bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occupational Asthma From Inhaled Egg Protein
Authors: Smith Alexander Blair , Bernstein David I. , Aw Tar‐Ching , Gallagher Joan S. , London Matthew , Kopp Shelby , Carson George A.
Published: April 2007

We evaluated workers and performed an industrial hygiene assessment at a plant where raw eggs are processed into powdered egg yolk and whole egg. Egg dust levels in the packaging room straddled the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH) exposure guideline of 10 mg/m3 for nuisance dust. We obtained medical histories from 25 workers, and performed physical examinations, spirometry, and serial determinations of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) by portable meter every 3 hrs (while awake) for 7 days. We defined symptomatic bronchial lability to be a decrement in PEFR on any one day of 20% or more of the day's maximum, with concurrent symptoms. Skin‐prick tests and serum assays for specific IgE by the radioallergosorbent (RAST) method were performed to assess sensitivity to commercial egg proteins, egg protein fractions, and freshly prepared extracts of whole egg powder and yolk. We classified participants as definite cases of asthma if both the examining physician diagnosed asthma and symptomatic bronchial lability was demonstrated by serial PEFR determinations. Definite noncases of asthma were those participants in whom the physician did not diagnose asthma and in whom symptomatic bronchial lability was not demonstrated by PEFR. All five definite cases, compared to three of 16 definite noncases of asthma, had one or more positive skin‐prick tests to egg proteins. Four of five cases, compared to 0 of 14 noncases, who had serum determinations, had an elevated RAST to one or more of the egg proteins. This study demonstrates that occupational asthma associated with IgE‐mediated allergy to egg proteins occurs among workers exposed to inhaled egg proteins.
Trimellitic anhydride exposure in a 55‐gallon drum manufacturing plant: Clinical, immunologic, and industrial hygiene evaluation
Authors: Letz Gideon , Wugofski Lee , Cone James E. , Patterson Roy , Harris Kathleen E. , Grammer Leslie C.
Published: April 2007

Nine workers at a 55‐gallon drum manufacturing plant had history of exposure to a paint powder that contained trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Environmental monitoring revealed airborne levels of TMA to be over 100 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.04 mg/m3. The exposed workers were evaluated in a cross‐sectional study by questionnaire, physical examination, screening pulmonary function tests, serial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), and serum antibody levels. Four workers had symptoms consistent with TMA‐induced irritant effects. Three had symptoms and IgG levels consistent with TMA late respiratory systemic syndrome (LRSS). Two of these three had PEFR changes that showed significant drops (>20%) 12‐18 hours after the end of a work shift. The material safety data sheet for the paint powder failed to list TMA as an ingredient. Despite the well‐described toxic effects of TMA, the present study documents that TMA‐related illness may continue to be a problem in situations where workers and management are not properly notified of the potential hazards. The measurement of PEFR may be useful in identifying TMA‐exposed workers with LRSS.
Health experience of workers in the petroleum manufacturing and distribution industry: A review of the literature
Authors: Harrington J. Malcolm
Published: April 2007

A review of 120 papers on the health effects on workers in the petroleum manufacturing and distribution industry revealed inconsistent results.

A full report citing all these references was produced for CONCAWE (the oil companies' European organization for environmental and health protection) in March 1986. This paper summarizes the main findings and updates the review to February 1987.

This may be due in part to the variable quality of the epidemiological studies. There is, however, the consistent finding of a deficit for “all causes mortality” and for “all cancers mortality,” thus implying that a widespread serious health effect of gasoline exposure seems remote. For specific health effects, the possibility exists that occupational etiological factors may play a part in the pathogenesis of brain cancer and renal disease. The evidence for a link between occupational and other health effects is weak. Further work of better quality is necessary to investigate those diseases in which there remains a suspicion of an occupational etiology.
Agreement between qualitative exposure estimates and quantitative exposure measurements
Authors: Kromhout Hans , Oostendorp Yvette , Heederik Dick , Boleij Jan S. M.
Published: April 2007

A method for qualitative estimation of the exposure at task level was used and validated with actual measurements in five small factories. The results showed that occupational hygienists were in general the most successful estimators. Plant supervisors and workers handled the estimation method less successfully because of more misclassification of the tasks.

The method resulted, in general, in a classification of tasks in four exposure categories ranging from no exposure to high exposure. The exposure categories correlated positively with mean concentrations, but showed overlapping exposure distributions. This resulted in misclassification of the exposure for individual workers when a relatively large interindividual variability in exposure levels within an exposure category was present.

The results show that this method can be used for workplace exposure zoning, but that the usefulness of the estimates for epidemiological purposes is not clear‐cut and depends strongly on the actual exposure characteristics within a workplace.

A combination of the qualitative exposure estimation method together with assessment of the exposure levels by measurements makes a rearrangement of tasks or individual workers possible and could improve the validity of this method for epidemiological purposes.
Mortality among workers in a shoe manufacturing company
Authors: Walrath Judy , Decouflé Pierre , Thomas Terry L.
Published: April 2007

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that leather workers have an elevated risk of bladder cancer, nasal cancer, and leukemia. A case‐control analysis of patient files at a large cancer treatment facility in New York State indicated that several bladder cancer patients had worked at a large shoe manufacturing company in upstate New York. A mortality study was initiated to determine whether there was an unusual cancer risk associated with employment in this facility. Because company records were not available, local newspaper obituaries were used to identify former company employees who died between 1960 and 1979. Proportionate mortality (PMR) analyses were conducted by using 4,734 death certificates and the general U.S. population for comparison. There were no excess deaths from nasal cancer or bladder cancer, and mortality from leukemia was slightly lower than expected. Increased relative frequencies of digestive cancers were seen among men and women. There were significant excesses of deaths from multiple myeloma among both men (PMR = 193) and women (PMR = 346).
Objectives for health monitoring and surveillance
Authors: Wegman David H.
Published: April 2007

A properly designed respiratory disease monitoring and surveillance program for the effects of cotton dust uses tools similar to those used clinically but provides a different focus—the potential for disease prevention in individuals and the control of excess exposures in groups. Both surveillance and monitoring require the use of standard instruments (questionnaires and pulmonary function equipment) with careful attention to equipment calibration and standard methods for administering tests. Monitoring focuses on the individual to identify early evidence of disease and to detect those subjects who are susceptible even under usually well controlled exposure circumstances. Surveillance is successful when designed to collect information at regular intervals (based on type and level of exposure and previously measured response) and the results are interpreted according to reasonably rigorous criteria. A major additional component is the examination of surveillance results according to groups based on job, exposure, work tenure, and other risk factors (e.g., smoking).
Strategies for prevention of byssinosis
Authors: Jacobs Robert R.
Published: April 2007

Cotton dust is a heterogeneous mixture of plant parts and contaminants from the soil, weeds, and microorganisms. Research to control byssinosis has focused on methods to reduce the trash associated with harvested fiber and control the dust in the textile mill environment. Dust control has been effective in reducing the prevalence of byssinosis, but because cotton dust is a heterogeneous mixture of components, simple reduction in dust levels does not always assure the prevention of byssinosis. Research to identify the agents that cause byssinosis and development of methods to eliminate those agents from cotton is needed to prevent new cases of byssinosis.
Smoking habits of 800,000 American men and women in relation to their occupations
Authors: Stellman Steven D. , Boffetta Paolo , Garfinkel Lawrence
Published: April 2007

The distribution of cigarette smoking (as well as of cigar and pipe smoking in men) by occupation was examined in over 800,000 men and women age 45–70 who were enrolled in the American Cancer Society's prospective study in 1982. Striking variations were seen for men—less striking variations for women. Smoking rates were significantly higher in groups exposed to a number of occupational hazards, compared to groups not so exposed. A considerable amount of variation is related to social class, but some individual occupations exhibit notably high (law enforcement) or low (clergy) smoking rates.

This information can be quite useful in planning morbidity or mortality studies of specific occupational groups or in analyzing data from existing studies.
Direct methods of obtaining information on cigarette smoking in occupational studies
Authors: Marsh Gary M. , Sachs David P. L. , Callahan Catherine , Leviton Laura C. , Ricci Edmund , Henderson Vivian
Published: April 2007

Many occupational epidemiology studies require complete and accurate information on tobacco use to control for confounding by smoking and to assess interactions of smoking with workplace exposures. This paper reviews and evaluates the availability, reliability, validity, and efficiency of the various data sources and techniques for obtaining individual smoking data, including existing records, biological markers, and surveys. Emphasis is placed on the highly problematic issue of obtaining retrospective smoking histories. In general, the survey technique is currently deemed the most feasible approach for obtaining lifetime smoking histories. Both theoretical and practical aspects of smoking surveys are discussed in detail and are illustrated with a review of the recent literature and with data from two recent retrospective cohort studies conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. Several recommendations involving both the use of smoking data and areas for future methodologic research are presented. These include (1) justification for collecting smoking data in occupational studies based primarily on the potential for smoking to act as an effect modifier rather than solely as a confounder, (2) checks for reliability and validity in all studies which involve the collection of smoking data, (3) more methodologic research to better understand the impact that missing, unreliable, and invalid smoking data may have on the ability to detect and quantify important smoking‐exposure interactions, and (4) an assessment of the correlation between biological markers and cigarette carcinogen exposure.
Biologic interactions between smoking and occupational exposures
Authors: Burns David M. , Froines John R. , Jarvik Murray E.
Published: April 2007

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of cancer and lung disease in the U.S. population. The biological processes that underlie the response of the lung to cigarette smoke are important considerations for designing analyses of the effects of occupational exposures. Interactions between cigarette smoking and occupational exposures may occur through a combined effect on the mechanism of disease production, through an effect on the dose of the toxic substances that reach the target issue, or through an effect on the response of the lung to the toxic agents. Disease due to occupational exposures can occur in a similar pattern in both smokers and nonsmokers; however, as more complex interactions are examined, different responses to the same occupational exposure may be identified for smokers and nonsmokers. It is only through the successful intermingling of biologic information with epidemiologic data that these interactions can be fully examined.
A retrospective cohort mortality study of males mining and milling attapulgite clay
Authors: Waxweiler Richard J. , Zumwalde Ralph D. , Ness Gregory O. , Brown David P.
Published: April 2007

To evaluate the possible health effects of occupational exposure to a nonasbestos mineral fiber, a cohort of 2,302 males employed for at least 1 month between 1940 and 1975 at an attapulgite (clay fiber) mining and milling facility was followed through 1975. A significant deficit of mortality (SMR = 43, 90% CI 23–76) from nonmalignant respiratory disease (NMRD) was observed for the cohort based on age‐, calendar year‐, and race‐specific rates for U.S. males. A marked deficit of NMRD was seen regardless of presumed dust exposure level, induction‐latency period, or duration employed. A statistically significant excess of mortality from lung cancer was observed among whites (SMR = 193, 90% CI 121–293), but a deficit occurred among nonwhites (SMR = 53, 90% CI 21–112). Lung cancer risk in either race was not altered substantially with presumed dust exposure level, induction‐latency period, or duration employed with one exception—those employed for at least 5 years in high‐exposure‐level jobs.
Estimation of the diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers: I. Current exposures
Authors: Woskie Susan R. , Smith Thomas J. , Hammond S. Katharine , Schenker Marc B. , Garshick Eric , Speizer Frank E.
Published: April 2007

As a part of a series of epidemiological studies of railroad workers, measurements were made to characterize workers' exposures to diesel exhaust. Since diesel exhaust is not a single compound, an exposure marker was sought. The personal exposures to respirable particulate matter (RPM) of over 530 workers in 39 common jobs were measured in four U.S. railroads over a three‐year period. Significant amounts of cigarette smoke (20–90%) were found in many of these samples. Therefore, the respirable particulate concentration, adjusted to remove the fraction of cigarette smoke (ARP), was chosen as a marker of diesel exhaust exposures. The geometric mean exposures to ARP ranged from 17 μg/m3 for clerks to 134 μg/m3 for locomotive shop workers. Significant interrailroad variations were observed in some job groups indicating that the different facilities, equipment, and work practices found among the railroads can affect a worker's exposure to diesel exhaust. Climate was also found to have a significant effect on exposure in some job groups.
Estimation of the diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers: II. National and historical exposures
Authors: Woskie Susan R. , Smith Thomas J. , Hammond S. Katharine , Schenker Marc B. , Garshick Eric , Speizer Frank E.
Published: April 2007

The diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers in thirteen job groups from four railroads in the United States were used to estimate U.S. national average exposures with a linear statistical model which accounts for the significant variability in exposure caused by climate, the differences among railroads and the uneven distribution of railroad workers across climatic regions. Personal measurements of respirable particulate matter, adjusted to remove the contribution of cigarette smoke particles, were used as a marker for diesel exhaust. The estimated national means of adjusted respirable particulate matter (ARP) averaged 10 μg/m3 lower than the simple means for each job group, reflecting the climatic differences between the northern railroads studied and the distribution of railroad workers nationally. Limited historical records, including some industrial hygiene data, were used to evaluate past diesel exhaust exposures, which were estimated to be approximately constant from the 1950's to 1983.
Immunological evaluation of four arc welders exposed to fumes from ignited polyurethane (isocyanate) foam: Antibodies and immune profiles
Authors: Broughton Alan , Thrasher Jack D. , Gard Zane
Published: April 2007

Four arc welders having a flu‐like illness with multiple health complaints following an exposure to high concentrations of isocyanate fumes from ignited polyurethane foam underwent immunological tests as follows: ELISA antibody assays, activated lymphocyte profiles, and lymphocyte blastogenesis. ELISA procedures revealed the presence of antibodies to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and formaldehyde (F) conjugated to human serum albumin (HDI‐SA and F‐SA). The results from the activated lymphocyte profiles showed deviations from the norm as follows: three welders had elevated helper/suppressor (H/S) ratios; all four had elevated percentages of Tal positive cells; two had decreases in B cells; and one had low total white cell and lymphocyte counts. In contrast, the percentage and absolute numbers of ILS receptor cells were normal in the four subjects. T cell blastogenesis to PHA, Con A and PWM resulted in the following: T‐cells from one subject responded normally; in another, a high response (212% of controls) to PHA occurred with normal mitogenesis to Con A and PWM. In the remaining two welders, the T cells responded abnormally low (50 to 75% of controls) to the three mitogens. In conclusion, the existence of IgG antibodies to HDI‐SA and F‐SA, the altered activated immune profiles, the elevated Tal cells, and the abnormal blastogenesis are interpreted as being linked with the episode of HDI and F exposure and the subsequent flu‐like illness of the four welders.
Usage of personal protective devices among Egyptian industrial workers
Authors: Kamal Abdel Aziz M. , Sayed Gaber M. , Hassan Mahmoud H. , Massoud Aly A.
Published: April 2007

A systematic random sample of 405 workers from metal, asbestos cement pipes, textile, and viscose rayon industries were interviewed using a prepared and tested questionnaire. Personal Protective Devices (PPDs), namely goggles, gloves, respirators, and ear defenders, had been distributed to all workers on the payroll and were used by 31.4%. Usage of PPDs was associated with the educational level, duration of occupation, awareness of the work hazards, and knowledge about the purpose of PPDs. Marked association was found between nonusage of PPDs and discomfort, interference with job performance, and the psychological feeling of lowering the person's prestige by the wearing of PPDs. Nonusage was also associated with lack of maintenance of the device and absence of supervision of its usage. Users were more numerous among married workers and workers with urban residence than among unmarried workers and those with rural residence, respectively. No association could be found between the rate of usage and the worker's age except for ear plugs, for which nonusage was proportional to the worker's age. The most important factors were those related to the role of the safety staff and the discomfort of the devices. Recommendations for occupational health authorities on the basis of the above evaluation are suggested.
Histologic Types of Lung Cancers Among Male Japanese Copper Smelter Workers
Authors: Tokudome Shinkan , Haratake Joji , Horie Akio , Era Shoichi , Fujii Hideharu , Kawachi Jitsuyo , Miyamoto Yuichi , Suko Shuji , Tokunaga Masayoshi , Tsuji Koichi , Ikeda Masato
Published: April 2007

This study was done to investigate which histologic type of lung cancer is prevalent among male Japanese copper smelter workers. A panel of eight pathologists was asked to diagnose uniformly prepared materials for 19 occupational series, 87 nonoccupational bronchogenic carcinomas, and 14 benign lesions. The consensus diagnosis was used as reference. The reference diagnoses and the originals without materials employed for verification were designated as finals. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent cell type in the occupational group, which comprised 21 (75.0%) of 28 histologically proven cases. There were three (10.7%) small cell carcinomas, one (3.6%) large cell carcinoma, and three (10.7%) adenocarcinomas. The proportion of Kreyberg group I in the occupational cases was significantly larger than that of lung cancers in the population‐based cancer registries in Japan. These findings are compatible with Kreyberg's hypothesis. Above all, squamous and small cell carcinomas were prominent and appeared to be environmentally related bronchogenic carcinomas.
Mortality Among Agricultural Extension Agents
Authors: Alavanja Michael C. R. , Blair Aaron , Merkle Scott , Teske John , Eaton Barbra
Published: April 2007

The mortality experience of agricultural extension agents in the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture who died during the period January 1, 1970‐December 31, 1979 (n = 1,495 white males) was evaluated in proportionate‐mortality and case‐control studies. The proportionate‐mortality analysis was used to identify cancers that might be elevated in this occupational group compared with the U.S. white male population. All cancers with a significantly elevated proportionate‐mortality ratio were more thoroughly evaluated in the case‐control study, where there is presumably less of a selection bias in the comparison.

In the case‐control study, leukemia demonstrated a statistically significant linear trend with duration of employment as an extension agent. Smaller, but nonsignificant, trends were seen for non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and brain cancer. The odds ratio for Hodgkin's disease and cancers of the colon, prostate, and kidney did not vary with the number of years on the job. These patterns resemble cancer risks seen among farmers, suggesting that agricultural factors may also play a role in the origin of these tumors among extension agents.
Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Furriers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Skuric Zdenka , Kanceljak Bozica , Pokrajac Duska , Schachter E. Neil , Witek Theodore J.
Published: April 2007

Forty women who had been occupationally exposed in the fur coat manufacturing industry were studied. The mean age was 30 years; mean duration of exposure was 14 years. A group of 31 females who did not work in the furrier industry also was included in the study as the control group. A higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was found among furriers when compared with controls; these differences were statistically significant for nasal catarrh (p<0.05) and sinusitis (p<0.01). Among the furriers, the highest prevalence of respiratory symptoms was recorded for chronic cough in 20 workers (50.0%), followed by sinusitis in 12 (30.0%), dyspnea in 10 (25.0%), and nasal catarrh in 8 workers (20.0%). Among the furriers, two (5.0%) had symptoms characteristic of occupational asthma. Most of the symptomatic furriers complained of acute symptoms during their work shifts.

Statistically significant mean reductions in lung function over the work shift were recorded in furriers for forced vital capacity (FVC), ‐4.1%; one‐second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), ‐5.2%; and flow rate at 50% vital capacity (FEF50%), ‐6.3%. Furriers demonstrated significantly lower mean Monday preshift measurements for FVC and flow rate at 25% (FEF25%) (p<0.05) when compared with those predicted. Preshift administration (by spinhaler) of 40 mg disodium cromoglycate in three workers reduced the intensity of acute respiratory symptoms and diminished the reductions in ventilatory capacity over the work shift. Data from six additional male workers demonstrated similar findings for symptoms and lung function.

Our data suggest that furriers are at risk of developing both acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilatory capacity impairment as a result of occupational exposure.
Acute nickel toxicity in electroplating workers who accidently ingested a solution of nickel sulfate and nickel chloride
Authors: Sunderman F. William , Dingle Brian , Hopfer Sidney M. , Swift Thomas
Published: April 2007

Thirty‐two workers in an electroplating plant accidently drank water contaminated with nickel sulfate and chloride (1.63 g Ni/liter). Twenty workers promptly developed symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, giddiness, lassitude, headache, cough, shortness of breath) that typically lasted a few hours but persisted 1‐2 days in 7 cases. The Ni doses in workers with symptoms were estimated to range from 0.5 to 2.5 g. In 15 exposed workers who were tested on day 1 postexposure, serum Ni concentrations ranged from 13 to 1,340 μg/liter and urine Ni concentrations ranged from 0.15 to 12 mg/g creatinine. Ten subjects (with initial urine Ni concentrations >0.8 mg/g creatinine) were hospitalized and treated for 3 days with intravenous fluids to induce diuresis, resulting in a mean elimination half‐time (T1/2) for serum Ni of 27 hours (SD ± 7 hour), which was significantly shorter (p < .001) than the mean T1/2 of 60 hours (SD ± 11 hours) in 11 subjects who did not receive intravenous fluids. Laboratory tests showed transiently elevated levels of blood reticulocytes (N = 7), urine albumin (N = 3), and serum bilirubin (N = 2). All subjects recovered rapidly, without evident sequellae, and returned to work by the eighth day after exposure.
Mortality odds ratio, proportionate mortality ratio, and healthy worker effect
Authors: Stewart Walter , Hunting Katherine
Published: April 2007

The standardized proportionate mortality ratio (PMRi) and the mortality odds ratio (MORi) are two statistics used to approximate the cause specific standardized mortality ratio (SMRi) when death data are available but the population at risk is not known. When there is a healthy worker effect, the MORi will always overestimate the SMRi and will always be greater than the PMRi. The PMRi is influenced by the relative frequency of the cause of death. For rare causes, such as brain cancer or leukemia, the PMRi will overestimate the SMRi to essentially the same degree as the MORi. For more common conditions, such as lung cancer, the PMRi will overestimate or underestimate the SMRi depending on the magnitude of the healthy worker effect.

When the SMRi = 1 and there is a healthy worker effect, both the PMRi and MORi are in excess of one (1) regardless of the disease rate. As the SMRi increases it is more likely to be bounded by the PMRi (lower) and the MORi (upper). We therefore recommend that each statistic be derived when death certificates are the only source of data used to assess risk due to occupational exposures.
Diesel exhaust exposure and mortality among males in the American cancer society prospective study
Authors: Boffetta Paolo , Stellman Steven D. , Garfinkel Lawrence
Published: April 2007

In 1982, the American Cancer Society enrolled over 1.2 million American men and women in a prospective mortality study of cancer and other causes in relation to different risk factors. The 2‐year mortality of 461, 981 males aged 40–79 years with known smoking habit has been analyzed in relation to exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) and to employment in selected occupations related to DE exposure. The relative risk (RR) for all causes of death for those exposed was 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97–1.13). For lung cancer, the RR was 1.18 (95% CI: 0.97–1.44). A dose‐response effect was present. Railroad workers, heavy equipment operators, miners, and truck drivers had a higher mortality both for all causes and for lung cancer when compared with subjects with other occupations and no exposure to DE. Truck drivers exposed to DE were not at excess risk of lung cancer if compared with truck drivers unexposed to DE, but a trend of increasing risk with duration of exposure was suggested. DE exposure was also associated with increase in mortality for accidents, cerebrovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. An association based on small numbers was also present for Hodgkin's disease and lymphoid leukemia. No association with chronic non‐neoplastic pulmonary diseases or with bladder cancer was found.
A cohort mortality study of employees exposed to chlorinated chemicals
Authors: Wong Otto
Published: April 2007

The cohort of this historical prospective mortality study consisted of 697 male employees at a chlorination plant. A majority of the cohort was potentially exposed to benzotrichloride, benzylchloride, benzoyle chloride, and other related chemicals. The mortality experience of the cohort was observed from 1943 through 1982. For the cohort as a whole, no statistically significant mortality excess was detected. The overall Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) was 100, and the SMR for all cancers combined was 122 (not significant). The respiratory cancer SMR for the cohort as a whole was 246 (7 observed vs. 2.8 expected). The excess was of borderline statistical significance, the lower 95% confidence limit being 99. Analysis by race showed that all 7 resipiratory cancer deaths came from the white male employees, with an SMR of 265 (p<0.05). The respiratory cancer mortality excess was higher among employees in maintenance (SMR = 229) than among those in operations or production (SMR = 178). The lung cancer mortality excess among the laboratory employees was statistically significant (SMR = 1292). However, this observation should be viewed with caution, since it was based on only 2 deaths. Further analysis indicated that the respiratory cancer mortality excess was limited to the male employees with 15 or more years of employment (SMR = 379, p < 0.05). Based on animal data as well as other epidemiologic studies, together with the internal consistency of analysis by length of employment, the data suggest an association between the chlorination process of toluene at the plant and an increased risk of respiratory cancer. Limitations of the study, including the small sample size (especially for some subcohort analyses) and potential confounding factors (including cigarette smoking and other occupational exposures), are discussed.
Respiratory morbidity in workers exposed to asbestos in the primary manufacture of building materials
Authors: Robins Thomas G. , Green Margaret A.
Published: April 2007

Former employees (214) of a plant that manufactured asbestos‐containing building materials (wallboard and acoustic tile) from 1958 through 1974 were screened for asbestos‐related pulmonary disease. Results are presented on 182 union members whose names appeared on a 1966 seniority list in one of six departments believed to have had substantial asbestos exposure. The study population demonstrated a high frequency of pulmonary abnormalities often associated with asbestos exposure: low mean forced vital capacity percent of predicted (FVC % predicted), low mean forced expiratory volume at one second percent of predicted (FEV1 % predicted), presence of parenchymal abnormalities (40.1% with profusion scores of 1/0 or higher), and 30.5% with bilateral pleural abnormalities on chest roentgenograms. In addition, rǎles in two or more locations were found in 22.8% on examination of the chest, 30.6% gave a history of chronic bronchitis, and 34.8% of dyspnea grade two or higher. Calculated asbestos exposure scores, based upon participant recall, were not found to be associated with these abnormalities. The abnormal findings were not adequately explained by potential confounders such as cigarette smoking. Other notable findings in this study include the presence of smoking‐adjusted decrements in pulmonary function associated with moderate profusion scores (i.e., 1/0 and 1/1) and the presence of a substantial degree of obstructive lung disease (19.2%) in this population.
Lymphocyte micronuclei and sister chromatid exchanges among Canadian federal laboratory employees
Authors: Narod Steven A. , Neri Luciano , Risch Harvey A. , Raman S.
Published: April 2007

Blood lymphocytes from 59 federally employed Canadian laboratory workers, 137 nearby office employees, and 11 workers with a mixed employment history were examined for the presence of sister‐chromatid exchanges and micronuclei. These laboratory workers were exposed routinely to a host of organic solvents and had previously voiced complaints regarding the adequacy of the ventilation system in their building. Overall, no relationship between laboratory work and either cytogenetic endpoint was observed. The two tests were only weakly correlated, but in a multivariate analysis, both were associated with recent and past smoking. Within‐person variation was measured for the sister‐chromatid exchange assay, and it and other possible sources of variation are discussed.
Antibodies and immune profiles of individuals occupationally exposed to formaldehyde: Six case reports
Authors: Thrasher Jack D. , Broughton Alan , Micevich Paul
Published: April 2007

Six patients with multiple subjective health complaints, which have been correlated with chronic exposure to formaldehyde during the course of their education and occupations, were tested for the existence of antibodies (IgE, IgM, and IgG) to formaldehyde (F) conjugated to human serum albumin (F‐HSA). In addition, the percentage and absolute numbers of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations as determined by surface markers were investigated. Antibody titers to F‐HSA were present as follows: IgE (2 patients), IgM (3 of 4 tested patients), and IgG (5 patients). Analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations showed T‐helper/suppressor (H/S) ratios ranging from 0.8 to 3.3. All 6 patients had elevated Tal cells (antigen memory cells), whereas interleuken 2 receptor positive cells were within expected values. Following formaldehyde exposure, 5 of the patients complained of an initial flulike illness from which they have not completely recovered. The sixth individual had a history of recurrent respiratory infections and surgical removal of hyperplastic ethmoid sinus tissue. The common occurrence of anti‐F‐HSA antibodies, flulike illness, and Tal cells are interpreted as suggestive of a chronic antigenic stimulation of the immune system in these 6 patients. Further immunological work‐up of additional subjects and immune parameters with similar history of formaldehyde exposure and subjective health complaints is warranted.
Between‐ and within‐reader variability in the assessment of pleural abnormality using the ILO 1980 international classification of pneumoconioses
Authors: Bourbeau Jean , Ernst Pierre
Published: April 2007

Although there are published data concerning reader variability in the assessment of parenchymal pneumoconiotic changes using the ILO Classification of Radiographs, nothing has been published on reader variability with regard to pleural abnormalities. Therefore, in the context of an epidemiologic study, we assessed between‐ and within‐reader variability in the reading of chest radiographs for pleural abnormality using the ILO 1980 International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses. Chest radiographs of 182 insulation workers interspersed with 24 subjects without documented exposure to asbestos were assembled and read blindly by two readers, reading separately on two occasions, 1 week apart. The results of this study suggest that confident separation of pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening may be difficult to achieve using the present guidelines of the ILO 1980 classification. In the evaluation of the width of chest wall pleural abnormality, within‐reader agreement improves as the width increases, while between‐reader agreement was much less satisfactory. Excellent agreement is obtained in the evaluation of other sites, especially costophrenic angle obliteration and the presence of pleural calcification.
Work‐related injuries in minors
Authors: Schober Susan E. , Handke Jan L. , Halperin William E. , Moll Michael B. , Thun Michael J.
Published: April 2007

Since 1938, federal child labor laws have restricted employment of persons under 18 years old, in part to protect them from hazardous occupations. Workers' compensation claims reported to the Supplementary Data System of the Bureau of Labor Statistics were examined to define the current status of occupational injuries among minors. Data tapes from 1980 to 1983 were searched to identify all current claims for injuries and illnesses occurring in 1980 in persons under age 18. Injury rates were calculated using information about employment in 1979 available from the 1980 census. In the 24 states included in this study, 23,823 claims were reported for persons less than 18 years old. Of these claims, approximately 10% were from persons under age 16. Rates of injuries in 16‐ and 17 year olds were 12.6 per 100 full‐time male workers and 6.6 per 100 full‐time female workers. Serious injuries included fractures, dislocations, and amputations, accounting for 5.8%, 0.7%, and 0.6% of cases, respectively. California, the only state that coded whether injuries resulted in fatalities, reported 12 deaths in this age group. Machines and vehicles, many of which are restricted under child labor laws, accounted for 8.3% and 5.8% of claims. These data suggest that persons under age 18 years are not adequately protected from occupational injury. Further attention and, possibly, new preventive strategies are needed.
Validity and reliability of a method for retrospective evaluation of chlorophenate exposure in the lumber industry
Authors: Hertzman Clyde , Teschke Kay , Dimich‐Ward Helen , Ostry Aleck
Published: April 2007

This paper describes the validity and reliability of a method to retrospectively assess exposure to antisapstain agents used in sawmills (chlorophenates). The method is based on experienced workers' estimates of exposure for each job title at the sawmill where they work. At a pilot mill, 10 randomly selected workers estimated the frequency and duration of exposures to chlorophenates for all 59 job titles. The reliability of their mean exposure estimates was very high, with an intraclass correlation coefficient for all raters of 0.91 (based on a calculated index of exposure). To assess validity, urinary chloro‐phenate levels were measured for 86% of the workers at the mill during the summer and/or fall, and compared to experienced workers' estimates of exposure. The correlation between workers' exposure estimates and the urinary chlorophenate levels for each job title were consistently above 0.65 for all analyses and greater than 0.72 when summer and fall urine sample results were averaged. The evidence indicates that the validity and reliability of worker exposure estimates are high enough to justify investigation of the method's generalizability to other sawmills.
X‐ray findings, lung function, and respiratory symptoms in black South African vermiculite workers
Authors: Hessel Patrick A. , Sluis‐Cremer Gerhard K.
Published: April 2007

Health 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 study.
Prospective study of respiratory effects of formaldehyde among healthy and asthmatic medical students
Authors: Uba Grant , Pachorek Donna , Bernstein Jonathan , Garabrant David H. , Balmes John R. , Wright William E. , Amar Robert B.
Published: April 2007

We 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 asthma.
Occupational hydrocarbon exposure and risk of renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Kadamani Salam , Asal Nabih R. , Nelson Robert Y.
Published: April 2007

A population‐based case‐control study (210 cases and 210 age‐ sex‐ and frequency‐matched population controls) was conducted to evaluate the association between occupational hydrocarbon exposure and risk of renal cell carcinoma. Retrospective estimates of lifetime occupational hydrocarbon exposure were made without regard to case or control status, and an exposure index was calculated based on time and score combinations. A weak positive association was found for hydrocarbon exposure in males only (odds ratio = 1.6). For those under the age of 60, exposure to moderate levels of hydrocarbons produced the highest risk, while for those over the age of 70 a dose‐response relationship was found. Those overweight were at high risk for renal cell carcinoma, and there was positive interaction between hydrocarbon exposure and overweight. Alcohol use alone or in the presence of hydrocarbon exposure decreased the risk significantly.
Primary liver cancer death and occupation in Texas
Authors: Suarez Lucina , Weiss Nancy S. , Martin Jeanne
Published: April 2007

A death certificate case‐control study of primary liver cancer and occupation was conducted to determine if the high risk of liver cancer in Mexican‐Americans can be explained by farmworker exposures to pesticides. The association of liver cancer with the petroleum and chemical industry and with other potentially high‐risk occupations was also examined. For the years 1969 to 1980, 1,742 deaths from primary liver cancer were identified for Texas males. Controls were randomly selected from other causes of deaths among males excluding all neoplasms, liver and gallbladder diseases, infectious hepatitis, and alcoholism, and were frequency matched to cases by age, race, ethnicity, and year of death. Risk for farmworkers based on age, race, and ethnicity‐adjusted odds ratios (ORs) was not excessive (OR = 1.4, 95% confidence limits [C.L.] 0.8–2.2) but was larger than the risk for farmers (OR = 1.0, 95% C.L. 0.8–1.2). Excess risk in the petroleum and chemical manufacturing industries was confined to oil refinery workers (OR = 2.0, 95% C.L. 1.1–3.5). Other occupations with twofold risk or greater were plumbers and pipefitters (OR = 2.0, 95% C.L. 1.0–3.8), butchers and meat cutters (OR = 2.6, 95% C.L. 1.1–6.6), textile workers (OR = 3.1, 95% C.L. 1.2–7.8), cooks (OR = 2.2, 95% C.L. 1.1–4.5), and longshoremen (OR = 2.2, 95% C.L. 0.6–7.4).
Understanding student information behavior in relation to electronic information services: Lessons from longitudinal monitoring and evaluation, Part 2
Authors: Urquhart Christine , Rowley Jennifer
Published: April 2007

This second part of a two‐part article establishes a model of the mediating factors that influence student information behavior concerning the electronic or digital information sources used to support learning. This part discusses the findings of the Joint Information Systems Committee User Behavior Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (1999–2004) and development of a model that includes both the individual (micro) and organizational (macro) factors affecting student information behavior. The macro factors are information resource design, information and learning technology infrastructure, availability and constraints to access, policies and funding, and organizational leadership and culture. The micro factors are information literacy, academics' information behavior, search strategies, discipline and curriculum, support and training, and pedagogy. We conclude that the mediating factors interact in unexpected ways and that further research is needed to clarify how those interactions, particularly between the macro and micro factors, operate.
The role of death qualification and need for cognition in venirepersons' evaluations of expert scientific testimony in capital trials
Authors: Butler Brooke , Moran Gary
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of death qualification in venirepersons' evaluations of expert scientific testimony in capital trials. 200 venirepersons from the 12th Judicial Circuit in Bradenton, FL completed a booklet that contained the following: one question that measured their attitudes toward the death penalty; one question that categorized their death‐qualification status; the Need for Cognition (NFC) scale (Cacioppo, Petty & Kao, 1984); a summary of the guilt phase of a capital case (which included the cross‐examination of the state's expert witness); verdict preference; five questions concerning participants' evaluations of the expert's testimony; the penalty phase of a capital case; sentence preference; and standard demographic questions. Results indicated that death‐qualified venirepersons were more likely to demonstrate a low need for cognition and view ambiguous expert scientific testimony as valid, important in their decision‐making processes, unbiased, and of high quality. Finally, death‐qualified participants were more conviction– and death– prone than their excludable counterparts. Surprisingly, death‐qualified and excludable jurors did not differ with respect to whether or not they felt that the expert followed correct procedures. Legal implications and applications are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐regulation in violent and non‐violent offenders: a preliminary report
Authors: Ross Thomas , Fontao María Isabel
Published: April 2007

Background The functional role of self‐regulation in violent behaviour is not yet fully understood.

Aim To test the hypothesis that violent offenders have more deficits in self‐regulation and self‐control than non‐violent offenders.

Methods Self‐regulation and personality disorders were evaluated in a sample of 70 violent and non‐violent incarcerated offenders using the Volitional Components Questionnaire (VCQ) and the SCID‐II for DSM‐IV.

Results The self‐report data indicate that violent offenders were no different from non‐violent offenders on either facilitatory or inhibitory modes of self‐regulation and self‐control. Compared with a sample of normal, healthy men, differences were found in all tested self‐regulation variables but not in self‐control. Except for antisocial personality, the groups were similar in personality features.

Conclusions The proposed hypothesis was not sustained on this measure of self‐regulation. With regard to self‐regulation and self‐control, violent and non‐violent offenders were similar and treatment interventions to improve capacity in these respects are probably useful for both groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.