Perhaps you have seen this story about Chinese iPhone workers who have been committing suicide. As an environmental health specialist the first thing that came to my mind was that these workers were being exposed to chemicals that was altering their brain chemistry. I assumed that these chemicals were causing the workers to be depressed and suicidal. That’s what I was expecting to read in the papers. However, that was not the case. Apparently, the living conditions and the wages are what’s driving these workers to take their own lives- (these factors fall more under the heading of occupational health). I don’t think my assumption is so far fetched. Take a gander at this article. What you are exposed to at work most certainly has an effect on your body. I wonder if a longitudinal study will be conducted at the Chinese plant to see if more workers become depressed and suicidal over time. What are your thoughts- do you think it is an exposure or is just the monotonous and confining lifestyle that these people lead or a little bit of both?
