Toluene vapor exposure and urinary excretion of hippuric acid among workers in China.

A factory survey was conducted in three provinces in China from 1985 to 1989. The time-weighted average toluene concentrations in breathing zone air were monitored by diffusive sampling, whereas hippuric acid (HA) concentrations in shift-end urine samples were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Exposed workers (456 men and women) were those for whom toluene (up to 548 ppm toluene) accounted for greater than or equal to 90% of total exposure (by vapor concentration in ppm), whereas 517 nonexposed controls were recruited from the same factories or from factories of the same region. There was a linear correlation between the intensity of toluene exposure and HA concentration in the shift-end urine. Comparison of the results with findings in the literature shows that the toluene-induced increase in urinary HA concentration among workers in China is significantly smaller than the published values, whereas HA concentrations in urine samples from nonexposed controls are comparable to the levels previously reported.     

口腔医务人员职业暴露防护的研究

目的探讨口腔医务人员职业暴露防护的危险因素及对策。方法执行标准化、制度化、科学化及普遍预防的管理体系。结果制定了切实可行的口腔医务人员职业暴露防护的管理方案和措施,使口腔医务人员掌握口腔感染管理标准,明确口腔器械消毒程序,在口腔诊治过程中通过实施普遍预防的策略。结论构建口腔医务人员职业暴露防护的措施与方案,可以最大限度地防止口腔医院感染的发生。     

Absorption of chemicals through compromised skin

Skin is an important route of entry for many chemicals in the work place. To assess systemic uptake of a chemical in contact with the skin, quantitative information on dermal absorption rates of chemicals is needed. Absorption rates are mainly obtained from studies performed with intact, healthy skin. At the work place, however, a compromised skin barrier, although not necessarily visible is common, e.g. due to physical and chemical damage. As reviewed in this article, there are several lines of evidence that reduced integrity of the skin barrier may increase dermal absorption of chemicals in the occupational setting. An impaired skin barrier might lead not only to enhanced absorption of a specific chemical, but also to entrance of larger molecules such as proteins and nanoparticles which normally are not able to penetrate intact skin. In addition to environmental influences, there is increasing evidence that some individuals have an intrinsically affected skin barrier which will facilitate entrance of chemicals into and through the skin making these persons more susceptible for local as well for systemic toxicity. This review addresses mechanisms of barrier alteration caused by the most common skin-damaging factors in the occupational settings and the consequences for dermal absorption of chemicals. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the importance of maintained barrier properties of the skin.     

CR与屏-胶系统摄影在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值

目的评价X线计算机成像技术在乳腺摄影中的应用价值。方法抽取乳腺CR片和屏-胶乳腺片各500例,由1位副教授和2位主管技师,对摄影条件、照片影像质量及照片影像显示进行对比。结果①CR系统照片影像质量明显高于屏-胶系统;②摄影条件CR数字摄影比屏-胶系统摄影电压高2~3kV,曝光量高35%左右;③照片的X线征象显示率明显高于屏-胶系统。结论CR摄影提高了照片影像质量,为临床提供可靠诊断依据。缺点是曝光条件比屏-胶系统高,相对增加了患者的X线辐射剂量。     

The effect of observation time and contrast on visual acuity

Background: Field studies of the duration of fixation during daytime driving find that it is about 0.2 seconds on average. Thus, the time available to read traffic signs is often limited. There are other circumstances where time to read alphanumeric messages is limited. Data relating time of observation are needed for purposes of ergonomic design as the data available in the literature are limited and uncertain. Method: Visual acuity was measured using Landolt rings in negative contrast, which were presented on a computer screen with a background luminance of 32 cd/m2 for durations that varied between two and 0.02 seconds at three different contrasts. Resulte: Visual acuity depends on the log of the light dose reduced by a factor that may be related to absorption of the light by the eye media. For young observers, it was found that: VA = 0.57 (log C t) + 1.705, where C is the contrast and is expressed as δL/L, where δL is the difference between target and background luminances in cd/m2 and t is the observation time in seconds. Conclusion: This formula or the functions fitted to the data obtained can be used to calculate the increase in target size needed to allow for short observation times.     

Post‐traumatic reactions among rescue personnel 96 hours after the Hilton Hotel bombing in Sinai: The effect of previous exposure

This paper considers the immediate post‐traumatic reactions of rescue personnel who were exposed to the Hilton Hotel bombing in Sinai. The entire rescue personnel (n = 26) were assessed and separated into two groups on the basis of previous exposure to the same type of trauma. The results suggest that among rescue personnel, those with previous exposure had a lower level of post‐traumatic symptoms than those who were being exposed for the first time. This supports the hypothesis that previous exposure to the same type of trauma has an immunizing effect for subsequent same type of traumatic event among rescue personnel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sex,stress, and health: Does stress predict health symptoms differently for the two sexes?

Objectives: Previous studies have been inconsistent with regard to the extent to which stress perception, rather than stressor exposure, predicts negative health symptoms. Because sex differences have been observed in all three of these variables, in this study the possibility that sex differences also exist in the relationships between them is investigated. Methods: Self‐report inventories of perceived stress, stressor exposure, and negative health symptoms were given to 107 young‐adult participants (65 females, 42 males). Results: Sex differences were observed in the associations among perceived stress, stressor exposure, and negative health symptom rates. Specifically, while higher perceived stress and higher stressor exposure rates independently predicted higher negative health symptoms rates in females, only higher stressor exposure rates independently predicted higher negative health symptoms in males. Indeed, unexpectedly, after controlling for exposure to stressors there was a trend towards higher perceived stress predicting lower negative health symptoms in males. Conclusions: While exposure to stress was a significant negative predictor of health for both sexes, perception of stress was predictive only for females. One implication of this finding is that different psychological models are needed to predict health symptoms in the two sexes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

危险药物职业暴露对医务人员的危害及其防护措施

目的制定防护措施,减少危险药物的暴露风险。方法通过文献,查找危险药物暴露对职业接触的医务人员健康危害的依据,呼吁政府部门和医院领导,加强对危险药物暴露的管理,科学设置配药场所,建立教育和培训制度,采取有效防护措施,确保职业性接触危险药物的医务人员身体健康。结果国内许多医院建立了静脉药物配置中心,由受过培训的专业人员,严格按照操作程序进行抗肿瘤等危险药物的配置,减少了危险药物暴露的机会。结论我国的医务人员化疗防护培训严重不足,防范意识薄弱,应引起有关部门和医院领导的高度重视,制定并落实有效的防护措施,确保医务人员的职业安全。     

医疗照射剂量水平及其防护

本文讨论了医疗照射的频度、剂量水平和防护问题。诊断X线检查频度在发达国家为每年每千人300—900人次,在发展中国家为100—200人次/千人·年,我国为124.5人次/千人·年;平均有效剂量当量在发达国家为1mSv/年·人,全世界平均值为0.4mSv/年·人,我国为 0.5mSv/年·人;医疗照射所致超额死亡率在发达国家估计为10—15/百万人,我国为4.27/百万人。 我国的诊断X线检查频度和剂量水平将进一步增长,为减少医疗照射,我们必须采取预防措施。     

Occupational chronic exposure to metals

Summary Stainless steel welders (n = 103) were examined. To estimate external exposure, personal air sampling was used. Internal exposure was quantified by the determination of nickel levels in erythrocytes, plasma and urine. Men and women (n = 123) were examined for control purposes. In the plasma and erythrocytes of the controls the nickel concentration was below the level of detection (< 1.81 μg/l). The element concentrations in urine were between < 0.1 and 13.3 μg/l. Of the controls 95% showed nickel levels in urine below 2.2 μg/l (reference value). The average concentration of nickel in the air was 93 ± 81 μg/m³. The average concentration of nickel in the plasma samples was 4.9 ± 4.0 μg/l (95th percentile 12.8 μg/L). In erythrocytes nickel could not be detected. The nickel concentrations in the urine of the welders were 18.5 ± 28.5 μg/l on average (95th percentile 52.5 μg/l). Only a weak correlation between the nickel levels of plasma and urine could be detected (C_urine = 2.07 + 8.45 C_plasma; r = 0.294; p < 0.01). Based on our results and on the reported literature a future limit value for the nickel concentration in urine should lay between 30 and 50 μg/l. This value corresponds to an external exposure of 500 μg nickel per cubic metre.