bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of disability in illnesses related to agricultural use of organophosphates (OPS) in California
Authors: Weinbaum Zipora , Schenker Marc B. , O'Malley Michael A. , Gold Ellen B. , Samuels Steven J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOrganophosphate (OP)‐related illness data reported to the Worker Health and Safety Branch (WH&S) at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA, now Cal‐EPA) in the years 1984–1988 were examined. Eight hundred and seventy‐eight cases with systemic illness and 199 cases of skin disease or eye injury were identified. Systemic cases were divided into two outcome groups: (1) “severe,” disability and/or hospitalization days (n = 361), and (2) “mild,” no disability or hospitalization days (n = 372). For the remainder (n = 145) or 16.5% of the cases, illness severity could not be determined. Using multiple logistic regression, independent predictors of “severe” illness were identified among the systemic cases. Workers coming in contact with OP residue on commodities or in the field (“exposed to residue” or ER) (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 3.03–7.07) and mixer/loaders/applicators (MLA) (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2.72–6.07) were at significantly increased risk of severe illness when compared with cases exposed to OP application drift. Cases with a Spanish surname were also at increased risk of severe illness (OR = 1.8,95% CI = 1.25–2.73). Increased numbers of OPs per exposure were also associated with severe illness (p < 0.001).Among cases who were exposed to only one OP, severe systemic cases were more likely than mild systemic cases to be associated with exposure to diethyl than dimethyl compounds (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.09–2.38). Severe systemic cases were also more likely than severe skin/eye cases to be associated with exposure to OPs with high toxicity (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 2.42–12.60) and with exposure to diethyl groups (OR = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.90–12.00). These findings suggest that reducing exposure to OP residues, to OPs with diethyl groups, and to multiple OPs, and exposure during mixer/loader/ applicator activities would reduce the risk of OP‐related illness.
Prospective evaluation of associations between hearing sensitivity and selected cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Fuortes Laurence J. , Tang Shenghui , Pomrehn Paul , Anderson Charlie 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe prospective decline of hearing sensitivity was evaluated in an occupational cohort of university blue collar workers in relation to age, gender, occupational and nonoccu‐pational noise exposure, smoking, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Each of these were associated with loss of hearing sensitivity univariately. When controlling for age and historical noise exposure in a multiple regression model, systolic blood pressure and cholesterol level were independently associated with decline in auditory sensitivity.
Noise‐induced hearing loss, nationality, and blood pressure
Authors: Sokas Rosemary K. , Moussa Mohamed A. A. , Gomes James , Anderson J. A. D. , Achuthan K. K. , Thain A. B. , Risheh Zuhair Abu 
Published: April 2007

AbstractNoise exposure has been associated with increased catecholamine production and blood pressure elevation in laboratory studies and in human volunteers. Epidemiologic studies have given conflicting results. In order to determine whether noise‐induced hearing loss predicts a rise in blood pressure, we reviewed occupational medicine records in an occupational health center serving three companies where noise exposure is commonly found. Height, weight, blood pressure, and screening audiometry are obtained as par of routine occupational health screening, and the results of the screening visit are abstracted from written clinical records. The results of pure tone screening audiometry are reported in nonstandardized fashion (Normal, WNL, NAD, for example, for normal). We reviewed records from 1990 and 1991 inclusive. One investigator, blind to blood pressure status, assigned each record to “no hearing loss,” “not codable,” or “hearing loss assumed to be due to noise” on the basis of the written audiometry report. Hearing loss due to causes other than noise was considered not codable. No attempt was made to quantify severity of hearing loss. Two hundred and sixteen charts were excluded as “not codable,” 1,535 were classified as having no hearing loss, and 610 had some degree of hearing loss, most probably due to noise exposure. To adjust for confounding covariates, multiple regression analysis was used and indicated that hearing status improves the regression model for predicting diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.04), following age, nationality, body mass index (BMI), and month of testing, although the effect is small. Stratification by age and BMI revealed increased diastolic pressure in the group with hearing loss under age 45, regardless of obesity. Only age and BMI significantly improved the regression model for systolic blood pressure for the group as a whole. However, when large national groupings were evaluated independently, noise‐induced hearing loss was associated with higher systolic and diastolic readings among Asians (n = 539) and Sub‐Saharan Africans (n = 75), with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.18 to 0.32. Noise‐induced hearing loss failed to improve the blood pressure regression model for Europeans/North Americans (n = 150), Arabs (n = 1020), or North Africans (n = 352). In this study, hearing loss attributed to industrial noise exposure appears to be associated with elevated resting blood pressure only within certain ethnic groups.
A pilot study of take‐home lead exposure in new jersey
Authors: Czachur Michelle , Stanbury Martha , Gerwel Barbara , Gochfeld Michael , Rhoads George G. , Wartenberg Daniel 
Published: April 2007

AbstractStudies in various industries have found an association between worker exposure to lead and elevated blood lead levels in workers' children, but the magnitude of this problem is unknown. In an effort to characterize this problem further, a pilot study was undertaken to obtain blood lead levels of children of lead‐exposed workers with elevated blood lead levels who had been reported by laboratories to the New Jersey Department of Health. Fifteen workers' families participated in this study, including 28 children. Thirty‐two percent of the children were found to have blood lead levels ≧ 10 μg/dl, the level of concern set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for medical monitoring. This finding is in contrast to population‐based data collected from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, where the overall prevalence of blood lead levels ≧ 10 μg/dl was only 4.5%.
Cancer risk due to occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Nadon Louise , Siemiatycki Jack , Dewar Ron , Krewski Daniel , Gérin Michel 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) demonstrate carcinogenic activity in animal models. Although some epidemiologic studies have implicated PAHs as risk factors for human cancer, the evidence reported to date has not been consistent. The purpose of this report is to describe the associations between occupational exposure to PAHs in the workplace and each of 14 types of cancer. A population‐based, case‐control study was carried out in Montreal to investigate associations between a large variety of environmental and occupational exposures on the one hand, and several types of cancer on the other. A detailed job history was obtained from each subject along with information on a number of potential confounders. Each job history was reviewed by a team of experts, who used this information to construct a corresponding history of occupational exposures. Among the PAH exposures considered were benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and five categories of PAHs defined on the basis of the source material, namely, wood, petroleum, coal, other sources, and any source. Altogether, 3,730 cancer patients and 533 population controls were interviewed and their job exposure histories coded. For each of 14 types of cancer analyzed, three control groups were available: other cancer patients, population controls, and the pooled set of cancer and population controls. The associations between 14 cancer types and 6 PAH exposures were analyzed using logistic regression methods. For most types of cancer evaluated, there was no evidence of excess risk due to PAHs at the levels encountered in the occupations in which PAH exposure has been prevalent in the Montreal area. For a few cancer sites–the esophagus, the pancreas, and the prostate gland–there were suggestions of excess risk; these observations are noteworthy hypotheses for further investigation. For lung cancer, there appeared to be an increased risk due to PAHs among nonsmokers and light smokers, but not among heavy smokers.
Mortality patterns among women in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry
Authors: Beall Colleen , Delzell Elizabeth , Macaluso Maurizio 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis retrospective follow‐up study evaluated the mortality experience of 11,271 women employed in a large motor vehicle manufacturing company in 1973. Company computerized personnel records were used to identify subjects and to obtain their employment histories. Follow‐up through December 31, 1985, was conducted using company, state, and national data sources. The mortality rates of the cohort were compared with the rates of the U.S. general population of white or black women, adjusting for age and calendar time and using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) as the measure of association. The overall mortality rate of the cohort was lower than the U.S. rate by 15% among whites (SMR = 85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 78–93) and by 40% among blacks (SMR = 59, CI = 49–70). Among whites, the low mortality rate was due primarily to deficits of noncancer deaths, although a 32% deficit also was observed for breast cancer (SMR = 68, CI = 48–92). Black female workers had 40% fewer deaths than expected overall, and their all cancer SMR also was below expectation (SMR = 82, CI = 60–109). Despite evidence of a strong healthy worker effect among women in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry, the study found excesses of lung cancer among white women in assembly jobs (SMR = 158, CI = 107–226) and of pancreatic cancer among white assembly workers in upholstery and trim operations (SMR = 302, CI = 97–704).
Occupational respiratory cancer and exposure to asbestos: A case‐control study in a cohort of workers in the electricity and gas industry
Authors: Imbernon E. , Goldberg M. , Bonenfant S. , Chevalier A. , Guénel P. , Vatré R. , Dehaye J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractCancers of the pleura, lung, and larynx between 1978 and 1989 among active male workers of Electricité de France‐Gaz de France were studied in association with asbestos exposure using a case‐control design nested within the cohort of workers of the company. The cohort included about 1,400,000 person‐years, corresponding to a mean of 117,000 men per year. Exposure to asbestos and to some potential occupational confounders selected among agents from groups I, IIa, and IIb of the International Agency for Research on Cancer was assessed by a job‐exposure matrix specific to the company. During the observation period, 12 cases of pleural cancer, 310 cases of lung cancer, and 116 cases of larynx cancer were registered in the cancer register of the company social security department. Four controls per case, matched for year of birth, were randomly selected among the cohort. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios. A first analysis was conducted in order to assess the validity of the job‐exposure matrix by investigating already known relationships between asbestos exposure and asbestosis. For asbestosis, a strong exposure‐response relation was found with an odds ratio (OR) of 57.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 17.0–194.0] in the highest exposure group. There was an elevated risk of pleural cancer (OR, 4.8, CI, 1.2–19.8). For lung cancer, significant ORs of 2.0 (CI, 1.3–3.2) and 1.9 (CI, 1.2–3.0) were found among the two highest cumulative exposure groups; adjustement for confounders slightly decreased the ORs. Squamous cell neoplasm of the lung was associated with asbestos exposure. The association between larynx cancer and asbestos exposure showed a tendency towards a nonsignificant increase in ORs in the highest cumulative exposure categories; this tendency disappeared when adjusting for occupational confounders. This study showed that occupational exposure to asbestos could increase the risk of pleural and lung cancer in a sector in which exposure levels are not considered to be high compared with other industrial settings.
Occupational risk factors for lung cancer in tianjin, china
Authors: Wang Qing‐Sheng , Boffetta Paolo , Parkin D. Maxwell , Kogevinas Manolis 
Published: April 2007

AbstractInformation about occupation and industry of cancer patients is routinely recorded in the Cancer Registry of Tianjin, People's Republic of China. Occupational risk factors of lung cancer for the period of 1981‐1987 were assessed using other cancers as controls. For each occupation and industry, workers employed in it were considered exposed and were compared with all other workers. Elevated risks were found for a number of industries for both sexes, including, in particular, the textile, wood, metal, and construction industries. Results by occupation were similar to those by industry. Smoking scores were calculated for various occupations on the basis of a separate population survey in Tianjin. Smoking cannot explain the elevated odds ratios in males, while among females a strong correlation was observed between smoking scores and lung cancer odds ratios, suggesting a confounding effect.
Pancreatic cancer among workers processing synthetic resins
Authors: Selenskas Sandra , Teta M. Jane , Vitale Joseph N. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA nested case‐control study was conducted to investigate whether an excess of pancreatic cancer, identified in a cohort mortality study with follow‐up from 1946 through 1988. was associated with potential workplace exposures at a New Jersey plastics manufacturing and research and development facility. The study population included 28 male pancreatic cancer cases and 140 randomly selected controls, matched on year of birth and at risk (alive) at the time of the case death. Using plant work history records, department assignments for the two groups were compared according to duration and time since first assignment. Workers assigned to a work area that processed vinyl resins and polyethylene (PE) were shown to be at increased risk. Men assigned more than 16 years to this department had a significantly increased risk ratio of 7.15 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.28–40.1). No excess was seen with shorter duration assignments. Seven of the nine cases began working in this area in the 1940s. Average latency was 32 years, and all but three cases worked 20 years or more in this unit. Over the study period, significant exposure‐related process changes occurred, in addition to the use of numerous chemical additives. Although vinyl and PE processing operations could not be analyzed separately, the pancreatic cancer excess is more likely to be related to vinyl processing. Identification of a causative agent or combination of agents would require investigations with more detailed exposure information.
Update of the mortality experience of employees with occupational exposure to 1,2‐dibromo‐3‐chloropropane (DBCP)
Authors: Olsen Geary W. , Bodner Kenneth M. , Stafford Beth A. , Cartmill Janice B. , Gondek Michael R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDBCP (1,2‐dibromo‐3‐chloropropane), a nematocide, was used in the United States from the mid‐1950s until 1977. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted and eventually banned its use after the 1977 discovery of DBCP‐induced sterility in production workers. The present study is an update of the mortality (1957–1989) experience of a cohort of 548 male employees who had potential for exposure in the production and formulation of DBCP. While adjusting for age, calendar‐year, and pay status of all other Midland‐area Dow Chemical male employees, there were 68 total observed deaths in the cohort compared to 72.1 expected (Mantel Haenszel Relative Risk 0.9, 95% Confidence Interval 0.7–1.2) and 19 deaths from all malignancies compared to 19.0 expected (RR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6–1.6). Of the a priori anatomic cancer sites of interest, there were no deaths from stomach, liver, kidney, testes, or nasal cavity cancers. Altogether, there were 7 deaths from lung cancer compared to 6.6 expected (RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.5–2.3). Among the 81 employees with exposure categorized as direct for 1 or more years, there were 3 observed lung cancer deaths compared to 0.9 expected (RR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1–9.6). Smoking was a confounding factor in the interpretation of this observation. Although the present analysis nearly doubled the number of person‐years from the original study, the conclusions remain limited by the cohort's size and duration of follow‐up.
Prevalence and predictors of asthma in working groups in British Columbia
Authors: Siracusa Andrea , Kennedy Susan M. , Dybuncio Anne , Lin Fung J. , Marabini Alessandra , Chan‐Yeung Moira 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe evaluated the prevalence of asthma and its predictors in studies of several male working groups: 619 cedar sawmill, 724 grain elevator, 399 pulpmill, 798 aluminum smelter, and 1,127 unexposed workers. These workers had taken part in health studies for assessment of chronic respiratory effects of various workplace exposures between 1979 and 1982. The American Thoracic Society Adult Questionnaire (ATS‐DLD‐78) was used for these studies. Allergy skin tests were also performed. The participation rates were > 80%. The overall prevalance of physician‐diagnosed asthma was 4.6%, and current asthma 3%. The prevalence of asthma after employment in the current industry, as a surrogate for work‐related asthma, was 3.9 times higher in cedar sawmill workers, 2.2 times higher in pulpmill and aluminum smelter workers, and 1.7 times higher in grain elevator workers compared with unexposed workers. Atopy and a positive parental history of asthma, but not smoking, were important risk factors for asthma before the onset of first employment. Also, for asthma after employment in the current industry, atopy and a positive parental history of asthma were important risk factors. Smoking was associated with a significant reduction in the risk for asthma after employment in the current industry. Within specific work groups, the prevalence of atopy was significantly higher among pulpmill workers with asthma after employment in current industry than those without asthma. Conversely, cedar sawmill workers who had asthma after employment in the current industry were nonatopic and nonsmokers.
Three cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia with bullae seen in schoolteachers
Authors: Ohtsuka Yoshinori , Munakata Mitsuru , Homma Yukihiko , Masaki Yoshitaka , Ohe Masashi , Doi Isamu , Amishima Masaru , Kimura Kiyonobu , Ishikura Hiroshi , Yoshiki Takashi , Kawakami Yoshikazu 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe encountered three patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia with many bullae in the lower lung fields whose lifetime occupation was teaching school. Pathological examination of autopsy lungs of these patients revealed interstitial pneumonia and multiple bullae throughout the lungs, including the lower lobe. Since blackboard chalk has been used as a popular writing material among teachers in Japan, the mineral contents in the lungs of two of the three cases and four control cases with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) (whose occupations were not teaching) were analyzed. The amount of deposition of total dust, inorganic dust, non‐SiO2 inorganic dust, and calcium was significantly higher in the lungs of two schoolteachers compared with those of the control lungs. The amount of free silica in case 1 and alpha‐quartz in case 3 were also significantly higher than in the controls. Two thirds of the chalk produced in Japan is still made from gypsum and involves small amounts of silica and other minerals, in addition to calcium. These findings indicated the deposition of chalk in the lungs of these patients with interstitial pneumonia and multiple bullae.
Bronchiolitis obliterans in an animal feed worker
Authors: Spain Blake A. , Cummings Oscar , Garcia Joe G. N. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA nonsmoking animal feed worker developed severe irreversible airflow obstruction during a 2‐year occupational exposure to organic matter, microorganisms, proteolytic enzymes, and both amorphous and synthetic silicates. Her pulmonary dysfunction failed to improve despite removal from the workplace and treatment with bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Open lung biopsy demonstrated peribronchiolar inflammation, scarring within the small airways, and neolumen formation, findings consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans. Energy dispersive analysis of both the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as the biopsy specimens revealed the presence of silicate particles, suggesting a potential link between the silica exposure and the pathologic findings. This case suggests bronchiolitis obliterans can occur as a consequence of occupational exposure in the animal feed industry. In addition, this entity should henceforth be considered when evaluating symptomatic patients with exposure to amorphous and synthetic silicates.
Immunological reactions and respiratory function in wool textile workers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Kanceljak Bozica , Mustajbegovic Jadranka , Godnic‐Cvar Jasminka , Schachter E. Neil 
Published: April 2007

AbstractImmunological status and respiratory function were studied in a group of 64 wool textile workers (52 women and 12 men). A group of 46 workers not exposed to wool dust served as a control for the respiratory symptoms and immunologic testing. Skin testing was performed with different wool allergens (domestic and Australian) as well as with common allergens. Ventilatory capacity was measured in wool workers on Mondays before and after the work shift. The prevalence of positive skin tests to all allergens was higher in wool than in control workers, although the difference was statistically significant only for washed domestic wool (wool workers: 42.2%; control workers: 19.6%; p < 0.05). Increased serum IgE levels were more frequent in wool (26.6%) than in control workers (3.1%) (p<0.01). In wool textile workers there was a high prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms. Significant across‐shift reductions in ventilatory capacity tests, as well as abnormal baseline lung function, were recorded in wool textile workers. Individual data demonstrated that many of the wool workers had FEF25 lower than 70% of predicted. In general, the prevalence of symptoms and the lung function abnormalities did not correlate with the results of specific (wool) skin tests. Our data indicate that exposure to wool dust in some workers may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function. Immunologic abnormalities, although frequent in this group, do not appear to be associated with the severity of these changes.