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PubMed2005

Brazilian union actions for workers' health protection.

CONTEXT: Many authors have emphasized the importance of worker strength through unionized organizations, in relation to the improvement of working procedures, and have reported on the decisiveness of labor movement actions in achieving modifications within the field of work and health. OBJECTIVE: To describe the ways in which Brazilian unions have tried to intervene in health-illness and work processes, identifying the existence of commonality in union actions in this field. TYPE OF STUDY: Qualitative study. SETTING: Postgraduate Program, Environmental Health Department, Faculdade de Saúde Publica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Union health advisers and directors were interviewed. Documents relating to union action towards protecting workers' health were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Unions articulate actions regarding workers' health of a technical and political nature that involve many aspects and high complexity. These have been divided into thematic categories for better analysis. DISCUSSION: Union actions regarding workers' health in Brazil are restricted to some unions, located mainly in the southern, southeastern and northeastern regions of the country. Nonetheless, the unions undertaking such actions represent many professions of great economic and political importance. CONCLUSIONS: The recent changes in health and safety at work regulations, recognition of professional diseases, creation of workers' health services and programs within the unified health system, and operational improvements in companies' specialized safety and occupational medicine services, all basically result from union action. There is commonality of union action in this field in its seeking of technical and political strengthening for all workers and their general and local representation. This has the objective of benefiting collective bargaining between employers and workers. Inter-institutional action on behalf of workers' rights guarantees and amplifies the improvement of health and working conditions.

Brazil↗
PubMed2002

Acetylcholinesterase mediated susceptibility of soldiers and workers of formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to chlorpyrifos.

Target site studies were undertaken to examine the difference in susceptibility of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, workers and soldiers to chlorpyrifos. Workers exhibited significantly greater acetylcholinesterase activity per insect than soldiers (118.63 +/- 48.51 versus 47.98 +/- 22.59 mOD/min/insect equivalent). Likewise, enzyme activity (mean +/- SD) per milligram of protein was greater in workers than soldiers (440.30 +/- 267.43 versus 311.53 +/- 149.83 mOD/min/mg protein). The enzyme of soldiers was more sensitive to the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors eserine and chlorpyrifos-oxon than that of workers. The I50s of chlorpyrifos-oxon were 2.66 and 4.59 nM for soldiers and workers, respectively, whereas the I50s of eserine were 16.56 and 25.41 nM for soldiers and workers, respectively. The amount of protein was significantly higher in workers than in soldiers with mean values of 0.270 +/- 0.102 and 0.154 +/- 0.054 mg/insect equivalent, respectively. We suggest that the differential response of workers and soldiers to chlorpyrifos may be due to the difference in AChE sensitivity to inhibition and the amount of protein between them.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed2006

The chornobyl accident: estimation of radiation doses received by the Baltic and Ukrainian cleanup workers.

During the first day after the explosion, the Chornobyl accident of April 26, 1986 exposed a few hundred emergency workers to high dose levels ranging up to 16 Gy, resulting in acute radiation syndrome. Subsequently, several hundred thousand cleanup workers were sent to the Chornobyl power plant to mitigate the consequences of the accident. Depending on the nature of the work to be carried out, the cleanup workers were sent for periods ranging from several minutes to several months. The average dose from external radiation exposure that was received by the cleanup workers was about 170 mGy in 1986 and decreased from year to year. The radiation exposure was mainly due to external irradiation from gamma-ray-emitting radionuclides and was relatively homogeneous over all organs and tissues of the body. To assess the possible health consequences of external irradiation at relatively low dose rates, the U.S. National Cancer Institute is involved in two studies of Chornobyl cleanup workers: (1) a study of cancer incidence and thyroid disease among Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian workers, and (2) a study of leukemia and other related blood diseases among Ukrainian workers. After an overview of the sources of exposure and of the radiation doses received by the cleanup workers, a description of the efforts made to estimate individual doses in the Baltic and Ukrainian studies is presented.

Baltic States↗
PubMed2002

Assessment of chronic neuropsychological effects of mercury vapour poisoning in chloral-alkali plant workers.

A prospective case study was conducted in the Department of Occupational Medicine, Tuzla. The purpose of this study was to indicate negative effects from occupational exposure to mercury on behavioural and mental health, memory and psychomotor function that was tested in 46 chloral-alkali plant workers (mean age was 38. 8+/- 5. 7 years; mean age of occupational history 16. 5+/- 6. 0 years). Data on toxicological monitoring on atomic absorption spectrometer, and data on mental health were collected, psychiatric and other subjective symptoms, and behavioural, psychomotor and memory function tested. The data were compared to control group, 32 healthy non exposed workers. The study was designed to assess blood and urine mercury levels and length of occupational exposure and investigate its relationships to effects on the mental health. The mean air mercury levels were 0.23 mg/m3, the mean blood mercury concentrations was 3. 6 mg/ dl and the mean urine mercury concentrations were 151.7 +/- 180.4 mg/l. In 25 (53%) workers exposed to mercury vapour was identified Depression-Hypochondrias Syndrome (p trend < 0. 001) with higher scores for scales: Hysteria (p trend <0. 001), Schizoid and Psychoastenia (MMPI). All psychological parameters were in highly significantly correlations with mercury levels and length of occupational exposure. Pathological parameters were possible general identified if the concentration of blood mercury levels are >2. 9 mg/ dl, or urine mercury levels > 87 mg/l workers exposed to mercury vapour knew that toxic effects in body resulted in loosing some of intellectual abilities, and that people who handle chemicals had an increased health risk (ESW questionnaire). The occupational mercury exposed workers had introvert behaviour (EPQ). Aggressiveness was found in 71.7% workers. The cognitive disturbances: short-term memory loss, difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking, were significantly differed compared to those of controls (p trend < 0. 001). In 24 (52%) exposed to mercury workers we have determined ego strength loss and regressive defensive mechanisms (LB). Handwriting disturbances-micrography we have identified in 27 (58.7%) workers.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neurotoxic effects of organic solvents among workers in paint and lacquer manufacturing industry].

INTRODUCTION: Organic solvents are chemically different compounds with one common feature: they dissolve fats, oils, resins, cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate, which makes them widely used in industry. Most often organic solvents are used in paint and lacquer industries, in production of pesticides, plastics, explosives, rubber, cellulose, air conditioners, in pharmaceutical industry and in leather industry. The aim of this research was to analyze the working environment and professional hazards in paint and lacquer manufacturing industry and evaluate effects of chronic exposure to mixture of organic solvents on nervous system of exposed workers. METHODOLOGY: The exposed group consisted of 50 workers professionally exposed to these noxae, while the control group consisted of 30 workers who have never been exposed to these noxae. RESULTS: Examination of working environment in departments of paint and lacquer manufacturing revealed presence of white spirit and toluene above allowed levels. Exposed workers more frequently complained of fatigue, hand numbness, enhanced excitation, and concentration difficulties, forgetfulness and headaches, than workers from the control group. Electroneurographic examination of n. medianus showed reduced motor and sensitive conduction velocity among exposed in comparison to workers from the control group. Reduced motor and sensitive conduction velocity was correlated with duration of exposure to these noxae. Terminal latency of n. medianus was statistically, significantly longer in the exposed group than in the control group. Workers in the exposed group have statistically significantly longer reaction time in response to acoustic and visual stimuli. DISCUSSION: Segmental demyelination and axonal degeneration, as forms of damage to peripheral nerves, were identified as responsible for peripheral neuropathy associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show possible neurotoxic effects of noxae detected in the phase of analysis of working conditions and working environment of examined workers.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1991

Effect of hazard warning on workers' attitudes and risk taking behavior.

Until recently, the issue of job hazards has been largely ignored as a research and theoretical topic in business and management disciplines although workers' perceptions and assessments of job hazards are of significance to managers. In this paper are reported results of an experiment conducted in Egyptian chemical firms to test the generality of an implicit rational model used to explain employees' reactions to and perceptions of job hazards. Four hypotheses were tested: (1) workers' subjective estimates of their job hazards are positively related to the objective hazard, (2) workers' subjective estimates of a prospective new job hazard will vary directly with the extent of hazard communicated by the new product label, (3) workers' demand for new hazard wage premiums will vary directly with perceived prospective new work hazards, (4) workers' intention to quit the job will vary directly with subjective and objective estimates of job hazards. All hypotheses were supported. The rational worker model appears to be a general explanation for workers' responses to hazardous jobs and information on hazards. This model not only holds for USA workers but also for those in a nonwestern culture. Implications for management and the industrial setting are discussed.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Subclinical cerebellar anterior lobe, vestibulocerebellar and spinocerebellar afferent effects in young female lead workers in China: computerized posturography with sway frequency analysis and brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

By computerized static posturography with sway frequency analysis, subclinical effects of lead on postural balance was examined in 29 female workers (lead workers) employed at a glass factory for 3-17 (mean 7.9) years in Beijing, China, in relation to brainstem function assessed by brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP). Their blood lead concentrations ranged from 26 to 79 (mean 55.7) microg/dl; ages were 21-30 (mean 28) years. Control subjects, aged 22-29 (mean 27.0) years, were 14 healthy female workers at a textile factory located in the same district. With eyes closed, power of the sway of high (2-4 Hz) and low (1 Hz or less) frequencies in lead workers was significantly larger than that in controls; with eyes open, their power of the sway of low frequency was significantly larger (p<0.05). The multiple regression analysis showed that the power of high frequency sway with eyes closed and of low and high frequencies with eyes open were significantly related to blood lead concentrations in lead workers (p<0.05). On the other hand, no significant differences in BAEP latencies between lead workers and controls were observed. The low frequency sway with eyes open was significantly correlated with the high frequency sway with eyes closed in the lead workers. The pattern of changes in postural balance suggested that the anterior cerebellar lobe, vestibulo-cerebellar and spinocerebellar afferent systems were affected asymptomatically in female lead workers; the sway of vestibulo-cerebellar and anterior cerebellar lobe types were simultaneously affected by lead. It appears that a computerized static posturography with sway frequency analysis is useful technique for assessment of subclinical lead neurotoxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Lead exposure and blood lead level of workers in a battery manufacturing plant in Thailand.

This study was conducted in a battery manufacturing plant where lead was used in the processes of production, to survey the working conditions and safety behaviors, and to measure the airborne lead level contaminated in the workplace and the blood lead level of workers. The survey of working conditions showed that the workers were directly exposed to lead in sections e.g. grid casting, spreading, forming and polishing, assembly and special battery production sections. Some workers in these sections used a cotton mask to protect dust exposure, but most workers did not use any masks. High airborne lead level more than 0.2 mg/m3 was frequently measured in these sections. Geometric average of blood lead level slightly increased from 17.9 microg/dl to 22.3 microg/dl during 1998 and 2001. However, the geometric average of blood lead level dropped to 17.4 microg/dl in 2002. No workers had blood lead level above 60 microg/dl. Workers with different age groups had no significantly different average blood lead level. Workers whose duration of work was between 20-29 years had average blood lead level of 21.5 microg/dl. This group of workers had slightly higher blood lead level than those whose duration of work was 19 years or less, but with no significant difference. 21 subjects underwent annual health examination and exposure monitoring in 2002. There was no significant relation between airborne lead level and blood lead level.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Assessment of subjective stress in video display terminal workers.

Stress assessment in the workplace has been focused on its environmental, psychological and biological aspects. We carried out an evaluation of the subjective components of stress in a working population of 60 subjects employed in a large Public Service, 30 Video Display Terminal (VDT) workers (15 men and 15 woman) and 30 office-workers not assigned to VDT (15 men and 15 woman), by using the "Rapid Stress Assessment Scale": a short questionnaire of easy administration in work environment. VDT workers of both sexes showed higher total stress score vs. office workers (respectively p<0.05, p<0.05). Gender differences were present: female VDT workers showed higher scores of clusters anxiety (p<0.001) and aggressiveness (p<0.05); male VDT workers' score were significantly higher in somatization (p<0.05) and aggressiveness cluster. Our results showed that in VDT workers are experienced greater subjective response to stress than "office workers" and confirm the gender differences in stress experiencing.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Estimation of functional state and labour efficiency of shift workers in conditions of the Far North.

OBJECTIVES: Shift work is an expeditionary method, and it has become quite common for the maintenance of industrial process in the Far North. In spite of good equipment and a high professional standard of the medical personnel in the majority of northern enterprises, the level of morbidity tends to increase. The aims of our work were to evaluate the psychophysiological alterations in shift-workers during transit labour. METHODS: Shift workers of "Gazprom" Public Corporation were examined in conditions of the Far North using psychological and physiological methods. RESULTS: The morbidity of shift workers is higher than that of non-transit workers working in the same industries. Distinct changes of the functional condition of the cardiorespiratory system were discovered. While comparing shift workers of the Far North with workers of the Central regions of Russia we discovered an essential prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension (44.6%) in the first group. It is established that an increase of anxiety level (situational and personal) is much more common in persons having haemodynamic signs of hypertension. For workers in intraregional shift work metabolic exchange disorders, and for workers in inter-regional shift disorders of immune resistance are typical. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown that shift work is accompanied by stress of regulatory and adaptable systems, a decrease of functional reserves and an increased morbidity and frequent relapses.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cohort of asbestos exposed workers. Navarre (Spain) 1999-2004].

BACKGROUND: The identification of a population cohort of workers exposed to asbestos is important because it facilitates health surveillance, allowing us to fulfil the ethical obligation of recognizing the occupational origin of the illness and contributing to the development of scientific research. The goal of this study is to identify the asbestos exposed workers in Navarre and the success of the health surveillance offer. METHODS: The register of asbestos exposed workers was created in 1999. It includes companies and workers from the national register, the records of the regional institution of occupational health and the data of the occupational health services and the inspectorate of sick leave. The health programme deals with occupational and post-occupational workers. RESULTS: The cohort consists of 2,294 workers, from 33 companies, 40% of whom are active, half work manufacturing motor vehicles, 91% are exposed to chrysotile, 25% exposed to high concentrations (0.20 fibers /cm3 or more for chrysotile or 0.10 fibers /cm3 for others). The 1970s and 1990s were when most workers began to be exposed. Workers who began in the 1940s and 1950s have longer exposure times. Medical surveillance is accepted by 72%, with higher acceptance among those who are active. CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up has allowed us to recognize three times as many cases of pathology for asbestos, in comparison with those declared spontaneously in the eleven years prior to the program, which reflects its importance. The level of acceptance of the surveillance is adapted, given the methodology of the programme.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Noise exposure, noise annoyance, use of hearing protection devices and distress among blue-collar workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypotheses that, in high noise levels [> or = 85 dB(A)], hearing protection devices are used largely by workers sensitive to noise, as reflected by reports of noise annoyance, and that the usage would reduce distress symptoms. METHODS: Data collected from 1587 healthy male blue-collar workers included noise exposure level, noise annoyance, use of hearing protection devices, distress symptoms (somatic complaints and poststress irritability), and possible confounding by age, education and ethnic origin. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression results indicated that the use of hearing protection devices was related to noise exposure level [odds ratio (OR) 2.94, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.58--3.30], but more so to high noise annoyance (OR 3.03, 95% CI 2.77--3.29), even after control for age, education, and ethnic origin. No interaction was found between noise level and noise annoyance. These findings highlight the contribution of noise annoyance to the use of hearing protection devices. Of the 42.6% of workers using hearing protection devices in the presence of high ambient noise, 60% were highly annoyed. Noise-annoyed workers also tended to wear hearing protection devices even in low noise levels. The use of hearing protection devices was associated with lower distress symptoms among the low and moderately annoyed workers, but among the highly annoyed workers the reverse was true. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, for the highly annoyed workers, the use of hearing protection devices was perhaps an additional source of stress. One immediate implication of this study is that future intervention procedures should focus on unannoyed workers who tend to use hearing protection devices less.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Changes in water vapor loss from the skin of metal industry workers monitored during exposure to oils.

Vapor loss (VL) from nonsweating skin (SVL), a surrogate measure for transepidermal water passage, was ascertained electronically from 54 newly recruited metal workers. A weekly measurement was taken for 12 weeks from each worker in the three groups studied: 17 unexposed workers, 13 workers exposed to water-soluble oils and 24 workers exposed to straight mineral oil. During the 12-week period four workers in the group exposed to mineral oil developed contact dermatitis, with a markedly increased SVL. Among the 50 workers whose skin remained normal, the mean initial SVL was 6.8 g X m-2 X h-1 for the back of the hand, 4.4 for the extensor, and 4.7 for the volar forearm. There was a slight but nonsignificant increase in all three SVL levels in the group exposed to water-soluble oils as compared to the unexposed group. In the group exposed to mineral oils the SVL of the extensor and volar forearm rose to a significantly higher level as compared to those of the unexposed group. This difference persisted after statistical adjustment for age, sex, ethnic group, and initial SVL level. These findings indicate that SVL measurement has potential as a monitoring parameter for workers at risk of occupational contact dermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Vibration syndrome among Finnish forest workers, a follow-up from 1972 to 1983.

A longitudinal survey on the prevalence of vibration syndrome among professional forest workers was conducted from 1972 (118 workers) to 1983 (206 workers). The prevalence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) was 40% among the workers in 1972; it gradually declined to 5% in 1983. Three new workers developed VWF symptoms during the follow-up period. They had only used saws equipped with antivibration handles. The prevalence of VWF has decreased mainly due to the reduction of chain-saw vibration. The prevalence of paresthesias of the hands and arms declined from 78% in 1972 to 37% in 1976, and then increased to 51% in 1983. The recent increase was thought to be due to static muscle load and the ageing of the workers. No correlation was found between the severity of VWF and peripheral nerve symptoms. No significant changes in muscle fatigue occurred during the follow-up period; it was present in about 10-15% of the workers. The forest workers subjectively assessed musculoskeletal load and strain as being more harmful than the symptoms of vibration syndrome. The preventive measures aimed at reducing chain-saw vibration, implemented since 1970, have been beneficial and explain the decreased prevalence of VWF.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1984

A prospective follow-up study on psychological effects in workers exposed to low levels of lead.

A prospective follow-up study on new lead workers who began work at a storage battery factory was carried out between 1975 and 1981. Psychological performances (eg, intelligence, memory, visuomotor functions, vigilance, and personality) were assessed before the commencement of exposure and after one, two, and four years of work. Of an initial number of 89 workers, 24 were available for the one-year, 16 for the two-year, and 11 for the four-year reexamination. The time-weighted average blood lead values ranged between 0.68 and 2.17 mumol/l (14 and 45 micrograms/100 ml, respectively). A reference group, nonexposed workers in a cable manufacturing plant and an electrical power plant, was similarly followed. Initially the average psychological performances were similar among the lead workers and the referents. For some of the psychological tests learning effect, which was clearly evident among the referents during the follow-up, was almost absent among the lead workers. The lead worker's visual intelligence and visuomotor functions in particular were impaired significantly after the first two years of follow-up. When the lead workers were divided into two groups according to the median time-weighted average of the blood lead values (1.30 mumol/l), the Block Design and the Santa Ana coordination tests were those which best separated the subgroups. Although the impairment of the lead workers' performance was rather slight and the dispersion in the psychological changes was wide, it was evident that some higher nervous functions were affected by lead levels above about 1.45 mumol/l.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Correlates of mental health in nuclear and coal-fired power plant workers.

The mental health of 104 nuclear workers at the Three Mile Island plant was compared with that of 122 workers from another nuclear plant and 151 workers from two coal-fired generating plants. The coal-fired plant workers were somewhat more symptomatic than the nuclear plant workers. Assessments of work environments showed that the coal-fired plant workers perceived less stress but more problems with workplace exposures than the nuclear plant workers. Negative perceptions of work and marital stress were both strongly and independently related to mental distress. Overall, the results suggest that the Three Mile Island accident did not engender long-term psychological difficulties in workers evaluated 2.5 years after the accident.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Pooled reanalysis of cancer mortality among five cohorts of workers in wood-related industries.

OBJECTIVES: To provide more information regarding the risk of cancer associated with wood dust, a pooled reanalysis of data from five cohort studies was performed. METHODS: The combined cohort consisted of 28,704 persons from five studies: British furniture workers, members of the union representing furniture workers in the United States, two cohorts of plywood workers, and one of wood model makers, among whom 7665 deaths occurred. Pooled analyses were carried out for all of the cohorts combined, the two furniture worker cohorts combined, and the two plywood workers cohorts combined. RESULTS: Significant excesses of nasal [observed 11, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.6-5.6] and nasopharyngeal (observed 9, SMR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-4.5) cancer were observed. That for nasal cancer appeared to be associated with exposure to wood dust but was based solely on cases from the British furniture worker cohort, while that of nasopharyngeal cancer was observed for furniture and plywood workers and was associated with both high and low probability of wood dust exposure. Some support for an excess risk of multiple myeloma was also observed but was less clearly associated with wood dust exposure. No excesses of lung, larynx, stomach, or colon cancer were found to be associated with any surrogate indicators of wood dust exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Workers exposed to wood dust may have an excess risk of nasopharyngeal cancer and multiple myeloma in addition to sinonasal cancer. The limitations of this study would tend to obscure relationships, rather than create false positive findings.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1998

Occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome among slaughterhouse workers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among workers with daily occupational exposure to high-force and high-velocity manual work. METHODS: The study was carried out retrospectively among a cohort of 1591 workers employed at a slaughterhouse or at a chemical factory; 1141 persons (71.7%) participated. Workers not doing tasks in slaughtering or meat processing constituted the reference group. Exposure assessments were made for 46 different tasks in slaughtering and meat processing from video-based observations at the workplace. CTS was diagnosed if there were current symptoms typical of CTS in combination with positive neurophysiological signs of CTS or if the subject had previously been operated on for CTS. RESULTS: Altogether 1.6% of the reference group, 5.1% of the nondeboning slaughterhouse workers [prevalence ratio (PR) 3.23, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-7.99] and 7.8% of the deboning slaughterhouse workers (PR 4.91, 95% CI 2.03-11.81) had CTS. Increased risk estimates persisted after adjustment for other potential risk factors by logistic regression. The prevalence of CTS in the dominant hand was equally increased in both groups of slaughterhouse workers (but only statistically significant for the workers in deboning tasks), while the prevalence of CTS in the nondominant hand was significantly increased only among the slaughterhouse workers in deboning tasks. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the hypothesis that daily high-velocity and high-force manual work is a risk factor for CTS.

Abattoirs↗