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Feng Y, Luo X, Wei J, Fan Y, Ge J. Evaluating infection risks in buses based on passengers' dynamic temporal and typical spatial scenarios: A case study of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171373. [PMID: 38428616 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Conventional buses, as an indispensable part of the urban public transport system, impose cross-infection risks on passengers. To assess differential risks due to dynamic staying durations and locations, this study considered four spatial distributions (i = 1-4) and six temporal scenarios (j = 1-6) of buses. Based on field measurements and a risk assessment approach combining both short-range and room-scale effects, risks are evaluated properly. The results showed that temporal asynchrony between infected and susceptible individuals significantly affects disease transmission rates. The Control Case assumes that infected and susceptible individuals enter and leave synchronously. However, ignoring temporal asynchrony scenarios, i.e., the Control Case, resulted in overestimation (+30.7 % to +99.6 %) or underestimation (-15.2 % to -69.9 %) of the actual risk. Moreover, the relative difference ratios of room-scale risks between the Control Case and five temporal scenarios are impacted by ventilation. Short-range risk exists only if infected and susceptible individuals have temporal overlap on the bus. Considering temporal and spatial asynchrony, a more realistic total reproduction number (R) can be obtained. Subsequently, the total R was assessed under five temporal scenarios. On average, for the Control Case, the total R was estimated to be +27.3 % higher than j = 1, -9.3 % lower than j = 2, +12.8 % higher than j = 3, +33.0 % lower than j = 4, and + 77.6 % higher than j = 5. This implies the need for a combination of active prevention and real-time risk monitoring to enable rigid travel demand and control the spread of the epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinshuai Feng
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; International Research Center for Green Building and Low-Carbon City, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, China
| | - Xiaoyu Luo
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; International Research Center for Green Building and Low-Carbon City, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, China
| | - Jianjian Wei
- Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Key Laboratory of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Fan
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; International Research Center for Green Building and Low-Carbon City, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, China.
| | - Jian Ge
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; International Research Center for Green Building and Low-Carbon City, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining, China
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Fitzsimmons K, Hood M, Grattan K, Laing J, Sparer-Fine E. COVID-19 mortality among Massachusetts workers and the association with telework ability, 2020. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:364-375. [PMID: 38430201 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Working outside the home put some workers at risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure and might partly explain elevated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality rates in the first months of the pandemic in certain groups of Massachusetts workers. To further investigate this premise, we examined COVID-19 mortality among Massachusetts workers, with a specific focus on telework ability based on occupation. METHODS COVID-19-associated deaths between January 1 and December 31, 2020 among Massachusetts residents aged 18-64 years were analyzed. Deaths were categorized into occupation-based quadrants (Q) of telework ability. Age-adjusted rates were calculated by key demographics, industry, occupation, and telework quadrant using American Community Survey workforce estimates as denominators. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals comparing rates for quadrants with workers unlikely able to telework (Q2, Q3, Q4) to that among those likely able to telework (Q1) were calculated. RESULTS The overall age-adjusted COVID-19-associated mortality rate was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. Workers who were male, Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, born outside the US, and with lower than a high school education level experienced the highest rates among their respective demographic groups. The rate varied by industry, occupation and telework quadrant. RRs comparing Q2, Q3, and Q4 to Q1 were 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8-1.2), 3.2 (95% CI: 2.6-3.8) and 2.5 (95% CI: 2.0-3.0), respectively. CONCLUSION Findings suggest a positive association between working on-site and COVID-19-associated mortality. Work-related factors likely contributed to COVID-19 among Massachusetts workers and should be considered in future studies of COVID-19 and similar diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Fitzsimmons
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - Malena Hood
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Special Analytic Projects, Office of Population Health, Boston, USA
| | - Kathleen Grattan
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - James Laing
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
| | - Emily Sparer-Fine
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Boston, USA
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Blaser C, Gautier L, Brousseau É, Auger N, Frohlich KL. Inequality in COVID-19 mortality in Quebec associated with neighbourhood-level vulnerability domains. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2024; 115:53-66. [PMID: 38100050 PMCID: PMC10868572 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00829-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We measured disparities in COVID-19 mortality associated with increasing vulnerability to severe outcomes of infectious disease at the neighbourhood level to identify domains for prioritization of public interventions. METHODS In this retrospective ecological study, we calculated COVID-19 mortality rate ratios (RR) comparing neighbourhoods with the greatest vulnerability relative to lowest vulnerability using the five domains from the COVID-19 vulnerability index for Quebec using hospital data from the first year of the pandemic and vulnerability levels from 13,182 neighbourhoods. We estimated the attributable fraction to assess disparities in COVID-19 mortality associated with vulnerability. Domains covered biological susceptibility, sociocultural characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, and indoor and outdoor risk factors for exposure to SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS Vulnerable neighbourhoods accounted for 60.7% of COVID-19 deaths between March 2020 and February 2021. Neighbourhoods with biological susceptibility accounted for 46.1% and indoor exposure for 44.6% of deaths. Neighbourhoods with socioeconomic vulnerability experienced 23.5%, outdoor exposure 14.6%, and sociocultural vulnerability 9.0% of deaths. Neighbourhoods with high relative vulnerability had 4.66 times greater risk of COVID-19 mortality compared with those with low vulnerability (95%CI 3.82-5.67). High vulnerability in the biological (RR 3.33; 95%CI 2.71-4.09), sociocultural (RR 1.50; 95%CI 1.27-1.77), socioeconomic (RR 2.08; 95%CI 1.75-2.48), and indoor (RR 3.21; 95%CI 2.74-3.76) exposure domains were associated with elevated risks of mortality compared with the least vulnerable neighbourhoods. Outdoor exposure was unassociated with mortality (RR 1.17; 95%CI 0.96-2.43). CONCLUSION Public intervention to protect vulnerable populations should be adapted to focus on domains most associated with COVID-19 mortality to ensure addressing local needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Blaser
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Lara Gautier
- Department of Management, Evaluation and Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique (CReSP), Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Émilie Brousseau
- University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie Auger
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Katherine L Frohlich
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Laskaris Z, Markowitz SB. Why presumptions are important in occupational health: The example of COVID-19 infection as an occupational disease. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:3-9. [PMID: 37837415 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Workers who become ill or injured on the job while undertaking extraordinary risks on behalf of the public are, at times, granted facilitated access to workers' compensation (WC) benefits through the application of presumptions in the compensation process. Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a broad range of occupational groups faced an elevated risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure at work to perform vital services to maintain our food supply, sustain needed transportation, provide health care, assure energy supply and others. Some states or jurisdictions in the United States recognized both the risk and the service of these workers by enacting COVID-19 presumption laws to streamline selected essential workers' eligibility for WC benefits. Other states did not. Results of these contrasting public approaches permit an examination of the impact of presumptions in compensation by examining the frequency and outcomes of COVID-19 claims in "COVID-19 presumption" and "nonpresumption" states. Despite state-level variations in economic response to the pandemic, industry mix, and presumption eligibility criteria, the use of COVID-19 presumptions appears to have substantially increased claim filing rates and improved access to benefits. Lastly, the additional costs of COVID-19 claims to employers and insurers were lower than initially predicted. In response to future airborne infectious disease outbreaks, workers' compensation presumption laws should be universally implemented to permit a broad range of high-risk workers to work on the public's behalf without fear of losing wages and incurring medical expenses associated with a work-related viral exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Laskaris
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, New York, USA
| | - Steven B Markowitz
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, New York, USA
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Greentree DH, Wilson BM, Donskey CJ. Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Demonstrates Variations in the Quality of Ventilation on Public Transportation Buses and University Student Shuttle Vans and Identifies Effective Interventions. Pathog Immun 2023; 8:148-160. [PMID: 38035133 PMCID: PMC10686372 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i1.619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a risk for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses in motor vehicles, particularly if ventilation is inadequate. Methods We used carbon dioxide monitoring to examine the quality of ventilation in several public transportation buses and in university student shuttle vans in the Cleveland metro area during peak and non-peak travel times. Carbon dioxide levels above 800 parts per million (ppm) were considered an indicator of suboptimal ventilation for the number of people present. In the shuttle vans, we evaluated the impact of an intervention to improve ventilation. Results In large articulated buses with 2 ventilation systems, carbon dioxide concentrations never exceeded 800 ppm, whereas in standard buses with 1 ventilation system concentrations rose above 800 ppm during peak travel times and on some trips during non-peak travel times. In shuttle vans, the ventilation system was not turned on during routine operation, and carbon dioxide levels rose above 800 ppm on all trips during peak and non-peak travel times. In the shuttle vans, an intervention involving operation of the existing ventilation system resulted in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide levels (mean concentration, 1,042 no intervention versus 785 with intervention; P < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate substantial variability in the quality of ventilation in public transportation buses and university shuttle vans. There is a need for efforts to assess and optimize ventilation in motor vehicles used for public transportation to reduce the risk for aerosol-mediated transmission of respiratory viruses. Carbon dioxide monitoring may provide a useful tool to assess and improve ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Henry Greentree
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Brigid M. Wilson
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Curtis J. Donskey
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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Gebreegziabher E, Bui D, Cummings KJ, Beckman J, Frederick M, Nguyen A, Chan E, Gibb K, Rodriguez A, Wong J, Majka C, Jain S, Vergara X. Temporal assessment of disparities in California COVID-19 mortality by industry: a population-based retrospective cohort study. Ann Epidemiol 2023; 87:S1047-2797(23)00169-2. [PMID: 37714416 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess changes in the COVID-19 mortality rate and disparities over variants or waves by industry. METHODS We identified COVID-19 deaths that occurred between January 2020 and May 2022 among California workers aged 18-64 years using death certificates, and estimated Californians at risk using the Current Population Survey. The waves in deaths were wave 1: March-June 2020, wave 2: July-November 2020, wave 3/Epsilon and Alpha variants: December 2020-May 2021, wave 4/Delta variant: June 2021-January 2022, and wave 5/Omicron variant: February-May 2022. We used Poisson regression to generate wave-specific mortality rate ratios (MRR) and included an interaction term between industry and wave in different models to assess significance of the change in MRR. RESULTS In all waves of the pandemic, healthcare, other services, manufacturing, transportation, and retail trade industries had higher mortality rates than the professional, scientific, and technical industry. The healthcare industry had the highest relative rate earlier in the pandemic, while other services, utilities, and accommodation and food services industries had substantial increases in MRR in later waves. CONCLUSIONS Industries that consistently had disproportionate COVID-19 mortality may have benefitted from protections that consider workers' increased exposure and vulnerability to severe outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Gebreegziabher
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA.
| | - David Bui
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA.
| | - Kristin J Cummings
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond.
| | - John Beckman
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Matthew Frederick
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Alyssa Nguyen
- Infectious Diseases Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond.
| | - Elena Chan
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Kathryn Gibb
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Andrea Rodriguez
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Jessie Wong
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Claire Majka
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA.
| | - Seema Jain
- Infectious Diseases Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond.
| | - Ximena Vergara
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond; Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA.
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Bui DP, Gibb K, Fiellin M, Rodriguez A, Majka C, Espineli C, Gebreegziabher E, Flattery J, Vergara XP. Occupational COVID-19 Exposures and Illnesses among Workers in California-Analysis of a New Occupational COVID-19 Surveillance System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6307. [PMID: 37444154 PMCID: PMC10341532 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about occupational SARS-CoV-2 exposures and COVID-19 outcomes. We established a Doctor's First Reports of Occupational Injury or Illness (DFR)-based surveillance system to study cases of work-related COVID-19 exposures and disease. The surveillance data included demographics, occupation, industry, exposure, and illness, details including hospitalization and lost work. We classified workers into 'healthcare', non-healthcare 'public-facing', or 'other' worker groups, and rural-urban commuting areas (RUCAs). We describe worker exposures and outcomes overall by worker group and RUCA. We analyzed 2848 COVID-19 DFRs representing workers in 22 detailed occupation groups and 19 industry groups. Most DFRs were for workers in metropolitan RUCAs (89%) and those in healthcare (42%) and public-facing (24%) worker groups. While DFRs were from 382 unique worksites, 52% were from four hospitals and one prison. Among 1063 DFRs with a suspected exposure, 73% suspected exposure to a patient or client. Few DFRs indicated hospitalization (3.9%); however, the proportion hospitalized was higher among nonmetropolitan (7.4%) and public-facing (6.7%) workers. While 56% of DFRs indicated some lost work time, the proportion was highest among public-facing (80%) workers. Healthcare and prison workers were the majority of reported occupational COVID-19 exposures and illnesses. The risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and lost work may be highest among nonmetropolitan and public-facing workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pham Bui
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA 91746, USA
| | - Kathryn Gibb
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
| | - Martha Fiellin
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
| | - Andrea Rodriguez
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
| | - Claire Majka
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
| | - Carolina Espineli
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
| | - Elisabeth Gebreegziabher
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA 91746, USA
| | - Jennifer Flattery
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
| | - Ximena P. Vergara
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA (M.F.); (A.R.); (C.M.); (C.E.); (E.G.); (J.F.); (X.P.V.)
- Heluna Health, City of Industry, CA 91746, USA
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Sjörs Dahlman A, Anund A. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among public transport workers in Sweden. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH 2022; 27:101508. [PMID: 36188635 PMCID: PMC9515328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2022.101508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Public transportation is an essential societal function in crisis situations like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Bus drivers and other public transport workers are essential workers that need to keep working despite the risk of contagion. The SARS-CoV-2 virus may pose an occupational health risk to public transport workers and especially to bus drivers as they interact with passengers in a confined area. By analyzing antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 proteins in blood samples it is possible to measure if an individual has been infected by COVID-19. Here, we report the prevalence of antibodies among bus drivers and other public transport employees in Stockholm, Sweden and relate it to socio-demographic factors. METHODS Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 proteins was investigated in a sample of 262 non-vaccinated public transport workers (182 men and 40 women) recruited between April 26 and May 7, 2021. Most of the participants were bus drivers (n = 222). The relationship between socio-demographic factors and seroprevalence was investigated with logistic regression. RESULTS The seroprevalence was 50% in the total sample of public transport workers. Among bus drivers, 51% were seropositive compared to 44% seropositive among the other public transport workers. The difference was not significant. The seroprevalence was higher than the national seroprevalence in Sweden during the same period (18.3% in non-vaccinated people aged 20-64 years). The logistic regression model using Wald forward selection showed that men had a higher risk of being seropositive (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3 - 5.8) and there was a higher risk with increasing number of people in the household (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1 - 1.6). CONCLUSIONS These findings could imply an occupational risk for COVID-19 infection among public transport workers. Infection control measures are warranted during virus epidemics to assure bus drives' safety and reduce transmission in public transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sjörs Dahlman
- The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Electrical Engineering and SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Anund
- The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), Linköping, Sweden
- Rehabilitation Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden and Stockholm University, Stockholm Stress Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
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Shashina EA, Sannikova EA, Shcherbakov DV, Zhernov YV, Makarova VV, Isiutina-Fedotkova TS, Zabroda NN, Belova EV, Ermakova NA, Khodykina TM, Skopin AY, Sukhov VA, Klimova AA, Turnic TN, Yakushina II, Manerova OA, Reshetnikov VA, Mitrokhin OV. Analysis of the Face Mask Use by Public Transport Passengers and Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14285. [PMID: 36361160 PMCID: PMC9657969 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The use of face masks and gloves in public places directly shows the commitment of the population to the established regulations. Public transport is one of the most-at-risk places of contamination. The aim of the study was to analyze the face mask use by public transport passengers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Public transport passengers and workers were surveyed. Periodic intermittent selective observation was used to gauge the level of adherence to the established regulations among public transport passengers. Factor analysis was used to identify factors determining the face-mask-wearing comfort. (3) Results: The majority of passengers (87.5%) and all transport workers (100%) used face masks and gloves. Most of the users wore only face masks. Only 41.6% of passengers and 74.7% of transport workers wore face masks correctly. Motivational attitudes at the implementation of preventive measures were determined: established regulations in the public place (55.8%) and the protection of one's own health and the health of family members (44.2%). Only 22.5% of those wearing face masks believed that doing so will have any effect on the spread of an infectious disease, and 10.8% wore masks to maintain the health of people around themselves. A low level of social responsibility was demonstrated. For 53.4% of workers, face mask wearing was uncomfortable. The majority of workers had adverse reactions to mask wearing: feeling short of breath (52.8%), hyperemia of face skin (33.8%), and facial hyperhidrosis (67.4%). (4) Conclusions: The comfort of wearing a mask is determined by adverse reactions occurrence, the properties of the mask, working conditions, and the duration of wearing the face mask. It is necessary to develop recommendations to reduce wearing discomfort. These recommendations, along with methods of raising the social responsibility of the population, can contribute to a greater commitment of the population to non-specific prevention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A. Shashina
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A. Sannikova
- National Medical Research Center for Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V. Shcherbakov
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yury V. Zhernov
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentina V. Makarova
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana S. Isiutina-Fedotkova
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda N. Zabroda
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena V. Belova
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nina A. Ermakova
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana M. Khodykina
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton Yu. Skopin
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
- F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene of Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 141014 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vitaly A. Sukhov
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A. Klimova
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tamara Nikolic Turnic
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina I. Yakushina
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga A. Manerova
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Reshetnikov
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg V. Mitrokhin
- Department of General Hygiene, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
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