Chemical and Physical Exposures in the Emerging US Green Collar Workforce

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Occup Environ Med
• Personal Author:
  Chen, Charles J. ; Moore, Kevin J. ; Fernandez, Cristina A. ; Arheart, Kristopher L. ; LeBlanc, William G. ; Cifuentes, Manuel ; McClure, Laura A. ; Christ, Sharon L. ; Fleming, Lora E. ; Lee, David J. ; Caban-Martinez, Alberto J.
• Description:
  Objective
  
  “Green collar” workers serve in occupations that directly improve environmental quality and sustainability. This study estimates and compares the prevalence of select physical and chemical exposures among green versus non-green U.S. workers.
  
  Methods
  
  Data from the U.S. 2010 National Health Interview Survey(NHIS) Occupational Health Supplement were linked to the Occupational Information Network(O*NET) Database. We examined four main exposures:1)vapors, gas, dust, fumes(VGDF);2)secondhand tobacco smoke;3)skin hazards;4)outdoor work.
  
  Results
  
  Green collar workers were significantly more likely to report exposure to VGDF and outdoor work than non-green collar workers(Adjusted Odds Ratio[AOR]=1.25; 95% CI=1.11–1.40; AOR=1.44(1.26–1.63), respectively). Green collar workers were less likely to be exposed to chemicals(AOR=0.80; 0.69–0.92).
  
  Conclusions
  
  Green collar workers appear to be at greater risk for select workplace exposures. As the green industry continues to grow, it is important to identify these occupational hazards in order to maximize worker health.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Air Pollutants, Occupational Chemical Exposures Dust Female Green Jobs Health Surveys Humans Male Middle Aged National Health Interview Survey O*NET Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Physical Exposures Prevalence Tobacco Smoke Pollution United States Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med. 59(5):e91-e96
• Pubmed ID:
  28490043
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5431290
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  R03 OH010124/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:115e20df202edf7def85a4e7437aae46c45e9baf837e1ed63190c779ad8b7101
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/45744/cdc_45744_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 124.08 KB ]