摘要:

Fifty-eight workers were evaluated at a university-based occupational health clinic for potential health effects related to organic and inorganic lead exposures. The clinical evaluation included a history, physical, and laboratory examination, and in a subset of workers, neurobehavioral tests and nerve conduction studies. Workers reported symptoms that predominantly involved the central and peripheral nervous systems. Findings for which no alternative medical explanations could be found included neurobehavioral abnormalities (18 of 39 workers) and sensorimotor polyneuropathies (11 of 31 workers). The clinical presentation and evaluation of workers exposed to organic lead are discussed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study presents the results of analyses performed to generate hypotheses concerning the general patterns of risk factors for occupational sprains and strains, using Ontario workers' compensation data housed in the Workplace Health and Safety Agency (WHSA) data base. Historically, the largest percentage of lost-time injuries in Ontario, Canada, have been sprains and strains. In 1990, there were 171,047 compensated lost-time injuries with a known nature of injury, of which 50.43% were sprains and strains. From cross-tabulations, a number of statistics such as odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals,Pvalues, attributable risks and number of injuries attributable, were calculated. Results indicate that occupational sprains and strains are related to the time of the day and, in particular, time into the workshift. They occur more frequently than expected (based on the occurrence of non-sprain and non-strain injuries) in the morning hours and in the first 4 hours of the workshift. They are not found to be related to the starting or ending time or the length of the workshift. They occur more frequently than expected during the early part of a week, especially on Mondays, and the early part of a year (January to May). With respect to age, workers 30 to 59 years old have an increased risk of sprains and strains, whereas workers less than 30 years of age, or 60 or more years of age, have a decreased risk. Workers who are not single, and female workers, have a higher risk of sprains and strains than expected. With respect to occupations, nurses and truckers have a higher-than-expected risk. A number of work environments and activities, such as overexertion, bodily reaction from involuntary motions, running and stretching, and slippery surfaces, are associated with a high risk of occurrence of sprains and strains. These results suggest that significant reduction in the number of occupational sprains and strains could be achieved by targeting prevention programs to reduce excess risks encountered in the first 4 hours of the workshift, on Mondays, and during the first 5 months of the year, and by workers 30 to 59 years of age, female workers, and nurses and truck drivers. It is estimated that, with proper interventions to avoid sprains and strains, a large percentage of sprain and strain injuries could be avoided each year: ie 82.49% of injuries due to bodily reaction from involuntary motions, 89.43% of overexertions in lifting objects, 84.64% of running, stretching, and related injuries, and 76.64% of injuries resulting from loss of balance on slippery surfaces. This study uses an internal comparison, ie comparing the risk of sprains and strains to the risk of all other injuries for various risk categories of interest. As a result, an increased OR may mean an increased risk of sprains and strains, or it may mean a decreased risk of all other injuries for a particular risk category. There are also limitations in the use of workers' compensation data base for epidemiologic studies. Therefore, findings in this study are only suggestive for further investigations and should await confirmations before prevention programs are designed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We have analyzed the bladder biopsies of six bladder cancer patients exposed to high levels of 2-naphthylamine and benzidine, 11 unexposed bladder cancer patients, six subjects with benign conditions of the bladder, and 16 healthy subjects. Immunohistochemical analysis of the p21 and p185 protein products, for overexpression of ras and c-erbB-2 oncogenes, was performed. Overexpression of ras was found in four of six exposed cancer patients, 3 of 11 unexposed cancer patients, zero of six benign disease patients, and zero of 16 healthy subjects. The odds ratio for ras overexpression, comparing exposed with unexposed cases, was 5.3 (90% confidence interval 0.6 to 64). Overexpression of c-erB-2 was apparently not associated with occupational exposure.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Hazardous materials releases can cause substantial morbidity and mortality, but very few studies have systematically investigated them. We analyzed responses by Massachusetts' six district hazardous materials (HAZMAT) teams from the time of their inception through February 1994. Spills, leaks, and other escapes of materials caused or contributed to 67 of 85 (79%) incidents. Transportation-related accidents accounted for 13 of 83 (16%), whereas the remainder of the releases occurred at fixed facilities. The chemicals most frequently involved were various hydrocarbons and corrosive materials. Most incidents (60 of 85 [70%]) had no reported injuries. Civilians were injured in 18 of 85 (21%) incidents; regular fire fighter and/or police were injured in eight of 85 (9%) incidents; and HAZMAT team members in one of 85 incidents (1%). Systematic study is needed to identify preventable causes of HAZMAT responses as well as ideas for better control of secondary health effects.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The increasing trends of cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremities (CTDUEs) in US industry is well established; however, systematic examination of potential reasons for these trends has been lacking. Data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and from Liberty Mutual Group workers' compensation claims were used to count CTDUEs. The proportions of all Bureau of Labor Statistics' cases and Liberty Mutual Group workers' compensation claims that resulted from CTDUEs were estimated for the years 1986 to 1993. The proportions by occupation (job classification code), gender, potential video display unit use, and in the meat-packing industry are described. Both data systems show a steady increase in cases and claims from less than 1% in 1986 to about 4% in 1993. Women and specific occupational categories are over-represented with respect to CTDUEs. A shift to service industry work and video display unit use do not appear to be strongly related to the increased reporting of CTDUEs, whereas increased productivity, an increased number of women in the work force, and general awareness of CTDUEs in the media and health care system may be related. Coding and definition problems still limit these conclusions, however.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1996

数据来源: OVID