Work-related health symptoms among compost facility workers: a cross-sectional study

Background

Industrial composting is a relatively new and expanding activity. Several studies indicate that compost workers are at risk to develop health symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of work-related health symptoms among compost workers compared with control subjects.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed among 62 workers (31 exposed and 31 non-exposed workers). Data were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

Workers exposed to organic dust reported significantly more often respiratory, irritation (e.g., eyes, nose and throat), gastrointestinal, and skin symptoms than the non-exposed group. Moreover, all work-related symptoms were significantly more often reported by exposed than non-exposed workers. After adjustment for smoking status and age, the associations between exposure and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin symptoms remained statistically significant, in particular if these symptoms were work-related.

Conclusions

This study confirms that workers at compost facilities are at risk to develop occupational health problems, most likely related to organic dust exposure.     

Mortality among workers at a butadiene facility

Several studies of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) workers have reported excess cancers at various sites; however, little could be concluded concerning specific etiologic agents because of the multiple exposures encountered by these groups. The current study examined cause-specific mortality in a cohort of 2,586 male workers employed for at least 6 months between 1943 and 1979 in a butadiene manufacturing plant that supplied butadiene to two SBR plants. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated using national (NSMR) and local (LSMR) comparison populations. The all-cause NSMR was 80 (p less than 0.05) and the all-cancer NSMR was 84; the corresponding LSMRs were 96 and 76 (p less than 0.05). No significant excesses were observed for any cause of death except lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma (NSMR = 235). When the cohort was subdivided into routine, nonroutine, and low-exposure groups, the SMRs were consistently elevated for this cause of death in all three groups. However, direct comparisons between each of the two exposure groups and the low-exposure group were inconsistent. This suggests butadiene may not be responsible for the excess, but the association deserves close attention in future studies.     

Respiratory and skin health among glass microfiber production workers: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Only a few studies have investigated non-malignant respiratory effects of glass microfibers and these have provided inconsistent results. Our objective was to assess the effects of exposure to glass microfibers on respiratory and skin symptoms, asthma and lung function.     

某三级综合医院医务人员职业暴露调查

目的了解某三级综合医院医务人员职业暴露情况,分析职业暴露发生原因及预防对策。方法对某院2010年1月—2013年12月134例发生职业暴露的医务人员进行调查。结果暴露人群中,护士所占比率最高(59.70%),其次是医生(19.40%)、医技人员(9.70%)。职业暴露主要原因为锐器管理不规范(占46.27%,62例),其次为操作意外(占42.54%,57例)、防护措施不足所致(占11.19%,15例);暴露方式以锐器伤为主(占94.78%,127例),黏膜接触暴露占5.22%(7例),暴露源不明确者占42.54%,暴露源明确者占57.46%,其中乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)、梅毒螺旋体(TP)、人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)分别占35.82%、12.69%、3.73%、2.24%;HBV、HCV合并感染占2.24%(3例);HIV、HBV、HCV、TP合并感染占0.74%(1例)。职业暴露后正确处理率为95.52%。结论护士是职业暴露高危群体,做好职业防护,并规范锐器管理,可以减少医务人员职业暴露发生。     

Chlorpyrifos exposure and biological monitoring among manufacturing workers

Aim

To use biological monitoring data to evaluate the soundness of job based exposure classifications.

Methods

The authors studied 52 chlorpyrifos manufacturing workers and 60 referent workers to compare chlorpyrifos exposure estimations from job titles and work areas to urinary excretion of 3,5,6 trichloro‐2‐pyridinol (TCP), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos. Work history records and industrial hygiene monitoring data were used to establish cumulative interim exposure. Chlorpyrifos exposure during the study year was assessed biologically by urinary excretion of TCP.

Results

Exposure as measured by three urinary TCP samples was significantly higher among the chlorpyrifos workers (188 μg/l) than it was for the referent subjects (7 μg/l). Urinary TCP also correlated well with specific exposure categories of negligible (0.73–1.98 mg/m³ days), low (1.99–4.91 mg/m³ days), and moderate (4.92–15.36 mg/m³ days). The weighted Kappa coefficient was 0.80 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.87) for the mean TCP over the study period.

Conclusions

The estimates of chlorpyrifos exposure based on job classifications and industrial hygiene measurements were significantly related to urinary TCP excretion, indicating that the ambient estimates are useful for providing exposure estimates among chlorpyrifos manufacturing workers.     

Occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers

This study investigated the association between occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers. Male workers, 32 who were exposed to organophosphate pesticides and 43 who were not exposed were recruited from two nearby factories and interviewed. Following a work shift, semen and urine samples were collected for pesticide metabolite analysis. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, percentage of motility, and percentage of normal structure. Within the exposed group, the mean end-of-shift urinary p-nitrophenol levels were 0.22 and 0.15 mg/L for the high- and low-exposure subgroups, respectively. Linear regression analysis of individual semen parameters revealed a significant reduction of sperm concentration (35.9 x 10(6) vs 62.8 x 10(6), p < 0.01) and percentage of motility (47% vs 57%, p = 0.03) but not percentage of sperm with normal structure (57% vs 61%, p = 0.13). Multivariate modeling showed a significant overall shift in the mean semen parameter. Occupational exposure to ethylparathion and methamidophos seems to have a moderately adverse effect on semen quality.     

Mortality among workers at a nuclear fuels production facility

A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted in a population of workers employed at a facility with the primary task of production of nuclear fuels and other materials. Data for hourly and salaried employees were analyzed separately by time period of first employment and length of employment. The hourly (N = 6,687 with 728 deaths) and salaried (N = 2,745 with 294 deaths) employees had a mortality experience comparable to that of the United States and, in fact, exhibited significant fewer deaths in many categories of diseases that are traditionally associated with the healthy worker effect. Specifically, fewer deaths were noted in the categories of all causes, all cancers, cancer of the digestive organs, lung cancer, brain cancer (hourly workers only), diabetes, all diseases of the circulatory system, all respiratory diseases, all digestive system diseases, all diseases of the genitourinary system (hourly only), and all external causes of death. A statistically significant, and as yet unexplained increase in leukemia mortality (6 observed vs. 2.18 expected) appeared among a subset of the hourly employees, first hired before 1955, and employed between 5-15 years.     

Mortality among workers at a talc mining and milling facility

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated mortality among workers at a talc mining and milling facility. METHODS: Subjects were white men actively employed between 1948 and 1989 and known to have been alive in or after 1950. Analyses assessed cancer mortality during the period 1950-89 (809 subjects) and non-cancer mortality during 1960-89 (782 subjects). RESULTS: Comparisons with regional general population death rates for 1960-89 indicated that the workers had more than expected deaths from all causes combined [209 observed/160 expected, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 131, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 114-150], due mainly to increased mortality from lung cancer (31/13, SMR = 232, CI = 157-329) and non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD) (28/13, SMR = 221, CI = 147-320). The lung cancer excess was concentrated in miners (18/4.6, SMR = 394, CI = 233-622); millers had only a small increase (7/5.5, SMR = 128, CI = 51-263). An excess of NMRD occurred both in miners (10/4.2, SMR = 241, CI = 116-444) and in millers (11/4.8, SMR = 227, CI = 113-407). The median estimated exposure to respirable dust was 511 mg/m(3)-days for all exposed employees, 739 mg/m(3)-days for mine workers and 683 mg/m(3)-days for mill workers. Employees with high, compared with low, estimated exposure to dust had a rate ratio of 0.5 (CI = 0.2-1.3) for lung cancer and of 11.8 (CI = 3.1-44.9) for pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to talc ore dust may not have been responsible for the lung cancer excess among these workers but probably contributed to the elevated rate of NMRD, particularly pulmonary fibrosis.     

Mortality among workers at a plastics manufacturing and research and development facility: 1946–1988

Mortality through 1988 was studied for 5,932 male employees who worked between January 1, 1946 and December 31, 1967 at a New Jersey plastics manufacturing and research and development facility. The cohort was followed for an average of 32 years and included 1,859 deaths. Potential exposures included asbestos, formaldehyde, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Mortality rates for the cohort were compared to both U.S. and state mortality rates, and analyses were also performed by lagging duration of employment. Based on U.S. rates, mortality among hourly males (n = 3,853) from all cancers was similar to expected [standardized mortality ratio (SMR), 102; 95% confidence interval (CI), 92-114]. Excess mortality among hourly workers was seen for pancreatic cancer (SMR, 146; 95% CI, 95–216) and “malignancies of other parts of the respiratory system” (SMR, 373; 95% CI, 121–870). The latter excess was due entirely to five deaths from pleural mesothelioma. There were no deaths identified due to nasal cavity or nasopharyngeal cancers, or angiosarcoma of the liver. Mortality from leukemia among research and development workers (n = 1,421) was significantly elevated (SMR, 265; 95% CI, 115–524) and related to assignment to process development. This study verifies the excess of pancreatic cancer among workers at the facility seen in earlier studies and observes excesses of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure and leukemia in process development workers.     

安庆市医用放射工作人员健康现况研究

目的 通过对安庆市接触医用放射线的工作人员健康状况进行分析,寻找医用放射线接触的高危人群,以期为今后实施干预措施提供循证依据.方法 采用普查的方法,对安庆市686名医用放射人员进行体格检查和职业史、家族史、病史的问询.结果 医用放射人员心电图异常率为15.55％,肝脏疾病患病率为19.38％,胆囊疾病患病率为16.20％.10～19、20 a～工龄组放射人员染色体畸变或微核检出率分别是9.85％和8.74％,比0～9a工龄组放射人员染色体畸变或微核检出率(3.67％)高;三级医院的普通放射人员染色体畸变或微核检出率为15.69％,比二级医院及二级以下医院的普通放射人员染色体畸变或微核检出率(3.76％、3.57％)高,差异有统计学意义(均P＜0.01).二级以上医院的普通放射和放疗、介入放射人员眼晶状体异常检出率分别是15.61％、13.11％,比CT人员眼晶状体异常检出率(3.70％)高;三级医院的普通放射人员眼晶状体异常检出率为23.53％,比二级医院和二级以下医院的普通放射人员眼晶状体异常检出率(13.44％、9.64％)高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论 长期接触小剂量的辐射会给眼、细胞遗传物质、血液、心脏等身体的多系统带来不同程度损伤,而且这种损伤随着工龄和工作量的增加而加重,表现有一定的剂量-反应关系;二级以上医院从事普通放射、放疗、介入和放射工龄10 a以上人群是以后重点监测和干预人群.     

Cancer and occupational exposure to arsenic: A study of pesticide workers

Mortality and morbidity experience was studied in 1,393 persons exposed to considerably high air concentrations of inorganic arsenicals for varying lengths of time during the manufacture and packaging of various pesticides in a plant in Baltimore, Maryland. Study subjects were traced for the period 1946–1977, and vital status was determined for 86.9% of 1,050 men and 66.8% of 343 women. The observed numbers of deaths from all and selected causes were compared with the expected numbers of deaths derived from population mortality rates. Among men, 23 deaths from lung cancer and 2 deaths from anemias represented statistically significant excesses over the expected numbers (P < 0.05). Lung cancer mortality was especially high in male production workers with presumed high exposure to arsenicals for a prolonged period of time. A dose-response effect was suggested for lung cancer mortality which increased with length of arsenical exposure, but no such relationship appeared for nonarsenical exposure. Workers with high arsenical exposure also had increased frequencies of such forms of arsenism as keratoses and perforation of the nasal septum. Analysis of the 23 male lung cancer deaths and 23 matched controls suggested a relationship, though not statistically significant, between lung cancer and antecedent keratoses. These findings provide strong evidence for a causal relationship between occupational exposure to inorganic arsenicals and lung cancer.     

Risk of leukaemia among pesticide manufacturing workers: a review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to review available cohort studies and to estimate quantitatively the association between occupational exposure in plants manufacturing pesticides and leukaemia. METHODS: Following a systematic literature search, relative risks were extracted from 14 studies published between 1984 and 2004. Fixed effect analyses were carried out as heterogeneity between studies was not detected. Meta-analyses were performed on the whole set of data and separate analyses were conducted for specific chemical classes of pesticides as well as type of leukaemia. RESULTS: The meta-rate ratio estimate for all studies was 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.94). After stratification by chemical class, consistent increases in the risk of leukaemia were found in all groups but statistical significance was found only for phenoxy herbicides unlikely to have been contaminated with dioxins and furans. This last finding appears equivocal in view of the existing literature. The separate analysis conducted on leukaemias from the myeloid lineage showed the highest relative risk (6.99; 95% CI 1.96-24.90). There was no obvious indication of publication bias. CONCLUSION: The overall meta-analysis among pesticide manufacturing workers provides quantitative evidence to consider occupational exposure to pesticides as a possible risk factor for leukaemia but available data are too scarce for causality ascertainment. Epidemiological evidence did not allow identifying a specific pesticide or chemical class that would be responsible for the increased risk. Exposure to pesticides may be a significant risk factor for specifically developing myeloid leukaemia and there is a need for additional large well-conducted studies with clear definition of exposure and of leukaemia type(s).     

某院医务人员职业暴露监测

目的了解医务人员发生职业暴露人群的分布特征、危险因素与风险环节。方法对某院所有医务人员2011年1月—2014年6月发生的职业暴露进行风险监控,分别从发生职业暴露者的职业类别,暴露的地点、环节以及方式进行数据统计。结果 286例次职业暴露者中,男性63例(22.03%),女性223例(77.97%);2011年111例次(38.81%),2012年75例次(26.22%),2013年67例次(23.43%),2014年1—6月份33例次(11.54%);对不同人群发生职业暴露者统计数据显示,各年度不同人群发生职业暴露所占百分比相似,由高到低依次为护士(31.97)%、医师(19.90%)、护工(15.79%)、技师(7.64%)、护师(4.17%)和保洁员(2.84%);整理废物、拔针或更换针头、丢弃锐器入利器盒、手术缝合或器械传递、各种穿刺(含抽血)操作时的锐器伤是医务人员发生职业暴露损伤的主要风险环节,其构成比分别为22.38%、19.58%、14.34%、12.94%和11.19%;各年度职业暴露发生地点相似,主要是病房、手术室和注射(治疗)室,其构成比分别为51.40%、19.58%和11.54%。结论医院应建立完善的职业暴露监控与风险管理体系,强化标准预防,加强对职业暴露高危人群的培训,对风险环节及危险因素进行监控和干预,以有效降低医务人员职业暴露发生率。     

Mortality of workers employed at organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plants--an update.

A previous mortality study among four organochlorine pesticide manufacturers was updated through 1987. The organochlorine pesticides included chlordane; heptachlor and endrin; aldrin, dieldrin and endrin; and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. The mortality for all causes and all malignant neoplasms at each of the plants was lower than expected. There was a statistically significant increase in liver and biliary tract cancer among workers at plant 3 (5 observed, standardized mortality ratio 393, 95% confidence interval 1.27-9.20). These results are somewhat consistent with experimental animal findings showing benign and malignant tumors of the liver after exposure to aldrin and dieldrin. However, the deaths were due to a mixture of intra- and extra-hepatic tumors, and the dose-response analysis was limited because of the small number of deaths and lack of exposure data. Additional study of this group should include continued follow-up of the total cohort and a case-referent analysis of the deaths from liver and biliary tract cancer.     

Evaluation of self-reported skin problems among workers exposed to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at a foam manufacturing facility

Toluene diisocyanate, or TDI (CAS 584-84-9) is a well-known asthmagen and respiratory irritant. TDI is also known for its ability to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. To further investigate the dermal effects of TDI, NIOSH investigators conducted a cross-sectional study at a flexible foam manufacturing plant. A total of 114 workers participated in the study. Participants completed a medical questionnaire, provided blood for antibody testing to TDI and other allergens, and a subset of participants reporting skin symptoms underwent skin patch testing to a standard diisocyanate panel. Production line workers were more than twice as likely to report skin problems as those working in nonproduction areas (PRR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.14-16.32; P = 0.02). Age, gender and duration of employment at the plant were comparable among participants working in production and nonproduction areas. Of the 100 participants who provided blood samples for antibody testing, specific IgG antibody to TDI was detected in two individuals, and none of the samples demonstrated specific IgE antibody to TDI. Of the 26 workers who underwent skin patch testing, none developed reactions to the diisocyanate allergens. These results suggest that the skin symptoms among study participants represent an irritant rather than an immunologic reaction to TDI, or to an unidentified allergen present in the foam.     

A cross-sectional survey of respiratory and general health outcomes among semiconductor industry workers

As part of the Semiconductor Health Study, we performed a cross-sectional survey to assess prevalence of specific nonreproductive health outcomes and their association with occupational exposures. A total of 3,175 persons from eight manufacturing sites across the U.S. completed a health and work questionnaire (78% participation rate). After adjusting for confounders, responses from fabrication room (fab) workers indicated a greater risk than those of nonfab workers for upper respiratory symptoms (relative risk [RR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.13); a dose-response effect with hours per day spent in fabs was observed. Fab workers also had greater prevalence for persistent wheezing (RR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.15-2.87), Dermatitis within the past year (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04-1.35), and alopecia (RR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.16-2.54). Female sex, a somatization index score, and smoking were important nonoccupational covariates. Increased respiratory symptoms MAy result from occupational exposures in fabs; further research is needed to identify causal agents and develop prevention strategies.     

Occupational pesticide intoxications among farmers in Bolivia: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Pesticide use and its consequences are of concern in Bolivia due to an intensive and increasing use.     

Mortality among plutonium and other radiation workers at a plutonium weapons facility

Mortality among 5,413 white males who were employed for at least two years at a plutonium weapons facility was investigated to measure risks from exposures to low levels of plutonium and external radiation. When compared with US death rates, fewer deaths than expected were found for all causes of death, all cancers, and lung cancer. No bone cancer was observed. An excess of brain tumors was found for the cohort in general. Elevated rate ratios for all causes of death and all lymphopoietic neoplasms were found when employees with plutonium body burdens greater than or equal to 2 nCi were compared with those with body burdens less than 2 nCi, while accounting for age, calendar period, and induction time. Increased rate ratios were also found for esophageal, stomach, colon, and prostate cancers, and for lymphosarcomas and reticulum cell sarcomas. No elevated rate ratios were noted for bone and liver cancers. When employees with cumulative exposures greater than or equal to 1 rem were compared with those with exposures less than 1 rem, elevated rate ratios were found for myeloid leukemia, lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma, liver neoplasms, and unspecified brain tumors. No overall dose-response relationships were found for plutonium or external radiation exposures. Standardized rate ratios increased, however, as plutonium body burden levels increased for all causes, all cancers, and digestive cancers at five years induction time. Standardized rate ratios also increased as external radiation exposure categories increased for all lymphopoietic cancers and unspecified brain tumors for a two-year induction period. With the exception of analyses of combined categories of death, and perhaps of lung cancer, confidence limits were wide, indicating limited precision. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that increased risks for several types of cancers cannot be ruled out at this time for individuals with plutonium body burdens of greater than or equal to 2 nCi. Plutonium-burdened individuals should continue to be studied in future years.