摘要:

AbstractOccupational diseases are now being assessed at the cellular and molecular levels; this presents new opportunities for prevention and control [Calleman et al., 1978; Ong et al., 1987; Stejskal et al., 1989; Welch and Cullen, 1988; Garry et al., 1989]. The key to these opportunities is the ability to detect biological markers that reflect exposure, response, and susceptibility. Biological markers are not new, however. Biological markers such as blood lead, urinary phenol levels in benzene exposure, and liver function assays have long been used in occupational and public health research and practice. What distinguishes the current generation of markers from previous markers is a greater degree of analytical sensitivity and the ability to describe events that occur earlier in the progression between exposure and clinical disease. There are now new domains of response that were not known to exist 20 years ago. Accompanying this sensitivity is the increased requirement to consider the numerous factors that can influence the appearance of biological markers. It has been observed that all workers with similar exposures do not develop disease or markers indicative of exposure or disease. Various acquired and hereditary host factors are responsible for this variation in responses. The role of assessing the nature and degree of variation between individuals is of paramount importance. Finally, the use of biological markers in occupational health research and practice also brings new ethical and legal considerations into high profile. This paper presents my personal opinions on how biological markers can contribute to occupational health efforts and the new requirements that they bring to the field. As with any technological change, the more we can anticipate the impact, the better our ability to adjust.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200402

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper presents the results of an exploratory case‐control study of paternal occupation as a risk factor for birth defects in offspring. With the use of a population‐based registry in British Columbia, 14,415 liveborn children with birth defects were identified for the period, 1952–1973. Two controls were matched to each case by using the birth files of British Columbia. Paternal occupation was obtained from the birth certificate. The analysis included 20 birth defect categories. Paternal occupations found to be associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of birth defects include janitors [hydrocephalus (OR = 5.04), ventricular septal defects (OR = 2.45), other heart defects (OR = 2.35)], forestry and logging workers [congenital cataract (OR = 2.28), atrial septal defects (OR = 2.03), syndactyly (OR = 2.03)], painters [spina bifida (OR = 3.21), patent ductus arteriosus (OR = 2.34), cleft palate (OR = 3.36)], printers [atresia of the urethra (OR = 4.50), clubfoot (OR = 2.18)], and plywood mill workers [patent ductus arteriosus (OR = 2.52), pyloric stenosis (OR = 4.12), dislocated hip (OR = 2.71)]. This study has several limitations and the results must be viewed with caution. Nonetheless, the study provides new leads for further evaluation of the role of father's occupation in the etiology of birth de

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200403

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA hospital‐based case‐control study of laryngeal cancer was conducted in Bremen in 1986 and 1987 with 100 prevalent male laryngeal cancer patients and 100 male hospital controls with diseases not considered to be related to smoking, alcohol, or occupational exposures, who were frequency matched by age. The odds ratio for heavy smoking (more than 30 pack‐years) reached a value of 3.5 (95% confidence limits (CL) 1.1, 7.9). Ex‐smokers showed a significant decrease in risk; this reached the level of those who had never smoked about 15 years after smoking cessation. For daily consumers of alcohol an odds ratio of 3.2 (95% CL 1.4, 7.5) was observed. Among the 17 occupations in which at least ten subjects had worked, excess risks were observed for stock keeping and transportation workers, and for leather and textile workers. The odds ratio was significantly increased for the latter (p<0.05). Among all those persons ever employed in a priori defined‐risk occupations, an odds ratio of 2.74 (95% CL 1.23, 6.06) was observed. Considering responses to an exposure check‐list, no increased risks could be shown for exposure to asbestos, coal tar, or welding fumes. On the other hand, excess risks were observed for exposures to diesel oil, gasoline, and mineral oil, controlling for smoking and alcohol. The findings in occupational and exposure subgroups were based on small numbers of cases and controls and, consequently, were subject to large sampling errors. Many of the results are consistent, however, with occupational risk factors reported from ot

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200404

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractChanges in olfactory function have been associated with workplace exposure to a variety of substances. In the workplace, smell can be particurly important, since it is commonly used to detect potentially hazardous situations or as an indicator of mask cartridge breakthrough. Sensitive quantitative measures of olfactory loss would be useful in epidemiological studies and workplace surveillance. The objective of the present study was to determine the reproducibility of an olfactory perception threshold test and variations with age, gender, and smoking status. The test was a standard olfactory kit (Olfactolab No. 11), including 18 serial dilutions of PM‐carbinol, with an equal number of blanks. The forced choice method was used, with both tester and subject blinded as to which bottle contained the odorant. Olfactory perception threshold was recorded when the subject identified the same dilution three times. To assess reproducibility, testing was repeated four times over a period of 4 weeks, on the same weekday and the same time of day. Subjects (n = 63) ranged in age from 20 to 60 years (mean age: 39.7 ± 12.5 years), 47.6% were women, 29.5% currently smoked, and 27.9% were former smokers. Results showed no inter‐week differences in olfactory perception threshold (Analysis of variance for repeated measures: F = 0.59; p>>0.05). Inter‐class correlation for assessment of agreement of continuous variables was 0.76. Inter‐week concordance of hyposmia showed fair to good agreement (0.55≥kappa≤0.66). Three‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences with respect to age cateogry (F = 7.36; p<0.001) and current smoking status (F = 4.54; p0.05). The multiple regression model with age and smoking as independent variables was highly significant (F= 13.03; p<0.001), explaining 28% of the variance; olfactory threshold increased 0.47 dsiyear (t = 4.01; p<0.001) and 0.27 ds/cigarettes/day (t = 2.46; p<0.05). The findings of this study indicate that this test is reproducible and sensitive to expected changes with age and smoking status. It corresponds well to criteria for testing in the field and should be considered for studies characterizing olfactory functions and sensory loss among worki

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200405

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractData were collected on 228 consecutive back injuries in Boston's General Mail Facility and 228 non‐injured controls drawn randomly from each case's work unit, matching on craft (clerk, mailhandler, maintenance), shift, and general supervisor. Data were collected on age, gender, duration of employment, 3 year history of injury claims, overtime work in the past 2 weeks, job change in the past 60 days, and machine vs. manual job. Risk factors for back injury were examined simultaneously in a conditional logistic regression for matched pairs. Risk factors included history of back injury claim (OR = 16.5, p<0.0001), younger age (OR = 3.0, p = 0.0001), shorter duration of employment (OR = 2.6, p = 0.0007), recent job change (OR = 2.5, p = 0.06), and history of non‐back injury claim (OR = 2.0, p = 0.08). Among heavy lifters (vs. clerks) overtime and being female increased the risk of injury. In this setting, higher risk workers who may benefit from preventive education programs can be identif

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200406

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA study of 49 randomly selected, full‐time dairy farmers was performed to assess the prevalence and nature of hearing loss in this population. An age‐ and sex‐matched group of rural, non‐farmers was also studied. Medical, occupational, and recreational histories were taken and standard audiometric testing was administered. Sixty‐five percent of farmers had hearing loss in the higher frequencies and 37% had losses in the mid‐frequency range as compared to 37% and 12% of non‐farmers respectively (p<.01). Farmers' left ears were more severely affected. The age of the subjects and the number of years spent farming were highly correlated with hearing loss. Correlation and regression analyses supported the hypothesis that the difference in the prevalence of hearing loss between the dairy farmers and the non‐farmers was due to occupational noise expos

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200407

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractStaff of the California Department of Health Services investigated the death of a parathion applicator in California that was thought to be pesticide‐related. A crew of eleven workers (including six sprayers, three mixeriloaders, one mixerisprayer and one foreman) had been applying 0.125% parathion spray to almond orchards for approximately three weeks. On the day of the fatality, a sprayer rapidly developed symptoms of salivation, sweating, and convulsions after a half‐day of work. Despite aggressive medical treatment, the worker died within one hour of his initial symptoms. Significant laboratory results for the deceased case included: parathion residue on the inner and outer garments worn by the worker, parathion in the post‐mortem gastric contents, and elevated urinary metabolites consistent with acute parathion intoxication. Interviews with the work crew revealed that three of the 10 workers had complaints of headaches, vomiting, and/or sore throat; yet, subsequent plasma and red cell cholinesterase tests of the co‐workers did not show any significant depressions in comparison with pre‐season baseline values. This worker death is consistent with prior reports of parathion‐related sprayer/applicator intoxications and is the first worker‐related parathion death in California since 1972. Substitution of pesticides with less toxic active ingredients or the elimination of parathion i

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200408

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200409

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe documentation of occupational diseases in a developing country like Taiwan is a challenge to an occupational physician. For lack of a system including material safety data sheet (MSDS), workers are usually not aware of what chemicals they are exposed to. Since many occupational diseases have long latencies and do not show any specific symptoms and signs, recognition and identification of the occupational origin are often very difficult. Using databases which provide a relatively complete list of industrial chemicals and a set of specific signs and/or symptoms, combined with the epidemiologic approach of conjectures and refutations—i.e., considering and ruling out all possible alternative explanations—we have documented eight kinds of occupational diseases and an outbreak of botulism. We recommend that a similar approach be applied to any other country with a similar situation, and that a system involving an identification sheet (e.g., MSDS) for each chemical be advocated and implemented in such countries as one means to enable prompt recognition and prevention of occupational disea

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200410

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200411

出版商:Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company    

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY