[1][2] Occupational epidemiologic studies examine health outcomes among workers, and their potential association with conditions in the workplace including noise, chemicals, heat, or radiation, or work organization such as schedules.
[5] It was initially thought to be the result of consumption, but it was subsequently determined to be silicosis, and studies from 1879 through the 1930s uncovered the association of miners' deaths with lung cancer and nonmalignant respiratory diseases.
Although the case series approach provided a good indicator of occupational hazards, they are not adequate on their own to assess a wide spectrum of health outcomes that may not be closely related to workplace exposure.
[8] CWP typically takes at least 10 years to develop after initial exposure and as the scarring continues to worsen, oxygen may be prevented from reaching the blood which subsequently puts stress on other organs, such as the heart and brain.
[9] The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that they will give coal miners with black lung disease the right to work in areas with lower dust levels without reduced pay, discrimination, or termination.
[11] Occupational epidemiologists collaborate with industrial hygienists through field investigations that seek to identify and assess hazard exposures in the workplace.
[18] Asbestos exposure can occur in many different industries, the most common being construction, manufacturing products like textiles, and automotive brake and clutch repair.
Health surveillance – the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data – conducted for exposed workers was voluntary and consisted of two phases: general evaluation with an assessment of work and residential history followed by a physical examination with emphasis on the respiratory system.
This study consisted of 4 birth cohorts and examined the results of several physical tests including spirometry, CAT scan, etc.
Hyperuricemia can lead to other health conditions including but not limited to gouty arthritis, renal impairment, and coronary artery disease.
Samples of heat, dust, and noise were taken and individuals included in the study were grouped based on sex, smoking status (non-smokers and former smokers), alcohol consumption, and physical activity at the workplace.
[21] A typical cross-sectional study involves the comparison of varying degrees of exposure and the prevalence of disease, symptoms, or physiological status.
For example, recommendations for exposure limits to benzene developed by the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards were based on occupational epidemiology.