NIOSH Science Blog Posts
Helical CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening
New research has revealed that a relatively new form of screening using helical computerized tomography (CT) may result in fewer lung cancer deaths. This finding is of interest to the occupational safety and health community to potentially improve cancer screening among workers with increased risk for lung cancer because of past occupational exposures. Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsWarning: Surgeon General Finds that Cigarette Smoking Is Even More Dangerous to Your Health
Yesterday, the Surgeon General issued the 30th Surgeon General's Report on the dangers of smoking tobacco. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and is responsible for 443,000 deaths each year. Tobacco use can increase risk of illness for those exposed to carcinogens in the workplace and second-hand smoke can place non-smoking workers at risk for smoking-related diseases. Read More >
Posted on by 34 CommentsAssaults on Nursing Assistants
Recent NIOSH research finds that 35% of nursing assistants working in nursing homes reported injuries from aggression by residents and 12% reported human bites. These reports of workplace violence are even higher among those working in homes with special units for Alzheimer patients. Read More >
Posted on by 11 CommentsNIOSH and Electronic Health Records
By 2014 all healthcare providers will be using electronic health records. What are the implications and the benefits for occupational safety and health and for NIOSH? Read More >
Posted on by 13 CommentsState-based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance
How did NIOSH find out that cases of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) were on the rise after years of decline? The answer, state based occupational health surveillance. Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsHigh Speeds, Higher Decibels
Stock car races are notoriously loud events. Just how loud? Drivers, pit crew, and other workers at the track face damaging noise exposures during practices and races. Read More >
Posted on by 67 CommentsReflections on the INTERPHONE Study of Cell Phones and Brain Cancer
Do cell phones cause brain cancer? In May 2010, an international study team published the results of a 5-year-long investigation into that very question. Read the perspective of the only American researcher involved with the INTERPHONE study on the NIOSH Science Blog. Read More >
Posted on by 35 CommentsVuvuzelas: What’s the Buzz?
Players, event staff, stadium workers, broadcasters, and referees at the World Cup have been repeatedly exposed at their matches to the thundering noise of vuvuzelas--plastic, meter-long South African horns. Vuvuzelas, especially when trumpeted by thousands of fans at once, can reach damaging decibel levels. The hearing health implications of dangerous noise levels also arise at other noisy sporting events and entertainment venues. Read More >
Posted on by 43 CommentsBalancing Open Government and Privacy Protection
Transparency, participation, and collaboration form the cornerstone of an open government. Although there is a great desire for openness, there are competing demands in health and safety surveillance and research: national security, personal privacy, and confidentiality. NIOSH is interested in learning about the experiences of others who have expertise in this area or are currently dealing with similar issues of balancing openness and privacy. Read More >
Posted on by 8 CommentsThe Effectiveness of Workplace Training
In light of the costs and time involved with safety and health training, businesses want to know whether training can meet the goals of decreasing workplace injuries and illness, and whether the cost of training programs can be justified. Researchers, training providers, labor, and management should continue to work together to advance the knowledge of effective practices in education and training. Read More >
Posted on by 38 CommentsWorkplace Hearing Loss
It is estimated that over 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise on the job and an additional nine million are at risk for hearing loss from other agents such as solvents and metals. Read more about a new surveillance program and provide input on future efforts to prevent hearing loss in the workplace. Read More >
Posted on by 34 CommentsSafety and Health for Tattooists and Piercers
Based on visits to tattooing and piercing studios and interviews with artists, researchers from NIOSH found that many artists and piercers had concerns about exposures to blood and bloodborne diseases. Read More >
Posted on by 49 CommentsN95 Respirators and Surgical Masks
The emergence of H1N1 has created considerable interest about the use of surgical masks and respirators as infection control measures. Given the recent issuance of revised CDC infection control guidance for healthcare personnel that include recommendations for use of N95 respirators, NIOSH has posted a new blog that examines the scientific principles behind the design and performance of these devices. Read More >
Posted on by 163 CommentsThe Business Case for Safety and Health
NIOSH has partnered with the Williams College of Business at Xavier University and the National Safety Council to offer a new course to MBA students titled "Business Value of Safety and Health." The course teaches the next generation of executives the advantages of implementing occupational and environmental health and safety programs. Read More >
Posted on by 15 CommentsRespiratory Protection for Terrorist Threats and Other Emergencies
This September 11th marks eight years since the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center. Since then, NIOSH has developed a systematic approach to identify the hazards that responders would face, assess the capabilities of existing respiratory protection equipment to provide protection against viable threats using benchmark testing, and set certification standards that stretch the capabilities of the protective technologies to enhance the protection offered to responders during CBRN events. Read More >
Posted on by 3 CommentsH1N1: Protecting Healthcare Workers
As of July 31, 2009, there were 162,380 documented cases of human infection with H1N1 throughout the world, including the United States. As of August 6, 2009, there were 6,506 hospitalized cases and 436 deaths in the U.S. From the time of its emergence earlier this year, H1N1 has prompted a concerted response from health agencies. Read More >
Posted on by 54 CommentsSecondhand Smoke and Casino Dealers
Simply working in a casino does not mean dealers must gamble with their health. Results of new research conducted by NIOSH on secondhand smoke—the exposure of non-smokers to tobacco smoke—confirm that dealers at the casinos investigated were exposed to secondhand smoke. Read More >
Posted on by 54 CommentsTake Aim at Protecting Yourself
If you work or train regularly at indoor firing ranges, you could be exposed to hazardous levels of lead and noise. An estimated 16,000–18,000 indoor firing ranges operate in the United States. Read More >
Posted on by 68 CommentsSafety and Health in the Horse-Racing Industry
It is estimated that over 146,000 individuals work in the horse-racing industry. This estimate includes jockeys, trainers, exercise riders, grooms, valets, starting gate attendants, apprentice jockeys, and veterinarians. Little is known about the health status or number and nature of injuries and illnesses to workers in this industry. However, there are many risk factors involved when a 115-pound jockey rides an 1,100 pound animal running 40 miles per hour. Read More >
Posted on by 16 CommentsMultifaceted Approach to Assess Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor work environments have changed. However, many questions remain regarding occupational asthma and work-exacerbated asthma and the indoor environment. What are the irritants/sensitizers that cause these diseases? Can they be controlled? What is the actual physiological mechanism? What are the actual exposures in the workplace? Read More >
Posted on by 68 Comments