TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological reactions to long-term fishing in the Barents Sea
AU - Netterstrøm, B
AU - Hansen, Å M
AU - Isaacson, D
AU - Simonsen, A M
AU - Weihe, P
PY - 2018/3/27
Y1 - 2018/3/27
N2 - Background: Fishing in distant waters for months may induce physiological stress.Aims: To assess the physiological stress reactions in fishermen working for 2-3 months continuously in 6-h shifts on trawlers in the Barents Sea.Methods: The crew of five trawlers fishing in the Barents Sea from January to April 2004 were invited to participate. In the week before and 5-7 days after the trip, the following measures were collected: salivary cortisol four times a day, 24-h urinary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate, serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) and weight. In addition, 24-h urinary cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate were measured three times. A questionnaire on health, social conditions and work environment was obtained after the trip.Results: In total, 136 men agreed to participate. Full data were obtained for 96 fishermen (70%). A significant decrease in salivary and urinary cortisol was found during the trip. Adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, shift work schedule and time of day for sample collection did not change this finding. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined significantly and remained significantly lower after the trip compared to before the trip. Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio declined significantly, whereas triglycerides, HbA1c and weight were unchanged.Conclusions: Working up to 3 months on 6-h shifts, 84 h a week, with moderate physical activity, even in artificial light and cold weather on a ship, did not result in increased physiological stress.
AB - Background: Fishing in distant waters for months may induce physiological stress.Aims: To assess the physiological stress reactions in fishermen working for 2-3 months continuously in 6-h shifts on trawlers in the Barents Sea.Methods: The crew of five trawlers fishing in the Barents Sea from January to April 2004 were invited to participate. In the week before and 5-7 days after the trip, the following measures were collected: salivary cortisol four times a day, 24-h urinary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate, serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) and weight. In addition, 24-h urinary cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate were measured three times. A questionnaire on health, social conditions and work environment was obtained after the trip.Results: In total, 136 men agreed to participate. Full data were obtained for 96 fishermen (70%). A significant decrease in salivary and urinary cortisol was found during the trip. Adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, shift work schedule and time of day for sample collection did not change this finding. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined significantly and remained significantly lower after the trip compared to before the trip. Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio declined significantly, whereas triglycerides, HbA1c and weight were unchanged.Conclusions: Working up to 3 months on 6-h shifts, 84 h a week, with moderate physical activity, even in artificial light and cold weather on a ship, did not result in increased physiological stress.
KW - Adult
KW - Biomarkers/analysis
KW - Blood Pressure/physiology
KW - Body Mass Index
KW - Cholesterol/analysis
KW - Cholesterol, HDL/analysis
KW - Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis
KW - Heart Rate/physiology
KW - Humans
KW - Hydrocortisone/analysis
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Physiological Phenomena/physiology
KW - Ships/methods
KW - Social Isolation
U2 - 10.1093/occmed/kqy006
DO - 10.1093/occmed/kqy006
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29444322
VL - 68
SP - 109
EP - 115
JO - Occupational Medicine
JF - Occupational Medicine
SN - 0962-7480
IS - 2
ER -