National Institute of Occupational Health

Latest from National Institute of Occupational Health

1. News article14 Oct 2026

   Microplastics combined with fungal fragments triggered a stronger inflammatory response in immune cells than either alone

   • Researchers at STAMI tested what happens when immune cells meet microplastics and fungi at the same time. At work, people rarely breathe in only one type of particle. Earlier studies mostly looked at them separately.
   • The cells were exposed to HDPE microplastics. This was done alone and together with spores or pieces of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.
   PollutionPublic healthScience
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2. News article9 Oct 2026

   Downsizing raises risk of mental distress by 57 percent among employees who stay

   • A new study from STAMI shows that people who keep their jobs after layoffs have about 57 percent higher risk of mental health problems than other employees.
   • The researchers used data from a large survey of Norwegian workers and followed them for several years. The study was published in PLOS Mental Health in 2025.
   Mental healthScienceWork life
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3. News article25 Sept 2026

   AI and omics data reveal how crystalline silica dust triggers inflammation and lung scarring – four potential biomarkers identified

   • STAMI researcher Peng Lei used artificial intelligence and large biological datasets to find out what happens in the lungs when people breathe in quartz dust – the dust released when cutting or crushing stone and concrete.
   • The research shows that the body first reacts with strong inflammation, and that over time scar tissue builds up in the lungs. Two different protein systems drive these phases: TNF/NF-κB early on, and TGF-β later.
   Artificial intelligencePublic healthScience
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4. Report21 Sept 2026

   Young men and short-term foreign workers face more than double the occupational injury risk in Oslo

   • Researchers from STAMI and Oslo University Hospital tracked all work-related injuries treated at Oslo emergency facilities over one year (November 2021–October 2022) and recorded 6,015 cases. The aim was to get better figures than official reports, which are known to miss many injuries.
   • On average, 11.6 out of every 1,000 Oslo workers were injured on the job in a year. Among men aged 20–24, the rate was as high as 36 per 1,000.
   Public healthWork life
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5. News article15 Sept 2026

   STAMI launches free work environment tool for Norwegian universities and university colleges

   • STAMI has released a free tool called 'A Good Day at Work', now adapted for universities and university colleges, to help staff and managers improve their working environment.
   • It focuses on five common problems in the sector: work bleeding into private time, widespread temporary contracts and job uncertainty, working weeks of up to 48 hours for academic staff, too little support from direct managers, and conflicting demands that staff cannot realistically meet.
   Higher educationPublic healthWork life
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6. News article15 Sept 2026

   Norwegian fire service HSE adviser: colleagues are each other's most important protective equipment

   • STAMI released a podcast with HSE adviser Anne Grete Annsdatter Skarvøy from Tromsø fire and rescue, focusing on what makes the workplace environment good in a demanding job.
   • Her central point: colleagues are the most important form of protection — supporting each other, especially after tough call-outs.
   Public healthWork life
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7. Knowledge summary14 Sept 2026

   STAMI review: Measurable asbestos levels persist in outdoor air even without industry or natural deposits

   • A review of 22 research studies shows that small but detectable amounts of asbestos fibres are still found in outdoor air – even in places with no asbestos factories or natural asbestos in the ground.
   • Studies from heavily industrialised asbestos areas were left out on purpose, so the results apply to ordinary towns and countryside.
   PollutionPublic healthWork life
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8. Knowledge summary8 Sept 2026

   Wood dust near current exposure limits linked to four extra nasal cancer cases per 1,000 workers

   • A new Nordic knowledge summary concludes there is strong scientific evidence linking prolonged wood dust exposure to adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity.
   • Lifetime exposure at 2.9 mg/m³ of inhalable wood dust results in approximately four extra nasal cancer cases per 1,000 workers – close to Norway's current limit of 2 mg/m³ (Nordic species) and 1 mg/m³ (oak, beech and hard exotic species).
   Public healthWork life
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9. News article4 Sept 2026

   Meta-analysis finds activity-based offices reduce autonomy and job satisfaction in the public sector, but yield benefits in the private sector

   • STAMI researcher Randi Hovden Borge and Ann Sophie Lauterbach (TU Dresden) conducted the first meta-analysis combining theoretical perspectives and quantitative evidence on activity-based offices, covering 35 studies with nearly 8,000 participants.
   • Four outcomes were consistent across sectors: more physical activity, more colleague contact, higher job demands and less job stress.
   Public administrationPublic healthScience
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10. News article21 Aug 2026

    STAMI podcast examines sickness presenteeism as an alternative to sick leave and when it benefits health

    • Sickness presenteeism – attending work despite physical or mental illness – is common in Norwegian working life and can yield both positive and negative outcomes depending on context.
    • STAMI researcher Randi Hovden Borge presents her research on the conditions under which presenteeism supports good job performance and health, aiming to reduce sick leave without harming workers.
    Public healthScienceWork life
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