Online Program

332644
Chemical and Physical Exposures Among Green and Non-Green Collar Workers in the United States


Monday, November 2, 2015

Charles Chen, BS, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Kevin J. Moore, BA, MD/MPH (c), Medical Education and Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, DO, PhD, MPH, CPH, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Manuel Cifuentes, MD, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Kristopher L. Arheart, Ed.D., Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cristina Fernandez, MSEd, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicinne, Miami, FL
Laura A. McClure, MSPH, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Sharon L. Christ, PhD, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Lora Fleming, MD, PhD, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom
Background/Purpose: Green collar workers are individuals employed in “green” businesses whose services and work products directly improve environmental quality and sustainability. Despite the growth of green collar jobs supported by the U.S. Green Jobs Act of 2007, little is known about the inhalable and other chemical occupational exposures of this newly emerging workforce. In the present study, we use nationally representative data to estimate and compare the prevalence of select physical and chemical exposures in Green versus non-Green U.S. workers.

Methods:

Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey Occupational Health Supplement was linked to the Occupational Information Network Database (O*NET) to classify green and non-green collar workers. Estimates for inhalable (i.e., vapors, gas, dust, fumes; outdoor work; and environmental tobacco smoke) and other chemical occupational exposures were adjusted for the complex survey design and stratified by socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, age group, and geographic region). 

Results/Outcomes:

In 2010, 26% of Green collar workers reported regular exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes in the workplace twice a week or more compared to 22% of non-Green workers. Green collar workers were the least exposed to other chemicals (14%) but slightly greater exposed to outdoor work (25%) when compared to non-Green workers (20% and 22%, respectively). Green and non-Green collar workers were equally exposed to tobacco smoke (13%).

Conclusions:

Green collar workers report higher exposure to vapors, gas, dust or fumes and outdoor work and less to chemicals than non-green collar workers. More specific measures are needed and warrant further research.

Learning Areas:

Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Compare the prevalence of chemical and physical exposures among U.S. Green and non-Green collar (i.e. traditional) workers. Describe the association between different exposures of Green-collar workers in relation to the U.S. workforce.

Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a graduate student that has been a key member of a grant focused on Green Collar research and occupational health and safety. I assisted in the analysis of the data presented in this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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