摘要:

AbstractAn industrial hygiene survey was performed to characterize exposure of shipyard painters to 2‐ethoxyethanol (2‐EE) and 2‐methoxyethanol (2‐ME). One hundred and two samples were taken over six workshifts. Overall results showed that the time‐weighted average (TWA) of airborne exposure to 2‐EE ranged from 0–80.5 mg/m3with a mean of 9.9 mg/m3and a median of 4.4 mg/m3. Samples for 2‐ME TWA ranged from 0–17.7 mg/m3with a mean of 2.6 mg/m3and a median of 1.6 mg/m3. Limitations of the sampling and a few prior measurements suggest that these data may underestimate usual or previous exposure. These data are discussed in the context of available data on airborne exposure to ethylene glycol ethers from

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140502

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo determine whether 2‐ethoxyethanol (2‐EE) and 2‐methoxyethanol (2‐ME) affected the reproductive potential of exposed men, we examined the semen of 73 painters and 40 controls who work in a large shipyard. An industrial hygiene survey was performed to characterize the work environment. The men supplied information on demographic characteristics, medical conditions, personal habits, and reproductive history; underwent a physical examination; and provided a semen sample. Semen samples were analyzed for pH, volume, turbidity, liquidity, viability by stain exclusion and hypo‐osmotic stress, sperm density and count per ejaculate, motility using a videotape technique, morphology, and morphometry. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, FSH, and LH. The industrial hygiene survey revealed that the painters were exposed to 2‐EE at a time‐weighted average (TWA) of 0–80.5 mg/m3with a mean of 9.9 mg/m3, and to 2‐ME at a TWA of 0–17.7 mg/m3with a mean of 2.6 mg/m3. Painters had an increased prevalence of oligospermia and azoospermia and an increased odds ratio for a lower sperm count per ejaculate, while smoking was controlled. This finding is consistent with prior animal studies and with one human study. Potential biases and confounding of the

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140503

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractHemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell indices, total and differential white blood cell counts, and platelet count were measured in shipyard painters and control subjects as part of a cross‐sectional, observational study of the effects of ethylene glycol ethers. Although the means of all variables were comparable between the groups, a significant proportion of painters were anemic (10%) and granulocytopenic (5%); none of the controls were affected. Review of company records documented that most of these abnormalities were acquired during employment; preexisting disease and other exposure could not explain the findings. These findings are consistent with prior animal studies and human case reports. Potential biases and confounding of the data are discusse

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140504

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAlthough there are published data concerning reader variability in the assessment of parenchymal pneumoconiotic changes using the ILO Classification of Radiographs, nothing has been published on reader variability with regard to pleural abnormalities. Therefore, in the context of an epidemiologic study, we assessed between‐ and within‐reader variability in the reading of chest radiographs for pleural abnormality using the ILO 1980 International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses. Chest radiographs of 182 insulation workers interspersed with 24 subjects without documented exposure to asbestos were assembled and read blindly by two readers, reading separately on two occasions, 1 week apart. The results of this study suggest that confident separation of pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening may be difficult to achieve using the present guidelines of the ILO 1980 classification. In the evaluation of the width of chest wall pleural abnormality, within‐reader agreement improves as the width increases, while between‐reader agreement was much less satisfactory. Excellent agreement is obtained in the evaluation of other sites, especially costophrenic angle obliteration and the presence of pleural calcif

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140505

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA pilot survey of the distribution and content of occupational health services in South African manufacturing industries was carried out in the Germiston area of the Witwatersrand using the records of the Workmens' Compensation Commissioner as a sampling frame. All establishments with 50 or more workers and a stratified random sample of smaller ones (495 in all) were contacted. The overall response rate was 56% and was positively related to work force size, the larger establishments showing higher response rates. The offering of health services, defined minimally as at least a part‐time nurse or doctor employed on the premises, was reported in 11% of work places employing 52% of the work force and was also positively related to work force size. Seventeen percent of establishments had ever monitored environmental conditions, and all classes of industry in the study area fell short of government recommendations. The advantages of the study approach used here, based on a countrywide sampling frame and a mail questionnaire, include 1) the relatively modest cost; 2) the creation of an information framework to which can be added additional information obtained from other sources e.g., factory visits; and 3) the use of a database for sampling that is countrywide, regularly updated, and versatile, with the potential for extending the observations with a similar (geographic) or different focus, for instance, by industrial class or work force siz

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140506

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis report presents the findings of a case‐control study of lung cancer among workers at a rubber manufacturing plant. Detailed work histories of 40 lung cancer deaths, which occurred during 1977 and 1978, were compared with those of 146 controls who were individually matched to cases on age, sex, and race; 66 of the controls were also matched on year of first hire. Elevated odds ratios were noted for different durations of employment in four work areas: Reclaim Operation, Chemicals, Special Products Manufacture, and Curing Preparation. A clear trend of increasing odds ratios with increasing durations of exposure was observed for the first three of these work areas. Several chemicals used in these processes are known respiratory system hazards. The results of this study suggest an association between lung cancer mortality risk and employment in Reclaim Operation, Chemicals, and Special Products Manufacture. A moderate excess risk was observed in these areas among both smokers and nonsmokers, although the risk was greater among the smoker

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140507

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA clinical and laboratory investigation was carried out on 76 operators using pneumatic hand grinders and impact wrenches in the engine manufacturing industry. Twenty‐two vibration‐exposed workers (28.9%) had no symptoms in the hands (stage 0 of the Stockholm Workshop scale), 34 (44.7%) were affected with sensorineural disturbances in the fingers (stage SN), and 20 (26.3%) suffered from vibration white finger (VWF stages 1–2‐3). In the vibration‐exposed operators and in 30 comparable referents not exposed to vibration, finger systolic blood pressure (FSP) was measured on a test finger and on a control finger after digit cooling to 30°C and 10°C. The results of the cold provocation test were expressed as percent change of FSP by cooling the test finger from 30°C to 10°C (FSP%t, 10°) and as digital/brachial pressure index during local cooling at 10°C (DPIt, 10°). After cold provocation the mean values of FSP%t, 10°and DPIt 10°were more significantly reduced in the vibration‐exposed workers with VWF than in those without VWF and the referents (p<0.001). The cold provocation test was found to differentiate between VWF subjects with stages 1–2 and stage 3 (p<0.02). It is concluded that the measurement of FSP combined with finger cooling is a useful laboratory test to diagnose objectively Raynaud's phenomenon of occupational origin. The vibration‐exposed workers and the referents were also tested for serum levels of immunoglobulins and complement and for daily excretion of urinary free catecholamines. Between the reference and vibration groups no differences in the mean values of the immunologic parameters and urinary catecholamines were found. The meaning of the

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140508

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractSince 1938, federal child labor laws have restricted employment of persons under 18 years old, in part to protect them from hazardous occupations. Workers' compensation claims reported to the Supplementary Data System of the Bureau of Labor Statistics were examined to define the current status of occupational injuries among minors. Data tapes from 1980 to 1983 were searched to identify all current claims for injuries and illnesses occurring in 1980 in persons under age 18. Injury rates were calculated using information about employment in 1979 available from the 1980 census. In the 24 states included in this study, 23,823 claims were reported for persons less than 18 years old. Of these claims, approximately 10% were from persons under age 16. Rates of injuries in 16‐ and 17 year olds were 12.6 per 100 full‐time male workers and 6.6 per 100 full‐time female workers. Serious injuries included fractures, dislocations, and amputations, accounting for 5.8%, 0.7%, and 0.6% of cases, respectively. California, the only state that coded whether injuries resulted in fatalities, reported 12 deaths in this age group. Machines and vehicles, many of which are restricted under child labor laws, accounted for 8.3% and 5.8% of claims. These data suggest that persons under age 18 years are not adequately protected from occupational injury. Further attention and, possibly, new preventive strategies are n

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140509

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA case‐control study was conducted in the southern part of The Netherlands to investigate the risk of lung cancer in coal miners; 381 age‐matched pairs of primary lung cancer cases and controls, diagnosed between 1972 and 1988, were selected from the pathology department of the University Hospital in the region. Information about past employment in coal mines was obtained through the registers of the collaborative pension fund for Dutch miners. 20% of the cases were (at some time) employed in coal mining, compared with 21% of the controls (odds ratio 0.95; 95% confidence interval: 0.65–1.38). 9% of both cases and controls had an underground work history (odds ratio 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.56–1.65). The duration of underground coal mining did not differ substantially between cases and referents (average duration: respectively 117 and 108 months). No relation between specific histologic tumor cell types and coal mining could be demonstrated. The study gives no indication that workers in Dutch coal mines have an increased risk of developing lung malig

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140510

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThere are at least 193 important biological agents that show infectious, allergenic, toxic, or carcinogenic activities in the working population. These agents are viruses, bacteria, fungi, plant substances, invertebrate animals (mostly arthropods), and substances derived from vertebrate animals. At least 20 large occupational groups are exposed to these biohazards. The risk is greatest among health care and laboratory workers who are threatened by human pathogens and among agricultural workers who are at risk from dust‐borne biological allergens and toxins and by parasitic worms in warm climates. There is growing evidence that biohazards are also important risk factors for many other professions, including woodworkers, workers of textile plants, sewage and compost workers, miners and renovators. Some suggestions for research and prevention for reducing the occupational risks from biohazards are discusse

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700140511

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

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY