WORKbiota: A Systematic Review about the Effects of Occupational Exposure on Microbiota and Workers’ Health

Nicola Mucci, Eleonora Tommasi, Annarita Chiarelli, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli, Veronica Traversini, Raymond Paul Galea and Giulio Arcangeli
Additional contact information
Nicola Mucci: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Eleonora Tommasi: Postgraduate Medical Training Programme in Cardiology, University of Perugia, 1 Piazza dell’Università, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Annarita Chiarelli: Occupational Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli: Occupational Medicine School, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Veronica Traversini: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Raymond Paul Galea: Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2090 Msida, Malta
Giulio Arcangeli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: The characterization of human microbiota and the impact of its modifications on the health of individuals represent a current topic of great interest for the world scientific community. Scientific evidence is emerging regarding the role that microbiota has in the onset of important chronic illnesses. Since individuals spend most of their life at work, occupational exposures may have an impact on the organism’s microbiota. The purpose of this review is to explore the influence that different occupational exposures have on human microbiota in order to set a new basis for workers’ health protection and disease prevention. The literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus. A total of 5818 references emerged from the online search, and 31 articles were included in the systematic review (26 original articles and 5 reviews). Exposure to biological agents (in particular direct contact with animals) was the most occupational risk factor studied, and it was found involved in modifications of the microbiota of workers. Changes in microbiota were also found in workers exposed to chemical agents or subjected to work-related stress and altered dietary habits caused by specific microclimate characteristics or long trips. Two studies evaluated the role of microbiota changes on the development of occupational lung diseases. Occupational factors can interface with the biological rhythms of the bacteria of the microbiota and can contribute to its modifications and to the possible development of diseases. Future studies are needed to better understand the role of the microbiota and its connection with occupational exposure to promote projects for the prevention and protection of global health.

Keywords: microbiota; occupational health and safety; occupational medicine; occupational exposure; dysbiosis; host–microbe interaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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