bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of reproductive health hazard information on material safety data sheets for lead and the ethylene glycol ethers
Authors: Paul Maureen , Kurtz Sabrina 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are essential sources of information regarding health risks from exposure to toxic chemicals. We analyzed the reproductive health hazard descriptions on nearly 700 MSDSs for lead‐ or ethylene glycol ether‐containing products submitted by central Massachusetts firms to the Department of Environmental Protection under provisions of the Massachusetts Right‐to‐Know Law. Over 60% of the MSDSs made no mention whatsoever of effects on the reproductive system. Those that did were much more likely to address developmental risks than male reproductive effects. The MSDSs from firms employing 100 or more workers mentioned reproductive system effects more frequently than those from smaller companies. While the informativeness of the health hazard descriptions increased over time, 53% of the MSDSs prepared after promulgation of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard still contained no information on reproductive risks. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An open systems approach to risk assessment
Authors: Samuels Sheldon Wilfred 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe development of risk assessment in occupational and environmental cancer control is outlined, with emphasis on the differing assumptions of Doll and Selikoff. These differences are explained by philosophic perspectives from which closed and open system approaches to assessment were respectively chosen. Open systems, with negative entropy and progressive organization, are characteristic of living systems and, heuristically, should be characteristic of risk assessment models. The abuse of either approach occurs when the ‘habit of truth’ is overcome by consciously contrived confusion, a betrayal of society by les clercs. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of exposure to arsenic among smelter workers: A five‐year follow‐up
Authors: Lagerkvist Birgitta Json , Zetterlund Bo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn a group of 43 smelter workers exposed to inorganic arsenic dust for 13‐45 years, nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) were significantly lower in two peripheral nerves as compared with matching referents. With multivariate data analysis, a significant negative correlation was found between cumulative absorption of arsenic and NCV in four examined nerves and the sural amplitude. Clinical symptoms of neuropathy and other symptoms related to arsenic exposure were moderate, though the difference between the groups was significant. The mean total absorption of arsenic was calculated to be less than 5 g, and the maximal absorption about 20 g. These data indicate that the adverse effect of arsenic on the peripheral nerves is dependent on long‐term exposure rather than on short‐term fluctuations in exposure levels. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mortality among taxi drivers in Rome: A cohort study
Authors: Borgia Piero , Forastiere Francesco , Rapiti Elisabetta , Rizzelli Renato , Magliola Maria E. , Perucci Carlo A. , Axelson Olav 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe mortality pattern of taxi drivers in Rome as possibly exposed mainly to gasoline engine exhausts was evaluated by means of a historical cohort study. A total of 2,311 male subjects registered as taxi drivers between 1950 and 1975 was followed from 1965 through 1988. The overall mortality was lower than expected on the basis of regional (Latium) reference rates (692 deaths, standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82–0.96), whereas the number of recorded deaths for malignant neoplasms was about the expected (205 deaths, SMR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.86–1.13). Mortality from circulatory and respiratory diseases was lower than expected. Diabetes was significantly increased (42 deaths, SMR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.25–2.34). An increased SMR appeared for respiratory cancer (SMR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.98–1.50), mainly due to lung cancer (observed [O] = 76, SMR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.97–1.54); two pleural cancers were also recorded. The excess of lung cancer deaths was present only among those enrolled in the most recent period (1965–1975) (45 deaths, SMR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.02–1.87), especially among those of younger age (<65 years) (SMR = 1.86); there was no relation between lung cancer mortality and latency since first enrollment in the cooperatives or duration of membership. There are difficulties in interpreting the excess of lung cancer on the basis of occupational exposures; however, the increased risk observed among workers employed in more recent calendar periods may be due to heavier exposure in the last decades; further follow‐up of the cohort may elucidate whether there is an increasing lung cancer risk among taxi drivers. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute effects on forced expiratory volume in one second and longitudinal change in pulmonary function among wood trimmers
Authors: Dahlqvist Monica , Ulfvarson Ulf 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWood trimmers are exposed to molds that periodically grow on timber, and may develop acute as well as chronic pulmonary function impairment. This study examined whether these acute changes in pulmonary function are predictors for a longitudinal deterioration in pulmonary function, beyond normal aging and exposure. Across‐shift changes in pulmonary function, measured during a working week, were evaluated in 15 wood trimmers with a follow‐up time of 27 months. Twenty‐six sawmill workers, employed at the same plants as the wood trimmers, served as control subjects. The highest concentration of viable mold spores for the wood trimmers was 106 colony‐forming units (cfu)/m3, i.e., several times higher than the corresponding value for the sawmill workers. At the follow‐up, wood trimmers had a lower forced vital capacity (FVC) on average, after adjustment for age and height, compared to the sawmill workers. In addition, a correlation was found between the across‐week change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the decline in FEV1 between the first and the second occasion, after adjusting for normal aging in nonsmoking wood trimmers (r2 = 84%, p < 0.001). The results from the present study suggest that across‐shift decrease in FEV1 (measured during a working week) might serve as a guide to identify subjects being at risk for a further decrement in pulmonary function over and above the effects of normal aging and exposure to mold spores in the wood trimming department. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimation of long‐term exposure to pesticides
Authors: Brouwer Derk H. , Brouwer Elly J. , van Hemmen Johannes J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractQuantifying the exposure of agricultural workers to pesticides is difficult in the face of the heterogeneity of the pesticides used, the variability in methods of application, and the lack of adequate exposure data. This report describes an attempt to estimate long‐term dermal and inhalation exposure of bulb farmers by the development of an exposure index. This proposed exposure index consists of generic levels of exposure specific to the method of application, which were derived from databases as well as from field studies. The index is further determined by farm‐related parameters such as acreage and number of pesticide applications ascertained from questionnaire responses. A widely used dithiocarbamate mixture served as a marker compound for exposure to other pesticides.Ranking of 127 bulb farmers according to calculated lifetime dermal exposure correlated only moderately to ranking based on duration of exposure, e.g., years of exposure and farm acreage. This finding indicates that the proposed exposure index could provide a useful estimate of long‐term exposure to a mixture of pesticides in epidemi‐ological investigations.
Dairy barns and roll‐over protection on farm tractors: Work environment impacts on the adoption of roll‐over protective structures
Authors: Kelsey Timothy W. , Dennis Judy W. , Jenkins Paul L. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA mailed survey of one group of dairy farmers supports the informal perception that roll‐over protective structure (ROPS)‐equipped tractors are considered unusable for in‐barn tasks. This attitude must be addressed in order to achieve greater use of safety equipment.
Mortality from respiratory cancers (including lung cancer) among workers employed in formaldehyde industries
Authors: Sterling Theodor D. , Weinkam James J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA joint study on effects of formaldehyde exposure in industrial populations by the National Cancer Institute and the Formaldehyde Institute, Inc. (Blair et al. [1986]: J Natl Cancer Inst 76: 1071–1084; Blair and Stewart [1989]: J Occup Med 31: 881, Blair et al. [1990]: Am J Ind Med 17:683–700) reported no significant elevation in risk ratios standardized to the general population. Using the same data as Blair et al., we compared more exposed to less exposed workers to compute relative risk for respiratory and lung cancers using a multivariate, log‐linear model incorporating factors for job type (hourly vs. salaried), cumulative exposure (0.1–0.5, 0.5–2, 2 + vs. <0.1 ppm/years), length of exposure (1–5, 5–10, 10+ vs. <1 years), and age. Models were fit for all workers, all males, all workers less than 65 years of age, and for all males less than 65 years of age. Hourly workers have a significantly elevated relative risk when compared to salaried workers. While only high levels of cumulative exposure show a significant elevation in relative lung cancer risk, trend analyses of the coefficients of a log‐linear model show a significant trend of increasing risk with increasing formaldehyde exposure. The significantly elevated respiratory and lung cancer risk for workers younger than 65 may indicate a shift of respiratory cancer mortality towards younger ages among those occupationally exposed to formaldehyde. Coupled with the recent report of the American Cyanamid Company's Cohort Mortality Study that finds a significantly elevated lung cancer risk related to formaldehyde exposure of greater than or equal to 0.2 ppm and with Blair et al.'s finding of an elevated lung cancer risk ratio, the conclusion of an association between lung cancer and occupational formaldehyde exposure seems well supported.
Reanalysis of a longitudinal study of pulmonary function in coal miners in lorraine, France
Authors: Dimich‐Ward Helen , Bates David V. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMultiple methods of statistical analysis were applied on data collected on 384 coal miners from the Lorraine region of France. Despite the irregularity of timing of visits over the follow‐up period, similar estimates of decline resulted irrespective of the statistical method used. Deceased smokers showed the highest rates of decline in forced expiratory volume during 1 second (FEV1) of 65 to 72 ml/yr, whereas the alive non‐smokers had the lowest decline estimates of 42 to 48 ml/yr. Estimates of FVC decline were found to parallel those of FEV1. For about one‐half of the cohort, data were available to compare FEV1 decline before and after retirement using a profile analysis. Based upon a “differencing” method of regression, retirement from the coal mine had the effect of decreasing the rate of decline for those who had never smoked; smokers, however, showed an increasing rate of decline. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A retrospective mortality study of workers exposed to arsenic in a gold mine and refinery in France
Authors: Simonato L. , Moulin J. J. , Javelaud B. , Ferro G. , Wild P. , Winkelmann R. , Saracci R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA historical mortality study of a cohort of employees of a gold mining and refining company was carried out in Salsigne, France. A major goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between lung cancer mortality and exposure to arsenic, radon, silica, and other contaminants of the working environment. A twofold excess of lung cancer was found both among miners and smelters, mainly concentrated among workers who had experienced exposure to past levels of arsenic, radon, and silica. The consistency of the results in the mine and the refinery are suggestive of a carcinogenic risk from both soluble and insoluble arsenic, although the potential role of other factors cannot be dismissed. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The national sheet metal worker asbestos disease screening program: Radiologic findings
Authors: Welch Laura S. , Michaels David , Zoloth Stephen R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis report presents data gathered from a series of asbestos disease screening examinations of 9,605 United States sheet metal workers who were first employed in the trade at least 20 years before the examination. The overall prevalence of asbestos‐related radiographic changes was 31.1%: 18.8% had pleural abnormalities alone, 6.6% had parenchymal abnormalities (International Labour Office (ILO) score of 1/0 or higher) © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mortality among synthetic fiber workers exposed to glycerol polyglycidyl ether
Authors: Lanes Stephan F. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Soden Kevin J. , Amsel Jonathan , Dreyer Nancy A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe studied mortality among 8,878 employees who worked at any time from 1965 to 1988 at a synthetic fibers plant in North Carolina that used a finishing agent containing glyceroi polyglycidyl ether. Some glycidyl ethers are mutagenic and tumorigenic in laboratory animals. The main route of exposure to workers was inhalation of the spray mist, although there was also skin contact. We identified 553 deaths in the cohort and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) from all causes of death combined was 0.80. For most causes of death, mortality rates in the cohort were similar to mortality rates in the U.S. population. Among categories with at least five observed deaths, the largest effect estimate was for cancer of the central nervous system (SMR = 1.77), and the SMR for lung cancer was 0.94. The cancer categories of central nervous system (brain) and ‘other’ lymphopoietic cancers (lymphoma and myeloma) showed weak associations with duration of employment. In case‐control analyses in which we utilized work history data to compute effect estimates by duration of exposure, we found no increased risk of lung cancer or brain cancer among employees with more than 5 years of exposure. Effect estimates for lymphoma and myeloma tended to increase with duration of exposure, although there were only seven deaths in this category and the effect estimates were very imprecise. To date, this study has identified no clear carcinogenic effect of glycerol polyglycidyl ether, but plausible induction periods have not yet elapsed. The cohort should continue to be monitored to obtain more precise estimates after moderate or long induction times. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological monitoring of exposure to low concentrations of styrene
Authors: Ong C. N. , Shi C. Y. , Chia S. E. , Chua S. C. , Ong H. Y. , Lee B. L. , Ng T. P. , Teramoto K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA field study was conducted on 39 male workers exposed to styrene at concentrations below 40 ppm (time weighted average, TWA). Analyses were carried out on environmental air, exhaled air, blood, urine, and two major urinary metabolites of styrene: mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglycoxylic acid (PGA). Head space gas chromatography (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) was used for determination of styrene in blood and urine. Postexposure exhaled air was analyzed using capillary GC. Environmental styrene exposure was measured by personal sampling using carbon cloth personal samplers. Urinary metabolites of styrene were determined by high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC). When the end‐of‐shift breath, blood, and urine styrene levels were compared with environmental TWA values, blood styrene correlated best with styrene in air (r = 0.87), followed by breath styrene (r = 0.76). Poor correlation (r = 0.24) was observed between environmental styrene exposure and urine styrene. When styrene metabolites were compared with environmental styrene, the sum of urinary MA and PGA correlated better with styrene in air than MA or PGA alone. The correlations between urinary metabolites and environmental styrene improved when corrected for the specific gravity of urine. Even better correlations were observed when the urinary metabolites were corrected for creatinine. The correlation coefficients for environmental styrene and end‐of‐shift MA, PGA, and MA + PGA were 0.83, 0.84, and 0.86, respectively. The correlation coefficients between environmental styrene and next morning urinary metabolites fell to 0.47, 0.61, and 0.65 for MA, PGA, and MA + PGA, respectively. These results suggest that determination of the total MA and PGA in urine samples is preferred than separate measurements of MA or PGA. The good correlation between environmental exposure and styrene in the exhaled air also suggests that breath styrene level can be a useful indicator for low level styrene exposure, as the method is specific, noninvasive, and rapid. Urinary styrene seems to be a less reliable indicator for low level styrene exposure. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the association of acute overshift change in pulmonary function and atopy using OSHA cotton dust surveillance data
Authors: Md Elizabeth Jennison , Jacobs Robert R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOSHA surveillance data were collected for 769 individuals employed in four different cotton textile mills. Current workers were asked to complete a questionnaire about personal and family history of atopy or asthma. Both surveillance and survey data were available for 502 individuals. The prevalence of atopy in the population as reported by questionnaire was 18%, while asthma was reported by 4%. Dust levels at the four mills were in compliance with the cotton dust standard during the period of surveillance. No relationship was found between a self‐reported history of atopy or asthma and the magnitude or frequency of acute overshift declines in forced expiratory volume during 1 second (FEV1). Nonsmokers had annual changes in FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) comparable to nonexposed populations. In one of the four mills surveyed, annual declines in FEV1 and FVC for current smokers were significantly greater than declines for smokers in the other mills or the general smoking population (p < 0.02). This mill effect was also observed for subjects who were categorized as atopic (p < 0.02). For nonsmokers there appears to be no significant adverse health effect from exposure to the levels of cotton dust observed in these mills. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Causes of mortality in primary and secondary school teachers
Authors: Rosenman Kenneth D. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA proportionate mortality study was conducted on 809 deaths occurring among New Jersey primary and secondary teachers between 1980 and 1984. Three separate sets of expected number of deaths were used, based on U.S. and New Jersey proportionate mortality ratios in the general population and proportionate cancer mortality ratios. Increased cause of death was found for digestive, breast, other genital, and lymphopoietic cancer, and motor vehicle accidents for white female teachers; digestive cancer, heart disease, and nonmalignant genitourinary disease for white male teachers; digestive, brain, and thyroid cancer in black female teachers; and kidney and prostate cancer in black male teachers. Deficits in lung cancer were found for white male teachers and in heart disease for white and black female teachers. Mortality ratios were examined by duration worked and latency since first hired. Further analysis using a nested‐case control methodology is recommended. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
National conference on ergonomics, safety, and health in construction summary report
Authors: Ringen Knut 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDecision makers from the construction industry, labor unions, government, and academia met in Washington, DC, July 18 to 22 to focus for the first time as a group on the work‐related safety and health problems of construction workers. The National Conference on Ergonomics, Safety, and Health in Construction drew more than 750 participants, including experts in economics, engineering, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, insurance, public health, public policy, and occupational and rehabilitative medicine.
Assessment of cancer clusters using limited cohort data with spreadsheets: Application to a leukemia cluster among rubber workers
Authors: Smith Allan H. , Duggan Heather M. , Wright Catherine 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper presents methods for initial investigation of occupational cancer clusters using limited data. Phase 1 of the methods developed uses basic data from the cluster of cases, but with cohort data limited to the size of the workforce at the plant. Phase 2 of the methods requires knowledge of the number of workers entering and leaving the workforce in each year. In the absence of data concerning age, the spreadsheet programs explore a variety of worker age distributions in synthetic cohort analyses. The methods were used to assess a cluster of six cases of leukemia with an average duration of work of 11 years in a tire manufacturing plant. It was concluded that the relative risk for the age range 30‐50 was at least 7, providing further evidence for the association of leukemia with work in tire manufacture. The use of spreadsheet programs can provide a valuable first step assessment of apparent workplace cancer clusters.
Use of state workers' compensation data for occupational carpal tunnel syndrome surveillance: A feasibility study in massachusetts
Authors: Korrick Susan A. , Rest Kathleen M. , Davis Letitia K. , Christiani David C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using Massachusetts workers' compensation data for passive surveillance of occupational carpal tunnel syndrome (OCTS). Workers' compensation claims for OCTS (n = 358) and for possible cases of OCTS (n = 1,121) active during the first 6 months of 1989 were identified. The availability and distribution of demographic and employment descriptors were assessed. Medical records on a sample of the claims were reviewed to validate the diagnosis of OCTS. Age, gender, and occupation were available for less than 47% of the reported cases of OCTS. The majority (88%) of cases on whom medical record review was performed had a physician's diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and most of this group had confirmatory nerve conduction studies or electromyography. However, there were fundamental limitations to workers' compensation based disease surveillance in Massachusetts, including underascertainment of cases, potential ascertainment biases, delayed case reporting, limited access to specific diagnostic information, and incomplete and sometimes inaccurate information. These limitations are likely to be applicable in many, if not most, states and must be made clear in any analyses based on workers' compensation data.