bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A bayesian approach for predicting judged hearing disability
Authors: Phaneuf Richard , Hétu Raymond , Hanley James A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA method of determining the cutoff point for an administrative decision to award compensation is proposed. To construct the predictive system a Bayesian approach and discriminant analysis were employed. Judged hearing disability was used as the criterion with audiometric scores as the determining variables. The common law doctrine of the balance of probability was used as the criterion, namely the 50th centile, on which to propose a cutoff point. The highest precision in predicting judged hearing disability was obtained with an average audiometric score at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 Hz in the worse ear. Assuming that judged hearing disability is a valid predictor of handicap, the cutoff point based on the balance of probability (50th centile) was obtained at 25 dB. The study also confirmed results from previous studies: (1) hearing sensitivity in frequencies higher than 2,000 Hz is required to predict hearing disability and handicap, (2) judged hearing disability is better correlated with hearing sensitivity in the worst ear, and (3) the audiometric cutoff point for a medical legal definition of impairment should be lower than what certain technical groups have proposed in the past.
Malignancies due to occupational exposure to benzene
Authors: Aksoy Muzaffer 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThere is no doubt about the leukemogenic effect of benzene in man. The evidence is as follows: (1) The incidence of leukemia in shoeworkers exposed to benzene in a period of 8 years in Istanbul was 13.6/100,000, which is significantly higher than that for leukemia in the general population. (2) Following the phase‐out of benzene in Istanbul, the number of leukemic workers decreased and none were reported in the subsequent 3 years. (3) The development of leukemia in pancytopenic patients with benzene exposure was observed in 13 out of 51 patients. (4) The differences in the distribution of the types of leukemia in individuals exposed and in nonexposed groups were as follows: acute leukemia 96.1% in the former group, and 46% in the latter group. The high percentages of acute erythroleukemia and preleukemia were other interesting findings in the exposed group. (5) Two cases of leukemia were observed in a 6‐year period at a tire cord manufacturing plant with 550 workers. At one location in the plant the concentration of benzene measured by gas chromatography was nearly 110 ppm. Additionally, we have studied 12 cases of malignant lymphoma, four cases of multiple myeloma, and six cases of lung cancer, all of whom were chronically exposed to benzene. The possible role of benzene in the etiology of these malignancies is discussed.
Projections of leukemia risk associated with occupational exposure to benzene
Authors: Infante Peter F. , White Mary C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn 1982, White et al published an assessment of quantitative leukemia risk associated with lifetime occupational exposure to benzene. At about the same time, IARC (1982) published estimates of quantitative cancer risk associated with industrial chemicals. Benzene was one of the two chemicals selected by IARC for its risk estimation. This paper presents a summary of these assessments along with new study results demonstrating adverse effects on bone marrow and peripheral blood cells as a result of low‐level benzene exposure.Mathematical extrapolations based on epidemiologic studies are consistent with a finding of significant risk of dying from leukemia under the current occupational permissible exposure limit of 10 ppm. Although a significant reduction of risk could be expected to be achieved by reducing exposure to 1 ppm, a significant risk may still remain. The uncertainty of the dose‐response projections rests on the underlying estimates of relative risk of death from leukemia, the estimates of benzene exposure (dose), and the appropriateness of the mathematical model.Recent findings in experimental animals demonstrate chromosomal damage to bone marrow cells, significant depression of the bone marrow, and disturbances of immune system function as a result of less than 1 week of exposure to the current permissible benzene exposure limit of 10 ppm. This was the lowest dose tested. These experimental findings provide further evidence of a potentially significant risk of bone marrow proliferative cancer (leukemia) as a result of low‐dose benzene exposure.
Experimental studies on benzene carcinogenicity at the bologna institute of oncology: Current results and ongoing research
Authors: Maltoni Cesare , Conti Barbara , Cotti Giuliano , Belpoggi Fiorella 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn 1977 Maltoni and Scarnato were the first to demonstrate that benzene is an experimental carcinogen in rats. With that and other experiments, Maltoni et al have shown that benzene administered by ingestion (stomach tube) or inhalation is a multipotential carcinogen in rats (of two different strains) and mice and produces a variety of tumors, namely: Zymbal gland carcinomas, oral and nasal cavity carcinomas, skin carcinomas, acanthomas, dysplasias and carcinomas of forestomach, mammary malignant tumors, hepatomas, liver angiosarcomas, hemolymphoreticular neoplasias, and pulmonary tumors. The incidence of Zymbal gland carcinomas and carcinomas of the oral and nasal cavitities is affected by the length of treatment by inhalation and by the age of animals. However, the available epidemiological and experimental data at present do not provide precise information on the risk of doses around or below 10 ppm. Long‐term carcinogenicity bioassays at 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 ppm may be helpful for scientific risk assessment. In addition, these experiments have shown that toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene, at high concentrations, cause an increase in the number of total malignant tumors.
Benzene hematotoxicity and leukemogenesis
Authors: Cronkite Eugene P. , Drew R. T. , Inoue T. , Bullis J. E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractEight‐to‐twelve‐week‐old male and female C57B1/6 BNL mice were exposed to air or benzene vapor in air at a concentration of 10, 25, 100, 300, or 400 ppm. Benzene at concentrations of 100 ppm or higher for 10 exposures of 6 hours per day 5 days a week produced a reduction in bone marrow cellularity and the number of pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow. The fraction of stem cells in DNA synthesis was also increased. Exposure to 300 ppm 6 hours a day 5 days a week for 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks produced a diminution in the stem cell levels in bone marrow which returned to those of controls 2 weeks after benzene exposure for 2 and 4 weeks, 16 weeks after exposure for 8 weeks, and to 92% of controls 25 weeks after 16 weeks of exposure. There was a more rapid return of blood lymphocytes to the control level. Mice exposed to 300 ppm for 6 hours/day, 5 days per week for 16 weeks began dying at 330 days of age, whereas no deaths were observed in sham‐exposed mice until 440 days of age. The benzeneexposed mice died in two waves: the first was from 330‐390 days of age, with a second wave commencing at 570 days of age. The first wave of mortality was due primarily to thymic lymphomata. The second wave was due to a mixture of nonthymic lymphomata and solid tumors.
Benzene as a leukemogenic and carcinogenic agent
Authors: Aksoy Muzaffer 
Published: April 2007

AbstractToday there seems to be sufficient data to incriminate benzene as a potent carcinogenic agent causing leukemia, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma and lung cancer, as well as numerous disorders of the bone marrow depression. Other factors (such as genetic and individual susceptibility) may have a role in the development of these different types of malignancies and hematologic disorders. In this paper, data concerning all these problems are presented and discussed.
Elimination kinetics of blood lead in workers with chronic lead intoxication
Authors: Hryhorczuk Daniel O. , Rabinowitz Michael B. , Hessl Stephen M. , Hoffman Douglas , Hogan Mary M. , Mallin Katherine , Finch Hollister , Orris Peter , Berman Eleanor 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBlood lead elimination half‐lives were determined for 65 patients with occupational chronic lead intoxication who were removed from exposure, treated with intravenous EDTA, and followed for periods of up to 2,419 days. The median overall blood lead elimination half‐life was 619 days in patients with normal renal function and 1,907 days in patients with renal impairment. Slow‐phase elimination half‐lives in patients followed for longer than 5 years ranged from 1,658 to 7,189 days. Blood lead concentrations declined during periods of chelation with a mean half‐life of 7 days and rebounded to near prechelation concentrations following termination of chelation with a mean doubling time of 27 days. The overall blood lead elimination half‐life was positively associated with length of follow‐up (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.04), and duration of exposure (p = 0.02), but was not associated with the initial blood lead concentration following cessation of exposure or the total amount of EDTA received.
The middling tendency in reading chest films for pneumoconiosis: An important source of bias and variability
Authors: Hessel Patrick A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe tendency for readers of chest films of the pneumoconioses to place films in the middle of the International Labour Office (ILO) categories of profusion (eg, 1/1, 2/2) was described by Morgan et al [1974], who saw this tendency as a possible source of bias. The present study reexamines the middling tendency in relation to bias and variability by comparing duplicate readings of chest films for pneumoconiosis. Readings of trained lay persons were compared to professional readings of the same films and readings of professional readers were compared with each other.Reasons for the middling tendency, which include the use of standard middle films and the instructions given to users of the classification, are suggested and possible solutions are proposed.
A proportional mortality study of the acting profession
Authors: Depue Robert H. , Kagey Betsy T. , Heid Marian F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractProportional mortality of actors and actresses was studied because cancers of many sites have been linked to hair dyes and cosmetics of which actors have been frequent users. Death records (1950–1978) for 2,618 white male and 838 white female members of Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild were compared with the U.S. mortality rates. Among males, significantly elevated proportional mortality ratios (MPR) were found for suicide (1.58), cirrhosis of the liver (1.99), all malignancies (1.15), and cancers of the colon/rectum (1.32), pancreas (1.51), and testes (2.37). Colon/rectum and pancreas cancers were not significantly elevated by proportional cancer mortality. Among females, significantly elevated PMRs were found for suicide (2.02) and lung cancer (2.20). Suicide in either sex was much more common in California than in New York. The elevated lung cancer in females was confined to Equity members. No elevations were found for cancers that have been related to hair dye or cosmetic use—ie, breast, ovary, bladder, leukemia, and lymphomas.
Silicosis in slate pencil workers: I. An environmental and medical study
Authors: Saiyed H. N. , Parikh D. J. , Ghodasara N. B. , Sharma Y. K. , Patel G. C. , Chatterjee S. K. , Chatterjee B. B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAn environmental and medical survey was undertaken in the slate‐pencil industry in the central part of India. The industrial hygiene survey revealed that concentrations of free silica dust were very high. The medical survey, involving 593 workers, revealed that the prevalence of silicosis in this industry was 54.6%. Of these, 17.7% of workers had conglomerate silicosis (progressive massive fibrosis, PMF). The radiologic appearance of simple and conglomerate silicosis resembled closely the simple pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) among other occupational groups exposed to free silica and also found in coal workers. The pulmonary lesions were detectable after a relatively short duration of exposure. The short latent period of development and the high prevalence of silicosis observed among these workers are related to exposure to high concentrations of siliceous dust in the work environment.
Dermatitis from repeated trauma to the skin
Authors: Wilkinson Darrell S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA moderate degree of friction is unavoidable in everday contact between man's skin and his environment. However, excessive friction and other forms of microtrauma can cause various dermatoses as well as lesions of hair and nails. This paper illustrates that microtraumata significantly influence many skin disorders, including those of occupational origin.
Glass fiber dermatitis
Authors: Björnberg Alf 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMany workers exposed to glass fibers experience an intense pruritus (itching), sometimes accompanied by erythema, erosions, and dermatitis.Patch tests to glass fibers provoked a papulovesicular dermatitis in about 25% of normal persons. Workers in the glass wool industry, whether or not clinically symptomatic, had the same levels of patch‐test reactivity.A battery of skin tests failed to identify persons with an increased susceptibility to glass fiber pruritus.Some workers' skin becomes hardened by continuous exposure. This hardening is lost after a one‐month holiday but is quickly regained.Barrier creams had no protective value in preventing glass fiber dermatitis.
Trauma, sports, and the skin
Authors: Bergfeld Wilma F. , Taylor James S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDermatological disorders in atheletes may occur as a result of repeated mechanical trauma, physical and chemical agents, climatic conditions, infections, infestations, and exacerbations of pre‐existing skin disorders. These include black heel, tennis toe and other causes of subungual hemorrhage, friction blisters, abrasions, jogger's nipples, alopecia, calluses, and subcutaneous nodules. Contact dermatitis may occur from sports equipment, medications used to treat abrasions, and plants such as poison ivy and weeds. Herpes simplex and bacterial pyoderma may occur in wrestlers and rugby players, especially at sites of abrasion.
Where occupational health reporting systems go wrong
Authors: Hilaski Harvey J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractReporting of occupational illness occurs in two statistical systems maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The first system, the core program established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, provides national data by industry from direct reporting of employers in annual (mail) surveys. The second system, based on worker's compensation records, provides data on the characteristics of injuries and illnesses and the workers involved.Although skin diseases are reported separately in both systems, there is usually insufficient detail to establish etiology precisely. Conceptual and practical problems hamper the building of a substantive occupational illness data base.
Mechanical considerations of skin in work
Authors: Armstrong Thomas J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSkin forms a link through which the forces required to hold and manipulate objects are transmitted from the musculoskeletal system to the objects; while these forces are necessary for most work, excessive forces can be injurious. This paper discusses some of the mechanical properties of skin and discusses how they are important in manual work. Recommendations for the design of hand‐held objects and for future research are given.
Measurements of friction injuries in man
Authors: Akers Colonel William A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRepetitive frictional insults over years to human skin result in lichenification, callosites, and clavi (corns). No measurements of the forces involved have been made for callosites or corns. Two reports deal with lichenification produced by repeated rubbing over weeks. By contrast, friction blisters have been seriously studied because they can be produced in minutes and because foot blisters can disable soldiers. Three devices to measure the coefficient of friction of materials on man's skin and eight machines to rub man's skin are reviewed.
Occupational health reporting systems in England
Authors: Calnan Charles D. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDr. Calnan discussed worker's compensation laws in England and how they influence the reporting of occupational health information. Important barriers to obtaining accurate information on occupational skin disease were discussed. Measures were recommended that could improve the process of information gathering.See Calnan CD (1983): Occupational health reporting systems in England. Dermatosen in Beruf Umwelt 31 (5): 154–158.
Histologic patterns of foot callus associated with variations in foot mechanics
Authors: Lemont Harvey 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAbnormal foot structure or function can result in hyperkeratotic lesions of the foot. Specific histologic patterns of mechanically induced keratoses of the foot were described and correlated with abnormal foot mechanics. Emphasis was placed upon the prevention of foot callus based upon an alteration between various host factors such as foot structure and function, and environmental considerations, such as flooring, foot gear, and occupation.See Lemont, H (1983): Histologic differentiation of mechanical and non‐mechanical keratoses of the sole. Clinics in Dermatology (July—September, 1983) 1(1):44–53.
In vivo bone lead measurements: A rapid monitoring method for cumulative lead exposure
Authors: Wielopolski U. , Ellis K. J. , Vaswani A. N. , Cohn S. H. , Greenberg A. , Puschett J. B. , Parkinson D. K. , Fetterolf D. E. , Landrigan P. J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractLead concentrations (μg/g wet weight) in human bone (tibia) were measured noninvasively in vivo employing an X‐ray fluorescence technique. Forty‐five workers who had been subjected to chronic industrial exposure were found to have a mean bone lead content of 52.9 μg/g wet weight (0 to 198 μg/g). In addition to bone lead content, blood lead, body burden of lead as assessed by urinary lead excretion after EDTA chelation, zinc protoporphyrin, and unstimulated urinary lead excretion were evaluated. The results suggest that the in vivo measurement of tibia lead content may serve as an acceptable indicator of body lead burden and provide a practical technique for lead screening purposes. The correlation coefficient between X‐ray fluorescence findings and lead excretion following Ca‐EDTA administration is 0.69: p < 0.001.
The role of atopy in potroom workers' asthma
Authors: Šarić Marko , Godnić‐Cvar Jasminka , Gomzi Milica , Štilinović Luka 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA study was performed to clarify a possible role of atopy in the occurrence of acute bronchoconstrictive impairment observed in some workers in a plant using the Alu‐Swiss process for the electrolytic extraction of aluminum. Of 227 workers examined the percentage of those with a history of atopy and positive skin tests for common allergens was within the expected range. Six had positive patch test with 2% NaF. Among seven workers with paroxysmal wheezing and dyspnea, of whom three were only light smokers, three had positive skin test with common allergens but only one of them had an increased IgE value. The same worker also had positive patch test for 2% NaF. The average age of workers with paroxysmal wheezing and dyspnea was 32.6 years, and only two had symptoms defined as chronic bronchitis. Although their forced expiratory volumes, with two exceptions, measured at the beginning of work shift were within normal limits, in most of those workers bronchial hyperreactivity was also objectively assessed using nonspecific bronchoprovocative tests with histamine (or metacholine). The results support our previous findings that acute respiratory impairment in some workers is most probably based on bronchial hyperreactivity and not on an allergic mechanism.
Cotton dust contains proteolytic and elastolytic enzymes not inhibited by alpha‐1‐proteinase inhibitor
Authors: Milton Donald K. , Chawla Rajender K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOthers have found proteolytic activity in cotton dust and correlated this with the prevalence of acute byssinosis. The present study characterized the proteases in aqueous extracts of cotton dust after controlling for potential artifact from microbial contamination. We tested cotton dust, generated in a model card room operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for total proteolytic activity (hydrolysis of azocasein) and elastolytic activity (degradation of insoluble 3H‐elastin). Both coarse dust and a respirable fraction (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1.7μm) yielded proteolytic activity. Proteolysis was inhibited by EDTA (39%), diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) (33%) and alpha‐1‐proteinase inhibitor (α1PI) (30%), but not by iodoacetic acid or pepstatin. Elastolytic activity was also present, and was inhibited by DFP (80%) and α1PI (70%), but not by EDTA. We conclude that cotton dust contains preformed metallo‐ and serine proteases, and serine elastolytic protease(s) which are incompletely inhibited by α1PI. These findings may be relevant to the development of chronic lung disease in people exposed to cotton dust.
Occupational exposure and regional variation of malignant mesothelioma in Norway, 1970–79
Authors: Mowé Gunnar , Gylseth Bjørn 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis investigation is based on a study of 117 men and 24 women with malignant mesothelioma registered by the Cancer Registry of Norway, 1970–79. The age‐adjusted incidence rate in men for each county varied from 1.7 to 13.3 per million per year. Eighty‐two percent of the men revealed possible occupational asbestos exposure. They were evenly distributed between counties with high and low mesothelioma incidence. Only 17% of the women had possible occupational asbestos exposure. Total lung fiber concentration was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy in 65 men and 13 women. The median lung fiber concentration in men was 2.4 million per gram of dried tissue (range < 0.4–490), in women 1.0 million per gram (range < 0.4–41), and in male controls < 0.4 million per gram (range < 0.4–4.8). The median year of first exposure was 1937 (range 1909–60) for men from counties with a high incidence rate and 1945 (range 1938–59) for men from counties with a low incidence rate. The counties with a high compared to a low incidence rate of malignant mesothelioma, 1970–79, showed an apparent difference in the percentage of population employed in industry in 1946. The regional variation in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma in men is mainly attributable to the proportion of population exposed to asbestos in industry per county prior to the 1950s and the time since exposure started. Nonoccupational asbestos exposure and nonasbestos agents may be involved in some cases.
Respiratory disease in a photographer
Authors: Hodgson Michael J. , Parkinson David K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractReversible airways obstruction occurred in a photographer after long‐term exposure (over many years) to sulfuric and acetic acid fixers. Air‐exchange recommendations for darkrooms by the Building Officials Code Administration [1981] differ markedly from those recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air‐conditioning Engineers [1977] and the fixer manufacturer (Eastman Kodak). Use of fume hoods or rates of air‐exchange higher than are required by law may be necessary to prevent symptoms and disease in certain workers.