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PubMed1995

Biomonitoring of workers exposed to 4,4'-methylenedianiline or 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate.

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) and 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) are important intermediates in the production of polyurethanes. In order to biomonitor people exposed to low levels of MDA or MDI we have developed sensitive methods to measure hemoglobin (Hb) adducts and urine metabolites. Adducts and metabolites from 33 workers exposed to MDA and 27 workers exposed to MDI were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after hydrolysis, extraction and derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. Hb adducts of MDA were detected in 31 out of the 33 MDA workers and both MDA and N-acetyl-MDA (AcMDA) were found in 20 of these individuals. The detection limit for MDA was 20 fmol and for AcMDA 100 fmol/sample, which correspond to an absolute detection limit of approximately 1 fmol MDA and 5 fmol AcMDA, respectively. In the urine of workers exposed to MDA both MDA and AcMDA were found in all samples, with the exception of five where only MDA was detected. Acid hydrolysis of the urine samples yielded an approximately 3-fold higher concentration of MDA than the sum of MDA and AcMDA found after base hydrolysis. MDA but not AcMDA found in urine and in Hb correlate well, except for three outliers. In one workers the Hb adduct level of MDA was very low compared to the urine levels. Two workers had very high levels of MDA as Hb adducts but very low levels as urine metabolites. The former case indicates that the workers were recently exposed to higher levels of MDA. The latter case suggests a relatively low recent exposure. The air levels of MDA, monitored using personal air monitors, were below the detection limit. It was possible, however, to determine exposure to MDA for all workers with the methods presented in this publication. Workers exposed exclusively to MDI were studied. Exposure levels, as monitored using personal air samplers, were below the detection limit of 3 micrograms/m3, with the exception of three individuals. In 10 of the MDI workers, hydrolyzable Hb adducts of MDA (57-219 fmol/g Hb) were found. Except for four subjects, the presence of MDA (0.007-0.14 nmol/l) and AcMDA (0.08-3 nmol/l) was detected in all urine samples after base treatment. Following acid hydrolysis of the urine, higher levels of MDA (0.7-10 nmol/l) were found than the sum of free MDA and AcMDA. According to the present data, it was possible to detect exposure to MDI in a greater number of individuals by analyzing urinary metabolites than by measuring Hb adducts or air monitoring.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2005

Investigating genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate using three genetic end-points.

Genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to an antineoplastic drug was studied using the micronucleus (MN) test, the comet assay, the hprt gene mutation assay and the TCR gene mutation assay. The subjects were divided into two groups: (i) 21 workers from a plant producing methotrexate (MTX); (ii) 21 controls were matched according to age, gender and smoking. Fresh blood samples were collected from the workers and controls. The results of the MN test showed that the mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cell rate (MCR) in workers were 10.10 +/- 0.95 per thousand and 8.05 +/- 0.75 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (5.48 +/- 0.82 per thousand and 4.38 +/- 0.58 per thousand) in controls (P < 0.01). It was found in the comet assay that the mean tail length (MTL) of workers and controls were 1.30 +/- 0.06 microm and 0.07 +/- 0.01 microm, respectively. There was a significant difference between workers and controls for MTL (P < 0.01), but the difference between the mean tail moment (MTM, 0.23 +/- 0.03) of workers and MTM (0.17 +/- 0.04) of controls was not significant (P > 0.05). The results of hprt gene mutation assay showed that the average mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) of hprt in workers was 1.00 +/- 0.02 per thousand, which was significantly higher than that (0.86 +/- 0.01 per thousand) in controls (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the results of TCR gene mutation assay indicated that Mfs-TCR gene mutation frequencies of workers and controls were 6.87 +/- 0.52 x 10(-4) and 1.67 +/- 0.14 x 10(-4), respectively, which were significantly different (P < 0.01). The results of our experiment suggest that genetic damage is detectable in the 21 workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Workers' right-to-know legislation: does it work?

Workers' right-to-know (WRTK) laws and regulations were established to empower workers to protect their health by providing them with information about the hazards to which they are exposed while at work. The present study was conducted to examine the implementation of WRTK regulations in Israel. We interviewed 552 workers and 33 safety officers from a random sample employed at 50 industrial plants. The workers' questionnaire included items on awareness and self-management of workplace hazards, and the safety officers answered questions about job experience and hazards communications to workers. In 36% of cases workers and their safety officers disagreed about the existence of hazards in the workplace (p < 0.001). Most (78%) of the workers' knowledge about work hazards was based on informal sources, i.e., not those stipulated by the regulations. There were also discrepancies between worker and safety officer reports regarding the provision of safety training upon employment (p < 0.001), recent instructions about special risks and distribution of relevant printed material. We found that more than 5% of workers were unable to read the language in which the hazards material was written and 22% had levels of education below that required to comprehend the technical terms used. There are serious problems in the implementation of WRTK regulations in Israel. We recommend that employers be made aware of the importance of these laws and of their proactive duty to comply with them and that the material distributed to workers be written in simpler terms and/or explained orally in a language they understand. These findings have important implications for all countries with similar legislation and should form the basis for further and more comprehensive studies world-wide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Increased risk of coronary heart disease in Japanese blue-collar workers.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that blue-collar workers have an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Subjects were 653 male (mean age, 32.6 years) and 492 female (mean age, 26.3 years) workers employed during 1993 at a computer manufacturing company. The measurements determined were body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), skinfold thickness, blood pressure, grip strength, back strength, vertical jump and trunk flexion. Male blue-collar workers had significantly higher WHR (P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.031), grip strength (P = 0.030), and standing flexion (P = 0.038) than do white-collar workers. Female blue-collar workers had significantly higher BMI (P = 0.018), WHR (P < 0.001), and grip strength (P = 0.007). Blue-collar workers took significantly less exercise, and habitually snacked (females only), smoked and drank more alcohol (males only) than white-collar workers. In conclusion, blue-collar workers have more intra-abdominal fat than white-collar workers of either sex. The difference may be due to factors contributing to the less healthy lifestyles of blue-collar workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence and incidence of viral hepatitis in health workers in the prehepatitis B vaccination era.

To assess the impact of hepatitis B virus on health workers, the authors studied baseline prevalences of hepatitis B serologic markers and undertook prospective surveillance to assess hepatitis B attack rates in 837 health workers and 994 blood-donor controls between 1977 and 1982, before the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine. The baseline prevalence of all hepatitis B markers was 14% in health workers and 6% in controls (p < 0.001); exposure to hepatitis B virus was related to the intensity of blood exposure and its duration. In contrast, the frequency of exposure to hepatitis A virus, a nonblood-borne agent, was lower in health workers (11%) than in controls (16%) (p < 0.01) and increased as a function of age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified occupational categories with frequent blood contact, rather than duration of exposure, as being the dominant variable for exposure to hepatitis B virus; for hepatitis A virus exposure, age was the most significant variable. Among health workers susceptible to hepatitis B, the incidence of new definite hepatitis B infections was 1.0% per year in 362 health workers (804 person-years of follow-up observation) with frequent blood contact versus 0% per year in 258 health workers (534 person-years of observation) with limited blood contact (p = 0.017). For definite plus probable cases combined, the incidence of new hepatitis B infections was 1.5% per year versus 0.2% per year for the groups with frequent and limited blood exposures, respectively (p = 0.0013). There were no new cases of hepatitis A or B or seroconversions in controls and only one case of hepatitis A acquired outside the hospital by a health worker. These data confirm the high prevalence of hepatitis B exposure and document in a prospective study the high incidence over time of new hepatitis B virus infections in health workers unprotected by vaccination. Such findings reiterate the need for aggressive vaccination programs in health workers exposed to blood.

Hepatitis A Antibodies↗
PubMed1994

Estimation of radiation doses for workers without monitoring data for retrospective epidemiologic studies.

Dosimetry data are required for many epidemiologic studies of radiation workers. For several reasons, these data may not be available for some workers for some periods of time. An estimate of a worker's dose for such a time period can be made using data from nearby time periods for the worker or using data obtained for other workers during the same time period. This paper reports the results of an evaluation of a procedure for estimating external doses for workers included in retrospective epidemiologic studies. This evaluation was conducted using data for workers who had recorded doses for each year in a 5-y period. The dose for the middle year of the 5-y period was treated as unavailable and the dose was estimated several ways. These estimates were compared with the recorded dose. It was observed that averaging a worker's dose data for the years preceding and following a year for which data hypothetically were not available most often yielded the best estimate of the dose. At one facility studied, the use of nearby data for the same worker was a more reliable estimate for a dose than was the department or facility median or mean dose. However, at another facility, use of the department median or mean dose produced a more accurate estimate than did nearby data for the worker. These results indicate that a single procedure for estimating doses is not best for all facilities, and it is recommended that a test of the type reported in this paper be performed before a decision is made on how to estimate doses. The use of department medians or means to estimate doses consistently produced better estimates than were obtained using facility medians or means.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Thorium lung burdens of mineral sands workers.

Thorium lung burdens have been measured in workers in the dry separation plants operated by the mineral sands industry in Western Australia. The data have been compared with historical employment records of the worker's exposure to thorium-bearing airborne dusts in order to assess the reliability of personal air sampling and with the predictions of the new Task Group lung model. The thoron exhaled in the breath of 62 workers was measured using a double filter tube. Six of the workers also underwent in-vivo gamma counting to determine their thorium lung burden. A thoron exhalation rate of 4.7% was obtained from a comparison of the two data sets. The estimated thorium lung burdens from the thoron-in-breath measurements had a geometric mean value of 10 Bq. The workers had a geometric mean employment period in the industry of 9.2 y and a geometric mean total inhaled alpha activity of 9,000 Bq, estimated from contemporary personal air sampling data and a retrospective assessment of previous workplace conditions. This exposure corresponds to a mean daily intake of 232Th of 0.45 Bq. Predictions from the new Task Group lung model indicate that, for the 45 workers with a thorium lung burden in excess of the minimum detectable level (6 Bq), the daily intake of 232Th is a factor of 1.6 higher than expected. This result suggests that previous intake of radioactive dust was higher than generally assumed for some workers. The application of the new Task Group lung models to the bioassay data results in an estimated mean annual committed effective dose for the workers of 8 mSv. Two workers (3%) were found to have been exposed for many years in excess of the 50 mSv y-1 annual limit for occupational exposure, while eight workers (13%) exceeded the ICRP's proposed new occupational standard of an average of 20 mSv y-1. All eight had been employed for more than 6 y and the majority of their exposure was attributed to early employment years, prior to extensive workplace improvements in dust control.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1998

Evaluating the risk of death via the hematopoietic syndrome mode for prolonged exposure of nuclear workers to radiation delivered at very low rates.

During a Phase-I effort, studies were planned to evaluate deterministic (nonstochastic) effects of chronic exposure of nuclear workers at the Mayak atomic complex in the former Soviet Union to relatively high levels (> 0.25 Gy) of ionizing radiation. The Mayak complex has been used, since the late 1940's, to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Workers at Site A of the complex were involved in plutonium breeding using nuclear reactors, and some were exposed to relatively large doses of gamma rays plus relatively small neutron doses. The Weibull normalized-dose model, which has been set up to evaluate the risk of specific deterministic effects of combined, continuous exposure of humans to alpha, beta, and gamma radiations, is here adapted for chronic exposure to gamma rays and neutrons during repeated 6-h work shifts--as occurred for some nuclear workers at Site A. Using the adapted model, key conclusions were reached that will facilitate a Phase-II study of deterministic effects among Mayak workers. These conclusions include the following: (1) neutron doses may be more important for Mayak workers than for Japanese A-bomb victims in Hiroshima and can be accounted for using an adjusted dose (which accounts for neutron relative biological effectiveness); (2) to account for dose-rate effects, normalized dose X (a dimensionless fraction of an LD50 or ED50) can be evaluated in terms of an adjusted dose; (3) nonlinear dose-response curves for the risk of death via the hematopoietic mode can be converted to linear dose-response curves (for low levels of risk) using a newly proposed dimensionless dose, D = X(V), in units of Oklad (where D is pronounced "deh"), and V is the shape parameter in the Weibull model; (4) for X < or = Xo, where Xo is the threshold normalized dose, D = 0; (5) unlike absorbed dose, the dose D can be averaged over different Mayak workers in order to calculate the average risk of death via the hematopoietic mode for the population exposed at Site A; and (6) the expected cases of death via the hematopoietic syndrome mode for Mayak workers chronically exposed during work shifts at Site A to gamma rays and neutrons can be predicted using ln(2)B M[D]; where B (pronounced "beh") is the number of workers at risk (criticality accident victims excluded); and M[D] is the average (mean) value of D (averaged over the worker population at risk, for Site A, for the time period considered). These results can be used to facilitate a Phase II study of deterministic radiation effects among Mayak workers chronically exposed to gamma rays and neutrons.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

Plasma Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein expression in vinyl chloride monomer workers in Taiwan.

Vinyl chloride (VC) workers are known to be at risk for development of liver angiosarcoma, a rare tumor. Previously, more than 80% of VC workers with liver angiosarcoma have been found to have an Asp-13 c-Ki-ras oncogene mutation, and more than 50% of VC-exposed workers without liver tumors were found to have Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein in their plasma. Some workers in Taiwan had also been exposed to VC, and some have contracted liver tumors. In this study, we used enhanced chemiluminescence Western blotting to detect Asp13-p21-Ki-ras in the sera of VC-exposed workers in Taiwan. There were 14 of 113 (12.4%) VC workers positive for the Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein in plasma, but 0 of 18 controls were positive. There were 10 of 69 (14.5%) plasma-positives among the more highly exposed (> 1000 ppm-months) workers and 4 of 48 (9.1%) plasma-positives among the lesser exposed (< or = 1000 ppm-months). Compared with the unexposed controls, the odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals [CI]) for plasma-positivity were 4.11 (95% CI = 0.21, 80.4) in the lower-exposed workers and 6.53 (95% CI = 0.37, 116.9) in the higher-exposed workers, and there was a linear trend between exposure and plasma-positivity (P = 0.073). After adjusting for age and drinking status, the odds ratios (and 95% CIs) were 1.64 (95% CI = 0.17, 15.8), and 2.65 (95% CI = 0.42, 16.8), respectively, and there was a significant linear trend between exposure and plasma-positivity (P = 0.048). In summary, Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein can be found in the plasma of VC workers in Taiwan, and a significant dose-response relationship exists between plasma oncoprotein expression and VC exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Working in noise with a hearing loss: perceptions from workers, supervisors, and hearing conservation program managers.

OBJECTIVE: Workers with hearing loss face special problems, especially when working in noise. However, conventional hearing conservation practices do not distinguish between workers with normal hearing versus impaired hearing. This study collected information from workers with self-reported noise exposure and hearing loss, supervisors of such workers, and hearing conservation program managers through focus groups and in-depth interviews to evaluate their perspectives on the impact of hearing loss on safety and job performance, the use of hearing protection, and information needed to appropriately manage hearing-impaired workers who work in noisy environments. RESULTS: Concerns about working in noise with a hearing loss could be grouped into the following 10 categories: impact on job performance, impact on job safety, impaired ability to hear warning signals, impaired ability to monitor equipment, interference with communication, stress and/or fatigue, impaired communication caused by hearing protector use, reduced ability to monitor the environment as the result of hearing protector use, concerns about future quality of life, and concerns about future employability. Mostly, there was an agreement between the perceptions of workers, supervisors, and hearing conservation program managers regarding difficulties associated with hearing loss and consequent needs. These findings suggest that noise-exposed workers with hearing loss face many of the same problems reported in the literature by noise-exposed workers with normal hearing, with additional concerns primarily about job safety as the result of a reduced ability to hear environmental sounds, warning signals, and so forth. CONCLUSIONS: The study outlines potential challenges regarding job safety and hearing conservation practices for noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers. Awareness of these issues is a necessary first step toward providing appropriate protective measures for noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The health promotion model as assessed by ageing workers.

AIMS: This study describes qualitatively ageing workers and their health promotion. It also describes quantitatively the importance of individual, workplace and occupational health promoting factors, the impact of health promotion and the contributions of the other co-partners promoting the health of ageing workers. These form the foundation for a model of health promotion. BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the health promotion factors exclusively focused at ageing workers. METHODS: A pretested questionnaire with structured and some open-ended questions were devised to form the basis of qualitative data and sent to 150 ageing workers, of whom 93 (62%) returned it. Qualitative data were analysed by content analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using frequencies and means. RESULTS: Over 90% of respondents stated that health habits, individual arrangements at the workplace, a good workplace spirit, health checks, counselling and access to nursing care were important factors for health promotion. Better health (99%), work satisfaction (95%) and motivation of employees (96%) were the factors impacting on health promotion. Ageing workers stated that health and safety organization (94%) and rehabilitation institutes (93%) were the most important co-partners. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms extremely high importance of different health promotion factors, their impact and some co-partners. Health problems, early retirement and work absenteeism are rather common in ageing workers. If we are to avoid these problems, it is important to support their work ability effectively and systematically to allow these workers to stay employed until the normal retirement age. Relevance to clinical practice. It is necessary, that management appreciate the benefits of ageing workers; they have to take a positive attitude toward these workers and participate more effectively in their health promotion. Occupational health professionals play a key role in training workers and management to undertake the required measures.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2001

The health and welfare needs of female and transgender street sex workers in New South Wales.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the health and welfare status of female and transgender street sex workers and their work-related experiences. Also to estimate population numbers, determine work locations, and identify the most appropriate education, health and welfare services for this group. METHODS: Forty-eight street sex workers completed a questionnaire, mainly at their place of work. Demographic and sexual health profiles of sex workers attending the Sydney Sexual Health Centre and the Kirketon Road Centre in 1997 were compared with the street sample. RESULTS: Up to 120 female and transgender sex workers worked on the streets in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and surrounding areas in any one night: more than 80% of these were female. Of those sampled, fewer street workers than brothel sex workers (6% vs. 41%; p<0.001) were from non-English speaking backgrounds, and more (77% vs. 7%; p<0.0001) were currently injecting drugs. The street workers reported lower rates of condom use at work than local brothel workers (91.7% vs. 98.8%; p<0.016) and high rates of hepatitis B and C infection. Seventy-five per cent had experienced violence at work. Child care, lack of supportive relationships, community intolerance and low self-esteem were important problems for the street workers. While the police were frequently required by the community to move the street workers on, there were no reports of corrupt behaviour by police. CONCLUSIONS: Health services need to specifically target this group with particular attention to the prevention of blood-borne virus infections, contraception, drug dependency and transgender issues. Consideration should be given to developing a network of safe houses to reduce community pressure and violence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Dermatoses in cement workers in southern Taiwan.

Construction workers are known to have occupational dermatoses. The prevalence of such dermatoses was unknown in Taiwanese construction workers. The objective of this study was to determine the work exposure, prevalence of skin manifestations, and sensitivity to common contact allergens in cement workers of southern Taiwan. A total of 1147 current regular cement workers were telephone-interviewed about skin problems during the past 12 months, work exposure, and personal protection. Among those interviewed, 166 were examined and patch tested with common contact allergens. A high % of cement workers reported skin problems in the past 12 months. More men (13.9%) reported skin problems possibly related to work than women (5.4%). Prevalence was associated with lower use of gloves, duration of work as cement worker, and more time in jobs involving direct manual handling of cement, especially tiling. A high % of dermatitis was noted in the 166 workers examined, which correlated with reported skin problems. On patch testing, construction workers had a high frequency of sensitivity to chromate. Sensitivity to chromate or cobalt was associated with reported skin problems, or dorsal hand dermatitis on examination. These workers' dermatitis was under-diagnosed and inadequately managed. It is concluded that cement workers in southern Taiwan had a high prevalence of skin problems related to cement use. Protective measures, work practice, and physician education should be improved to prevent or manage such problems.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

DNA damage in outdoor workers occupationally exposed to environmental air pollutants.

BACKGROUND: Health concerns about the exposure to genotoxic and carcinogenic agents in the air are particularly significant for outdoor workers in less developed countries. AIMS: To investigate the association between personal exposure to a group of air pollutants and severity of DNA damage in outdoor workers from two Mexican cities. METHODS: DNA damage (Comet assay) and personal exposure to volatile organic compounds, PM(2.5), and ozone were investigated in 55 outdoor and indoor workers from México City and Puebla. RESULTS: In México City, outdoor workers had greater DNA damage, reflected by a longer tail length, than indoor workers (median 46.8 v 30.1 mum), and a greater percentage of highly damaged cells (cells with tail length > or =41 microm); in Puebla, outdoor and indoor workers had similar DNA damage. There were more alkali labile sites in outdoor than indoor workers. The DNA damage magnitude was positively correlated with PM(2.5) and ozone exposure. Outdoor and indoor workers with > or =60% of highly damaged cells (highly damaged workers) had significantly higher exposures to PM(2.5), ozone, and some volatile organic compounds. The main factors associated with the highly damaged workers were ozone, PM(2.5), and 1-ethyl-2-methyl benzene exposure. CONCLUSIONS: With this approach, the effects of some air pollutants could be correlated with biological endpoints from the Comet assay. It is suggested that the use of personal exposure assessment and biological endpoints evaluation could be an important tool to generate a more precise assessment of the associated potential health risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Natural killer cell activity in workers exposed to benzidine and beta-naphthylamine.

To investigate the effects of benzidine (BZ) and beta-naphthylamine (BNA) on the immune system in man, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells as well as the relative number (percentage) of Leu 11a positive cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured in 63 dyestuff workers exposed to BZ and BNA (aromatic amines, AA). The cytotoxic potential per NK cell (unit NK cell activity) was approximated by dividing the NK activity per fixed numbers of unseparated mononuclear cells by the percentage of Leu 11a positive lymphocytes that mediated NK activity. Thirty one of these workers had previously been treated for bladder cancer and then cured (ex-cancer AA workers) whereas the remaining 32 had not been diagnosed as having bladder cancer (non-cancer AA workers). There was no significant difference in the gross NK activity per unseparated peripheral mononuclear cells among ex-cancer AA workers, non-cancer AA workers, and the control group (p greater than 0.05). The relative number of Leu 11a positive cells, on the other hand, was significantly higher in AA workers than in the control group (p less than 0.01). The unit NK cell activity, as a result, was significantly more reduced in both ex-cancer and non-cancer AA workers than in the control group (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). Between ex-cancer and non-cancer AA workers, no significant difference was observed in terms of unit NK cell activity. These results indicated that the function of NK cells per se was impaired in AA workers whereas the number of circulating NK cells was relatively increased.

2-Naphthylamine↗
PubMed1992

Kidney effects in long term exposed lead smelter workers.

Occupational exposure to lead may cause kidney damage. This study was carried out on a cohort of 70 active and 30 retired long term exposed lead smelter workers. Their kidney function was compared with 31 active and 10 retired truck assembly workers who had no occupational exposure to lead. The lead workers had been regularly followed up with measurements of lead concentration in blood since 1950. Previous exposure to lead was calculated as a time integrated blood lead index for each worker. Blood and urine samples were obtained from all subjects. The concentration of lead in blood (B-Pb) and urine (U-Pb) was analysed. The urinary concentrations of several sensitive indicators of early tubular (U-beta 2-microglobulin (U-beta 2-m); U-N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (U-NAG)) and glomerular kidney damage (U-albumin) were determined. The B-Pb and U-Pb values were significantly higher among active and retired lead workers compared with their corresponding control groups. The highest concentrations were found among the active lead workers. The concentrations of the parameters of kidney function investigated were of the same magnitude for exposed workers and controls. No clinical signs of renal impairment were found among the workers. No correlations of clinical importance existed between concentrations of U-albumin, U-beta 2-m, and U-NAG activity on the one hand and the concentrations of B-Pb, cumulative blood lead index, U-Pb, and lead concentrations in the calcaneus and tibia on the other, among lead workers and controls. Despite many years of moderate to heavy exposure to lead, particularly for the retired lead workers, no signs of adverse effects on the kidney such as early tubular or glomerular malfunction were found. Reversible changes in kidney function during the 1950s and 1960s could not be excluded, however, due to a greater exposure to lead during that time.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interaction of smoking, uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and cytochrome P450IA2 activity among foundry workers.

An increased lung cancer risk has been described among foundry workers. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and silica are possible aetiological factors. This study describes a urinary PAH metabolite, 1-hydroxypyrene (hpU), as well as the degree of cytochrome P450IA2 activity/induction as reflected by the urinary caffeine ratio (IA2) in 45 foundry workers and 52 controls; IA2 was defined as the ratio of paraxanthine 7-demethylation products to a paraxanthine 8-hydroxylation product (1,7-dimethyluric acid). Mean exposure concentrations for foundry workers were defined by breathing zone hygienic samples (respirable dust 1.2 to 3.52 mg/m3 (93 samples)) and as total PAH (0.46 micrograms/m3) and pyrene concentrations (0.28 micrograms/m3) (six samples). Non-smoking controls and foundry workers had similar IA2 ratios (5.63, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 4.56-6.70 and 4.40, 95% CI 3.56-5.24). The same was true for smoking controls and foundry workers (9.10, 95% CI 8.00-10.20 and 8.69, 95% CI 7.37-10.01). Both smoking groups had raised IA2 ratios compared with non-smokers (p less than 0.01). Non-smoking controls and foundry workers had similar hpU concentrations (0.16, 95% CI 0.10-0.22 and 0.11, 95% CI 0.09-0.13 mumol/mol creatinine). Smoking foundry workers had raised hpU concentrations (0.42, 95% CI 0.25-0.59) compared with smoking controls (0.26, 95% CI 0.18-0.34) (p less than 0.01). A small subgroup of smoking foundry workers with the highest exposures to both silica and PAH also had the highest hpU concentrations (0.70, 95% CI - 0.07-1.47 mumol/mol creatinine) (p less than 0.04). Increased hpU concentrations in smoking foundry workers suggest a more than additive effect from smoking and foundry exposures resulting in increased PAH uptake. Increased P450IA2 enzyme activity was only found in smokers and no additional effect of foundry exposures was seen. These data suggest that smoking as well as work related PAH exposure may be casually related to increased risk of lung cancer in foundry workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of the sick building syndrome symptoms in office workers before and after being exposed to a building with an improved ventilation system.

OBJECTIVE: To find if the prevalence of symptoms associated with sick building syndrome decreased among office workers after moving to a building with improved ventilation (after controlling for potential confounders). METHODS: Workers in five buildings in 1991 all moved in 1992 into a single building with improved design, operation, and maintenance of the ventilation system. All buildings had sealed windows with mechanical ventilation, air conditioning, and humidification. Workers completed a self administered questionnaire during normal working hours in February 1991 and February 1992. The questionnaire encompassed symptoms of the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory system, skin, fatigue, headache, and difficulty concentrating, personal, psychosocial, and work related factors. During normal office hours of the same week environmental variables were measured. RESULTS: The study population comprised 1390 workers in 1991 and 1371 workers in 1992 who represented more than 80% of the eligible population. The prevalence of most symptoms decreased when workers moved to the new building: skin (54%), respiratory system (53%), nose and throat (46%), fatigue (44%), headache (37%), eyes (23%). These findings were all significant and remained generally similar after controlling for personal, psychosocial, and work related factors. Furthermore, more than 60% of workers symptomatic in 1991 were asymptomatic in 1992 for all types of symptoms. In contrast, less than 15% of workers were asymptomatic in 1991 but symptomatic in 1992 for all types of symptoms. CONCLUSION: In this study, the prevalence of most symptoms usually associated with the sick building syndrome decreased by 40% to 50% after workers were transferred to a building with an improved ventilation system. The results show that it is possible to diminish the prevalence of symptoms associated with the sick building syndrome among office workers occupying a building with mechanical ventilation, air conditioning, and sealed windows.

Female↗