A Mini Review on Environmental Pollutants in the Workplace: Implications for Worker Health

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines human health as the optimal state of balance and well-being encompassing physical, mental, and social dimensions. The execution of any activity or work induces alteration in the work environment, rendering it a potential source of adverse stimuli, impacting the health of involved workers.Contaminants, whether inert or living matter, manifest in the work environment, giving rise to what is commonly recognised as hygienic risk.Methods: This paper conducts a targeted review, utilizing databases such as Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane and Ovid®, encompassing publications in all languages. The selection of articles is based on scientific relevance, considering the impact and visibility of the journal. All articles undergo thorough scrutiny during the selection process.Results: The review delineates diverse categories of contaminants within the work environment, elucidating the routes of entry into the body, the duration of exposure, and their associated risks to the worker's health.It explicates the influence of working conditions and the susceptibility of individuals to environmental contaminant exposure. Additionally, measures are outlined to eliminate polluting agents from the work environment.Conclusions: This comprehensive examination of current knowledge on contaminants in the work environment underscores the necessity for actions to diminish the concentration of contaminants to which workers are exposed.These measures must be tailored to address the emission source, transmission modalities, and protective actions directed toward workers. Endeavours to eradicate such contamination significantly contribute to improving workers' overall health.

Keywords

• workplace
• chemical exposure
• thermal stress
• routes of entry