bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Signs of asbestosis and impaired pulmonary function in women who worked in shipyards
Authors: Kilburn Kaye H. , Warshaw Raphael , Thornton John C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFifteen of 71 women (21.1%) who had worked in shipyards before May, 1961 had radiographic signs of asbestos disease. There were irregular opacities in the lung parenchyma in seven and pleural disease in eight, two of whom had pleural calcifications. The 71 women who volunteered to be studied had a mean age of 61.5 years. Chronic bronchitis was diagnosed in 21%, 71% had dyspnea on climbing two flights of stairs, and 42% had wheezing. These prevalences were 50% higher than in wives of shipyard workers. In 50 white women, mean values for expiratory flow rates, log (FEF25–75) and log (FEF75–85), were decreased for non‐, ex‐ and current smokers as compared to normal nonsmokers. Ex‐smokers and current smokers showed the greater effects. Diffusing capacity (DLCOsb) and alveolar volume (ALV) were also reduced in all three smoking categories. Comparison to a reference population without asbestos exposure showed that for current, ex‐ and nonsmoking subgroups, there were significant reductions in log (FEF25–75), DLCOsb, and ALV for nonsmokers, reductions in FEV1, log (FEV25–75), and log (FEF75–85) in ex‐smokers, and reduced ALV in current smokers. These decreases may reflect a locality effect. Further studies are recommended.
β2‐microglobulinuria among workers previously exposed to cadmium: Follow‐up and dose‐response analyses
Authors: Elinder Carl‐Gustaf , Edling Christer , Lindberg Erik , Kågedal Bertil , Vesterberg Olof 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSixty workers (58 males, 2 females) who had previously been exposed to cadmium in connection with the use of cadmium‐containing solders were examined. Exposure times ranged from 4 to 24 years. For each worker a cumulative cadmium dose estimate was calculated. This ranged from 0.35 to 9.9 mg/m3 year. The prevalence of slight (U‐β2> 0.034 mg/mmole creatinine) and more pronounced (U‐β2> 0.1 mg/mmole creatinine) β2‐microglobulinuria in the whole group was 40% and 23%, respectively. The prevalence of β2‐microglobulinuria was strongly related to the cumulative dose estimate and to urinary cadmium level. Among workers with a cumulative dose estimate below 1 mg/m3 yr there were only a few cases with slight tubular proteinuria, whereas for workers who had a cumulative dose estimate exceeding 3 mg/m3 yr the prevalence of slight and pronounced β2‐microglobulinuria was 77% and 54%, respectively. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of β2‐microglobulin in serum and urine. This indicates that the β2‐microglobulinuria is due to tubular damage and is not secondary to an increased endogenous production. Repeated examinations of 19 workers between 1976 and 1983 revealed that in almost all cases the β2‐microglobulinuria was irreversible.
Fiber size and number in workers exposed to processed chrysotile asbestos, chrysotile miners, and the general population
Authors: Churg Andrew , Wiggs Barry 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe analyzed chrysotile and chrysotile‐associated amphibole (largely tremolite) asbestos fibers in 21 workers exposed to various types of processed (milled) chrysotile ore, 20 long‐term chrysotile miners, and 20 members of the general population (controls). Significantly greater amounts of both chrysotile and tremolite were found in processedore workers and miners than in controls. On average, the mean fiber lengths and aspect ratios for the mining and processed‐ore‐exposed workers were similar and were significantly greater than the values seen in the controls; within the processed‐ore group, there was a marked variation in these parameters, and some workers appeared to be exposed to fairly long, thin fibers. It was found empirically that the fiber size data, and to a lesser extent the concentration data, could be used to classify workers accurately into those with processed‐ore exposure and controls. We conclude that 1) fiber sizes in the lungs of processed‐ore‐exposed workers are similar to those of chrysotile miners and are considerably longer than those found in the general population; 2) some processed‐ore workers have longer fibers which might be responsible for higher disease incidences in certain working groups; 3) tremolite accompanies chrysotile in a variable proportion of workers exposed to processed chrysotile products and might be important in the genesis of mesothelioma in such workers; and 4) mineralogic analysis will usually detect exposure even when chrysotile has largely disappeared from lung tissue.
Exposure to fluoride in the chemical industry
Authors: Levi S. , Zilberman L. , Frumin A. , Frydman M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIndustries that use fluoride‐containing materials are usually aware of their toxicity and adopt adequate medical measures. It has been found that workers in factories who have not been considered as subjected to fluorine hazard and therefore have not been controlled had significantly elevated urinary fluoride levels. Most workers in a medically controlled fertilizer plant had normal urinary levels. Maintenance workers were found to have higher values, up to 12 mg/liter.
Long‐term mortality study of oil refinery workers: V. Comparison of workers hired before, during, and after world war ii (1940–1945) with a discussion of the impact of study designs on cohort results
Authors: Wen C. P. , Tsai S. P. , Weiss N. S. , Gibson R. L. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe mortality experience of a large refinery cohort (1937–1978) was examined by dividing it into three subcohorts according to hire dates: those hired before 1940, those hired during the period 1940–1945, and those hired after 1945. These three periods are approximately equivalent to before, during, and after World War II and span a total hiring period of more than 75 years.The results showed that a substantial portion of the cohort (3,330 or 27%) had been recruited during 1940–1945, and they contributed 980 or 28% of the total deaths. However, their mortality experience was quite different from the rest. A series of significant increases were seen among the external causes for accidents, suicide, and homicide. In terms of overall mortality and in contrast to the rest of the cohort, no “healthy worker effect” was seen (SMR = 1.00). They also showed increases in several types of cancer including cancers of the pancreas and prostate and leukemia. These unusual experiences cannot be explained either on the basis of their war‐related deaths or on their period of employment (one‐half were terminated within 1 year from date of hire), and data is insufficient to separate the role of hiring practices or their socioeconomic status. However, their life‐styles were probably quite different judged from the fact that alcoholism‐related deaths were increased as much as fivefold.Almost two‐thirds of the total deaths occurred among 4,080 workers in the before 1940 subcohort. Further, the 5,117 workers of the after‐1945 subcohort contributed only 5% of the total deaths. Thus, the results of the original refinery cohort (1937–1978) primarily reflect the experience of those employees hired before 1940.Given the same cohort method (historical prospective), cohort results vary widely according to different study designs, and this has implications for “generalizable” risk assessment or risk projections. A prospective study of new hires with 30 years of follow‐up is rather inefficient because it would yield only a small number of deaths, with a strong healthy worker effect. The same is true for studies based on active workers with a short period of follow‐up. Studies based on time of hire, however, provide a means for controlling time‐related occupational exposures.
Effect of aerosol size on the blood lead distribution of industrial workers
Authors: Froines John R. , Liu Wen‐Chen V. , Hinds William C. , Wegman David H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe size distribution measurements of lead aerosol from a brass foundry and primary lead smelter are used to simulate blood lead distributions applying a pharmacokinetic model developed by Bernard. The predicted distribution of blood lead levels determined using the actual size distribution of lead aerosol are compared to the blood lead levels predicted according to the model assumptions adopted in setting the OSHA lead standard. In the furnace area of the smelter and the pouring area of the foundry the predicted mean blood lead level is higher than that found in the standard whereas, in the smelter's sintering and mixing operation the blood lead level is less than that suggested by the standard. The data support the conclusion that size‐selective sampling needs to be considered for incorporation into the OSHA lead standard.
Acute‐onset sarcoidosis presenting as workplace‐related hyperreactive airway disease
Authors: Parkinson David K. , Grennan M. Joseph 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBechtel et al [Am Rev Respir Dis 124:759–761, 1981] have reported a high prevalence of positive methacholine challenge tests in patients with sarcoidosis. We report a patient with sarcoidosis who was identified because of symptoms resulting from exposure to workplace irritants. The presence of hyperreactive airways was confirmed by a positive methacholine challenge.
A critical load for nocturnal high‐density road traffic noise
Authors: Griefahn Barbara 
Published: April 2007

AbstractEighteen female and 18 male students (21–30 years) slept in the lab during 12 consecutive nights each, where a high‐density road traffic noise was played back with four intensities. EEG and EOG were recorded continuously throughout the nights. In the morning the subjects assessed their sleep and completed a reaction time test. The following conclusions were made: 1) Performance was not affected by noise. REM sleep decreased abruptly as soon as the sound pressure level exceeded 44 dBA. With increasing noise, sleep was assessed as increasingly worse. 2) Noise‐induced sleep disturbances were not related to sex. 3) The equivalent sound pressure level measured for high‐density road traffic seems to be a valuable predictor for subjective sleep disturbances as long as the maximum levels do not exceed it by more than 8–10 dBA. On the basis of the assessment of sleep and supported by the abrupt decrease of REM sleep, an equivalent noise level of 40 dBA indoors was defined as a critical load, above which nocturnal noise cannot be tolerated any longer.
Health effects of work at waste water treatment plants: A review of the literature with guidelines for medical surveillance
Authors: McCunney Robert J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPotential health hazards associated with work at waste water treatment plants include bacteria, viruses and protozoa in domestic waste and heavy metals and other hazardous substances in industrial wastes. The primary exposure route for hazardous material is through inhalation of aerosols generated in the secondary phase of water treatment that contain pathogenic organisms. Although few epidemiological studies have investigated the health of waste water treatment facility workers, hazards noted have been limited to acute, self‐limited gastrointestinal illnesses. Due to the potential for long term or subtle adverse health effects, a medical surveillance program is proposed that includes attention to infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and to illness/absenteeism records.
Cancer risk among artistic painters
Authors: Miller Barry A. , Silverman Debra T. , Hoover Robert N. , Blair Aaron 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAn association between bladder cancer and employment as an artistic painter was found in two study populations. A proportionate mortality analysis of death certificates of professional artists indicated a greater than twofold excess for bladder cancer mortality among painters. This association was further investigated in a large case‐control interview study of bladder cancer patients where an overall relative risk estimate of 2.5 was found among artistic painters. Excess deaths from leukemia and arteriosclerotic heart disease also occurred in the proportionate mortality study. Information was not available to determine exposure to specific substances that may have been responsible for these observations; however, efforts should be made to limit exposure to art materials known to be hazardous.
Occupation and risk of cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Gallagher Richard P. , Elwood J. Mark , Threlfall William J. , Band Pierre R. , Spinelli John J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOccupational mortality from cutaneous malignant melanoma was evaluated for deaths occurring in British Columbia from 1950–1978 by using age standardised proportional mortality ratios (PMR). For males, significantly elevated PMRs for melanoma were seen in managers and owners, accountants, architects, chemical engineers, and gardeners and nursery workers. Female school teachers were also at elevated risk of death from cutaneous melanoma.
Estimation of exposure to agent orange and other defoliants among american troops in vietnam: A methodological approach
Authors: Stellman Steven D. , Stellman Jeanne M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwo pivotal problems in determining whether exposure to herbicides has caused disease in Vietnam veterans or their offspring are definition of which troops were exposed and extent of exposure. The DoD HERBS tape is the most complete publicly available record of herbicide spraying in Vietnam. It contains about 17,000 records consisting of coordinates of spray missions, dates, chemical agent, quantity and area sprayed, and mission purpose. We have developed a set of discrete and continuous indexes of probability of exposure to herbicides for individual veterans. These probability indexes are based on HERBS tape spray data and on locations and dates of service derived from a place‐and‐date matrix completed by the veteran. They can take into account a conservative estimate of environmental persistence of herbicide by using first‐order exponential decay kinetics with an estimated half‐life of dioxin. Mean values for the continuous exposure probability indexes were significantly greater among veterans judged to be exposed according to self‐reported job titles and specific military experiences than among men judged unlikely to have been exposed. Probabilistic exposure indexes based on the HERBS tape for classification of likely exposure to herbicides in South Vietnam during 1965–1971 appear to be well suited for comparative classification of veterans and hence for use in epidemiologic studies.
Acute effects of routine firefighting on lung function
Authors: Sheppard D. , Distefano S. , Morse L. , Becker C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe undertook a study to determine the acute effects of routine firefighting on lung function and the relationship between these acute effects and nonspecific airway responsiveness. For 29 firefighters from a single fire station, we calculated the concentration of methacholine aerosol that caused a 100% increase in specific airway resistance (Pc100). Over an 8‐week period we then measured FEV1 and FVC in each firefighter before and after each 24‐hr workshift and after every fire. From 199 individual work‐shifts without fires, we calculated the mean ± 2 SD across‐workshift change in FEV1 and FVC for each firefighter. Eighteen of 76 measurements obtained within 2 hr after a fire (24%) showed a greater than 2 SD fall in FEV1 and/or FVC compared to two of 199 obtained after routine workshifts without fires (1%; p < .001). On 13 of 18 occasions when spirometry decreased significantly, we obtained repeat spirometry (post‐shift) 3–18.5 hr after fires, and on four of these occasions FEV1 and/or FVC were still more than 2 SD below baseline. Decrements in spirometry occurred as often in firefighters with high Pc100s as in those with low Pc100s. In two firefighters in whom FEV1 and FVC fell by more than 10% after fires, we repeated measurements of methacholine sensitivity, and it was increased over the prestudy baseline. These findings suggest that routine firefighting is associated with a high incidence of acute decrements in lung function. The persistence of these decrements, the lack of association with baseline airway responsiveness, and the association with acute increases in airway responsiveness all suggest that these decrements in lung function are not due merely to irritant bronchoconstriction.
Respiratory abnormalities among photographic developers: A report of three cases
Authors: Kipen Howard M. , Lerman Yehuda 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPhotographic developing processes employ hazardous chemical substances, many with known adverse effects on the respiratory system. Three cases documenting respiratory symptoms and suggesting small airway abnormalities among photographic developers are reported. Work‐related factors which might contribute to these findings, as well as public health implications, are discussed.
A mortality study of employees at a synthetic rubber manufacturing plant
Authors: Holmes Talmage M. , Buffler Patricia A. , Holguin Alfonso H. , Hsi Bart P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA mortality follow‐up study was conducted of workers employed at a synthetic rubber manufacturing plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Interest in the potential health effects of exposure to methyl chloride, one of the substances used in the manufacturing process, provided the impetus for this study. The study cohort consisted of 852 male process workers who had worked at least 1 month during the period from startup of operations in 1943 through December 31, 1978. Mortality from all causes was lower than expected when compared with the U.S. male population. No excess mortality from any specific cause of death was found in the study population after analysis by level and duration of exposure.
The in vitro cytotoxicity of asbestos fibers: I. P388D1 cells
Authors: Wright A. , Cowie H. , Gormley I. P. , Davis J. M. G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn this study, the cytotoxicity of 13 fibrous samples of known fiber number and dimensions has been established in P388D1 cells. The cells were exposed in vitro to dust concentrations of 10 or 50 μg/ml and, after incubation for 24 or 48 hours, any changes in cellular viability, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucosaminidase levels were determined. In general, there was a close association between the reduction in cellular viability and the loss of intracellular enzymes induced by each dust, the chrysotile asbestos samples proving more cytotoxic than the amphiboles. The cytotoxicity of the fibrous dusts was shown to be related to the number of fibers greater than 8 μm in length in the samples.
Effect of sample holding, cryopreservation, and storage on the human lymphocyte cytogenetic test
Authors: Tomkins Darrell J. , Scheid Elizabeth E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn monitoring occupational populations with the human lymphocyte cytogenetic test, it is not always possible to collect and process matched samples on the same day, even though this would be desirable to control for technical variables. The effects of holding samples for 24 hours at 4°C and 22°C, freezing lymphocytes in dimethylsulfoxide at −180°C, and keeping fixed cells for 6 days at 4°C before slide‐making were examined. Final cell count, mitotic index, percentage of cells in first division, percentage of cells with chromosomal aberrations, and sister chromatid exchange per cell were measured in paired cultures. A significant increase in the frequency of cells with chromatid breaks occurred after prolonged fixation, so all other results were obtained from freshly fixed cells. Although holding at 22°C and cryopreservation had significant effects on the mitotic index and entry of lymphocytes into the cell division cycle, the cytogenetic endpoints were not affected by any of the sample manipulations. Thus, samples can be held at 4°C or 22°C for 24 hours, or frozen lymphocytes can be stored for at least a week, without altering the cytogenetic endpoints.
Recent Trends in Mesothelioma Incidence in the United States
Authors: Spirtas Robert , Beebe Gilbert W. , Connelly Roger R. , Wright William E. , Peters John M. , Sherwin Russell P. , Henderson Brian E. , Stark Alice , Kovasznay Beatrice M. , Davies J. N. P. , Vianna Nicholas J. , Keehn Robert J. , Ortega Louis G. , Hochholzer Liselotte , Wagner J. C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMesothelioma incidence rates based on data from population‐based cancer registries in New York State (exclusive of New York City), Los Angeles County, California, and the SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute were analyzed for trends, using original cancer registry diagnoses. Results indicate a significant increase in incidence during 1973–80 for pleural mesothelioma among white males older than 55 at time of diagnosis but not for other age‐race‐sex‐site subgroups. A histopathologic review of New York State and Los Angeles County cases by two independent pathologists, expert in the diagnosis of mesothelioma, lowered the overall estimates but a significant upward trend remained. The observed trend does not appear to be related to changes in diagnostic practice. The results of a five‐member panel of expert pathologists will be published in a separate methodology paper.
Epidemiologic studies of scottish oil shale workers: I. Prevalence of skin disease and pneumoconiosis
Authors: Seaton Anthony , Louw S. J. , Cowie Hilary A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn an epidemiologic study of 6,359 oil shale workers, 1,664 (46.7%) of 3,566 survivors were investigated. No excess of skin disease (as reported in response to a questionnaire) was found in men exposed to oil or dust, whether compared to men who were not exposed to oil or dust or to coalminers. A low prevalence of simple pneumoconiosis was found in workers exposed to dust, while progressive massive fibrosis occurred in approximately 1% of miners and retort workers. Comparisons of responders with non‐responders revealed no serious bias in terms of age or work experience, though non‐responders were likely to have been less healthy in general.
Epidemiologic studies of scottish oil shale workers: III. Causes of death
Authors: Miller B. G. , Cowie Hilary A. , Middleton W. G. , Seaton Anthony 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn a mortality study of a population of 6,359 male Scottish oil shale workers, the vital status of 6,145 (96.6%) was determined. Sufficient data on occupational histories for analyses of mortality in relation to jobs held were available for 6,064 (95.4%) of the workers. No significant excess of mortality from any disease was found in relation to any jobs in the industry. Comparison of the mortality experience of those 3,161 men who joined the population prior to 1953 with that of the whole Scottish population showed an excess of deaths from skin cancer but no significant excess that was due to other disease. Comparisons with the population of the counties in which the industry was situated showed no significant excess of deaths from any cause examined. A casecontrol study of lung cancer in the shale area showed no excess risk of this disease in association with work in the industry.