International Festival of Public Health

LT 4 - Occupational and Environmental Health

Characterisation of pedestrian exposure to nanoparticle emission at traffic intersections

Presenter: Anju Goel, University of Surrey

Other Author(s): Prashant Kumar

Objectives. In this study I have examine the prevalence of morbidities by selected background characteristics in all selected countries. Here also I have try to understand the level of morbidity among all selected countries.

Methods. For this study Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) survey data (2007-2010) have been used. Data treated with Bi.variate and multivariate techniques in SPSS 20 and STATA 12 software.

Results. Results show prevalence of morbidities is significantly higher (58 %) in Russia Federation followed by India and Ghana (53.8& 40.7 %). Furthermore, the prevalence of Vision problem remarkable high in India and Russia Federation (31.2 & 20.4 %) than other selected country. The elderly were 12.6 % having hearing problem in Russia Federation while lees contribution of Ghana about 3.3 %.Wealth of the respondent are statically associated with morbidity across selected countries. Regression result depicts higher educated elderly are less likely (0.451, p>0.001) to have morbidity than their counterpart.

Discussion. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable and high risk groups in terms of morbidity and health status. Furthermore, urban respondent have significantly high morbidity as compare to their counterpart. The intergenerational support has been drastically changed due to the new economic scenario.

Air Pollution, Occupation and Health: An Ecological Analysis

Presenter: Subhashis Basu, Centre for Workplace Health and Safety Laboratory

Other Author(s): None

Abstract Text:

Background: The adverse health effects of air pollution have become increasingly recognised. Although most work has demonstrated an inverse relationship between exposure to ambient air pollution and socioeconomic deprivation; much less is known about its association with occupational status.

Methods: The study was ecological in design. Individual job data pertaining to Rotherham residents was grouped at area-level under the categories of the Standard Occupational Classification 2010. Area-level health data was provided by the local council in the form of an indirectly age-standardised ratio (IASRs) for each indicator. Area-level air quality data was mapped using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Associations between occupational group, air pollution exposure and related ill-health were assessed using multivariate regression analyses in IBM SPSS software Version 22.

Results: Air quality was poorest in the areas surrounding the town centre and major traffic routes. After adjustment for income, there was no significant relationship between residents' occupational classification and their exposure to ambient NO2. There were statistically significant relationships between rising area-level concentrations of NO2 and higher rates of cardiovascular and circulatory disease under the age of 75, as well as rates of low weight births.

Conclusion: Deprivation status is the main explanatory variable for differences in residential exposure to NO2 in Rotherham. No differences were found in the associations between area-level NO2 and rates of ill-health when adjusting for income or occupational status. Further work should explore the differential health effects seen in younger age groups from air pollution exposure and establish a complete profile of occupational risk.

Occupational exposure to coarse, fine and ultrafine particle emissions from building refurbishment activities

Presenter: Farhad Azarmi, University of Surrey

Other Author(s): Dr Prashanat Kumar, Dr Mike Mulheron

Background: The principles of sustainable urban development are well established, but the extent of pollution due to construction activities is still unknown. Construction and building activities are common across the cities in world. However, understanding of the emissions of coarse (PM10 ≤ 10 μm), fine (PM2.5 ≤ 2.5 μm) and ultrafine particles (UFP <100 nm) from building refurbishment activities and their dispersion into the nearby environment is of primary importance.

Methods: In this research, we investigated the release of particulate matter, including UFP, from over 20 different refurbishment activities occurring at a building site and their physicochemical characteristics. Measurements were made for 55 hours over 8 days, in the 5–10,000 nm size range using a fast response differential mobility spectrometer (DMS50) and a GRIMM particle spectrometer.

Results: The results demonstrate that the UFPs account for more than 90% of the total particle number concentrations and less than 10% of the total mass released during the refurbishment activities. The total respiratory deposition dose rates for PNCs for refurbishment activities were 7.03± 6.65×108 min−1 and 3.57±1.31×108 min−1 during the activity and non-activity periods, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and ion beam analysis were used to identify physicochemical properties of particles to assess possible sources considering the nature and the size of the particles.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there is a need to design appropriate risk mitigation strategies to limit exposures of on-site workers and those around such sites and develop efficient risk assessment strategies for the construction industry.

Planning a health promotion intervention for the World Food Programme workers in developing countries

Presenter: Francesco Di Nardo, Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore - Roma

Other Author(s): Elena Azzolini, Giuseppe Furia, Matteo Raponi, Elisabetta De Vito, Yimei Cao, Walter Ricciardi MD PhD

Abstract Text: Humanitarian workers are exposed to relevant health risks. The World Food Programme is committed to promoting and maintaining the health of all employees and volunteers. In 2013 it commissioned a health promotion intervention involving six developing countries with high burden of disease to be eventually extended to other countries.Data from incident reports and a survey based on validated questionnaires was used to assess the health needs and priorities of the workers. A benchmark analysis with data from other UN Agencies allowed to check for consistency. After a review of the scientific literature on health promotion for humanitarian workers and a socio-cultural/geopolitical background analysis, site visits were organized. A multidisciplinary board (including occupational and public health doctors and global health experts) planned the intervention.Cardiovascular and infectious diseases and lack of safety measures and resources for cancer prevention were the main health concern; violence and car accidents were the main cause of injuries. The intervention focused on physical activity and healthy diet promotion, smoke cessation, safety at work, stress management and infection control. Downloadable posters, leaflets, videos and a handbook were produced. Future surveys will value the efficacy of the intervention.Poor available literature and a variegated educational/cultural background of the workers made it difficult to plan the intervention. Peer education in such settings is discouraged. Site visits can be dangerous (political instability, poor infrastructures) and require local staff support. Offices are difficult to reach and internet connections are slow, unreliable. Downloadable documents should be preferred to live/streaming lessons.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of yoga for reducing back pain in the workplace

Presenter: Ned Hartfiel, Bangor University

Other Author(s): None

Abstract Text: Conference AbstractAims: To determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of yoga for reducing back pain among NHS employees.Design and setting: A randomised controlled trial (n=151) was conducted to investigate the effect of an eight-week yoga programme for NHS employees. NHS staff were randomised to a yoga group (n=76) or a usual care group (n=75). The yoga group received weekly Dru yoga classes, a DVD and an illustrated booklet. The usual care group received educational booklets for managing back pain and stress.Results: The results showed that yoga was significantly more effective than usual care for reducing back pain and physical exhaustion, and for improving psychological wellbeing. Focus group interviews indicated additional outcomes such as more physical flexibility, better posture, improved sleep quality and heightened body awareness. The economic evaluation found that the yoga was cost-saving from the employer perspective with benefit-cost ratios ranging between 1.35 and 2.02 when yoga teachers were compensated at usual rates.From a healthcare perspective, yoga was 75% cost-effective for reducing back pain at a threshold of £1,300 per unit of back pain reduced, and 89% cost-effective for improving health-related quality of life at a threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained. From a societal perspective, social return on investment analysis indicated that for every £1 invested in the yoga programme, a social value ranging from £2.6 to £6.9 was created. Conclusion: Economic evidence from this study suggests that employers should consider yoga as a means for reducing back pain and sickness absence in the workplace.