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PubMed2005

A wearable health care system based on knitted integrated sensors.

A comfortable health monitoring system named WEALTHY is presented. The system is based on a textile wearable interface implemented by integrating sensors, electrodes, and connections in fabric form, advanced signal processing techniques, and modern telecommunication systems. Sensors, electrodes and connections are realized with conductive and piezoresistive yarns. The sensorized knitted fabric is produced in a one step process. The purpose of this paper is to show the feasibility of a system based on fabric sensing elements. The capability of this system to acquire simultaneously several biomedical signals (i.e. electrocardiogram, respiration, activity) has been investigated and compared with a standard monitoring system. Furthermore, the paper presents two different methodologies for the acquisition of the respiratory signal with textile sensors. Results show that the information contained in the signals obtained by the integrated systems is comparable with that obtained by standard sensors. The proposed system is designed to monitor individuals affected by cardiovascular diseases, in particular during the rehabilitation phase. The system can also help professional workers who are subject to considerable physical and psychological stress and/or environmental and professional health risks.

Clothing↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of contact allergy to non-disperse azo dyes for natural fibers: a study in 1814 consecutive patients.

5 non-disperse azo dyes, used for colouring natural fibers, were added to the standard patch test series, as 5% pet. preparations. 1814 consecutive patients attending the patch test clinic were patch tested, of whom 16 (0.88%) reacted to the newly added dyes: 8 to Direct Orange 34, 5 to Acid Yellow 61, 2 to Acid Red 359 and 1 to Acid Red 118. On the basis of clinical history and results of patch tests with pieces of fabrics, contact sensitization to non-disperse azo dyes seemed to be related to the appearance of skin lesions at least in 8 subjects. We conclude that systematic exploration of the sensitizing potential of textile dyes, selected after careful investigation, can provide additional information on the frequency of occurrence of textile dye dermatitis, supporting individual investigation in sensitized subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis due to acrylates in Lodz.

Among 1619 patients suspected of occupational contact dermatitis examined during the years 1990-1994, sensitivity to acrylates was diagnosed in 9 persons (4 dental technicians, 4 dentists, 1 textile printer). Ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (5 positive patch tests), methyl methacrylate (4), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (4) and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (4) were the most common sensitizers. Comparison of patch test results in dental technicians and dentists indicated that dentists were sensitive to a greater number of (meth)acrylate (acrylate and methacrylate) allergens and also to certain other allergens (metals and rubber additives). Dental technicians were sensitive almost exclusively to methacrylates, while the textile printer only to acrylates.

Acrylates↗
PubMed1994

Adult-onset myopia and occupation.

Eleven female textile workers, all carrying out quality control on textiles (close-working distance of 30 cm), were investigated with a view to refractive status. Eleven women in the same factory having other working tasks (office, sale, production) were used as a control group after being matched regarding age and education. Ninety percent of the close workers and 0% of the controls turned out to be myopic, and 80% of the close workers had no need for minus glasses before the age of 20 years. The refraction (in cycloplegia) was -2.56 (cases) vs +1.19 (controls). No deviation was observed concerning keratometry, anterior chamber depth and lens thickness. The axial length, however, was 24.36 mm and 22.72 mm, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Occupational mortality among women in England and Wales.

Occupational mortality in women who died in England and Wales from 1970 to 1972 was analysed. Many of the associations found were consistent with those that have been described for men, with high mortality ratios for cirrhosis in barmaids and publicans, for suicide in the medical and allied professions, and for respiratory disease in textile workers. Parity is a determinant of patterns of disease in working women, and the relative excess of cancer of the breast, ovary, and uterine body in professional and clerical workers probably reflected the high proportion of nulliparous women in these groups. Other associations may have reflected true occupational hazards; one observation requiring further attention was the high proportional mortality ratio for anaemia in textile and clothing workers. The description of the occupational mortality among women in England and Wales is hampered by the incomplete recording of information about women's occupations at registration of death. As women now constitute 40% of the workforce, often have their own specific occupations, and possibly also have their own diseases related to specific occupations it is time for the registrar's guidelines on the recording of women's occupation--last reviewed at the beginning of this century--to be revised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Search for benzidine and its metabolites in urine of workers weighing benzidine-derived dyes.

Urinary benzidine and conjugates have been used to assess the extent of occupational exposure to benzidine-based azo dyes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of benzidine and its conjugates in the urine of workers exposed to benzidine-derived dyes. Urine samples were collected from 29 workers in three textile dyehouses, two tanneries, and two dyestuff quality control laboratories in West Yorkshire and Lancashire. In 200 samples, obtained over a period of 15 months and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, no free benzidine or monoacetylbenzidine was detected. Nevertheless, after strong acid hydrolysis of urine samples taken on two separate occasions from textile dye weighers where the standard of hygiene appeared below average, trace amounts of benzidine were detected suggesting the excretion of a benzidine derived dye or a metabolite thereof.

Benzidines↗
PubMed1990

Inflammation in the lungs of rats after deposition of dust collected from the air of wool mills: the role of epithelial injury and complement activation.

In a previous study assessing respiratory symptoms in individuals employed in wool textile mills in the north of England relations between symptoms of chronic bronchitis, breathlessness and wheeze, and rhinitis and current exposure to airborne mass concentration of dust were shown. As preliminary steps in defining the potential hazard associated with dust from the air of wool mills the ability of inspirable dust, collected from the air of wool textile mills, to cause inflammation when injected into the lungs of rats was determined. Dusts were collected from the beginning of wool processing (opening) in one factory and from the middle (combing) and late (backwinding) stages of the process in two other factories. Ability of the dusts to cause inflammation was assessed by instillation into the lungs of rats followed by bronchoalveolar lavage. All the dusts caused some inflammation which peaked on day 1 and did not persist beyond one week. A distinctive aggregation response of mononuclear cells in the lavage, however, had a different time course, peaking at day 7. An attempt was made to determine how the wool mill dusts caused inflammation and experiments showed that the dusts themselves had no inherent chemotactic activity but that they did have a pronounced ability to generate chemotaxins in serum and so could activate complement in lung fluid. In addition, dust collected from ledges in the mills had the ability to injure epithelial cells in vitro which could also contribute to inflammation. A role for endotoxin in the inflammatory activity of the dusts was not discounted and a leachate of the dust had the ability to cause inflammation when injected into the lungs of rats. Wool mill dust is likely to be a complex mixture of materials and these experiments represent a preliminary approach to understanding the biological activity of the whole unfractionated dust and further studies are in progress to define more accurately the toxic material(s) in the dust.

Animals↗
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↗
PubMed1994

Ocular and nasal irritation in operatives in Lancashire cotton and synthetic fibre mills.

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of work related ocular (eyeWRI) and nasal (noseWRI) irritation in workers in spinning mills of cotton and synthetic textile fibres and to relate the prevalence of symptoms to atopy, byssinotic symptoms, work history, and measured dust concentrations in the personal breathing zone and work area. METHODS: A cross sectional study of 1048 cotton workers and 404 synthetic fibre workers was performed. A respiratory questionnaire was given to 1452 workers (95% of the total available population). Atopy was judged by skin prick tests to three common allergens. Work area cotton dust sampling (WAdust) was carried out according to EH25 guidelines in nine of the 11 spinning mills included in the study. Personal breathing zone dust concentrations were assessed with the IOM sampler to derive total dust exposure (PTdust) and a concentration calculated after the removal of fly (Pless). RESULTS: 3.7% of all operatives complained of symptoms of byssinosis, 253 (17.5%) complained of eyeWRI and 165 (11%) of noseWRI. These symptoms did not relate to atopy or byssinosis, or correlate univariately with any measure of cotton dust exposure (noseWRI v WAdust r = 0.153, PTdust r = 0.118, eyeWRI v WAdust r = 0.029, PTdust r = 0.052). Both of these symptoms on logistic regression analysis were related to being of white origin (P < 0.001), female sex (P < 0.001), and younger age (P < 0.001). With regression analysis, there was a negative relation between dust concentration and prevalence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Work related ocular and nasal irritation are the most common symptoms complained of by cotton textile workers. There was no relation between these symptoms and atopy, byssinosis, or dust concentration. It is likely that they relate to as yet unidentified agents unrelated to concentration of cotton dust.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A new silver-loaded cellulosic fiber with antifungal and antibacterial properties.

The skin is the interface between the body and the environment. Each skin type has a specific skin physiology and is more or less adapted for protection against multiple stress factors. Textiles on the other hand are the tissues with the longest contact with the human skin. They play a critical role especially in skin conditions with an increased rate of bacterial and fungal infections like atopic dermatitis or hyperhidrosis, diabetic patients and aged skin. The present study demonstrates the antifungal and antibacterial effect of Sea Cell(R) Active in an in vitro test system against Candida albicans (DSM 11225), Candida tropicalis (ATCC 1169) and Candida krusei (ATCC 6258). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of fibers with different amounts of Sea Cell Active fibers could be demonstrated in a dose-dependent manner against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 22923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218). Whether this fiber seems to be suited for bioactive textiles in specific anatomical body regions and skin conditions with a susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, namely Candida species, S. aureus and E. coli, must be examined by means of further investigations, especially human in vivo tests considering allergic and toxic effects of the fiber.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1981

Distinguishing byssinosis from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results of a prospective five-year study of cotton mill workers in India.

This prospective 5-yr follow-up study of 1,241 textile workers from three mills was designed to determine the pattern and course of byssinosis in India and to distinguish this disease from chronic bronchitis. The initial prevalence of byssinosis was 14% in carding sections, 10% in spinning sections, and 11% in winding sections. In these dusty sections, the prevalences of both byssinosis and bronchitis increased with a longer service. Among workers with byssinosis; 56% had work-related and exertional dyspnea, 54% had chest tightness, 20% had wheezing, and 36% had cough. There was a history of Monday sickness in 22%. During follow-up it was confirmed that the atypical presentation of byssinosis with cough was more common in the carding department. The yearly decrease in pulmonary function was correlated with duration and degree of exposure to cotton dust. Thus, the decrease was larger in carding workers and in workers with byssinosis plus cough than in those with byssinosis or bronchitis. The yearly decrease in the one-second forced expiratory volume was different (p less than 0.05) for subjects with nonspecific chest symptoms (88 ml) and subjects with work-related chest symptoms (114 ml). The decreases in forced vital capacity and one-second forced expiratory volume were larger for increased dust loads. Fewer pulmonary infiltrates were seen in radiographs of workers with byssinosis than in those of workers with bronchitis. The immunoglobulins studied in 86 textiles workers and 17 control subjects showed higher IgG values among workers with work-related symptoms, especially cough, but not among those with bronchitic symptoms (p less than 0.01). Our results suggested that byssinosis is an entity distinct from chronic bronchitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effects of spirometry standards in two occupational cohorts.

Characteristics of subjects with nonreproducible lung function tests (test failures) are described in two studies of occupational respiratory disease. According to current guidelines for spirometry, subjects with test failure are excluded from analyses of epidemiologic pulmonary function data. Among 415 Chinese cotton textile workers, the prevalence of byssinosis was 5.8% for subjects with repeatable tests and 13.3% for subjects with test failure. In regression analysis, the estimate of the association between cotton dust exposure and FEV1 decreased when subjects with test failure were excluded. In a second cohort of 378 asbestos-exposed machinists, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was significantly greater among those with test failure. Considering only subjects with repeatable measurements, FEV1 was lower among textile workers with byssinosis and machinists with chronic bronchitis than among their asymptomatic coworkers. This suggests that, on average, subjects with poor test performance had lower (unobserved) FEV1 values, and therefore that the exclusion of subjects with test failure may cause selection bias.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Sun-protective clothing.

BACKGROUND: Topical sunscreens have been used for many years on exposed areas (i.e., hands, face) to protect the skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Most people do not use sunscreens on their bodies when they are wearing clothes. An average weight cotton T shirt gives only a sun protection factor (SPF) of 7. This is inadequate protection when out of doors. Therefore, clothing with adequate sunscreening properties should be worn. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors in clothing fabrics that contribute to or detract from blocking ultraviolet radiation and to recommend criteria for establishing a standard for sunprotective clothing. METHOD: The study involves a review of the dermatologic and textile literature to identify various factors in fabrics that contribute to blocking ultraviolet radiation through textiles. CONCLUSION: For fabrics, the term ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) is used as the measure of ultraviolet radiation penetration through the fabric. The UPF of a fabric depends upon fiber content and weave, fabric colour, finishing processes, and the presence of additives. The performance of a fabric depends upon stretching, shrinkage, hydration, laundering, and wear of the fabric over time. Based upon these criteria the minimum CDA standard UPF for clothing should be 40 to 50+.

Clothing↗
PubMed2005

A 20-year follow-up study on chronic respiratory effects of exposure to cotton dust.

In order to evaluate chronic effects of long-term exposure to cotton dust on respiratory health, and the role of dust and endotoxin, longitudinal changes in lung function and respiratory symptoms were observed prospectively from 1981 to 2001 in 447 cotton textile workers, along with 472 silk textile controls. The results from five surveys conducted over the 20-yr period are reported, including standardised questionnaires, pre- and post-shift spirometric measurements, work-area inhalable dust sample collections and airborne Gram-bacterial endotoxin analysis. Cotton workers had more persistent respiratory symptoms and greater annual declines in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity as compared with silk workers. After exposure cessation, in the final 5-yr period, the rate of FEV1 decline tended to slow in nonsmoking males, but not in nonsmoking females. Workers who reported byssinotic symptoms more persistently suffered greater declines in FEV1. Chronic loss in lung function was more strongly associated with exposure to endotoxin than to dust. In conclusion, the current study suggests that long-term exposure to cotton dust, in which airborne endotoxin appears to play an important role, results in substantial adverse chronic respiratory effects.

Byssinosis↗
PubMed2006

Occupation, smoking, and chronic obstructive respiratory disorders: a cross sectional study in an industrial area of Catalonia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the independent effects of occupational exposures and smoking on chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction. We assessed the association between lifetime occupational exposures and airflow obstruction in a cross-sectional survey in an urban-industrial area of Catalonia, Spain. METHODS: We interviewed 576 subjects of both sexes aged 20-70 years (response rate 80%) randomly selected from census rolls, using the ATS questionnaire. Forced spirometry was performed by 497 subjects according to ATS normative. RESULTS: Lifetime occupational exposure to dust, gases or fumes was reported by 52% of the subjects (63% in men, 41% in women). Textile industry was the most frequently reported job in relation to these exposures (39%). Chronic cough, expectoration and wheeze were more prevalent in exposed subjects with odds ratios ranging from 1.7 to 2.0 being highest among never-smokers (2.1 to 4.3). Lung function differences between exposed and unexposed subjects were dependent on duration of exposure, but not on smoking habits. Subjects exposed more than 15 years to dusts, gases or fumes had lower lung function values (FEV1 -80 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) -186 to 26; MMEF -163 ml, CI -397 to 71; FEV1/FVC ratio -1.7%, CI -3.3 to -0.2) than non-exposed. CONCLUSION: Chronic bronchitis symptoms and airflow obstruction are associated with occupational exposures in a population with a high employment in the textile industry. Lung function impairment was related to the duration of occupational exposure, being independent of the effect of smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Possibilities for recycling cellulases after use in cotton processing: part I: Effects of end-product inhibition, thermal and mechanical deactivation, and cellulase depletion by adsorption.

Preliminary recycling experiments with cellulase enzymes after cotton treatments at 50 degrees C showed that activity remaining in the treatment liquors was reduced by about 80% after five recycling steps. The potential problems of end-product inhibition, thermal and mechanical deactivation, and the loss of some components of the cellulase complex by preferential and or irreversible adsorption to cotton substrates were studied. End-product inhibition studies showed that the build-up of cellobiose and glucose would be expected to cause no more than 40% activity loss after five textile treatment cycles. Thermal and mechanical treatments of cellulases suggested that the enzymes start to be deactivated at 60 degrees C and agitation levels similar to those used in textile processing did not cause significant enzyme deactivation. Analysis of cellulase solutions, by fast protein liquid chromatography, before and after adsorption on cotton fabrics, suggested that the cellobiohydrolase II (Cel6A) content of the cellulase complex was reduced, relative to the other components, by preferential adsorption. This would lead to a marked reduction in activity after several treatment cycles and top-up with pure cellobiohydrolase II would be necessary unless this component is easily recoverable from the treated fabric.

Adsorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Equilibrium and kinetics of color removal from dye solutions with bentonite and polyaluminum hydroxide.

Wastewater from the textile industry contains soluble dyes that are toxic and particularly difficult to remove. A promising low-cost treatment, however, is use of polyaluminum hydroxide associated with bentonite. At suitable conditions, this process is able to efficiently remove color from solutions containing mixtures of soluble acid azo dyes and produce easily settleable sludge. The removal mechanism, which is believed to involve adsorption or precipitation and weak pH variations, is not well understood. With the overall reaction being second order, two elementary first-order reactions could be assumed. The equilibrium removal is a decreasing function of the temperature. However, this effect is weak and decreases when the dye concentration increases. At usual values of concentration in textile wastewater, this effect can be neglected. The resulting solid compound is particularly resistant to mechanical stress. Moreover, color was significantly released at pH greater than 8. Sodium ions have no influence on the compound stability, which reinforces the assumption of the involvement of an adsorption process.

Aluminum Hydroxide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Decolorization of the dye, Reactive Blue 19, using ozonation, ultrasound, and ultrasound-enhanced ozonation.

Reactive dyes constitute a significant portion of colorants used in industries ranging from the textile industry to the paper industry. In most cases, the effluent streams from textile plants are highly colored, and treatment methods for dye decolorization such as chemical oxidation need to be explored. The oxidation processes investigated in this study are those of ozonation, ultrasound, and ultrasound-enhanced ozonation. The oxidation of an anthraquinone dye was studied under conditions of varying ultrasonic power, dye concentration, ozone concentration, pH, and temperature. Laboratory experiments were performed using a semibatch reactor by ozonating dye samples with and without ultrasound. Under conditions of constant ultrasonic radiation and continuous gas application, decolorization rates have been enhanced by ultrasound. The apparent first-order rate constants increased between 35 and 204% for the ultrasonic power inputs between 40 W/L and 120 W/L compared with ozonation alone. The effects of ultrasonic power input on the gas-liquid mass-transfer coefficient were also investigated and the results indicate that an increase in ultrasonic power input increases the mass-transfer coefficient. The mass-transfer coefficient increased between 89 and 93% for ozone inlet concentrations between 5.4 and 9.4 mg/L at an ultrasonic power of 120 W/L compared with ozonation alone. The reactions of the dye with ultrasound-enhanced ozone occurred through the hydroxyl radical pathway.

Coloring Agents↗