Bus-exposure matrix, a tool to assess bus drivers' exposure to physicochemical hazards

Abstract

Category: Occupational Health, Exposure Assessment Tags: bus drivers, occupational exposure, physicochemical hazards, electromagnetic fields, vibration, noise, exposure assessment DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaf036 URL: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Overview Swiss bus drivers face significant health challenges, including musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, and stress. Compared to other workers, they also experience higher mortality rates from lung cancer and suicide. Despite these clear health risks, documentation of their occupational exposures remains limited. Methodology - Developed a bus-exposure matrix (BEM) to assess exposures to 10 types of physicochemical hazards in 705 bus models used in Switzerland since 1980. - Compiled a thorough inventory and review of 50 technical characteristics per bus model. - Identified 10 representative bus models to reflect the evolution of the Swiss bus fleet. - Performed both static and dynamic exposure measurement campaigns in these representative buses. - Used Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) models to expand the findings across the entire fleet, relying on predictors and technical data based on directed acyclic graphs. Application & Data Linkage - Connected the BEM to occupational histories from a 2022 survey of Swiss bus drivers to estimate their exposure to various hazards. - Assessed exposures annually from 1985 through 2022, estimating levels for - PM10 ratio (-) - Ultrafine particle ratio (-) - Whole-body vibration (m/s2) - Floor vibration (m/s2) - Equivalent noise (dB(A)) - Peak noise (dB(C)) - High-frequency electric fields (V/m) - Low-frequency magnetic fields (μT) - Low-frequency electric fields (V/m) - Air exchange rate (1/h) Findings - Peak noise, high-frequency, and low-frequency electric field exposures have increased over the years. - PM10 ratio, ultrafine particles, equivalent noise, whole-body vibration, and air exchange rate exposures have decreased. Conclusion This pioneering development of a Bus-Exposure Matrix provides an innovative tool for retrospective exposure assessment. It establishes a methodology for evaluating occupational exposures, including electromagnetic fields, and highlights the need for continued research into their possible contribution to occupational health risks among bus drivers. ⚠ Important for EMF Safety: This study clearly documents exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as high- and low-frequency electric and magnetic fields among bus drivers, exposures which have been associated in the literature with increased health risks. Awareness and further research into mitigation strategies are recommended.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

A bus-exposure matrix (BEM) was developed for 10 physicochemical hazards across 705 Swiss bus models (since 1980) using technical inventories, static/dynamic measurements in 10 representative buses, and INLA modeling to extrapolate to the full fleet and link to drivers’ occupational histories (1985–2022). Peak noise and electric-field exposures (high- and low-frequency) increased over time, while PM10 ratio, ultrafine particles, equivalent noise, whole-body vibration, and air exchange rate decreased.

Outcomes measured

• PM10 ratio
• Ultrafine particle ratio
• Whole-body vibration (m/s2)
• Floor vibration (m/s2)
• Equivalent noise (dB(A))
• Peak noise (dB(C))
• High-frequency electric fields (V/m)
• Low-frequency magnetic fields (μT)
• Low-frequency electric fields (V/m)
• Air exchange rate (1/h)

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Occupational exposure assessment for Swiss bus drivers, including EMF, noise, vibration, and air pollutants.

{
    "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "occupational (bus driving/bus models)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "annual estimates from 1985 through 2022 (linked to occupational histories; measurements in representative buses)"
    },
    "population": "Swiss bus drivers",
    "sample_size": 705,
    "outcomes": [
        "PM10 ratio",
        "Ultrafine particle ratio",
        "Whole-body vibration (m/s2)",
        "Floor vibration (m/s2)",
        "Equivalent noise (dB(A))",
        "Peak noise (dB(C))",
        "High-frequency electric fields (V/m)",
        "Low-frequency magnetic fields (μT)",
        "Low-frequency electric fields (V/m)",
        "Air exchange rate (1/h)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "A bus-exposure matrix (BEM) was developed for 10 physicochemical hazards across 705 Swiss bus models (since 1980) using technical inventories, static/dynamic measurements in 10 representative buses, and INLA modeling to extrapolate to the full fleet and link to drivers’ occupational histories (1985–2022). Peak noise and electric-field exposures (high- and low-frequency) increased over time, while PM10 ratio, ultrafine particles, equivalent noise, whole-body vibration, and air exchange rate decreased.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "bus drivers",
        "occupational exposure",
        "exposure assessment",
        "bus-exposure matrix",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "high-frequency electric fields",
        "low-frequency electric fields",
        "low-frequency magnetic fields",
        "noise",
        "vibration",
        "PM10",
        "ultrafine particles",
        "air exchange rate",
        "INLA"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Occupational exposure assessment for Swiss bus drivers, including EMF, noise, vibration, and air pollutants."
        }
    ]
}

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