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PubMed1997

Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function and allergy to fur animals among fur farmers and fur garment workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and immediate hypersensitivity to fur allergens among fur farmers and fur garment workers and measured the pulmonary function of these groups of workers. METHODS: Fur farmers (N=188) and fur garment workers (N=175) were compared with workers in a factory producing polyvinyl products (N=181) and bank and health center workers (N=118), respectively. The groups were given a self-administered questionnaire, lung function tests (spirometry, diffusing capacity), and skin prick tests to common environmental allergens, and epithelium (hair) and urine of fur animals. RESULTS: Rhinitis symptoms and eye complaints were significantly more common among the fur garment workers than among their referents, but were not associated with atopy. Between the fur farmers and their referents, the symptom prevalence did not differ significantly. Smoking explained the lower forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second of the fur garment workers. The prevalence of positive skin tests did not differ significantly between the exposed group and their respective referents. The skin tests showed cross-reactivity between antibodies to fur and domestic animal allergens. As confirmed by a questionnaire sent to former fur workers, selection took place for both groups of fur workers. CONCLUSIONS: Fur garment workers have an excess of rhinitis and eye symptoms, which primarily appear to be nonimmunologic. Allergy to fur animals forces sensitized workers, especially asthmatics, to leave the trade. A supplementary questionnaire to former workers on pertinent exposures and reasons for leaving a particular job can be recommended for use in prevalence studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Effects of shift work on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and its variability among Japanese workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of rotating shift work on blood pressure in a comparison of ambulatory blood pressure and long-term changes in blood pressure between shift and day workers. METHODS: Ambulatory blood pressure was measured for 24-hour periods at an interval of 30 minutes for 27 shift workers and 26 day workers when they worked during the day. Blood pressure was compared between these 2 groups of workers for 4 time categories (awake, sleep, nonwork awake, and work periods). Their long-term blood pressures, recorded in annual surveys, were reviewed for long-term changes. These comparisons were adjusted for the effects of body mass index, alcohol intake, anger expression, and physical activity. RESULTS: On the average, sleep time was shorter and the anger-in (ie, anger suppressed) score was higher for the shift workers than for the day workers, but body mass index and alcohol intake did not differ between the 2 groups. Even after adjustment for these co-variables, the mean systolic blood pressure during the 24-hour, awake, and work periods were higher among the shift workers than among the day workers. The 24-hour standard deviations of the systolic blood pressures were also higher for the shift workers than for the day workers. Among the shift workers, but not among the day workers, a significant long-term increase was observed in systolic blood pressure measured in the annual surveys. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that shift work may increase systolic blood pressure levels among Japanese men.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Effect of shift work on mental state of factory workers.

This paper examines the effects of shift work on the mental state of factory workers. As an indicator of the workers' mental condition, the authors used a scoring system (referred to below as the 'depression tendency score') based on the SRQ-D investigative report. The depression tendency score of the men was higher among the shift worker group than among the regular day worker group (p < 0.01). The depression tendency score of the male back-to-back shift workers was higher than that of the male regular day workers among skilled workers (p < 0.05). Among the women, no notable difference in depression tendency score was observed between the regular day worker group and the shift worker group. However, the depression tendency score of the female two-shift workers was higher than that of the female regular day workers among skilled workers (p < 0.05). We conclude that the mental health of men is easily affected by back-to-back shift work and that of women is affected by two-shift work because of the difference in modern societal/home role between man and woman.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Impact of type and stage of schistosomiasis on quality of life and productivity of infected workers.

All workers with schistosomiasis (205 workers) during the field period (April 1998 to March 1999) were included. The study tools included an interviewing schedule, the WHO QOL-brief and a production data format specially designed to obtain data about the productivity of the workers. The data revealed that 78.8% of the schistosomiasis workers suffered from Schistosoma mansoni while only 7.6% suffered from S. haematobium and 13.5% had a mixed infection. Workers infected with S. mansoni tended to have lower mean percent of all the QOL domains and productivity indicators compared with workers infected with S. haematobium but these differences were not statistically significant. Workers with complications of schistosomiasis had significantly lower values for the QOL physical, social relationship and environmental domains (55.27 +/- 15.59, 74.94 +/- 5.34 and 56.39 +/- 15.09 versus 61.38 +/- 5.74, 79.36 +/- 11.96 and 61.64 +/- 7.74 respectively). Moreover, the production score was significantly lower in the workers with complication compared with workers free from schistosomiasis complications. The mean percent of QOL domains decreased as the stage of schistosomiasis increased from stage 1 to stage 4, this was statistically significant for the physical and independence domain. The mean additional hours and production scores decreased successively from stage 1 to stage 4 of schistosomiasis. Thus, special attention should be paid to schistosomiasis workers for early detection and treatment of complications to improve the QOL and increase the productivity of those workers. The impact of the stage of schistosomiasis on productivity and QOL of workers needs further research with a wide spectrum of workload in different industries.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Risk of transmission of leptospirosis from infected cattle to dairy workers in southern Israel.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide, found predominantly in agricultural workers, port workers and dairy workers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of disease transmission to dairy workers following an outbreak in 1999 of Leptospirosis hardjo in the dairy herds of two kibbutzim in southern Israel. METHODS: A seroepidemiologic survey of all the dairy workers from these two kibbutzim was conducted, including individual interview and examination. Data were collected on the presence of clinical symptoms of leptospirosis during the previous month. One month later the medical personnel on the two kibbutzim were contacted in order to determine if any worker had subsequently developed clinical signs or symptoms of leptospirosis. All dairy workers had blood drawn for serology. Those workers whose initial serology had been borderline for leptospirosis had a repeated serology test between 2 and 4 weeks later. Doxycycline was given prophylactically to all dairy workers on one kibbutz only. RESULTS: Either with or without chemoprophylaxis, no dairy workers exposed to herds infected with Leptospira hardjo showed evidence of seroconversion or disease. This indicated a low risk of transmission of this serovar from cows to dairy workers. CONCLUSION: Since human illness with leptospirae can cause illness associated with significant morbidity, we recommend that physicians make an informed decision regarding doxycycline prophylaxsis for dairy workers exposed to cattle herds infected with Leptospira hardjo.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Protecting workers from secondhand smoke in North Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to job-related secondhand smoke represents a significant, but entirely preventable occupational health risk to non-smoking workers. This article examines trends in smoke-free workplace policies in North Carolina. We also examine whether workers comply with such policies. METHODS: Data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey were analyzed from 1992 through 2002. Trends for North Carolina workers are compared with workers nationally and trends are presented by age, race, gender, and type of worker. RESULTS: North Carolina ranks 35th in the proportion of its workforce reporting a smoke-free place of employment. The proportion of workers reporting such a policy doubled between 1992 and 2002. Females were more likely to reporta smoke-free work environment (72.0%, CI +/- 2.6) than males (61.2%, CI +/- 4.6%). Blue-collar (55.6%, CI +/- 5.5) and service workers (61.2%, CI +/- 8.4), especially males, were less likely to report a smoke-free worksite than white-collar workers (73.4%, CI +/- 2.6). Compliance with a smoke-free policy does not appear to be an issue, only 3.2% of workers statewide reported someone had violated their company's nonsmoking policy CONCLUSION: While some progress has been made in North Carolina to protect workers from secondhand smoke, significant disparities exist. Smoke-free policies can make a significant difference in reducing exposure to airborne toxins and their associated diseases, and these protective public health policies have not been shown to reduce business revenues. Much has been done to assure the health and safety of workers through public health policy However, opportunities to protect North Carolina workers from the health effects of secondhand smoke are limited by a preemptive state law.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Association between polymorphisms of DNA repair gene XRCC1 and DNA damage in asbestos-exposed workers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the asbestos-induced DNA damage and repair capacities of DNA damage between 104 asbestos-exposed workers and 101 control workers in Qingdao City of China and to investigate the possible association between polymorphisms in codon 399 of XRCC1 and susceptibility to asbestosis. METHODS: DNA damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by comet assay, and XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms of DNA samples from 51 asbestosis cases and 53 non-asbestosis workers with a similar asbestos exposure history were analyzed by PCR/RFLP. RESULTS: The basal comet scores (3.95 +/- 2.95) were significantly higher in asbestos-exposed workers than in control workers (0.10 +/- 0.28). After 1 h H2O2 stimulation, DNA damage of lymphocytes exhibited different increases. After a 4 h repair period, the comet scores were 50.98 +/- 19.53 in asbestos-exposed workers and 18.32 +/- 12.04 in controls. The residual DNA damage (RD) was significantly greater (P<0.01) in asbestos-exposed workers (35.62%) than in controls (27.75%). XRCC1 genetic polymorphism in 104 asbestos-exposed workers was not associated with increased risk of asbestosis. But compared with polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 (polymorphisms in codon 399) and the DNA damage induced by asbestos, the comet scores in asbestosis cases with Gln/Gln, Gln/Arg, and Arg/Arg were 40.26 +/- 18.94, 38.03 +/- 28.22, and 32.01 +/- 11.65, respectively, which were higher than those in non-asbestosis workers with the same genotypes (25.58 +/- 11.08, 37.08 +/- 14.74, and 29.38 +/- 10.15). There were significant differences in the comet scores between asbestosis cases and non-asbestosis workers with Gln/Gln by Student's t-test (P<0.05 or 0.01). The comet scores were higher in asbestosis workers with Gln/Gln than in those with Arg/Arg and in non-asbestosis workers exposed to asbestos, but without statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to asbestos may be related to DNA damage or the capacity of cells to repair H2O2-induced DNA damage. DNA repair gene XRCC1 codon 399 may be responsible for the inter-individual susceptibility in DNA damage and repair capacities.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Sleep-wake patterns and subjective sleep quality of day and night workers: interaction between napping and main sleep episodes.

Five hundred and ninety-three women electronics workers were studied to determine if there was any association between their subjective sleep quality and their sleep patterns. They were 108 day workers, 107 permanent night workers, 216 workers on weekly phase-advance (night/afternoon/morning), and 162 workers on two-weekly phase-delay (morning/afternoon/night) rotating shift schedules. The study was part of a larger survey on night workers involving a self-administered questionnaire. The proportion of nappers was higher in night workers than in day, morning, and afternoon shift workers. Nappers had shorter main sleep, but their total sleep duration was generally the same as that of nonnappers. Compared to nonnappers, a higher proportion of day and morning shift workers who napped did not sleep well. Permanent night workers, with the highest proportion of nappers, had more workers sleeping well than rotating night workers. Subjects who slept well were those with longer total and main sleep and generally started the main sleep earlier. The results indicate a relationship between subjective sleep quality, sleep length, main sleep start, and napping behavior. Whether this relationship is causal is difficult to establish as sleep quality may also reflect the general health status, and this may result in differences in sleep behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Intrapulmonary reactions of workers exposed to dust and ozone].

Forty-one dust-and-ozone-exposed and 37 nonexposed workers, belonging to the Research and Development Division of a photo-copier manufacturing industry, were examined to assess the effect of the exposure to carbon, iron and resin dust and ozone in the air of the work environment by means of questionnaires on their physical condition, smoking habits and exposure history by interview, chest X-rays, testing of ventilatory functions, transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) test and H2O2-induced hemolysis test. The following results were obtained. Respirable dust concentrations in the air of the work place were 0.1-1.0 mg/m3, total dust concentrations 0.2-2.0 mg/m3, and ozone concentrations 0.004-0.06 ppm (0.008-0.12 mg/m3). According to the Japanese Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses, the exposed workers showed a higher rate of profusion 0/1 and over, and category 1 and over (1/0 and over) than the nonexposed workers. Ventilatory function testing revealed no difference between exposed workers and nonexposed workers, but small airway narrowing was suspected in smoking workers in comparison with nonsmoking workers. Transcutaneous PO2 showed no difference between exposed and nonexposed workers, between smoking and nonsmoking workers, and between any of the paired six combinations out of the four groups of workers, i.e., nonsmoking and nonexposed, nonsmoking and exposed, smoking and nonexposed, and smoking and exposed. It was estimated by H2O2-induced hemolysis test that smoking and/or dust exposure, especially long-term exposure, gave rise to aggravation of fragility of the erythrocyte membrane by lipid peroxidation with ozone or active oxygen produced by the reaction of dust and alveolar macrophages. The questionnaire was considered indispensable to ascertain the workers' exposure history. No worker in this work environment showed clinical signs indicating a need for medical care or home response. There results may indicate that in resolving the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis further studies will be required on the prevalence rate of profusion 0/1 and over (or category 1 and over) under low concentrations of dust exposure and on the intrapulmonary reactions induced by low doses of dust exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Carpal tunnel syndrome: cross-sectional and outcome study in Ontario workers.

PURPOSE: To carry out an analytic cross-sectional study of Ontario workers with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to assess workers' symptoms, functional disabilities, recreational difficulties, and work capability 4 years after treatment of their CTS. METHODS: Data were obtained by review of Ontario Workers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) files and by completion of self-assessment questionnaires. Inclusion criteria included all workers registered with the Ontario WSIB who were off work with newly diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome in 1996. RESULTS: There are 3 million workers covered by the WSIB in the province of Ontario. In 1996, 964 of them developed work-related CTS that required time off for treatment. Of these patients 53% were women and 75% had bilateral CTS. Eighty-one percent of the unilateral cases involved the dominant extremity. The average age at the time of claim was 41 years and workers were at the same job type for an average of 7.4 years (unilateral) and 8.5 years (bilateral), respectively. Thirty-nine percent of workers had a history of another tendonitis or epicondylitis. Seventy-five percent of workers had surgery and on average returned to work 3 months later. Four years after treatment, outcome was assessed by self-administered questionnaires, for which there was a 73% response rate. Forty-six percent of workers experienced moderate to severe pain, 47% had moderate to severe numbness, and 40% had difficulty grasping and using small objects. Only 14% were symptom free. Successful return to work was considered to be a return to the same job with or without modifications, and it occurred in 64% of cases. Better clinical outcome scores were found to occur with surgery and abnormal nerve conduction study results. Worse clinical outcome scores were present with repeat surgery and surgical complications. Concurrent diagnoses of either tendonitis or epicondylitis also resulted in worse clinical outcome scores and worse return-to-work outcomes. The average total cost in Canadian dollars to the WSIB exceeded $13,700 per worker for a total cost in excess of $13,200,000 per year. (In 1996, $1 Canadian = $1.365 US.) CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes indicate that Canadian workers have a large amount of permanent pain and suffering, a large loss of work productivity, and incur a considerable financial cost as a result of work-related CTS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in swine confinement workers.

A group of 59 workers (41 men and 18 women) employed in swine confinement areas was studied to assess the presence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and the prevalence of abnormalities in ventilatory function. A control group of 46 (31 men and 15 women) unexposed workers was studied for the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms. For both male and female swine confinement workers complaints of chronic cough, dyspnoea, and chest tightness were significantly more frequent than among control workers. Male workers also complained more of chronic phlegm. Male swine confinement workers who were smokers had significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and chronic bronchitis than male non-smoking swine confinement workers. The frequency of acute symptoms associated with the workshift was high among the swine confinement workers with more than half of the workers complaining of cough and dyspnoea associated with work. Significant acute across shift reductions in lung function occurred in swine confinement workers, being largest for FEF25. All Monday preshift ventilatory capacity measurements in male confinement workers were significantly lower than predicted values; FVC and FEV1 were found to be lower than predicted values for women. The data indicate that exposure in swine confinement buildings is associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of lung function. Smoking appears to aggravate these changes.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Ischaemic heart disease among livestock and agricultural workers.

BACKGROUND: Agricultural workers are exposed to organic dust containing endotoxins, mites, and moulds. AIMS: To compare the occurrence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) among male and female livestock and agricultural workers with gainfully employed men and women in Sweden. METHODS: Male and female livestock and agricultural workers were identified in the Swedish National Censuses of 1970 and 1990 and were followed until the end of 1995. The IHD mortality among the livestock and agricultural workers was compared with that of gainfully employed men and women. Information of smoking habits was gathered from a previous national survey. RESULTS: Male as well as female livestock workers had slightly higher standardised mortality ratios (SMR) regarding IHD compared with all gainfully employed men and women in Sweden. The SMR for male workers was 1.06 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.18). The SMR for female workers was 1.10 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.23). Agricultural workers had lower SMRs. Adjustments for smoking habits would further increase the SMRs by about 9% in male workers and about 5% in female workers. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest a slightly increased risk for IHD among both male and female livestock workers, which may be the result of organic dust exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Reduced FVC among California grape workers.

Pulmonary disease due to organic and inorganic dust inhalation represents a significant health problem in the agricultural community. In response to concern over the potential adverse health effects of agricultural exposures, and to address the question of whether the specific crop worked was associated with decreased lung function, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of pulmonary function in a population of 238 grape workers, 355 tomato workers, and 166 citrus workers in California's Central Valley. In addition, 92 workers (66 males and 26 females) performed spirometry before and after an 8-h work shift. Multiple regression analysis of pulmonary function in all 759 workers revealed that age, height, and smoking-adjusted mean preshift FVC was lower in grape workers than in citrus workers in each of three sex and age groups studied: decreased 314 ml for males greater than or equal to 25 yr of age p less than 0.05, 82 ml for males less than 25 yr, and 83 ml for females greater than or equal to 20 yr. Mean adjusted preshift FVC was also lower in grape workers than tomato workers (decreased 249 ml in males greater than or equal to 25 yr [p less than 0.05], 51 ml for males less than 25 yr, and 46 ml for females greater than or equal to 20 yr). Adjusted mean FEV1 was not different by crop, but FEV1/FVC and forced-expiratory flow from 25 to 75% of the FVC (FEF25-75) were significantly elevated in grape workers of the three age and sex groups compared with citrus or tomato workers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Immunological effects of CaEDTA injection: observations in two lead workers.

To evaluate the effects of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaEDTA) injection on human immune system in relation to exposure to lead, we administered CaEDTA by intravenous injection for 1 hr three times (three consecutive days) a week to two male lead workers. They had been engaged in recycling lead for 31 and 22 years, aged 61 and 53 years (workers 1 and 2), respectively. Before the treatment of CaEDTA, their blood lead concentrations (PbB) were 81 and 68 micrograms/dl, respectively. The administration of CaEDTA had been carried out to worker 1 for 10 weeks and to worker 2 for 6 weeks. A significant decrease in PbB between before and after three-times CaEDTA injection was found in both workers. Significant increases in IgG, IgA, IgM, CD8+, and CD57+ cells were found in worker 1. A significant increase in IgD was found in worker 2. During the study period, IgG in worker 1 and CD4+ cells in worker 2 were gradually increasing. There was a significant negative correlation between IgG and PbB in worker 1. It is suggested that the immunological function such as antibody formation in lead workers might be improved by CaEDTA injection.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between blood antioxidants and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coke oven workers.

BACKGROUND: We investigated if blood Cu++/Zn++ superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities are increased and total plasma antioxidant concentration is decreased in coke oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. METHODS: Ninety-six coke oven workers participated in the study. Nonexposed workers (n = 105) were randomly sampled among power plant workers in the same age range. The examination included a questionnaire on health status, occupational history, smoking, and dietary habits. Blood samples completed the examination. Coke oven workers were classified into low-, middle-, and high-exposure groups based on the benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) air concentrations and were further classified into the categories "topside" and "non-topside," according to their proximity to the ovens. RESULTS: Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity increased with age (r = 0.18, P = 0.061) in power plant workers, whereas plasma glutathione peroxidase activity decreased with age (r = -0.18, P = 0.068) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was inversely correlated with the number of cigarettes per day (r = -0.28, P = 0.08) in coke oven workers. Comparison of blood antioxidant enzyme activities and total plasma antioxidant concentration between coke oven and power plant workers showed that erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly lower in coke oven workers, even after adjustment for potential confounding factors. No differences were found either in other blood antioxidant enzyme activities or in total plasma antioxidant concentration between coke oven and power plant workers. Moreover, no trends toward decreased glutathione peroxidase activity among the three subgroups of B[a]P exposure were observed, and no differences either in blood antioxidant enzyme activities or in total plasma antioxidant concentration between the two groups of job categories were found. CONCLUSIONS: Production of reactive oxygen species seems not to be increased in coke oven workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Lung cancer risk in iron and steel foundry workers: a nested case control study in Asturias, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Workers of iron and steel foundries have a high lung cancer risk but the findings on specific processes associated with this risk are inconsistent. We examined the risk of lung cancer among workers in the main industrial processes of a large iron and steel foundry in Asturias, Spain. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study comprised of 144 male lung cancer cases and 558 controls, selected from a study base of about 24,400 workers employed in the industry between 1952 and 1995. Cases were identified through linkage of industry records with those of two cancer registries. Controls were selected through industry records using incidence density sampling, were matched to cases by age and date of birth and had to be alive and without lung cancer at the time of selection. Smoking history was obtained through company medical records. Unconditional logistic regression was applied and all ORs were adjusted for age and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Workers were, on an average, heavy smokers and a very strong relation was observed for smoking (OR for "ever smoker" = 32.4). Workers having ever been employed in the blast furnace had an excess lung cancer risk (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.25-5.21) compared to a reference group of workers not employed in metal producing departments. A similar excess was observed for workers having as their longest held job employment in the blast furnace. A two-fold risk was also observed for workers in the main foundry. For subgroups of workers, tobacco smoking appeared to be an important positive or negative confounder. CONCLUSIONS: In this large Spanish foundry, a high risk was observed for workers employed in departments with high exposure to crystalline silica, PAHs, and various other carcinogenic chemicals. Although comparisons were made between workers of the same industry, smoking habits differed and adjustment by smoking modified considerably the risk estimates.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Long-term impact of worker notification: qualitative assessment of a community-based notification and screening program in Augusta, Georgia.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of high-risk worker notification programs often focuses on their immediate effectiveness in communicating information to individual workers. This approach leaves unexamined some important social processes that can influence worker notification's impact and public health consequences over time. METHODS: To explore long-term effects, ethnographic methods were used for qualitative assessment of a community-based program carried out by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Augusta, Georgia, during the early 1980s. More than a decade after the original NIOSH intervention, lengthy taped interviews were conducted with 70 members of the notified cohort (chemical workers exposed to beta-naphthylamine (BNA)) and 32 members of their families. RESULTS: The notified workers expressed extremely positive feelings about having received the risk information. However, for non-obvious and unanticipated reasons, most had failed to implement the notification's primary health advice (annual screening for bladder cancer). Both the workers and their family members reported a number of ongoing concerns related to the program. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest four strategies, all relatively low in cost, that are likely to increase the long-term public health benefits of worker notifications that rely on individually mailed written materials: (1) in designing worker notifications, take into account the information (accurate or not) that the workers already have, and determine what kind of information they most want and need; (2) define the notification audience broadly to include not only the study cohort but also family members and/or other similarly exposed workers; (3) when notifications recommend secondary disease prevention measures over long time periods, follow up the notification health advice with periodic reminders; (4) inform a wide range of community organizations and service providers (non-medical as well as medical) about the notification, and encourage them to provide appropriate support to the notified workers and their families.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed2004

Immunological and respiratory changes in tobacco workers.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco workers develop respiratory changes following occupational exposure to tobacco dust. METHODS: This study investigated 102 tobacco workers as well as a group of 30 matched control workers. Immunological testing, symptom questionnaire, and lung function measurements were performed in all workers. RESULTS: Increased total IgE was found in 12.7% of tobacco workers but in none of the controls (P < 0.05). Increased specific IgE (tobacco allergen) was recorded in 26.7% of tobacco workers with positive skin tests to tobacco extract but in none of the controls (P < 0.05). Regression analysis of ventilatory tests in female tobacco workers indicated a significant association of FEF75 to employment and smoking among workers with positive skin tests to tobacco. There were, however, no other associations between positive immunologic findings and lung function abnormalities and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found increased immunological reactions in the tobacco workers. However, with the possible exception of lung function at low lung volume in female workers, these reactions do not appear to contribute significantly to the symptoms and lung function abnormalities seen in these workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:76-83, 2004.

Adult↗