摘要:

AbstractA review is made of the potential for environmental and occupational exposure to agrichemicals in South Africa. Data from the farming industry in the Western and Southern Cape regions of South Africa confirm substantial use of a range of insecticides, fungicides, and other agrichemicals. The potential for worker exposure to hazardous agrichemicals is also substantial but, to date, such exposures have been poorly characterized. Further data identify important deficiencies in industrial hygiene measures with regard to safekeeping of chemicals on farms, disposal of empty containers, use of protective equipment, and levels of safety training among farm workers. Evidence is presented for widespread underreporting of agrichemical morbidity and mortality. Surveys investigating acute health effects among farm workers with occupational exposure to agrichemicals in South Africa have produced conflicting results. The possibility of chronic health sequelae from low‐dose long‐term exposure is an underresearched area that is only now being investigated. A number of important obstacles to agrichemical safety are identified: the multiplicity of laws relating to pesticides administered by different departments resulting in poor coordination; the failure of existing occupational health legislation to address the agricultural workplace adequately; the unavailability and incoordination of safety training; the absence of adequate surveillance data; and inadequacies in statutory requirements with regard to waste disposal on farms. Drawing on experiences of local initiatives, possible solutions are identified that address the public health context of the prob

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270102

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo assess the applicability of the World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB), we evaluated 53 male and 29 female Venezuelan workers exposed to mixtures of organic solvents in an adhesive factory, and 56 male and 11 female workers unexposed to any type of neurotoxic chemical. The average age of unexposed workers was 30 years and 33 years for those exposed, average schooling for both groups was 8 years, and the mean duration of exposure was 7 years. The NCTB, which assesses central nervous system functions, is composed of seven tests that measure simple motor function, short‐term memory, eye‐hand coordination, affective behavior, and psychomotor perception and speed. The battery includes: profile of mood states (POMS); Simple Reaction Time for attention and response speed; Digit Span for auditory memory; Santa Ana manual dexterity; Digit‐Symbol for perceptual motor speed; the Benton visual retention for visual perception and memory; and Pursuit Aiming II for motor steadiness. In each of 13 subtests, the exposed group had a poorer performance than the nonexposed group. The range of differences in mean performance was between 5% and 89%. particularly in POMS (tension‐anxiety, anger‐hostility, depression‐rejection, fatigue‐inertia, confusion‐bewilderment), Simple Reaction Time, Digit‐Symbol, and Santa Ana Pegboard (p<.05). In multivariate regression analyses, controlling for the effects of age, sex, and education, significantly poorer performance in the exposed was found for tension‐anxiety, hostility, depression, and confusion moods in the POMS, and in digit‐symbol and simple reaction time (p<.05). These alterations were also dose‐related using years of exposure in analyses of covariance. Compared to the nonexposed, the exposed subjects demonstrated an increased frequency of subjective symptoms of fatigue, difficulties with memory, confusion, paresthesias in upper and lower extremities, and sleep disturbances. We conclude that the methodology is applicable to the population studied. The tests of the NCTB were accepted by the subjects and were administered satisfactorily, except for occasional difficulties in verbal comprehension in subtests of POMS, which is the only test that requires more demanding verbal skills. The magnitude of the behavioral deficits is consistent with the probable high level of exposure and with the range of deficits previously reported in workers with long

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270103

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractComputerized records of all Alabama deaths occurring to persons 16 years of age and over for the 5‐year period 1984‐1988 were obtained from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Using proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) methodology and death certificate occupation, cause‐specific mortality patterns were examined for all Alabama decedents (N = 182,178), for all Alabama workers (N = 125,369), and for the occupational group of “farm operators and managers” (N = 11,691). In comparison with the U.S. general population, little difference was found between cause‐specific PMR results for the total Alabama population and those for all workers, suggesting the absence of a generalized “healthy worker effect.” In comparison with the U.S. population, PMR results for farmers suggested lowered mortality from all malignant neoplasms and all heart disease, and elevated mortality from all external causes of death. In comparison with the Alabama population, PMR results for farmers continued to suggest lowered mortality from all malignant neoplasms, specifically for cancers of the respiratory, digestive and lymphopoietic systems. However, significantly elevated PMRs for external causes of death appeared only among nonwhite female farmers. Further investigation of these deaths suggested that this finding was more likely attributable to an increased risk of housefire deaths associated with rural lifestyle than with occup

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270104

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractPrevious studies reporting on mortality patterns in veterinarians have been restricted to deaths among white male veterinarians. In an effort to examine the mortality of male and female veterinarians of all races, we conducted a standardized proportionate mortality ratio (SPMR) analysis of 450 California veterinarians who died between January 1960 and December 1992. In comparison to State of California general population statistics, white male veterinarians had significantly elevated mortality from malignant melanoma of the skin (SPMR 3.47, 95% CI 1.74. 6.94), cancer of the large intestine (SPMR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04, 2.09), rheumatic heart disease (SPMR 3.50, 95% CI 1.90, 6.43), and suicide (SPMR 2.50, 95% CI 1.84, 3.38). White female veterinarians had significantly elevated mortality from suicide (SPMR 5.89, 95% CI 3.02, 11.48). We also examined veterinary mortality for different lengths of time in the profession. Significantly elevated SPMRs were noted for suicide in veterinarians in the profession for less than 30 years; deaths due to malignant melanoma of the skin and rheumatic heart disease in veterinarians in the profession 20 years or more; and cancer of the large intestine in veterinarians in the profession 30 years or more. Because of significant findings in mortality from suicide among veterinarians of both sexes, it was recommended that future studies and efforts toward suicide prevention include both male and female veterinarians.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270105

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA total of 6,727 workers died of work‐related injuries in the agricultural production and agricultural services sectors between 1980 and 1989, as established by data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) surveillance system. The agricultural production sector accounted for the higher fatality rate (22.9 deaths per 100,000 workers), due largely to deaths caused by machinery and motor vehicles. The leading cause of death in the agricultural services sector was being struck by falling objects, primarily trees. Fatality rates were highest in the East South Central United States and lowest in the New England states. Blacks had the highest fatality rate (26.4 deaths per 100,000 workers) while workers other than white or black had the lowest rate (18.9 per 100,000 workers). Males were at higher risk of death than females, with the 65 years of age and older male group having the highest rate (60.5 deaths per 100,000 workers). Males 16‐24 years of age exhibited the largest decrease in their average annual fatality rate during the 10‐year period, down to 7.2 from 20.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. Possible reasons for this decrease are sugg

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270106

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractWork‐related respiratory symptoms and bronchial reactivity were studied in 76 never‐smoking farmers and in a control group not exposed to organic dusts. The farmers were divided into those working with vegetables/grain crops, animals but not swine, and with swine. The extent of symptoms was evaluated using a specific organic dust questionnaire. Bronchial reactivity was assessed with the methacholine challenge test. An increased incidence of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS), mucous membrane irritation (MMI), and chronic bronchitis (CB) was found among farmers working with swine or other animals. Pulmonary function baseline values were normal. Bronchial reactivity was increased and related to subjective symptoms of MMI and CB. There was also a relation between fatigue at work and bronchial reactiv

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270107

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo make a preliminary assessment of whether upper limb soft tissue disorders might be associated with activities at work, we have conducted a case‐control study of subjects attending orthopedic clinics in three cities. All subjects between the ages of 16 and 65 years, in whom defined soft tissue conditions of the upper limb were diagnosed by the participating orthopedic surgeons, were invited to take part. Controls were subjects attending the same clinics within the same age range whose clinical diagnosis did not include disease of the upper limb, cervical or thoracic spine. Information concerning repetitive movements of the upper limbs at work was elicited by questionnaire. Five hundred eighty cases and 996 controls were studied, representing 96% and 93%, respectively, of those invited to participate. The diagnoses of the cases included soft tissue conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, thumb, hand, and fingers. The diagnoses of the controls included traumatic, degenerative, and inflammatory conditions, mostly of the legs and lower back. Women predominated among the cases (70%) and men among the controls (56%). Of 221 female cases with injury to the wrist and forearm, 32 were cleaner/domestics (14.5%) compared to 35 of 439 controls (8%), a difference statistically significant at the 2 1/2% level. Other jobs significantly overrepresented (5% level) among female cases with injuries at various anatomical sites included hairdressers, secretary/temps, assembly line workers, and machine operators (type unspecified). Among male cases, electricians were significantly overrepresented (5% level). Jobs for which there was a suggestion (p<0.1) of overrepresentation among cases included butchers and teacher/ lecturers (both males only) and the combined job groups (chosen a priori for analysis) of keyboard operators, machine operators, and music teachers (all three jobs, females only

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270108

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe airway resistance, compliance of the respiratory system, transfer factor, and alveolar volume of 33 healthy rabbits were studied before and after exposure to diluted diesel exhaust generated in an experimental motor. Three diesel fuels and two particle traps were tested. Subsequent to the post‐exposure lung function measurements, the animals were sacrificed and the lungs were processed for morphologic examination. The concentrations of particles, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde were measured. The inflammatory airway changes were most pronounced in animals exposed to exhaust from standard fuel. Small changes were identified in animals exposed to exhaust filtered through the catalytic trap as well or exposed to unfiltered exhaust from fuels intended for densely built‐up areas. Increase in compliance of the respiratory system was associated with the concentration of soot particles and formaldehyde. Compliance decreased significantly in animals exposed to exhaust from standard fuel filtered through the particle traps and increased almost significantly in animals exposed to unfiltered exhaust from the same f

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270109

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractHospital discharge data from Michigan for the years 1990 and 1991 were used to examine potential associations between pneumoconiosis and pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, obstructive lung disease, and connective tissue disease among both men and women. Lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and obstructive lung disease were associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Pulmonary hypertension and obstructive lung disease were associated with asbestosis and silicosis. Rheumatoid arthritis was associated with silicosis. The potential is suggested that misdiagnosis is the cause of the association between lung cancer and coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270110

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTo assess the association of minimal parenchymal fibrosis and pleural plaques with respiratory functional impairment, we conducted a survey of 631 asbestos‐exposed construction carpenters. This population had a relatively low prevalence of radiographic abnormalities and lung function impairment. Pleural plaques was the asbestos‐related disease most prevalent, followed by interstitial fibrosis with predominantly low profusion scores. The most frequent functional impairment was the obstructive pattern, followed by restrictive and mixed patterns.After adjusting for potential confounders, the presence of pleural plaques was significantly associated with a mixed respiratory pattern of impairment (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.4‐12.3). Furthermore, our data were consistent with a weak association between pleural plaques and a predominately restrictive defect (OR—1.3, 95% CI 0.4‐3.9). This study also suggested an association between minimally detectable profusions and both obstructive (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 0.6‐6.3) and mixed (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 0.3‐7.1) defects. Although only 631 of a potential 7,649 active and retired union members participated in this first‐time survey and were relatively young, these findings add new evidence to the functional importance of pleural fibrosis and minimal parenchymal fibrosis. © 1995

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700270111

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

年代:1995

数据来源: WILEY