bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluidized‐Bed Reactors
Authors: Werther Joachim
Published: April 2007

The article contains sections titled:

1.Introduction1.1.The Fluidization Principle1.2.Forms of Fluidized Beds1.3.Advantages and Disadvantages of the Fluidized‐Bed Reactor2.Fluid‐Mechanical Principles2.1.Minimum Fluidization Velocity2.2.Expansion of Liquid–Solid Fluidized Beds2.3.Fluidization Properties of Typical Bed Solids2.4.State Diagram of Fluidized Bed2.5.Gas Distribution2.6.Gas Jets in Fluidized Beds2.7.Bubble Development2.8.Elutriation2.9.Circulating Fluidized Beds2.9.1.Hydrodynamic Principles2.9.2.Local Flow Structure in Circulating Fluidized Beds2.9.3.Design of Solids Recycle System2.10.Cocurrent Downflow Circulating Fluidized Beds (Downers)2.11.Attrition of Solids3.Solids Mixing in Fluidized‐Bed Reactors3.1.Mechanisms of Solids Mixing3.2.Vertical Mixing of Solids3.3.Horizontal Mixing of Solids3.4.Solids Residence‐Time Properties3.5.Solids Mixing in Circulating Fluidized Beds4.Gas Mixing in Fluidized‐Bed Reactors4.1.Gas Mixing in Bubbling Fluidized Beds4.2.Gas Mixing in Circulating Fluidized Beds5.Heat and Mass Transfer in Fluidized‐Bed Reactors6.Gas–Solid Separation7.Injection of Liquid Reactants into Fluidized Beds8.Industrial Applications8.1.Heterogeneous Catalytic Gas‐Phase Reactions8.2.Polymerization of Olefins8.3.Homogeneous Gas‐Phase Reactions8.4.Gas–Solid Reactions8.5.Applications in Biotechnology9.Modeling of Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.1.Modeling of Liquid–Solid Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.2.Modeling of Gas–Solid Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.2.1.Bubbling Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.2.2.Circulating Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.3.Newer Developments in Modeling Fluidized‐Bed Reactors9.3.1Computational Fluid Dynamics9.3.2Modeling of Fluidized‐Bed Systems10.Scale‐up

The article gives an overview on fundamentals and applications of fluidized‐bed technology. Some basic fluid‐mechanical principles—minimum fluidization velocity, status diagram, gas distribution, bubble development, and solids entrainment and elutriation—are presented at the beginning, followed by a detailed discussion of circulating fluidized beds, downers, and attrition effects in fluidized‐bed systems. Sections on solids mixing, gas mixing, and heat and mass transfer in fluidized beds complete the fundamentals section, which is followed by an overview on industrial applications. Fluidized‐bed processes for heterogeneous catalytic gas‐phase reactions, for the polymerization of olefins, for homogenous gas‐phase reactions, gas–solid reactions and applications in biotechnology are described in detail. A final chapter is devoted to the modeling of fluidized‐bed reactors.
Benzofurans
Authors: Collin Gerd , Höke Hartmut
Published: April 2007

The article contains sections titled:1.Benzofuran2.Dibenzofuran
AgI/Ag Heterojunction Nanowires: Facile Electrochemical Synthesis, Photoluminescence, and Enhanced Ionic Conductivity
Authors: Liang C. , Terabe K. , Tsuruoka T. , Osada M. , Hasegawa T. , Aono M.
Published: April 2007

The construction of an electronic‐conductor/ionic‐conductor heterojunction in a well‐defined nanostructure is the basis of studying interfacial and bulk transport and the reactions of ions and electrons at the nanoscale level. An ionic‐conductor/metal (AgI/Ag) heterostructured nanowire array is easily fabricated by a template‐confined, step‐electrochemical technique. The structural and morphological evolution of the AgI/Ag heterostructure before and after its release from the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy. The structural disordering of released AgI is suggested by the appearance of a broad photoluminescence emission band at longer wavelengths and a short‐range‐order‐like Raman peak. The ionic conductivity of the AgI nanowire embedded inside the insulating AAO membrane is measured as being on the order of 10–3 S cm–1, which is an enhancement by two to three orders of magnitude compared with that of bulk polycrystalline AgI at room temperature. This electrochemical method could be useful in fabricating other pure and mixed ionic conductors in heterojunction nanostructures.
Controlling the Growth and Assembly of Silver Nanoprisms
Authors: Zhang J. H. , Liu H. Y. , Zhan P. , Wang Z. L. , Ming N. B.
Published: April 2007

A novel water/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/n‐pentanol ternary system is successfully developed to realize the controlled growth and assembly of silver nanoprisms using a one‐step synthesis for the first time. The highly shape‐selective growth and assembly of nanoprisms is based on the unique water/PVP/n‐pentanol interface. It is seen that the cooperative assembly of nanoprisms with PVP greatly affects the size‐dependent nanoprism plasmon bands. The plasmon bands of the assemblies are closer to those of bulk silver than to those of nanoprisms. The method is simple and versatile, and is successfully extended to prepare Au and Pd nanoprisms, lamellar ZnO particles, and layered ZnO assemblies with high purity. The method may provide powerful technology for shape‐selective synthesis and assembly of lamellar nanoparticles with novel structures and functions in nanotechnology.
Organic Light‐Emitting Transistors Containing a Laterally Arranged Heterojunction
Authors: Di C. A. , Yu G. , Liu Y. Q. , Xu X. J. , Wei D. C. , Song Y. B. , Sun Y. M. , Wang Y. , Zhu D. B.
Published: April 2007

An approach to produce organic light‐emitting transistors (OLETs) containing a laterally arranged heterojunction structure, which minimizes exciton quenching at the metal electrodes, is described. This device configuration provides an organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) structure where the anode (source) electrode, hole‐transport material (field‐effect material), light‐emitting material, and cathode (drain) electrode are laterally arranged, thus offering a chance to control the electroluminescent intensity by changing the gate bias. Pentacene and tris(8‐quinolinolato)aluminum (Alq3) are employed as the field‐effect and light‐emitting materials, respectively. The laterally arranged heterojunction structures are achieved by successively inclined deposition of the field‐effect and light‐emitting materials. After deposition of pentacene, a narrow gap of about 10–20 nm between the drain electrode and pentacene was obtained, thereby creating an opportunity to fabricate a laterally arranged heterojunction. In the OLETs, unsymmetrical source and drain electrodes, that is, Au and LiF/Al ones, are used to ensure efficient injection of holes and electrons. Visible‐light emission from OLETs is observed under ambient atmosphere. This result is ascribed to efficient carrier injection and transport, formation of a heterojunction, as well as good luminescence from the organic emissive layer. The device structure serves as an excellent model system for OLETs and demonstrates a general concept of adjusting the charge‐carrier injection and transport, as well as the electroluminescent properties, by forming laterally arranged heterojunctions.
Bionanocomposites: A New Concept of Ecological, Bioinspired, and Functional Hybrid Materials
Authors: Darder M. , Aranda P. , Ruiz‐Hitzky E.
Published: April 2007

Bionanocomposites represent an emerging group of nanostructured hybrid materials. They are formed by the combination of natural polymers and inorganic solids and show at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. Similar to conventional nanocomposites, which involve synthetic polymers, these biohybrid materials also exhibit improved structural and functional properties of great interest for different applications. The properties inherent to the biopolymers, that is, biocompatibility and biodegradability, open new prospects for these hybrid materials with special incidence in regenerative medicine and in environmentally friendly materials (green nanocomposites). Research on bionanocomposites can be regarded as a new interdisciplinary field closely related to significant topics such as biomineralization processes, bioinspired materials, and biomimetic systems. The upcoming development of novel bionanocomposites introducing multifunctionality represents a promising research topic that takes advantage of the synergistic assembling of biopolymers with inorganic nanometer‐sized solids.
Experimental determination of solid‐liquid‐liquid equilibrium phase diagrams
Authors: Lai Sau M. , Yuen Mai Y. , Siu Leo K. S. , Ng Ka M. , Wibowo Christianto
Published: April 2007

Liquid–liquid phase separation is undesirable in crystallization as it leads to slow crystal growth and uncontrollable crystal morphology. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the conditions under which liquid–liquid phase split occurs, so as to avoid crystallization process taking place at such conditions. In this study, an experimental approach is developed to systematically construct the solid‐liquid‐liquid equilibrium (SLLE) phase diagram. A four‐component system is used to demonstrate the experimental technique and the overall workflow in developing an SLLE phase diagram. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Daily computer usage correlated with undergraduate students' musculoskeletal symptoms
Authors: Chang Che‐hsu (Joe) , Amick Benjamin C. , Menendez Cammie Chaumont , Katz Jeffrey N. , Johnson Peter W. , Robertson Michelle , Dennerlein Jack Tigh
Published: April 2007

Background

A pilot prospective study was performed to examine the relationships between daily computer usage time and musculoskeletal symptoms on undergraduate students.

Methods

For three separate 1‐week study periods distributed over a semester, 27 students reported body part‐specific musculoskeletal symptoms three to five times daily. Daily computer usage time for the 24‐hr period preceding each symptom report was calculated from computer input device activities measured directly by software loaded on each participant's primary computer. General Estimating Equation models tested the relationships between daily computer usage and symptom reporting.

Results

Daily computer usage longer than 3 hr was significantly associated with an odds ratio 1.50 (1.01–2.25) of reporting symptoms. Odds of reporting symptoms also increased with quartiles of daily exposure.

Conclusions

These data suggest a potential dose–response relationship between daily computer usage time and musculoskeletal symptoms. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:481–488, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Job categories and acute ischemic heart disease: a hospital‐based, case‐control study in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Jong‐Dar , Cheng Tsun‐Jen , Lin Yu‐Cheng , Hsiao Shu‐Tin
Published: April 2007

Background

Most studies of the relationship between work and acute ischemic heart disease (IHD) were performed in western populations, and the extent to which their findings hold in Asian populations is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between job categories and non‐fatal, first episodes of acute IHD in Taipei, Taiwan.

Methods

A hospital‐based, case‐control design was used. Cases were patients with a first episode of non‐fatal acute IHD who were admitted to the department of cardiology. Two controls without known cardiovascular disease were matched to each case for age, gender, and date of admission. A total of 119 cases and 238 controls were enrolled between April and September 2004.

Results

Compared with white‐collar workers, blue‐collar workers had a 5.3‐fold (95% CI: 1.5, 18.5) increased risk of a first episode of non‐fatal acute IHD, while self‐employed workers and managers/professionals had a slightly lower odds ratio of 0.6 (95% CI: 0.1, 2.4) and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.1, 2.2), respectively. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and sleep disturbance were significant risk factors for acute IHD. A clustering of the cardiovascular risk factors was found in blue‐collar workers.

Conclusions

Blue‐collar workers had a 5.3‐fold increased risk of a first event of non‐fatal acute IHD compared with white‐collar workers, and this increased risk was associated with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:409–414, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bladder cancer and occupation: a report from the belgian case‐control study on bladder cancer risk
Authors: Reulen Raoul C. , Kellen Eliane , Buntinx Frank , Zeegers Maurice P.
Published: April 2007

Background

The aim of this study was to add to the data on associations between occupation and bladder cancer thereby strengthening the case for focused research on specific occupational categories.

Methods

Two hundred two cases and 390 controls participated in this population‐based case‐control study. Age, sex, smoking, and education adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for each occupation by unconditional logistic regression.

Results

The occupational group of domestic helpers, cleaners, and launderers exhibited a significantly elevated risk of bladder cancer. Elevated non‐significant risks (OR > 1.5) were observed for painters and varnishers, electronic equipment assemblers, general laborers, building finishers, carpenters and joiners, architects and engineers, and textile and garment workers.

Conclusions

This study suggests that domestic helpers, cleaners, and launderers probably experience an increased risk of bladder cancer. Although no other occupations showed significantly increased risks, the non‐significantly elevated risks for painters, carpenters, and textile workers could be confirmed by results from earlier studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:449–454, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methodologic issues in risk communications to workers
Authors: Schulte P. A. , Boal W. L. , Friedland J. M. , Walker J. T. , Connally L. B. , Mazzuckelli L. F. , Fine L. J.
Published: April 2007

Until the late 1980s, epidemiologists in general did not individually notify subjects of the results of epidemiological studies. Now that they are beginning to do so, the question arises of how best to notify those involved. In general, the methods, the processes and the policies related to effectively communicating risks to workers have not been thoroughly examined in the scientific literature. This is especially true in situations where workers have already experienced the exposures that led to increased risks for disease.

The recent increasing numbers of notifications have raised several methodologic issues, which are examined in terms of: (1) the content of notification, (2) the process of notification, and (3) the evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of notification. Too often in the discussions concerning notification, attention is paid to the content but the process and evaluation are rarely considered. The potential impact and effectiveness of notification have been raised as reasons for or against notification, but rarely has there been a concerted effort to evaluate a notification in this regard. This workshop was designed to address all these issues. The ultimate goal is to improve communications for workers. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Issues in notification: Reflections of a public health worker
Authors: Rudolph Linda
Published: April 2007

The objectives of notification are to inform individuals of research results so that they can make informed choices regarding health care and risk reduction behaviors, and to inform workers and employers of results and recommendations in order to take actions to improve workplace health and safety. Many questions confront researchers or public health workers engaged in notification efforts. Who should be notified? What information should be included in notification materials? When should notification occur? How and where should notification take place? What is the socioeconomic context in which notification is occurring? This article presents a public health worker's perspective on these issues. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐risk notification of chromate and bichromate production workers
Authors: Rosenman K. D. , Stanbury M. , Lemon A. , Solice‐Sample G. , Kalush A.
Published: April 2007

A high‐risk notification program is in progress for 4,862 former chromate and bichromate production workers. A previous mortality study of this cohort found a 29‐fold increase in mortality for respiratory cancer. The increase was greater in black than white workers (80‐fold vs. 15‐fold). The cohort was compiled from Social Security Administration records. Notification was performed mainly using addresses on file with the Internal Revenue Service.

At this time, 68% of the cohort has either been determined to have died or has been contacted. A description of the various steps of notification is included. This project has demonstrated that it is possible to perform high‐risk notification in an economical manner even in the absence of employer personnel records or current addresses. The methodology used in this project is generalizable to other cohorts. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Beyond notification: A case study from Cloquet, Minnesota
Authors: Finendale Marvin J.
Published: April 2007

All members of Local 158 of the United Paperworkers International Union in Cloquet. Minnesota, were invited to attend a meeting to notify them about the outcome of the Union's study concerning exposure to asbestos fiber. Union members and their families were contacted by letter, radio and television announcements, area newspapers, and word of mouth. They were informed about the medical screening that was being planned and about other information on asbestos‐related diseases. During the meeting, they were asked to attend one of the educational sessions, to schedule an appointment for the screening, and to fill out a medical history. It was determined that paperworkers with asbestos‐related disease might have rights to at least two types of compensation: worker's compensation from their employers and/or court‐ or jury‐awarded compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Other sources of compensation such as social security of disability pensions might also be available to eligible individuals. The Union did not have a complete listing of all the individuals who worked at plants or in operations where asbestos exposure may have occurred. The Union solicited the aid of the Minnesota Department of Health to help identify former asbestos‐exposed workers and to develop an ongoing screening and medical program for workers who were exposed but did not develop symptoms of asbestos‐related disease; these illnesses usually take 20 years or more to develop. However, the Union was able to follow‐up the notification and subsequent screening by sending members and their families the results of the initial screenings and other information concerning the status of any legal actions taken on behalf of the exposed. The Minnesota Department of Health provided information about that Department intentions and goals for the future. In addition, the Union asked members and families who participated in the education and screening activities for feedback about the program. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experiences of a state‐sponsored notification and screening program for asbestos workers
Authors: Bender Alan P. , Williams Allan N. , Parker David L.
Published: April 2007

Worker notification can involve a broad range of activities including medical screening, personal and mass communications, cohort identification and tracing, and even litigation. The inclusion or exclusion of various supporting activities in a worker notification program may pose significant medical, public health, financial, logistical, and even legal implications for targeted individuals as well as for the agencies involved. This report describes some experiences in a state‐sponsored notification and screening program of approximately 4,500 asbestos workers in Minnesota. In this program, a variety of factors led to the decision to provide medical screening to 1,101 workers and 451 spouses. It is anticipated that another 3,400 workers will be notified but not screened. A follow‐up survey of notified workers showed overwhelming support for this program. It is estimated that this program will cost more than $650,000 by its completion. The decision to institute medical screening and other support activities should be made with careful consideration of the diverse implications of these activities to the individuals, communities, and agencies involved. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dioxin: A case study
Authors: Bond Gregory G.
Published: April 2007

The need to notify individuals of a possible health risk from their past exposure to potentially hazardous agents frequently extends beyond workers to include community groups. The issues to consider in community notification are frequently similar to those that are important for worker notification but may include some that are unique. This case study traces the evolution of one company's strategy for communicating with the public about possible dioxin contamination associated with its operations. Early communications tended to emphasize the technical aspects of the issues in the fashion of scientists talking to other scientists. This was interpreted by some to be symptomatic of an arrogant and uncaring attitude. Beginning in the early 1980s, the company's management recognized the need to reach out to a variety of audiences on multiple levels, and shifted to a more comprehensive communications strategy. A similar shift is now occurring throughout the chemical manufacturing industry as top managers realize that, if they expect to continue to operate, they must become more accountable and responsive to the public. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Superfund and one community program
Authors: Pavlova Maria T.
Published: April 2007

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—Region II conducted a pilot program in risk communication and notification of hazardous waste information at a Superfund site in Toms River, New Jersey. The program was designed to assess the levels of awareness and concern among local citizens and to provide accurate information about health risks associated with potential exposure to environmental contaminants. The purpose of this program was to develop linkages among the community; local, state, and federal governments; industry; health professionals; and educators in dealing with environmental problems. A Community Leaders Network was formed and became actively involved in the program. Following a community needs assessment for risk information, a series of fact sheets was developed, pretested, disseminated, and evaluated. The analysis of the program highlights the important lesson of being able to respond to the specific changing dynamics of the community and offers guidelines useful for risk communication in many communities. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current methods of estimating severity for occupational injuries and illnesses: Data from the 1986 Michigan comprehensive compensable injury and illness database
Authors: Oleinick Arthur , Guire Kenneth E. , Hawthorne Victor M. , Schork M. Anthony , Gluck Jeremy V. , Lee Byoungho , La Samuel
Published: April 2007

National and state estimates of the severity of occupational injuries and illness (severity + lost work time + missed work days + restricted work days) have come from the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (Survey) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, we show that the Survey practice of collecting injury information soon after the accident year reduces substantially the accuracy of missed work day estimates, which constitute 85.3% of the Survey lost work time estimate. To develop an independent estimate of missed work days, the research team created the Michigan Comprehensive Compensable Occupational Injury Database (Michigan Database) by linking state files with injury characteristics to files with workers' compensation information for injuries occurring in 1986. The measure of missed work time (days, weeks, or years) is the cumulative duration of compensation from the “date disability commenced,” noted on the first payment form, through follow‐up to March 1, 1990. Cumulative missed work time has been calculated or estimated for 72.057 injured workers, more than 97% of the 73,609 Michigan workers with compensable occupational injuries in 1986 identified through the close of the study. Our “best” estimate of missed work days, to follow‐up, attributable to both fatal and nonfatal compensable occupational injuries and illnesses is 7,518,784, a figure four times that reported for Michigan by the Survey. When insurance industry data on disbursements are also considered, the estimate of missed work days increases to 8.919,079, a figure 4.75 times that reported by the Survey. When insurance data on reserves for future payments are also considered, the estimate of missed work days increases to 16,103,398, a figure 8.58‐fold greater than that obtained for Michigan in the Survey. The Michigan data suggest that the national Survey may have failed to identify almost 373 million of 421 million missed work days in the private sector that have resulted, or will result, from 1986 occupational injuries. The present federal/state system for estimating occupational injury severity by measuring lost work days seriously underestimates the magnitude of the problem. The current policy of obtaining incidence and severity data from the same Survey should be reconsidered. We recommend that national estimates of injury severity be obtained from representative states by using state compensation data and that such estimates be used to evaluate current prevention and rehabilitation strategies. The redesigned occupational safety and health Survey (ROSH Survey) should be revised to permit linkage to compensation data. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Job factors, radiation and cancer mortality at OAK ridge national Laboratory: Follow‐up through 1984
Authors: Wing Steve , Shy Carl M. , Wood Joy L. , Wolf Susanne , Cragle Donna L. , Tankersley William , Frome E. L.
Published: April 2007

A previous study of mortality among white men hired at Oak Ridge National Laboratory between 1943 and 1972 (n + 8,318) revealed an association between low‐dose external penetrating ionizing radiation and cancer mortality in follow‐up through 1984. The association was not observed in follow‐up through 1977. This report considers the role of possible selection and confounding factors not previously studied. Control for hire during the World War II era and employment duration of less than 1 year had little effect on the radiation risk estimates. Risks associated with length of time spent in 15 job categories were considered as proxies for the effects of other occupational carcinogens. Ajustment for employment duration in each job category one at a time produced only small changes in the radiation risk estimate. Adjustment for potential exposures to beryllium, lead, and mercury also had little effect on the radiation risk estimates. These analyses suggest that selection factors and potential for chemical exposure do not account for the previously noted association of external radiation dose with cancer mortality. However, power to detect effects of chemical exposures is limited by a lack of individual exposure measures. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occupational exposure to phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols and cancer mortality in the Netherlands
Authors: de Mesquita H. Bas Bueno , Doornbos Gerda , van der Kuip Deirdre A. M. , Kogevinas Manolis , Winkelmann Regina
Published: April 2007

As part of the “IARC International Register of Persons Exposed to Phenoxy Herbicides and Contaminants,” a cohort of workers who manufacture and prepare chlorophenoxy herbicides was recruited in The Netherlands. The cohort comprised 2,310 workers from two plants, operated by different companies, who were followed during the periods 1955–1985 and 1965–1986, respectively. In 1963, there had been an industrial accident in one factory with concomitant release of dioxin into the environment. Loss to followup was 3%. Mortality data on 963 exposed and 1,111 nonexposed men were evaluated by external and internal comparison. Compared with national rates, total mortality (94 deaths, standardized mortality ratio [SMR] + 101; 95% confidence interval [CI], 82–124) and cancer mortality (31 deaths, SMR + 107; 95% CI, 73–152) for exposed workers were not significantly increased. A statistically insignificant increase was observed for non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (2 deaths, SMR + 299; 95% CI, 36–1,078). No cases of soft‐tissue sarcoma were encountered. There was no increase in either total mortality (25 deaths, SMR + 111; 95% CI, 72–163) or cancer mortality (10 deaths, SMR + 137; 95% CI, 66–252) among the 139 workers probably exposed to dioxins during the 2,4,5‐trichlorophenol production accident or the subsequent clean‐up operations. Compared with nonexposed workers, exposed workers did not exhibit a higher total mortality (rate ratio [RR] + 1.28; 95% CI, 0.89–1.82). Mortality due to all cancers (RR + 1.7; 95% CI, 0.9–3.4) and respiratory cancer (RR + 1.7; 95% CI, 0.5–6.3) was insignificantly elevated. These findings suggest that the increases in cancer mortality among workers exposed to phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols may be attributable to chance. Lack of power prevented evaluation with respect to specific cancers. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mortality and cancer incidence among PVC‐processing workers in Sweden
Authors: Lundberg Ingvar , Gustavsson Annika , Holmberg Bo , Molina Gustavo , Westerholm Peter
Published: April 2007

The mortality pattern and the cancer incidence were investigated among 717 men who had been employed for at least 3 months during 1964–1974 in three Swedish PVC‐processing plants. The mortality was followed 1964–1986 and the cancer incidence 1964–1984. Expected figures were calculated from Swedish national rates.

Among Swedish citizens, the observed mortality and cancer incidence was close to the expected in most diagnoses. Among immigrants, mostly from Finland, there was a marked excess of circulatory deaths. This finding was probably due to the higher incidence of coronary mortality in Finland compared to Sweden.

In the whole cohort, five cases of malignant melanoma had occurred as compared to 1.5 expected (SMR = 3.4, 95% confidence limit 1.1–7.9). This may be due to chance but merits further investigation since an increased incidence of malignant melanoma has previously been found among Norwegian PVC‐manufacturing workers. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Socioeconomic and health status of electronics workers employed in organized industry
Authors: Mathur Neeraj , Gupta Brahma N. , Rastogi Subodh K. , Mahendra Prakash N. , Pangtey Balram S. , Husain Tanveer , Bharti Ram S.
Published: April 2007

To study their socioeconomic and health status, 1,770 workers in the organized electronics industry in India were surveyed. Mean age of the workers employed in this industry was 32.5 ± 6.01 years. The average per capita income/month was Rupees 333, indicating a higher socioeconomic status, compared with the status of the national population, as well as compared with their counterparts in the unorganized sectors. Respiratory symptoms and impairment rates were significantly higher in workers exposed to soldering fumes. The high prevalence of congested or inflamed throat was also related to chemical exposure specially among solderers and workers exposed to metal oxides. The ocular symptoms and signs were also related to chemical exposure. Musculoskeletal disorders were related to erratic ergonomic postures. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cotton dust and gram‐negative bacterial endotoxin correlations in two cotton textile mills
Authors: Christiani David C. , Wegman David H. , Eisen Ellen A. , Ye Ting‐Ting , Lu Pei‐Lian , Olenchock Stephen A.
Published: April 2007

Exposure to cotton dust is known to cause both acute and chronic respiratory illness. A specific pattern of symptoms called byssinosis is well described to occur among workers in the cotton processing (e.g., yarn preparation) industry. Recent studies have implicated Gram‐negative bacterial endotoxin as one of the agents responsible for acute, and possibly chronic, respiratory illness. Laboratory experiments using a model cardroom have found poor correlations between airborne dust and associated endotoxin. This study reports the results of vertical elutriated dust and endotoxin levels in 11 work areas of 2 cotton textile mills in 1986 in Shanghai, China. The overall correlation between dust and endotoxin was strong, rs + 0.66 and 0.79 (p < 0.0001) for mills 1 and 2, respectively. The dust‐endotoxin correlation was relatively poor in early yarn preparation in the workshops and improved in the later preparation areas. Our findings suggest that in these mill settings, dust and endotoxin levels may be well correlated in most work areas. Therefore, dust may be a useful index for monitoring populations employed in the cotton textile industry throughout the world. Additional field studies need to be performed which consider the various determinants of dust and endotoxin levels. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Childhood cancer and paternal exposure to lonizing radiation: Preliminary findings from the oxford survey of childhood cancers
Authors: Sorahan Tom , Roberts Penelope J.
Published: April 2007

Paternal occupational data already collected as part of the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers have been reviewed. Information on occupations during or before the relevant pregnancy was sought for 15,279 children dying from cancer in England, Wales, and Scotland in the period 1953–81, and for an equal number of matched controls. Estimates were made for paternal exposure to human‐made external ionizing radiation in the six months before conception of the survey child—as judged from job histories and dates of birth. Assessments were also made for potential exposure to unsealed sources of radionuclides. Of the eight fathers placed in the highest dose group (≥10 mSv, external radiation), four were cases and four were controls. For the second dose group (5–9 mSv), the corresponding numbers were eight and four, and for the lowest exposed group (1–4 mSv), they were 55 and 42. There were 27 case fathers with potential exposure to radionuclides and only 10 control fathers. The independent effects of the two radiation variables were assessed by means of multiple logistic regression. Relative risks for estimated doses of external radiation were close to unity, but for radionuclide exposure the relative risk was 2.87 (95% CI + 1.15–7.13). These preliminary findings suggest that paternal exposure to radionuclides is a more likely risk factor for childhood cancer than exposure to external radiation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reanalysis of hanford data: 1944–1986 deaths
Authors: Kneale George W. , Stewart Alice M.
Published: April 2007

Reanalysis of Hanford data by a method, which is new only in the sense that it makes new uses of standard epidemiological procedures, has produced evidence of a cancer risk at low dose levels. By a conservative estimate, about three per cent of the pre‐1987 cancer deaths of Hanford workers had occupational exposures to external radiation as the critical (induction) event. These radiogenic cancers were evenly distributed between five diagnostic groups, but as a result of there being much greater sensitivity to “cancer induction by radiation” after, rather than before, 50 years of age, they were concentrated among the cancers which proved fatal after 70 years of age. The reanalysis provides no support for the idea that radiation is more likely to cause leukemia than solid tumors, or the idea that there is reduced cancer effectiveness of radiation at low dose levels (dose rate effectiveness factor or DREF hypothesis), but the estimated proportion of radiogenic cancers was much higher for the 175 nonfatal cancers (which had other certified causes of death) than for the 1,732 fatal cases.

Finally, according to the latest publication of the US Committee on Biological Effects of lonizing Radiation (BEIR V), dose rate is more important than exposure age, and even a single exposure to 10 rem would only increase the normal cancer risk by four percent. Nevertheless, for all recorded exposures of Hanford workers, the estimated doubling dose was close to 26 rem; for exposures after 58 years, it was close to 5 rem, and for exposures after 62 years, it was less than 1 rem. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hospitalized occupational finger amputations, New Jersey, 1985 and 1986
Authors: Sorock Gary S. , Smith Elaine , Hall Nancy
Published: April 2007

About 19,000 finger amputations occur at work each year in the United States. Twenty percent of these injuries are severe enough to require hospitalization. Hospital discharge data from New Jersey (1985, 1986) were used to describe the demographic characteristics of persons with such injuries and to identify potential subjects for telephone interview. A total of 637 persons hospitalized for finger amputations were sent letters asking for their participation. Of 637 persons, 355 (56%) were contacted and 228 (36%) were interviewed, of whom 134 (59%) said their injury occurred at work. The annual rate of finger amputations at work was 9.3 per 100,000 employed persons. The rate was higher for males (14.7) than females (1.9). The age‐adjusted rates were higher for Hispanic (52.8) and black (28.9) males than for white males (9.5). Persons working with machines or maintaining them in the manufacturing industry were at highest risk. Unjamming or repairing machinery (e.g., presses, saws, or slicers) while in operation was particularly hazardous. These data can be used to target occupations and industries for specific worksite intervention to prevent finger amputations. One limitation of this study, however, is that hospitalized occupational finger amputations may not be representative of all finger amputations, the majority of which are less severe and do not require hospitalization. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The biomechanics of vibration and low back pain
Authors: Wilder David G.
Published: April 2007

This work is a review of the mechanical factors related to low back pain production in a vibration environment. The sitting posture is an extreme orientation for the lumbar intervertebral disc that 1) increases its internal pressure, 2) increases its anteroposterior shear flexibility, while: 3) decreasing its resistance to buckling instability and 4) stressing the posterior region of the disc. Vibration is an additional mechanical stressor. Several studies suggest that the following preventive measures be taken to reduce the risk of low back pain due to driving: 1) minimize the vibration reaching the driver, 2) avoid lifting or bending immediately following driving, and 3) walk around for a few minutes following driving. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selected health risks caused by long‐term, whole‐body vibration
Authors: Seidel Helmut
Published: April 2007

The problem of a “vibration disease” caused by low‐frequency whole‐body vibration (wbv) is critically discussed. Disorders of the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems are interpreted not to be predominantly wbv‐specific, but to be related to the totality of working conditions. Long‐term wbv exposure can probably contribute to the pathogenesis of disorders of female reproductive organs (menstrual disturbances, anomalies of position) and disturbances of pregnancy (abortions, stillbirths). Animal experiments suggest harmful effects on the fetus. WBV has a minor synergistic effect on the development of noise‐induced hearing loss. Degenerative changes of the spine are more prevalent among wbv‐exposed workers. Model calculations demonstrate an increased spinal load in pregnant women exposed to wbv or self‐induced vibration, and illustrate a possibility for the comparison of data on stress, strain, and strength. The analysis of individual exposure‐effect relationships is suggested as a future approach for evaluating potential occupation‐related diseases. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methodology in industrial health studies: Social security disability data and the medical care system
Authors: Mancuso Thomas F.
Published: April 2007

This paper is directed at the exploration and development of the Social Security data, in the ascertainment and evaluation of industrial health effects.

The focus of the study is on disability data, as a national uniform means to identify illnesses and disease that occurred prior to death, that were not recorded on the death certificates. A cohort of employees of an industrial company was processed through the Social Security System to simultaneously identify the disability and death claims that were filed.

The total number of white males that filed disability claims was 1,333 and for white females 278. The total number of claims filed for the white males was 1,734 and for white females 382. Comparisons were made of all causes of disability with all causes of death for white males and white females. A remarkably high percentage of causes of disability were not recorded or available by death certificate for ICD categories of diseases and specific cancer sites.

The study also demonstrated that disability data contribute significantly to the confirmation of the diagnosis for the cancer sites. The development of the methodology linking Social Security data on disability, medical care, and mortality with industrial medical and environmental exposure data in epidemiological studies is discussed. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Threshold limit values, permissible exposure limits, and feasibility: The bases for exposure limits in the United States
Authors: Rappaport S. M.
Published: April 2007

The development of exposure limits in the United States has always relied heavily upon the threshold limit values (TLVs) developed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). In fact, the TLVs were adopted as official exposure limits by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1972 and 1989. Given the continuing importance of the ACGIH limits, this paper compares the basis of the TLVs with that employed by OSHA de novo in its 12 new permissible exposure limits (PELs). Using benzene as an example, it is shown that OSHA's new PELs have been established following a rigorous assessment of the inherent risks and the feasibility of instituting the limit. The TLVs, on the other hand, have been developed by ad hoc procedures and appear to have traditionally reflected levels thought to be achievable at the time. However, this might be changing. Analysis of the historical reductions of TLVs, for 27 substances on the 1991–1992 list of intended changes, indicates smaller reductions in the past (median reduction of 2.0–2.5‐fold between 1946 and 1988) compared to those currently being observed (median reduction of 7.5‐fold between 1989 and 1991). Further analysis suggests a more aggressive policy of the ACGIH regarding TLVs for carcinogens but not for substances that produce effects other than cancer. Regardless of whether the basis of the TLVs has changed recently, it would take a relatively long time for the impact of any change to be felt, since the median age of the 1991–1992 TLVs is 16.5 years, and 75% of these limits are more than 10 years old. The implications of OSHA's continued reliance on the TLVs as a means of updating its PELs are discussed, and four alternatives are presented to the ACGIH regarding the future of its activities related to exposure limits. It is concluded that new mechanisms are needed for OSHA to update its PELs in a timely fashion so that the TLVs will not be adopted by default in the future. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Worker awareness of exposure: Industries and occupations with low awareness
Authors: Behrens Virginia J. , Brackbill Robert M.
Published: April 2007

A goal of occupational health is to inform workers of hazards on their jobs. This analysis addresses this goal by identifying industries and occupations with low worker awareness of potential exposures. Industries and occupations were ranked by the greatest positive difference between the proportion of workers exposed and proportion perceiving exposure to chemical and physical hazards. Those with low awareness had the greatest difference, i.e., high exposure and low perception. This analysis was performed by adding exposure data from a national exposure survey to a national health survey with perceived exposure data. The hospital and construction industries and occupations in these industries ranked among the top five for all hazards. For example, for hospital workers the difference between proportion exposed and proportion perceiving exposure to chemicals was 62% and to radiation was 42%, and for workers in construction the difference was 54% for exposure to noise and 63% for exposure to vibration. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Body fluid exposure in an urban tertiary care medical center
Authors: Longbottom Helen Mary , Cox Katherine , Sokas Rosemary K.
Published: April 2007

The increasing prevalences of the human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B viruses have focused attention on the risks that health care workers face when exposed to potentially infective body fluids. This study establishes a profile of 320 parenteral exposure incidents and 47 exposure incidents to mucous membranes or abraded skin, reported in our medical center between July 1988 and July 1990.

We found that 102 (27.8%) of the incidents involved an HIV‐positive patient, that 130 (35.4%) of the reporting employees had completed their hepatitis B vaccination at the time of the incident, and that, although the majority of incidents involved employees with patient contact, unfortunately, service workers also were represented (4.6%, n + 17). Factors contributing to incidents included recapping (10.9%, n + 40), full needleboxes (7.6%, n + 28), and inappropriate disposal (13.1%, n + 48).

A health fair featuring walk‐in hepatitis B immunization attracted 260 participants, 90% of whom completed the entire immunization series. This significantly improved the immunization rate of employees subsequently reporting body fluid exposure. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Penetration of industrial chemicals across the skin: A predictive model
Authors: Guy Richard H. , Potts Russell O.
Published: April 2007

The recently reported dermal absorption and toxicity potential of industrial chemicals is reconsidered using an alternative physicochemically based model of skin penetration. In this model, the outermost, and least permeable, component of the skin [namely, the stratum corneum (SC)] is considered to provide only a lipoidal transport pathway into the body for chemicals that come into contact with the skin. The predictive algorithm of the model is biophysically compatible with known SC properties, and is based on experimental determinations of permeability coefficients through human skin in vitro for nearly 100 compounds of widely divergent physicochemical properties. This simpler prediction results in significantly lower estimates of maximum percutaneous penetration fluxes. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lead exposure among automobile radiator repair workers and their children in New York city
Authors: Nunez Carol M. , Klitzman Susan , Goodman Andrew
Published: April 2007

Despite a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Administration lead standard, exposure to lead continues in many industries. This paper describes a blood lead screening and education program for automobile radiator repair workers and their families in New York City. Results showed that 67% of automobile radiator repair workers (n + 62) in 89% of the shops tested (n + 24) had blood lead levels in excess of 25 μg/dl. The vast majority of workers had never been tested previously, and none had received health and safety training regarding occupational lead exposure. Although none of the workers' children's blood lead levels were in excess of then‐current guidelines, several had levels which may be associated with subclinical toxicity and in excess of the revised Centers for Disease Control guidelines of 10 μg/dl. This project demonstrates that lead exposure in the automotive radiator repair industry continues to be widespread and that local health departments can assist in hazard identification and remediation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.