(1) Background: There is increasing awareness that the quality of the indoor environment affects our health and well-being. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular has an impact on multiple health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality. (2) Methods: We carried out a global systematic literature review on indoor exposure to selected air pollutants associated with adverse health effects, and related household characteristics, seasonal influences and occupancy patterns. We screened records from six bibliographic databases: ABI/INFORM, Environment Abstracts, Pollution Abstracts, PubMed, ProQuest Biological and Health Professional, and Scopus. (3) Results: Information on indoor exposure levels and determinants, emission sources, and associated health effects was extracted from 141 studies from 29 countries. The most-studied pollutants were particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀); nitrogen dioxide (NO₂); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, xylenes and formaldehyde; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene. Identified indoor PM_2.5 sources include smoking, cooking, heating, use of incense, candles, and insecticides, while cleaning, housework, presence of pets and movement of people were the main sources of coarse particles. Outdoor air is a major PM_2.5 source in rooms with natural ventilation in roadside households. Major sources of NO₂ indoors are unvented gas heaters and cookers. Predictors of indoor NO₂ are ventilation, season, and outdoor NO₂ levels. VOCs are emitted from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sources, including smoking, solvent use, renovations, and household products. Formaldehyde levels are higher in newer houses and in the presence of new furniture, while PAH levels are higher in smoking households. High indoor particulate matter, NO₂ and VOC levels were typically associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly asthma symptoms in children. (4) Conclusions: Household characteristics and occupant activities play a large role in indoor exposure, particularly cigarette smoking for PM_2.5, gas appliances for NO₂, and household products for VOCs and PAHs. Home location near high-traffic-density roads, redecoration, and small house size contribute to high indoor air pollution. In most studies, air exchange rates are negatively associated with indoor air pollution. These findings can inform interventions aiming to improve IAQ in residential properties in a variety of settings.

Aims To evaluate current research on the health, safety and health promotion needs of older workers by identifying age-related change, whether older workers need support and evidence of successful intervention in the workplace.

This cross-sectional observational study assessed the pattern of musculoskeletal disorder (MSDs) suffered by bank office workers in Kuwait. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used that included the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ12). Of 750 employees, 80% suffered at least 1 episode of MSD during the previous year and 42% suffered at least 1 disabling episode. The most affected body parts were the neck (53.5%), lower back (51.1%), shoulders (49.2%) and upper back (38.4%). Nationality, GHQ12 score, smoking and sex were significant predictors of MSDs during the previous year, while alcohol drinking, marital status, GHQ12 score, years in Kuwait and sex were significant predictors of disabling MSDs during the previous year.

Increasing longevity and the strain on state and occupational pensions have brought into question long-held assumptions about the age of retirement, and raised the prospect of a workplace populated by ageing workers. In the United Kingdom the default retirement age has gone, incremental increases in state pension age are being implemented and ageism has been added to workplace anti-discrimination laws. These changes are yet to bring about the anticipated transformation in workplace demographics, but it is coming, making it timely to ask if the workplace is ready for the ageing worker and how the extension of working life will be managed. We report findings from qualitative case studies of five large organisations located in the United Kingdom. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with employees, line managers, occupational health staff and human resources managers. Our findings reveal a high degree of uncertainty and ambivalence among workers and managers regarding the desirability and feasibility of extending working life; wide variations in how older workers are managed within workplaces; a gap between policies and practices; and evidence that while casualisation might be experienced negatively by younger workers, it may be viewed positively by financially secure older workers seeking flexibility. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges facing employers and policy makers in making the modern workplace fit for the ageing worker.

The following study investigated wrist torque strength measurements of a group of younger and older adults. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of shape, diameter and height of lid on wrist torque opening strength. Forty participants took part in the study in four groups, younger males and females and older males and females. Data were collected for 12 test pieces. Anthropometric data were also obtained for stature, weight, hand breadth, hand length, chuck grip force, grip force, lateral grip force and pinch grip force. The analysis of the wrist torque strength measurements found that participants could exert greater force with square test pieces compared to circular test pieces of the same diameter. Examination of the circular test pieces found that as diameter and height increased, so did torque exertion data for the test pieces between 20 mm and 50 mm diameter. The surface area of the test pieces was found to be highly correlated with the level of torque exertion, thus a linear model was developed to describe this relationship. The model could be used to predict maximal torque closure levels for use in the packaging industry. The anthropometric data revealed that as height, weight, hand length and hand breadth increased, there was a correlation with the levels of torque exerted. Future research needs to further examine the relationship between surface area and torque exerted and the design of spherical lids to increase the contact area between the hand and the lid.