Work-related fatalities in the agricultural production and services sectors, 1980-1989

A total of 6,727 workers died of work-related injuries in the agricultural production and agricultural services sectors between 1980 and 1989, as established by data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) surveillance system. The agricultural production sector accounted for the higher fatality rate (22.9 deaths per 100,000 workers), due largely to deaths caused by machinery and motor vehicles. The leading cause of death in the agricultural services sector was being struck by falling objects, primarily trees. Fatality rates were highest in the East South Central United States and lowest in the New England states. Blacks had the highest fatality rate (26.4 deaths per 100,000 workers) while workers other than white or black had the lowest rate (18.9 per 100,000 workers). Males were at higher risk of death than females, with the 65 years of age and older male group having the highest rate (60.5 deaths per 100,000 workers). Males 16-24 years of age exhibited the largest decrease in their average annual fatality rate during the 10-year period, down to 7.2 from 20.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. Possible reasons for this decrease are suggested.     

Air pollution and cause-specific mortality in Milan, Italy, 1980-1989.

In several studies, investigators have reported associations among air pollution, weather, and daily deaths, usually from all causes. In the current study, we focused on the difference in lag time between exposure to total suspended particulates or extreme weather and cause-specific mortality in an effort to understand the potential underlying mechanism. We used a robust Poisson regression in a generalized additive model to investigate the association between air pollution and daily mortality. We used a loess smooth function to model season, weather, and humidity; indicator variables for hot days were also used. To examine the relationship in a currently meaningful range, we excluded all days with a total suspended particulate concentration higher than 200 microg/m3. We found a significant association on the concurrent day, both for respiratory infection deaths (11% increase/100 microg/m3 increase in total suspended particulate; 95% confidence interval = 5, 17) and for heart-failure deaths (7% increase; 95% confidence interval = 3, 11). The associations with myocardial infarction (i.e., 10% increase; 95% confidence interval = 3, 18) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (12% increase, 95% confidence interval = 6, 17) were found for the means of 3 and 4 d prior to death. We observed an effect of cold weather at lag 1 for respiratory infections and an effect of hot weather at lag 0 for heart failure and myocardial infarctions. The association for all causes and cause-specific deaths was almost identical to that noted previously in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Smoothed functions of total suspended particulates suggested a higher slope at lower concentrations, and this finding may account for differences noted between European and U.S. studies. Given that both the dependence between weather and daily mortality and the lag between exposure and death varies by cause of death, analyses by specific causes of death would be very useful in the future.     

Hong Kong influenza in the Royal Air Force 1968-70

A prospective serological and clinical study of the epidemics due to the A2/Hong Kong/68 influenza virus was made during the winters 1968-9 and 1969-70 in volunteer subjects in the Royal Air Force. In October 1968 nearly all subjects had haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody to the A2/Singapore/57 virus and more than half had antibody to strains more recently prevalent in Britain. The proportion with HI antibody to A2/Hong Kong/68 increased from 31% in October 1968 (most at low titres) to 44% after the first epidemic and 72% after the second (most at high titres). Serological infection rates were much lower in those who had detectable antibody at the beginning of each winter than in those who did not. Respiratory illnesses coupled with serological evidence of influenza infection during the winter were rare in persons with an initial titre of HI antibody of 1/40 or more. Infection in the first winter conferred complete protection against infection, with or without illness, in the second. In both epidemics about half those with serological evidence of infection had no reported illness.     

Air pollution and daily mortality in Erfurt, east Germany, 1980-1989.

In Erfurt, Germany, unfavorable geography and emissions from coal burning lead to very high ambient pollution (up to about 4000 micrograms/m3 SO2 in 1980-89). To assess possible health effects of these exposures, total daily mortality was obtained for this same period. A multivariate model was fitted, including corrections for long-term fluctuations, influenza epidemics, and meterology, before analyzing the effect of pollution. The best fit for pollution was obtained for log (SO2 daily mean) with a lag of 2 days. Daily mortality increased by 10% for an increase in SO2 from 23 to 929 micrograms/m3 (5% quantile to 95% quantile). A harvesting effect (fewer people die on a given day if more deaths occurred in the last 15 days) may modify this by +/- 2%. The effect for particulates (SP, 1988-89 only) was stronger than the effect of SO2. Log SP (daily mean) increasing from 15 micrograms/m3 to 331 micrograms/m3 (5% quantile to 95% quantile) was associated with a 22% increase in mortality. Depending on harvesting, the observable effect may lie between 14% and 27%. There is no indication of a threshold or synergism. The effects of air pollution are smaller than the effects of influenza epidemics and are of the same size as meterologic effects. The results for the lower end of the dose range are in agreement with linear models fitted in studies of moderate air pollution and episode studies.     

A Comparison of the Rates of Sickness Absence between the Male Population of Royal Air Force Waddington and the Lincolnshire Police Force During November 1980

A survey of male sickness absence notifications during the monthof November 1980 was performed at Royal Air Force Waddingtonand at the Lincolnshire Police Force Headquarters. The results,when analysed, showed a statistically significant (P<0.05)lower absence rate amongst RAF personnel, independent of theparameters used for comparison. The study points to the existence of an occupational healthservice as a major contribution to lower sickness absence ratesamongst RAF personnel. Accepted        1 January 1982 Flight Lieutenant R. Guest, Medical Centre, United Kingdom Support Unit, Ramstein Air Base, BFPO 109     

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Scotland and Northern Ireland 1980-1989.

The epidemiological and clinical features of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease have never before been studied in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Case records for those dying with this diagnosis were obtained for the period 1980-89. Over the ten year period, 25 definite or probable cases were identified, giving an annual incidence of 0.37 cases/million. There were more cases in the second half of the decade, and this was most likely due to increased ascertainment. One pair of cases occurred in close proximity to each other. Sex distribution showed an excess of males (male:female ratio = 1.8:1). Mean age at onset was 65.2 years, and mean duration of disease was 5.3 months. The presenting symptoms and clinical features were similar to those noted in previous studies of other populations. There was no excess of cases in occupations linked to food, farming, or medical/paramedical work.     

Assessment of occupational exposure to cadmium in The Netherlands, 1980-1989.

One thousand five hundred fifty urine samples and 1,295 blood samples, collected from 919 workers, were analyzed for cadmium (Cd). The workers were employed at 16 different types of workplaces. In about 7.5% of the samples, the concentration of Cd exceeded the biological limit values proposed by the Dutch Expert Committee for Occupational Standards. Levels higher than these values were measured in both urine samples and blood samples of workers involved in electrochemical plating, in production of Cd-stabilizers and enamels, and in soldering with silver-cadmium solder. Significantly higher concentrations of beta 2-microglobulin (MG) were found in urine samples with CdU greater than 10 micrograms/g creatinine. Cd levels in urine increased with age.