Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FORESTRY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Leukemia among New Zealand agricultural workers. A cancer registry-based study.

Mortality studies have indicated that workers in agriculture and forestry may be at increased risk of leukemia. Findings are reported from a New Zealand Cancer Registry-based case-control study involving 546 male leukemia patients registered during 1979-1983 and aged 20 years or more at time of registration. Controls were also males chosen from the Cancer Registry with four controls per case, matched on age and year of registration. The case group contained an excess of the occupational category involving agriculture and forestry (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95-1.61) with the greatest relative risk being for livestock farmers (OR = 3.00, 95% CI = 1.23-7.32). There was also an excess of electrical workers (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 0.92-3.20). The agricultural excess was greatest in patients aged 65 years or more at time of registration (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.94-1.78), particularly in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 0.90-2.67) or acute monocytic leukemia OR = 10.38, 95% CI = 1.99-54.29), although the latter excess only involved five cases. Acute myeloid leukemia was also elevated in meat workers (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.19-5.30).

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Links between tree species, symbiotic fungal diversity and ecosystem functioning in simplified tropical ecosystems.

We studied the relationships among plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity, and their effects on ecosystem function, in a series of replicate tropical forestry plots in the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Forestry plots were 12 yr old and were either monocultures of three tree species, or polycultures of the tree species with two additional understory species. Relationships among the AM fungal spore community, host species, plant community diversity and ecosystem phosphorus-use efficiency (PUE) and net primary productivity (NPP) were assessed. Analysis of the relative abundance of AM fungal spores found that host tree species had a significant effect on the AM fungal community, as did host plant community diversity (monocultures vs polycultures). The Shannon diversity index of the AM fungal spore community differed significantly among the three host tree species, but was not significantly different between monoculture and polyculture plots. Over all the plots, significant positive relationships were found between AM fungal diversity and ecosystem NPP, and between AM fungal community evenness and PUE. Relative abundance of two of the dominant AM fungal species also showed significant correlations with NPP and PUE. We conclude that the AM fungal community composition in tropical forests is sensitive to host species, and provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that the diversity of AM fungi in tropical forests and ecosystem NPP covaries.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed1981

Occupations with low risk of lip cancer show high risk of skin cancer of the head.

The standardized morbidity ratios (SMR) of lip and non-melanomatous skin cancer (basal-cell carcinoma excluded) of the head and neck in males were determined for different occupational groups in Finland. The data on all cases of these types of cancer diagnosed in Finland in the age group 35-69 years in 1971-75 were supplemented by information on occupations from the 1970 census (Central Statistical Office of Finland). The expected numbers of cases were based on the age and occupation-specific numbers of person-years computed by the Central Statistical Office, and the age-specific incidence rates of lip and skin cancers among the economically active population. The highest SMR of lip cancer among all the occupational groups was found in agriculture, forestry and fishing (1.64). In contrast, the SMR of skin cancer was not higher than expected in occupations related to agriculture and forestry. Significantly lower than expected risks of lip cancer were observed among highly educated white-collar workers, among whom the risk of contracting skin cancer was the highest (technical, scientific, humanistic and artistic work, SMR 1.78). The morbidity of both lip and skin cancers varies considerably by occupation, and the risks seem to be, at least in part, inversely related. Thus, it is probable that there are also differences in the risk factors, contrary to several earlier suggestions. The nature of these factors are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Granulocytic Ehrlichiae in Ixodes persulcatus ticks from an area in China where Lyme disease is endemic.

A total of 372 adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks were collected from vegetation in a forest area of Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China, where Lyme disease is known to be endemic. The ticks were examined for the presence of granulocytic ehrlichiae by heminested PCR with primers derived from the 16S rRNA gene. Of 310 ticks obtained from the Dahe forestry farm, two pools (each containing 5 ticks) were found positive, with a minimum infection rate of 0.6%. Ehrlichial DNA was also detected in one female (1.6%) of 62 ticks collected from the Yulin forestry farm. The overall minimum infection rate of the 372 I. persulcatus adults was 0.8%. The nucleotide sequences of 919-bp PCR products from the three positive tick specimens were identical to each other and very closely related to the members of the Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup. This is the first identification of granulocytic ehrlichiae in ticks in Asia and the first report of infection in I. persulcatus anywhere.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Carpal tunnel syndrome in vibration disease.

The presence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in 125 forestry workers with exposure to vibration was examined clinically by electromyography and by determining vibration detection thresholds. Numbness of the hands was present in 43%, history of diminished hand muscle force in 15%, and Raynaud's phenomenon in 27%. The muscle weakness correlated significantly with motor nerve conduction velocity in the median nerve in both hands. In 25 forestry workers CTS was diagnosed. The condition was bilateral in 48%; otherwise it was more common on the right side. Fifteen patients were referred for surgery but because of spontaneous recovery or refusal by the patients only five underwent surgery; of these four improved. The motor conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve was decreased among patients with CTS supporting the idea that entrapment neuropathies in the hands may be due to tissue swelling caused by vibration at work. Total exposure time to vibration correlated with the decrease in motor conduction velocity in the ulnar nerve.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The present and future organisation of Veterinary Services in Asia: the examples of the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The Veterinary Services of the Republic of Korea and Japan are reviewed and summarised. To cope with ever-increasing demands on Veterinary Services, both countries have made continued efforts to expand the services, which currently only have a limited number of government personnel. To overcome some of the problems associated with international trade, e.g. outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and classical swine fever (hog cholera), the authorities of the Republic of Korea are considering strengthening quarantine services by combining the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service and the National Plant Quarantine Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). In the field of veterinary public health services, the Republic of Korea and Japan have different organisational structures. All Veterinary Services, including veterinary public health, are kept within the MAF in the Republic of Korea, whereas in Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) deals with general animal production and health services and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) deals with the safety of animal products, food poisoning and the prevention/control of zoonoses, such as rabies and Q fever. In Japan, after the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 2001, the authorities undertook a thorough review of the Veterinary Services, focusing particularly on food safety. A reorganisation of the administrative structure was proposed, and will be completed by the end of 2003. Subject to the approval of the Diet (House of Councillors), an independent 'Food Safety Commission' will be created within the cabinet office which will undertake risk analyses related to foods, and risk management will be carried out by the relevant ministry, i.e. the MAFF or the MHLW. The Animal Health Division of the MAFF will also be moved from the Livestock Industry Department to a new 'Consumer Safety Department' of the MAFF, where additional responsibilities in fish health control and feed safety control will be assumed.

Commerce↗
PubMed2004

Water quality and the grazing animal.

Grazing animals and pasture production can affect water quality both positively and negatively. Good management practices for forage production protect the soil surface from erosion compared with conventionally produced crops. Grazing animals and pasture production can negatively affect water quality through erosion and sediment transport into surface waters, through nutrients from urine and feces dropped by the animals and fertility practices associated with production of high-quality pasture, and through pathogens from the wastes. Erosion and sediment transport is primarily associated with high-density stocking and/or poor forage stands. The two nutrients of primary concern relating to animal production are N and P. Nitrogen is of concern because high concentrations in drinking water in the NO(3) form cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby disease), whereas other forms of N (primarily nitrite, NO(2)) are considered to be potentially carcinogenic. Phosphorus in the PO(4) form is of concern because it causes eutrophication of surface water bodies. The effect of grazing animals on soil and water quality must be evaluated at both the field and watershed scales. Such evaluation must account for both direct input of animal wastes from the grazing animal and also applications of inorganic fertilizers to produce quality pastures. Watershed-scale studies have primarily used the approach of nutrient loadings per land area and nutrient removals as livestock harvests. A number of studies have measured nutrient loads in surface runoff from grazed land and compared loads with other land uses, including row crop agriculture and forestry. Concentrations in discharge have been regressed against standard grazing animal units per land area. Watersheds with concentrated livestock populations have been shown to discharge as much as 5 to 10 times more nutrients than watersheds in cropland or forestry. The other major water quality concern with grazing animals is pathogens, which may move from the wastes into surface water bodies or ground water. Major surface water quality problems associated with pathogens have been associated with grazing animals, particularly when they are not fenced out from streams and farm ponds. This paper presents an overview of water quality issues relating to grazing animals.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1992

Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in various population groups in Croatia.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi in Croatia in various population groups. The study comprised 263 individuals: 93 healthy subjects (travellers); 100 controls separated into 2 subgroups, 50 from high risk zone (endemic) and 50 from low risk zone (non-endemic); and 70 members of a high risk population (forestry workers). Antibody to B. burgdorferi of IgM and IgG class were analysed by an ELISA technique using mixed antigen made of strain B31 (ATCC 35210). IgG antibodies were detected in 9/93 (9.7%) in general population; 22/50 (44.0%) in the control group from high risk zone and 4/50 (8.0%) from low risk zone; and 30/70 (42.9%) among forestry workers. In all tested groups low numbers of IgM positive were found.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Vibration syndrome and occupational exposure in Poland].

The objective of the study was to analyse the data on the exposure to vibration, and the incidence of vibration syndrome in individual branches of the national economy and voivodships. The data were obtained from the records of The Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź, containing reports submitted to the Institute every three years, and the literature on fragmentary analyses of this kind of exposure. Although, the number of persons exposed to vibration, and the incidence of occupational diseases induced by vibration have decreased, the material collected provide evidence that vibration syndrome still plays an essential role in occupational pathology. The decrease in the vibration syndrome incidence observed during the years 1982-97 was lower than the decline in the number of persons exposed to vibration, but the ratio of the number of cases to the number of those exposed remained unchanged (2.1). In 1994-97, forestry workers constituted the largest working population exposed to vibration, and the number of persons with diagnosed vibration syndrome significantly increased, however, exposure to vibration in this branch of economy considerably declined. In the mining industry, a significant decrease in the number of persons exposed to vibration, as well as in the incidence of vibration syndrome was observed at that time. The worse situation in forestry might result from the past negligence of hygiene norms or less effective diagnosis in early stages of the disease development. The lack of measuring and monitoring of vibration intensity in the working environment is an alarming observation in view of the fact that both the number of persons exposed, and the incidence of occupational diseases caused by this kind of exposure are still high.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Informational value of the prevalence of antiborrelia antibodies in a healthy and at risk population].

The authors tried to confirm data on the prevalence of antiborrelia antibodies class IgM and IgG in the local healthy population (200 blood donors) and in subjects with an increased risk of infection (forestry labourers, forestry workers and huntsmen). All blood samples were analyzed in the National Reference Laboratory for Lyme borreliosis CEM (LB) in the National Institute of Public Health in Prague by the ELISA NRLB KC 90 method and in case of a positive result they were confirmed by the Western blot Lyme method. All patients completed a special questionnaire used as a standard procedure in the consultation centre for LB. In the group of blood donors 100 men were examined, mean age 33.5 years and 100 women, mean age 24.4 years. In 26 positive antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) were confirmed, but on invitation to medical examination only 22 attended, 11 men and 11 women (10.1%). Examination of antiborrelia antibodies by the ELISA method proved positivity of class IgM 7 times and of class IgG 9 times. By the Western blot method (WB) class IgG was confirmed three times. In the risk group 39 men were examined, mean age 40.6 years and 32 women. In 12 of them (17.9%) positivity of antiborrelia antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) was proved by the ELISA method as well as the WB method. If the percentage confidence interval of the control group is taken as a basis for comparison, then the value of the risk group is within this interval at a significance value of alpha = 0.01. In the conclusion the authors discuss the problem of interpretation of positive serological results and the pitfalls of their evaluation not only from the aspect of validity of laboratory findings, due to the absence of standardization of methods, but also with regards to obscure aspects of the persistence of IgM antibodies after years of lege artis antibiotic treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The work-related fatal injury study: numbers, rates and trends of work-related fatal injuries in New Zealand 1985-1994.

AIMS: To determine the number and rates of work-related fatal injuries by employment status, occupation, industry, age and gender in New Zealand 1985-1994. METHODS: Potential cases of work-related injury deaths of persons aged 15-84 years were identified from the national electronic mortality data files. Main exclusions were deaths due to suicide and deaths due to motor vehicle crashes. The circumstances of the deaths of each fatal incident meeting inclusion criteria were then reviewed directly from coronial files to determine work-relatedness. RESULTS: The rate of work-related fatal injury in New Zealand was 5.03/100000 workers per year for the study period. There was a significant decline in crude rate over the study period. However, this was in substantial part accounted for by changes in occupation and industry mix. Older workers, male workers, self-employed workers, and particular occupational groups, all had substantially elevated rates. Agricultural and helicopter pilots, forestry workers and fishery workers had the highest rates. Farmers, forestry workers, and fishery workers also had high numbers of deaths, together accounting for nearly 40% of all deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that work-related fatal injury remains a pressing problem for New Zealand. Several areas in urgent need of prevention efforts were highlighted.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Tick-borne meningoencephalitis in Gorski Kotar--new findings].

Motivated by the occurrence of a case of suspected tick-borne meningoencephalitis (TBE) in a forestry worker of the Delnice Forestry Enterprise, 139 sera samples were collected from his co-workers, for TBE-specific IgG antibody testing. The commercially purchased ELISA and our own indirect immunofluorescence tests were used. Two sera samples were found positive and another six as inconclusive. All of them were sent for confirmation to the Institute of virology, University of Vienna. The two previously positive sera were also ELISA positive in Vienna, the rest being qualified as negative. Accepting that the first case really had TBE and that the two seropositives have experienced infection with the TBE virus, it is inferred that in the wider region of Delnice there is an until now unknown TBE focus, quiescent there for an unknown period of time.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2001

The potential role of habitat on intestinal helminths of mountain hares, Lepus timidus.

Over the last century in the uplands of Scotland, the extent of heather moorland which supports high densities of mountain hares Lepus timidus has diminished and has gradually been replaced by large-scale commercial forestry plantations or expanding natural woodlands. The potential impact of such a change in land use on host-parasite interactions was investigated by comparing the intensity and prevalence of infection of hares by parasites in two separate habitats: a large hare-fenced young forestry plantation and the adjacent open moorland. Carcasses were collected in November 1990 from within both habitats and after the woodland had been enclosed for nine months. Age, sex, fatness (kidney fat index) and degree of infection of hares were noted. Two parasites were recorded: the nematode Trichostrongylus retortaeformis and the cestode Mosgovoyia pectinata. Clear differences in the intensity of infection of adults occupying the different habitats had occurred in the nine months since woodland enclosure. Adult mountain hares in the woodland had levels of infections approaching four times that observed in hares occupying the open moorland and although not significant, the prevalence of infection was greater in hosts inhabiting the woodland than the open moorland. It is suggested that the parasite-host relationship differs between the two habitats and as heather-dominated moorland landscapes become more fragmented with the increasing establishment of woodlands, the impact of parasites on the life history strategies of mountain hares needs to be reconsidered.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Prevalence of antiborrelia antibodies in two populations: various interpretations of the same data].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the work was to test whether differently formulated hypotheses, when using correct statistical methods, and the same data lead to the same results. The work pertains to the interpretation of the prevalence of antiborrelia antibody levels in more or less high risk populations. GROUP: A group of 200 blood donors from Prague (100 men, mean age 33.5 years and 100 women mean age 24.4 years) and 71 subjects with a higher risk of contact with ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi--forestry workers from the Sumava mountains (39 men, mean age 40.6 years and 32 women, mean age 44.5 years). METHOD: In all participants antiborrelia antibodies class IgM and IgG were assessed and using the Western blot method the presence of specific antigens was examined. The blood samples of all probands were analyzed in the national reference laboratory for Lyme borreliosis CEM in the National Institute of Public Health in Prague. To test the hypothesis on the difference of groups as regards the frequency of positive antibody levels the chi square test was used. For testing the hypothesis on the difference of the groups as regards antibodies irrespective of normal laboratory values the non-parametric method--the Mann-Whitney test was used. RESULTS: The group of Prague blood donors and forestry workers from the Sumava mountains do not differ as to the individual frequency of positive antibody values assessed by the ELISA method in class IgM and IgG but they differ in class IgM assessed by the Western blot method. Both groups differ moreover markedly in the general distribution of antibodies unrelated to normal laboratory values assessed by the ELISA method in class IgM, in class IgG the distribution does not differ. CONCLUSION: We provided evidence that when using a different formulation of the hypothesis while using correct statistical methods identical data can be differently interpreted. Thus in the interpretation of the prevalence of antiborrelia antibody levels in healthy populations with a different risk--even if the two groups do not differs as to the frequency of positive findings, there is a significant statistical difference in their distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Microflora of soils under pine forests area affected by gradation of leaf-eating insects.

Soils of pine forests in the Bytnica Forestry District, Poland, are poor in nutrients readily accessible to plants. The excessively acidic reaction of the soils, typical for soils under pine forests, unfavourably affects the growth of microorganisms whose numbers are lower than in soils under deciduous and mixed forests. In the pine forests of the studied forestry there were outbreaks of a defoliating insect - pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea L.), which resulted in over 60% defoliation of the trees. The studies were carried out on the area of tree stands subjected to gradation by leaf-eating insects (sprayed and not sprayed) and healthy stand of the same age class (age 60 to 70 years). The studies revealed increased number of soil microorganisms in samples taken from the area affected by pine beauty moth gradation in the case of both unsprayed areas and those sprayed with the pesticide. The occurrence in these soils of larger numbers of ammonifying and denitrifying bacteria points to the presence of conditions favouring the growth of heterotrophic organisms. Changes in the number of actinomycetes and fungi in soils under tree stands subjected to gradation by insects, compared to healthy stands, can be a consequence of a change of environmental conditions (e.g. % content of organic carbon). Soils under defoliated tree stands show higher biochemical activity related to nitrogen cycling in the pine forest ecosystem. This leads to higher availability of organic nitrogen for conversion to inorganic forms of nitrogen, which are utilised by trees. Further changes occurring in soils under forest stands affected by gradation by leaf-eating insects would allow to gain knowledge on the ecological consequences of the use of insecticides in the protection of pine stands against harmful insects, with particular stress on those situations in which pine stands not threatened by complete defoliation are sprayed.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed2003

[Epidemiologic analysis of infectious diseases identified as occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1998-2002].

BACKGROUND: In spite of some unquestionable positive tendencies observed over the last few years, occupational infectious diseases still pose a serious problem in Poland. During the last thirty years overall as many as 41,000 cases of occupational contagious and invasive diseases were identified. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The analysis covered all cases of occupational diseases, reported by sanitary and hygiene stations on a specially designed form, to the Register of Occupational Diseases in Poland over the years 1998-2002. The analyses were performed by the disease entities, the job name, and activity sections classified according to Polish Classification of the Economy, and also by voivodeships. Crude numbers of the diseases reported and rates are presented. For the calculation of incidence rates, the statistics of the national economy employees provided by the Central Statistical Office was applied. RESULTS: In total, 4153 cases of infectious diseases were reported to the Register in 1998-2002. Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, brucellosis and Lyme borelliosis covered (94.3%) of all cases. The analyzed diseases were identified mostly in two economic activity sections: Health and Social Works and Agriculture, Forestry and Hunting. About 63% of all cases were recorded in health care personnel, mostly in nurses, 1372 cases (33%), physicians (9.9%), laboratory workers (8.1%), orderlies (6.5%), dentists, dental assistants and dental technicians (1.9%). A substantial number of infections diseases were recorded in forestry workers (16.2), mostly foresters (10.9%). The highest rates of occupational diseases were found in the Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Pomorskie and Slaskie voivodships. CONCLUSIONS: At present, Lyme borelliosis and viral hepatitis pose the most serious problem of all infectious occupational diseases in Poland. Despite extensive programs of vaccination against viral hepatitis B, implemented since 1989, this pathology has not as yet been fully eradicated. It can be predicted that in the near future, viral hepatitis C and Lyme borelliosis will mostly influence the epidemiology of infectious occupational diseases in Poland. This situation will continue until relevant vaccines are developed and used in high risk occupational groups.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2003

[Occupational infectious diseases in the Czech Republic].

INTRODUCTION: The authors present a survey on the incidence of occupational infectious and parasitic diseases in the Czech Republic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2000, occupational infectious and invasive diseases were diagnosed in 1906 patients. This is about 18% of the total number of diagnosed cases in the period under study. The total number of the diagnosed diseases included 68% of those occurring due to interhuman transmission, 29% of zoonoses and 3% of tropical diseases. The majority of occupational infectious diseases developed in health care workers (66%). This was followed by agriculture, game management and forestry workers (20%). In the group of sick workers, women outnumbered men (74% vs. 26%). The mean age of those affected was 39.2 +/- 11.9, range, 16-79 years. RESULTS: Scabies, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis predominated in the group of transmitted diseases and trichophytoses, erysipeloid and Lyme borreliosis among zoonoses. During the whole period of investigation, scabies occupied the first place among occupational infectious diseases. The increased incidence of diseases is mostly due to epidemics in the general population, and its spread is attributed to a low hygiene and social standards, overcrowding, increased migration that creates a higher risk for the elderly, mentally retarded and immunocompromised subjects. In tropical and subtropical countries, contract workers suffered mostly from malaria, amebiasis and infectious hepatitis A. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to clearly identify occupational infectious and parasitic disease in different working conditions. The results of the survey confirm that infectious and parasitic diseases still create a difficult problem especially among health care and agriculture or forestry workers.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2004

[Research advances in mechanism of high phosphorus use efficiency of plants].

Phosphorus deficiency is one of the main factors influencing agricultural and forestry productions. Fertilization and soil improvement are the major measures to meet the demand of phosphorus for crops in traditional agriculture and forestry management. Recently, the plants with high phosphorus use efficiency have been discovered to replace the traditional measures to improve phosphorus use efficiency of crops. This paper reviewed the research advances in the morphological, physiological and genetics mechanisms of plants with high phosphorus use efficiency. There were three mechanisms for the plants with high phosphorus use efficiency to grow under phosphorus stress: (1) under low phosphorus stress, the root morphology would change (root system grew fast, root axes became small, the number and density of lateral root increased) and more photosynthesis products would transport from the crown to the root, (2) under low phosphorus stress, plant root exudation increased, mycorrhizae invaded into root system, the feature of root absorption kinetics changed, and the internal phosphorus cycling of plant reinforced to tolerate phosphorus deficiency, and (3) under long selection stress of low phosphorus, some plants would form the genetic properties of phosphorus nutrition that could exploit the hardly soluble phosphorus in the soil.

Fertilizers↗