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At least 1,711 records · Page 95Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

A proportionate cancer morbidity ratio study of workers exposed to chlorinated organic solvents in Taiwan.

We initiated an investigation to examine the possible association between the cancer risk and the chlorinated organic solvents exposure in an electronic factory. To obtain information on the incidence of the various types of cancer among the exposed and comparison groups, the cohort populations were merged with the National Mortality Database, the National Cancer Registry Database, and the National Insurance Hospitalization Database from the Department of Health (DOH), as well as the Labor Insurance Hospitalization Database from the Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI). The proportionate cancer morbidity ratio (PCMR) was used to estimate the cancer risk of the exposed workers in comparison with either textile workers or electronics workers. After adjustment for age, only the PCMR for breast cancer in the exposed female employees was significantly elevated when compared with the two comparison groups. The increased risk of breast cancer was mainly found in the category of 1989-1997 for year of diagnosis when stratified by calendar year. However, there was no dose-response relationship between female breast cancer risk and duration of employment. Although some PCMRs for the cancers were also increased in the exposed group, female breast cancer was consistently increased when compared with both textile and electronics comparison groups using different exclusion criteria. The results obtained in the present study suggest a possible association between exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and female breast cancer. Since this association has never been reported in the previous studies, further study is needed to clarify the association.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

"Congo" red: out of Africa?

CONTEXT: Congo red is the essential histologic stain for demonstrating the presence of amyloidosis in fixed tissues. To the best of my knowledge, nothing has been written about why the stain is named "Congo." OBJECTIVE: To understand the etymology and history of the Congo red histologic stain. DESIGN: Primary sources were consulted extensively, including 19th-century corporate documents, newspapers, legal briefs, patents, memoirs, and scientific papers. SETTING: Sources were obtained from multiple university libraries and German corporate archives. RESULTS: To Europeans in 1885, the word Congo evoked exotic images of far-off central Africa known as The Dark Continent. The African Congo was also a political flashpoint during the Age of Colonialism. "Congo" red was introduced in Berlin in 1885 as the first of the economically lucrative direct textile dyes. A patent on Congo red was filed by the AGFA Corporation of Berlin 3 weeks after the conclusion of the well-publicized Berlin West Africa Conference. During these important diplomatic talks, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck presided over a discussion of free trade issues in the Congo River basin. A challenge to AGFA's Congo red patent led to a precedent-setting decision in intellectual property law. CONCLUSIONS: The Congo red stain was named "Congo" for marketing purposes by a German textile dyestuff company in 1885, reflecting geopolitical current events of that time.

Africa↗
PubMed1992

Wastewater treatment systems.

Textile rental operators face tough wastewater cleanup challenges in many communities nationwide. Depending on the local POTW regulations and the textile rental company's customer base, wastewater pretreatment isn't always necessary. However, many plants must pretreat or risk being put out of business. In this article, eight manufacturers of wastewater treatment equipment explain their systems to help industry operators comply with POTW limits.

Laundering↗
PubMed1975

Fluorescent whitening agents in detergents.

Washing is a form of textile care which is characterized by its repetitive nature. Washing methods vary enormously in different parts of the world. The main types of detergents and fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) are described. Washing slows down the deterioration in use of white goods, and yellowing is counteracted by FWAs. FWAs also enhance the freshness and brightness of most pale shades. Cost calculations show clearly the economic advantages of using FWAs in washing: the useful life of textiles can be prolonged considerably for a very small additional cost.

Color↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology of occupational contact dermatitis in a North Italian population.

Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is a very important skin disease both for its high frequency and for its social and economic implications. The aim of our work is to evaluate the epidemiology of occupational contact dermatitis in a north-Italian population and the possibility of a correct etiological diagnosis using the patch test standard series of GIRDCA (Italian Group of Resarch on Contact Dermatitis). We patch tested 1,565 out-patients affected by dermatitis with standard series GIRDCA and with other specific professional haptens. The manifestations were suspected of being of occupational origin by a dermatologist on the basis of clinical and anamnestic data. Of all the recorded professions we have considered only the more numerically significant: food industry, building industry, textile industry, employees, cleaners, hospital personnel, hairdressers, housewives, mechanics and metallurgists. Sixty-nine percent of contact dermatitis was found in women, the hairdressers had the greatest number of patients in the younger group (68.7% in the 11-20 years age group) and the textile industry workers in older group (100% in the 41-50 years age group). A positive allergological anamnesis emerged in 32.3% of allergic contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis (10.6%) was more frequent than allergic contact dermatitis (8.4%). The hands are the most common localization (94. 4%). The allergen with the highest frequency of positive reactions is p-phenylenediamine (25.3%). We discuss the frequency of positives to various groups of allergens in each profession and the principal means of contact. Because of the frequency of this type of occupational skin disease, we stress the importance of prevention. The standard series GIRDCA was found to be adequate for recognizing occupational contact dermatitis in most of our patients (74%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Full-scale application of the IAWQ ASM No. 2d model.

In the framework of the EU-funded TTP-UPM project (Technology Transfer Project--Urban Pollution Management) the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) of Tielt was modelled with the recently issued IAWQ ASM No. 2d model. Up to 41 % of the total COD load is originating from a textile industry. A measurement campaign was conducted during a period with industrial discharge and a period with only domestic sewage. The stop of the industrial discharge resulted in a highly dynamic response of the system. Based on an expert-approach the calibration was obtained changing only four parameters (anaerobic hydrolysis reduction factor etafe, reduction factor for denitrification etaNO3, the decay rate of autotrophs bAUT and the decay rate of the bio-P organism building blocks bPAO, bPHA, bPP). Influent fractionation remains a critical step within the model calibration. A proven procedure to characterise the influent determinants by standard physical chemical analysis failed to assess the influent COD fractions when the textile waste water is discharged to the WWTP. Selected bench-scale experiments, instead, succeeded in providing the adequate influent characterisation accuracy. For characterising the readily biodegradable COD fraction respirometry is to be preferred.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2002

On-line titration of non-ionic surfactants in wastewater treatment plants using a specific electrode.

Textile finishing industry wastewater often contains high concentrations of surfactants. Non-ionic surfactants like alcohol ethoxylates are among the most used surfactants and are discharged from batch-processes in widely varying concentrations. The anaerobic biomass and especially methanogenic microorganisms have been shown to be inhibited by surfactants. To protect these microorganisms from irreversible inhibition a measurement of the surfactant concentration is useful for the process control, but most analytical methods are too complicated and expensive for an on-line process control. It was shown that the titration of non-ionic surfactants is possible in the presence of biomass and in wastewater from textile wet processes using the Metrohm NIO-electrode. Titration and sampling were successfully performed with standard equipment. The software used for the process control of a lab-scale anaerobic treatment plant was also used to evaluate the obtained titration curves. This allowed performing the titrations without using a more expensive titrator.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1975

[Determination of the optimum of physical loading in relation to the maximum potentialities of the body].

Determination of the maximum capacity of work is essential for prophylaxis, and is closely related to the problems of scientific organization of work still awaiting solution. The maximum oxygen consumption among female textile workers ranges between 2.2 1/min and 1.6 1/min, while the reak heart rate--from 167 to 153 beats per minute. Allowable physical exertion among female textile workers should not exceed 3.5 kcal/min.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed2002

Adsorption of reactive dyes to granulated iron hydroxide and its oxidative regeneration.

Granulated iron hydroxide (beta-FeOOH) is used as a regenerable sorbent and catalyst for reactive dye removal in textile wastewater treatment. In oxidative regeneration the previously sorbed reactive dye is catalytically oxidized after activation of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals on the FeOOH surfaces to regain adsorption capacity and reuse the sorbents. A high initial H2O2 concentration is needed for an efficient mass transfer water/solid but its consumption per oxidized dye results only in 7-25 mg mg(-1). At room temperature a regeneration time of 3.5 h is necessary for decolorization and 6 h for further decomposition of the formed oxidation products to enable a reloading without any loss in adsorption capacity. Compared to Fenton's reagent, this oxidation process takes advantage of pH-independence between 4 and 8 and additionally no sludge is produced. Salts are commonly used in textile dying processes. While chloride improves the dye sorption, the presence of sulfate results in deteriorating sorption. Carbonate reacts as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals resulting in a higher hydrogen peroxide consumption, but the efficiency of dye oxidation is only slightly affected. Nearly 20% of DOC of the sorbed dye can be attributed to short chain organic acids (formate, acetate, oxalate) indicating the far-reaching catalytic oxidation and enabling biological post-treatment.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1992

[Monitoring of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary ventilatory function in sisal processing workers].

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity was studied in 50 textile workers exposed to sisal dust. A follow-up study was performed 19 years later and included 20 workers out of the 50. The first study showed a considerably higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms in the exposed than in control workers although the difference was statistically significant only for chest tightness (P < 0.01). Comparison of the prevalence in the first and the follow-up study in 20 textile workers revealed a statistically significant increase in the rate of chronic cough, dyspnea, chest tightness and nasal catarrh. During the follow-up study the prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in exposed than in control workers. Results of ventilatory capacity in 50 sisal workers showed acute reductions of FVC and FEV1 during work shift on Monday and the following Thursday. Comparison of the measured and predicted normal values demonstrated lower values in the follow-up study in comparison to those in the first study. The mean annual fall of ventilatory capacity tests was 0.027 L for FVC and 0.036 L for FEV1. Data suggest that long-term exposure to sisal dust may cause the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment in sensitive subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The pattern of morbidity and its effects on productivity of factory workers in Kenya.

A retrospective study was carried out from January to September 1990 in a factory that manufactures textiles in Eldoret, Kenya. Over the study period, 1400 factory workers had 303 episodes of illness resulting in a loss of 720 productive man-days. This is an incidence of 289 episodes of illness per 1000 workers per year. On average, each episode of illness resulted in 2.4 man-days loss. Of all the episodes of illness, 58.8% were attributable to infective and parasitic diseases, 10.9% to respiratory system disorders and 21.7% to other conditions. Malaria constituted 53.1% of all episodes of illness, acute respiratory infection (ARI) 10.9%, physical injuries 5.6%, gastro-enteric illnesses 3.4% and other conditions 21.7%. For the productive man-days lost, 53.2% were attributable to malaria, 12.8% to ARI, 5.7% to physical injuries and 28.3% to other conditions. Abortions and worm infections resulted in loss of 7.0 man-days per episode of illness, diarrhoea 3.2, myalgia 3.0, ARI 2.8, eye diseases 2.7 and the rest below the average of 2.4 days. Apart from the physical injuries, there were no other occupational illnesses in the textile factory workers. Episodes of illness that occur during the last and the first week of the month constitute 61.0% of all illnesses. Mondays had 24.4% of the episodes of illness, Sundays 7.9% with the other days of the week constituting an average 13.5%.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of hemosorbents on the structure of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in man].

The effect of various hemosorbents (HS)--carbon and textile--on the structure of neutrophils has been studied in vitro. It has been shown that the mechanism of cell degranulation is universal on various HS and does not depend on the anticoagulant used or on blood donor diseases. The degree of degranulation both for primary and for secondary granules increases with the prolongation of blood contact with HS, directly depends on HS--blood ratio and is determined mainly by the type of HS: degranulation on textile HS is considerably greater than that on carbon HS. Degranulation was confirmed by elevated blood plasma concentration of lactoferrin, a specific marker of secondary neutrophil granules. It is suggested that cell degranulation on HS leading to a considerable posthemosorption increase in the blood plasma level of biologically active intracellular components is essential in the process responsible for correcting hemosorption effect in different diseases.

Carbon↗
PubMed2003

Bioremediation concepts for treatment of dye containing wastewater: a review.

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in wide range of industries amongst which textile processing industries are the major consumers. Large amounts of dyes are lost in wastewaters of these industries during dyeing and subsequent washing steps of textiles. These dyes are resistant to de gradation by conventional wastewater treatment plants and are released into environment untreated thus causing pollution of surface and ground waters in the areas of the world harboring such industries. Presence of color in wastewaters has become major environmental concern and stringent discharge standards are being enforced on release of colored wastewaters in environment. The seriousness of the problem is apparent from the magnitude of the research done in this field in last decade. Increasing number of microorganisms are being described for their ability to decolorize and degrade artificial dyes and novel bioremediation approaches for treatment dye bearing wastewaters are being worked out. In this review we have investigated potential microbial processes for developing feasible remediation technology to combat environmental pollution due to dye bearing wastewaters.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed2003

Synthetic dye decolourization by white rot fungi.

Synthetic dyes are integral part of many industrial products. The effluents generated from textile dyeing units create major environmental problems and issues both in public and textile units. Industrial wastewater treatment is one of the major problems in the present scenario. Though, the physical and chemical methods offer some solutions to the problems, it is not affordable by the unit operators. Biological degradation is recognized as the most effective method for degrading the dye present in the waste. Research over a period of two decades had provided insight into the various aspects of biological degradation of dyes. It is observed that the white rot fungi have a non-specific enzyme system, which oxidizes the recalcitrant dyes. Detailed and extensive studies have been made and process developed for treatment of dye containing wastewaters by white rot fungi and their enzyme systems. An attempt is made to summarize the detailed research contributions on these lines.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2004

New concepts and technologies in home care and ambulatory monitoring.

The world is becoming more and more health conscious. Society, health policy and patients' needs are all changing dramatically. The challenges society is currently facing are related to the increase in the aging population, changes in lifestyle, the need for healthcare cost containment and the need for improvement and monitoring of healthcare quality. The emphasis is put on prevention rather than on treatment. In addition, patients and health consumers are waiting for non-invasive or minimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment methods, for home care, short stays in hospital, enhancement of rehabilitation, information and involvement in their own treatment. Progress in science and technology offers, today, miniaturization, speed, intelligence, sophistication and new materials at lower cost. In this new landscape, microtechnologies, information technologies and telecommunications are key factors. Telemedicine has also evolved. Used initially to exchange patients' files, radiographic data and other information between health providers, today telemedicine contributes to new trends in "hospital extension" through all-day monitoring of vital signs, professional activities, entertainment and home-based activities. The new possibilities for home care and ambulatory monitoring are provided at 4 levels: a) Microsensors. Microtechnologies offer the possibility of small size, but also of intelligent, active devices, working with low energy, wireless and non-invasive or minimally-invasive; b) Wrist devices are particularly user friendly and combine sensors, circuits, supply, display and wireless transmission in a single box, very convenient for common physical activities; c) Health smart clothes make contact with 90 % of the skin and offer many possibilities for the location of sensors. These sensors have to be thin, flexible and compatible with textiles, or made using textile technologies, such as new fibers with specific (mechanical, electrical and optical) properties; d) Health smart homes. The aim of this method is to improve the patient's living conditions and to avoid the cost of long hospitalization. "Exosensors" are used for measurement of the activity and behavior of the patient. The field of applications is very large, e.g. continuous monitoring of elderly populations, professional and military activities, athletes performance and condition, and people with disabilities. This new healthcare approach has to take into account lifestyle for improving prevention. For the patient to be more and more involved in his/her own therapy, new responsibilities and ethics have to be defined. A "societal health education" has to be provided to physicians and to patients to get all the benefits of this new context.

Biomedical Technology↗
PubMed2004

Market research on garment-based "wearables" and biophysical monitoring and a new monitoring method.

Technology advancements are foremost on the minds of scientists and developers who are working to overcome the many hurdles associated with bringing consumers the enhanced benefits associated with next generation wearable health systems. Often the technology work takes a front seat to the basic requirements of traditional consumer apparel. The choices of what consumers elect to place and carry on their body can be practical, logical, emotional and sometimes seemingly random. By providing insights and data to support the claims, developers of wearable health systems of the future will be able improve their chance of consumer adoption and continued use by gaining a clearer picture of the people that will be wearing the systems. Results from 5 different consumer research studies are presented, examining consumer buying patterns, gender differences, regional differences, their receptivity to health benefits delivered via clothing and what they want from technology enhanced clothing. Market research related to biophysical monitoring utilizing smart fabrics or interactive textiles show a critical level of commercial activity. Medical applications focused on the aged, infant and critical patient care are taking the lead. This paper presents a look at the biophysical monitoring market and discusses new materials useful in garment systems and the challenges remaining for their development and integration with textiles. A new method of non-invasive monitoring of periodic activity is discussed.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity in spinning: lack of risk or of adequate methods for assessing risk?].

The existence of a risk of musculoskeletal disorders work-related of the upper extremity (UEWMSDs) in the textile industry, specifically in particular working phases as spinning, appears today controversial. The upper limb disorders, sometimes described, have not a location ever plausible with the level of the biomechanical overload, as when carpal tunnel syndromes are signalled during activities in which the shoulder is the only segment eventually interested. Moreover these findings are shown in workers appointed at tasks or actions not clearly identified at risk. For example the spinning activity, that requires the movement of shuttles of modest weight, sometimes on levels above the shoulder line, is organized with cyclical cadences sometimes as repetitive tasks concentrated in a short period, sometimes in longer during the entire shift. Distribution and number of the actions, would however allow a sufficient biomechanical recovery. The identification of the single technical action may result difficult, due to interindividual variability of actions, of their speed and complexity. Furthermore the other possible activities, alternate with specific spinning activities, can require strength or not correct posture even if they may have short duration. In this paper we present and discuss the results of the ergonomic survey for risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders work-related of the upper limb. These analysis have been carried out in two textile plants, in which some cases of disorders of the upper limb in workers employed in spinning activities have been described by occupational health physicians. In addition to assessment of possible risk for UEWMSDs in spinning activities, we founded the capability of usual methods for ergonomic analysis to adequately examine work situations like spinning, in which the hazardous actions are diluted over the entire shift or concentrate in a short period and in which there is a specific biomechanically overloaded segment i.e. the shoulder. Finally attention was paid to evaluate psychosocial factors which appear to be important when biomechanical factors are low-lying.

Arm↗