bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality and cancer morbidity of finnish chlorophenoxy herbicide applicators: An 18‐year prospective follow‐up
Authors: Asp Sisko , Riihimäki Vesa , Hernberg Sven , Pukkala Eero 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAn 18‐year follow‐up for mortality and cancer morbidity was conducted in a cohort of 1,909 men who had started spraying chlorophenoxy herbicides (mixture of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4‐D] and 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4,5‐T]) in 1955 through 1971. In all, 384 persons had died during the follow‐up, and there was a slight deficit in natural deaths (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75‐0.94). By contrast, there was a small, nonsignificant increase in accidental and violent deaths. The overall cancer mortality was slightly less than in the general population (SMR 0.83; 95% CI 0.65‐1.02), and not a single case of death of non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) or soft tissue sarcomas (STS) was detected. With regard to cancer morbidity, the incident cases showed a slight deficit compared to the population figure (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 0.81; 95% CI 0.67‐0.97). One case of NHL was found (2.4 expected with 10 years of latency), but not a single case of STS (0.8 expected with 10 years of latency). While our study does not support the contention that spraying of 2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T containing herbicides carries any significant risk of cancer, the medium to low statistical power of the study does not allow any far reaching negative conclusions regarding the carcinogenicity of the agents.
Correlates of bone and blood lead levels in carpenters
Authors: Watanabe Hirokastsu , Hu Howard , Rotnitzky Andrea 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn the course of a health screening for construction carpenters, 127 subjects underwent blood lead testing, administration of detailed questionnaires, and in vivo measurement of bone lead levels with a 109Cd K‐X‐ray fluorescence (K‐XRF) instrument. The mean age of subjects was 48.5 (SD = 9.8) years. Blood lead levels were low, with a mean of 8.2 (SD = 4.0) μg/dl. Bone lead levels had means of 9.8 (SD = 9.3) μg/g bone mineral for the tibia and 14.0 (SD = 13.8) μg/g bone mineral for the patella (which consist primarily of cortical bone and trabecular bone, respectively). In multivariate regression models, age was the dominant predictor of both tibia and patella bone lead, with years since last worked and welding/brazing contributing an additional small amount of influence over tibia bone lead, and carpet laying, paint stripping, and regular exercise contributing an additional small amount of influence over patella bone lead. Demolition, carpet laying, and alcohol ingestion were significant predictors of blood lead.We conclude that age is the most important predictor of bone lead levels among workers with intermittent exposures to lead; in addition, K‐XRF is useful in generating hypotheses on additional factors that may influence lead burden.
Investigation of a spontaneous abortion cluster: Development of a risk communication plan
Authors: Curbow Barbara , McDiarmid Melissa Anne , Breysse Patrick , Lees Peter S. J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA risk communication plan was developed for a group of payroll office workers who were investigated for a possible cluster of spontaneous abortions (SABs). Survey and focus group methods were used to assess the workers' attitudes, beliefs, and information preferences. We found that four features of the workforce needed to be considered in developing an effective plan: 1) subgroups of workers varied on their levels of concern, awareness, involvement, and definitions of the problem; 2) workers did not have the necessary knowledge concerning SABs or the scientific method to participate in a two‐way communication; 3) workers were highly stressed; and 4) workers were distrustful that they would be told the truth about the SABs. A multicomponent risk communication strategy was developed to overcome these barriers. Specifically, we recommended that background information on SABs and the scientific method be presented before the report of the study results and that follow‐up sessions should be conducted on job stress and the emotional aspects of miscarriages.
Occupational case‐control studies: I. Collecting information on work histories and work‐related exposures
Authors: Stewart Walter F. , Stewart Patricia A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe strength and credibility of evidence from occupational case‐control studies largely depend on the validity and precision with which the work history is reported and the exposure is assessed. We discuss the two steps which ultimately lead to an exposure decision. The first step involves the exchange between the respondent and an interviewer. The latter is usually naïve to occupations and workplace exposures and, as such, is limited to asking generic and open‐ended questions about the workplace. Often, this type of information is too nonspecific to assess exposure. In the second step, an expert reviews the information reported on each occupation and decides on exposure status without contacting either the interviewer or respondent. Exposure assessment is not, therefore, integrated with data collection and, in fact, is usually not initiated until after all the interviews are completed. As such, the exposure expert does not have an opportunity to resolve questions before making the exposure decision. To improve the quality and specificity of data collected, we have developed over 40 sets of close‐ended questions (branch questions) which are specific to defined occupations. These branch questions, incorporated into a computer‐assisted telephone interview, are asked if selected occupations or their synonyms are reported. Second, to link the data collection process with the assessment process, we have developed a procedure called SCORE (Subject Corrected Occupational Report) which provides the industrial hygienist with a cost efficient method to ask questions directly of respondents. Shortly after each interview is completed, a computerized version of the work history is reviewed by the industrial hygienist who develops questions when more information is needed. Subsequently, respondents are mailed a form listing their reported work history along with the questions. After two mailings, 73% of participants in a pilot study returned the SCORE form.
Occupational case‐control studies: II. Recommendations for exposure assessment
Authors: Stewart Patricia A. , Stewart Walter F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObtaining valid and reliable quantitative exposure estimates is a significant challenge in community‐based case‐control studies in part, because industrial hygiene monitoring data are usually not available and detailed information on the job and work environment is usually not systematically obtained or assessed. To improve the quality and credibility of disease risk information obtained from occupational case‐control studies, we recommend that standardized exposure assessment methods be used to derive quantitative exposure estimates. We identify sources of variation inherent to the assessment process, including: the quality of the information reported on the job, industry, activities, and materials; the industrial hygienist's familiarity with the reported job/industry; the probability that the job/industry was exposed, which depends on plant preferences for particular substances, on process technology, and on customer specifications; and variability in workplace characteristics. To improve the reliability of estimating job‐related exposures both within and between studies, we recommend that the epidemiologic analyses be conducted with and without data rated to be of poor quality; that contact be made with experts when the study industrial hygienist is unfamiliar with the manufacturing process in question; that existing data bases be used to estimate the probability of exposure; that a data base be developed that describes manufacturing processes; and that explicit criteria based on industrial hygiene principles be used to evaluate workplace characteristics. In addition, a procedure is described for deriving quantitative exposure estimates by using a reference scale of frequently monitored jobs with their associated mean exposure levels. Areas of research are identified to improve exposure assessment in community‐based case‐control studies.
Effect of different questionnaire formats on reporting of occupational exposures
Authors: Teschke Kay , Kennedy Susan M. , Olshan Andrew F. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDuring an exposure monitoring study, 78 saw maintenance tradesmen were randomly assigned to be interviewed about their exposures using one of two questionnaire formats: open‐ended and partly prompted questions about five categories of materials; and detailed prompting about 75 agents. The more open‐ended questionnaire elicited fewer exposure responses overall, but more responses about agents not included on the detailed questionnaire. Composite materials and trade name products were more frequently cited as exposures than individual metals or compounds. Validity of responses was ascertained using air measurements (individual metals) or observations of the employees (composite materials). Sums of sensitivities and specificities were very low (near 1.0) for most of the metals for both types of questionnaire. For composite materials, validity improved substantially. Sensitivities with the partly prompted format (0.44–0.85) were always lower than with detailed prompting (0.80–1.00). Specificities were usually, but not always, higher with partial prompting (0.66–0.92) than with detailed prompting (0.18–0.86). Selection of questionnaire format for an epidemiologic study would depend on the likely prevalence of exposure in controls and the effects of trade‐offs in sensitivity and specificity.
Industrial hygienist as a clinical consultant
Authors: Harber Philip , Levin Mark , Weinberg Justine Lew , Oversier Jill 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe roles of industrial hygienists outside the traditional industrial setting have been expanding. This paper discusses the industrial hygienist's direct and active involvement with patients in the clinic setting. The types of roles played by the industrial hygienists in an occupational health clinic are categorized based upon experience in one academic clinic. Although experience demonstrated that there is an important function for the industrial hygienist as a clinical consultant, unresolved issues, ranging from payment to staff privileging, interfere with widespread participation.
Pleural plaques, asbestos exposure, and asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Authors: Orlowski E. , Pairon J. C. , Ameille J. , Janson X. , Iwatsubo Y. , Dufour G. , Bignon J. , Brochard P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe profiles of occupational asbestos exposure were investigated in a series of 66 hospital patients in whom pleural plaques constituted the only asbestos‐induced abnormality. The relationship between a radiological semiquantitative score of pleural plaques and indices of asbestos exposure was also examined. On the basis of a standardized occupational questionnaire, four classes of asbestos exposure were distinguished in our study population: no evidence of exposure, low‐level exposure, sporadic exposure at higher levels, and a remaining group of individuals with substantial exposure. Asbestos body count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was used as an objective indicator of cumulative lung retention of asbestos. Our results support the data indicating that pleural plaques may occur in subjects with low‐level or sporadic asbestos exposure. Although it is admitted that pleural plaques are strongly associated with past asbestos exposure, our data suggest that the stage of pleural plaques was not correlated to the level, frequency, duration of exposure nor to the amount of asbestos bodies in the BALF in subjects free of any lung parenchymal abnormalities on high resolution computerized tomography.
Digital nerve conduction velocity as a sensitive indication of peripheral neuropathy in vibration syndrome
Authors: Sakakibara Hisataka , Kondo Taka‐Aki , Miyao Masaru , Yamada Shin'Ya 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDigital nerve conduction velocities in the median and ulnar nerves were measured in order to obtain a more accurate indication of peripheral nerve impairment induced by hand‐arm vibration. The subjects were 26 patients with vibration syndrome and 28 healthy controls, both groups of about the same age. Two pairs of surface electrodes were attached to the finger and one pair was positioned on the palm, while electrical stimulation was applied to the nerve at the wrist and elbow. Then sensory nerve conduction velocities were antidromically measured within the finger, and also from the wrist to the palm and from the elbow to the wrist. Slowed conduction within the finger was mostly found among the patients. The slowing was also encountered from the wrist to the palm across the carpal tunnel. Abnormalities were observed in the digital nerve segment in about 50–70% of the patients, and in the wrist‐to‐palm segment in about 10–25% of them. The present study indicates that digital nerve impairment predominantly occurs in the vibration‐exposed patients, and that measurement of digital nerve conduction velocity can be a useful objective means to detect peripheral neuropathy in vibration syndrome.
Cohort study among workers exposed to benzene in China: II. Exposure assessment
Authors: Dosemeci M. , Li G.‐L. , Hayes R. B. , Yin S.‐N. , Linet M. , Chow W.‐H. , Wang Y.‐Z. , Jiang Z.‐L. , Dai T.‐R. , Zhang W.‐U. , Chao X.‐J. , Ye P.‐Z. , Kou Q.‐R. , Fan Y.‐H. , Zhang X.‐C. , Lin X.‐F. , Meng J.‐F. , Zho J.‐S. , Wacholder S. , Kneller R. , Blot W. J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis report describes a retrospective exposure assessment method used in a follow‐up mortality study of workers exposed to benzene. The approach quantified historical exposure to benzene in a multi‐industry, multicenter cohort, involving 672 factories in 12 cities in China. Historical exposure data were collected to obtain exposure information related to 1,427 work units (departments) and 3,179 unique job titles from benzene‐producing or ‐using factories in which written records and other data sources were evaluated. The basic unit for exposure assessment was a factory/work unit/job title combination which was considered separately during each of seven calendar‐year time periods between 1949 and 1987 for a total of 18,435 exposure assignments. Historical information collected to estimate exposure included benzene monitoring data; lists of raw materials and factory products, and the percentage of benzene in each; the total amount and dates of use of benzene or benzene‐containing materials; use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment; and other available exposure information. Overall, 38% (ranging from 3% for the earliest periods to 67% for the last period) of the estimates were based primarily on benzene monitoring data. In the absence of job‐specific benzene monitoring data for a given calendar period, measurement results or exposure estimates for similar jobs and/or other calendar periods were used in conjunction with other exposure information to derive estimates. Estimated exposure levels are presented by industries and occupations. The highest average exposures during 1949–1987 were observed for the rubber and plastic industry (30.7 ppm), and for rubber glue applicators (52.6 ppm).
Organization and classification of work history data in industry‐wide studies: An application to the electric power industry
Authors: Loomis Dana P. , Peipins Lucy A. , Browning Steven R. , Howard Richard L. , Kromhout Hans , Savitz David A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIndustry‐based cohort studies require systems for organizing work history data. Although the ultimate goal may be to assess the hazards of specific exposures, classification of the job titles that comprise work histories serves an important descriptive purpose in itself and is often necessary before exposure data can be obtained. A system we have created for organizing jobs in a study of 135,000 workers at five electric power companies highlights conceptual and practical issues in managing work history data for epidemiological studies. Job characteristics including function, location, and authority were used to develop a system of 28 occupational categories. Comprehensibility, flexibility, and efficiency were important criteria in designing the system. Assessment of exposures was an implicit goal; the same categories will define job‐exposure matrices for numerous agents. A combination of computer algorithms and expert judgment was used to assign individual job titles to the categories. This system facilitates examining the effects of various agents and controlling for confounding. The 28 categories can be collapsed and regrouped to analyze disease risks in relation to exposures to magnetic fields and other agents; even exposures not previously considered could be brought into the study with this generic system for organizing the electric power industry.
Mortality at an automotive stamping and assembly complex
Authors: Park Robert , Krebs Jane , Mirer Franklin 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMortality among workers with 2 or more years employment at an automotive stamping and assembly complex was analyzed using standardized mortality ratio (SMR), proportional mortality ratio (PMR), and mortality odds ratio (MOR) methods. The stamping plant all‐cause SMR was considerably less than expected (for white men, SMR = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54, 0.79; for black men, SMR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.45, 1.13). indicating a strong “healthy worker effect.” However, six stomach cancer deaths produced an SMR of 4.4 (95% CI = 1.62,9.6) and a PMR of 6.8 (95% CI = 2.5,15). Based on small numbers of cases, stomach cancer risk increased with duration in stamping and tool and die departments where exposures included drawing compound and other metalworking fluids. Stamping plant lung cancer mortality was elevated among production welders (MOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2,6.3), and increased with duration. Welding was performed on sheet metal sometimes coated with drawing compound, primer, or epoxy resin adhesive. As was observed for the stamping plant, the all‐cause SMR for the two assembly plants was unusually low (for white men, SMR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.56,0.73; for black men, SMR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.43,0.75). The lung cancer SMR was not elevated but the MOR was (MOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.1,2.4) and increased with assembly plant duration (MOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.02,3.1, at mean duration of cases). In the assembly plants, paint oven stack emissions had been reintroduced into the plant by the ventilation system.
Epidemiological studies of work with video display terminals and adverse pregnancy outcomes (1984–1992)
Authors: Delpizzo Vincent 
Published: April 2007

AbstractMany epidemiological studies have investigated the claim that work with video display terminals (VDT) is a risk factor during pregnancy. Results have been inconsistent, although in the majority of cases the hypothesis was not supported. Exposure assessment has been very poor and the statistical power of the studies generally low. Overall, the studies indicate that VDT operators are not at greater risk than the general population, because very low frequency (VLF) magnetic fields do not appear to be a risk factor and extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field exposure is not significantly greater than that experienced in other occupational and residential environments. However, since some studies lend support to the hypothesis that ELF magnetic fields may be a risk factor for pregnancy outcome, studies of subjects exposed to higher than average ELF fields are justified.
Impairment of color vision among workers exposed to low concentrations of styrene
Authors: Chia Sin‐Eng , Jeyaratnam Jerry , Ong Choon‐Nam , Ng Tze‐Pin , Lee Hock‐Siang 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA field study was conducted among 21 male workers exposed to styrene of concentration below 30 ppm in a fiber‐reinforced plastic boat manufacturing plant. Twenty‐one male workers with similar age groupings, years of education, and social and occupational state served as referents. The mean end‐of‐shift urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglycoxylic acid (PGA) for the exposed workers were 84 mg/g creatinine and 66 mg/g creatinine, respectively. The Lanthony D‐15 Hue Desaturated Panel was used to evaluate color discrimination of the exposed and referent groups. The results of the test were expressed as total color difference score (TCDS). The exposed workers' mean TCDS (a higher score denotes poorer color discrimination ability) was significantly (p < 0.0006) higher than the referents'. Neurobehavioral tests were also conducted, using the World Health Organization's Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB). All the results of the NCTB were poorer for the exposed than for the referents. However, significant differences were observed only for Digit Span, Digit Symbol, and Benton Visual Retention tests. These results suggest that low exposure to styrene could affect some psychometric performance and may impair color vision.
Respiratory symptoms and asthma among workers exposed to paper dust: A cohort study
Authors: Torén Kjell , Järvholm Bengt , Sällsten Gerd , Thiringer Gunnar 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe aim of the present cohort study was to investigate whether exposure to paper dust causes increased risk for respiratory symptoms or asthma. The cohort included all workers at a soft paper mill who had worked there for more than 1 year 1960–1986 (n = 1.697). Randomly selected inhabitants of the mill town (n = 781) were used as unexposed referents. Both groups were investigated using a postal questionnaire. From the paper mill cohort, workers with high cumulative exposure (n = 313), with medium cumulative exposure (n = 321), and with low cumulative exposure (n = 338) to paper dust were selected. In the 1960s and 1970s, the dust levels were between 5 and 10 mg m3. After adjustment for smoking and gender, paper dust exposure resulted in elevated prevalence ratios for chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, and breathlessness. The prevalence ratios ranged from 1.3 to 2.5. No significantly increased risk of asthma was found among the exposed, incidence rate ratio 1.4 (95% confidence interval 0.93–1.8). Among the exposed, there was an insignificantly increasing incidence rate ratio. 1.0, 1.4, 2.1, with increasing cumulative exposure. In conclusion, an increased risk for respiratory symptoms was observed among workers exposed to paper dust, but the study does not permit any definite conclusions regarding asthma and paper dust exposure.