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Biomedical subjects

S Skerfving

Publications and source records attributed to S Skerfving.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Comparison among five mutagenicity assays in workers producing polyurethane foams.

Thirty-two male individuals exposed to isocyanates and amines during the production of plastic foams and 20 male referents were studied by cytogenetic methods (chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in lymphocytes) and by urinary mutagenic assays (thioether concentrations and mutagenic activity with Salmonella TA98 and E. Coli WP2 uvrA). The occupational exposure was monitored by measurements of toluene diisocyanate and N-methylmorpholine in work-room air. The levels were below the current Swedish hygienic standards. Although all parameters, except the sister chromatid exchanges, showed increased mean values for the exposed group compared to the referents, only the urinary thioether concentrations differed significantly. The study was, however, non-conclusive with regard to a genetic effect of the occupational exposure as measured by the cytogenetic parameters. This may be due to the low exposure level. In the micronuclei frequencies there was a significant effect of age. Smoking significantly affected the SCE frequencies, the thioether concentrations and the mutagenic activities in the Salmonella assay. There were statistically significant correlations between the urine specimens collected during one working day and the following morning with regard to the mutagenic activities in the Salmonella and E. coli assays, and in the thioether concentrations as well. The association between the different cytogenetic and urinary mutagenic assays were weak but there were several statistically significant correlation coefficients, indicating that the variables may have a common metabolic background.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Mortality and cancer morbidity in workers exposed to sulphur dioxide in a sulphuric acid plant.

To evaluate the risk of non-malignant respiratory disease and tumours at exposure to sulphur dioxide, a retrospective cohort study was performed on a group of 400 male workers, employed for at least six months during the period 1961-1981, in a sulphuric acid factory. Since 1969, fairly extensive measurements have been performed in the respiratory zone of the workers. The median level of total dust, over the years, was 2.2 mg/m3 (time-weighted average), of respirable dust 0.6 mg/m3, of sulphur dioxide 3.6 mg/m3, and of arsenic 11 micrograms/m3. There was a significantly increased total mortality in the period 1961-1985. Applying greater than or equal to 5 years latency period there were 47 observed deaths, giving a standardized mortality rate (SMR) of 1.57 (P = 0.002). The increased mortality was due to violence and intoxication (observed 9, SMR = 2.83; P = 0.006) and cardiovascular disease (SMR = 1.51, P = 0.05). The total tumour morbidity was not increased (observed 17, SMR = 1.17, P greater than 0.5) and there was no rise of either non-malignant or malignant lung diseases. However, there was an increase of bladder cancer (observed 5, SMR = 4.36, P = 0.006).

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1988

Selenium status in females with occupational cervico-brachial complaints.

A hypothesis that selenium deficiency predisposes the development of occupational cervicobrachial complaints was tested in 134 females working in an assembly factory, with constrained work postures and repetitive work tasks. Seventeen subjects, who reported intake of selenium tablets, had higher plasma selenium levels than the others (104 vs 89 micrograms/l, P = 0.01). Among those who did not take selenium tablets, 21% reported symptoms from the upper back during the last 7d, 21% from the neck, 38% from the shoulders, 15% from the elbows, and 27% from the hands. Subjects with pain in their elbows had slightly, but significantly, lower plasma selenium levels than asymptomatics (84 vs 90 micrograms/l, P = 0.048). For the other anatomical regions, there were no statistically significant differences. Thus, there was no major association between selenium status and pain; conclusions regarding any minor association must await further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Biological effects in a chemical factory with mutagenic exposure. I. Cytogenetic and haematological parameters.

Analysis in two independent laboratories demonstrated no significant differences in chromosome aberrations or micronuclei in lymphocytes from peripheral blood between workers in a chemical factory (exposed to a mixture of chemicals, such as piperazine, low levels of ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, aromatic nitrogen compounds, and other aromatic compounds) compared to unexposed control subjects. The chemical workers had significantly higher counts of lymphocytes (3.57 vs. 2.82 X 10(9)/l; P less than 0.001), eosinophils (0.27 vs. 0.20 X 10(9)/l; P = 0.005), and basophils (0.06 vs. 0.05 X 10(9)/l; P = 0.01) than the controls. Twenty workers exposed to piperazine had higher total numbers of B-lymphocytes than control subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Biological effects in a chemical factory with mutagenic exposure. II. Analysis of unscheduled DNA synthesis and adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase, epoxide hydrolase, and glutathione transferase in resting mononuclear leukocytes.

A chemical plant, where an increased number of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and myelomas had been observed, was monitored for genotoxic effects occurring in peripheral mononuclear leukocyte samples from 76 exposed workers. Biochemical markers sensitive to DNA repair and drug metabolism were used as the indicators of genotoxic risk. Unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) and covalent binding induced by N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (NA-AAF) and constitutive and gamma ray induced adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase (ADPRT) activities were highly and significantly elevated over the corresponding values for a control group of 48 postal workers. Microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolases and glutathione transferase activities directed towards trans-stilbene oxide and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene were not significantly altered in the exposed group. The exposure in this factory was complex, involving over 100 chemicals including several well known carcinogens. However, no apparent significant associations to exposure could be established.

Acetoxyacetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1988

Biological effects in a chemical factory with mutagenic exposure. III. Urinary mutagenicity and thioether excretion.

Eighty-five workers in a chemical plant, in which there was an increased frequency of B-lymphocyte tumours (myelomas and lymphomas) and lung cancer, did not excrete higher amounts of thioethers in urine than 48 control subjects. The chemically exposed workers had, however, a higher excretion of thioethers in urine during shift compared to an exposure-free period. The bacterial fluctuation test showed a statistically significantly increased mutagenic activity for E. coli Wp2 uvrA, but not for Salmonella TA98, in the urine of the exposed workers compared with the controls. However, no difference in excretion was found in the chemical workers between work and an exposure free-period. Further, no association of thioether or mutagen excretion with any specific chemical exposure (e.g. ethylene oxide and formaldehyde) in the plant could firmly be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Excretion of N-mononitrosopiperazine in urine in workers manufacturing piperazine.

Piperazine has been shown to nitrosate in vivo to N-mononitrosopiperazine (MNPZ) by oral intake. Urine from workers exposed to piperazine in a chemical plant was analysed for nitrosamines by gas chromatography-thermal energy analysis. In five out of 11 exposed cases, MNPZ excretion in urine was 0.3 to 4.7 micrograms/24 h (during and after a work shift). In four cases, MNPZ was detected in some urine samples, and in two cases MNPZ was not detected (less than 0.1 ng/ml). The individual excretion was strongly dependent on piperazine exposure, which ranged from 0.06 to 1.7 mg/m3 (time-weighted average; Spearman's rank correlation 0.78, P = 0.01). The MNPZ excretion showed no significant correlation with nitrite or nitrate in saliva (both: r = 0.50, P = 0.10).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Specific serum antibodies against phthalic anhydride in occupationally exposed subjects.

In two plants producing alkyde and unsaturated polyester resins, the time-weighted average air level during loading of phthalic anhydride (PA) was 6.6 (1.5 to 17.4) mg/m3. In a full workday the level was 0.4 mg/m3. In 60 workers, symptoms of rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis were frequently reported, mostly by heavily exposed workers (69%). Five workers (14%) with PA-associated asthma were found. All were heavily exposed during some period. There was no difference between the exposure groups with regard to total serum level of IgE, IgG, and IgM, nor specific IgE and IgM against PA. There was a significant difference of specific IgG against PA between heavy and low exposure groups (p = 0.01). One worker with asthma had an increased specific IgE level. Subjects with symptoms did not differ from subjects without symptoms in total serum IgE, IgM, IgA, or specific IgE and IgM. However, subjects with rhinoconjunctivitis had lower total IgG than the other workers (p = 0.01). The subjects with asthma had significantly higher values for specific IgG than the asymptomatic subjects (p = 0.005). Four subjects had specific IgG antibodies of subclass 4 (IgG4). Three of these four subjects had asthma, and one had rhinitis. These findings demonstrate that specific IgG is an index of PA exposure and support the hypothesis that specific IgG4 under some circumstances, may be a pathogenetic factor in asthma.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1988

Focal epilepsy and exposure to organic solvents: a case-referent study.

Organic solvent exposure was studied in 104 cases of idiopathic focal epilepsy and 312 matched referents. Exposure to solvents was classified as O, I, II, or III on the basis of occupational codes. The relative risk (RR) of epilepsy for those in exposure class I, II, or III, relative to O, was estimated using conditional logistic regression. An increasing trend in RR was observed with higher exposure classes. The attributable risk for cases with focal epilepsy of deep hemispherical origin was estimated to be 8%.

Epilepsies, Partial↗
PubMed1988

IgG antibodies against polyisocyanates in car painters.

A group of thirty car painters exposed to vapours and aerosols of paint containing prepolymer andmonomer of hexametylene diisocyanate (HDI) was investigated. Specific antibodies against monomer HDI and prepolymerized HDI were analysed with RAST (IgE) and ELISA (IgG) assays after conjugation of the haptens with human serum albumin. There was no significant increase of serum IgG antibodies against HDI monomer, nor of specific IgE antibodies against HDI monomer or prepolymer. Specific IgG antibodies against prepolymerized HDI were significantly increased, as compared with non-exposed referents (medians 0.11 vs 0.03 absorbance (A]. Six car painters were found to have specific IgG antibodies of subclass 4 against HDI prepolymer, four also against HDI monomer. This shows an association between exposure and specific IgG antibodies. Thirteen subjects had suffered symptoms of rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis, and ten had symptoms from the bronchi (two asthma). There was no significant association between symptoms and levels of specific antibodies. Most of the symptoms were slight and unspecific, probably due to irritative effects of the exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Experimental study on the metabolism of triethylamine in man.

Five healthy volunteers were exposed by inhalation to triethylamine (TEA; four or eight hours at about 10, 20, 35, and 50 mg/m3), a compound widely used as a curing agent in polyurethane systems. Analysis of plasma and urine showed that an average of 24% of the TEA was biotransformed into triethylamine-N-oxide (TEAO) but with a wide interindividual variation (15-36%). The TEA and TEAO were quantitatively eliminated in the urine. The plasma and urinary concentrations of TEA and TEAO decreased rapidly after the end of exposure (average half time of TEA was 3.2 h). There was an excellent association between air levels of TEA and the urinary concentrations in samples obtained within two hours of the end of exposure. Thus the urinary level of TEA taken in this period is useful as a biological monitoring of exposure. An air concentration of 10 mg/m3 corresponds to an average urinary concentration of about 40 mmol/mol creatinine (at sedentary work).

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1988

Relation between lead and cadmium in blood and the involuntary smoking of children.

The blood lead (PbB) and blood cadmium (CdB) levels, as well as the parental smoking habits, of 133 children aged 4 to 11 years were studied. The children were from a town with a lead smeltery and a surrounding rural area. There was a significant association between the higher PbB levels of the children and involuntary (parental) smoking in the home. The CdB levels of the children were not affected by parental smoking habits. The children whose parents did not smoke at home had lower PbB values than those with one smoking parent. These children, in turn, had lower levels than children with two smoking parents. Mothers who smoked had a greater impact than fathers who smoked. There was also a dose-response relationship between the amount of tobacco smoked by the mother and the PbB level of the child. The PbB value was higher for the children living near industrial lead emissions than for children from the rural area. The association between PbB level and involuntary smoking is probably not due to inhalation of lead originating from tobacco smoke. A small airways disease affecting the absorption of inhaled lead particles is proposed as an explanation.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1987

Small airways function in workers exposed to piperazine.

An N2 wash-out technique was used to estimate the small airways function in 22 male workers, exposed to the asthma-inducing amine piperazine, and in 22 referent subjects, with similar smoking habits and age. The volume of trapped gas (VTG) was determined before and after a bronchial provocation with an aerosol of 0.25 ml 0.01% metacholine solution. No difference in VTG was observed between the piperazine-exposed workers and the referent subjects, either before or after the metacholine provocation. This indicates that a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure of about 0.1 mg piperazine/m3 does not cause small airways disease in non-asthmatic workers. Further, age and smoking habits were significantly associated with VTG.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Small effect on plasma selenium level by occupational lead exposure.

Selenium level in plasma (P-Se) was slightly, but statistically significantly (2p = 0.02) lower in 25 lead-exposed secondary smelter workers (P-Se 1.09 +/- 0.02 mumol l-1, mean +/- SEM; blood lead level, B-Pb, 1.9 +/- 0.1 mumol l-1) than in 25 matched controls (P-Se 1.16 +/- 0.03 mumol l-1; B-Pb 0.2 +/- 0.01 mumol l-1). Further, there was a significant negative (2p = 0.02) correlation (r = -0.33) between B-Pb and P-Se. The data indicate a minor interaction, in humans, between occupational lead exposure and selenium status.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Acidic deposition and human exposure to toxic metals.

Acid precipitation affects the solubility of several metals in aquatic systems and in soil. Cadmium levels in tap water samples from geological areas having low resistance to acidic pollution were significantly higher than those in samples from a neighbouring reference area where there was a different geological structure. The median cadmium levels and pH values were 0.14 microgram l-1 and 5.6 respectively, for the acidic areas compared with 0.07 microgram l-1 and 6.4 respectively for the reference area. Further, there was a significant inverse relationship between both cadmium and lead contents and the pH values of the samples. The mobility of the metals was thus dependent on the acidity. The blood lead levels in 195 subjects from the acidic areas were lower than those in 91 subjects from the reference area (medians 60 vs. 70 micrograms l-1); no significant differences were found in blood cadmium or blood mercury levels. Subjects in the acidic areas had lower plasma selenium levels than those from the reference area (medians 85 vs. 90 micrograms l-1); the difference was mainly attributed to subjects with private wells. The data may indicate a negative effect of the acidic pollution on selenium intake via water and/or foods. There was also a positive relationship between intake of fish on the one hand and blood mercury and plasma selenium on the other, which is in accordance with the role of fish as a source of these metals.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1987

Chelatable lead versus lead in human trabecular and compact bone.

In active and retired lead workers there was a close correlation between urinary excretion of lead during 6 h after intake of a single oral dose of 0.5 g penicillamine, and the excretion during 24 h. In chelation tests it is thus sufficient to collect urine for only a few hours. There was a close correlation between the amount of chelatable lead and the blood-lead level, as well as the lead level in biopsies of trabecular bone from vertebrae, but there was no association with lead in compact bone, as measured in finger-bone by in vivo X-ray fluorescence. The chelatable lead probably mainly reflects the soft tissue lead pool and a fraction of the trabecular bone lead pool, which has a relatively rapid turnover. It is not a valid indicator of the pool of lead which has slowly accumulated in the compact bone, and it is thus not useful as a time-integrated index of the exposure over a long period of time.

Bone and Bones↗