Rude passengers and sleep deprivation from irregular hours aren’t the only work-related hazards that crew members of airplanes have to deal with. They – along with passengers - are exposed to cosmic ionizing radiation on every flight, because of the altitudes at which they fly. Because crew members fly more frequently, they are more at risk from the health effects of the radiation than are passengers. Cosmic ionizing radiation (or cosmic radiation) comes from outer space.

Could air pollution be making us fat? A new USC study suggests that exposure to traffic pollution during childhood makes adolescents 34 percent more likely to eat foods high in unhealthy trans fats — regardless of household income, parent education level or proximity to fast-food restaurants. The findings on air pollution and obesity in teens appear in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has announced the availability of newly developed information on respiratory health and health care worker safety as well as an upcoming webinar series on ergonomics: The final National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for Respiratory Health is now available. The 10 strategic objectives are organized into three sections.

An uncommon source of carbon monoxide poisoning—industrial gas-burning fryers—caused carbon monoxide poisoning among a large group of workers at an industrial kitchen, according to an investigation published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly gas.

United Kingdom-based newspaper The Guardian recently ran this headline: “UK to tackle loneliness crisis with cash injection. More than 120 projects will receive funding to help those affected and reduce stigma.” This reminded me of a book written in 2000, “Bowling Alone,” by Robert D. Putnam.

OSHA investigators found that employees at a Texas gun range were not only exposed to above-permissible limits of lead in the air, they also risked potential exposure due to surfaces throughout the facility that were contaminated with the substance. Tap Rack Bang Indoor Shooting Range LLC - operating as The Gun Range faces penalties totaling $214,387 for safety violations at its facility in Killeen.

A newly developed Speak Up™ To Prevent Infection campaign from The Joint Commission focuses on a half dozen ways that you can help to prevent the risk and spread of infection – especially (but not only) in a health care setting. They are:

The public comment period for the opportunity for manufacturers to list personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects workers again fentanyl exposure in a public database (PPE-Info) has reopened. PPE-Info is a collection of national personal protective equipment (PPE) information.

The case of a law enforcement officer (LEO) who developed alarming symptoms after a traffic stop highlight can provide lessons for other emergency responders, who are increasingly at risk of being exposed to illicit drugs while on the job. The incident that led to a health hazard evaluation (HHE) occurred in New Hampshire in June 2017. As part of a vehicle search, the officer opened a container of what was suspected to be heroin and fentanyl.

A new analysis, published in the Lancet Public Health, raises the alarm that the rates of obesity-related cancers are rising in younger and younger adults. In the new study, six of twelve types of obesity-related cancers have significantly increased between 1995-2014 and the risk of these cancers is increasing in each successive younger age group. These cancers include colorectal, pancreatic, gallbladder, kidney cancer and multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer).