdown which are more prone to ocular symptoms. Acceleration of ocular and systemic symptoms was particular with rise in time spending on digital devices.

Computer Vision Syndrome is the complex of eye and visio n problems caused by computer use. I n present scenario children are equally being affected with computer vision syndrome because of excessive exposure to video display terminals. Therefore considering these prospects a clinical trial was carried with 1 0 clinically diagnosed children of compu ter Vision Syndrome. An Ayurvedic procedure (akshitarpana) was carried out on up to 20 min for 7 days. It was observed that a kshitarpana procedure was highly effe ctive in the complaints of computer vision syndrome exclusively related to eyes viz. red eyes, burning eyes, dry eyes, teary eyes, itching eyes, eyestrain and also in headache.

Sick-building syndrome (SBS) symptoms associated with indoor air volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in new or newly remodeled houses have been increasingly highlighted, and are known as “sick house syndrome” in Japan. In the course of the investigation of SBS patients, we found two sensitive patients who complained of severe symptoms and had elevated serum levels of p-dichlorobenzene and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. One patient was a housewife, who complained of various symptoms such as headache, itching eyes, nasal irritation, and night sweats and had a high serum level of p-dichlorobenzene (25.4 ng/ml). She showed some improvement of symptoms in association with the gradual decrease in p-dichlorobenzene concentrations in both her bedroom and her serum. The other patient was a female professor who had experienced mainly respiratory symptoms, such as nonproductive cough, throat irritation, etc. when she entered her office, classrooms, and a faculty meeting room in a university building. Her serum 2-ethyl-1-hexanol concentration was 4.6 ng/ml, which was more than 7.7-fold higher than that in four other patients with other onsets. The elevation of her serum 2-ethyl-1-hexanol level was assumed to be due to daily exposure in the university building.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate occupational exposure to wood dust in the furniture industry in a minor industrial estate in Bursa/Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between October 2006 and May 2007. In this study, a total of 656 persons, 328 woodworkers and 328 controls were included. A questionnaire was used in the study. Physical examination and the pulmonary function tests (MIR-Spirobank G) of the workers were performed. A portable Aircheck 2000 pump was used to collect the specimens of wood dust from the workplaces. NIOSH Method 0500 was employed for the gravimetric measurements of dust. Results: The average dust concentration at the workplace was 2.04 +/- 1.53 mg/m(3). It was reported that 176 of workers (53.7%) had blocked nose while working, 141 (43.0%) had redness of the eyes, 135 (41.2%) had itching eyes and 78 (23.8%) had runny nose. No symptoms were observed in the control group while they were working at the workplace. The mean FEV1 and FVC values of woodworkers, among both smokers and non smokers, were significantly low, although the FEV1/FVC value was high (p < 0.05). An increase both in FEV1 and FVC values was detected among the woodworkers who had a working period less than 10 years and were exposed to wood dust at concentrations over 4 mg/m(3) compared to the woodworkers who were exposed to wood dust at less than 4 mg/m(3) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: As a result, in this study it was pointed out that the exposure to wood dust adversely influenced the workers respiratory functions. Besides, in this study a question associated with the healthy worker effect that can adversely influence health of workers exposed to wood dust at less than (4 mg/m(3)) is revealed.

This paper reports on analyses of survey data from two public housing developments in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) that house low-income inner-city residents. The two developments differ in that one has had substantial renovations to walls, roofs, piping, heating and water systems while the other has not. In 2002, we collected 238 surveys from the two developments combined, using a questionnaire that recorded self-reports of housing conditions (pest infestation, water leaks, etc), chronic health conditions and symptoms in the preceding month. Because heating and domestic water system replacement at the renovated development occurred between the 2002 survey and a pilot survey we conducted in 1998, we were also able to assess changes in the responses over time. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) showed that residents reported worse environmental conditions at the unrenovated development. Only the crude OR for skin rashes was statistically significant and only the adjusted ORs for ear infection, skin rashes and sneezing exceeded 2.0. The longitudinal component of the study also showed changes in environmental factors after renovation, but the evidence was more mixed with both negative and positive trends. Only the crude OR for sneezing was statistically significant and only the adjusted ORs for nosebleeds, sneezing and burning/itching eyes exceeded 2.0. In conclusion, our analysis supports the contention that renovations improve housing conditions and that this may be associated with health improvements, but further research is needed to firmly document any