bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immunological evaluation of four arc welders exposed to fumes from ignited polyurethane (isocyanate) foam: Antibodies and immune profiles
Authors: Broughton Alan , Thrasher Jack D. , Gard Zane 
Published: April 2007

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

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

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

AbstractThe mortality experience of agricultural extension agents in the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture who died during the period January 1, 1970‐December 31, 1979 (n = 1,495 white males) was evaluated in proportionate‐mortality and case‐control studies. The proportionate‐mortality analysis was used to identify cancers that might be elevated in this occupational group compared with the U.S. white male population. All cancers with a significantly elevated proportionate‐mortality ratio were more thoroughly evaluated in the case‐control study, where there is presumably less of a selection bias in the comparison.In the case‐control study, leukemia demonstrated a statistically significant linear trend with duration of employment as an extension agent. Smaller, but nonsignificant, trends were seen for non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and brain cancer. The odds ratio for Hodgkin's disease and cancers of the colon, prostate, and kidney did not vary with the number of years on the job. These patterns resemble cancer risks seen among farmers, suggesting that agricultural factors may also play a role in the origin of these tumors among extension agents.
Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Furriers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Skuric Zdenka , Kanceljak Bozica , Pokrajac Duska , Schachter E. Neil , Witek Theodore J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractForty women who had been occupationally exposed in the fur coat manufacturing industry were studied. The mean age was 30 years; mean duration of exposure was 14 years. A group of 31 females who did not work in the furrier industry also was included in the study as the control group. A higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was found among furriers when compared with controls; these differences were statistically significant for nasal catarrh (p<0.05) and sinusitis (p<0.01). Among the furriers, the highest prevalence of respiratory symptoms was recorded for chronic cough in 20 workers (50.0%), followed by sinusitis in 12 (30.0%), dyspnea in 10 (25.0%), and nasal catarrh in 8 workers (20.0%). Among the furriers, two (5.0%) had symptoms characteristic of occupational asthma. Most of the symptomatic furriers complained of acute symptoms during their work shifts.Statistically significant mean reductions in lung function over the work shift were recorded in furriers for forced vital capacity (FVC), ‐4.1%; one‐second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), ‐5.2%; and flow rate at 50% vital capacity (FEF50%), ‐6.3%. Furriers demonstrated significantly lower mean Monday preshift measurements for FVC and flow rate at 25% (FEF25%) (p<0.05) when compared with those predicted. Preshift administration (by spinhaler) of 40 mg disodium cromoglycate in three workers reduced the intensity of acute respiratory symptoms and diminished the reductions in ventilatory capacity over the work shift. Data from six additional male workers demonstrated similar findings for symptoms and lung function.Our data suggest that furriers are at risk of developing both acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilatory capacity impairment as a result of occupational exposure.
Acute nickel toxicity in electroplating workers who accidently ingested a solution of nickel sulfate and nickel chloride
Authors: Sunderman F. William , Dingle Brian , Hopfer Sidney M. , Swift Thomas 
Published: April 2007

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

AbstractThe standardized proportionate mortality ratio (PMRi) and the mortality odds ratio (MORi) are two statistics used to approximate the cause specific standardized mortality ratio (SMRi) when death data are available but the population at risk is not known. When there is a healthy worker effect, the MORi will always overestimate the SMRi and will always be greater than the PMRi. The PMRi is influenced by the relative frequency of the cause of death. For rare causes, such as brain cancer or leukemia, the PMRi will overestimate the SMRi to essentially the same degree as the MORi. For more common conditions, such as lung cancer, the PMRi will overestimate or underestimate the SMRi depending on the magnitude of the healthy worker effect.When the SMRi = 1 and there is a healthy worker effect, both the PMRi and MORi are in excess of one (1) regardless of the disease rate. As the SMRi increases it is more likely to be bounded by the PMRi (lower) and the MORi (upper). We therefore recommend that each statistic be derived when death certificates are the only source of data used to assess risk due to occupational exposures.
Diesel exhaust exposure and mortality among males in the American cancer society prospective study
Authors: Boffetta Paolo , Stellman Steven D. , Garfinkel Lawrence 
Published: April 2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AbstractHealth effects have been documented among American vermiculite workers who mined and processed vermiculite contaminated with amphibole asbestos, viz., tremolite‐actinolite. Workers mining and processing South African vermiculite (N = 172), which contains very little asbestos, underwent x‐ray examination and lung function testing and completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. The vermiculite workers were compared with other workers involved in the mining or refining of copper. Only two of the vermiculite workers showed evidence of small opacities of 1/0 or more (according to the ILO 1980 classification); lung function was comparable with the other groups of workers, and there was no excess of respiratory symptoms among the vermiculite workers. It is concluded that workers exposed to vermiculite that is minimally contaminated with asbestos are probably not at risk for pneumoconiosis, lung function impairment, or respiratory symptoms. It is likely that the health effects observed in other studies of vermiculite workers are the result of concomitant asbestos exposure. A risk of mesothelioma caused by the fiber content of the vermiculite cannot be excluded by this study.