bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Occupation and bladder cancer in utah
Authors: Schumacher Mary Catherine , Slattery Martha L. , West Dee W. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe relationships between bladder cancer and occupation, industries, and occupational exposures in Utah were examined in a population‐based, case‐control study conducted between 1977 and 1983. Life‐long occupational histories were obtained for 417 cases (332 men and 85 women) and 877 controls (685 men and 192 women). Although few positive findings emerged in this study, increased risks were detected among men for employment in the leather and textile industries which increased with duration of employment. The effects were most marked for employment beginning 45 or more years prior to interview (odds ratio [OR] for textiles = 1.92, confidence interval [CI] = 0.89–4.46; for leather OR = 2.95, CI = 0.63–13.76). Among men and women, increased risk was detected among clerical workers employed for <10 years (OR = 1.59, CI = 1.16–2.17) although the risk decreased with increased duration of employment (OR = 0.88, CI = 0.55–1.40 for 10 years). A protective effect was seen among men and women for 10 or more years employment in professional, managerial, and technical occupations (OR = 0.68, CI = 0.50–0.92). Employment as a carpenter resulted in increased risk which increased with duration. Increased risk for bladder cancer was detected among carpenters who smoked but not among carpenters who never smoked. We used an occupation‐exposure linkage system to identify workers exposed to aromatic amino compounds; such workers did not have increased risk of bladder cancer, although interaction between long‐term exposure to aromatic amino compounds and smoking was detected. Interactions between smoking and other industrial or occupational exposures were not demonstrated, and for the most part, smoking did not confound the estimates of the bladder cancer‐occupation relationships.
Case‐control study of lung cancer in los angeles county welders
Authors: Hull Corky J. , Doyle Edward , Peters John M. , Garabrant David H. , Bernstein Leslie , Preston‐Martin Susan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA case‐control study of lung cancer in white male welders was undertaken to investigate possible environmental and occupational causes of a 50% excess of lung cancer observed in this occupational group. The subjects were identified from a populationbased cancer registry in Los Angeles County. A standardized questionnaire was administered to either subjects or proxy informants of 90 lung cancer cases and 116 non‐lung‐cancer controls. Significantly increased risks of lung cancer were associated with tobacco smoking (odds ratio 7.6, p < .005) and shipyard welding with at least a 10‐year latency since first exposure (odds ratio 1.7, p < .05). Although there were elevated risks associated with some specific welding processes, none were statistically significant. Control subjects were more likely to have had exposure to confined‐space welding (odds ratio 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3–1.2), and this association was greatest where there had been at least a 20‐year latency since first exposure (0.5, 95% CI = 0.3–1.0). We conclude that the excess of lung cancer in this welding population is contributed to by a higher frequency of smoking and probable exposure to asbestos in shipyards. Other factors may be important, but probably because of limited power and reliance on proxy information, this study failed to detect other statistically significant risks.
Follow‐up of subjects who developed chloracne following TCDD exposure at seveso
Authors: Assennato G. , Cervino D. , Emmett E. A. , Longo G. , Merlo F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThree follow‐up surveys from 1976 to 1985 were carried out on 193 subjects who developed chloracne following the Seveso accident (1976).A comparison group, age and sex matched, was selected randomly from the list of residents of the town of Varedo (in the same health district but out of the dioxincontaminated zone).At each follow‐up a questionnaire was administered and biochemical tests, skin examination, and electrophysiologic measurements were performed.Biochemical indicators of hepatic function and nerve conduction studies did not show significant differences either between groups or for temporal trends.Chloracne was shown to be clinically reversible: all the chloracne cases (except for one subject) clinically recovered by 1983.The discrepancy between our results and those from other previous experiences can be related to a different type of exposure, the young age of the target population, and the interval since exposure.
Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans in workers exposed to 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin
Authors: Patterson D. G. , Fingerhut M. A. , Roberts D. W. , Needham L. L. , Sweeney M. Haring , Marlow D. A. , Andrews J. S. , Halperin W. E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractReview of employment and chemical production records at a Missouri chemical plant and of questionnaires with self‐reported occupational exposure to 2,3,7,8‐tetrachloro‐dibenzo‐p‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) for 16 Missouri workers has explained the wide diversity of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD levels previously reported in the workers' adipose tissue (3.5‐750 ppt on whole‐weight basis). We show that the highest exposures reported to date in the United States occurred in a group of nine production workers who made products contaminated with 2,3,7,8‐TCDD. The nine workers had adipose tissue levels with a mean of 246 ppt and a range of 42 to 750 ppt. Seven persons who worked at the same chemical company, but not in the 2,3,7,8‐TCDD‐contaminated process, had a mean of 8.7 ppt and a range of 3.5 to 25.8 ppt. We also report serum levels of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD in these individuals. The adipose tissue from a subset of four production workers with elevated levels of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD and seven Missouri residents with normal 2,3,7,8‐TCDD levels was also analyzed for other isomers of the PCDDs and PCDFs. The mean adipose tissue level of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD in the subset of production workers was 45 times higher than the mean level in the unexposed Missouri residents, but similar levels of the other PCDDs and PCDFs were found in both groups.
Asbestos and kidney cancer: The evidence supports a causal association
Authors: Smith Allan H. , Shearn Valerie I. , Wood Rose 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe role of asbestos in the etiology of lung cancer and of mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum has been well documented. The evidence for a causal association between asbestos and other human cancers is not as extensive but suggests that asbestos may be carcinogenic at several different sites. This paper is concerned specifically with a possible causal association between asbestos and human kidney cancer. A review of the evidence to date indicates that only three human studies have sufficient statistical power to detect an excess mortality from kidney cancer among workers exposed to asbestos. All three were occupational cohort studies, and two of these gave strong direct evidence for such an excess; a study of U.S. insulators (kidney cancer SMR = 2.22, 90% CI 1.44–3.30), and a study of U.S. asbestos products company workers (kidney cancer SMR = 2.76, 90% CI 1.29–5.18). The third study, of Italian shipyard workers, reported excess mortality from “cancers of the kidney, urinary bladder, and other urinary organs” (SMR = 1.98, 90% CI 1.42–2.70). Further support for a causal association includes studies finding asbestos fibers in human kidneys and urine, as well as reports of kidney tumors in two animal bioassays. It is concluded that asbestos should be regarded as a probable cause of human kidney cancer.
Respiratory function in animal food processing workers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Mataija Marina , Pokrajac Duska , Schachter E. Neil , Witek T. J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA group of 71 men employed in animal food processing was studied to assess the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and the presence of lung function abnormalities. In addition, a control group of 55 unexposed men was studied for the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. A significantly higher prevalence for most of the chronic respiratory symptoms was found among the exposed workers compared to the control workers. Those workers who smoked had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and chest tightness than the smokers in the control group. For nonsmokers, the differences between exposed and control workers were significant for chronic phlegm and chest tightness. The frequency of acute symptoms associated with the work shift was high among the animal food workers. There were significantly lower measured values for FVC, FEV1, and FEF50 in the exposed group (smokers and nonsmokers) compared to predicted lung function values. In smokers, all measured parameters of ventilatory capacity were significantly less than predicted; for nonsmokers, the FVC and FEV1 were less than normal. Our data indicate that exposure to dust in the animal food industry may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and the impairment of lung function. Smoking, in this setting, appears to aggravate these changes.
Effects of respirator dead space, inspiratory resistance, and expiratory resistance ventilatory loads
Authors: Harber Philip , Shimozaki Steven , Barrett Thomas , Losides Peter , Fine Gil 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe effects of respiratorlike inspiratory resistance (IR), expiratory resistance (ER), and dead space (DS) were assessed in a group of 11 normal volunteers during moderate steady‐state (SS) and rapidly incremented (RI) exercise. The physiologic effects of IR were predominant, increasing inspiratory time, duty cycle, and several measures of ventilatory work. Effects of DS appear related to increased minute ventilation and include increasing flow rates and duty cycle and requiring greater ventilatory work; during RI exercise, the DS effect became relatively smaller at higher exercise levels. ER compressed expiratory time. These results characterize the response to IR, ER, and DS loads and suggest that DS may be relatively less physiologically significant than IR.
Predisposing factors in laboratory animal allergy: A study of atopy and environmental factors
Authors: Sjöstedt Lars , Willers Stefan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA population of 101 laboratory technicians handling laboratory animals was studied with regard to predisposing factors for allergy. Twenty‐seven had symptoms indicating laboratory animal allergy (LAA); of these, nine had asthma and were skin prick test positive for animal allergens. The LAA asthmatics had an increased frequency of a family history of allergy (relative risk, RR = 3.8); the predictive value was 0.27. There was also an increase of skin prick positivity against common nonanimal allergens (RR = 15); the predictive value was 0.60. All persons with marked positive skin prick tests (> + 2) to environmental allergens had developed animal‐test‐positive LAA asthma. In 56% of the LAA asthma cases the serum IgE levels were elevated (<100kU/L). In preemployment screening of susceptible individuals two important selection criteria emerged, viz., family history of allergy and positive skin prick reactions against environmental allergens.
Were the hatters of new jersey “mad”?
Authors: Wedeen Richard P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractConventional wisdom holds that the “Mad Hatter” of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland earned his name because he exhibited psychotic behavior from mercury poisoning. The first description of mercurialism in hatters was published by J. Addision Freeman, M.D., in the Transactions of the Medical Society of New Jersey in 1860, just 5 years before Lewis Carrol's famous tale. But it is unlikely that Alice's creator was aware of this obscure provincial report. Numerous subsequent studies of hatters in New Jersey showed that the hatters' shakes were rampant among the immigrant workers. The pathologic shyness of mercurialism, however, was not noted in New Jersey hatters until 1912. The idea that hatters were “mad” stemmed from popular perceptions more than from medical knowledge. Nor did medical studies lead to elimination of mercury in felt hat manufacturing. The hatters' occupational disease was curbed only in 1941 when mercury was required for the manufacture of detonators in World War II. The hatters of New Jersey were not only not mad, but neither were they, the physicians, nor the public of the period sufficiently angry to control the conditions under which the hatters worked.
Mineral fiber concentration in lung tissue of mesothelioma patients in finland
Authors: Tuomi Timo , Segerberg‐Konttinen Margaretha , Tammilehto Lauri , Tossavainen Antti , Vanhala Esa 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe mineral fibers in lung tissue samples of 19 mesothelioma patients and 15 randomly selected autopsy cases were analyzed using low‐temperature ashing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x‐ray microanalysis. The fiber concentration ranged from 0.5 to 370 million fibers per gram of dry tissue in the mesothelioma group and from < 0.1 to 3.2 million fibers per gram of dry tissue in the autopsy group. In 80% of the mesothelioma patients and in 20% of the autopsy cases, the fiber concentration exceeded 1 million fibers per gram of dry tissue. Amphibole asbestos fibers predominated in both groups, and only a few chrysotile fibers were found. In the lungs of six mesothelioma patients, anthophyllite was the main fiber type. The overall analytical precision of sample preparation and fiber counting with SEM was 22%.
Corporate response to reproductive hazards in the workplace: Results of the family, work, and health survey
Authors: Paul Maureen , Daniels Cynthia , Rosofsky Robert 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAs a part of a Family, Work, and Health Survey, we analyzed corporate practices regarding reproductive hazards in the chemical and electronics manufacturing industries in Massachusetts. Over half of the 198 firms surveyed had at least one of four designated reproductive hazards in use. Among these firms, 57% provided information on reproductive risks to employees. Nearly 20% of companies excluded certain classes of workers from substances, work areas, or occupations on the basis of reproductive health concerns. Another 13% offered voluntary transfers to workers concerned about reproductive risks. With one exception, all restrictions and transfers applied to women only–‐even when scientific evidence supports potential reproductive risk to both sexes. Analysis of corporate practices by industry type, and size, gender stratification, and unionization of the workforce was carried out. Results of the survey raise important public health concerns about corporate practices that may restrict women's job opportunities on the basis of reproductive status while underprotecting the health of male workers.
Lung function of welders of zinc‐coated mild steel: Cross‐sectional analysis and changes over five consecutive work shifts
Authors: Marquart Hans , Smid Tjabe , Heederik Dick , Visschers Maarten 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSpirometric lung‐function measurements were conducted 5 days before and after the work shift of 11 welders of zinc‐coated steel, ten nonwelders who were indirectly exposed to welding fumes, and 17 controls. The exposure to dust and zinc of all participants was monitored personally using PAS‐6 samplers. Geometric mean concentrations for welders were 0.91 mg/m3 (dust) and 34.0 μg/m3 (zinc).Cross‐sectional analysis of Monday morning values showed no differences in lungfunction parameters between groups. However, the number of years the participants were engaged in welding was of borderline statistical significance and correlated negatively with values of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Changes in lung function over a work shift or a working week were not related to the exposure level.
Geographic distribution of deaths due to sentinel health event (occupational) causes
Authors: Wagener Diane K. , Buffler Patricia A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis report describes the Compressed Mortality File available from the National Center for Health Statistics that can be used to easily and efficiently generate annual mortality rates for geographic areas as small as counties for any period from 1968 to 1985. Several ways of presenting geographic variation in mortality rates due to potentially work‐related deaths and changes in these rates over time are discussed for the 15‐year period from 1969 through 1983. Causes of death that are potentially work‐related were identified using the sentinel health events (occupational) [SHE(O)] concept. Data are given for nine diagnostic groups of occupationally related disorders, and maps are presented for bladder cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and pneumoconioses. Significant changes in age‐adjusted mortality rates were noted for pneumoconioses and acute myeloid leukemia that could not be due to changes in the disease coding of death certificates. Racial differences in mortality rates due to pneumoconioses may be due to differences in employment patterns. The use of SHE(O) codes to search the Compressed Mortality File may be helpful in identifying areas for public health concern, even if only as a monitoring signal for subsequent time periods. This file also provides an easy way to generate reference population mortality rates for epidemiologic studies.
Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma in an urban hospital: Clinical spectrum and trend in incidence over time
Authors: Shepherd Kenneth E. , Oliver L. Christine , Kazemi Homayoun 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis retrospective analysis reviews the clinical experience of a major urban referral hospital with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma during the 14‐year period from 1973 through 1986. Seventy‐five cases of definite or equivocal mesothelioma were identified. There were four cases of primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, seven cases of benign fibrous mesothelioma, and 64 cases of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. In 43 cases (67%) of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma, there was historic evidence of asbestos exposure. In 21 cases (33%), there was no known history of asbestos exposure. An increase in annual incidence of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma was observed over the study period, from three cases in 1973 to ten cases in 1986.Despite greater awareness of this disease, the diagnosis remains a difficult one to establish given the nonspecific symptoms, signs and radiographic appearance, variable histologic appearance, and poor diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy. Thoracotomy, thoracoscopy, and CT‐guided needle biopsies gave higher yields and are the diagnostic measures of choice when diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is suspected.
One hundred years of chromium and cancer: A review of epidemiological evidence and selected case reports
Authors: Langrrd Sverre 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe present review is motivated by the fact that 100 years have passed since the first cancer case in a chromium worker was reported in Scotland. Old and recent case reports and epidemiological studies among chromate workers are reviewed to elucidate the importance of valency states and water solubility of chromium compounds for carcinogenic potency. It is concluded that all chromium[VI] compounds should be considered carcinogenic among exposed populations, and that no evidence has been presented indicating that human exposure to chromium[III] is associated with increased cancer risk. Strong evidence has been presented that zinc chromate is a potent carcinogen and suggests that calcium chromate may be a potent carcinogen. Evidence also suggests that water‐soluble chromates in general may be more potent carcinogens than those with low solubility. Primary and secondary prevention of chromate‐related cancer and the success in preventive measures are briefly discussed, and recommendations for future research are made.
Fluoride in workplace air and in urine of workers concentrating fluorspar
Authors: Rees Doh David Bch, , Rama Dhirajlal B. K. , Yousefi Vali 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe urinary fluoride concentrations of workers exposed to calcium fluoride (CaF2) during fluorspar processing were measured. Personal dust measurement showed that the mean occupational exposure to fluoride for 12 workers in the most dusty environment was 24.3 mg/m3, which is 9.7 times the threshold limit value (TLV) of 2.5 mg/m3. Exposure was below the TLV for the remaining 23 workers. Urinary fluoride concentrations were measured pre‐ and postshift. The heavily exposed workers had a mean preshift concentration of 3.3 mg/liter (range 1.4–8.5 mg/liter), only slightly higher than the mean of 2.8 mg/liter (range 1.3–4.2 mg/liter) in the workers with fluoride exposure below the TLV. Four of the preshift concentrations exceeded the recommended upper limit of 4 mg/liter.The mean postshift concentration for workers exposed above the TLV was 4.4 mg/liter (range 2.4–7.1 mg/liter) and the difference between pre‐ and postshift concentrations was significant (p < 0.05). Only one urinary concentration exceeded the recommended upper limit of 7 mg/liter. There was poor correlation between intensity of environmental exposure to fluorspar and postshift fluoride concentration in the urine. Eighteen workers provided a urine sample 7‐14 hr after the end of a shift. The mean fluoride concentration was 4.7 mg/liter (range 2.4–11.7 mg/liter), which exceeded their postshift concentration by 0.2 mg/liter. These results indicate that the low aqueous solubility of fluorspar reduced the biologic availability of the fluoride ion but that this did not prevent excessive fluoride absorption in some workers.
Surveillance of occupational skin diseases: A method utilizing workers' compensation claims
Authors: Mathias C. G. Toby , Sinks Thomas H. , Seligman Paul J. , Halperin William E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn order to determine the feasibility of using workers' compensation claims (WCC) for surveillance of occupational skin diseases, we reviewed all WCC received in the state of Ohio from 1980 through 1984. A total of 4,214 WCC for occupational skin diseases were filed by 2,610 Ohio companies, of which 1,656 (63%) companies were classified in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) categories with average annual WCC rates above the overall state average for skin diseases. During the five year study period, 102 companies filed six or more WCC, of which 85 (83.3%) companies were classified in SICs with above‐average WCC rates. WCC from 65 (63.7%) of these 102 companies implicated either the same occupation or causal agent in 50% or more of WCC received from each respective company. Using SIC classifications with WCC rates above the state average and six or more filed WCC as measures of risk, there was good correlation between company risk ranking by SIC categorization and number of WCC filed. This study suggests that active intervention strategies to prevent occupational skin diseases can be based on primary identification of companies filing WCC, followed by secondary identification of high‐risk occupations or causal agent exposures within these companies.