Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Facility Design and Construction ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between social support and occupational stress.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey involving 654 career people from different industries was conducted. Social support, the occupational stressors, personalities, and occupational strain were measured by using Occupational Stress Instrument.

RESULTSThe people from different occupations got different level of social support. Social support scores were significantly positively related to interpersonal relation, responsibility for people, responsibility for thing, advancement and participation, task identity, training adequacy, challenge, autonomy, job satisfaction, mental health, affective ambulance, positive emotion, self-esteem and coping strategy (P<0.05 or P<0.01), negatively to careers, role conflict, role ambiguity, job future ambiguity, negative emotion, depression symptoms, daily life stress and work locus of control scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The scores of interpersonal relation, responsibility for people, responsibility for thing, advancement and participation, task identity, training adequacy, challenge, autonomy, job satisfaction, mental health, affective ambulance, positive emotion, self-esteem and coping strategy with sufficient social support were significantly higher than those of deficient social support (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The scores of role conflict, role ambiguity, job future ambiguity, negative emotion, depression symptoms, daily life stress and work locus of control were higher than those of the latter (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Stepwise regression analysis showed that social support was the predictor of depression (R(2)>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSocial support affects occupational stress largely and plays an important role in maintaining mental health of career people. The people from different occupations get different level of social support.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Social Support ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore gender difference of relationship between occupational stress and depressive symptoms.

METHODSThe cross-sectional study was used to investigate 5338 workers in 13 factories and companies, the depressive symptoms were assessed with Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the perceived occupational stress was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Model Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between occupational stress and prevalence of depressive symptoms.

RESULTSPrevalence of depressive symptoms was 31.8% for all subjects, 33.8% for males and 27.7% for females, gender difference of prevalence was significant (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for males were significantly higher than those for females(P < 0.01 or 0.05), social support, reward and job satisfaction scores for males were significantly lower than those for females (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for workers with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than those for workers without depressive symptoms (P < 0.01) but job control, social support, reward, job satisfaction and positive affectivity scores for workers with depressive symptoms were significantly lower than those for without depressive symptoms (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for male workers with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than those for female counterparts (P < 0.01), but social support, reward, job satisfaction scores for male workers with depressive symptoms were significantly lower than hose for female workers with depressive symptoms (P < 0.01). Ratio of male workers and male workers with depressive symptoms with job strain and ERI > 1, high demands and low control, and high effort and low reward were higher than female counterparts (P < 0.01). The risk of depressive symptoms for female with high demands and low control was about two times as high as that for female workers with low demands and high control for psychological demands and physical demands (OR = 2.0), risk for females was slightly higher than that for males (OR = 2.04 and 2.17, respectively). The risk of depressive symptoms for workers with high efforts and low rewards was about two times as high as that for workers with low efforts and high rewards (OR = 1.70). No interactive effect between gender and job strain and ERI on depressive symptoms were found.

CONCLUSIONThe gender difference of relationship between depressive symptom prevalence and job strain may due to the difference of psychosocial factors between females and males. There may be no interactive effect between psychosocial factors and gender on depressive symptoms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the occupational health situation of female workers in the electronic enterprise. Methods A cluster sampling method was used to investigate the occupational health situation of 2560 female workers who were working in the workshops by questionnaire. The major occupational hazardous factors in the workplaces were monitored, and the health examination was conducted in 2560 female workers exposed to the occupational hazardous factors. Results The average age of 2560 female workers was (19.4±2.9) years, the average working days a month was (26.2±3.1) days, he average working time a day was (9.6±1.4) hours with work overtime at times. All hazard factors in the workplace are controlled within safe standard except for tin oxide concentration of air and noise level in workshop, 18.1％ of female workers exposed to the low concentration of benzene suffered from the decreased number of leukocytes. The heavy workload (such as, working overtime and moving heavy objects) and irrational ergonomic design induced obviously the muscular-skeletal system symptoms, such as backache, neurological symptoms, occupational stress, visual fatigue and accident injury as well. However, the enough interval rest could reduce significantly the occurrence of above symptoms (P＜0.05). Conclusion For the labor-intensive electronic enterprises, the occupational hazard prevention and control measures should be strengthened. The labor load regulation and rational ergonomic design can reduce the effects of the occupational hazard on the health of workers.

Objective To investigate the occupational health situation of female workers in the electronic enterprise. Methods A cluster sampling method was used to investigate the occupational health situation of 2560 female workers who were working in the workshops by questionnaire. The major occupational hazardous factors in the workplaces were monitored, and the health examination was conducted in 2560 female workers exposed to the occupational hazardous factors. Results The average age of 2560 female workers was (19.4±2.9) years, the average working days a month was (26.2±3.1) days, he average working time a day was (9.6±1.4) hours with work overtime at times. All hazard factors in the workplace are controlled within safe standard except for tin oxide concentration of air and noise level in workshop, 18.1％ of female workers exposed to the low concentration of benzene suffered from the decreased number of leukocytes. The heavy workload (such as, working overtime and moving heavy objects) and irrational ergonomic design induced obviously the muscular-skeletal system symptoms, such as backache, neurological symptoms, occupational stress, visual fatigue and accident injury as well. However, the enough interval rest could reduce significantly the occurrence of above symptoms (P＜0.05). Conclusion For the labor-intensive electronic enterprises, the occupational hazard prevention and control measures should be strengthened. The labor load regulation and rational ergonomic design can reduce the effects of the occupational hazard on the health of workers.

Objective To find out severity and types of syphilis infection in blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premrital medical examination in Zhoushan City and offer a new measure for prevention and treatment of syphilis. Methods Totally, 174 589 blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations were screened preliminarily for inapparent syphilis with non-TPHA, and then TPHA was applied to confirm the diagnosis, according to the National Standard No. GB 15974-1995, combining with clinical symptoms and physical check-up. Results A total of 1 327 cases of syphilis from 174 589 samples tested, including blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations, were diagnosed, with an inapparent infection rate of 7. 60‰ in average, 6. 42‰in males and 8. 74‰ in females, with a sex ratio of 0.71 (X2 = 29. 92, P

Objective To assess the value of detecting sympathetic skin response (SSR) in the diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods SSR measurement was performed in 47 PD patients and 20 healthy control subjects and the results were compared. The SSR was also comparatively analyzed between patients with and those without autonomic dysfimction. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the PD patients showed significantly lowered mean amplitude (2.56±1.47 vs 1.87±0.26, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (1.42±0.29 vs 1.55± 0.18, P<0.05) of the SSR in the upper limbs, with also lowered mean amplitude (0.76±0.39 vs 0.49±0.21, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (2.04±0.27 vs 2.13±0.16, P<0.05) in the lower limbs. Compared with the PD patients without autonomic dysfunction, those having autonomic dysfunction showed significantly lowered mean amplitude (1.89±0.33 vs 1.75±0.21, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (1.53±0.15 vs 1.56±0.17, P<0.05) of SSR in the upper limbs and lowered mean amplitude (0.51±0.17 vs 0.46±0.20,P<0.05) and prolonged latency (2.08±0.24 vs 2.17±0.18, P<0.05) in the lower limbs. Conclusion The results of SSR measurements are consistent with the clinical manifestations of the PD patients. SSR can be of value in the diagnosis of autonomic nerve dysfunction in PD.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of occupational stress on serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2 and IL-4.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 200 workers from the refrigerator assembly line in Henan province in China. Psychosocial work conditions were measured by using the job demand-control model, the effort-reward imbalance model questionnaires and occupational stress measurement scale. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-4 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay or immunoradiometric assay method respectively.

RESULTSSerum TNF-α concentration was statistically significantly different between workers with higher affective balance level and control groups [(1.947 ± 0.173) and (2.029 ± 0.240) fmol/ml] (P < 0.05). Serum IL-1β concentration was statistically significantly different between workers with higher effort level and control groups [(0.133 ± 0.034) and (0.118 ± 0.031) ng/ml] (P < 0.05). Serum IL-2 concentration was statistically significantly different between workers with higher role ambiguity level [(1.658 ± 0.376) and (1.491 ± 0.033) ng/ml] and control groups (P < 0.05), as well as between workers with higher role conflict level and control groups [(1.774 ± 0.311) and (1.589 ± 0.380) ng/ml] (P < 0.05), between workers with higher daily life stress level and control groups [(1.759 ± 0.361) and (1.606 ± 0.381) ng/ml] (P < 0.05). Serum IL-4 concentration was statistically significantly different between workers with higher reward level and control groups [(1.449 ± 0.025) and (1.466 ± 0.041) pg/ml] (P < 0.05). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that affective balance was the predictor of serum TNF-α (R(2) = 0.029). Effort and mental health were the predictors of serum IL-1β (R(2) was 0.029 and 0.055, respectively). Role conflict, daily life stress and role ambiguity were the predictors of serum IL-2 (R(2) was 0.040, 0.078 and 0.104, respectively). Reward was the predictor of serum IL-4 (R(2) = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONUnhealthy psychological stress factor might be induce a marked increase in the concentrations of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, as well as IL-4.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between job satisfaction and occupational stress in the workers of a thermal power plant.

METHODSThe cluster sampling method was used to investigate 875 workers in a thermal power plant. The job satisfaction, occupational stressors, strains, personalities, meeting strategy and social support were measured using occupational stress instruments, job content questionnaire and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences of job satisfaction scores between different groups according to sex, educational level, marriage status, smoking and drinking (P > 0.05). But there were significant differences of job satisfaction scores between different age groups or between different service length groups (P < 0.01). The correlation analysis revealed that job satisfaction scores were related positively to responsibility for persons and things, promotion opportunity, job control, job stabilization, rewards, mental health, positive affectivity, self-esteem, superior support and coworker support scores (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), negatively to role ambiguity and conflict, job future ambiguity, job demands, negative affectivity, depressive symptoms, patience, and mental locus of work control(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The results of variance analysis indicated that the job relationship, responsibility for persons and things, promotion opportunity, job control, job stabilization, reward, mental health, positive affectivity, self-esteem and buffer scores of the workers with high job satisfaction scores were significantly higher than those of workers with moderate and lower job satisfaction scores (P < 0.01), but the role ambiguity and conflict, job future ambiguity, job demands, and depressive symptoms scores and mental locus of work control of the workers with high job satisfaction scores were significantly lower than those of workers with moderate and lower job satisfaction scores (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of job dissatisfaction for workers with low reward was about four times as high as that for workers with high reward (OR = 3.773), the risks of job dissatisfaction for workers with low social support and mental locus of external work control were about two times as high as that for workers with high social support or mental locus of internal work control (OR = 2.419 and 2.219, respectively). The daily life stress, low control strategy, low support strategy, low job control and negative affectivity were risk factors of job dissatisfaction (OR = 1.125 approximately 1.790), but the self-esteem and positive affectivity could reduce the risk of job dissatisfaction.

CONCLUSIONIncreasing the decision level, social support, meeting strategy and reward or decreasing the role conflict and ambiguity, demands and negative affectivity could improve worker's job satisfaction level.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Power Plants ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEEstablishment of determination method of carbon disulfide in charcoal tube with low toxicity solvents desorption-gas chromatography.

METHODSFour types of solvent with low toxicity are applied respectively as substitution of benzene to desorb the carbon disulfide in samples of charcoal tube. The signal strength and desorption efficiency of the detector are compared by using different solvents.

RESULTSChloroform has been considered as the best alternative solvent of benzene. Carbon disulfide has a good linearity (R = 0.9997) over the concentration of 0 ∼ 54.7 µg/ml, detection limit can reach 0.2 µg/ml. When the sampling volume is 3.0 L, the minimum detectable concentration is 0.07 mg/m(3).

CONCLUSIONWith the use of chloroform, the health hazard to laboratory personnel and environment pollution as well as the costs of experiments are reduced.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Carbon Disulfide ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Solvents ; analysis ; Workplace