**5. Occupational stress physiology and neurobiology**

Technological advancements and rapid globalisation have changed the people how to work in ambient environmental conditions. In mining sectors, workers are constantly subjected to occupational and stress-related productivity degradation. The processing of work and coping with challenging situations needs the activation of intricate brain-body mechanisms. Neuroendocrine networks are involved in the different type mechanism and hippocampi expressed vide variety of stressful stimuli in the brain [32]. Homeostasis mechanism well maintained by the interactions among body organ systems and, its metabolic processes responsible for the release of free radicals including peroxynitrite radicals, hydrogen peroxides, superoxide anions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide radicals in response to oxidative stress [33–36]. Studies well reported that stress condition were responsible for the

#### *Impact of Occupational Stress and Its Associated Factors on Cognitive, Hormonal and Stress… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109587*

secretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucocorticoids hormones via neuroendocrine system in the brain. On the other hand, non-genomic, genomic, epigenetic processes, immune system stimulation, energy mobilisation, metabolic changes, and systemic inhibition were involved in the development of the oxidative stress in humans. Scientists placed more attention towards changes in cellular, synaptic and neural flexibility take place in combination with proinflammatory signals. Together, body-brain connection governs physiologic and behavioural changes were necessary for survival and sustainability [32, 37, 38]. Focusing on health hazardous problems and its impact on the workers in occupational settings disturbs mental and social health determinants in them. Studies reported that heavy metal fumes and dust exposure including, aluminium, lead, manganese, copper may get deposited into the brain. Excessive overload of heavy metals which cross the blood brain barrier and causes Alzheimer, Parkinson's schizophrenia and neurological diseases. The symptoms such as trembling slow motor movement, severe depression, anxiety, and loss of memory were well reported in them. Therefore, neuronal cells network mechanism was highly responsible for development of psychological problems due to oxidative stressors in them. However, neurotransmitter in the brain have neuronal connections which causes to release of proinflammatory cytokines directly responsible to disturb neurological mechanism and developed psychological issues in exposed workers [39, 40].
