摘要:

AbstractThis report describes two cases of chronic encephalopathy associated with occupational exposure to arsenic fumes from hot pressurized impregnation of wood. Both cases displayed symptoms of cognitive impairment with onset 14–18 months after start of occupational exposure to arsenic fumes. Laboratory confirmation was provided by elevated urine arsenic levels. One patient was hospitalized for apparent psychiatric reasons. Neuropsychologic testing of one case showed typical and relatively mild impairments of new learning, recent memory, and concentration in addition to the psychological symptoms. Symptoms in both cases disappeared following cessation of exposure and return of urine arsenic excretion to normal levels. In future studies of workers exposed to arsenic, documentation of mild impairment of cognitive function should be sought using neurobehavioral test batterie

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150102

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn a survey of chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction of a rural population aged 20–65 years, the effects of both farming and, in particular, the exposure to grain dust on the respiratory health of the people was examined. Of the 1,892 subjects (82% of the eligible population) studied, 924 were males and 968 females, with half living in the town. Three groups were identified: current, former, and never farmers. Almost all current farmers were exposed to grain for, on average, 2 months a year. There was no difference in atopic status between the groups. While there was a strong association between most symptoms and smoking, there was no association between symptoms and exposure to grain and farming category once age and smoking had been taken into account. Results of this study suggest that farmers do not have chronic respiratory symptoms or impairment of lung function because of their exposure to grain dust. Lung function of former farmers might have been affected by farming, and this may reflect more involvement with livestock in the pas

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150103

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractHealth effects have been documented among American vermiculite workers who mined and processed vermiculite contaminated with amphibole asbestos, viz., tremolite‐actinolite. Workers mining and processing South African vermiculite (N = 172), which contains very little asbestos, underwent x‐ray examination and lung function testing and completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. The vermiculite workers were compared with other workers involved in the mining or refining of copper. Only two of the vermiculite workers showed evidence of small opacities of 1/0 or more (according to the ILO 1980 classification); lung function was comparable with the other groups of workers, and there was no excess of respiratory symptoms among the vermiculite workers. It is concluded that workers exposed to vermiculite that is minimally contaminated with asbestos are probably not at risk for pneumoconiosis, lung function impairment, or respiratory symptoms. It is likely that the health effects observed in other studies of vermiculite workers are the result of concomitant asbestos exposure. A risk of mesothelioma caused by the fiber content of the vermiculite cannot be excluded by this st

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150104

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe cause‐specific mortality was followed through 1981 in a cohort of 3,916 male Swedish smelter workers employed for at least 3 months from 1928 through 1967. Arsenic levels in the air of all workplaces within the smelter were estimated for three different time periods. Using this exposure matrix and detailed information of the work history, cumulative arsenic exposure could be computed for each worker. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for several dose categories using age‐specific mortality rates from the county where the smelter was situated. A positive dose‐response relationship was found between cumulative arsenic exposure and lung cancer mortality with an overall SMR of 372 (304–450, 95% confidence interval). The lung cancer mortality was related to the estimated average intensity of exposure to arsenic but not to the duration. No positive dose‐response relationship was found between arsenic and ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease. There was also no evident dose‐response relationship between estimated exposure to sulfur dioxide and

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150105

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractOccupational asthma related to work in potlines in an aluminum smelter has been diagnosed on clinical criteria in 57 workers. About half were regular tobacco smokers but atopy was uncommon. There was a wide range in the time for which each had been employed prior to development of symptoms, but the average was about 20 months. Thirty‐four showed nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine. At annual reviews over a period of 5 years following transfer to other work at the smelter, the majority improved in symptoms in 1–2 years and bronchial hyperreactivity returned to normal. However, over the subsequent 3 years, deterioration, not limited to tobacco smokers or atopic subjects, has occurred in some subje

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150106

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis study examined a cohort of 1,164 males who, during the period 1927–1981, had been employed for 3 months or more in an industry that produced objects from stainless steel.These workers were exposed to the dust of grinding materials, grinding agents, and stainless steel. From 1975 to 1980, measurements of the total dust in the workroom air have shown levels of about one mg/m3(consisting of chromium at about 0.1 mg/m3and nickel at about 0.05 mg/m3) during grinding and several mg/m3(chromium at about 0.01 mg/m3and nickel at about 0.005 mg/m3) during polishing. Before 1950, the concentrations were probably considerably higher.Compared to a local reference population, a decrease in mortality (63 observed deaths, standardized mortality (SMR) = 0.79, 95% confidence limits CL = 0.61, 1.01) took place during the 1951–1983 observation period among 318 subjects who had been employed for at least five years, allowing a latency period of at least 20 years. Mortality from cancer of the colon/rectum increased (observed deaths = 6, SMR = 2.47, CL = 0.97, 5.58). The mortality from nonmalignant pulmonary disease did not increase (SMR = 0.29, CL = 0.01, 1.81).During the observation period (1958–1983), there was no significant overall excess of tumors (observed cases = 33, standardized morbidity [SMR] = 1.09, CL = 0.76, 1.54). However, tumor morbidity of the colon/rectum (observed 11, SMR = 2.83, CL = 1.47, 5.19) significantly increased. There were no cases of respiratory cancer (expected 4.7, CL = 0, 0.21).Thus, the results indicate an increased risk of intestinal cancer. This is in accordance with earlier observations of grinding material producers and polishers. It is impossible to conclude whether the cause is grinding material, grinding agents, stainless steel, or some other factor. The results do not indicate that dust from stainless steel induces lung c

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150107

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to improve an occupational health program by means of systematic workplace investigations. The 8‐month study was done at three building sites of one construction firm. The method for workplace investigations was a simple job hazard analysis of chemical hazards, physical hazards, physical work load, mental stress, and risk of injury, each factor being rated on a three‐point scale. Information was gathered by observations, interviews, and a worker questionnaire. Occupational health and safety personnel and worker representatives dealt with problems cooperatively. Together they assessed occupational loads and hazards, whereafter the occupational health and safety personnel devised an occupational health care program and proposed preventive measures. The workplace investigation method proved to function well. It improved the occupational health care program, produced an overall analysis of occupational hazards, and dramatically increased the number and quality of proposed preventive measures. The new method was evaluated to be clearly superior to previous practices and was implemented at moderate cost. The study showed that attention to issues of environmental and occupational health can effectively prevent health impairment even in difficult settings such as construction work. More research is needed for effective utilization of information accumulated by systematic workplace investigati

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150108

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIdentification of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease through the use of well designed case‐control studies has been described as a research priority. Increasing recognition of the neurotoxic potential of many industrial chemicals such as organic solvents raises the question of the occupational and environmental contribution to the etiology of this high‐priority health problem. The intention of this study was to develop and evaluate a methodology that could be used in a large scale case‐control study of the occupational and environmental risk factors for dementia or a population‐based surveillance system for neurotoxic disorders. The specific objectives of this study were to investigate: 1) the reliability of exposure‐eliciting, interviewer‐administered questionnaires given to patients with Alzheimer's disease (SDAT); 2) the reliability of exposure‐eliciting interviewer‐administered questionnaires given to the family of patients with SDAT and the agreement with the responses of the patient or surrogate respondents; 3) the reliability and agreement of responses of age‐ and sex‐matched control patients and their families selected from geriatric care institutions and the community, with respect to the same exposure‐eliciting and interviewer‐administered questionnaire; and 4) the reliability of agent‐based exposure ascertainment by a single, trained rater. The results of the study demonstrate that occupational and environmental histories from which exposure information can be derived is most reliably elicited from job descriptions of cases and control subjects rather than job titles alone or detailed probes for potential neurotoxic exposures. This will necessitate the use of standardized interviewer‐administered instruments to derive this information in case‐control studies of Alzheimer's disease or population‐based surveillance systems for occupational

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150109

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractWe conducted a prospective evaluation of pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms among 103 medical students exposed to formaldehyde over a 7‐month period to determine the incidence of bronchoconstriction and respiratory symptoms in response to exposure. Time‐weighted average formaldehyde exposures were generally less than 1 part per million (ppm) and peak exposures were less than 5 ppm. Acute symptoms of eye and upper respiratory irritation were significantly associated with exposure. There was no pattern of bronchoconstriction in response to exposure after either 2 weeks or 7 months. Twelve subjects had a history of asthma; they were no more likely to have symptoms of respiratory irritation or changes in pulmonary function than those without such a history. These findings are consistent with previous case reports that indicate exposure to formaldehyde vapor at levels that are commonly encountered in occupational and residential settings do not commonly cause significant bronchoconstriction, even among subjects with preexisting ast

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150110

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe exposure—excretion relationship was investigated in 140 trichloroethylene (TRI)‐exposed workers and 114 nonexposed controls. The time‐weighted average intensity of exposure to TRI during the shift as measured by the diffusive sampling method was compared with metabolite levels in the urine collected at the end of the shift in the second half of a working week, when the urinary metabolite levels are expected to reach a maximum. The TRI levels in breathing zone air of the exposed workers were mostly below 50 ppm. The urinary metabolite levels (i.e., total trichloro‐compounds, trichloroethanol, and trichloroacetic acid) increased as a linear function of the TRI exposure. The relationship between the two exposure indicators was statistically significant in men, women, and both combined. The cross‐sectional balance study at the end of the shift revealed that about 4% of TRI absorbed will be excreted at the end of the shift, in agreement with the long biological half‐life of this chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent. A possible ethnic difference in the metabolism of TRI i

ISSN:0271-3586    

DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700150111

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

年代:1989

数据来源: WILEY