摘要:

AbstractThis paper analyzes age‐specific trends in brain and other central nervous system cancer mortality from 1968 to 1987 in several major industrial countries. It also examines changes in the use of diagnostic confirmation technology and trends in incidence in the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 1973 to 1987 to estimate the influence of diagnostic factors on recent mortality trends. Other sources of error have not been evaluated in this paper. Agespecific analyses of brain and other nervous system cancer mortality show drastic increases in persons ages 75‐84 and consistent increases in younger age groups in most countries, although mortality declined in the U.S. in persons 0‐24 by 2% annually. In the SEER program, brain cancer incidence increased significantly by 2%, 1%, and 5% annually in persons aged 0‐44, 65‐74, and 75‐84, respectively. Throughout this time period, microscopic or radiographic confirmation occurred in at least 96% of all incident cases of brain and other central nervous system cancers diagnosed before death, with older persons receiving consistently more radiographic tests than younger persons. Changes in diagnoses across populations and over time are unlikely to account completely for these increasing trends which are occurring simultaneously in both males and females in major industrial countries. Additional studies need to be conducted, to exclude artifacts, to assist health care planners in anticipating treatment demands, and to detect preventable causes of these chan

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190402

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractFire fighters are regularly exposed to chemical and non‐chemical agents that have known or suspected adverse effects on reproductive health. Although chemical agents have received some attention, non‐chemical hazards such as heat, noise, and physical exertion have only recently been examined for their reproductive effects. There is evidence that heat, noise, and physical exertion may affect various endpoints of reproductive health, including fertility, fetal loss, and growth parameters of the offspring. In particular, hyperthermia, a major fire fighting hazard, has been shown to impair male fertility and may also be teratogenic. Further study of the potential reproductive effects of this and other common non‐chemical agents in the fire environment is needed to ensure the reproductive health of male and female fire fig

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190403

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractStudies of the health of fire fighters have historically focused on non‐malignant respiratory disease and cancer. More recently, concerns have surfaced about reproductive health effects in many areas of the workforce, including fire fighting. These concerns prompted this review of chemical exposures that may contribute to adverse reproductive health outcomes in male as well as female fire fighters. A review of the industrial hygiene literature was undertaken to identify agents commonly found in fire smoke. These agents were then examined for evidence of reproductive toxicity or mutagenicity/carcinogenicity. This profile of chemical agents and their reproductive toxicities permits a qualitative determination that fire fighters are exposed to potential reproductive toxicants as a part of their normal fire fighting duties. Considerations for mitigating these risks are also discusse

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190404

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA random sample of a large industrial state in the United States (Michigan) was studied via respiratory questionnaire, medical history, physical examination, and spirometry: 976 white adults performed a battery of spirometric tests (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25‐75%). Using predictive equations derived from normal subjects in the survey and defining spirometric abnormality by the lower 95% confidence interval, prevalences of abnormality were greater in those who had a smoking history. When equations derived from normal non‐smokers were used, as has been the general practice, 21.3% of men and 18.5% of women with a positive smoking history had an abnormal FEV1and 26.7% and 17.8% an abnormal FEF25‐75%, respectively. Although FVC is thought to be affected little by smoking, mean values were lower and prevalences of abnormal values higher in smokers. Prevalences are also shown using an adjustment for the effect of smoking and using conventional (percent of predicted value) definitions of spirometric abnormality. The prevalences of spirometric impairments in this cross section of a large state should be useful for comparison with other populations under study in North Am

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190405

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAerylamide monomer concentrations and peripheral neurotoxicity were investigated in workers at a factory producing polymer. Monomer levels ranged from 0.07 to 2.5 times the recommended exposure limit of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1988). Those workers with exposure exceeding the limit had increased prevalences of acrylamide‐related abnormalities. Logistic regression showed dose‐response relationships with exposure for symptoms, abnormal sensation, decreased motor strength, abnormal gait or rombergism, and skin abnormalities. The overall prevalence of acrylamide‐related abnormality was 32% in the total work force and 67% among those exceeding the limit compared with 14% in those exposed below the limit. Environmental exposure determinations and conventional clinical approaches are relatively insensitive measures. Associations might have been stronger if a biological exposure measure had existed and if quantitative neurornetric techniques had been applied. Electrophysiological methods are not readily available in many settings; the use of the Vibratron II for quantitative field testing holds pr

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190406

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis study compares 84 mercury‐exposed workers at a thermometer manufacturing facility with 79 unexposed workers for evidence of chronic mercury toxicity. Personal breathing‐zone air concentrations of mercury ranged from 25.6 to 270.6 μg/m3for thermometer workers. Urinary mercury levels in the study population ranged from 1.3 to 344.5 μg/g creatinine, with eight (10%) participants exceeding 150 μg/g creatinine and three workers exceeding 300 μg/g creatinine, which indicates increased absorption of mercury among the thermometer workers. All urine mercury levels in the comparison group were compatible with normal background levels in unexposed adults (<10 μg/g creatinine). Thermometer plant workers reported more symptoms than did controls; in general, these differences were not statistically significant and could not be specifically associated with mercury exposure. Static tremor, abnormal Romberg test, dysdiadochokinesia, and difficulty with heel‐to‐toe gait were more prevalent among thermometer workers than control workers, which could not be associated with recent mercury exposure; there was some suggestion of an association with chronic exposure. There were no intergroup differences for the standard clinical tests of renal function except for a significantly higher mean specific gravity among the thermometer workers. A positive correlation was found, however, between urinary N‐acetyl‐b‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary mercury. There was no consistent evidence for intergroup differences in proximal renal tubule function, as measured by urinary β2‐microglobulin (B2M) or retino

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190407

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe relationship between leukemia and occupation was investigated in a case‐control study using death certificates of 5,147 men who died of leukemia (ICD‐9 codes 204‐208) and 51,470 who died of other causes in 16 U.S. states from 1985 to 1987. Of six occupational activities identified previously as potentially increasing the risk of leukemia, only petroleum refining and rubber manufacturing had excess deaths for all leukemias combined (odds ratios (ORs) = 1.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.6‐2.8 and 0.9‐1.8, respectively). Meat workers and wood workers had elevated mortality from acute lymphocytic leukemia (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7‐7.0 and OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.8‐2.2, respectively). There was no leukemia excess among farmers or auto mechanics. A survey of 43 other occupational groups indicated a widespread excess of leukemia among white collar occupations, primarily managers and professionals, but none among blue collar workers. This pattern was most pronounced for men under 65 years of age, and existed for all leukemia subtypes and among both blacks and whites. Despite the lack of specific exposure information and other limitations of death certificate data, these results encourage further examination of occupational cause

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190408

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis study measured the validity of work histories obtained by interview with 84 female workers and examined specific factors which influence such validity. This is the first validation of work histories collected by interviews with women. The validity of each interview was assessed over a period of 29 years, from 1955 to 1983. The information provided by the worker was compared annually to job information registered in public and union records. On the average, interviews yielded the correct information (either employer's name or nonworking year) for 81% of the person years of these subjects. However, there was a time effect; the average validity score for recent employment (1972‐1983) was 89%, while that for employment in the more distant past (1955‐1971) was 74%. Furthermore, workers who had fewer jobs, had longer durations of employment, and were non‐French speaking had higher validity scores. Most of these findings are consistent with previous studies conducted among male respon

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190409

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAn increased risk, after lumbar laminectomy, for lost work time occupational back injury (odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.9‐18.8) and disability (mean 292.8 days vs. 24.8 for controls) was previously demonstrated. Such differences could be due to physical sequelae of back surgery or to psychosocial factors. Extensive literature addresses the impact of psychosocial factors on the incidence of occupational injury and severity of disability. This study assumes that psychosocial factors would affect both back and non‐back injuries, while surgery‐related physical factors would not. The odds ratio for non‐back lost work time injury for subjects in the same cohort studied previously was 1.5 (0.5‐4.5), with no significant increase in duration of disability (mean 27.0 days vs. 24.8 for controls). The increased risk for back injury in the absence of an increased risk for other injuries suggests that physiologic rather than psychosocial factors provide the more likely explanation for the differences in back

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190410

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper addresses many of the salient issues and difficulties encountered in performing Hand‐Arm Vibration Syndrome research since its discovery in the early 1900's by Alice Hamilton. The areas discussed and the resulting lessons learned include the medical, epidemiological, and control aspects of HAVS. The authors conclude with a plea to health professionals to be ever vigilant and responsive to the HAVS problem, or else it will continue unabated into the next century, an overall time span of nearly 100 year

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190411

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY