bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Work‐site clinical and neurobehavioral assessment of solvent‐exposed microelectronics workers
Authors: Broadwell D. K. , Darcey Dennis J. , Hudnell H. Kenneth , Otto David A. , Boyes William K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwenty‐five workers, five currently and 20 formerly involved in the manufacture of hybrid microcircuits, underwent clinical evaluations at the request of a management‐union committee concerned about chronic solvent exposures in a research and development laboratory. A battery of neurobehavioral tests was administered to compare the solvent‐exposed group with 32 age‐, gender‐, ethnicity‐, and education‐matched controls. The tests included: MMPI‐I, hand grip strength, tactile sensitivity, dexterity, color discrimination, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, and tests selected from the computerized Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES2). Clinical narratives and retrospective exposure assessments in the study group suggested chronic low‐level exposure to solvents, with intermittent acute excursions. Work‐related diagnoses included upper respiratory mucosal irritation and sinusitis (44%), lower respiratory reactive airway‐disease (12%), and dermatitis (5%). Three workers (12%) had findings consistent with a solvent‐induced encephalopathy. Significant differences (after Bonferroni correction) were found between the two groups on 5 of 11 NES subtests: symptom scale, mood scale, finger tapping, simple reaction time, and symbol‐digit substitution. Differences also reached significance for overall vibration sensitivity thresholds, visual contrast sensitivity, and grip strength. The MMPI average clinical scale elevation was significantly higher in the exposed group than controls. These results support an association between chronic low‐dose solvent exposure and measurable neurobehavioral changes.
Reduced fertility among women exposed to organic solvents
Authors: Sallmén Markku , Lindbohm Marja‐Liisa , Kyyrönen Pentti , Nykyri Erkki , Anttila Ahti , Taskinen Helena , Hemminki Kari 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA retrospective time‐to‐pregnancy study was performed among women biologically monitored for exposure to organic solvents. The women were participants in a previous study on spontaneous abortion. They were classified into exposure categories on the basis of work description and the use of solvents as reported in the questionnaires and on biological exposure measurements. Daily or high solvent exposure, adjusted for potential confounders, was significantly associated with reduced fecundability in the discrete proportional hazards analysis (incidence density ratio of clinical pregnancies 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27‐0.62). The incidence density ratios were decreased also among workers who were exposed to organic solvents in shoe factories (0.28; CI 0.11‐0.71), dry cleaning shops (0.44; CI 0.22‐0.86), and in the metal industry (0.58; CI 0.34‐0.98). The possible effects of various biases are discussed. The results of the study support the hypothesis that daily or high exposure to organic solvents is associated with reduced fertility. There is a need for safer working methods in industries where organic solvents still are used.
Surveillance and prevention of work‐related carpal tunnel syndrome: An application of the sentinel events notification system for occupational risks
Authors: Maizlish Neil , Rudolph Linda , Dervin Kathleen , Sankaranarayan Mukund 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn response to limitations in state‐based, occupational disease surveillance, the California Department of Health Services developed a model for provider‐ and case‐based surveillance of work‐related carpal tunnel syndrome. The objectives were to enhance case reporting, identify risk factors and high‐risk work sites, and link preventive interventions to work sites and the broader community. Using elements from surveillance of communicable diseases and sentinel health events, a model was integrated into the pre‐existing reporting system in one California county. Between 1989 and 1991, 54 Santa Clara County health care providers reported 382 suspected cases, of which 365 from 195 work sites met reporting guidelines. Risk factors were profiled from interviews of 135 prioritized cases and 38 employers. Of 24 work sites prioritized for a free, voluntary, nonenforcement inspection, 18 refused and 6 completed an on‐site visit. Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) captured many cases not reported to the pre‐existing reporting system. Case interviews indicated a profile of symptoms and signs, treatment, and exposure to uncontrolled occupational risk factors, including a lack of training on ergonomics hazards. Employer health insurance, rather than workers' compensation, was the apparent source of payment for most medical bills. Employers lacked knowledge and motivation to reduce ergonomic risks. Governmentally mandated occupational ergonomics standards are urgently needed.
Esophageal cancer and occupation in a cohort of swedish men
Authors: Chow Wong‐Ho , McLaughlin Joseph K. , Malker Hans S. R. , Linet Martha S. , Weiner Jan A. , Stone B. J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractUsing the Cancer Environment Registry of Sweden, which links the 1960 census information on employment with cancer incidence data from 1961‐1979, we conducted a systematic, population‐based assessment of esophageal cancer incidence by industry and occupation for men in Sweden. A general reduction in esophageal cancer incidence was found among agricultural and professional workers, whereas excess incidence was found among business, sales, and some craftsmen and production jobs. Elevated incidence was associated with several specific industries, including the food (SIR = 1.3, p < 0.05), beverage and tobacco (SIR = 1.8, p < 0.05) industries, vulcanizing shops within the rubber industry (SIR = 4.7, p < 0.01), and certain automotive building industries. Incidence also was increased among brewery workers (SIR = 4.2, p < 0.01) and butchers (SIR = 2.1, p < 0.01), and among individuals with certain service jobs, particularly waiters in the hotel and restaurant industry (SIR = 3.1, p < 0.01). Some of the occupational associations may be explained by lifestyle factors such as alcohol drinking and smoking, whereas others are specific and tend to support those of earlier investigations. This study adds to the evidence of a small but possibly important role of occupation in esophageal cancer etiology.
Mortality in a cohort of antimony smelter workers
Authors: Schnorr Teresa M. , Steenland Kyle , Thun Michael J. , Rinsky Robert A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAnimal studies show that antimonymay cause lung cancer and heart and lung disease in rodents. In exposed humans, ECG abnormalities and heart and lung disease have been reported. This mortality study of 1,014 men employed between 1937 and 1971 in a Texas antimony smelter consisted primarily of workers of Spanish ancestry (n = 928, 91.5%). Hispanics are known to smoke at much lower rates than non‐Hispanics, and their lung cancer and heart disease mortality is generally low. When ethnic‐specific Texas lung cancer death rates were used for comparison, mortality from lung cancer among antimony workers was elevated (SMR) 1.39, 90% CI 1.01‐1.88), and we observed a significant positive trend in mortality with increasing duration of employment. When ischemic heart disease death rates from three different Spanish‐surnamed populations were used for comparison, the rate ratios for mortality from ischemic heart disease were 0.91 (90% CI 0.84‐1.09), 1.22 (90% CI 0.78‐1.89), and 1.49 (90% CI 0.84‐2.63). Pneumoconiosis/ other lung disease death rates for Spanish‐surnamed men were unavailable and so calculation of rate ratios used white males as a comparison population (SMR 1.22; 90% CI 0.80‐1.80). These data suggest some increased mortality from lung cancer and perhaps nonmalignant respiratory heart disease in workers exposed to antimony. However, conclusions are limited by possible confounders and the difficulty of identifying appropriate referent groups.
An evaluation of scheduled bright light and darkness on rotating shiftworkers: Trial and limitations
Authors: Budnick Lawrence D. , Lerman Steven E. , Nicolich Mark J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe effectiveness of a program of scheduled bright light and dark to alter the circadian pacemakers of rotating shiftworkers was evaluated. Thirteen industrial workers were exposed to scheduled bright light of 6,000‐12,000 lux on at least half of their 12‐hr night shifts for 3 months, as well as ambient light of 1,200‐1,500 lux. All 10 workers evaluated with urinary melatonin levels had morning melatonin suppression on the night shift, and 50% had a statistically significant circadian change. Although a few significant changes were noted concerning reported sleep and alertness, most findings concerning self‐perceived alertness and performance at work, and sleep patterns were mixed and inconsistent. The major complaint was increased difficulty adjusting to being off work after the night shift during the light phase. The alteration in urinary melatonin levels is the first objective demonstration that the bright light technology can alter the circadian pacemakers of workers in an industrial setting. At this worksite, a number of interventions to lessen the effects of rotating shiftwork are being evaluated. Criteria are proposed that should be considered in evaluating a worksite for the use of bright light technology.
Work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms among sheet metal workers
Authors: Welch Laura S. , Hunting Katherine L. , Kellogg Jordi 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe report results of two pilot studies of the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and work tasks in sheet metal workers. These two studies were undertaken as pilot investigations to determine if symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or other work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms are present in sheet metal workers, and to determine if we could begin to identify the factors in sheet metal work that cause them. In the first study, telephone interviews were conducted with 18 disabled sheet metal workers; the second survey entailed self‐administered questionnaires completed by 47 active and retired sheet metal workers. Among the disabled workers, rotator cuff cases reported the greatest percent of time spent hanging duct, an overhead task commonly carried out during field work. Carpal tunnel cases reported more hand tool use than the rotator cuff cases. The questionnaire survey of active and retired workers found the proportion of time spent in a sheet metal shop (contrasted with field work) to be positively associated with hand symptoms; sheet metal workers who spent at least 65% of their time in the shop had an odds ratio of 3.4 for symptomatic hand cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) (p = 0.12). The proportion of time spent hanging duct was positively associated with both neck and shoulder symptoms, with odds ratios of 7.9 (p = 0.08) and 2.7 (p = 0.16), respectively. The results show that symptoms of neck, arm, and hand pain are common in sheet metal workers who are actively working, that carpal tunnel syndrome or hand pain is positively associated with more time spent working in the shop, and that shoulder pain or shoulder injuries is associated with work overhead (hanging duct). Ergonomic risks and cumulative trauma disorders have not been well characterized in the construction industry; these data strongly suggest that a subset of work tasks in construction increase the risk of cumulative trauma disorders.
Work outcome in workers with occupational skin disease
Authors: Holness D. Linn , Nethercott James R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe carried out a follow‐up study of employment outcome for 230 workers with a diagnosis of occupational skin disease who were at least 2 years postdiagnosis. Seventy‐eight percent of the workers were working, but 57% of those working had changed jobs, 67% because of their skin problem. Thirty‐one percent had lost no time from work because of their skin disease, while 35% had lost at least 1 month. Forty‐three percent had applied for workers' compensation benefits, and 87% of those who had applied were successful in their claims. Older workers were more likely to be unemployed and to have applied for workers' compensation benefits. Women were less likely to have lost time from work and to have applied for workers' compensation. Those who had changed their jobs tended to have a better outcome with respect to active dermatitis, though they had lost more time from work and had more often applied for workers' compensation benefits.
United states non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma surveillance by occupation 1984‐1989: A twenty‐four state death certificate study
Authors: Figgs Larry W. , Dosemeci Mustafa , Blair Aaron 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDeath certificates from 23,890 male and female non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases and 119,450 noncancer controls from 24 states for the period 1984‐1989 were used to generate hypotheses regarding occupational associations. Cases were frequency matched by age, race, and gender with five controls per case. Odds ratios were calculated for 231 industries and 509 occupations. Significant associations were observed for a variety of white‐collar professionals (i.e., real estate agents, secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers, postal employees, business agents, engineers, chemists, and medical professionals) and blue‐collar occupations (i.e., firefighters, farm managers, aircraft mechanics, electronic repairers, mining machine operators, and crane and tower operators). © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unbiased vs. Conservative estimators of etiological fractions: Examples of misclassification from studies of occupational lung cancer
Authors: Olsen Ole 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTheoretical studies emphasize the importance of making unbiased etiological fraction estimates. In empirical works, however, the published estimates are usually conservative. The purpose of the present report is to study, empirically, the numerical magnitude of such conservative biases. Examples from the literature on occupational exposure and lung cancer are reported. It is demonstrated that conservative bias may decrease a numerical estimate by more than a factor 10 and that decreases by a factor 2 or 3 are not unusual. It is concluded that it is important, in future review studies, to pay attention to the magnitude of the conservative biases in the published empirical estimates and to put most emphasis on the least biased estimates in the review process.
Respiratory symptoms and lung function in wool textile workers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Mustajbegovic Jadranka , Schachter E. N. , Kanceljak Bozica , Godnic‐Cvar Jasminka , Sitar‐Srebocan Vesna 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOur study investigated a group of 216 wool textile workers (158 women and 58 men). Respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire in wool textile workers and in 130 not exposed (control) workers. Ventilatory capacity was measured in wool workers by recording maximum expiratory flow‐volume (MEFV) curves on Monday before and after the work shift. Forced vital capacity (FVC), 1‐second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity (FEF50, FEF25) were measured on the MEFV curves. Analysis of the data demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms in wool workers than in controls. being the highest in wool workers for nasal catarrh (M: 63.8%; F: 44.9%) and for sinusitis (M: 62.1%; F: 43.0%). A high prevalence of acute symptoms, associated with the work shift, was also noted in wool workers. Exposure to wool dust caused significant across‐shift reductions of ventilatory capacity varying from 1.4% for FEV, to 9.1% for FEF50. Textile workers exposed to wool for > 10 years in the workplace had similar across‐shift reductions of ventilatory capacity tests as those with shorter exposures. In a large number of these wool workers, FEF50 and FEF25 were below 70% of predicted normal values. Smokers had acute and chronic lung function changes similar to those of nonsmokers, indicating that smoking did not account for all the respiratory effects seen in wool processing workers. Our data suggest that dust exposures in wool textile mills may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and impaired lung function.
Airway responsiveness to methacholine, respiratory symptoms, and dust exposure levels in grain and flour mill workers in eastern france
Authors: Massin N. , Bohadana A. B. , Wild P. , Kolopp‐Sarda M. N. , Toamain J. P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOur goal was to assess the relation between dust exposure levels and the respiratory health status of workers in grain and flour mills in eastern France. We studied 118 male workers from 11 mills and 164 unexposed male controls. Dust concentration was measured by personal sampling methods. Outcome variables included respiratory symptoms, routine pulmonary function tests, and indices of airway responsiveness to methacholine. A great within‐ and between‐area variability of inhalable dust concentration was found in all mills. A dose‐response relationship was observed between dust exposure levels and chronic respiratory symptoms, suggesting that exposure to grain and flour dust may lead to chronic bronchitis. A significant relation was found between dust exposure and airway hyper‐responsiveness; this finding is important since it has been hypothesized that the latter abnormality may lead to or be a predisposing factor in subsequent chronic, irreversible airflow obstruction.
Potential genotoxic risk related to simultaneous exposure to radionuclides and cytostatics
Authors: Brumen Vlatka , Horvat Durda , Tročić Ivančica 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe aim of the study was to evaluate the genotoxic risk to medical personnel concurrently exposed to ionizing radiation and antineoplastics, using changes in their lymphocyte cell genome as a bioindicator. The study comprised 12 female nurses employed in the nuclear medicine hospital department and an equal number of matched controls. For each examinee, both conventional structural chromosomal aberration analysis and sister chromatid exchange test (SCE) were carried out. According to Student's t‐test, neither the incidence of structural chromosomal aberrations (p>0.6) nor the mean SCE‐frequency rate (p>0.3) were significantly increased among the exposed subjects. Nevertheless, in those exposed, irreparable chromosomal damages and wide SCE‐ranges were observed. Such findings suggest the possibility of genotoxic implications of concurrent occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and antineoplastic drugs.
Decreases of CD4‐ and CD8‐positive T lymphocytes in retired chromate workers
Authors: Tanigawa Takeshi , Araki Shunichi , Araki Takaharu , Minato Nagahiro , Yokoyama Kazuhito 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo investigate the effects of chromates on the human immune system, we measured total T lymphocytes and their two major subpopulations (CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes) in the peripheral blood of 19 retired male workers who had been exposed to chromate at a chemical plant. The results indicated that both CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes were significantly decreased, resulting in decreases in total T lymphocytes and total lymphocytes.
Lead‐induced nephropathy: Relationship between various biological exposure indices and early markers of nephrotoxicity
Authors: Chia K. S. , Jeyaratnam J. , Lee James , Tan Cynthia , Ong H. Y. , Ong C. N. , Lee Evan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractLead nephropathy in adults is silent and insidious, characterized by the absence of proteinuria in its early phase. Of the early markers of nephrotoxicity, urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) appears to be the only one that is elevated in early lead nephropathy. However, the elevation in urinary NAG activity may be a response to a sharp increase in renal burden of lead. Its usefulness as a marker of chronic lead nephropathy is thus in doubt. There is a need, then, to identify a reliable early biological indicator of lead‐induced kidney damage. Furthermore, there is also a need to identify suitable markers of chronic exposure to describe meaningful dose‐response and dose‐effect relationships. Traditionally, blood lead (PbB) was used, but the current blood lead level (PbBrec) is more an indicator of recent exposure. Time‐integrated blood lead indices (PbBint) derived from repeated serial PbB measurements can be used as indices of chronic exposure. In 128 lead‐exposed workers, the PbBint was the most important exposure variable in describing the variability in urinary α1‐microglobulin (Uα1m), urinary β2‐microglobulin (Uβ2m), and urinary retinol binding protein (URBP). Uα1m was the only marker that was significantly higher in the exposed group, with a good dose‐response and dose‐effect relationship with PbBint. The lack of dose‐response and dose‐effect relationships in other studies may be due to inappropriate exposure markers as well as less sensitive response markers. PbBint has a better correlation than PbBrec. Furthermore, Uα1m may be the most sensitive of the markers because of its higher molecular weight.
Effect of lead on blood pressure in occupationally nonexposed men
Authors: Wolf C. , Wallnofer A. , Waldhor T. , Vutuc C. , Meisinger V. , Rudiger H. W. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo determine if low‐level exposure to lead has an effect on arterial blood pressure, demographic and clinical data of a group of 507 males without any occupational exposure to lead were analyzed in a retrospective study. The following variables were included in the analysis: age, height, weight, nicotine consumption, alcohol intake, blood lead, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and erythrocyte count. The effects of the variables age, weight, height, alcohol intake, nicotine consumption, and blood lead on blood pressure were investigated by stepwise linear regression analysis. The diastolic as well as the systolic blood pressure was significantly influenced by Body Mass Index, age, and alcohol. A significant effect of lead could be found only for diastolic blood pressure. None of the possible interactions were significant enough to merit inclusion in the statistical model. Regarding the strength of the effects on diastolic blood pressure we find that lead ranks after age, weight. In conclusion, this study shows that lead has an effect on diastolic arterial blood pressure in a survey of a group of middle‐aged, occupationally nonexposed men.