{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T18:53:36Z","timestamp":1791572016092,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753315200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Archival work environments, often characterized by inadequate ventilation and a high concentration of materials, are prone to the accumulation of diverse harmful substances. Continuous exposure to such an environment may result in an array of health problems.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study strives to investigate and synthesize existing research on the occupational hazards encountered by archivists, classify these hazards, detail their associated health impacts, and proffer strategies to preserve and enhance the health of archivists.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study followed the PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic search of multiple electronic databases, including Web of Science and PubMed, for articles on occupational hazards among archivists. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025. The information organization followed a systematic approach conducted in four stages: question-posing, literature search, literature selection, data extraction and synthesis.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Result<\/jats:title><jats:p>Our review reveals that archivists face multiple occupational hazards. Chemical hazards, including formaldehyde and toluene volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can cause respiratory problems, neurological damage. Biological hazards, such as mold and dust mites, can lead to allergic reactions and respiratory diseases. Physical hazards encompass inadequate temperature and humidity control, insufficient lighting, and ergonomic stress, resulting in eye strain and musculoskeletal injuries. Moreover, overwork and improper postures can cause chronic physical ailments.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>This review identifies that archivists are exposed to significant occupational hazards spanning chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic dimensions, which contribute to a range of health issues. The findings underscore the necessity for in\u2014depth research into archivists\u2019 occupational health and the urgent development of targeted protective strategies to address these hazards.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p>Identifier, CRD420251050852.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1631626","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T05:33:18Z","timestamp":1753335198000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Occupational hazard exposures among archivists"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Mei","family":"Dou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaomin","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaxu","family":"Song","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anjing","family":"Gong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1093\/annweh\/wxae095","article-title":"Risk assessment methods in occupational health and hygiene: a scoping review","volume":"69","author":"Floeder","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ann Work Expo Health"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.1016\/j.alit.2023.08.004","article-title":"Relationship between aspergillus and asthma","volume":"72","author":"Agarwal","year":"2023","journal-title":"Allergol Int"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molimm.2023.04.008","article-title":"House dust mite allergy: the importance of house dust mite allergens for diagnosis and immunotherapy","volume":"158","author":"Huang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mol Immunol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-019-2878-4","article-title":"Evaluation criteria for the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine\u2014how reliable are they?","volume":"20","author":"Ulmar","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Musculoskelet Disord"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2016.07.201","article-title":"Measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in libraries and archives in Florence (Italy)","volume":"572","author":"Cincinelli","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107305","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2022.107305","article-title":"Strong temperature influence and indiscernible ventilation effect on dynamics of some semivolatile organic compounds in the indoor air of an office","volume":"165","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Int"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/1752-153X-6-42","article-title":"Measurement of volatile organic compounds emitted in libraries and archives: an inferential indicator of paper decay?","volume":"6","author":"Gibson","year":"2012","journal-title":"Chem Cent J"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1359","DOI":"10.1080\/15287394.2012.721168","article-title":"Indoor air quality in Portuguese archives: a snapshot on exposure levels","volume":"75","author":"Pinheiro","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Toxicol Environ Health A"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18041715","article-title":"A preliminary research study for distribution characteristics and sources of indoor air pollutants in the valuable archive of the National Library of Korea","volume":"18","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13091","DOI":"10.1111\/ina.13091","article-title":"Indoor exposure levels and risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in residences, schools, and offices in China from 2000 to 2021: a systematic review","volume":"32","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"172512","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.172512","article-title":"Exposure to volatile organic compounds and mortality in US adults: a population-based prospective cohort study","volume":"928","author":"Feng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14680","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.2c04572","article-title":"Early-stage emissions of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds from building materials: model development, evaluation, and applications","volume":"56","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Sci Technol"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-pharmtox-012924-010532","article-title":"Toluene toxicity in the brain: from cellular targets to molecular mechanisms","volume":"65","author":"Shaw","year":"2025","journal-title":"Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118856","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2022.118856","article-title":"Neurotoxicity induced by toluene: in silico and in vivo evidences of mitochondrial dysfunction and dopaminergic neurodegeneration","volume":"298","author":"Soares","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Pollut"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104937","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2021.104937","article-title":"A comprehensive review of mechanistic insights into formaldehyde-induced nasal cavity carcinogenicity","volume":"123","author":"Nishikawa","year":"2021","journal-title":"Regul Toxicol Pharmacol"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109318","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2020.109318","article-title":"Learning and memory impairment of mice caused by gaseous formaldehyde","volume":"184","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ Res"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125599","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2019.125599","article-title":"Proteomic and transcriptomic changes in rat liver following oral feeding of formaldehyde","volume":"245","author":"Mohanty","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/s41021-021-00183-5","article-title":"Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia risk: a comprehensive review and network-based toxicogenomic approach","volume":"43","author":"Kang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Genes Environ"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.23093","article-title":"Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"63","author":"Kwak","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am J Ind Med"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17670","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-023-27628-4","article-title":"Assessment of volatile emissions by aging books","volume":"31","author":"Stylianou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ Sci Pollut Res Int"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1365","DOI":"10.21873\/anticanres.16932","article-title":"Breath of danger: unveiling PM2.5's stealthy impact on Cancer risks","volume":"44","author":"Mokbel","year":"2024","journal-title":"Anticancer Res"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119115","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2022.119115","article-title":"PM2.5 induces pulmonary microvascular injury in COPD via METTL16-mediated m6A modification","volume":"303","author":"Guo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Pollut"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e17014","DOI":"10.15252\/emmm.202217014","article-title":"PM2.5 promotes lung cancer progression through activation of the AhR-TMPRSS2-IL18 pathway","volume":"15","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"EMBO Mol Med"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1007\/s11270-008-9931-5","article-title":"Chemical\u2013physical and microbiological measurements for indoor air quality assessment at the ca\u2019 Granda historical archive, Milan (Italy)","volume":"201","author":"Cappitelli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Water Air Soil Pollut"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.99107223","article-title":"Indoor, outdoor, and regional summer and winter concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO4(2)\u2212, H+, NH4+, NO 3\u2212, NH3, and nitrous acid in homes with and without kerosene space heaters","volume":"107","author":"Leaderer","year":"1999","journal-title":"Environ Health Perspect"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1038\/s44321-024-00175-2","article-title":"The role of PM2.5 exposure in lung cancer: mechanisms, genetic factors, and clinical implications","volume":"17","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"EMBO Mol Med"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.15698\/mic2022.05.776","article-title":"Air-and dustborne fungi in repositories of the National Archive of the republic of Cuba","volume":"9","author":"Borrego","year":"2022","journal-title":"Microb Cell"},{"key":"ref28","first-page":"71","article-title":"Microbiological contamination with moulds in work environment in libraries and archive storage facilities","volume":"15","author":"Zielinska-Jankiewicz","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ann Agric Environ Med"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2015.10.031","article-title":"Identification of mycotoxins by UHPLC-QTOF MS in airborne fungi and fungi isolated from industrial paper and antique documents from the archive of Bogot\u00e1","volume":"144","author":"Castillo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Environ Res"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms222212269","article-title":"Mold, mycotoxins and a dysregulated immune system: a combination of concern?","volume":"22","author":"Kraft","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54854","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-024-34749-x","article-title":"Airborne concentrations of bacteria and mold in Korean public-use facilities: measurement, systematic review, meta-analysis, and probabilistic human inhalation risk assessment","volume":"31","author":"Shin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ Sci Pollut Res Int"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0668.2012.00781.x","article-title":"Microbiological evaluation of ten French archives and link to occupational symptoms","volume":"22","author":"Roussel","year":"2012","journal-title":"Indoor Air"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1016\/j.riam.2013.09.004","article-title":"Caracterizaci\u00f3n de la micobiota a\u00e9rea en dos dep\u00f3sitos del Archivo Nacional de la Rep\u00fablica de Cuba","volume":"31","author":"Borrego Alonso","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev Iberoam Micol"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mycmed.2013.09.003","article-title":"Study on fungi in archives of offices, with a particular focus on Stachybotrys chartarum","volume":"23","author":"Foladi","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Mycol Med"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167079","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbadis.2024.167079","article-title":"House dust mite allergens induce ca (2+) signalling and alarmin responses in asthma airway epithelial cells","volume":"1870","author":"Ouyang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biochim Biophys Acta Mol basis Dis"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1764","DOI":"10.23822\/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.369","article-title":"Efficacy and tolerability of house dust mites subcutaneous immunotherapy with monomeric allergoid: an Italian multicenter study","author":"Compalati","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1016\/S0048-9697(00)00797-X","article-title":"Respiratory allergies on the staff of the police force","volume":"270","author":"Corrao","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1021\/bm2017405","article-title":"Effects of temperature and relative humidity on the stability of paper-immobilized antibodies","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biomacromolecules"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1007\/s10493-022-00775-y","article-title":"Population growth and respiration in the dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae under different temperature and humidity regimes","volume":"89","author":"Vackova","year":"2023","journal-title":"Exp Appl Acarol"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"376","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijheh.2018.01.015","article-title":"Indoor air humidity, air quality, and health \u2013 an overview","volume":"221","author":"Wolkoff","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Hyg Environ Health"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19116866","article-title":"A study of the effects of different indoor lighting environments on computer work fatigue","volume":"19","author":"Fang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"C174","DOI":"10.12968\/hmed.2019.80.12.C174","article-title":"Acute angle closure glaucoma","volume":"80","author":"Flores-S\u00e1nchez","year":"2019","journal-title":"Br J Hosp Med (Lond)"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"525","DOI":"10.5271\/sjweh.3174","article-title":"Work-related falls from ladders--a follow-back study of US emergency department cases","volume":"37","author":"Lombardi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Scand J Work Environ Health"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"602","DOI":"10.1136\/oem.44.9.602","article-title":"Prevalence rates and odds ratios of shoulder-neck diseases in different occupational groups","volume":"44","author":"Hagberg","year":"1987","journal-title":"Br J Ind Med"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3869","DOI":"10.1093\/rheumatology\/keaa238","article-title":"To what extent is severe osteoarthritis preventable? Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for knee and hip osteoarthritis","volume":"59","author":"Kontio","year":"2020","journal-title":"Rheumatology (Oxford)"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e174947","DOI":"10.1001\/jamasurg.2017.4947","article-title":"Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons and Interventionalists: a systematic review and Meta-analysis","volume":"153","author":"Epstein","year":"2018","journal-title":"JAMA Surg"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1397236","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1397236","article-title":"Insights into uncovered public health risks. The case of asthma attacks among archival workers: a cross-sectional study","volume":"12","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1111\/hir.12307","article-title":"The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic: reflections on the roles of librarians and information professionals","volume":"37","author":"Ali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Inf Libr J"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3283","DOI":"10.15244\/pjoes\/177146","article-title":"Assessing air quality in various indoor environments of a university library","volume":"33","author":"Limmongkon","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pol J Environ Stud"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102476","DOI":"10.1016\/j.acalib.2021.102476","article-title":"Decisions, decisions, decisions: decision fatigue in academic librarianship","volume":"48","author":"Natal","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Acad Librariansh"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"650","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2020.00650","article-title":"Biosafety and biosecurity in containment: a regulatory overview","volume":"8","author":"Beeckman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Bioeng Biotechnol"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1007\/s10453-023-09798-3","article-title":"Assessment of exposure to fungi in archives and libraries based on analyses of filter and nasal samples: preliminary investigation","volume":"39","author":"Cyprowski","year":"2023","journal-title":"Aerobiologia"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1673563","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000}}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1631626\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,27]],"date-time":"2025-08-27T13:22:17Z","timestamp":1756300937000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1631626\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]]},"references-count":52,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1631626"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1631626","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]]},"article-number":"1631626"}}