摘要:

AbstractA cross‐sectional study to assess prevalence of respiratory abnormality was conducted among 107 South African foundry workers. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 10.3% overall, increasing to 38% for workers with more than 15 years of service. Dyspnea was present in 38% of workers, chronic simple bronchitis in 15.9%, and asthmatic symptoms in 27%. Pneumoconiosis was not associated with higher prevalence rates of other respiratory abnormalities. The high overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms might be explained by exposure to environmental pollutants other than dus

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120102

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThree workers from a color printing factory were admitted to community hospitals in 1985 with manifestations of acute hepatitis. One of the three had superimposed acute renal failure and pulmonary edema. An investigation was subsequently conducted at the plant to determine the etiology of the outbreak and the prevalence of liver disease among the remaining workers. Comprehensive medical evaluations were conducted, which included physical examinations, liver function tests, and serological screening for hepatitis. Seventeen of 25 workers from the plant had abnormal liver function tests 10 days after the outbreak, and a significant association was found between the presence of abnormal liver function tests and a history of recently having worked inside any of three rooms in which an interconnecting air conditioning system had been installed to cool the printing machines. After further investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred following inadvertent use of carbon tetrachloride to clean a pump in the printing machine. A simulation of the pump cleaning operation revealed ambient air levels of carbon tetrachloride of 300–500 ppm. Ultimately, it was concluded that the outbreak was in all likelihood due to the combined use of carbon tetrachloride and isopropyl alcohol in the cleaning operation. This outbreak underscores the importance of adopting appropriate industrial hygiene measures in a rapidly industrializing nation such as Taiwa

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120103

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractSome epidemiologic studies have selected subjects from death registries. This method is, however, subject to substantial systematic bias that arises from the fact that different segments of society have different risks of death in any year. Different occupational groups will thus have unequal probabilities of entering the pool of potential controls, and biased estimates of the odds ratios that relate occupation to disease will result. Failure to recognize the bias may lead to invalid conclusions. This selection bias is discussed, with particular reference to studies of malignancies among farmers. The bias is demonstrated by using data from studies of Parkinson's disease and sinonasal cancer.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120104

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper examines the regulatory usefulness of five studies of the reproductive effects of occupational exposure to ethylene dibromide. None of the studies found a statistically significant adverse effect.Results from an epidemiologic study can find no adverse effect either because there is in fact no association between the outcome and the exposure being studied or because the study was not powerful enough to detect an association between the two. This distinction is especially important when “negative” studies are offered as evidence that a chemical is not harmful to workers. General reasons for low power in reproductive studies are discussed, and each of the studies is examined to see if the results were in fact negative and what factors were operating to affect the power of each study.Four of the studies showed potential reproductive impairments that were not large enough to be judged statistically significant by the authors. The power of all of these studies was then examined and found to be low for a number of reasons. These studies therefore do not represent evidence that ethylene dibromide is harmless; on the contrary, they may indicate the opposite.In general, when regulating potentially harmful chemicals in a low‐power situation, power should be raised by raising the alpha level of the study, especially when animal data show a strong positive e

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120105

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo study if obliterative lesions in digital arteries are relevant as the pathogenic factor in vibration white finger, finger blood flow was measured in 15 subjects with advanced symptoms and in 15 controls by venous occlusion plethysmography before and after vasodilation. Before vasodilation, the subjects had lower temperature, blood flow, and peak blood flow after arterial occlusion in the fingers than did the controls, while venous tone was increased. In addition, after sympathicolysis, finger blood flow was lower in the study than in the control group, but there was no difference in peak blood flow after arterial occlusion or in venous tone. The results indicate that the subjects have a high vascular tone causing a reduction in blood flow during submaximal flow conditions. Obliterative organic lesions in finger arteries do not seem to be present, since the “maximal” flow values of the subjects are similar to those of the contr

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120106

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn 15 random autopsies, nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) were determined quantitatively by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in human lung tissue to evaluate norm values. None of the deceased persons had had an occupational exposure to Cr or Ni or their compounds. In all, 22 tissue samples were taken from each lung at specific topographical anatomical locations. The analytical procedure is described in detail.The results showed substantial variation in concentrations both within a single lung and also between individuals. Median values found were 204 ng/g for Cr and 25.6 ng/g for Ni. Topographical concentrations of Cr and Ni were 1.3–1.9 times higher in the upper lung areas.In view of the variability in metal concentration, analysis of only one part of lung tissue is not sufficient for determining the content of the entire lung.The evaluation of norm values is an important precondition for appraisal of Cr and Ni accumulation in human pulmonary tissue that may be due to occupational exposur

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120107

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA computerized system for recording the results of structured, numerically coded autopsy reports on various types of mine workers has been in operation at the National Centre for Occupational Health in Johannesburg since 1975. Historical developments, particularly those associated with compensation for occupational disease, have resulted in very high autopsy rates, especially among whites. Since its inception, the pathology automation (PATHAUT) system has accumulated the results of more than 33,000 autopsies. The data set is described in the hope of stimulating interest in the possible uses of the data and encouraging collaborative research. Some characteristics of the database with potential research implications are discussed. These include differing age and work patterns for blacks and whites and geographic factors with potential influence on whether a body or only the cardiorespiratory organs are sent for examination.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120108

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo assess the feasibility of using the pathology automation system (PATHAUT) for research, the quality of the data was explored by examining who comes to autopsy, the quality of the autopsy material, interobserver variability, and repeatability of diagnoses. The data indicated that autopsy rates in the gold mining industry, especially for whites, are high and that even among blacks, gold miners are represented in proportions exceeding the relative size of the working population. Because of the perception of the autopsy service as a means of obtaining compensation, miners with occupational diseases fully compensated in life are probably underrepresented.The autopsy material submitted for full autopsy is generally better preserved than cardiorespiratory organs that are sent for examination. The gold mining industry has a high proportion of full autopsies as does the Iron and Steel Corporation of South Africa. Full autopsies are more commonly performed on older deceased miners. This was true for both blacks and whites.The allocation of material to pathologists for full autopsies and examinations of the cardiorespiratory organs were clearly not random, and this may affect comparisons among pathologists. Active tuberculosis, silicosis, and emphysema prevalences appeared fairly comparable across pathologists; however, there was wide variability in the prevalence of bronchiolitis as determined by the pathologists.Agreement between the diagnoses on PATHAUT and reclassifications by single pathologists was very good for the severity of emphysema and the histological type of bronchogenic carcinoma.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120109

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analysis of all deaths recorded from 1975 to 1985 among New Hampshire white male residents (age 20 years or older) was performed using death certificate information. Among automobile mechanics, the analysis revealed increases in mortality from leukemia (PMR = 178, N = 6); cancers of the oral cavity (PMR = 163, N = 4), lung (PMR = 112, N = 36), bladder (PMR = 169, N = 5), rectum (PMR = 182, N = 4), and lymphatic tissues (PMR = 200, N = 6); and cirrhosis of the liver (PMR = 140, N = 13) and suicide (PMR = 177, N = 22; p<0.05). Workers in the gasoline service station industry experienced a leukemia mortality excess (PMR = 328, N = 3; p<0.05) as well as increases in deaths from suicide (PMR = 162, N = 4), emphysema (PMR = 245, N = 4), and mental and psychoneurotic conditions (PMR = 394, N = 3). These workers are potentially exposed to a variety of substances including gasoline vapor, benzene, solvents, lubricating oils and greases, and asbestos (from brake and clutch repair) as well as welding fumes and car and truck exhaust. Despite limitations regarding the small number of deaths and methodologic constraints, the results of this analysis suggest that one or more of the exposures experienced by these workers poses a significant carcinogenic risk. More definitive epidemiologic studies are required to determine if the leukemia excess is associated with exposure to benzene, gasoline, or other workplace substances.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120110

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAccording to a method (the AM‐test) previously developed by us, the counting of alveolar macrophages (AM) from expectorates provides an estimation of the potential pulmonary insult from occupational air pollution ± smoking. In this article we demonstrate a relationship between the number of AM and self‐registered pulmonary symptoms and complaints.Employees from different workplaces in a primary aluminum reduction plant gave expectorate samples for the AM‐test. A gradient in the number of AM was observed, with increasing AM numbers from the controls to the administration employees to the potroom workers, who had the highest numbers. Pulmonary symptoms and complaints were recorded by means of a questionnaire. A clear covariation between AM numbers and respiratory symptoms and complaints was observed and was most pronounced at the highest pollution levels (in the potrooms). We therefore suggest that the AM‐test may serve as an effect indicator as well as a dose i

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700120111

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

年代:1987

数据来源: WILEY