bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dust exposure indices and lung function changes in Longshoremen and Dock workers
Authors: Heederik Dick , de Cock Johan , Endlich Ewoud 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA group of Dutch harbor workers involved in loading and unloading bulk products from sea vessels such as coal, cokes, and some other products like alumina, borax, phosphate ore, and vermiculite was studied. Exposures were characterized by personal and environmental monitoring. This information was subsequently used to estimate several dust exposure indices and to study relationships with lung function variables and respiratory symptoms.Average respirable dust exposure levels ranged from 0.3–4.0 mg/m3. Workers involved in unloading products from sea vessels were exposed to the highest dust levels. Supervisors and workers with tasks in the dock had an intermediate to low exposure. Office workers had the lowest exposure to respirable dust. Inhalable dust levels were considerably higher and average exposures ranged from 0.3–80 mg/m3. The ranking of occupational titles by inhalable dust exposure was almost identical to the rank order of respirable dust levels. Workers with higher current and cumulative dust exposures tended to have a lower lung function, and only shortness of breath had a statistically significant relationship with current and cumulative inhalable dust exposure. In general, relationships between lung function and inhalable dust levels tended to be somewhat stronger in terms of statistical significance, because inhalable dust is an estimate of dust deposition in the upper airways and lung function is a measurable parameter of airway obstruction in that region. However, the differences with respirable dust were minimal, and variability in dust exposure levels was extremely large for this population. It was concluded that harbor workers involved in unloading ships containing coal and various kinds of ore can be exposed to high dust levels. Relationships between dust exposure and lung function illustrate that these exposures are a respiratory hazard. Our finding that inhalable dust levels have a somewhat stronger relationship with lung function level than respirable dust levels deserves further attention.
Application of two secondary documentary sources to identify the underreporting of fatal occupational injuries in cape town, south africa
Authors: Lerer Leonard B. , Myers Jonathan E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe reviewed 8,502 deaths registered at the Salt River state mortuary, Cape Town (medical examiner records) for an 18‐month period (1/1/90–6/30/91). When fatal occupational injuries located from this data source were matched with the records of the occupational safety inspectorate of the Department of Manpower, it was found that 28% had not been reported in terms of statutory regulations. Unreported deaths accounted for 25% of all fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry. None of the fatal occupational injuries in agriculture and fishing had been reported. Falls constituted 45% of the unreported fatalities. High levels of unreported fatal occupational injury indicate deficiencies in current occupational safety surveillance and enforcement in South Africa.
Nature and incidence of self‐reported adolescent work injury in minnesota
Authors: Parker David L. , Carl William R. , French L. Ronald , Martin Frank B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMost studies of adolescent work‐related injury that have been published to date have been confined to administratively collected data available through state or national departments of labor and industry and/or occupational safety and health administrations. These data do not contain information on the severity or the sequelae of injuries. In addition, estimates of incidence may be biased due to inadequate data on the nature, amount, and seasonal variability of work done by adolescent workers.The present study is a cross‐sectional survey of work and work injuries of 3,051 10th through 12th grade students from 39 high schools throughout Minnesota. Injury was defined as an event which caused any of the following: loss of consciousness, seeking medical care, and/or restricting normal activities for at least 1 day.The average hours of work per week during the summer and during the school year were 30 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 27,33) and 16 (95% CI = 15, 17), respectively. There was no difference in hours worked between ethnic minorities and white students. The rate of reportable injuries was 12 per 100,000 hr worked (95% CI = 7, 18) for rural and 13 per 100,000 hr worked (95% CI = 7, 28) for urban females, 16 (95% CI = 9, 22) per 100,000 hr for urban males, and 20 (95% CI = 12, 28) per 100,000 hr for rural males. Ongoing medical problems were reported by 26% of the injured workers.Previous estimates of work‐related injury to adolescents may have been low. More study is required to clearly define the incidence of injury and risk factors for these injuries.
Mortality risk among elderly workers
Authors: Blanc Paul D. , Katz Patricia , Yelin Edward 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe analyzed population‐based data for respondents aged 70 and older from the Longitudinal Study on Aging. We compared mortality risk among 358 baseline‐year working with 4,373 nonworking respondents. Including other demographic and health status predictors in a multiple logistic regression model, employment remained a significant predictor of survival (mortality odds ratio (OR) = 0.4). Diabetes mellitus was the only factor that displayed a mortality risk that was significantly interactive with work (OR = 3.5). These data suggest that a healthy worker effect persists in older age groups, but that within the working stratum, patterns of risk may differ as compared to those among the nonworking.
Fibrous glass and cancer
Authors: Infante Peter F. , Schuman Loretta D. , Dement John , Huff James 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSome argue that fibrous glass (glass wool) should not be considered as a likely human carcinogen and hence should not be listed in the Seventh Annual Report on Carcinogens (ARC) prepared by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and mandated by the U.S. Congress. In examining this issue, data from both laboratory experiments (animal studies) and epidemiologic studies (human data) are reviewed with the results evaluated according to the criteria established by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and adopted in slightly modified form by the NTP for classifying substances as human carcinogens or likely human carcinogens. From our comprehensive review of the available information, we conclude that fibrous glass materials are carcinogenic, and in view of the NTP and IARC definitions should be listed in the ARC. Our review then examines the carcinogenic potency of glass fibers to humans in comparison with asbestos fibers and concludes that on a fiber‐per‐fiber basis, glass fibers may be as potent or even more potent than asbestos. The implications of these findings are then presented for regulatory purposes in the occupational setting.
Symptoms, lung function, and diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rate among female solderers in the electronics industry
Authors: Lee H. S. , Koh D. , Chia H. P. , Phoon W. H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe purpose was to determine if solderers had increased diurnal variation (DV) in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and chronic impairment of lung function. A cross‐sectional study of 150 female operators doing manual soldering using flux‐cored (rosin‐based) solder wire and 52 administrative staff from two electronics factories was carried out. They answered a questionnaire, had their forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measured and their 3‐hourly PEFR monitored for 5 working days. The DV in PEFR was the difference in the daily maximum and minimum PEFR expressed as a percentage of the maximum. Six solderers with smoking history were excluded from the analysis. Solderers had a significantly higher prevalence of work‐related eye (14.6%) and nose (10.4%) irritation. The prevalence of cough, breathless‐ness, and wheezing was low. There was no overt case of occupational asthma. The DV in PEFR of 6.0% was not increased. The analysis of FEV1 and FVC was restricted to Chinese only (101 solderers and 51 controls): these were not significantly different. Solderers with 5 or more years of exposure had a significantly lower FEV1/FVC (%) of 88.4% after adjustment for age. In conclusion, solderers with 5 or more years of exposure may have a mild obstructive effect apart from smoking, asthma, or age.
Estimation of historical exposures to machining fluids in the automotive industry
Authors: Hallock M. F. , Smith T. J. , Woskie S. R. , Hammond S. K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA retrospective exposure assessment study in the automotive parts industry conducted in conjunction with a cancer mortality and respiratory morbidity study [Kennedy et al. (1989): Am J Ind Med 15:627–641; Eisen et al. (1992): Am J Ind Med 22:809–824; Tolbert et al. (1992): Scand J Work Environ Health 18:351–360] describes exposure to different types of machining fluids and selected components that may contribute to the conditions investigated. A dataset of 394 industrial hygiene measurements made between 1958 and 1987 was used to estimate past machining fluid levels using a linear statistical model. The effects of different plants, machining fluid types, machining operations, and time periods were examined in the model. Separate analyses examined the effects of different sampling and analysis methods and other measurement variables. Machining fluid levels prior to 1970 were generally two to five times higher than subsequent measurements. The arithmetic mean exposure of all measurements taken before 1970 was 5.42 mg/m3. Arithmetic means for different subgroups ranged from 0.59 to 20.28 mg/m3, depending upon plant, machining fluid, and operation. The arithmetic mean exposure after 1980 was 1.82 mg/m3 with subgroups ranging from 0.45 to 2.79 mg/m3. Changes in exposure levels generally corresponded with reported changes in plant environments such as installation of enclosures and local exhaust ventilation on machines.
Occupational exposure to lead, kidney function tests, and blood pressure
Authors: Santos Antonio Cardozo Dos , Colacciopo Sergio , Bó Creuza M. R. Dal , Santos Neife Aparecida Guinaim Dos 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn the present study we examined sensitive biochemical markers of kidney function and damage in 166 workers exposed to lead and in 60 control workers. The objective was to investigate the chronic renal toxicity of lead and its possible correlation with arterial pressure.Diastolic arterial pressure was higher in the exposed group (p < 0.05), but the two groups did not differ in systolic pressure. Median activity of urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase was higher in the exposed group (p < 0.001), and correlated with blood lead levels (p < 0.001) and duration of exposure (p < 0.001), but not with arterial pressure. The other indicators studied, γ‐glutamyl‐transpeptidase and alanine‐ami‐nopeptidase activity, urine albumin, and total urine protein, were not higher than in the control group and were not correlated with blood lead, duration of exposure, or arterial pressure.
Asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in relation to occupational history
Authors: Karjalainen A. , Anttila S. , Mäntylä T. , Taskinen E. , Kyyrönen P. , Tukiainen P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractConcentrations of asbestos bodies (AB) were assessed by optical microscopy of 10 ml iron‐stained samples and compared with the exposure history acquired by personal interview for 156 patients. Concentrations equalling or exceeding 1 AB/ml were found in 85% of patients who had been heavily exposed to asbestos and only 7% of those who were unlikely to have been exposed. Elevated AB concentrations were observed among primary asbestos, shipyard and construction workers. Smoking was not found to affect the AB concentrations. The use of Papanicolaou‐stained cytological Millipore preparations during routine screening was a less sensitive method for the assessment of AB concentrations than that involving iron‐stained preparations. The expression of AB concentration as AB/ml or AB/million cells were found to be equally useful indicators of exposure. The correlation between AB concentration and exposure history was greater than in earlier studies on workers exposed to chrysotile. Concentrations exceeding 1 AB/ml were indicative of a nontrivial exposure to asbestos. Despite the observed correlation between AB concentration and exposure history, the individual variability of AB counts, methodological differences and laboratory‐bound reference values are important in the interpretation of AB concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid at individual level.
Airway hyper‐responsiveness and the prevalence of work‐related symptoms in workers exposed to irritants
Authors: Kremer Anja M. , Pal Teake M. , Boleij Jan S. M. , Schouten Jan P. , Rijcken Bert 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe association between exposure to airway irritants and the presence of work‐related symptoms and whether this association was modified by airway hyper‐responsiveness, smoking, and allergy by history was studied in 668 workers of synthetic fiber plants. A Dutch version of the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) questionnaire with additional questions on allergy and work‐related symptoms was used to assess symptoms, and a standardized histamine challenge test of airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) was employed. Work‐related symptoms were defined as having more than usual eye and respiratory symptoms during work. On the basis of job titles and working department, the exposure status of all workers was characterized into seven groups: (1) reference group; (2) white collars; (3) SO2, HC1, SO4 2‐; (4) polyester vapor; (5) oil mist and oil vapor; (6) polyamide and polyester vapor; and (7) multiple exposure. The association between exposure groups and work‐related symptom prevalence was estimated by means of multiple logistic regression.The overall prevalence of the work‐related symptoms were: cough 9%; phlegm 6%; dyspnea 7%; wheeze 2%; eye symptoms 16%; nasal symptoms 15%. Exposure to airway irritants was significantly associated with work‐related symptoms, independent of AHR, smoking, allergy by history, and chronic respiratory symptoms. The association of exposure group with work‐related symptoms was stronger for subjects with AHR than for subjects with no AHR. The association with dyspnea and/or wheeze was also stronger for smokers than for nonsmokers and ex‐smokers. In contrast, the association between exposure and a higher prevalence of work‐related symptoms was stronger in subjects with no history of allergy than in subjects with history of allergy. This is most likely due to the relatively high prevalence of background symptoms in (nonexposed) allergic subjects. It is concluded that exposure to irritants in the working environment might lead to respiratory symptoms, even if exposure levels are relatively low.
Occupational lead poisoning: Can it be eliminated?
Authors: Kaufman Joel D. , Burt Jim , Silverstein Barbara 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe continued occurrence of occupational lead poisoning and overexposure in the United States represents a serious challenge to the occupational health community. We outline a proposed action strategy which integrates case‐based surveillance, hazard surveillance, increased requirements for biological monitoring, and targeted educational activities, with a goal of eliminating occupational lead poisoning. The system provides a simple mechanism for monitoring compliance in lead‐using employers, in order to identify employers for enforcement action. Lead poisoning should be viewed as an eradicable condition; successfully solving the persistent lead overexposure problem can serve as a model for approaching other occupational diseases.
Occupational lead poisoning: Who should conduct surveillance and training?
Authors: Keogh James P. , Gordon Janie 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis commentary challenges the current employer‐controlled model for delivering occupational health services. Problems emanating from traditional employer‐based medical surveillance and worker education programs for occupational lead poisoning are identified. A new public health model for delivering these services is proposed. This model utilizes a case‐based and hazard‐based method for bringing workplaces and employers into the program and features direct delivery of surveillance and training services by public health agencies.
Cancer risk in asphalt workers and roofers: Review and meta‐analysis of epidemiologic studies
Authors: Partanen Timo , Boffetta Paolo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwenty epidemiologic studies have described cancer risk in asphalt workers and roofers in various countries. A current concern for these workers is the potential carcinogenicity posed by inhalation of bitumen fumes or dermal exposure to bitumens. Bitumens are chemically different from many carcinogenic coal‐tar based materials. Both have been employed in road paving and waterproofing. We examined and combined the results of the epidemiologic studies conducted on asphalt workers and roofers. We examined the cancer risk separately in three broad job categories: 1) roofers (exposed to bitumen fumes and previously often to coal‐tar fumes); 2) highway maintenance workers (HMWs) and road pavers (exposed to bitumen fumes as well as possibly coal‐tar fumes previously); and 3) miscellaneous and unspecified bitumen/asphalt workers. In roofers, an increased risk was suggested for cancers of the lung (aggregated relative risk 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.5–2.1), stomach (1.7, 1.1–2.5), nonmelanoma skin (4.0, 0.8–12), and leukemia (1.7, 0.9–2.9). Some of the excesses may be attributable to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from coal‐tar products. The aggregated relative risks in road pavers and HMWs were consistently lower than in roofers for cancers of the lung (0.9, 0.8–1.0), stomach (1.1, 0.8–1.5), bladder (1.2, 0.7–1.8), skin (2.2, 1.2–3.7), and leukemias (1.3, 0.9–1.8). Their risk of skin cancer was significantly increased, based on one study. Miscellaneous and unspecified workers had a significant excess (1.5, 1.2–1.8) of lung cancer. The data were poorly focused to address the carcinogenicity of bitumen fumes, as contrasted with tar‐derived exposures. For the prospect of shedding more light on the bitumen‐cancer controversy, the feasibility of a powerful multicenter cohort is currently being studied by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Asthma, lung function, and bronchial responsiveness in welders
Authors: Wang Zhi Ping , Larsson Kjell , Malmberg Per , Sjögren Bengt , Hallberg Bengt‐Olov , Wrangskog Kent 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe incidence of asthma was compared in welders welding in stainless steel (SS) or mild steel (MS). The study was comprised of welders who had been welding for at least 6 months during the preceding 10 year period in four companies, but who had not been welding occupationally prior to this time. The inclusion criteria were met by 42 SS welders with a total welding time of 196 years. Sixteen of these had left work, six because of airway symptoms. Eighty‐five MS welders with a total welding time of 403 years were included. Forty‐eight of these had left work, 10 citing airway symptoms as a main reason for leaving work, according to responses in a mailed questionnaire. Ex‐welders with airway symptoms were in some cases further investigated with spirometry and bronchial provocation tests. In other cases, medical records gave a clear diagnosis.In addition, bronchial responsiveness and lung function were measured and airway symptoms were recorded in presently active welders. Twenty‐three of the 26 active SS steel welders and 23 of the 37 active MS steel welders were examined, together with a reference group of 26 (out of 30 invited) vehicle assemblers.There was no difference in the incidence of welding‐associated asthma (5% for SS, 7% for MS welders per 1,000 welding‐years). Bronchial responsiveness and lung function in active welders was normal and did not differ between MS and SS welders or between welders and a reference group of vehicle fitters. Welders had a significantly higher prevalence of airway symptoms as compared to vehicle fitters.
Asbestos‐induced lung injury among danish jewelry workers
Authors: Døssing Martin , Langer Seppo W. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAsbestos has been used extensively in a variety of occupations. In the jewelry industry, inadequate hygiene practices may often go unrecognized with resultant exposure to hazardous amounts of asbestos. We report on four retired jewelers. Two of these had both pleural and parenchymal changes. One had isolated pleural plaques and the final patient showed only parenchymal infiltrates. Their work involved hand cutting asbestos plates used for protection during soldering. In the soldering process asbestos fibers were then blown into the workroom air as the plates broke down. In addition, at the end of each work day the workroom floor was swept, with subsequent airborne asbestos dust distribution. Any patient with pleural plaques or interstitial lung disease should be questioned about potential sources of asbestos exposure in the past, regardless of present employment status.
Respiratory symptoms and lung function in bus drivers and mechanics
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Mustajbegovic Jadranka , Schachter E. Neil 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAcute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilatory capacity were studied in 116 bus drivers and 119 mechanics. Bus drivers and mechanics demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of most chronic respiratory symptoms when compared to control workers. In particular, lower airway symptoms of chest tightness and dyspnea and upper airway symptoms of nasal catarrh were significantly more prevalent among drivers and mechanics than among controls. Bus drivers and mechanics who were smokers had significantly higher prevalences of respiratory symptoms than nonsmoking bus drivers. Bus drivers and mechanics employed for more than 10 years also exhibited higher frequencies of respiratory symptoms than those exposed for 10 years or less. Many of the workers complained of acute symptoms during the work shift. The ventilatory capacity data demonstrated lower values for all parameters, particularly FEF25, compared to control worker values as well as to predicted normal values, for bus drivers and mechanics who were smokers.Our data indicate that long‐term employment in the transport industry of bus drivers and mechanics, particularly in combination with smoking, may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment.