山东省2016-2017年人群烟草使用及其影响因素调查

目的 了解山东省人群烟草使用现状以及主要影响因素。方法 运用多阶段分层整群抽样方法,在山东省36个区（县）216个村（居委会）抽取调查对象,使用非条件logistic回归模型进行多因素分析。结果 有效调查6 271人,经过复杂加权计算后,≥ 15岁人群现在吸烟率为23.93%,其中男性为45.58%,女性为1.18%;不同年龄组人群现在吸烟率差别较大,45~64岁年龄组现在吸烟率最高（25.07%）;不同文化程度人群吸烟率不同,初中文化程度者现在吸烟率最高（28.94%）;农村现在吸烟率（24.98%）高于城市（23.08%）;现在每日吸烟率为20.23%,吸烟者开始吸烟平均年龄为21.21岁,日平均吸机制卷烟量为16.31支;在调查所有曾经和现在吸烟者中,戒烟率为20.79%。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,性别、年龄、职业、地区、健康知识得分与吸烟行为存在关联。男性现在吸烟率高于女性（OR=49.625,95%CI：37.832~65.093）,45~64岁组现在吸烟率高于15~24岁组（OR=1.830,95%CI：1.048~3.194）,农林牧渔从业者现在吸烟率分别高于医务人员（OR=0.403,95%CI：0.187~0.866）和离退休人员（OR=0.648,95%CI：0.481~0.873）,中部地区居民现在吸烟率低于东部（OR=0.724,95%CI：0.606~0.865）,吸烟危害健康知识得分1~3分组现在吸烟率高于4~6分组（OR=1.432,95%CI：1.240~1.654）。结论 山东省人群吸烟率处于较高水平,应对吸烟者开展控烟健康教育等综合性干预措施,以降低人群吸烟率。     

中国老年人结核病防治核心信息知晓率及影响因素分析

目的 了解中国老年人对结核病防治核心信息的知晓情况及其影响因素。方法 纳入2020年“十三五”全国结核病防治规划终期评估的知晓率专项调查中全部≥60岁老年人，获得有效调查问卷13 706份。采用多因素logistic回归分析老年人结核病防治核心信息知晓率的影响因素。结果 我国≥60岁老年人结核病防治核心信息总知晓率为78.4%，其中“肺结核的可疑症状”的知晓率最高（85.4%），“肺结核是否可以治好”的知晓率最低（65.3%），老年人结核病核心信息全部知晓率为41.3%，接受结核病健康教育比例为67.6%。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，老年人结核病防治核心信息全部知晓率低的影响因素包括女性（OR=0.93，95%CI：0.86~1.00）；70~岁（OR=0.91，95%CI：0.84~0.98）和≥80岁（OR=0.77，95%CI：0.68~0.87）；少数民族（OR=0.85，95%CI：0.74~0.99）；全部知晓率高的影响因素包括文化程度初中（OR=1.46，95%CI：1.34~1.58）、高中（OR=1.62，95%CI：1.45~1.81）、大专（OR=1.37，95%CI：1.11~1.68）和本科及以上（OR=1.52，95%CI：1.09~2.11）；接受结核病健康教育（OR=2.13，95%CI：1.97~2.27）。结论 2020年我国≥60岁老年人对结核病防治核心信息总知晓率低于国家规划目标，应加大对女性、≥70岁、少数民族以及文化程度较低的老年人群结核病健康教育力度。     

天津市中老年社区居民性活跃现状及相关因素分析

目的 了解天津市中老年社区居民性活跃现状及其相关因素。方法 2020年6月至2022年12月，通过多阶段抽样方法，对天津市≥50岁中老年社区居民开展横断面调查。样本量估计数为735名。通过调查员面对面收集问卷，包括社会人口学特征、健康特征以及性生活方式有关特征等相关信息。采用多因素logistic回归模型分析性活跃状态的相关因素。结果 共纳入776名研究对象（男性和女性分别为510名和266名），年龄以50~59岁（45.9%）为主。总体性活跃率为45.6%。年龄更大（60~69岁：aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.45~0.99；≥70岁：aOR=0.12，95%CI：0.07~0.21）、男性（aOR=1.93，95%CI：1.32~2.82）、城镇居民（aOR=0.18，95%CI：0.12~0.28）、同居/已婚（aOR=2.80，95%CI：1.41~5.58）、独居（aOR=0.51，95%CI：0.27~0.96）、爬楼或行走困难（aOR=0.55，95%CI：0.31~0.97）、现患慢性病（1种：aOR=0.55，95%CI：0.36~0.85；≥2种：aOR=0.53，95%CI：0.33~0.84）与性活跃状态有关。结论 相当比例的中老年社区居民仍然保持性活跃。身体健康状况与中老年社区居民的性活跃状态存在关联。应将性健康服务纳入中老年社区居民卫生保健服务范围，加强社区卫生服务人员的性健康相关服务意识和技能。     

陕西省妇女既往生育史与末次妊娠早产的相关分析

目的 探讨陕西省单胎活产新生儿早产发生率及母亲既往生育史与其的相关性。方法 采用分层多阶段随机抽样方法,以问卷调查方式收集2010-2013年陕西省怀孕且其结局明确的育龄妇女生育史等相关信息。结果 共调查29 608名育龄妇女及其子女,活产单胎新生儿早产发生率为2.7%。logistic回归分析显示,早产史（OR=7.99,95%CI：5.59~11.43）、末次妊娠年龄≥35岁（OR=2.03,95%CI：1.59~2.59）、出生缺陷史（OR=1.54,95%CI：1.01~2.34）是发生早产的危险因素。妊娠间隔3~4年（与妊娠间隔≤2年者比,OR=0.74,95%CI：0.58~0.93）、妊娠间隔5~6年（与妊娠间隔≤2年者比,OR=0.66,95%CI：0.52~0.82）、妊娠间隔>6年（与妊娠间隔≤2年者比,OR=0.48,95%CI：0.37~0.61）、生产次数1次（与初产者比,OR=0.80,95%CI：0.67~0.95）、生产次数≥2次（与初产者比,OR=0.62,95%CI：0.39~0.97）是早产的保护因素。有序多分类logistic回归分析显示,影响孕周长短的主要因素是早产史、高龄妊娠（≥35岁）及妊娠间隔时间。结论 2010-2013年陕西省单胎活产新生儿早产发生率低于全国平均水平。有早产史、高龄妊娠（≥35岁）、出生缺陷史可能增加早产发生风险;妊娠间隔长、分娩次数多可能降低早产发生风险。     

江苏省心血管病高危人群颈动脉斑块流行及影响因素分析

目的 了解颈动脉斑块（CP）在江苏省心血管病高危人群中的流行概况及相关影响因素。方法 2015-2016年依托中国心血管病高危人群早期筛查与综合干预项目,以江苏省6个项目点筛查出的11 392名心血管病高危人群作为研究对象,进行问卷调查、身体测量、实验室检测以及颈动脉彩色超声检测,探讨CP的流行概况,对CP发生的影响因素进行多因素logistic回归分析。结果 研究对象年龄为（59.4±8.9）岁,男性4 821例（42.3%）。颈动脉异常5 971例（52.4%）,其中颈动脉内中膜增厚1 782例（15.6%）,CP 3 811例（33.5%）,颈动脉狭窄378例（3.3%）。高龄（OR=2.253,95%CI：2.127~2.386）、城市居民（OR=2.622,95%CI：2.375~2.895）、高血压（OR=1.439,95%CI：1.195~1.732）、吸烟（OR=1.441,95%CI：1.259~1.650）、脉压差增大（OR=1.270,95%CI：1.198~1.347）、FPG升高（OR=1.109,95%CI：1.059~1.161）、LDL-C/HDL-C升高（OR=1.225,95%CI：1.164~1.288）增加心血管病高危人群发生CP的风险,女性（OR=0.558,95%CI：0.494~0.630）、高BMI（OR=0.948,95%CI：0.904~0.994）、较高的文化程度（OR=0.708,95%CI：0.531~0.945）和较高的家庭年收入（OR=0.773,95%CI：0.669~0.894）则降低其风险。结论 江苏省超一半心血管病高危人群颈动脉异常,高血压、高血糖、高血脂和吸烟是相关影响因素。     

成年人睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系的研究

目的 探讨成年人睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系。方法 利用“中国慢性病前瞻性研究”苏州市项目点53 260名30~79岁常住居民基线调查数据,通过多因素logistic回归模型分析睡眠状况与糖尿病患病关系。结果 调查人群糖尿病患病率为5.3%,入睡困难、容易早醒和经常打鼾的比例分别为7.2%、10.0%和29.5%,22.6%的调查对象报告睡眠时间≤6 h。经多因素模型调整后,入睡困难（男性：OR=1.63,95%CI：1.30~2.05;女性：OR=1.48,95%CI：1.27~1.73）、容易早醒（男性：OR=1.37,95%CI：1.12~1.68;女性：OR=1.31,95%CI：1.14~1.51）和经常打鼾（男性：OR=1.16,95%CI：1.00~1.34;女性：OR=1.39,95%CI：1.23~1.57）均与糖尿病罹患风险存在关联。女性服用助眠药物与糖尿病的患病相关（OR=1.42,95%CI：1.06~1.92）。与睡眠时间8 h相比,睡眠时间不足（≤6 h）与男女性糖尿病患病均存在统计学关联,OR值分别为1.37（95%CI：1.17~1.60）和1.24（95%CI：1.08~1.41）,睡眠时间过长（≥9 h）与糖尿病未见统计学关联。结论 睡眠问题（入睡困难、容易早醒、药物助眠、经常打鼾和睡眠时间不足）与糖尿病患病风险密切相关,睡眠时间过长与糖尿病患病未见统计学关联。     

1991-2015年中国9省份18~64岁男性吸烟状况与肥胖风险的关系

目的 分析1991-2015年中国9省份18~64岁成年男性居民吸烟状况与肥胖患病风险的关系。方法 利用"中国健康与营养调查"1991-2015年9轮调查资料，选取参加两轮及以上、有完整人口统计学特征、吸烟状况和体格测量数据的18~64岁成年男性居民作为研究对象，共计32 169名。依据研究对象是否吸烟以及吸烟者每日吸烟数量将研究对象分为不吸烟、轻度吸烟（1~14支/d）、中度吸烟（15~24支/d）和重度吸烟（≥ 25支/d）组。观察不同吸烟程度下研究对象的BMI、腰围、全身性肥胖和中心性肥胖的分布情况，利用两水平混合效应线性回归模型和logistic回归模型分析男性吸烟状况与肥胖患病风险的关系。结果 不同吸烟程度下调查对象的BMI、腰围、全身性肥胖和中心性肥胖的患病率呈现逐年上升的趋势。在校正混杂因素后，轻、中和重度吸烟者BMI分别比不吸烟人群减少了0.19 kg/m²（95%CI：-0.27~-0.10）、0.40 kg/m²（95%CI：-0.49~-0.31）和0.36 kg/m²（95%CI：-0.53~-0.19）；腰围分别减少了0.49 cm （95%CI：-0.76~-0.21）、0.80 cm （95%CI：-1.08~-0.51）和0.79 cm （95%CI：-1.38~-0.36）。男性轻、中和重度吸烟者患全身性肥胖的风险分别是不吸烟者的0.70倍（OR=0.70，95%CI：0.62~0.79）、0.61倍（OR=0.61，95%CI：0.55~0.69）和0.78倍（OR=0.78，95%CI：0.65~0.96）；患中心性肥胖的风险分别是不吸烟者的0.78倍（OR=0.78，95%CI：0.73~0.84）、0.74倍（OR=0.74，95%CI：0.70~0.79）和0.84倍（OR=0.84，95%CI：0.76~0.95）。结论 1991-2015年间，男性不吸烟与吸烟（轻、中和重度）居民的BMI、腰围和肥胖患病率均呈现显著上升趋势。成年男性居民吸烟与肥胖患病风险呈显著性负向关联。     

山东省男男性行为人群HIV暴露前后预防用药情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解山东省MSM的HIV暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药情况并分析相关因素，为PrEP/PEP工作的推广提供参考依据。方法 2022年4-7月在山东省7个城市监测哨点招募MSM进行问卷调查，每个城市样本量为400人。收集MSM社会人口学、性行为、PrEP/PEP用药等信息，并采集血标本做HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果 研究对象MSM共2 815人，以≤30岁（55.7%，1 569/2 815）、未婚（68.6%，1 931/2 815）、大专及以上文化程度（56.5%，1 590/2 815）为主。PrEP用药者占9.2%（258/2 815）；PEP用药者占10.8%（305/2 815）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄≤30岁（aOR=4.04，95%CI：1.25~13.01）、自我认知HIV感染风险较低（aOR=1.76，95%CI：1.16~2.68）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.51，95%CI：1.10~2.09）、最近6个月发生同性商业性行为（aOR=1.69，95%CI：1.16~2.47）、使用新型毒品（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.11~2.11）、接受同伴教育（aOR=1.56，95%CI：1.03~2.37）、知晓别人PrEP用药（aOR=3.29，95%CI：2.48~4.36）、HIV抗体阴性（aOR=8.40，95%CI：1.12~63.12）；MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较低的相关因素为主要性伴为临时性伴（aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.49~0.90）。MSM中PEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄<50岁（≤30岁：aOR=2.41，95%CI：1.02~5.69；31~49岁：aOR=3.33，95%CI：1.42~7.85）、自我认知无HIV感染风险（aOR=1.87，95%CI：1.12~3.11）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.68，95%CI：1.23~2.29）、使用新型毒品（aOR=3.86，95%CI：2.94~5.07）以及未接受同伴教育（aOR=1.54，95%CI：1.12~2.12）。结论 山东省MSM的PrEP/PEP用药比例较高。应加强同伴教育和自我认知HIV风险教育，提高MSM中PrEP/PEP用药的使用率。     

四川省凉山彝族自治州2010-2015年社区人群HIV哨点监测

目的 了解四川省凉山彝族自治州（凉山州）社区人群HIV流行趋势及HIV感染者相关行为特征的变化情况,探讨艾滋病传播的相关因素。方法 在凉山州社区人群省级艾滋病监测哨点（德昌县、宁南县和布拖县）,调查对象为年龄≥ 15岁城镇和农村居民,采用多阶段、分层、按比例抽样,2010-2015年共需调查样本量14 092人次。采用问卷调查和血样采集收集调查对象社会人口学、行为学和血清学信息,采用χ²检验比较不同特征人群和各年HIV感染的差异,非条件logistic回归分析HIV感染的相关因素。结果 2010-2015年凉山州社区人群哨点监测完成调查共14 092人次,发现HIV感染者267人,2010-2015年HIV抗体阳性率分别为3.24%（70/2 162）、3.07%（72/2 345）、1.17%（28/2 399）、1.38%（33/2 400）、1.42%（34/2 391）和1.25%（30/2 395）。彝族聚集为主的布拖县HIV感染风险高于汉族聚集为主的德昌县和宁南县（OR=3.83,95%CI：2.25~6.52）;增加HIV感染风险的相关因素包括男性（OR=1.77,95%CI：1.30~2.40）、彝族（OR=4.40,95%CI：2.56~7.57）、离异或丧偶（OR=28.57,95%CI：4.56~178.95）、共用针具吸毒（OR=8.53,95%CI：3.99~18.25）;降低HIV感染风险的相关因素包括初中及以上学历（OR=0.59,95%CI：0.37~0.97）、固定性伴安全性行为（OR=0.21,95%CI：0.05~0.96）、临时性伴安全性行为（OR=0.46,95%CI：0.28~0.76）。结论 2010-2015年,凉山州社区人群中HIV抗体阳性率较高。男性、彝族、小学及以下文化程度、离异或丧偶、共用针具吸毒等因素增加社区人群感染HIV的风险。     

中国成年人糖尿病前期发病状况及其影响因素研究

目的 了解我国成年人糖尿病前期的发病状况及其影响因素。方法 基于2010年中国慢性病及其危险因素监测调查数据,从中抽取10省份,再从每省份中选择2个监测点作为随访点,于2016-2017年进行随访调查。采用非条件logistic回归模型分析糖尿病前期的影响因素。结果 本研究纳入5 578人,随访期间糖耐量受损（IGT）发生612人（男性268人,女性344人）,总计随访37 364.82人年,IGT发病率为16.4/1 000人年;空腹血糖受损（IFG）发生290人（男性128人,女性162人）,总计随访39 731.31人年,IFG发病率为7.3/1 000人年。多因素非条件logistic回归模型纳入年龄、城乡、糖尿病家族史、BMI、中心性肥胖、血脂异常、高血压以及身体活动水平,结果显示,年龄≥50岁（OR=1.60,95%CI： 1.32~1.95）、城市居民（OR=1.41,95%CI： 1.16~1.71）、肥胖（OR=1.56,95%CI： 1.12~2.19）、血脂异常（OR=1.52,95%CI： 1.25~1.83）、高血压（OR=1.32,95%CI： 1.07~1.61）以及身体活动不足（OR=1.25,95%CI： 1.04~1.50）是IGT发病的危险因素;年龄≥50岁（OR=1.31,95%CI： 1.01~1.70）、糖尿病家族史（OR=1.71,95%CI： 1.13~2.60）、超重（OR=1.41,95%CI： 1.04~1.92）、肥胖（OR=2.09,95%CI： 1.38~3.17）以及高血压（OR=1.53,95%CI： 1.18~2.00）是IFG发病的危险因素。结论 相比IFG,IGT发病率较高。年龄≥50岁者、超重/肥胖人群、高血压患者、血脂异常者、身体活动不足者以及有糖尿病家族史者易发生糖尿病前期。     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

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.     

深圳公立医院管理体制改革制度设计

深圳公立医院管理体制改革实行政事分开、管办分开,在理事会架构下按法定机构模式组建市医管中心,落实公立医院运营管理自主权.作者从当前公立医院管理体制的弊端入手,介绍了深圳市进行公立医院管理体制改革的基本思路及改革方案设计的主要举措,深入剖析了的改革方案的特点,并对改革效果进行了预测.     

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.     

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on red blood cells of rats: Changes in components of red cell membranes during in vivo exposure to NO2

Red cell membranes, prepared from red blood cells of rats exposed to 4, 10, or 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) for 1 to 10 days, were examined for evidence of changes in membrane components. Appreciable changes were not found in contents of phospholipid and cholesterol during exposure to 10 ppm NO₂. By contrast, protein content altered with the time of exposure. Moreover, changes in protein composition were observed by employing sodium dodecyl sulfate — polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four-hour exposure to NO₂ at the concentration above 10 ppm resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) to the total phospholipids. The prolonged exposure to 10 ppm NO₂ gave rise to a further increase in LysoPE, whereas the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) showed a gradual decrease. A 1-day exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂ also caused an increase in sialic acid content and decreases in those of PE and hexose. In addition to contents of these components the percentage of LysoPE increased 5 days after exposure and the elevated values were maintained up to the end of exposure period. These results demonstrate that red blood cells in circulation exhibit different membrane properties in terms of lipid and carbohydrate composition during 10 days of exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂.     

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.