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Biomedical subjects

L Miligi

Publications and source records attributed to L Miligi.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Solvents in pesticides.

Solvents are extensively used in pesticide formulations. This study concerns the solvents notified to the Italian Registry of Pesticides, which has information on approximately 8000 pesticide formulations. Solvents with evidence of carcinogenicity in humans or animals, including benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,4-dioxane, and 2-nitropropane, have been notified for use in pesticides. Exposure to such solvents could partly explain some of the reported excesses of leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among farmers.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Cancer mortality among workers in the Tuscan tanning industry.

The mortality of 2926 male workers at the tanneries in the "leather area" of Tuscany was examined from 1950 to 1983 comparing it with the national mortality. Cancer mortality was of particular concern because of the many chemicals known to be definite or suspected carcinogens used in the tanning cycle, in particular chromate pigments, benzidine based dyes, formaldehyde, and organic solvents. There was no excess of deaths for cancers of all sites but slight increases in deaths from cancer of the lung (SMR = 131, CI 95% = 88-182), bladder (SMR = 150, CI 95% = 48-349), kidney (SMR = 323, CI 95% = 86-827), pancreas (SMR = 146, CI 95% = 39-373), and leukaemias (SMR = 164, CI 95% = 53-382) occurred. Two cases of soft tissue sarcomas were observed versus 0.09 expected (SMR = 2178, CI 95% = 250-8023).

Adult↗

Aplastic anemia, leukemia and other cancer mortality in a cohort of shoe workers exposed to benzene.

Benzene is a well documented carcinogen for the hematic and lymphopoietic system, and experimental research confirms its carcinogenicity for tumors of other sites. This report presents the results of a historical cohort study in a shoe manufacturing plant in Florence where cases of aplastic anemia and leukemia were reported in the 1960s. A total of 1008 men and 1005 women were considered eligible members of the cohort. For total mortality, comparing the rates of the cohort with the national rates, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 79 for the women and 95 for the men. For the men excesses of risk for aplastic anemia [SMR 1566; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 547-3264] and leukemia (SMR 400, 95% CI 146-870) were observed. The increased risk occurred among workers first employed during the period in which benzene was used, but the expected number of cases in the subsequent period was too small to evaluate whether any reduction in risk had occurred. No increasing pattern with duration of employment was discernible.

Adhesives↗

[Epithelial naso-sinusal cancer incidence and the role of work in 100 cases diagnosed in the Province of Brescia (northern Italy), in the period 1978-2002].

BACKGROUND: Naso-sinusal cancers (NSC) cover a group of rare tumours in Italy for which the role of occupational risk has been established. The systematic survey of NSC in the province of Brescia made it possible to analyse the jobs of the cases occurring in the area. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the research were: estimation of epithelial NSC incidence both in the general population and among wood and leather workers, description of the frequency and type of occupational exposure to substances or manufacturing processes. METHODS: The epithelial type cases were obtained from the Naso-sinusal Cancer Register (population-based) operating in the Province of Brescia since 1994. Work histories were obtained via a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: The annual incidence ofepithelial NSC (for 100,000) in the entire population (1,090,000 inhabitants, ISTAT census 1991) from 1993 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2002 was nearly the same, 0.82 and 0.90 for men, 0.37 and 0.37 for women, respectively. The nasal cavity was the most affected anatomic site (45%) and squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent histotype (44%) among the first 100 cases whose case histories were appropriate; in the ethmoidal sinus adenocarcinoma represented 62% of the cases; 25% of all cases were exposed to occupational carcinogens (list A) and particularly to wood dust (17%), even if only of softwood species (30%), and leather dusts (7%) especially in the shoe repair. The average latency period was 47 years (SD 7.4) and 44 years (SD 5.6) respectively; 71% of these epithelial NSC cases involved the ethmoid and 85% were adenocarcinomas. Only 1% of the cases was exposed to chromium and nickel and occurred in galvanization processes. Among the exposures to occupational risks with limited epidemiological evidence (list B) there was one case exposed to formaldehyde and 42 cases occurring in the building, agricultural, metallurgic and textile sectors. Thus all the exposures to occupational risks, both certain and probable (lists A and B) reached 84% among men and 17% among women. Epithelial NSC annual incidence rates (for 100,000) estimated among the wood and leather workers for the period 1985-2002 were 13 and 6.5 respectively. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the meaning of sentinel event for these tumours in occupational health and justify maintaining an active surveillance programme for the cases occurring in the area.

Adult↗

[Occupational cancer in Italy].

The paper is a discussion of occupational cancer in Italy. The introductory section provides the necessary context of Italian industrialization and occupational health regulation. This is followed by a review of Italian epidemiological studies of occupational cancer risks, considered in terms of relative measures of risk and Attributable Risk to carcinogenic agents or exposure circumstances. A section attempts to establish the number of workers who have been exposed to carcinogens in Italy and the intensity of their exposures. Several cohort and case-control studies have addressed the issue of occupational risks, mostly among male workers. The results of these studies suggest that the growing incidence of and mortality by mesothelioma is explained by the widespread and intense exposure to asbestos in some Italian industrial settings. A high Attributable Risk of lung tumors among male populations in industrial areas of northern Italy is explained by occupational exposures. However, insufficient data are available for the clear definition of the extent and intensity of occupational exposure to carcinogenic substances. In Italy, we need to prioritize and maximize resources in occupational cancer epidemiology and to revitalize the role of national institutions. Recent legislation has established new regulations on the handling of carcinogenic substances in industrial settings, a new list of occupational diseases, and a national registry of mesothelioma linked to asbestos exposure. These legislative changes are expected to have positive effects.

Female↗

[An Italian multicenter case-control study on malignant neoplasms of the hematolymphopoietic system. Hypothesis and preliminary results on work-related risks. WILL (Working Group on Hematolymphopoietic Malignancies in Italy)].

A multicenter case-control study was conducted in Italy in twelve areas covering a population of 7 million persons with the aim of verifying the hypothesis of an association between exposure to herbicides and to organic solvents and occurrence of lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. 3420 cases were recruited in a three-year period (1991-1993), through periodical surveys in the main hospitals in each area. A random sample of the general population (2317 subjects) constitutes the control group. Cases and controls were face to face interviewed by trained personnel. A questionnaire was used asking about personal habits, residential and occupational history, past health status. Preliminary analyses, concerning a total of 1388 cases and 1718 controls, focused risks by occupation. Elevated risks of non Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR: 1.7; IC 95%: 0.92-3.02; based on 28 exposed cases), and of multiple myeloma (OR: 3.6; IC 95%: 1.51-8.63; based on 9 exposed cases) were shown for welders. Among female hairdressers there were elevated risks of non Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR: 1.8; IC 95%: 0.76-4.30; based on 8 exposed cases), multiple myeloma (OR: 3.3; IC 95%: 0.77-14.15; based on 3 exposed cases) and Hodgkin's disease (OR: 2.0; IC 95%: 0.93-4.47; based on 16 exposed cases).

Adult↗