Since the first report about the association between occupational exposure to silica and autoimmune diseases more than a century ago, the hypothesis has generated numerous publications but no conclusive statements. This systematic review retrieved 82 epidemiological studies, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and case-control studies, and 19 studies addressing the possible mechanisms. Major drawbacks include poor assessment of silica exposure, the retrospective nature, the poor quality of a large part of these studies, their limited number for some autoimmune diseases, and the frequent lack of consideration of possible occupational confounders. Nonetheless, the results confirm sufficient evidence for an association between long-term, high-level exposure to silica and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and systemic lupus erythematosus, and insufficient evidence for dermatomyositis, Sjögren syndrome, ANCA-positive vasculitis, including Wegener’s granulomatosis, and sarcoidosis. The potential mechanisms of such associations are discussed.

Global warming is the prime existential issue facing our planet. Accordingly, there can be no greater public health concern than the need to maintain economic activity while protecting workers directly exposed to solar radiation. Since mining, agriculture, construction, and sport and recreation inevitably involve solar exposure, climate change portends a decreasing number of days and hours when workers in these industries can be both productive and free of risk of heat illness. The implications are especially profound in those parts of the globe where humidity levels are predicted to exceed the limits of human tolerance.

The potential for harmful synergistic effects of workplace noise and chemical exposure is well-established. However, it is less conclusive whether such effects could still be seen if operators were complying with the relevant exposure standards for noise and/or chemicals. Bearing a regulatory perspective, this literature review explored whether any trends in the effects of combined exposure to noise and toxic chemicals could be established. A literature search was undertaken in seven databases, using key search terms on the combined effects of occupational noise and chemical exposures. A total of 1742 articles were identified, among which 82 were assessed in greater detail. Results in animals demonstrated a synergism of styrene, toluene and carbon disulfide when noise is delivered as a repeated ‘impulse’. Other evidence suggested that noise, although at high levels, was responsible for systemic toxicity in organs other than hearing or nerves. Another significant observation was the early signs of hearing loss associated with mixed solvent exposures and noise, each below the respective occupational exposure limits (OELs). Based on these findings, we wondered whether current workplace exposure standards for noise give adequate protection against damage to hearing for workers exposed to chemicals like styrene or toluene. Additionally, they questioned whether compliance with airborne exposure standards and noise levels gave adequate protection for chemicals with a ‘Skin’ notation.

Informal businesses such as tofu production contribute immensely to employment in Indonesia. However, workers in this sector commonly develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to improper working postures and manual labor. This study aims to analyze the working postures of tofu factory workers in Semarang using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). A descriptive observational approach was employed, involving direct posture assessments of 18 workers at the TL Tofu Factory in Semarang through field observations, interviews, and photo-based posture documentation. The REBA method was employed to evaluate postural risks by assessing various body parts, including the neck, trunk, legs, arms, forearms, and wrists. The data showed that 27.8% of the workers were dealing with heavy loads, while 38.9% often took up awkward postures like prolonged bending and standing. The REBA scores showed that 44.4% were at high risk (score 3), followed by 33.3% at medium risk (action at score 2), 16.7% at very high risk (score 4), for which immediate corrective actions were needed), and 5.6% found to be at low risk (score 1). The most affected body parts were the lower back, shoulders, and legs, mostly due to prolonged forward flexion and repetitive movements. These results underscore the urgent need for ergonomic interventions, including posture training and body stretching, to relieve musculoskeletal strain among tofu factory workers.

In the context of aging, re-employment after retirement is an important form of labor market participation for older adults. However, there is no consensus on the effect of re-employment intensity on the health status of older adults. This study leverages the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS 2020) to classify re-employment motivations and employment types. We utilized the database questionnaire to analyze the heterogeneity in health effects among older adults with different re-employment characteristics. Classified by CHARLS 2020, among the four motivation types of “More Income, Better health, As Workout, Family Issue”, those motivated by “More Income” were more likely to have higher work intensity and better self-rated health. Among the three types of employment, “Employed, Self-employed, Non-paid Family Business”, self-employed older adults showed significant positive effects of work on health. This study can help us understand the complex health effects of re-employment more comprehensively from a theoretical perspective and thus provide a scientific basis and further recommendations for policy-making in practice.