Background: the precision agriculture field optimizes resource use, enhancing performance. However, this leads to exposure to ergonomic risks for operators, in particular, tractor drivers, potentially causing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study investigates how the display position in a semi-automatic tractor system influences operator comfort and muscle activation during harrowing operations. Methods: the assessment of muscular strain involved the use of surface electromyographic devices, while posture was evaluated throughout the analysis of the distribution of pressure exerted by the operator’s body on the seat, which was observed using two barometric pads, each positioned on the backrest and base of the seat. Finally, infrared thermography (IRT), a non-invasive tool to assess muscle activation, was used to measure the surface temperature of the driver’s back. The results showed a significantly greater muscular activation display for the position of display in semi-automatic driving at 50° and 80°. Conclusions: this study showed how the position of the display on the vehicle negatively influences posture, exposing workers to the risk of developing fatigue and, therefore, discomfort, with the potential onset of MSDs. The combined use of sEMG and IRT allowed for a non-invasive, cheap, and repeatable mechanical and functionality analysis.

Environmental exposure to fibers of respirable size has been identified as a risk for public health. Experimental evidence has revealed that a variety of fibers, including fluoro-edenite, can develop chronic respiratory diseases and elicit carcinogenic effects in humans. Fluoro-edenite (FE) is a silicate mineral first found in Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy) in 1997. Environmental exposure to its fibers has been correlated with a cluster of malignant pleural mesotheliomas. This neoplasm represents a public health problem due to its long latency and to its aggression not alerted by specific symptoms. Having several biomarkers providing us with data on the health state of those exposed to FE fibers or allowing an early diagnosis on malignant pleural mesothelioma, still asymptomatic patients, would be a remarkable goal. To these purposes, we reported the miRNA transcriptome in human normal mesothelial cell line (MeT-5A) and in the human malignant mesothelioma cell line (JU77) exposed and not exposed to FE fibers. The results showed a difference in the number of deregulated miRNAs between tumor and nontumor samples both exposed and not exposed to FE fibers. As a matter of fact, the effect of exposure to FE fibers is more evident in the expression of miRNA in the tumor samples than in the nontumor samples. In the present paper, several pathways involved in the pathogenesis of malignant pleural mesothelioma have been analyzed. We especially noticed the involvement of pathways that have important functions in inflammatory processes, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and necrosis. Besides this amount of data, further studies will be designed for the selection of the most significant miRNAs to test and validate their diagnostic potential, alone or in combination with other protein biomarkers, in high-risk individuals’ liquid biopsy to have a noninvasive tool of diagnosis for this neoplasm.

The new 2019 coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 has been the first biological agent to generate, in this millennium, such a global health emergency as to determine the adoption of public health measures. During this sanitary emergency, the emotional experience of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been hugely tested by several factors. In fact, HCWs have been exposed to greatly tiring physical, psychological and social conditions. The authors investigated the cardiocirculatory activity of a group of HCWs as well as how they perceived stress while working in COVID-19 wards. In particular, every HCW underwent a medical check, an electrocardiographic base exam, systolic and diastolic pressure measurement, and cardio frequency measurement. Furthermore, each HCW was provided with a cardiac Holter device (HoC) and a pressure Holter (Hop). Some psychological factors were considered in order to quantify the stress perceived by each HCW while at work through the administration of two questionnaires: the “Social Stigma towards Patients due to COVID Scale (SSPCS)” and the “Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL)”. The HoC and HoP analysis results for HCWs working in COVID-19 OU wards showed significant variations in cardiocirculatory activity. From the analysis of the SSPCS questionnaire answers, it is clear that all of them showed a sense of duty towards their patients. The analysis of the ProQOL questionnaire answers showed that the prevailing attitude is fear; however, HCWs did not absolutely discriminate against those who had COVID-19 nor did they refuse to help those in need. Continuous monitoring of these employees, also carried out through occupational medicine surveillance, allows for the detection of critical conditions and the implementation of actions aimed at preventing chronic processes.

Background: Pneumoconiosis is a group of lung diseases characterized by the deposition and accumulation of dust or mineral fibers in the lung interstitium, primarily caused by occupational exposure. Methods: The aim of this study was to identify cases of pneumoconiosis induced by occupational exposure in patients living on the island of Sicily (South Italy), through the retrospective analysis of pneumoconiosis cases registered by the Reference Center for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Lung Diseases and Rare Lung Diseases (RCLD) of University of Catania, during the decade 2012–2022. Furthermore, the results of a screening conducted in the same 10-year period (2012–2022) on cohorts of workers potentially exposed to RCS generated by Etna’s volcanic dust are reported. Results: From the consultation of the RCLD database, there does not appear to be any correlation between pulmonary fibrosis and exposure to dust of basaltic origin. Conclusions: These data seem to be confirmed by the data of the health monitoring conducted over 10 years on 200 workers involved in different processes of working with lava stone.

The first interaction of the human body with the environment is represented by the skin. It represents the first defense barrier of the human body, interacting with numerous agents in the environment. The skin of road pavers is chronically exposed to bitumen fumes, a mixture of volatile compounds. In order to identify early skin alteration, the immunoexpression of: MMP-9, MMP-13, E-Caderina, Ki-67, Bax and bcl-2 was studied. Skin punch biopsies of the forearm were carried out on a sample of 16 workers professionally exposed to bitumen fumes and on an unexposed control group. Morphometric and densitometric analyzes were also conducted. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was also determined. The morphological evaluation of the sample of subjects involved in road pavement showed epidermal thinning, flattening and loss of the intercellular junction with a reduced expression of E-cadherin confined to the basal skin layer, together with overexpressions MMP-9, MMP-13 and bax and a under-expression of bcl-2. No immunohistochemical alteration was observed for Ki-67. The role of MMPs is essential for the epidermal integrity; therefore, their overexpression can be responsible for histological changes observed in the subjects examined. Furthermore, the skin chronically exposed to bitumen fumes overexpresses bax and underexpresses bcl-2, suggesting that bitumen fumes induce apoptotic activation as a defense mechanism.

Background: Mechanization in olive harvesting has improved productivity but introduced new ergonomic challenges, particularly related to vibration exposure and sustained overhead work. This study investigates the acute and short-term physiological effects of using an electric olive harvester through objective instrumental assessment. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers performed a standardized 15-min simulated harvesting task using an electric olive harvester. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of bilateral deltoid, biceps, and triceps were assessed by myotonometry at baseline (T0), immediately post-task (T1), and after 2 h recovery (T2). Infrared thermography evaluated cervical, dorsal, and lumbar skin temperature at the same timepoints. Results: Significant, side-dependent alterations in myotonometric parameters were observed, with marked increases in tone and stiffness of dominant upper-limb muscles and asymmetric adaptations between limbs (p < 0.001, large effect sizes). Infrared thermography revealed significant post-task reductions in skin temperature across spinal regions, with a partial return toward baseline within the 2 h observation window (p < 0.01). These findings describe short-term, task-related thermoregulatory responses following sustained work. Conclusions: Even short-term use of electric olive harvesters induces measurable biomechanical and thermophysiological stress. The integrated use of myotonometry and infrared thermography provides a sensitive, field-adaptable framework for early ergonomic risk detection and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture.