MedWorm: Occupational Health Top 20

The New Zealand Workforce Survey II: Occupational Risk Factors for Asthma

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:02 +0100

Conclusion: This population-based study has confirmed findings of previous international studies showing elevated risks in a number of high-risk occupations. The strongest risks were consistently observed for printers, bakers, and sawmill labourers. Several occupations were also identified that have not been previously associated with asthma, suggesting that the risk of occupational asthma may be more widely spread across the workforce than previously assumed. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)

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Programmed health surveillance and detection of emerging diseases in occupational health: contribution of the French national occupational disease surveillance and prevention network (RNV3P)

Occupational and Environmental Medicine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:12 +0100

Conclusion The RNV3P collects data from two complementary samples: 30 university hospital centres (workers or former workers) and an occupational health service (current workers). This dual approach is useful for surveillance and for hypothesis generation on new emerging disease–exposure associations. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)

Occupational coke oven emissions exposure and risk of abnormal liver function: modifications of body mass index and hepatitis virus infection

Occupational and Environmental Medicine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:12 +0100

Conclusions Long-term exposure to COE increases the risk of liver dysfunction, which is more prominent among those with higher BMI and hepatitis virus infection. The risk assessment of liver damage associated with COE exposure should take BMI and hepatitis virus infection into consideration. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)

The health of California's immigrant hired farmworkers

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hispanic immigrant workers dominate California's hired farm workforce. Little is known about their health status; even less is known about those lacking employment authorization.The California Agricultural Workers Health Survey (CAWHS) was a statewide cross-sectional household survey conducted in 1999. Six hundred fifty-four workers completed in-person interviews, comprehensive physical examinations, and personal risk behavior interviews.The CAWHS PE Sample is comprised mostly of young Mexican men who lack health insurance and present elevated prevalence of indicators of chronic disease: overweight, obesity, high blood pressure, and high serum cholesterol. The self-reported, cumulative, farm work career incidence of paid claims for occupational injury under workers compensation was 27% for...

The impact of a sloped surface on low back pain during prolonged standing work: A biomechanical analysis.

Applied Ergonomics — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The sloped surface resulted in decreased subjective low back pain during prolonged standing. There were also associated biomechanical changes resulting from using a sloped surface during prolonged standing. These positive findings were supported in an exit survey satisfaction rating with 87.5% indicating that they would use the sloped surface if they were in an occupational setting that required prolonged standing work. PMID: 20116046 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied Ergonomics)

Mortality and cancer incidence among physicians of traditional Chinese medicine: a 20-year national follow-up study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:12 +0100

Conclusion Like other healthcare workers, we noted that physicians of TCM had significantly reduced risks of all-causes mortality and cancer incidence. Nonetheless, reasons truly responsible for significantly increased risks of liver and bladder neoplasm among physicians of TCM warrant further investigations. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)

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A case report of acute dermatitis that developed during an experiment examining the bromination of 3-hexylthiophene

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report will present a case of acute allergic dermatitis that is likely induced by 3-hexylthiophene, one of aromatic compounds often contained in fragrance substances. The case, who was a 27-year male researcher engaged in organic chemical synthesis for six years, was exposed to 3-hexylthiophene and its product (2-bromo-3-hexylthiophene) through an experiment in May 2004 and itching, swelling and eczema immediately developed from face to back. This case of sensitization to 3-hexylthiophene suggests that it be a possible allergen for fragrance allergy. (Source: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology)

Lung cancer risk associated with occupational exposure to nickel, chromium VI, and cadmium in two population-based case-control studies in Montreal

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Nickel, chromium VI, and cadmium have been identified as lung carcinogens in highly exposed cohorts. The purpose of this study was to examine the etiological link between lung cancer and these metals in occupations, that usually entail lower levels of exposure than those seen in historical cohorts.Two population-based case-control studies were conducted in Montreal, from 1979 to 1986 and from 1996 to 2001, comprising 1,598 cases and 1,965 controls. A detailed job history was obtained to evaluate lifetime occupational exposure to many agents, including nickel, chromium VI, and cadmium compounds.Lung cancer odds ratios were increased only among former or non-smokers: 2.5 (95% CI: 1.3-4.7) for nickel exposure, 2.4 (95% CI: 1.2-4.8) for chromium VI, and 4.7 (95% CI: 1.5-14.3) for cadmium. The ...

Driver characteristics associated with child safety seat usage in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention. — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:19:32 +0100

This study aims to determine the CSS usage rates in Malaysia and to assess driver characteristics that are associated with CSS usage. METHODS: Nine variables - urban versus rural study location, age, gender, marital status, educational status, monthly family income, number of children present in the vehicle, distance traveled to the study location, and attitude - were examined through a cross-sectional study of interviewing drivers of 230 vehicles transporting at least one child <10 years of age at the time of the study. The vehicles were also observed for whether or not there was a CSS present. The interviews were conducted at six sampling locations - three urban and three rural - in the state of Melaka. RESULTS: 27.4% of the drivers were found to be using at least one CSS at the time ...

Regional Differences in Prevalence of Anemia Found by Periodic Health Checkups at Workplaces.

Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi : Journal of Occupational Health — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shimomura T, Wakabayashi I Anemia-related blood examinations are included in examinations for periodic health checkups at workplaces designated by the Industrial Safety and Health Law in Japan. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were regional differences in the prevalence of anemia in workers and, if so, to investigate possible reasons for the differences. Relationships between prevalence of anemia found by periodic health checkups and some common factors related to anemia in each prefecture of Japan were investigated by ecological regression analysis using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. There were regional differences in the prevalence of anemia in the prefectures of Japan (5.1-11.7%), and high prevalence was observed in prefectures in the northeas...

A physical fitness programme during paid working hours - impact on health and work ability among women working in the social service sector: A three year follow up study.

Work — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:34:03 +0100

Authors: Vingård E, Blomkvist V, Rosenblad A, Lindberg P, Voss M, Alfredsson L, Josephson M In order to study the influence of a physical fitness programme on work ability among women employed in the social sector an intervention was offered to 205 women working in the social care sector in a municipality in Sweden. The reference group comprised 165 women from the same sector working in another municipality. All participants were employed and answered questionnaires at baseline and after 36 months. For women younger than 45 years, work ability and general health improved significantly while for women, 45 years or older, future work expectations improved. For women with less musculoskeletal pain, improvements were observed regarding future work expectations, as well as work ability...

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Quantification and Identification of Culturable Airborne Bacteria from Duck Houses

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:03 +0100

Employees at agricultural working places are often exposed to complex bioaerosols. Investigations of bioaerosols in duck houses revealed concentrations of cultivable bacteria between 0.4 and 3 x 105 colony forming units (CFU) m–3 on tryptone soy agar, 0.3 and 2 x 105 CFU m–3 on actinomycetes isolation agar, and 0.8 and 5 x 103 CFU m–3 on Middlebrook agar, respectively, when incubated at 25°C. At an incubation temperature of 37°C, 0.6–3 x 102 CFU m–3 were counted on MacConkey agar and 0.3–2 x 103 CFU m–3 on Middlebrook agar, and the concentrations of bacteria on glycerol–arginine agar and oatmeal agar incubated at 50°C varied between 0.1 and 2 x 103 and 1 and 7 x 103 CFU m–3, respectively. In addition, high concentrations of ...

The New Zealand Workforce Survey I: Self-Reported Occupational Exposures

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:02 +0100

Conclusions: This study indicates that occupational exposure to risk factors for work-related disease and injury remains common in the New Zealand working population. While these occupational exposures are disproportionately experienced by workers in certain industries, they also occur in occupational groups not traditionally associated with hazardous exposures or occupational disease. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)

Fluid Dynamics of Cytotoxic Safety Cabinets

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:03 +0100

This study investigated the specific fluid dynamics characteristics of cytotoxic safety cabinets (CSC), particularly those used in cancer drug reconstitution operations. Measurements taken on site were used to derive characteristic data for these cabinets. An in-depth laboratory investigation of airflows inside another CSC was also conducted. Anemometric values recorded on these two installations enabled the experimental validation of computational fluid dynamics methods applied to CSC. The digital flow simulations conducted provide a better understanding of the detailed flow structure inside a CSC and made it possible to study the influence of different operating parameters on the air velocity distribution inside the cabinet front opening: recycled air temperature, product protection airf...

Fatigue at sea in Swedish shipping - a field study

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Today many merchant ships sail with only two nautical officers, working a shift schedule of 6 hr on and 6 hr off. There are concerns that such a shift schedule is related to fatigue. However, little data exist from onboard studies of seafarers.Data were collected on board 13 ships. Fifteen participants worked on a 6-on, 6-off watch system and another 15 on a 4-on, 8-off watch system. Electrooculography, actigraphy, diaries, and reaction time tests were used to measure the effects of shift system on fatigue and sleep.Sleepiness was higher during the night shift in the 6-on, 6-off system. Moreover, sleepiness increased more during the watch in the 6-on, 6-off system compared to the 4-on, 8-off system. There was a trend toward shorter sleep episodes in the 6-on, 6-off system and sleep was mor...

Tai Chi workplace program for improving musculoskeletal fitness among female computer users.

Work — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:34:03 +0100

Conclusions: Significant improvements in physiological and psychological measures were observed, even at the large class sizes tested here, suggesting that TC has considerable potential as an economic, effective and convenient workplace intervention. PMID: 20037248 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Work)

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Transmission and control of an emerging influenza pandemic in a small-world airline network.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:27:17 +0100

This study also investigated how the small-world properties of an air transportation network facilitate the spread of influenza around the globe. The results show that, as soon as the influenza is spread to the top 50 global airports, the transmission is greatly accelerated. Under the constraint of limited resources, a strategy that first applies control measures to the top 50 airports after day 13 and then soon afterwards to all other airports may result in remarkable containment effectiveness. As the infectiousness of the disease increases, it will expand the scale of the pandemic, and move the start time of the pandemic ahead. PMID: 19887149 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Accident; Analysis and Prevention.)

Comparative Evaluation of the Dustiness of Industrial Minerals According to European Standard EN 15051, 2006

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:02 +0100

A range of industrial minerals was tested using the rotating drum and the continuous drop methods, the two methods proposed by the published European standard EN 15051 [CEN. (2006) EN 15051 Workplace atmospheres—measurement of the dustiness of bulk materials—requirements and test methods. Brussels, Belgium: European Committee for Standardization], to evaluate and compare their dustiness. The assessment of bulk materials dustiness can help to develop less dusty products and to reduce dust exposure to the workers by improving the processing of minerals. The European standard EN 15051 (CEN, 2006) proposes a classification system that was developed with the intention to assist in the labelling of products in the future. This paper presents a comparison of both test methods in class...

Dermal Exposure to Metalworking Fluids and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffin (MCCP)

Annals of Occupational Hygiene — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:46:03 +0100

Metalworking fluids (MWF) may contain a variety of additives, including medium-chain chlorinated paraffin (MCCP). There is concern that exposure to MCCP may be associated with increased risks for kidney toxicity. MCCP has been undergoing an evaluation as part of a European regulatory risk assessment and consequently it is important that an estimate is made of the likely occupational exposure. This paper reviews the available published data on dermal exposure to MWF and derives typical and reasonable worst-case (RWC) estimates of MCCP exposure. Estimates were highest for oil-based fluids (520 and 35 000 mg typical daily exposure and RWC exposure, respectively) and lowest for water-based fluids (30 and 520 mg for typical and RWC, respectively). Comparison with published inhalation exposure d...

A global perspective of migration and occupational health

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Global migration has dramatically increased over the past decade and is at an all-time high, approaching 200 million persons per year. Demographics and economic interdependence suggest that immigration will continue for the near future at record high levels.A review of the few studies that have investigated occupational injury and illness rates among immigrant populations.Existing data indicate that higher rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries are common compared to native populations. This increase is in part due to immigrants working in higher risk occupations (e.g., agriculture, construction), but occupational morbidity and mortality is higher among immigrants than native-born workers within occupational categories.Research is needed to identify the causes of increased risk among immigr...