bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous system function in styrene workers
Authors: Murata Katsuyuki , Araki Shunichi , Yokoyama Kazuhito 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo investigate the effects of styrene exposure on peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous system functions in man, we measured the distribution of nerve conduction velocities (DCV), short‐latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), and variability in electrocardiographic R‐R interval (CVRR) as well as conventional sensory and motor median nerve conduction velocities (SCV and MCV) in eleven styrene‐exposed workers. The styrene workers' urinary phenylglyoxylic acid levels ranged from 31 to 419 (mean 169) mg/g creatinine at the end of the work shift on the examination day (estimated exposure to styrene of 22 ppm in air). Control subjects, matched to each styrene worker by sex and age, were selected from healthy adults without cardiovascular, neurologic and other potentially confounding disorders. In the styrene workers, we found that the V80 velocity of the DCV, below which 80% of active nerve fibers lie, and the SCV were both significantly slowed; the CVRR was also significantly reduced. There were no significant differences in SSEP latencies, MCV, or heart rate between the exposed workers and controls. These data, despite the small sample size, suggest that styrene affects the faster myelinated fibers of the peripheral sensory nerves, and that it also affects autonomic nervous activity.
Do quantitative exposure assessments improve risk estimates in occupational studies of cancer?
Authors: Blair Aaron , Stewart Patricia A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractQuantitative assessment of exposure intensity is a difficult process, particularly for jobs held long ago. Despite difficulties, the use of this approach is growing in occupational epidemiology because it is hoped that the estimates will more closely approximate delivered dose than more traditional measures such as duration of exposure. If this assumption is correct, development and use of quantitative exposure estimates should reduce nondifferential exposure misclassification, sharpen exposure‐response gradients, and enhance interpretation of study results. In this report, we used two methods to assess the value of quantitative exposure assessments in cancer epidemiology. In one, we surveyed the literature for investigations on occupational cancer that included assessments of both duration and intensity of exposure. The results of this survey indicated that exposure measures based on some measure of intensity of exposure yielded monotonically increasing exposure‐response gradients and larger relative risks more often than those based on duration of exposure. Duration of exposure, however, occasionally provided the larger relative risks. In another approach, we found that different measures of exposure to formaldehyde classified subjects quite differently. For example, duration of exposure was unrelated to average exposure and was only weakly associated with exposure intensity or peak exposure. Because different measures of exposure may classify subjects quite differently and because quantitative estimates usually, but not always, yield larger relative risks and sharper exposure‐response gradients than other measures of exposure, we believe that the prudent approach in epidemiologic investigations would be to develop quantitative estimates of exposure and to conduct analyses using several different measures of exposure, or combinations such as duration by intensity. Multiple comparisons would, however, increase chance findings. The value of such an approach is twofold. When a true association exists, use of several different measures decreases the chances of an unfortunate selection of an exposure measure that is poorly related to delivered dose, which would tend to produce negative results, and increases the chances of uncovering sharper exposure‐response gradients. Use of several exposure measures in investigations that fail to exhibit an association between exposure and disease would be of value because such an approach would provide greater confidence that negative findings were not simply due to exposure misclassification.
Aspects of misclassification of confounding factors
Authors: Ahlbom Anders , Steineck Gunnar 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMisclassification of exposure in epidemiologic investigations has been extensively studied and is now well understood. In contrast, misclassification of confounding factors has been much less investigated. First, we consider a situation with confounding by age, in which misclassification is introduced through stratification of this inherently continuous variable. This misclassification turns out to be benign: 75% of the original confounding is removed by stratification into two age classes and more than 90% by using three age classes. Second, we consider a situation with serious confounding and serious misclassification of the confounding factor but no misclassification of the exposure. In this situation, the misclassification turns out to be of importance. After stratification for the misclassified confounding factor, it appears as though the exposure has a stronger effect on the incidence than the confounder, which is the reverse of the true situation.
The association between hydrocarbon exposure and anti‐glomerular basement membrane antibody‐mediated disease (Goodpasture's syndrome)
Authors: Bombassei Gregory J. , Kaplan Andre A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDespite numerous reports suggesting a relationship between hydrocarbon exposure and Goodpasture's syndrome, the nature of this association is still undefined. The present review was motivated by a patient with Goodpasture's syndrome who wondered if his illness was employment related. The patient had been working in an automobile servicing garage, where he was in frequent contact with a wide array of hydrocarbon solvents. Previous reports linking hydrocarbon exposure to Goodpasture's syndrome and anti‐GBM antibody‐mediated nephritis are analysed. A total of seventeen papers presenting 31 patient with hydrocarbon exposure and anti‐GBM antibody‐mediated disease are reviewed. The results suggest a causal relationship. Specific hydrocarbons implicated as potential toxins are listed, epidemiologic data are reviewed, and the association with cigarette smoking is discussed.
A new case of occupational asthma from reactive dyes with severe anaphylactic response to the specific challenge
Authors: Romano Canzio , Sulotto Franca , Pavan Ivo , Chiesa Adriana , Scansetti Giovanni 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA case of occupational asthma in a wool and cotton dyer handling reactive dyes is described. The patient was skin positive, but asymptomatic to house dust mites. A bromoacrilamidic dye (Lanasol Yellow 4G) has been identified through chamber inhalation challenge as being responsible for the sensitization. A very short (4‐minute) exposure produced a severe immediate obstructive ventilatory defect followed by arterial hypotension and urticaria. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness as tested through metacholine challenge was absent both in basal conditions and after the dye challenge. Both prick and patch test for the dye were positive in the absence of any sign of contact dermatitis.
A study of the cardiac effects of bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) exposure during exercise
Authors: Kaufman Joel D. , Morgan Michael S. , Marks Melinda L. , Greene H. Leon , Rosenstock Linda 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBromochlorodifluoromethane (halon 1211, a fire extinguisher), like other fluorocarbons, has been linked with ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial depression. Ten healthy firefighters, aged 40‐50, were exposed to 1,000 ppm halon while exercising, in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover experiment, and were monitored during and after exposure. Complex ectopy (ventricular couplets and idioventricular rhythm) occurred in two subjects with halon, but none with placebo. One subject had 49.5 ventricular premature beats (VPB)/hour during the period of halon exposure and subsequent 8 hours and only 8.7 VPB/hour during the same period of placebo. In addition, 8 of the 10 subjects had a smaller systolic blood pressure rise during exercise with halon than with placebo. None of the observed differences was statistically significant. These results are consistent with findings in other investigations, suggesting that occupational fluorocarbon exposures may be cardiotoxic in certain individuals, although the small sample sizes used in this and other studies have resulted in limited statistical power to demonstrate this effect.
Historical perspectives in occupational medicine. The discovery of the causal agent of minamata disease
Authors: Tsuchiya Kenzaburo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAfter the outbreak of an epidemic of a strange disease characterized by severe neurological signs in the small Japanese town of Minamata, a number of scientists in different disciplines were required to identify the causal agent. An account is given of the three‐year program, with its disappointments and frustrations as a result of the limitations of knowledge of ecological principles and the absence of adequate techniques for detection and measurement. The lessons that have been learned on how toxic compounds can accumulate and concentrate in food chains are described as are the ecological contributions of environmentally safe waste disposal techniques. This article is based on the recollections of Dr. Shoji Kitamura, who contributed greatly to the discovery of the causative agent of Minamata disease.
A follow‐up study of agricultural chemical production workers
Authors: Sathiakumar Nalini , Delzell Elizabeth , Austin Harland , Cole Philip 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis retrospective follow‐up study evaluated the mortality experience of 4,323 men employed at a plant in Alabama (AL) that manufactures agricultural and other chemicals. On average, there were 18 years of follow‐up per subject during the study period of 1951 to 1987. The observed numbers of deaths among cohort members were compared with the numbers expected on the basis of United States (US) and AL general population mortality rates. The all causes standardized mortality ratio (SMR), computed using US rates as the referent, was 97 (233 observed/240 expected deaths) for whites and 68 (47/69) for blacks. White subjects had more than expected deaths from buccal cavity and pharynx (BCP) cancer [SMR = 388; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 125–905] and from esophageal cancer (SMR = 417; 112–1,067). Their lung cancer mortality rate was 50% higher than the rate of US white men and 14% higher than the rate of AL white men. Each of these three cancers has strong nonoccupational determinants, the roles of which were not assessed and which may have been responsible in whole or in part for the observed increases. The excesses of lung and esophageal cancer were concentrated among short‐term employees, an observation which also argues against a causal link with occupational factors. Black men experienced no increased mortality from BCP, esophageal or lung cancers, but results for blacks were imprecise. For white and black subjects combined, there were 3 observed versus 0.62 expected deaths due to soft tissue sarcoma (p = 0.05). The job histories of subjects with this type of cancer did not suggest any shared occupational exposure.
Blood superoxide dismutase and plasma malondialdehyde among workers exposed to asbestos
Authors: Kamal Abdel‐Aziz M. , Khafif Mohammed El , Koraah Soher , Massoud Aly , Caillard Jean‐Francois 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBlood superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (an indicator of lipid peroxidation [LPO]) were determined in 97 randomly selected asbestos exposed workers (age range: 25–60 years, mean duration of exposures 19.8 ± 8.3 years) and in 42 healthy male controls. MDA, SOD, and MDA/SOD ratio in asbestos exposed workers were significantly higher than in controls. Among both the controls and exposed workers neither age nor smoking was related to SOD or MDA levels. SOD was significantly positively correlated with MDA among the exposed workers. Such correlation was not observed among the controls. SOD but not MDA was significantly positively correlated with the duration of exposure to asbestos. Mean levels of SOD or MDA in exposed workers with radiographic signs of lung fibrosis or pleural thickening did not differ significantly from those without such signs. The results confirm the possible involvement of LPO and development of anti‐oxidant mechanism(s) of prolonged exposure to asbestos in humans. However, SOD seems not to be the essential anti‐asbestos‐induced LPO. Relation between these factors and lung fibrosis is still unclear.
The role of threshold limit values in U.S. air pollution policy
Authors: Robinson James C. , Paxman Dalton G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper analyzes the role of threshold limit values (TLVs) in national air pollution policy during the 1980s, a period in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought to delegate to individual states the authority to evaluate and regulate airborne toxic substances. We focus on 20 carcinogens and 11 substances with non‐genotoxic health effects that were regulated by local air toxics programs using TLVs. Data from EPA's National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse indicate that maximum TLV‐based Ambient Air Level guidelines (AALs) frequently exceed minimum TLV‐based AALs by a factor of > 1,000. Cancer potency data from EPA's Integrated Risk Information System suggest significant risks remain at TLV‐based AALs. Cancer risks at the median TLV‐based AAL exceed 1,000 cases per million exposed persons for cadmium (1,040), nickel and its compounds (1,420), propylene oxide (1,550), coke oven emissions (1,860), benzene (2,500), arsenic and its compounds (7,300), N‐nitrosodimethylamine (21,000), asbestos (21,500), and ethylene dibromide (55,000). We also summarize published studies that report non‐genotoxic health effects in workers exposed at levels near the TLV for 11 substances whose AALs were based on TLVs. Contrary to the assumption frequently made by state air toxics program, TLVs cannot be taken to represent no observed effect levels (NOELs) for regulatory purposes.
Occupational hazards and pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Zhang Jun , Cai Wen‐Wei , Lee David J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis study examined the association between exposure to occupational hazards and pregnancy outcomes using data from a case‐control study conducted in 29 hospitals in Shanghai, China. The sample included 1,875 perinatal deaths and newborns with birth defects and the same number of controls. Information on mother's exposure to occupational radiation, chemicals, noise, and pesticides was investigated. Logistic regression analysis controlling for potential confounders showed that exposure to radiation before/during pregnancy was associated with antepartum fetal death, birth defects, small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA), and threatened abortion. Exposure to chemicals before/during pregnancy was associated with antepartum fetal death, early neonatal death, birth defects, preterm birth, and threatened abortion. Women exposed to pesticides during pregnancy had an increased risk of SGA and threatened abortion. Exposure to occupational noise during pregnancy increased the risk of antepartum fetal death. Furthermore, higher than expected numbers of congenital anomalies in the central nervous system (CNS) were identified among women exposed to chemicals before pregnancy and to pesticides during the first trimester of pregnancy. No significant association was found between occupational exposure and intrapartum fetal death. Although recall bias may be possible in our study, the findings encourage further research.
Malignant mesothelioma in the jewelry industry
Authors: Kern David G. , Hanley Kate T. , Roggli Victor L. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe conducted a clinical, environmental, pathologic, and mineral lung burden investigation of a 61‐year‐old man with malignant mesothelioma. For 35 years, up until three weeks prior to pneumonectomy, the patient made asbestos soldering forms at a costume jewelry production facility. Only chrysotile asbestos was used at the plant during the last decade of the patient's employment, and recent environmental sampling of the workplace identified no other asbestos fiber type. Anticipating that the patient would add to the very small number of cases of mesothelioma attributable solely to chrysotile, we found instead that the patient's lung tissue contained large numbers of both coated and uncoated amosite asbestos fibers but, surprisingly, no chrysotile. We subsequently learned that a distributor of both chrysotile and amosite supplied the company during the first 25 years the patient was fabricating soldering forms. The findings underscore the futility of estimating environmental exposure to chrysotile on the basis of fiber counts in lung tissue. Although we previously described non‐neoplastic asbestos‐related disease among patients engaged in similar work, this case, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first report of mesothelioma in the commercial jewelry industry. As such, it prompted us to initiate a public health campaign to replace asbestos soldering forms in this industry with readily available, safer alternatives.
Pleural malignant mesothelioma in Tuscany, Italy (1970–1988): I. Anatomo‐pathologic aspects
Authors: Dini Sergio , Santucci Marco , Biancalani Mauro , Pingitore Raffaele , Lopane Paolo , Tosi Piero , Megha Tiziana , Sforza Vincenzo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOur investigation did not confirm the general experience that significant numbers of cases initially considered malignant mesothelioma or metastatic carcinoma are actually found to be metastatic carcinoma or malignant mesothelioma, respectively, upon deeper investigation using ancillary techniques (e.g., histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy). Well‐trained pathologists, expert in thoraco‐pulmonary pathology, have a high inter‐ and intra‐rater agreement and significantly better results than standard hospital pathologists in correctly differentiating malignant mesothelioma from metastatic carcinoma. Therefore, epidemiologic investigations which exclude an accurate and rigorous reevaluation of the histologic slides have to be considered unreliable, unless the data come from a specialized medical center experienced in this type of pathology.
Pleural malignant mesothelioma in Tuscany, Italy (1970‐1988): II. Identification of occupational exposure to asbestos
Authors: Chellini Elisabetta , Fornaciai Gabriele , Merler Enzo , Paci Eugenio , Costantini Adele Seniori , Silvestri Stefano , Zappa Marco , Buiatti Eva 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFollowing the finding of an unexpected cluster of mesotheliomas in textile workers, a surveillance system of malignant mesotheliomas was implemented in the region of Tuscany, Italy. This article reports on the investigation of 124 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed and reviewed by the Institutes of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology at the Universities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena between 1970 and 1988. A complete occupational and asbestos exposure history was assessed through a semi‐structured questionnaire directly administered to resident cases of Tuscany or, if deceased, to their closest living relatives, for a total of 100 interviews. The hypothesis of past occupational asbestos exposure was verified and documented. Seventy‐two cases have been classified as occupationally exposed to asbestos; four were classified in the category of “possible domestic” exposure to asbestos. For two others, the role of other risk factors was stressed, and for 22 cases, either no asbestos exposure was found or the available data were not adequate to define it. The present study allowed identification of some unknown or scarcely known occupational asbestos exposures in the study area.
Mortality patterns in female domestic workers
Authors: McDougal Laura , Band Pierre R. , Spinelli John J. , Threlfall William J. , Gallagher Richard P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo investigate mortality patterns for domestic workers, proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated for the 1,382 female domestic workers who died in British Columbia at age 20 years or over between 1950 and 1984. This group experienced fewer deaths than expected from cerebrovascular accidents (PMR = 84) and hypertension (PMR = 39). The proportion of deaths from cirrhosis was higher than expected (PMR = 152). An excess of observed deaths was also noted for all accidents (PMR = 126), accidents due to environmental factors (PMR = 439), and homicide (PMR = 235). Mortality from pneumonia was elevated for domestic workers aged 20 to 65 (PMR = 180). Further studies using more sophisticated epidemiologic methods are necessary to evaluate whether these deaths are a result of occupational exposures or of poor socio‐economic conditions.
The dangers of dairy farming: The injury experience of 600 workers followed for two years
Authors: Pratt David S. , Marvel Laura H. , Darrow Diane , Stallones Lorann , May John J. , Jenkins Paul 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn order to better understand the work‐related injuries sustained on central New York dairy farms, we undertook a two‐year population‐based study of 600 farmers and farm workers on 201 dairy farms. During the observation period, 1984‐1986, 151 persons had 200 injuries, giving an injury rate of 16.6%/year (166 injuries/1,000 workers/year). Men were injured more often than women (p ≤ 0.01). Injured workers were older (p ≤ 0.01), worked more hours (p ≤ 0.001), and had heavier workloads than noninjured workers (p ≤ 0.001). The growing and harvest seasons had the most injuries; winter the fewest. More than 2/3 of the injuries occurred in the afternoon. Owner/operators, often the most experienced, knowledgeable people on the farms, were most often hurt. Those working more than 60 hours/week, with greater than 30 acres under tillage/worker, had a relative risk of 2.76 compared with all other workers. The attributable risk for this group was 51%. There were two fatalities, both involved owner/operators. Our findings suggest that previous studies may have underestimated the risks faced by farmers. Dairy farming in central New York is very dangerous work. Those who own and operate these dairy farms are most often hurt and killed. Analysis of events on individual farms will be reported separately. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Environmental household exposures to asbestos and occurrence of pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Dodoli Daniela , Nevo Maurizio Del , Fiumalbi Carla , Iaia Tonina Enza , Cristaudo Alfonso , Comba Pietro , Viti Cecilia , Battista Giuseppe 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe reviewed the certificates of 39,650 deaths which occurred in the period 1975‐1988 in Leghorn and of 45,900 in La Spezia (Italy) in the period 1958–1988.In total 262 cases have been recorded as pleural mesothelioma. The main occupational exposures occurred in the shipbuilding industry.Regarding non‐occupational exposures to asbestos, 13 cases of mesothelioma were found in women who had washed the work clothes of their relatives at home; we also found other domestic uses of asbestos which were rarely or never discussed previously in the literature: six cases might be explained by the installation of fireproof or non‐conductive materials in the domestic environment.These exposures probably are more frequent than realized until now. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.