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PubMed1998

Criteria for the reintegration in the workforce of workers with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs, based on preliminary practical experience.

This paper presents a preliminary study on the return to the workforce of employees with WMSDs of the upper limbs, and their reallocation to jobs with 'low exposure'. The study, which is still underway, involves a large engineering firm and includes some 100 workers affected by WMSDs. The trial involved: providing a definition of the criteria for characterizing 'accommodating' jobs (i.e. frequency of action < 20 actions/min; virtual absence of other risk factors such as force, awkward posture, inadequate pauses, etc.); effectively identifying jobs meeting such criteria (or jobs which, with minimal modifications, could be made suitable); classifying WMSD workers according to the type and severity of the disorder; matching WMSD workers with the jobs best suited to them; specific training for the workers and their supervisors; carrying out a follow-up of the return of WMSD workers to the workforce in organizational terms (i.e. the need for further modifications to equipment or procedures) and clinical terms (i.e. symptom patterns, acceptability of the condition). The preliminary results, 6-12 months after the start of the trial, are extremely encouraging, and show that when workers return to the workforce in jobs that fully meet defined criteria, a significant prevalence of 'improvements' are reported among the workers involved. The investigation will need to be extended but it already shows quite convincingly that it is possible for workers with what can be described as a 'reduced working capacity' to remain 'productive' (albeit in jobs featuring a lower exposure potential than the acceptable threshold for 'healthy' workers).

Arm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Shiftwork and the older worker.

The number of workers employed on shiftwork is large, and it appears to be increasing. The impact of shiftwork on the occupational safety and health of workers is complex and involves both biological and behavioral variables. Current conceptual models propose that the impact of shiftwork, where night work is involved, increases with exposure. At some point the worker is said to reach a tolerance limit beyond which shiftwork is no longer safe. Sleep variables have proven to be sensitive markers for the effects of night shiftwork. Data from U.S. workers show a statistically significant interaction among age, gender, and shift for the workday sleep length of workers on permanent day, afternoon/evening, and night shifts. Sleep length declines with age for both male and female night workers, as well as for male workers on afternoon/evening shifts. In addition, female night workers in the 18-49 age range sleep significantly less than same-age male night workers. Nap behavior also varies with shift, but age and gender effects do not appear to account for the variance. The results support the assumption that most night shiftworkers are at risk even though they often give the appearance of being able to tolerate nocturnal work hours. However, it is not yet clear how age and gender are related to the social, circadian, and environmental factors that influence the sleep length of shiftworkers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Smoking among shift workers: More than a confounding factor.

In studies on the cardiovascular disease risk among shift workers, smoking is considered to be a confounding factor. In a study of 239 shift and 157 daytime workers, it was found that shift work was prospectively related to increased cigarette consumption, indicating that smoking might be in the causative pathway; however, the number of study subjects was too low to warrant sound conclusions. Therefore, data from the Maastricht Cohort study were used to investigate the longitudinal relation between smoking and shift work in a much larger population. In this study, a total of 12,140 employees were followed for two years by means of self-administered questionnaires. The authors compared workers who normally worked during daytime hours only (74%) with those who worked other than day shifts (26%). Logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for demographic factors of age, gender, and educational level to evaluate the risk of starting to smoke (n = 25) in the group of non-smoking workers and the risk of quitting (n = 318) in the group of smoking workers. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between shift work and taking up smoking during the two-year follow-up (odds ratio: 1.46, p = 0.03). The risk to stop smoking was somewhat lower in shift workers (odds ratio: 0.91) but not statistically significant (p = 0.5). To conclude, this study showed that, independent of educational level, shift workers are more prone to start smoking. This finding might have important implications for studies on the health effects of shift workers and for possible interventions aimed at the reduction of the excess health risk among shift workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Women migrant workers' vulnerability to HIV infection in Hong Kong.

Research on population mobility and HIV/AIDS risk among migrant populations is quite limited, and research on migrant women workers' vulnerability is further limited. Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region of China, has currently about 200,000 women migrant workers working as domestic helps. This paper reports migrant women worker's access to AIDS-related health information and health care facilities, perceptions about vulnerability, and risk behaviour profile. Data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire from a random sample of 2,010 women migrant workers. A majority of the migrant women workers (63.6%) have been living and working in Hong Kong for between 4-10 years. Fifty-four per cent of the respondents felt that being a female they were vulnerable to HIV infection. Overall, the knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and its route of transmission is inadequate amongst the migrant women workers in Hong Kong. It appears that AIDS-related information education and communication needs of women migrants workers are not met by the current HIV prevention and care activities in Hong Kong. The study indicates that migrant women workers who experienced sexual violence (9%) in Hong Kong perceive themselves to be 'at risk' of HIV infection. Seventy per cent of the respondents reported that they have felt discriminated against in Hong Kong, of which 42% felt discriminated against in Hong Kong hospitals. Addressing discrimination in health care settings is an essential element of AIDS prevention. The discussion urges researchers and policy makers to pay more attention to the vulnerability of migrant women workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Elevated lead contamination in homes of construction workers.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigators studied lead exposures among 37 families of construction workers; 22 neighborhood families with no known lead exposures were included for comparison. Workers were identified as having blood lead levels at or above 25 micrograms/dL. This article reports the levels of lead contamination on hands and interior surfaces of homes and automobiles of study participants. Results indicate that the hands of lead-exposed workers were seven times more contaminated with lead compared with control workers; no difference was found between exposed and control family members' hands. Surface lead contamination was significantly higher in automobiles driven by the lead-exposed workers; some locations, such as armrests, were 10 times more contaminated for the exposed group. High lead loadings in lead workers' automobiles were found on the driver's floor (geometric mean [GM] = 1100 micrograms/m2), driver's armrest (2000 micrograms/m2), and passenger's armrest (1200 micrograms/m2). Surface lead concentrations were significantly higher for exposed homes compared with control homes in rooms where work clothing was changed (GM = 370 versus 120 ppm; p = 0.005). While environmental sources of lead were also evaluated, study results strongly suggest that construction workers' occupational exposures together with poor hygiene practices were the primary causes of lead contamination. Requirements intended to prevent "take-home" lead exposures were reported by workers in this study to be infrequently followed by employers. These findings may be limited in representativeness since only highly exposed workers were selected from a specific geographic area. Regardless, targeted education and enforcement efforts are necessary to help ensure that preventive measures are adequately practiced throughout the construction industry.

Automobiles↗
PubMed2006

Factors influencing restaurant worker perception of floor slipperiness.

Falls are responsible for a substantial injury burden in the global workplace. Restaurant environments are particularly challenged by slips, trips, and falls. This study explored those factors that could influence workers' self-reports of slipperiness in U.S. fast-food restaurants. One hundred and twenty-six workers employed in 10 fast-food restaurants in the northeastern United States participated in the study representing a study-wide response rate of 87.5%. Participants' ratings of floor slipperiness and occupational slip history within the past 4 weeks were collected through written questionnaire. Additional factors collected by questionnaire included age, gender, shift length, and shoe type. Shoe condition (wear) and shoe contamination were visually assessed by the investigators. Floor friction was also measured. Lower restaurant mean coefficient of friction and the presence of contamination on workers' shoe soles were environmental factors significantly associated with workers reporting more slippery conditions. A recent workplace history of slipping with or without a subsequent fall was also significantly associated with workers reporting more slippery conditions. Workers over the age of 45 reported conditions to be significantly less slippery than younger workers. The results suggest that worker ratings of slipperiness are influenced not only by the actual level of friction but also by the other individual and environmental factors noted above. Recommendations for future studies would include a longitudinal design to better capture the temporal sequence between these variables. More field research is needed to better understand the association between workplace conditions, worker perception of slipperiness, and slipping at work.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1999

Queen-Worker Conflict over Sexual Production and Colony Maintenance in Perennial Social Insects.

An important idea from kin selection theory as applied to life-history evolution in perennial insect societies suggests that potential conflict exists between the queen and workers over the relative allocation of resources to colony reproduction and colony growth. This prediction assumed a colony with one singly mated queen, sterile workers, and independent colony foundation by dispersing queens. We argue that this prediction is mistaken because queen and workers under these circumstances can only invest in sexuals (new queens and males) derived from the colony queen. Assuming population sex ratio equilibrium, potential conflict is absent because both parties maximize fitness by maximizing the colony's total output of these sexuals. However, a similar queen-worker conflict is predicted in facultatively polygynous species in which existing queens are superseded. We hypothesize that queens favor the production of relatively more new workers to prolong their lives as reproductives, whereas workers favor raising relatively more new queens as possible replacements. We tested this hypothesis using productivity data from the ant Leptothorax acervorum. As predicted, queen number and worker number were, respectively, positively and negatively associated with the investment ratio of new workers to new queens. These findings imply a queen-worker conflict over caste determination in ants.

Formicidae↗
PubMed2002

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker of internal dose of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in carbon black workers.

In this study, a total of 30 workers were selected, including eight wet pelletizing workers and 22 packaging workers. For all selected workers, urine samples were collected on the first day pre-shift, first day post-shift and fifth day post-shift, and their urinary 1-hydroxylpyrene levels (1-OHP) were determined (denoted as BM1pre, BM1post and BM5post, respectively). Personal respiratory exposures, including both inhalable particle-bound PAHs (Cinh) and gaseous PAHs (Cgas), together with dermal exposure to particle-bound PAHs (Cskin) were measured. Personal background information, including age, sex and smoking habit, was carefully registered. Pyrene exposure was statistically significantly correlated with exposure to PAHs and carcinogenic PAHs. Multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the BM1post values could not be explained by workers' exposures. For BM5post in packaging workers, both the regression model (R2 = 0.73) and the regression coefficients for Cgas, Cinh and Cskin were statistically significant (P < 0.05). For pelletizing workers, the R2 value was higher but was not statistically significant because of the smaller number of workers. The resultant regression coefficients for 'sex', 'smoking habit' and 'age' were statistically insignificant (P >> 0.05), which could be because these variables made relatively small contributions to BM5post. In conclusion, this study suggests BM5post could be a suitable indicator for PAH exposures of carbon black workers, on the condition that both respiratory (including gaseous PAHs and particle-bound PAHs) and dermal exposures have been assessed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Respiratory symptoms and occupational exposures in New Zealand plywood mill workers.

OBJECTIVES: To study work exposure and respiratory symptoms in New Zealand plywood mill workers. METHODS: Personal inhalable dust (n = 57), bacterial endotoxin (n = 20), abietic acid (n = 20), terpene (n = 20) and formaldehyde (n = 22) measurements were taken and a respiratory health questionnaire was administered to 112 plywood mill workers. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of the dust exposures exceeded 1 mg/m(3), however, none of the samples exceeded the legal limit of 5 mg/m(3) [geometric mean (GM) = 0.7 mg/m(3), geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 1.9]. Workers in the composer area (where broken sheets are joined together) were significantly (P < 0.01) more highly exposed. Endotoxin levels were low to moderate (GM = 23.0 EU/m(3), GSD = 2.8). Abietic acid levels ranged from 0.3 to 2.4 micro g/m(3) (GM = 0.7 micro g/m(3), GSD = 1.8) and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for workers in the composer area of the process. Geometric mean levels of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and Delta(3)-carene were 1.0 (GSD = 2.7), 1.5 (GSD = 2.8) and 0.1 (GSD = 1.4), respectively, and alpha-pinene and beta-pinene levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for workers in the 'green end' of the process, up to and including the veneer dryers. Formaldehyde levels ranged from 0.01 to 0.74 mg/m(3) [GM = 0.08 mg/m(3) (= 0.06 p.p.m.), GSD = 3.0]. Asthma symptoms were more common in plywood mill workers (20.5%, n = 112) than in the general population [12.8%, n = 415, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.5 (0.9-2.8)]. Asthma symptoms were associated with duration of employment and were reported to lessen or disappear during holidays. No clear association with any of the measured exposures was found, with the exception of formaldehyde, where workers with high exposure reported more asthma symptoms (36.4%) than low exposed workers [7.9%, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 4.3 (0.7-27.7)]. CONCLUSIONS: Plywood mill workers are exposed to inhalable dust, bacterial endotoxin, abietic acid, terpenes and formaldehyde, and they appear to have an increased risk of developing work-related respiratory symptoms. These symptoms may be due to formaldehyde exposure, although a potential causal role for other exposures cannot be excluded.

Abietanes↗
PubMed2000

Genotoxic markers among butadiene polymer workers in China.

While 1,3-butadiene is carcinogenic in rodents, cancer causation in humans is less certain. We examined a spectrum of genotoxic outcomes in 41 butadiene polymer production workers and 38 non-exposed controls, in China, to explore the role of butadiene in human carcinogenesis. Because in vitro studies suggest that genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase enzymes influence genotoxic effects of butadiene, we also related genotoxicity to genetic polymorphisms in GSTT1 and GSTM1. Among butadiene-exposed workers, median air exposure was 2 p.p.m. (6 h time-weighted average), due largely to intermittent high level exposures. Compared with unexposed subjects, butadiene-exposed workers had greater levels of hemoglobin N-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)valine (THBVal) adducts (P < 0.0001) and adduct levels tended to correlate, among butadiene-exposed workers, with air measures (P = 0.03). Butadiene-exposed workers did not differ, however, from unexposed workers with respect to frequency of uninduced or diepoxybutane-induced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy as measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization of chromosomes 1, 7, 8 and 12, glycophorin A variants or lymphocyte hprt somatic mutation. Also among the exposed, greater THBVal levels were not associated with increases in uninduced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy, glycophorin A or hprt mutations. Butadiene-exposed workers had greater lymphocyte (P = 0.002) and platelet counts (P = 0.07) and lymphocytes as a percentage of white blood cells were moderately correlated with greater THBVal levels (Spearman's phi = 0.32, P = 0.07). Among butadiene-exposed workers, neither GSTM1 nor GSTT1 genotype status predicted urinary mercapturic acid butanediol formation, THBVal adducts, uninduced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy or mutations in the glycophorin A or hprt genes. Overall, the study demonstrated exposure to butadiene in these workers, by a variety of short-term and long-term measures, but did not show specific genotoxic effects, at the chromosomal or gene levels, related to that exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interdisciplinary expectations of the medical social worker in the hospital setting.

Nearly 500 physicians, nurses, and social workers affiliated with four general hospitals participated in a mailed questionnaire survey designed to compare interprofessional expectations of the medical social worker role in the hospital. As hypothesized, physicians and nurses expect the exclusive role of the social worker to be more limited to working with families, resolving social-environmental problems, and providing referrals than social workers expect of their role. In general, physicians and nurses do not disagree with medical social workers on what social workers expect to do in the hospital setting; rather, they disagree more on what social workers expect to be their exclusive role. Furthermore, it does not appear that other groups discredit either the biopsychosocial health care model or social worker competency. Instead, these groups perceive the special focus of the medical social worker in the hospital as enhancing the environmental support and resources of the patient, viewing the patient's family as part of that support system. These other groups may not understand or accept the person-in-environment focus of social work.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries.

BACKGROUND: Many U.S. factory workers are exposed to formaldehyde. Although increased risks for leukemia have been found in medical workers and other professionals exposed to formaldehyde, studies in industrial workers, who are thought to have higher exposures, have shown inconsistent associations. We extended follow-up of a cohort of industrial workers to evaluate the association between formaldehyde exposure and lymphohematopoietic cancers. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 25 619 workers (865 708 person-years) employed before January 1, 1966, at one of 10 U.S. industrial plants and followed through December 31, 1994. We analyzed formaldehyde exposure (peak exposure, average exposure intensity, cumulative exposure, and duration of exposure) and mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies using standardized mortality ratios and relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) based on Poisson regression. Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Among the cohort, there were 178 deaths from lymphohematopoietic malignancies. Relative risks for leukemia (69 deaths), particularly for myeloid leukemia (30 deaths), increased with formaldehyde exposure. Compared with workers exposed to low peak levels of formaldehyde (0.1-1.9 ppm), relative risks for myeloid leukemia were 2.43 (95% CI = 0.81 to 7.25) and 3.46 (95% CI = 1.27 to 9.43) for workers exposed to peak levels of 2.0-3.9 ppm and > or = 4.0 ppm, respectively (P(trend) =.009). Compared with workers exposed to low levels of average exposure intensity of formaldehyde (0.1-0.4 ppm), workers exposed to 0.5-0.9 ppm and > or = 1.0 ppm average intensity had relative risks of 1.15 (95% CI = 0.41 to 3.23) and 2.49 (95% CI = 1.03 to 6.03), respectively (P(trend) =.088). The relative risk for leukemia was not associated with cumulative exposure but was weakly associated with duration of exposure. Relative risks for Hodgkin's disease also increased with formaldehyde exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to formaldehyde may cause leukemia, particularly myeloid leukemia, in humans. However, results from other investigations are mixed, suggesting caution in drawing definitive conclusions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Absenteeism and mortality of workers exposed to electromagnetic fields in the French Electricity Company.

The objective of this study was to describe the health status of electricity workers exposed to electromagnetic fields during their job. Two groups of exposed workers were studied from 1978 to 1993: the live line workers (n = 121) and the substation workers (n = 232.7) of the French Electricity Company (EDF). A control group was randomly selected from all the company non-management male employees; one control for each exposed subject was matched for the first year of employment. Absenteeism indices and mortality rates were computed and compared in the exposed and control groups. The absence rates were 1.98% in the substation workers and 2.5% in the control group (p < 0.001) and 2.7% in the live-line workers and 2.8% in the control group (NS). No effect of the length of exposure was found. However the medical causes of sickness absence were different: exposed employees had less psychiatric and respiratory diseases but more accidents at work than their control group. Relative risks of accidents at work were 1.2 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.33[ for substation workers and 3.22 (CI = 1.78-5.88) for live line workers. EDF electromagnetic field exposed workers seemed not to be affected by any specific health problems except for an excess of accidents at work.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

Predictors of lead absorption in children of lead workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine whether children of lead workers are at a higher risk of lead absorption and if so, to identify risk factors for absorption, including lifestyle, household, environmental and parental work practices with lead. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 17 'lead worker' and 13 comparison 'non-lead worker' households. Companies and eligible employees were contacted using mail-out packs. Children were aged between 12 and 72 months. Data collection involved administration of a questionnaire and collection of dust, soil, water, paint-scraping samples, and blood from the children for the determination of lead and ferritin levels. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. RESULTS: Participants included seven of 29 eligible employees from 14 'scheduled' lead workplaces and 12 of 19 eligible employees from 19 'leadlighter' workplaces identified. The average lead level for workers was 13.9 micrograms/dl, children of lead workers 6.93 micrograms/dl (n = 22) and comparison group 3.93 micrograms/dl (n = 16). Water lead levels were all < 2.5 ppm. The lead content of three soil samples and nine dust samples was above suggested guideline levels. Lead levels were significantly higher in children of lead workers but all were within recommended levels. Inadequate practice of lead work hygiene measures, such as inadequate use of protective equipment and taking work clothes home, was a common factor in lead worker households that were found to have elevated soil and dust lead levels. The differences in lead levels between groups did not change significantly when adjustment was made for the clustering effect of more than one child per household. CONCLUSIONS: Children of lead workers are at higher risk of lead absorption. Poor work hygiene practices of lead workers suggest an association with elevated lead levels in their children. A number of other predictors were suggested by this study but the small numbers of participants made it difficult to detect statistically significant differences between subgroups.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Mortality of United Kingdom oil refinery and petroleum distribution workers, 1951-1998.

The mortality experienced by cohorts of 28 630 oil refinery workers and 16 480 petroleum distribution workers has been investigated. Study subjects were all those male employees first employed in the period 1946-1974 at one of eight UK oil refineries or at one of 476 UK petroleum distribution centres; all subjects had a minimum of 12 months employment with some employment after 1 January 1951. The observed numbers of cause-specific deaths were compared with expectations based on national mortality rates. The resultant standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were significantly below 100 for all causes, in both oil refinery workers (observed, 9341; expected, 10 649.7; SMR = 88) and petroleum distribution workers (observed, 6083; expected, 6460.3; SMR = 94). Significantly elevated SMRs were shown in oil refinery workers for cancer of the gall bladder (observed, 24; expected, 14.0; SMR = 172), cancer of the pleura (observed, 38; expected, 15.0; SMR = 254) and melanoma (observed, 36; expected, 22.2; SMR = 162). Significantly elevated SMRs were not found in petroleum distribution workers for any site of cancer. SMRs for selected causes of death were calculated by period from commencing employment, by year of hire and by job type. The only findings that suggested the presence of an occupational cancer hazard were an excess of mesothelioma in oil refinery workers and an excess of leukaemia in petroleum distribution workers, both excesses occurring in long-term follow-up for workers first employed >30 years ago.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2003

Increased risk of asthma among Finnish construction workers.

AIM: To determine the risk of asthma among 7891 Finnish construction workers in the Pirkanmaa Region of southern Finland. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study of hospital records of the Tampere University Hospital. A population of Pirkanmaa paper mill workers (n=2686) and the Pirkanmaa working age population (n=252,500) served as reference populations. RESULTS: There were 147 new cases of asthma among the construction workers in 1991-1995. The annual rate was 37 per 10,000 workers and the odds ratio was 2.1 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2-3.6] for the women and 1.8 (95% CI=1.5-2.2) for the men when compared with the general working age population. In general, the risk of asthma among the paper mill workers did not differ from the risk of asthma among the general working age population. The construction workers had an increased risk for asthma, although the number of reported cases of occupational asthma was lower for the construction workers than for the paper mill workers or for the working population. CONCLUSION: Construction work, especially dusty tasks, was associated with an elevated risk of asthma. Thus the effect of exposure to irritant agents may have a role in the development of asthma among construction workers. For the most part, these cases of asthma do not meet the criteria for occupational asthma because the specified causal agent can not be defined. The aetiologic agents and mechanisms of asthma in construction work should be clarified for preventive measures.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Work ability of workers in western China: reference data.

BACKGROUND: The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a validated and widely used research tool. Reference data for Chinese workers by age, gender and work content are poorly documented or lacking. OBJECTIVE: To provide reference data for work ability among workers in western China. METHODS: A random sample of 10 218 workers (including manual, professional, clerical and semi-skilled workers) in western China, aged 16-69 years, was taken from several studies and the WAI questionnaire was administered. RESULTS: All the WAI scores were distributed continuously and nearly normally. The WAI for female workers was significantly higher than for males (P < 0.01) and the 'poor' WAI category only accounted for 3% of females, against 6% of males. WAI scores declined with age and changed variably among workers according to work content and age. Mean WAI scores of manual workers declined rapidly beyond the age of 35 years, and beyond age 45 years for professional and clerical workers. WAI scores were distributed differently according to work content and age group (P < 0.01). WAI categories differed by work content and age group both for male and female workers. CONCLUSION: WAI is validated in Chinese occupational practices. Some reference data are different from Finnish data. This study provides gender, age and work-content-specific WAI reference values that will help enable comparison and intervention evaluation in further studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cancer mortality among man-made vitreous fiber production workers.

We have updated the follow-up of cancer mortality for a cohort study of man-made vitreous fiber production workers from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, from 1982 to 1990. In the mortality analysis, 22,002 production workers contributed 489,551 person-years, during which there were 4,521 deaths. Workers with less than 1 year of employment had an increased mortality [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37-1.53]. Workers with 1 year or more of employment, contributing 65% of person-years, had an SMR of 1.05 (95% CI = 1.02-1.09). The SMR for lung cancer was 1.34 (95% CI = 1.08-1.63, 97 deaths) among rock/slag wool workers and 1.27 (95% CI = 1.07-1.50, 140 deaths) among glass wool workers. In the latter group, no increase was present when local mortality rates were used. Among rock/slag wool workers, the risk of lung cancer increased with time-since-first-employment and duration of employment. The trend in lung cancer mortality according to technologic phase at first employment was less marked than in the previous follow-up. We obtained similar results from a Poisson regression analysis limited to rock/slag wool workers. Five deaths from pleural mesothelioma were reported, which may not represent an excess. There was no apparent excess for other categories of neoplasm. Tobacco smoking and other factors linked to social class, as well as exposures in other industries, appear unlikely to explain the whole increase in lung cancer mortality among rock/slag wool workers. Limited data on other agents do not indicate an important role of asbestos, slag, or bitumen. These results are not sufficient to conclude that the increased lung cancer risk is the result of exposure to rock/slag wool; however, insofar as respirable fibers were an important component of the ambient pollution of the working environment, they may have contributed to the increased risk.

Aged↗