苏州市工业园区电炉企业生产性粉尘危害调查

目的调查分析电炉厂生产性粉尘对作业工人健康的危害情况。方法对苏州工业园区32家电炉厂作业场所进行劳动卫生学调查,并对1800名作业工人进行职业性体检。结果电炉厂的粉尘种类主要是电焊烟尘和岩棉尘（总尘、下同）,其中电焊烟尘时间加权平均容许浓度（PC-TWA）为0.68～64.07 mg/m^3,超标率12.5%,超限倍数0.2～16.0。岩棉粉尘PC-TWA为1.05～12.53 mg/m^3,超标率26.6%,超限倍数0.3～4.3。作业工人体检1800人（接尘工人1067人,非接尘工人733人）,尘肺0^＋检出人数2人,检出率1.1‰;职业禁忌证14例（肺结核12例、肺气肿2例）,检出率7.8‰;肺部异常阴影2例,检出率1.1‰。肺功能测试结果分为接尘组和非接尘组,结果接触粉尘可导致肺通气功能和小气道功能指标下降,接尘工龄长肺功能值异常率高,接尘工人的肺功能障碍的发生率高于非接尘工人。结论电炉厂存在比较严重的粉尘职业危害,接尘工人的肺功能已受到一定程度的损害,有关部门应重点做好通风防尘工作和个人卫生防护;做好从业人员健康监护,保障作业工人的健康。     

陶瓷企业接尘工人肺功能研究

目的 探讨陶瓷粉尘作业工人肺功能损伤的特征。 方法 采用美能(日本) AS507型肺功能仪,测定某陶瓷厂"无尘肺"的967名接尘工人(接尘组)和197名非接尘健康工人(对照组)的肺通气功能。 结果 陶瓷粉尘总尘浓度为0.10~2.95 mg/m3,总尘浓度超标率为14.29%,呼吸性粉尘浓度超标率为3.57%;粉尘中游离SiO₂含量为21.3%~43.0%。接尘组VC、FVC、FEV 1、FEV 1%、FEF 25%和FEF 50%的数值均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。接尘组肺通气功能损伤和小气道损伤的发生率均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。接尘的吸烟者VC、FEV1和FEV1%数值与非吸烟者相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。接尘工人肺通气功能损伤发生率为7.45%(72/967),其中轻度损伤者占98.61%(71/72),限制性肺通气功能损伤占97.22%(70/72)。 结论 陶瓷粉尘可引起接尘工人肺功能的损伤,其损伤程度以轻度为多,损伤类型以限制型损伤为主。肺功能损伤主要与粉尘、接尘工龄、工种和吸烟等因素有关。     

烟草尘对作业工人呼吸系统损害的调查研究

目的探讨烟草作业环境中烟草尘对作业工人呼吸系统的损害。方法对烟草作业环境进行职业卫生现场调查、采样检测及分析,并对作业工人进行肺通气功能测定、胸部X线检查和呼吸系统症状的调查等职业健康体检。结果作业环境中烟草尘浓度在0.2～28.8mg/m3,生产性粉尘作业监测点超标率为29.12%,烟草尘作业危害岗位占32.02%;1322名接触烟草尘工人肺功能通气损害的为73人,肺功能异常率为5.52%;X胸片检查肺纹理增粗、紊乱改变121例,占9.15%;24.28%的工人出现咳嗽,21.56%的工人出现咳痰;调查显示接触烟草尘浓度高、时间长的作业工人肺部病变增加。结论烟草作业现场中存在的烟草尘与接尘工人呼吸系统损害有关,是导致接尘工人呼吸系统损害的原因。     

电焊工胸部X线表现与肺功能关系的探讨

选择96名密闭容器焊接作业男性工人为观察组,另选无粉尘接触史的84名男性工人为对照组。焊接现场粉尘测定浓度平均45.6mg/m~3,粉尘分散度测定<5μm粉尘粒子占81.5％。两组X线胸片异常表现(肺门阴影增大、增密,肺纹粗乱,O~ .O~ ～1)检出串观察组均明显高于对照组(P<0.01,且随接尘工龄延长而加重。观察组各项肺功能指标均低于对照组,MVV两组比较差异有显著性(P<     

木工尘肺的调查与实验研究

本文对五个木材加工厂进行了调查,木尘浓度为4.5～9.6mg/m~3,游离SiO_2含量<5.0%。对301名木尘作业工人胸部X线检查,检出符合Ⅰ期尘肺X线改变者9例,其平均接尘工龄达29.1年。对107名木尘作业工人进行肺通气功能测定,肺功能改变轻微。对五种木尘用大鼠进行致肺纤维化实验,仅见粉尘细胞灶,未见胶原纤维增生。可以认为,木尘致纤维化作用较弱,胸片上小阴影的病理基础有待研究,接触木尘浓度<10mg/m~3发生尘肺的可能性较小。     

某橡胶制品厂生产性粉尘对工人健康危害的调查

目的了解某橡胶制品厂生产性粉尘对工人健康的危害情况。方法对某橡胶制品厂作业场所进行粉尘浓度测定,并对152名接尘工人和93名非接尘人员进行职业性体检。结果该厂主要生产性粉尘系滑石粉尘。作业场所粉尘浓度时间加权平均允许浓度(PC-TWA)平均为30.2 mg/m3(超标9.1倍),游离S iO2含量平均8.5%。X射线胸片(高千伏)检查接尘组发现肺纹理增多、紊乱等改变19例,无尘肺(0 )5例,而对照组肺纹理改变只有2例。肺功能检查接尘组有15例小气道功能轻度异常,对照组仅为1例。两组检出率比较,差异有非常显著性(P<0.01)。此外,接尘组自觉症状、慢性鼻炎、咽炎以及心电图等改变均比对照组发生率高,两组相比差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论该厂生产性粉尘对工人健康存在一定的危害性,建议加强防尘措施,降低作业场所粉尘浓度,保障工人健康,防止尘肺病发生。     

硬质合金生产的劳动卫生学调查

从历年监测结果看出,粉尘浓度基本控制在10mg/m~3以下,80%以上的粉尘粒子小于2μm,游离二氧化硅含量除个别研磨作业外,约小于4%。观察者与对照者配对调查看出,接尘工人的肺功能及尿中钴含量与对照均有差异。接尘工人胸片中有0.50%出现O~+线改变,其平均接尘工龄为21.3年,平均累计接尘量为182.24mg/m~3·a。     

某轮胎制造厂生产性粉尘对工人健康的危害

目的了解橡胶轮胎制造厂生产性粉尘对工人健康危害的情况。方法对某轮胎制造厂作业场所粉尘浓度进行测定,并对接尘工人178人和非接尘工人(对照组)103人进行职业性体检。结果生产作业场所粉尘浓度平均为6.8 mg/m3,是国家卫生标准的2.3倍,粉尘分散度5μm以下占78.6%~86.1%,粉尘中游离SiO2含量5.6%。职业性健康检查中,观察组接尘工人肺纹理改变、肺功能异常、慢性鼻咽炎、胸部X线改变均比对照组工人高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论橡胶行业轮胎制造厂生产性粉尘对工人健康危害大,该次调查虽然没有发现尘肺病,但是工人呼吸道的异常改变应引起有关部门的重视。     

石棉工人接尘量与石棉肺发病关系的研究

本文对北京石棉厂的532名直接接尘工人(包括Ⅰ期石棉肺患者46名)进行了粉尘接触量与石棉肺发病之间关系的调查,结果表明,石棉肺的发病率与接尘量高低呈正相关,若以工作40年、发病概率小于1%计,则年平均粉尘浓度不得高于2mg/m~3(接尘量回归法)或3mg/m~3(寿命表法)。     

氧化铝尘肺一例动态观察24年

报道:铝电解作业工人所接触的生产性粉尘为氧化铝,还有少数冰晶石、氟化铝等。工人作业环境的沉降粉尘中游离二氧化矽含量为0.5％。历年来粉尘浓度动摇在0.3—512.0mg/m~3之间(平均23.9mg/m~3)粉尘粒径小于5μ者占86％。1961年通过铝尘肺调查,发现一例Ⅰ期氧化铝尘肺(男性,49岁,接尘工龄为11年)。X线胸片所见:两肺中、下野有较     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

Investigating clusters in the workplace and beyond

Clusters of disease are common and occur in the workplace and in the general community. They often arouse considerable concern among the population. Investigations have sometimes lead to exciting new knowledge, but in general the investigation of clusters is difficult and often unrewarding, especially for community clusters. In the workplace, investigations are more likely to find associations and even new causes, but still many clusters remain enigmatic. Despite this, there are many reasons for investigating clusters, including allaying community concern and identifying uncontrolled exposures. A structure for investigating clusters in the workplace is suggested.     

Assessing occupational and environmental exposure

Exposure assessment is a poorly understood component of the science of epidemiology. The relationship between exposure to chemicals and ill-health outcomes is often calculated using crude exposure measures such as ever/never exposed or duration. When investigating subtle effects, exposures need to be characterized much more fully in terms of intensity, frequency, duration and route. While occupational exposures tend to be much greater than those experienced from the wider environment there is a need to remember that, for many chemicals, exposure can occur occupationally, environmentally and through consumer use of products containing the material of interest. Inhalation exposure has generally been the traditional focus for most epidemiological investigations but there is now growing awareness of the importance of the dermal and ingested routes of contact and internalization. Quantification of the exposure also needs to be related to a biological mechanism of action and exposure metrics need to be selected accordingly. Occupational exposures can generally be measured using simple well-validated techniques. Environmental exposures require much more sensitive instruments and are more difficult to assess. Exposure modelling, particularly for the environmental fate of chemicals has undergone many recent developments and Monte Carlo techniques can be used to characterize model uncertainty and variability. This approach to exposure assessment can now be used in the setting of the wider environment and will enable a far better understanding of the relationship between exposure and disease.     

Mercury toxicity due to the smelting of placer gold recovered by mercury amalgam

A 19-year-old man developed tremor in both hands and fatigue after starting work at a placer gold mine where he was exposed to mercury-gold amalgam. Examination revealed an intention tremor, dysdiadochokinesis and mild rigidity. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration reached a peak of 715 nmol/l (143 ug/l) shortly before the clinical examination, after which he was removed from working in the gold room [Mercury No. Adverse Effect Level: 250 nmol/l (50 ug/l)]. On review 7 weeks later his tremor had almost resolved and the dysdiadochokinesis and rigidity had gone. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration had fallen to 160 nmol/l (32 ug/l). The principal exposure to mercury was considered to be the smelting of retorted gold with previously unrecognized residual mercury in it. The peak air concentration of mercury vapour during gold smelting was 0.533 mg/m3 (Mercury Vapour ACGIH TLV: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA). Several engineering and procedural controls were instituted. This episode occurred at another mine site, unrelated to Mount Isa Mines Limited.     

How Adults with Acquired Brain Damage Perceive Computer Training as a Rehabilitation Tool: A Focus-group Study

The aim of this study was to explore and describe how adult outpatients with acquired brain damage and referred to occupational therapy perceive computer training with the RehaCom programs, in order to evaluate the method of treatment as a tool in the rehabilitation of persons with cognitive disorders. By using focus-group discussions as a qualitative method of research when analysing the result, five themes with corresponding categories emerged, describing a development of understanding and learning about capacities. Themes describing how the participants could apply strategies to overcome shortcomings in daily occupations and the therapeutic role of the occupational therapist were identified as well. The result shows that a computer training program such as RehaCom can be used as an educational tool, for example, to guide a person who is trying to adopt compensatory strategies to avoid overload by taking pauses. It was found that anything the participants learned was also applicable to occupational performance in daily life.