Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Kolmodin-Hedman

Publications and source records attributed to B Kolmodin-Hedman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Cell response in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after sulfur dioxide exposure.

Environmental chamber exposure and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were used to study the dose-response relationship between short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and inflammatory reactions in the human lung as reflected in BAL fluid. Healthy subjects were exposed to 10, 13, 20, or 30 mg/m3 for 20 min. BAL was performed several weeks preexposure and 24 h postexposure. Mast cells, lymphocytes, lysozyme positive macrophages, and the total number of macrophages were significantly increased after SO2 exposure. A dose-dependent increase in the cell response in BAL fluid was observed after exposure to 10-20 mg/m3, but no further increase was detected after 30 mg/m3. Inflammatory cell response was found in BAL fluid at SO2 levels that occur in industrial indoor environments worldwide, and cell response to SO2 was also seen below the short-term exposure limit of Sweden and many other countries (13 mg/m3).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Health problems among operators of plastic welding machines and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

To study possible medical effects of high radiofrequency radiation (RF), 113 Swedish men and women were studied by means of a structured interview and rating of subjective symptoms. A test session was included in order to examine coordination and muscular function of the hands. A neurological test concerning two-point discrimination (2-PD) was also done. As referents, 23 women, sewing machine operators and assembly workers, were chosen, interviewed and likewise tested. Exposure measurements were taken of the RF fields around the welding machines. The present Swedish ceiling value of 250 W/m2 for the equivalent power density was exceeded in more than 50% of the machines. The highest leakage fields, both for electric and magnetic fields, were found near machines used in factories for ready-made clothing, which gave a high exposure to the hands. Irritative eye symptoms were reported by 23% of the men and 40% of the women. A group of 27 persons was selected for a clinical eye examination and checked by photographs, and nine persons had modest conjunctivitis. A high prevalence of numbness in hands, especially among women, was found. A significantly impaired 2-PD was found in the exposed women as compared to the referent group. The pregnancy outcome for 305 female plastic welders during 1974-1984 did not show any significant differences with the Swedish average concerning malformation or prenatal mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Follow-up study of pulmonary function and respiratory tract symptoms in workers in a Swedish iron ore mine.

In 1967, 240 workers in the Kiruna, Sweden, mine were examined with regard to lung function and respiratory symptoms. Seventeen years later, 167 of these workers were reexamined using a structured interview which covered respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and workplace, and lung function tests, including dynamic spirometry and closing volume. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the present study was 9.6%. There was a strong relationship between chronic bronchitis and smoking but no relationship between chronic bronchitis and working underground in the mine. Only three persons had chronic obstructive lung disease. In the still active mine workers, dynamic spirometry results showed no difference between smokers or nonsmokers or between underground and surface workers. Thus, we found no excess of chronic obstructive lung disease or lung function disturbances in the mine workers studied. This probably reflects a self-selection process whereby the workers with airway obstruction due to smoking or underground exposure have left underground work and also the company. Underground workers with chronic mucous hypersecretion, on the other hand, have not felt motivated, because of this, to leave underground work. Some, however, may have stopped smoking but not necessarily because of the hypersecretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Incidence of organic dust toxic syndrome and allergic alveolitis in Swedish farmers.

The incidence of allergic alveolitis (AA) and of febrile reactions (FR) to inhaled mold dust in those who did not meet the criteria of AA was investigated in Swedish farmers, and the findings were related to farming methods and exposure type. A questionnaire was completed by 6,702 farmers. A stratified sample of 390 farmers underwent examination comprising spirometry, a skin-prick test, blood tests for precipitating antibodies and total IgE and an interview concerning symptoms, exposure and farming methods. The yearly incidence of AA was 2-3/10,000 farmers. The incidence of FR was 30-50 times higher (1/100 farmers) and the majority of these reactions was of a toxic rather than allergic type (organic dust toxic syndrome). Among farmers with recent FR or AA there was a higher frequency of positive precipitin reactions (p less than 0.05). Exposures to moldy grain, straw, wood chips and hay were associated with both AA and FR. A major difference in exposure between 17 farmers with AA and 80 with FR was that AA appeared to require repeated exposure, while FR was associated with occasional heavy exposure to mold dust.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1986

Mould exposure in museum personnel.

In the basement archives of a local arts and crafts museum where the books and bookkeeping registers were handled, a woman on the museum staff had had ten attacks of fever, chill, nausea and cough during one year. The symptoms appeared at the end of the working day and disappeared after one to three days at home. No symptoms could be detected during the summer holidays. The books stored in the basement archives had earlier been stored in a small house with a leaky roof, which had led to the growth of mould on the books. When the books were handled at the museum, they were still covered with mould. The exposure measurements showed 10(6) CFU/m3 and a total of 10(8) microorganisms/m3.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1985

Exposure to microorganisms, febrile and airway-obstructive symptoms, immune status and lung function of Swedish farmers.

A questionnaire was sent to 512 farmers, members of a local farmer's health association. Eighty were interviewed, and their serum precipitins and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) values were determined. Forty-five underwent extensive pulmonary function tests. On the basis of the clinical evaluation it was estimated that 19% of the farmers had experienced febrile reactions (fever and/or shivering) following exposure to organic dust, 50% of the 19% having been exposed within the last 2.5 years. Common causes were moldy grain, hay, and woodchips. The pulmonary function, gas exchange, and chest radiographs of those who had previously had febrile reactions were normal. Only 13% showed positive precipitin reactions in Ouchterlony double-diffusion tests. With more sensitive tests, positive precipitins were found in 59%, but they were negatively correlated with febrile episodes. Air samples collected during work with hay and grain on 21 farms contained between 10(7) to 2 X 10(9) microorganisms/m3. The highest values were associated with symptoms of alveolitis. Eleven percent of the farmers reported obstructive chest symptoms following exposure to organic dust. This group showed decreased pulmonary function and elevated serum IgE levels and included a high proportion of smokers and exsmokers. No correlation was found between febrile and obstructive reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Irritative complaints, carboxyhemoglobin increase and minor ventilatory function changes due to exposure to chain-saw exhaust.

Complaints of irritation in the eyes, nose and throat as well as dyspnea during work prompted this study to determine whether chain-saw exhaust produces acute exposure effects in loggers. Interviews concerning respiratory symptoms and rating of complaints were conducted for 211 loggers at industrial health care centers. Measurements of carboxyhemoglobin, spirometry and exposure to hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and aldehydes were assessed for 23 loggers over 36 work periods lasting 2 h each. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis among the 211 loggers was 6%. Irritative complaints of eyes, nose and throat were common and significantly higher than in a reference group. The exposure levels were all below established threshold limit levels, except for carbon monoxide. There was a significant correlation between carbon monoxide exposure and blood carboxyhemoglobin levels. A small but significant decrease of FEV1% and FEF 25-75% during the work periods indicated minimal broncho-constriction, possibly mediated through a reflex mechanism due to irritation of upper airways.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Occupational handling of cytostatic drugs.

The bacterial fluctuation test and measurement of the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges were used for evaluation of the exposure of different groups of hospital personnel to cytostatic drugs. Increased mutagenic activity in the urine was detected only in personnel working with inadequate safety precautions, e.g., lack of a ventilated safety cabin for preparation of parenteral solutions. Although such a safety cabin was used within the hospital pharmacy, increased mutagenic activity was detected in the urine of prescriptionists preparing parenteral cytostatic drugs. After a change of glove material and improvement of ventilation in the safety cabin, no work-related increase in urinary mutagenic activity was seen. None of the different groups tested, showed any increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges. It is therefore concluded that handling of cytostatic drugs according to the issued safety recommendations including working in a well ventilated safety cabin, will not result in any enhancement of mutagenic activity in the urine related to work.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Studies on phenoxy acid herbicides. I. Field study. Occupational exposure to phenoxy acid herbicides (MCPA, dichlorprop, mecoprop and 2,4-D) in agriculture.

In the presented study we wanted to establish a biological monitoring of exposure in farmers occupationally exposed to phenoxy acid herbicides (MCPA, dichlorprop mecoprop, and 2,4-D). The individual airborn concentrations were measured as well as the urinary concentration before, during and after exposure. Twentyfour male farmers and nine professional spray-men were studied and compared. The air concentrations were low, less than 0.001-0.1 micrograms/m3. Urinary concentrations were variable less than 0.05-12 micrograms/ml (MCPA). Uptake by dermal absorption seems to be dominant, swallowing of sprayed droplets and inhalation are possible routes of entrance. Urinary concentrations of phenoxy acid herbicides (MCPA, dichlorprop, and mecoprop) measured at the end of an exposure period or preferably the following morning could be used to give a reflection of recent exposure.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗