摘要:

Delaware is a leading US poultry-producing state, and foreign-born workers make up a significant percentage of those employed by Delaware’s poultry plants. In Sussex County, Delaware, a high percentage of the poultry workers are from two countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB), Mexico and Guatemala, and thus are at risk for TB infection and disease. Furthermore, their risk of TB may be increased because many of these workers live in crowded conditions and lack access to medical care.1–4

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To monitor benzene exposure and to check reliability of urinary trans,trans-Muconic Acid (t,t-MA) as a bio-marker of benzene exposure in local conditions, a study was conducted on 30 Tunisian exposed workers (20 tanker fillers and 10 filling station attendants). The analyses were carried out on environmental air and urinary t,t-MA before (t,t-MAA) and at the end of work shift (t,t-MAB). 20 nonoccupationally exposed subjects were also investigated. The average value of environmental benzene concentration was 0.17 ppm. The differences between t,t-MAA and t,t-MAB concentrations and between t,t-MAB and t,t-MA measured in controls (t,t-MAC) were both significant (p< 0.001). Benzene air concentrations were well correlated with t,t-MAB: R = 0.76. In the nonexposed group, average t,t-MA concentrations is significantly higher among smokers than nonsmokers (P< 0.02). Analysis of urinary t,t-MA offers a relatively simple and suitable method for benzene exposure monitoring.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Individuals with occupational asthma may also report symptoms of rhinitis or conjunctivitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of rhinitis and conjunctivitis in subjects with occupational asthma as a result of trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Additionally, we wanted to evaluate the onset of rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms as compared with the occupational asthma symptoms. In a case series design, we studied 25 consecutive employees with TMA-induced asthma; each of them had participated in an annual surveillance program in which they were queried about rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and other respiratory symptoms. Twenty-two of the 25 (88%) reported rhinitis symptoms whereas 17 of the 25 (68%) reported conjunctivitis symptoms. In 17 of the 22 (77%) individuals with rhinitis and asthma, the rhinitis symptoms preceded the asthma symptoms. In 14 of the 17 (82%) individuals with conjunctivitis, those symptoms preceded the asthma symptoms. In summary, symptoms of rhinitis and conjunctivitis are common in subjects with occupational asthma because of TMA and often precede the respiratory symptoms.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

It is unclear to what extent law enforcement officers (LEOs) experience increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD; defined as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, angina, or stroke) and, if so, whether perceived stress affects this relationship. First, self-reported CVD risk factors among currently employed male LEOs from 9 states (n = 2818) were compared to CVD risk factors among similarly-aged males with similar incomes in the same states (n = 8046). Second, CVD prevalence was compared among LEOs (n = 1791) and similarly-aged males with similar incomes (n = 2575) from four of these states. Finally, among the LEOs only, the possible effect of perceived stress on the relationship between CVD prevalence and CVD risk factors was assessed. LEOs reported higher prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, tobacco use, and elevated body mass index. CVD prevalence did not differ significantly between the LEO group and the general population (2.3% ± 15% versus 3.1% ± 17%;P= 0.095). In the LEO-only group, the best predictors of CVD were: time in the profession (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.03–1.11), perceived stress (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.00–1.10), and hypertension (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.18–0.62). In the LEO-only group, perceived stress was associated with CVD (P= 0.008), and three CVD risk factors were significantly affected by perceived stress: cholesterol, hypertension, and physical activity. Perceived stress was affected by duration of time in the profession (P= 0.004), independent of an age effect (P= 0.353). Among susceptible officers, perceived stress may contribute to CVD directly and through potentiating several CVD risk factors.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To analyze occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and radiographic abnormalities as indicators of asbestos-related cancer risk we followed 16,696 male construction workers for cancer in 1990–2000. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) in comparison to the Finnish population and relative risks (RR) in a multivariate analysis in comparison to the internal low-exposure category of each indicator. Overall, the risk was increased for mesothelioma (SIR 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0–3.3), but not for lung cancer (SIR 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.2). Radiographic lung fibrosis indicated a 2-fold and a high value of the exposure index a 3-fold RR of lung cancer, while there was no risk among those with pleural plaques. The risk of lung cancer was the highest in insulators (RR 3.7, 95% CI = 1.4–9.9). Occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and lung fibrosis are useful indicators of lung cancer risk among construction workers

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Toluene diisocyanate, or TDI (CAS 584-84-9) is a well-known asthmagen and respiratory irritant. TDI is also known for its ability to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. To further investigate the dermal effects of TDI, NIOSH investigators conducted a cross-sectional study at a flexible foam manufacturing plant. A total of 114 workers participated in the study. Participants completed a medical questionnaire, provided blood for antibody testing to TDI and other allergens, and a subset of participants reporting skin symptoms underwent skin patch testing to a standard diisocyanate panel. Production line workers were more than twice as likely to report skin problems as those working in nonproduction areas (PRR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.14–16.32; P = 0.02). Age, gender and duration of employment at the plant were comparable among participants working in production and nonproduction areas. Of the 100 participants who provided blood samples for antibody testing, specific IgG antibody to TDI was detected in two individuals, and none of the samples demonstrated specific IgE antibody to TDI. Of the 26 workers who underwent skin patch testing, none developed reactions to the diisocyanate allergens. These results suggest that the skin symptoms among study participants represent an irritant rather than an immunologic reaction to TDI, or to an unidentified allergen present in the foam.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The prognosis of vibration-induced white finger was investigated with a long follow-up period. From 1975 to 1994, 99 men with hand-arm vibration syndrome who received the annual compulsory examination at San-in Rosai Hospital were followed up for 15 years or longer. Based on the extent of finger-blanching attacks described in the medical records, they were classified according to the vascular stage of the Stockholm workshop scale. In our laboratory, finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) measurement after finger cooling has been performed since 1989. We compared the stage classification with the results of FSBP measurement after finger cooling in the period 1989–1994. The stage 2 and stage 3 groups showed a significant decrease in FSBP% compared with the stage 0 group. The vascular stage classification based on subjective symptoms in this study was to a certain extent reliable. Although vibration-induced white finger symptoms tended to improve to some extent, 43.2% and 70.4% of patients with stage 2 and stage 3 at first examination, respectively, still suffered from finger blanching attacks after 15 years of observation. Blanching of fingers in advanced stages, especially stage 3, was found to be persistent many years after cessation of vibration exposure.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID