bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current methods of estimating severity for occupational injuries and illnesses: Data from the 1986 Michigan comprehensive compensable injury and illness database
Authors: Oleinick Arthur , Guire Kenneth E. , Hawthorne Victor M. , Schork M. Anthony , Gluck Jeremy V. , Lee Byoungho , La Samuel 
Published: April 2007

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

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

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

AbstractThe mortality pattern and the cancer incidence were investigated among 717 men who had been employed for at least 3 months during 1964–1974 in three Swedish PVC‐processing plants. The mortality was followed 1964–1986 and the cancer incidence 1964–1984. Expected figures were calculated from Swedish national rates.Among Swedish citizens, the observed mortality and cancer incidence was close to the expected in most diagnoses. Among immigrants, mostly from Finland, there was a marked excess of circulatory deaths. This finding was probably due to the higher incidence of coronary mortality in Finland compared to Sweden.In the whole cohort, five cases of malignant melanoma had occurred as compared to 1.5 expected (SMR = 3.4, 95% confidence limit 1.1–7.9). This may be due to chance but merits further investigation since an increased incidence of malignant melanoma has previously been found among Norwegian PVC‐manufacturing workers. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Socioeconomic and health status of electronics workers employed in organized industry
Authors: Mathur Neeraj , Gupta Brahma N. , Rastogi Subodh K. , Mahendra Prakash N. , Pangtey Balram S. , Husain Tanveer , Bharti Ram S. 
Published: April 2007

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

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

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

AbstractReanalysis of Hanford data by a method, which is new only in the sense that it makes new uses of standard epidemiological procedures, has produced evidence of a cancer risk at low dose levels. By a conservative estimate, about three per cent of the pre‐1987 cancer deaths of Hanford workers had occupational exposures to external radiation as the critical (induction) event. These radiogenic cancers were evenly distributed between five diagnostic groups, but as a result of there being much greater sensitivity to “cancer induction by radiation” after, rather than before, 50 years of age, they were concentrated among the cancers which proved fatal after 70 years of age. The reanalysis provides no support for the idea that radiation is more likely to cause leukemia than solid tumors, or the idea that there is reduced cancer effectiveness of radiation at low dose levels (dose rate effectiveness factor or DREF hypothesis), but the estimated proportion of radiogenic cancers was much higher for the 175 nonfatal cancers (which had other certified causes of death) than for the 1,732 fatal cases.Finally, according to the latest publication of the US Committee on Biological Effects of lonizing Radiation (BEIR V), dose rate is more important than exposure age, and even a single exposure to 10 rem would only increase the normal cancer risk by four percent. Nevertheless, for all recorded exposures of Hanford workers, the estimated doubling dose was close to 26 rem; for exposures after 58 years, it was close to 5 rem, and for exposures after 62 years, it was less than 1 rem. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hospitalized occupational finger amputations, New Jersey, 1985 and 1986
Authors: Sorock Gary S. , Smith Elaine , Hall Nancy 
Published: April 2007

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

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

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

AbstractThis paper is directed at the exploration and development of the Social Security data, in the ascertainment and evaluation of industrial health effects.The focus of the study is on disability data, as a national uniform means to identify illnesses and disease that occurred prior to death, that were not recorded on the death certificates. A cohort of employees of an industrial company was processed through the Social Security System to simultaneously identify the disability and death claims that were filed.The total number of white males that filed disability claims was 1,333 and for white females 278. The total number of claims filed for the white males was 1,734 and for white females 382. Comparisons were made of all causes of disability with all causes of death for white males and white females. A remarkably high percentage of causes of disability were not recorded or available by death certificate for ICD categories of diseases and specific cancer sites.The study also demonstrated that disability data contribute significantly to the confirmation of the diagnosis for the cancer sites. The development of the methodology linking Social Security data on disability, medical care, and mortality with industrial medical and environmental exposure data in epidemiological studies is discussed. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Threshold limit values, permissible exposure limits, and feasibility: The bases for exposure limits in the United States
Authors: Rappaport S. M. 
Published: April 2007

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

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

AbstractThe increasing prevalences of the human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B viruses have focused attention on the risks that health care workers face when exposed to potentially infective body fluids. This study establishes a profile of 320 parenteral exposure incidents and 47 exposure incidents to mucous membranes or abraded skin, reported in our medical center between July 1988 and July 1990.We found that 102 (27.8%) of the incidents involved an HIV‐positive patient, that 130 (35.4%) of the reporting employees had completed their hepatitis B vaccination at the time of the incident, and that, although the majority of incidents involved employees with patient contact, unfortunately, service workers also were represented (4.6%, n + 17). Factors contributing to incidents included recapping (10.9%, n + 40), full needleboxes (7.6%, n + 28), and inappropriate disposal (13.1%, n + 48).A health fair featuring walk‐in hepatitis B immunization attracted 260 participants, 90% of whom completed the entire immunization series. This significantly improved the immunization rate of employees subsequently reporting body fluid exposure. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.