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PubMed1976

Byssinosis: a follow-up study of cotton ginnery workers in the Sudan.

A follow-up study of lung function tests and dust measurements was undertaken in ginnery workers employed in five ginning factories. Respiratory symptoms and respiratory function tests (FEV1 and FVC) were first recorded in 1967 on a total of 382 workers (323 permanently employed ginnery workers, 35 seasonal farfara workers, and 24 fire brigade men as controls). In 1969 after a six-month break from ginning before the start of the season, a follow-up study of lung function tests was undertaken on 96% of the same workers (306 ginnery workers, 35 farfara, and 24 fire brigade men). Because of the lapse of two years a new adjustment for age and height was made so as to compare the FEV1 measured in the follow-up study. The fire brigade men showed an expected fall in FEV1 during the two-year period, whereas the ginnery workers showed a rise presumably because they had had no dust exposure during the previous six months. The differences between the degree of change in these groups were statistically significant. In 1967 only the fine dust (less than 7 mum) was measured, while in 1969 the concentration of fine and medium dust, that is, less fly was measured. The factories were divided into three groups according to dust concentration. Comparison between the three factory groups and farfara shows a positive association between the level of dust concentration less fly and the prevalence of cough and phlegm. Since age did not appear to be a significant factor in the prevalence of byssinosis, comparisons between permanent workers in these three groups of factories and farfara workers taken separately were made without age standardization. The overall differences were statistically significant. There was a marked trend showing a positive association between prevalence of byssinosis and level of cotton dust concentration in the factories. The correlation between dust levels and the prevalence of byssinosis was nearly perfect when the time factor was included.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Arsenic and selenium in lung, liver, and kidney tissue from dead smelter workers.

Concentrations of arsenic and selenium in lung, liver, and kidney tissue from dead smelter workers and from a control group have been determined with the aid of neutron activation analysis. A sevenfold increase of arsenic was found in lung tissue from the exposed workers compared with the control group. The median value of arsenic in lung tissue from workers dead from respiratory cancer was not higher than corresponding values from workers dead from other malignancies or from cardiovascular or other diseases. With increasing period of retirement the malignancies or from cardiovascular or other diseases. With increasing period of retirement the arsenic content diminished in liver tissue but not in lung tissue, indicating a long biological half life of arsenic in lung tissue. The workers dead from malignancies had a higher As/Se quotient than workers dead from other diseases, which does not contradict the protective theory of selenium. Accumulation of antimony, cadmium, lead and lanthanum was observed in lung tissue from the exposed workers. Six of the workers died from lung cancer and the highest concentrations of any of the elements were always observed in the lung tissue from these six cases. This observation speaks in favour of a multifactorial cause behind the excess mortality from lung cancer in smelter workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Respiratory symptoms and lung function in hemp workers.

Respiratory symptoms and abnormalities of lung function were studied in 84 female and 27 male hemp workers employed in two textile mills (A and B) processing soft hemp (C sativa). In mill A 46 women and 27 men were investigated and 38 female workers were studied in mill B. Forty nine women and 30 men from a non-dusty industry served as controls. A significantly higher prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was found in female hemp workers when compared to control workers. Among the men these differences were significant for nasal catarrh and sinusitis. A high prevalence of byssinosis was found among female hemp workers in both mills (group A, 47.8%; group B, 57.9%) as well as in the male workers (66.7%). Statistically significant across shift reductions in lung function were found for all ventilatory capacity measurements in female and male hemp workers varying from 7.1% for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to 15.1% for flow rates at 50% vital capacity (FEF50). Measured Monday baseline values before the work shift were significantly lower than expected for hemp workers, being particularly reduced for FEF25 and FEF50. The data suggest that occupational exposure to hemp dust is a significant risk factor for the development of acute and chronic lung disease in workers employed in this textile industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A nine year follow up study of renal effects in workers exposed to cadmium in a zinc ore refinery.

Renal changes with time have been studied in 14 workers engaged in the production of cadmium (Cd) in a zinc ore refinery. These workers were examined once a year in the period 1980 to 1985 and 13 of them also in 1989. Four of the workers (group A) had been employed in an old Cd plant before 1973 and had received higher exposures to Cd than the other workers (group B). Average urinary Cd concentrations over the whole study period in workers of group A ranged from 6.9 to 9.2 micrograms/g creatinine (median 8.4 micrograms/g) and in workers of group B from 0.64 to 7.1 micrograms/g creatinine (median 1.9 micrograms/g). Renal effects were assessed by the determination of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M), retinol binding protein, albumin, total protein, and serum creatinine concentrations and activity. Urinary beta 2-M concentrations in three of four workers of group A were close to or marginally above the upper normal limit during the study period. The beta 2-microglobinuria was not, however, progressive. No values outside normal limits were detected for any of the other renal tests in workers of groups A and B, related to exposure to Cd. Dose-response relations showed that urinary Cd correlated significantly with urinary NAG activity and total protein and beta 2-M. The earliest change induced by Cd was seen for urinary NAG activity within normal limits of NAG excretion. The regression lines were similar in the surveys between 1981 and 1989, indicative of no progression to higher values for any of the renal tests. The current biological exposure index (BEI) of 10 micrograms/g creatinine for workers exposed to Cd, set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), therefore seems justified, although the safety margin is small. The World Health Organisation recommended limit and ACGIH (1992-3) proposed limit of 5 micrograms/g creatinine would provide a much larger safety margin, and could be regarded as an action point for increased health surveillance.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Renal function and hyperfiltration capacity in lead smelter workers with high bone lead.

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to assess whether the changes in urinary excretion of eicosanoids (a decrease of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 and an increase of thromboxane) previously found in lead (Pb) exposed workers may decrease the renal haemodynamic response to an acute oral protein load. METHODS: The renal haemodynamic response was estimated by determining the capacity of the kidney to increase the glomerular filtration rate (in terms of creatinine clearance) after an acute consumption of cooked red meat (400 g). A cross sectional study was carried out in 76 male Pb workers (age range 30 to 60 years) and 68 controls matched for age, sex, socioeconomic state, general environment (residence), and workshift characteristics. RESULTS: The Pb workers had been exposed to lead on average for 18 (range 6-36) years and showed a threefold higher body burden of Pb than the controls as estimated by in vivo measurements of tibial Pb concentration (Pb-T) (geometric mean 66 v 21 micrograms Pb/g bone mineral). The geometric mean concentrations of Pb in blood (Pb-B) and Pb in urine (Pb-U) were also significantly higher in the Pb group (Pb-B: 430 v 141 micrograms Pb/l; Pb-U: 40 v 7.5 micrograms Pb/g creatinine). These conditions of chronic exposure to Pb did not entail any significant changes in the concentration of blood borne and urinary markers of nephrotoxicity, such as urinary low and high molecular weight plasma derived proteins (beta 2-microglobulin, retinol binding protein, albumin, transferrin), urinary activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and kallikrein, and serum concentrations of creatinine, beta 2-microglobulin, urea, and uric acid. All participants also had normal baseline creatinine clearances (> 80 ml/min/1.73 m2) amounting on average to 115.5 in the controls v 121.3 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the Pb group. Both control and Pb exposed workers showed a significant increment in creatinine clearance (on average 15%) after oral protein load suggesting that the previously found changes in secretion of urinary eicosanoids apparently has no deleterious effect on renal haemodynamics in the examined Pb workers. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that both baseline and stimulated creatinine clearance rates were not only significantly higher in the Pb workers but also positively correlated with Pb-T, suggests that moderate exposure to Pb may be associated with a slight hyperfiltration state, which has been found to attenuate the age related decline in baseline creatinine clearance by a factor of two. Although the relevance of this effect for the worker's health is unknown, it can be concluded that adverse renal changes are unlikely to occur in most adult male Pb workers when their blood Pb concentration is regularly kept below 700 micrograms Pb/l. One should, however, be cautious in extra-polating this conclusion to the general population because of pre-employment screening of the Pb workers for the absence of renal risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Need for vaccination of sewer workers against leptospirosis and hepatitis A.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the prevalence of Leptospira interrogans and hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in serum samples from sewer workers and controls. METHODS: A blood sample was obtained from 76 of the 101 municipal sewer workers (75%) of Quebec City and from two controls matched to each for age and sex. Testing was done for antibodies against serovars of Leptospira icterohaemorragiae, bratislava, hardjo, grippotyphosa, and kennewicki (pomona) and hepatitis A. RESULTS: Sewer workers had a greater prevalence of antibodies against leptospirosis than controls (12% v 2%, P = 0.003). In contrast, antibodies to HAV were not significantly more prevalent among workers than among controls (54% v 49%, P = 0.51). Prevalence of HAV antibodies increased significantly with age both among workers and controls (chi 2 for trend, P < 0.001). In contrast with younger workers, prevalence of HAV antibodies was greater among workers > or = 40 years than among their controls (81% v 65%, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Leptospirosis continues to be a problem to sewer workers but hepatitis A is apparently no longer a risk. The likely explanation is that leptospira are still abundant in the sewage system in contrast with HAV, which is only rarely to be found in sewage as a result of the generalised decrease in incidence of hepatitis A in the past three decades. The decision to vaccinate sewer workers against hepatitis A should take into account that it is impossible to avoid all contact with sewage fluid and, despite the fact that the actual incidence of hepatitis A is low, there is a real possibility of sporadic exposure during a future outbreak.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Older workers in the construction industry: results of a routine health examination and a five year follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the health status of older construction workers and the occurrence of early retirement due to disability or of mortality within a five year follow up. METHODS: Firstly, a cross sectional study was performed among 4958 employees in the German construction industry, aged 40-64 years, who underwent standardised routine occupational health examinations in 1986-8. The study population included plumbers, carpenters, painters/varnishers, plasterers, unskilled workers, and white collar workers (control group). Job specific prevalence and age adjusted relative prevalence were calculated for hearing loss, abnormal findings at lung auscultation, reduced forced expiratory volume, increased diastolic blood pressure, abnormalities in the electrocardiogram, increased body mass index, hypercholesterolaemia, increased liver enzymes, abnormal findings in an examination of the musculoskeletal system, and abnormalities of the skin. Secondly, follow up for disability and all cause mortality was ascertained between 1992 and 1994 (mean follow up period = 4.5 y). Job specific crude rates were calculated for the occurrence of early retirement due to disability and for all cause mortality. With Cox's proportional hazards model, job specific relative risks, adjusted for age, nationality, and smoking were obtained. RESULTS: Compared with the white collar workers, a higher prevalence of hearing deficiencies, signs of obstructive lung diseases, increased body mass index, and musculoskeletal abnormalities were found among the construction workers at the baseline exam. During the follow up period, 141 men died and 341 men left the labour market due to disability. Compared with white collar workers, the construction workers showed a 3.5 to 8.4-fold increased rate of disability (P < 0.05 for all occupational groups) and a 1.2 to 2.1-fold increased all cause mortality (NS). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the need and possibilities for further health promotion in workers employed in the construction industry, targeting both work related conditions and personal lifestyle factors. Rehabilitation measures should be enforced to limit the rate of disability among construction workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Mortality among chemical workers in a factory where formaldehyde was used.

OBJECTIVES: An independent and updated historical cohort mortality study was conducted among chemical plant workers to investigate further an association between exposures to formaldehyde and particulates and cancers of the nasopharynx and lung reported in an earlier National Cancer Institute study of the same plant. METHODS: Subjects were 7359 workers who were first employed between 1941 and 1984 in a factory in Wallingford, Connecticut where formaldehyde was used. Vital status was determined on 31 December 1984 for 96% of the cohort and death certificates were obtained for 93% of 1531 known deaths. Exposures of individual workers were estimated quantitatively for formaldehyde, product particulates, and non-product particulates, and qualitatively for pigment. Statistical analyses focused on 6039 white men in 1945-84. Cohort data that could not have been included in the National Cancer Institute study were also analysed separately. RESULTS: Mortality among long term workers (employed > or = 1 y) was generally similar to or more favourable than that of the general population, and there was little evidence of a relation between either rates of lung cancer or standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and several measures of exposure to formaldehyde, particulates, and pigment. For several causes including lung cancer, death rates among short term workers (employed < 1 y) were significantly increased. Short term workers did not seem to differ from long term workers for the exposures considered. Among all white men, a significant SMR of 550 (local comparison) for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) was based on the same four index cases identified in the earlier study of this plant. Only one case of nasopharyngeal cancer had any appreciable exposure to formaldehyde. No new cases of nasopharyngeal cancers were found among the cohort data that could not have been included in the National Cancer Institute study--that is, extended observation time and additional study members. CONCLUSIONS: Among workers employed for at least one year, this study provides little evidence that the risk of lung cancer is associated with exposure to formaldehyde alone or in combination with particulates or pigment. The significant increases in both the rates and SMRs for lung cancer seem to be primarily a phenomenon of short term workers, but the possibility remains that unmeasured occupational or non-occupational factors may have played a part.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1996

Lung cinescintigraphy in the dynamic assessment of ventilation and mucociliary clearance of asbestos cement workers.

OBJECTIVES: To verify in vivo whether lung cinescintigraphy confirms the effect of asbestos on the patency of the smallest airways and on the efficiency of mucociliary clearance in asbestos cement workers. METHODS: 39 male subjects were examined: 30 asbestos cement workers and nine workers never exposed to occupational respiratory irritants. All subjects had a chest radiograph (International Labour Organisation (ILO) 1980); standard questionnaire on chronic bronchitis; spirometry; arterial blood gas analysis; carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLcosb); pulmonary O2 and CO2 ductances (DuO2, DuCO2); electrocardiogram; and lung cinescintigraphy after radioaerosol inhalation for the measurement of mucociliary clearance time in vivo in the smallest ciliated airways and for the assessment of radioaerosol deposition in alveoli (alveolar deposition index). RESULTS: Apart from nine non-exposed subjects, the 30 asbestos cement workers were so classified on the basis of chest radiography: nine of them as healthy exposed, 10 with pleural plaques, and 11 with asbestosis. The four groups had similar ages, work seniority, and smoking habits. Exercise dyspnoea was significantly more frequent in asbestos cement workers. Lung function variables of workers with effects related to asbestos were significantly lower than the other two groups. The PaO2, TLcOsb and DuO2 mean values were significantly lower in exposed workers than non-exposed. The mean PacO2 value was significantly higher in the asbestosis group than in the other three groups. Workers with effects related to asbestos showed a significantly lower alveolar deposition index and a significantly higher mucociliary clearance time than the other two groups. Subjects with asbestosis showed similar differences from those with pleural plaques. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cinescintigraphy confirms in vivo the effects of asbestos on bronchiolar and alveolar patency and on efficiency of mucociliary clearance in the smallest ciliated airways. Finally, lung cinescintigraphic variables are able to discriminate workers with asbestosis from those with pleural plaques.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1997

Assessment of potential damage to DNA in urine of coke oven workers: an assay of unscheduled DNA synthesis.

OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted in coke oven workers to evaluate the biological consequences of the exposure of these workers, particularly production of potential genotoxic factors. METHODS: 60 coke oven workers and 40 controls were recruited in the same iron and steel works. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was assessed by job and measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) in urine samples. An unscheduled DNA synthesis assay was performed on rat pleural mesothelial cells used as a test system to evaluate the effect of the workers' filtered urine on the DNA repair capacity of rat cells to determine whether DNA damaging agents are present in the urine of these workers. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 1OHP ranged from 0.06 to 24.2 (mean (SD) 2.1 (3.6)) mumol/mol creatinine in exposed coke oven workers, and from 0.01 to 0.9 in controls (0.12 (0.15)). These high concentrations in coke oven workers reflected recent exposure to PAHs and were in agreement with the assessment of exposure by job. No significant difference was found between coke oven workers and controls in the DNA repair level of rat cells treated with urine samples. However, the rat cell repair capacity decreased with increasing 1OHP concentrations in the exposed population (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As high concentrations of 1OHP were found in the urine of some workers, a more stringent control of exposures to PAHs in the workplace is required. Exposure to PAHs was not associated with a clear cut modification of the urinary excretion of DNA damaging factors in this test, as shown by the absence of increased unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat cells. However, impairment of some repair mechanisms by urinary constituents is suspected.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mortalities of workers at the Nitro plant with exposure to 2-mercaptobenzothialzole.

OBJECTIVES: An update of a study of workers exposed to 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) at a rubber chemicals plant in Nitro, West Virginia is reported. The earlier study found high rates of lung cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer in these workers who also had potential exposure to 4-aminobiphenyl (PAB), a potent bladder carcinogen. METHODS: This cohort mortality study examines the mortalities of 1059 full time white male production workers employed at the plant from 1955 to 1977. A detailed exposure assessment was done on the 600 workers with exposure to MBT. Nine years of additional follow up to the previous study are added. RESULTS: It was found that MBT workers have expected rates of lung (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.0 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.7 to 1.5) and prostate (SMR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.3) cancer. There was an excess of bladder cancer among MBT workers who had definite exposure to PAB (SMR = 27.1, 95% CI 11.7 to 53.4), and MBT workers with potential exposure to PAB (SMR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 10.0). However, there were no deaths from bladder cancer among workers with no exposure to PAB (SMR = 0.0, 95% CI 0.0 to 24.7), although there were only 0.2 deaths expected. CONCLUSIONS: The potential confounding of exposure to an unknown portion of PAB in the MBT workers makes it impossible to evaluate risk of bladder cancer in this population at this time. However, exposure to MBT does not seem to increase the risk of most cancers including cancers of the lung and prostate.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Effect of exposure to lead on postural control in workers.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of lead on postural control of workers who have been exposed to lead. METHODS: 63 Male, lead battery workers mean (SD) age 41.0 (7.4) were compared with 48 age matched male controls after excluding those with acute or chronic diseases. Exposed workers had mean (SD) past blood lead concentrations of 37.5 (9.2) micrograms/dl and 11.2 (5.7) years of employment. Postural control was measured with a computerised postural sway measurement system which measured both sway and total movements. RESULTS: Workers standing straight with eyes open on the bare plates had sway and total movements which were not notably different from controls. On the other hand increased movements were needed in the exposed workers to maintain stability (the general stability quotient 18.2 (5.4) v 15.4 (4.4) in controls, p < 0.01) when standing directly on the foot-plates with closed eyes,, and with the head tilted (15.0 (3.8) v 11.5 (3.0) in controls, p < 0.001). Exposed workers also had a trend for less ability to synchronize anterior posterior and lateral sway in the stress positions (0.0625) than had non-exposed workers. Significant but low correlations were found between the estimate of the chronic internal dose of lead and three of 10 of the postural control measurements, and present lead blood concentrations and only one of the 10 measurements and (r values ranged from 0.21 to 0.31, p < or = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that lead affects postural control in asymptomatic workers. Further studies are warranted to find whether workers with decreased postural control are at increased risk of accidents and the relation, if any, of these measurements with subsequent morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Health complaints and immunological markers of exposure to bioaerosols among biowaste collectors and compost workers.

OBJECTIVES: In a cross sectional study, work related health complaints and diseases of 58 compost workers and 53 biowaste collectors were investigated and compared with 40 control subjects. Levels of specific IgG antibodies to moulds and bacteria were measured as immunological markers of exposure to bioaerosols. METHODS: With a standardised protocol, the participants of the study were interviewed for work related symptoms, conditions of exposure to bioaerosols at their workplaces, exposure to bioaerosols from other sources, atopic diseases, and smoking habits. They were clinically examined by physicians specialised in occupational medicine. Also, concentrations of specific IgG antibodies against antigens of moulds and actinomycetes occurring regularly at these workplaces were measured and compared with the health complaints of the workers. RESULTS: Compost workers had significantly more symptoms and diseases of the airways (p=0.003) and the skin (p=0.02) than the control subjects. Health complaints of biowaste collectors did not differ significantly from those of the control group. Subjects with atopic diseases were underrepresented in the compost workers (p=0.003). Significantly increased antibody concentrations against fungi and actinomycetes were measured in workers at composting plants. The concentrations in biowaste collectors did not differ significantly from those in the control subjects. A significant association between the diseases and increased antibody concentrations were found in the compost workers. CONCLUSION: The high exposure to bioaerosols of compost workers is significantly associated with a higher frequency of health complaints and diseases as well as higher concentrations of specific antibodies against moulds and actinomycetes. A healthy worker effect is indicated by the underrepresentation of atopic diseases among the compost workers compared with biowaste collectors and the control group.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic factors for respiratory sickness absence and return to work among blue collar workers and office personnel.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze factors that determine the occurrence of sickness absence due to respiratory disorders and the time it takes to return to work. METHODS: A longitudinal study with 2 year follow up was conducted among 326 male blue collar and white collar workers. The survey started with an interview on respiratory complaints and spirometry. Sixty six (21%) workers were lost to follow up. Complete data on sickness absence among 251 workers during the follow up were collected from absence records and self reports. Regression analysis based on a proportional hazards model was applied to identify risk factors for the occurrence and duration of sickness absence due to respiratory disorders. RESULTS: During the follow up 35% workers attributed at least one period of sickness absence to respiratory complaints, which accounted for 14.2% of all days lost. A history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) did not predict sickness absence for COPD; the same was true for chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD). Complaints about asthma contributed significantly to absence due to asthma (relative risk (RR) 3.96; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.99 to 7.90). Job title was a significant predictor of sickness absence due to respiratory complaints. Decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC, <80% of the reference value) was also a significant predictor of absence due to asthma (RR 4.03; 95% CI 1.41 to 11.54) and of respiratory absence (RR 2.49; 95% CI 1.07 to 5.79). Absence with respiratory complaints was not associated with age, height, body mass index, or smoking. Duration of employment was a weak almost significant predictor against respiratory absenteeism (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97). Return to work after respiratory absence was worse for blue collar workers than office personnel (RR 5.74; 95% CI 1.90 to 17.4 for welders, and RR 6.43; 95% CI 2.08 to 19.85 for metal workers). CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic complaints in the 12 months before the study were associated with sickness absence for these complaints during the follow up. An abnormal level of FVC also influenced respiratory absenteeism. Blue collar workers had more often and more prolonged absences due to respiratory disorders than white collar workers. Workers with absence due to respiratory complaints were at higher risk of subsequent sickness absence in the next year.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2002

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran concentrations in serum samples of workers at intermittently burning municipal waste incinerators in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To find whether or not incinerator workers employed at intermittently burning municipal incineration plants are exposed to high concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). METHODS: 20 Workers employed at three municipal waste incineration plants (incinerator workers) and 20 controls were studied. The previous job, dietary, smoking, and body weight and height were obtained from a questionnaire survey. Concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were measured in serum samples of the workers and the deposited dust of the plants. The influence of occupational exposure on concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in serum samples was examined by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Dust analysis showed that dominant constituents were octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HpCDD) among the PCDDs, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran (HpCDF) and octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) among the PCDFs. The toxicity equivalents (TEQs) of summed PCDDs and PCDFs in the deposited dust were 0.91, 33, and 11 ng TEQ/g, respectively, for plants I, II, and III. The means of TEQ in serum samples of summed PCDDs and PCDFs in the incinerator workers and controls were 22.8 and 16.4 pg TEQ/g lipid for area I, 29.4 and 19.3 pg TEQ/g lipid for area II, and 22.8 and 24.9 pg TEQ/g lipid for area III, which were almost the same as for the general population of Japan. No significant differences in the TEQ of PCDDs and TEQ of PCDDs and PCDDs were found between the incinerator workers and the controls. However, the TEQ of PCDFs was significantly higher among the incinerator workers in areas I and II, and the 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF concentration was also significantly higher for all three areas. When the occupational exposure index for each constituent of PCDDs and PCDFs was defined as the product of the duration of employment at the incineration plant and the concentration of the constituent in the deposited dust, multiple regression analysis showed that the concentrations of HxCDF, HpCDF, and TEQ of PCDFs in serum samples increased with the occupational exposure index. The multiple regression analysis also suggested that significant factors affecting the concentrations in serum samples were area for HxCDD, age for TCDD, PeCDD, PeCDF, TEQ of PCDDs, TEQ of PCDFs, and TEQ of summed PCDDs and PCDFs, and BMI for HxCDD, HpCDD, and OCDD. CONCLUSION: This study showed that incinerator workers employed at intermittently burning incineration plants were not necessarily exposed to high concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs. However, the increases in the concentrations in serum of HxCDF, HpCDF and TEQ of PCDFs with the occupational exposure index suggest that the incinerator workers had inhaled dust containing PCDDs and PCDFs during their work.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Work related symptoms among sewage workers: a nationwide survey in Sweden.

AIMS: To assess the risk for work related symptoms among sewage workers in Sweden using a postal questionnaire. METHODS: All municipalities in Sweden were contacted and asked to provide addresses of sewage workers and controls. Controls were recruited among other municipal workers not exposed to sewage, such as workers in drinking water plants and gardeners. A questionnaire was sent to the subjects and after two reminders, the response rate was 74% among sewage workers and 59% among controls. RESULTS: Significantly increased risks for airway symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and toxic pneumonitis, as well as central nervous system symptoms such as headache, unusual tiredness, and concentration difficulties were found among the sewage workers compared with controls. Furthermore, an increased risk for non-specific work related gastrointestinal symptoms was found among the sewage workers; an increased risk for joint pains, related to pains in more than four joints but not with loading, was also found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this questionnaire survey show an increased risk for airway, gastrointestinal, and general symptoms such as joint pains and central nervous system symptoms among sewage workers. Clinical investigations are needed to determine the cause of the reported symptoms among sewage workers, and further field studies are required to assess the causal agents.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Haematological effects among silk screening workers exposed to 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate.

BACKGROUND: 2-Ethoxy ethyl acetate (2-EEA) is a solvent with broad industrial and commercial applications. It has been reported to cause hematological toxicity, infertility, and teratogenesis. AIMS: To investigate the haematological effects in 2-EEA exposed workers. METHODS: Workers from one silk screening shop (n = 29), using 2-EEA as the major cleaning and printing solvent, were recruited as a high exposure group. Workers with indirect and non-exposure to 2-EEA (n = 56) were recruited as the comparison group. Venous blood was collected for blood routine examination. Air concentration of 2-EEA in this plant was measured by eight hour personal sampling. RESULTS: The geometric mean (GM) of air concentration of 2-EEA in the high exposure group was 7.41 ppm (range 1.35-16.5 pppm). The mean exposure of female workers (GM = 9.34 ppm) was significantly higher than that of male workers (GM = 4.87 ppm). The GM of air 2-EEA concentration in the comparison group was 0.07 ppm (range: non-detectable to 3.62 ppm, n = 26). The haemoglobin and haematocrit in the female high 2-EEA exposure workers were significantly lower than those of female workers in the comparison group. No difference was found between male 2-EEA high exposure and comparison group workers. The haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count in the study population had a significant dose-response relation with air 2-EEA levels. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that 2-EEA is a haematological toxicant, which leads to anaemic status in high exposure female workers.

Acetates↗
PubMed2004

HIV, syphilis infection, and sexual practices among transgenders, male sex workers, and other men who have sex with men in Jakarta, Indonesia.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and sexual risk behaviour among three groups of men who have sex with men in Jakarta, Indonesia, and to investigate sexual links between these men and broader heterosexual populations. METHODS: Anonymous, cross sectional surveys among community recruited transgender and male sex workers and self recognised men who have sex with men (MSM) were undertaken in mid-2002 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Places where transgender and male sex workers sell sex and where men go to meet non-commercial male sex partners were mapped. Probability samples were selected for the sex worker populations, while a mixed probability and convenience sample was drawn for self recognised MSM. Blood was drawn for HIV and syphilis serology and community interviewers administered a standardised questionnaire. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 22% among transgender sex workers, 3.6% among male sex workers, and 2.5% among self recognised MSM, and syphilis prevalence was 19.3%, 2.0% and 1.1% respectively. 59.3% of transgender sex workers and 64.8% of male sex workers reported recent unprotected anal intercourse with clients, and 53.1% of other MSM reported unprotected anal sex with male partners. Some 54.4% of male sex workers and 18.3% of other MSM reported female partners in the preceding year. CONCLUSION: HIV has reached substantial levels among transgender sex workers, and is not negligible in other MSM groups. Risk behaviour is high in all subpopulations, and bisexual behaviour is common, meaning the threat of a wider epidemic is substantial. Prevention programmes targeting male-male sex are needed to reduce this threat.

Adult↗