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We aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss and influencing factors among workers in automobile manufacturing industry in Wuhan, China. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 2017 through 2019 data from survey of the key occupational diseases on 17,176 workers in automobile manufacturing industry, Wuhan, China. Hearing loss was defined as a pure tone mean of 25 dB or higher in either ear at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz for speech frequency and at 3, 4, and 6 kHz for high frequency. Among the 17,176 workers, more than a quarter of participants had high frequency hearing loss, and 6.41% had speech frequency hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss was higher among participants with diabetes mellitus and current smoking, temporary tinnitus, and sudden change in hearing. Compared with the controls, age (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.08-1.09), male (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.21-1.63), occupational noise exposure (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.30), having temporary tinnitus (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.08-1.33), and having sudden change in hearing (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.20-2.08) were associated with higher prevalence of high frequency hearing loss; meanwhile, age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.08-1.09), male (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.11-1.71), having family history of hearing loss (OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.35-5.97), and having sudden change in hearing (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.80-3.70) were associated with higher prevalence of speech frequency hearing loss. No additive and multiplicative interaction was found between occupational noise and these factors for hearing loss. Hearing loss directly affects 25% of workers in automobile manufacturing industry in Wuhan. Measures should be implemented for the control of occupational noise and other factors simultaneously in the workplace.

Objectives Epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between work-related stress and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but it remains unclear on whether work-related stress could increase the risk of T2DM. We aimed to evaluate the association between job strain and the risk of T2DM. Methods We searched PubMed and Web of Science up to April 2019. Summary risk estimates were calculated by random-effect models. And the analysis was also conducted stratifying by gender, study location, smoking, drinking, body mass index, physical activity, family history of T2DM, education and T2DM ascertainment. Studies with binary job strain and quadrants based on the job strain model were analyzed separately. Results A total of nine studies with 210 939 participants free of T2DM were included in this analysis. High job strain (high job demands and low control) was associated with the overall risk of T2DM compared with no job strain (all other combinations) [relative risk (RR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.31], and the association was more evident in women (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02–2.14). A statistically significant association was also observed when using high strain as a category (job strain quadrants) rather than binary variable (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04–2.55) in women but not men. Conclusions Our study suggests that job strain is an important risk factor for T2DM, especially among women. Appropriate preventive interventions in populations with high job strain would contribute to a reduction in T2DM risk.

Long-term noise exposure is reported to damage cardiovascular system, but the relationship between occupational noise exposure and arterial stiffness (AS) and the underlying mechanism is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of occupational noise exposure with arterial stiffness (AS), and further explore the mediation roles of microRNAs (miRNAs). A total of 838 workers were recruited from two companies in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Cumulative occupational noise exposure (CNE) was assessed through noise level of job title and work years in occupational noise. The AS for the participants were evaluated using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measured by an oscillometric device. Each 1-unit increase in CNE levels was significantly associated with a 0.002 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.001-0.003) unit increase in ln-transformed values of baPWV. In the sex-specific analysis, the association was significant in males (β = 0.002, 95%CI = 0.001-0.003). Meanwhile, the risk of bilateral hearing loss at high frequency was significantly higher in the high-exposed group than non-exposed group (OR = 1.895, 95%CI = 1.024-3.508), and participants with bilateral hearing loss at high frequency had a significantly higher level of ln-transformed baPWV (β = 0.032, 95%CI = 0.003-0.061). Occupational noise exposure and AS were both negatively associated with plasma miR-92a-3p and miR-21-5p, and the two miRNAs mediated 15.0% and 16.8% of the association of occupational noise with AS (P 0.05). Our findings suggest that occupational noise exposure is positively associated with AS, and plasma miR-92a-3p and miR-21-5p may partly mediate such association.

Previous reviews have suggested that shift work is associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM); however, the results should be interpreted with caution due to differences in study designs and non-comprehensive literature searches. In addition, the quantitative dose-response relationship between years of shift work and DM risk is still unknown. We aimed to conduct an updated meta-analysis with cohort studies and to evaluate the relationship between the duration of shift work and the risk of DM in a dose-dependent manner. The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched through 15 August 2019, and multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RRs) were pooled using random-effects models. Restricted cubic spline analysis with three knots was used to explore the relationship of years of shift work and risk of DM. Twelve cohort studies with 28 independent reports involving 244,266 participants and 15,906 DM cases were included. The summarized adjusted RR for the relationship between shift work and DM risk was 1.14 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.19; I2 = 38.9%, P = 0.028). The summary RR of a 5-year increase in shift work was 1.07 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.09), without heterogeneity (I2= 0.0%, P = 0.829) for the female population. Shift work is associated with an increased risk of DM, and a strong and highly significant linear dose-response relationship between the duration of shift work and the risk of DM in women was observed. Further studies are needed to confirm the results, establish causality and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

When evaluating noise-related cardiovascular risk, noise is generally solely assessed as the major stressor. However, cardiovascular effect of other simultaneous exposure events, such as unhealthy lifestyle and genetic variation, is easily neglected. The aim of this study is to estimate the combined effect of noise and lifestyle on blood pressure alteration, particularly under different genetic background. This study included 536 workers from a tobacco factory in Wuhan, China, who were divided into high exposure group and low exposure group according to noise measurement in their working area. All participants took annual physical examination and questionnaire survey to provide information on individual systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and lifestyle (smoking, drinking and physical activity). Single nucleotide polymorphism at genes related to stress hormone production were determined. Moderated moderation models were constructed to investigate the interaction effect of noise exposure and lifestyle factors on blood pressure with regard to different genetic background. We identified an expected trend in association between noise exposure and SBP among active smokers (P = 0.086). The moderated moderation analysis showed significant three-way interaction effect (COMT rs4680 × smoking status × noise exposure levels) on SBP or DBP (both P 0.05). For COMT rs4680 GA+AA genotype carriers, active smoking significantly moderated the association between noise exposure and SBP or DBP (both P 0.05). The results indicated that for COMT rs4680 A allele carriers, tobacco and noise exposure contribute collectively to blood pressure alteration, supporting that stress hormone production may play a certain role in the smoke-and-noise-induced cardiovascular effect.

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis with stick reference and uniform cut-off of obesity to evaluate the relationship between long working hours and risk of obesity, using a quantitative dose–response method. The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched through February 26, 2021, odds ratios (ORs) were pooled by using random-effects models and restricted cubic spline analysis with four knots was used to explore the dose–response relationship of working time and risk of obesity. Ten observational studies with 20 independent reports involving 189,590 participants were included in the present analysis. The summarized adjusted OR for the relationship between long working hours and obesity risk was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.26), when compared with weekly working hours less than and equal to 40 h using the random-effects model. A J-shaped association between long working hours and risk of obesity was observed (P

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship of occupational noise, bilateral hearing loss with blood pressure and hypertension among a Chinese population. METHODS We included 15 422 individuals from a cross-sectional survey of the key occupational diseases in 2017 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Occupational noise exposure was evaluated through workplace noise level and/or the job titles. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average of 25 dB or higher at speech frequency (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) or high frequency (3, 4, 6 kHz) in both ears. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure at least 140/90 mmHg or self-reported current use of antihypertensive medication. RESULTS Compared with participants without occupational noise exposure, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher for noise exposure duration of 5 to less than 10 years [odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.27] and at least 10 years (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09-1.30). In the sex-specific analysis, the association was significantly pronounced in male (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06-1.32 for duration of 5 to

Aims Previous studies have explored the association between noise exposure and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, the results remain inconclusive. Methods PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched through December 2020, multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RRs) were pooled by using random-effects models. Subgroup analysis was also conducted stratifying by gender, study location, study design, source of noise, study quality, adjusting for smoking, drinking, body mass index, physical activity and shift work. Results Five studies involving 44,698 participants and 5187 MetS cases were included. A summarized adjusted RR for the relationship between noise exposure and risk of MetS was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.02–1.60), and 1.11 (1.02–1.21) for blood pressure and 1.11 (1.06–1.17) for blood glucose. Subgroup analysis revealed that the pooled risk of MetS was statistically significant in all cohort studies (RR = 1.34, 95 %CI, 1.06–1.68), ambient/traffic noise (RR = 1.24, 95 %CI, 1.13–1.35) and occupational noise by removing one low quality study (RR = 2.21, 95 %CI, 1.41–3.44). Conclusions Noise exposure is associated with an increased risk of MetS, and occupational noise exposure may result in a greater risk. Additional more prospective large-scale studies conducted in more countries or populations are needed to confirm the results, establish causality and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

We aimed to explore the association of occupational noise exposure with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in Chinese adults. We included 21,412 participants from the Dongfeng-tongji Cohort Study, occupational noise exposure was evaluated through workplace noise level and/or the job titles, hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone mean of 25 dB or higher at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in any ear. Compared with participants without occupational noise exposure, the 10-year ASCVD risk was significantly higher for noise exposure duration ≥20 years (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.05–1.32) after adjusting for potential confounders. In the subgroup analysis, the association was only statistically significant in males (OR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.12–3.14) and participants aged equal to or over 60 years old (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.05–1.33), but not in females (OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 0.71–1.92) and aged below 60 (OR = 1.51, 95%CI = 0.75–2.85). In the subsample analyses (N = 10,165), bilateral hearing loss was associated with a higher risk of 10-year ASCVD (OR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.30–2.30), especially for participants who were males (OR = 2.40, 95%CI = 1.61–3.42) and aged equal to or over 60 (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.40–2.44). The present study suggests that occupational noise exposure may be a potential risk factor for ASCVD, especially for males and older participants.

Background Epidemiological studies suggest an association between sleep duration and risk of coronary heart disease, however, the results are controversial. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the potential dose-response relationship between sleep duration and risk of coronary heart disease. Methods The electronic reference databases (PubMed and Embase) were searched through January 2016 with selection criteria for relevant studies. Both semiparametric and parametric methods were used to calculate the pooled risk estimates. Results Seventeen articles with 22 independent reports involving 17,841 incident cases of coronary heart disease among 517,440 participants were included in our meta-analysis. A U-shaped relationship was detected between sleep duration and risk of coronary heart disease, with the lowest risk at 7–8h per day. Compared with 7h sleep duration per day, the combined relative risk of coronary heart disease were 1.11 (95% CI=1.05–1.16) for an reduction of 1h and 1.07 (95% CI=1.00–1.15) for an increment of 1h. And the results almost did not change in the subgroup analysis of gender and fatal cases. Exclusion of any single study did not alter the combined relative risk. In addition, visual inspection of funnel plots, Begg's and Egger's tests failed to identify publication bias. Conclusions Both short and long sleep durations are significantly associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Compared with 7h sleep duration per day, the risk of coronary heart disease increases 11% for an hour decrease and increases 7% for an hour increase.

Dust sample mass gain is too smaller to satisfy the limit of detection (LOD) even in most cases during dust sampling at workplaces nowdays, especially for respirable fraction. Therefore, it is aimed to solve the problem by increasing sample load with high flow rate samplers.In A and B two shipyards respirable welding fume was sampled by high flow rate cyclone samplers of FSP-10 (10 L/min) for 2-2.5 hours and normal flow rate FSP-2 (2 L/min) for 3-4 hours with a stratigy of parallele sampling at the same workpalce, in order to compare their mass gain, coincidence rate with LOD, and airborn dust concentration.Sample mass gain of 0.97±0.40 mg and 1.61±0.86 mg respectively in the two factories by FSP-10 was significantly higher than that of 0.29±0.12 mg and 0.51±0.27 mg by FSP-2 (t-test, P0.05 in both cases) , increasing herewith the coincidence rate with LOD from 26.8% (when sampling with FSP-2, calculated together with samples of the two factories) to 89.7%. However there was no significant difference in dust concentrations by the two different samplers, 0.53±1.88 vs 0.73±1.61 mg/m(3) by FSP-2 and FSP-10 in the shipyard A and 1.14±1.78 vs 1.01±1.63 mg/m(3) in the factory B (t-test, P0.05 in every case) . In addtion, sample loading by FSP-2 was found to be correlated to sampling time (R(2)=0.7906, y=0.002 6x) , therefore, it has to sample for ≥192.3 min to meet the LOD (0.5 mg) in case of normal flow rate.By using of high flow rate cyclone FSP-10 the problem of LOD could be solved, along with increased sample mass and similar respirable dust concentration by the two samplers. Some techincal improvements of FSP-10 and increasing of LOD coincidence rate by other methods was also disscussed.

In China, dust samplers were originally designed to collect 'total dust' for a short term during production, which is different from the widely adopted sampling strategy for dust. With the aim to provide the conversion factor from Chinese total dust to US and German respirable dust and to look at the influences on conversion factors from environment, production, and instruments, a comparative field study on the dust concentration measurements by different sampling methods was carried out in the same Chinese industries as in the 1989-1990 study and in some other factories. A supplemental experiment was also conducted in a wind tunnel. Dust concentration was measured with a parallel sampling strategy by using the following samplers: 10-mm nylon cyclone for US respirable dust (AR), FSP-Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitssicherheit (BIA) cyclone for German respirable dust (GR), and samplers for Chinese total dust (CT). Totally, 1434 samples were collected (269 AR, 198 GR, and 967 CT), from which 429 matched sample pairs (249 pairs of AR/CT, 180 GR/CT) were available to calculate conversion ratios. Industry- and job-based conversion factors are presented in this study. The conversion factor of AR/CT was 0.38 for tungsten mines, 0.19 for copper/iron mines, 0.65 for tin mines, and 0.20 for pottery industry, while the factor of GR/CT was 0.69 for tungsten, 0.37 for copper/iron, and 0.52 for pottery. In the job category, AR/CT factors varied from 0.16 to 0.96 and GR/CT from 0.12 to 0.72. For the industries studied in 1988-1989, the AR/CT and GR/CT factors were 0.29 and 0.45, respectively. Both factors were definitely influenced by production, CT dust concentration, sample gain, and variation of dust concentration. Moreover, the respirable dust concentration by FSP-BIA was significantly higher than that by 10-mm cyclones, 63.27-73.10% more as showed also by the wind tunnel experiment. Meanwhile, the GR/CT ratio was significantly larger than the AR/CT in every industry or job with only few exceptions. The GR/CT estimates should be considered as independent ones. Following these results, there is a need to use 'ideal samplers' (consistent with the internationally accepted respirable fraction) in practice and to assess the existent samplers in order to homogenize the exposure data situation.