Mortality rates in the Federal Republic of Germany following previous occupational exposure to asbestos dust

Summary In 1972, a procedure was introduced by the Industrial Injuries Insurance Institutes (Berufsgenossenschaften) of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is to be used by the special occupational health service for employees exposed to asbestos dust. Since 1 January 1972, occupational health examinations are performed when exposure to asbestos dust has been of at least 3 years' duration.On 1 January 1977, a prospective cohort study was started with employees formerly exposed to asbestos dust whilst working for companies manufacturing or using asbestos. Data on these persons are collected in the Central Register of Employees Exposed to Asbestos Dust of the Industrial Injuries Insurance Institutes. A total of 3,070 male and female employees in whom asbestos exposure terminated after 1 January 1972 formed subcohort I of the study. For comparison, 665 persons whose exposure terminated before 1 January 1972 served as subcohort II. In addition to several other inclusion criteria, each individual's permission was required before personal data could be evaluated.Of the subjects in the two subcohorts, 185 and 71, respectively, had died by 31 December 1982. Tumours were more frequently than this cause of death is expected in the general population. In addition to a high incidence of mesothelioma, the standard mortality rate was especially increased for lung cancer.The proportional mortality rates of about 40% for tumours of all sites (with about 17% lung cancer and 8% mesothelioma) especially in subcohort II, seemed to be comparable to the international figures for epidemiological mortality.Supported by the Central Office of the Industrial Injuries Insurance Institutes, Bonn, Contract no.638.31:376.3-4104.Presented as a Short Communication at the XXI International Congress on Occupational Health, Dublin, September 9–14, 1984.     

Study of Laser Ocular Effect and Damage

In this paper, the characteristics and regularities of acute ocular injuries by direct laser exposure are briefly reviewed, typical cases of ocular injuries from accidental laser exposure are reported, and laser occupational harm to the eye are discussed on the basis of epidemic investigation of personnel engaged in laser work.     

头皮电烧伤骨外露带毛发皮瓣修复

目的：探讨头皮电烧伤骨外露用头皮扩张皮瓣移植修复的临床效果。方法：采用早期扩创,保留部分坏死骨质,用邻近头皮扩张使带毛发的头皮面积扩大后移植覆盖创面,电性失活骨质在血循环良好的皮瓣覆盖下,为周边及基底健康骨质生长起到支架作用,皮瓣扩张到一定面积后移植到裸露骨质上,使其得以修复。结果：在治疗的9例中,除1例皮瓣边缘在1．5cm×1．5cm坏死外,其余皮瓣全部成活,未发生感染坏死,创面均一次性封闭。结论：头皮电烧伤骨外露扩张后皮瓣带毛发修复,可缩短创面愈合时间,外形较好,易掌握,效果较为满意。     

铅防护服的性能检测与分析

铅防护服用于放射诊断与治疗中医护人员和患者的X射线防护。透视和拍片可以用于检查铅防护服裂缝、开线和破洞等破损状况。通过建立铅防护服的淘汰标准，定期检测、科学更新，保证最佳的放射安全。     

Blood histamine levels in cotton-dust exposed workers in a textile mill of Ahmedabad

Blood histamine levels were measured by the bioassay of histamine (on an isolated strip of guinea pig ileum) in workers exposed to cotton dust in a textile mill in Ahmedabad. Byssinotic subjects showed very high levels of blood histamine as compared to nonbyssinotic and control subjects. The blood histamine levels were not well correlated to the dust concentrations or duration of exposure but rather to the day of the week (ie, first, second, third, etc., after weekend break) on which the samples were collected. The blood histamine levels were high on the first day of the work week, when byssinotics complained most of their symptoms.     

Variations in peroxisomal catalase of neonatal rat hepatocyte subpopulations

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is teratogenic and induces severe alterations in hepatocytes. In the hepatocyte peroxisomal system, ethanol is converted in the presence of H₂O₂ to acetaldehyde and water. Therefore, peroxisomal catalase also acts as an antioxidant defence mechanism by removing H₂O₂ and preventing the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the cell. Alterations in peroxisomal catalase after pre- and pre+postnatal alcohol exposure were investigated in the rat. The effect of pre- and postnatal exposure to ethanol on hepatocyte subpopulations was analysed in isolated hepatocytes originating from periportal, intermediate and perivenous zones. Analysis of catalase revealed that the total activity and content of this enzyme were higher in 12-day-old cells than in cells from newborns and that this increment was more pronounced in treated cells. In controls, the amount of peroxisomal catalase increased mainly in periportal cells, whereas alcohol exposure induced a significant increase in the catalase of perivenous hepatocytes. We conclude that pre- and postnatal alcohol exposure mainly affects the perivenous hepatocyte peroxisomes and that the increase in peroxisomal catalase could constitute a defence mechanism against free radical generation induced by alcohol exposure during the perinatal period.     

Carbon Monoxide Mass Exposure in a Pediatric Population

Abstract. Objectives:To describe the outcomes of a mass carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication, and to calculate the CO half-life in a pediatric school-aged population.
Methods:A retrospective chart review was performed based on Regional Poison Center database information, hospital laboratory data, and medical records of the pediatric patients who sought care at one of 3 St. Louis area hospitals, after exposure to high levels of CO. Exposures occurred on January 5, 1996, after evidence of a CO leak was discovered at an area elementary school. Charts were reviewed for major demographics, symptoms reported, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels and times, and level of effect.
Results:Information about 177 (35%) of the 504 children in attendance at school that day was available. Mean age was 8.7 ± 1.8 years (range 4–12 years). Symptoms were present in 155 (88%) of the 177 children for whom data were available. Initial COHb levels were obtained for 147 (83.1%) of the 177 children. First mean COHb level was 7.0% (95% CI = 6.6–7.5%). Second COHb level was obtained for 26 children with a mean of 2.7% (95% CI = 2.2–3.2%). Calculated half-life of COHb, on 100% 0₂ at 1 atm, was 44.0 minutes (95% CI = 39.6–48.2 minutes).
Conclusion:Some children had symptoms at COHb levels that traditionally have been considered nontoxic. The elimination of COHb was found to be more rapid in this population of children than reported in other studies.     

家禽加工流水线作业工人颈肩腕疾患的调查

对１４９名家禽加工厂作业女工的颈肩腕疾患进行了调查。结果表明：观察组职业性颈肩腕疾患ＯＣＤ，（肩周炎、尺管综合征、腕管综合征、腱鞘炎、肱骨内外髁炎）的总发生率为３９．６０％，与对照组相比差异有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０１），其发生率与工龄、年龄及工种别有关。我们认为ＯＣＤ发生的职业危险因素主要是上肢反复用力活动、静力作业、不合理的操作姿势，而且低温、高温的作业环境对ＯＣＤ的发生也起到一定的促进作用。     

The use of experimental studies to reveal suspected neurotoxic chemicals as occupational hazards: acute and chronic exposures to organic solvents.

The nervous system differs from many other body organs by its central control of vital functions and its low regeneration capacity. Organic solvents have, as a group, been suspected to have neurotoxic effects. Because of their similar physical properties and the fact that in industrial uses, they are often present in various mixtures, organic solvents have also been regarded, unfortunately, to induce common neurotoxic effects. However, it is evident from experimental studies using specified exposure conditions that different organic solvents have very diverse neurotoxic effects and also that the toxic mechanism may differ between acute and chronic exposure. No specific method used to describe a neurotoxic effect or single toxic response can be used for the overall occupational risk assessment of all organic solvents. Each solvent has to be considered as having its own unique toxic effects.     

PM2.5混悬液染尘大鼠肺银染色的组织病理学观察

目的观察PM2.5混悬液染尘大鼠的肺组织病理学改变及银染色显示肺内尘粒的效果。方法将收集的游离PM2.5制成混悬液，72只Wistar大鼠随机分为低剂量组（每0．2ml含PM2.50．3nag）、中剂量组（每0．2ml含PM2.50．75mg）、高剂量组（每0．2ml含PM2.52mg）和对照组，每组18只。3个实验组分别以不同的剂量采用支气管肺内滴入方式染尘，每周染尘1次。分别于染尘后第4、12及24周时，取肺脏，石蜡包埋组织切片进行HE染色及沃森一斯塔理（Worthin-Starry，WS）银染色观察、透射电镜（TEM）观察，对肺内尘粒进行X-线质谱元素分析（X-RSA）。计数大鼠肺内肉芽肿样病变的数目，测定肺内尘粒的沉积程度、平均积分吸光度值（IOD）和平均积分面密度值（IAD）。结果随着染毒时间的延长和染毒剂量的增大，大鼠肺内肉芽肿样病变的数目及其细胞质内尘粒的IAD值和IOD值也逐渐增高。这些尘粒在WS染色切片上呈黑褐色，更清晰；其IOD值和IAD值均明显高于HE染色下的测定值，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；尘粒IOD值与肉芽肿病变数目呈正相关关系（r=0．639，P〈0．01）。TEM下大鼠肺内尘粒的超微结构与游离的PM2.5相同，X-RSA分析两者的主要元素成分也相同，均为硅元素。结论PM2.5混悬液染尘可以引起大鼠肺内出现肉芽肿样病变，WS银染色方法可以较好地显示被吞噬细胞吞噬后的PM2.5，其染色效果优于HE染色。