ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We conducted a meta-analysis to acquire an understanding of the association between central nervous system cancer and occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields. To explore sources of heterogeneity, study characteristics were scored and examined using regression analysis. An inverse-variance weighted pooling leads to a small overall increase in relative risk (10 to 20%) for the broad group of electrical occupations. One of the largest differences was lower relative risk for Scandinavian studies. Lower relative risks were also reported in cohort-and incidence-based studies. Findings were not sensitive to assumptions, including unpublished data, influence of individual studies, weighting schemes, and modeling. Whereas most studies present a small elevation in risk, there is considerable heterogeneity among the results.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The employer is expected to maintain responsibility for health care expenses and lost income that result from occupational injury and illness through the workers' compensation insurance system. However, financial support for individuals with occupational illnesses, especially those with long latency, is often from sources other than workers' compensation. Silicosis, a well defined, chronic, occupational lung disease, can be viewed as a sentinel for the inadequacy of the public policy to compensate workers for chronic occupational lung disease. Three hundred twenty-nine patients with confirmed silicosis were identified by the silicosis surveillance program in the New Jersey Department of Health using source data from 1979 through 1992. One hundred seventy-seven of these individuals provided information on the status of any compensation claims against their employer. Only 31% of these patients stated that a claim had been filed; 84 % of those whose claims were settled were awarded payments. Severity of radiologic findings was not associated with the likelihood of filing a claim or with being awarded a payment; whereas, smoking was associated with these outcomes. The implications of these findings for the health care system are discussed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Because of their occupational exposure to a variety of toxic agents, fire fighters may be at risk for a number of exposure-related diseases. We reviewed the current literature on disease risk among fire fighters to compare findings and to infer magnitude of risk. A standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 200 is equal to an attributable risk of 100% of expected, sufficient to justify presumption in most workers' compensation systems that accept this. We therefore concentrated on risks that approach or exceed an SMR of 200 or an equivalent risk estimate, bearing in mind that confidence intervals around these estimates are wide. Based on the criteria for presumption of occupational risk, we suggest the following conclusions with respect to general presumption of risk: (1) Lung cancer: There is evidence for an association but not of sufficient magnitude for a general presumption of risk. (2) Cardiovascular: There is no evidence for an increased risk of death overall from heart disease. Sudden death, myocardial infarction, or fatal arrhythmia occurring on or soon after near-maximal stress on the job are likely to be heart related, but such “heart attacks” occurring away from work cannot be presumed to be work related. (3) Aortic aneurysm: The evidence is incomplete for an association, but if an association does exist, it would probably be of a magnitude compatible with a general presumption of risk. (4) Cancers of the genitourinary tract, including kidney, ureter, and bladder: The evidence is strong for both an association and for a general presumption of risk. (5) Cancer of brain: Incomplete evidence strongly suggests a possible association at a magnitude consistent with a general presumption of risk. (6) Cancer of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue: By group, there is some evidence for both an association and a general presumption or risk. However, the aggregation is medically meaningless. We therefore recommend a case-by-case approach. (7) Cancer of the colon and rectum: There is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is an association but not that there is a general presumption of risk. (8) Acute lung disease: Unusual exposures, such as exposure to the fumes of burning plastics, can cause severe lung toxicity and even permanent disability. This does not appear to result in an increased lifetime risk of dying from chronic lung disease.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This is a study of visual contrast sensitivity in a series of subjects with previously diagnosed occupational organic-solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy. Contrast sensitivity was measured for 16 subjects using the Vistech VCTS 6500 chart. The results were compared with age-stratified normal data. Six of the 16 subjects (37.5%) recorded abnormal contrast sensitivity results. Monocular abnormalities were found for two (33 %) of these subjects. Statistically significant abnormalities in contrast sensitivity were observed at the intermediate spatial frequencies of three cycles per degree (cpd; P <.0005), 6 cpd (P <.025), and 12 cpd (P <.01). We conclude that contrast sensitivity is abnormal in some cases of occupational organic-solvent—induced chronic toxic encephalopathy. Intermediate spatial frequency channel neurones in the visual system may be more vulnerable to solvent toxicity than those of low or high spatial frequency. Contrast sensitivity testing may be a useful adjunct in the diagnostic process for this disease. Further research involving larger numbers of subjects is recommended.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To evaluate a potential causal relationship between asbestos exposure and the risk of colorectal cancer, 30 cohort studies published in English were reviewed and analyzed. The latest report of each cohort up through 1993 was used. The outcome measure was the standardized morbidity (incidence) or mortality ratio (SMR). Summary SMRs were examined by type of cohort registration, type of work, type of asbestos, latency from onset of exposure to period of risk, and incidence only. The overall relative risk was 0.99 for all 30 studies. The evidence does not meet the important criteria for a judgment of causality because the relative risk is not consistently elevated, weak in the two studies with a statistically significant elevation of SMR, and limited data do not support a dose-response relationship.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study aims to characterize occupational injuries in a defined poor inner-city population in terms of demographic features, types, and circumstances of injuries, and medical and financial consequences. It is a case series drawn from a larger population-based injury registry in emergency departments that serve 17 poor census tracts in Philadelphia. Of 335 patients from the study area who had been treated at the emergency departments under study for occupational injuries, 107 could be contacted by telephone 2 to 3 years after their injuries. Interviews sought information on the patients, their employment, their injuries, and the consequences. Respondents were almost all African-American, approximately 50% male, and had a median age of 32. Approximately one third were employed in the health care industry, one fourth in the service sector (including conventional service firms, restaurants, and hotels), and the remainder in construction, retail and wholesale trade, education, transportation, and manufacturing. Major causes of injuries included over-exertion, contact with sharp objects, and falls. Major types on injuries included sprain/strains and lacerations. Approximately half the respondents had missed more than 3 days of work, with 15% missing more than 1 month. Almost 40% of respondents reported persistent health problems after their injuries. Only about one quarter had received workers' compensation. We conclude that poor and minority workers are at risk of a wide range of occupational injuries, which may result in considerable lost work time and have serious medical and economic consequences. More attention to the workplace risks of these relatively marginalized workers and more vigorous preventive interventions are needed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID