ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190102

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper evaluates the decision by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to base its Air Contaminants Standard on the threshold limit values (TLVs) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Contrary to the claim made by OSHA in promulgating the standard, the TLV list was not the sole available basis for a generic standard covering toxic air contaminants. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) presented data indicating that the TLVs were insufficiently protective for 98 substances. NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) were available for 59 of these substances. The ratio of PEL to REL ranged up to 1,000, with a median of 2.5 and a mean of 71.4. OSHA excluded 42 substances from the standard altogether despite the availability of NIOSH RELs, solely because no TLV had been established.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190103

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe pneumoconioses due to chronic occupational exposure to asbestos, coal, or silica are characterized by an alveolar macrophage‐dominated alveolitis with exaggerated spontaneous release of mediators: oxidants, chemotaxins for neutrophils, and fibroblast growth factors. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed on 66 non‐smoking inorganic dust‐exposed individuals with a chest x‐ray ≥ 1/0 stratified by presence or absence of restrictive respiratory impairment, and 28 unexposed non‐smoking controls. Both dust‐exposed groups stratified by presence or not of impairment had increased numbers of total cells recovered by lavage compared to normals, and those with respiratory impairment (n = 40) had a significant increase in percent and number of neutrophils recovered. Similarly, only those with respiratory impairment had macrophages that spontaneously released significant amounts of the oxidants superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. There was a significant trend for the release of fibronectin by macrophages from controls to dust‐exposed without impairment to those with impairment. Both dust‐exposed groups also had increased release of alveolar macrophage‐derived progression growth factor, but this was significantly less than macrophages from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Since occupational exposure was virtually identical in inorganic dust‐exposed individuals with versus without respiratory impairment, the quantitative differences in the release of macrophage mediators may be due to factors i

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190104

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA historical cohort study was conducted to evaluate the mortality experience of 6,831 employees of the Shell Oil Company, Deer Park, Texas, petroleum refinery and chemical plant with emphasis on cancer mortality. Subjects were all workers with potential plant exposure who were employed for at least 3 months during 1948‐72. Vital status was determined as of 12/31/83 for 98% of the cohort and death certificates were obtained for 95.4% of 1,180 observed deaths. The statistical analyses excluded 159 female study members. For all causes of death combined, all cancers combined, and for most of the nonmalignant disease categories examined, there were deficits in mortality among refinery workers, chemical plant workers, and workers with experience in both areas. These deficits were generally most pronounced for chemical plant workers. An analysis of specific cancer sites revealed patterns of increased risk suggestive of a possible relationship between occupational exposures in the refinery and lympho‐reticulosarcoma. Patterns of increased risk were also observed among chemical plant workers for a category of lymphopoietic tissue cancers, including multiple myeloma, myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and certain non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas. Some very limited evidence of a possible workplace association was also found among refinery workers for leukemia and cancers of the central nervous system and biliary passages/liver. No evidence was found of an increased risk for cancer of the respiratory system or stomach or for malignant melanoma. A work history review of all suspect cancer excesses failed to identify any common work areas, job assignments, or exposure potentials, although the lack of detailed data on specific chemical exposures precluded accurate assessments of exposure‐r

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190105

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn order to investigate whether the prolonged exposure to coal mine dust increases the cancer risk for coal miners, a pilot study in a selected cohort of 334 Dutch miners with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), followed from 1956 until 1983, was conducted. In total, 165 miners had died (49.4%); for 162 (98.2%) the cause of death was traced. In comparison to the general Dutch male population, total mortality in the cohort was statistically significantly increased (SMR: 153). This was in general due to the significantly higher than expected cancer mortality (SMR: 163), cancer of stomach and small intestine (SMR: 401) and nonmalignant respiratory disease (SMR: 426). The lung cancer mortality was within the expected range.

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190106

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAs preparation for a case‐control study dealing with possible teratogenic property of shortwaves, a pilot study was conducted in order to compare exposure assessment from different sources. In 11 physiotherapy clinics, exposure assessments based on interviews within 1 week among the exposed physiotherapists were compared with exposure assessments based on observations including measurements. It was possible to discriminate between recent high and low peak exposure. Furthermore, an interview index reflecting the duration of the exposure correlated to some extent with the corresponding measurement

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190107

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe work was aimed at finding whether the ratio of delta‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and creatinine (Cn) concentration (ALA/Cn), presently used in occupational health practice for evaluation of lead exposure gives a better assessment of ALA excretion than uncorrected ALA concentration itself, as well as at finding a better, but not complicated method for adjustment. ALA and Cn concentrations were measured in untimed urine samples of altogether 390 men and women (age: 18‐60 years) not occupationally exposed to lead.In agreement with others, ALA/Cn was found to be an unsuitable method of adjustment for the differences in ALA concentration due to the different concentrations of samples. This can be explained by the different renal handling of ALA and Cn, proved by the literature data.The exponential relationship between ALA/Cn and Cn concentration raised the possibility of adjustment to the logarithm of Cn concentration (ALA/log.Cn). This simple method provided a more reliable index, the value of which was independent of the actual Cn concentration of urines within a wide range (2‐32 mmol/liter). The recommended biological limit value (70 (μmol/log.Cn mmol) separates equally well from normal values, both in dilute and concentrated urines.The evaluation of occupational lead exposure might be more reliable using this index, instead of uncorrected ALA concentration or the ALA/Cn

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190108

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAll occupational cancer epidemiology articles that reported data on non‐whites from four major journals were identified for the years 1984‐1987. In addition to these 14 papers, four more papers were identified from computer searches, and another 13 were found by following up references from the original 14. Within these 31 papers, there were 36 analyzable cohorts (subgroups by job and sex). Five cohorts had elevated all‐cancer mortality ratios in non‐whites without an increase in whites. Sixteen cohorts showed elevated ratios in both racial groups, with 11 of the 16 having a higher non‐white cancer mortality ratio than white cancer mortality ratio. For the 25 studies in which at least one racial group's cancer ratio was elevated, the non‐white ratio exceeded the white ratio in 17 (68%). The overall paucity of articles on non‐white cancer mortality, as well as the apparent trend toward increased occupational cancer mortality in non‐white

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190109

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThere is little known about the incidence of cancer among sewage workers. In this paper we examine findings from a retrospective cohort study of 487 white male sewer authority workers employed between January 1950 and October 1979. Vital status was ascertained for 93% of the cohort yielding a total of 6,886 person years. Total mortality from all causes was comparable to that of the general white male U.S. population (Standardized Mortality Ratio [SMR] = 0.91, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]= 0.77‐1.07). The cohort was subdivided into those not exposed, and sewer workers who were exposed to sewage effluent, sludge, or wastewater containing chemicals including potential carcinogens. Among the nonexposed group, mortality from all causes was significantly low (SMR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33‐0.88). Among the exposed sewer workers, mortality from all causes was not significantly different from that of the general white male U.S. population (SMR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.84‐1.19). Mortality from all cancers among exposed sewer workers was slightly higher than that of the general population (SMR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.79‐1.7). Statistically significant elevated mortality ratios were seen for cancer of the larynx (SMR = 7.93, 95% CI = 1.59‐23.96), and cancer of the liver (SMR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.10‐16.05). Careful study of the medical and occupational histories of these cases suggested that larynx cancer was possibly work‐related, while liver cancer was not. A group estimated to be the highest exposed, composed predominantly of operatives, had a higher directly adjusted death rate from all malignant neoplasms combined compared to all other workers (rate ratio = 1.64). These findings of increased risk of cancer among exposed sewage workers, especially operators, are based on small number of cases and should be interpreted with caution. Studies of larger cohorts are needed to clarify the risk of these cancers among s

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190110

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn the past 10 years there has been growing awareness among occupational health professionals worldwide of the large burden of illness associated with musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limbs. It has been suggested that these disorders are associated with highly repetitive work and are due, at least in part, to ergonomic factors. This review examines the epidemiologic evidence of the relationship between workplace ergonomic factors such as repetition, force, static muscle loading, and extreme joint position and the development of muscle, tendon, and nerve entrapment disorders of the neck and upper limbs of exposed workers. An extensive search for relevant studies was undertaken. Of 54 potentially relevant studies identified, three met the a priori inclusion criteria. The validity of these studies was assessed, and one study was found to have major flaws. Criteria to demonstrate causality were also applied and were met in the most rigorously conducted study. When the results of these studies are compared and aggregated where appropriate, they provide strong evidence of a causal relationship between repetitive, forceful work and the development of musculoskeletal disorders of the tendons and tendon sheaths in the hands and wrists and nerve entrapment of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. The comparison of exposed to controls for hand/wrist tendinitis gives an unadjusted common odds ratio of 9.1 (95% CI 4.9‐16.2). The adjusted odds ratio for carpal tunnel syndrome is 15.5 (95% CI 1.7‐141.5) based on the most rigorous st

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700190111

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

年代:1991

数据来源: WILEY