Health hazards in the microelectronics industry

The microelectronics industry is explored as a source of occupational health hazards resulting from the extensive use of toxic chemicals in the production of semiconductor chips and the assembly of electronic components. Information is provided on the range of chemicals used in the industry and their particular health implications. Case materials are drawn from Massachusetts' "Route 128" region and California's "Silicon Valley." Problems with worker exposure in the plants are compared with the risks experienced by residents of local neighborhoods from the leakage of industrial chemicals from underground storage tanks into the local groundwater used for drinking water. The recent development of the industry, its highly innovative character, the absence of unions and organizations for worker protection, and the persistence of a public perception that the industry is relatively safe and clean, are all identified as determinants of the extent of health hazards posed by chemical exposure. The paper concludes with recommendations for further studies, worker organization, and increased attention to the reduction of the volume and toxicity of chemicals in industrial production.     

Work-site clinical and neurobehavioral assessment of solvent-exposed microelectronics workers

Twenty-five workers, five currently and 20 formerly involved in the manufacture of hybrid microcircuits, underwent clinical evaluations at the request of a management-union committee concerned about chronic solvent exposures in a research and development laboratory. A battery of neurobehavioral tests was administered to compare the solvent-exposed group with 32 age-, gender-, ethnicity-, and education-matched controls. The tests included: MMPI-I, hand grip strength, tactile sensitivity, dexterity, color discrimination, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, and tests selected from the computerized Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES2). Clinical narratives and retrospective exposure assessments in the study group suggested chronic low-level exposure to solvents, with intermittent acute excursions. Work-related diagnoses included upper respiratory mucosal irritation and sinusitis (44%), lower respiratory reactive airway-disease (12%), and dermatitis (5%). Three workers (12%) had findings consistent with a solvent-induced encephalopathy. Significant differences (after Bonferroni correction) were found between the two groups on 5 of 11 NES subtests: symptom scale, mood scale, finger tapping, simple reaction time, and symbol-digit substitution. Differences also reached significance for overall vibration sensitivity thresholds, visual contrast sensitivity, and grip strength. The MMPI average clinical scale elevation was significantly higher in the exposed group than controls. These results support an association between chronic low-dose solvent exposure and measurable neurobehavioral changes.     

Visual dysfunction among former microelectronics assembly workers.

Although known neurotoxins with potential ophthalmotoxic properties are commonly used in microelectronics assembly, there has been no systematic study of visual disturbances among past or present workers in this industry. The objective of the present study was to compare visual functions, using a matched-pair design, between former workers from a microelectronics plant and a local reference population. From an initial population of 180 former workers and 157 potential referents, 54 pairs were matched for age (+/- 3 y), education (+/- 2 y), sex, ethnic origin, and number of children. Near and far visual acuity, chromatic discrimination, and near contrast sensitivity were assessed monocularly. Paired comparisons (Signed-rank Wilcoxon test) revealed that the former microelectronics workers had significantly lower contrast sensitivity, particularly in the intermediate frequencies, independently of near visual acuity loss. There were no differences for far visual acuity in both eyes. Even though near visual acuity and color vision were compromised among the former workers, the differences were only significant for one eye, as was the prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia (chi-square for matched pairs, p less than .001). These findings suggest a pattern of contrast sensitivity deficits consistent with impairment to foveal and/or neuro-optic pathways among these former microelectronics workers. Exposure to ophthalmotoxic chemicals is proposed as the most probable risk factor.     

Vision testing of young children in the age range 18 months to 4½ years

Four hundred and twenty-five normal children in the age range 18 months to 4 1/2 years have been studied to determine the percentage of children according to age who can be expected to cooperate in a letter-matching vision test using a key card; to see whether the use of plastic letters to replace the key card lowers the age at which a letter-matching test can be achieved, and to show that children in this age range can do a vision test at 20ft (6m). Acceptance of occlusion using a patch occluder was also examined. The study shows that children effectively begin to cooperate in letter-matching vision tests using a key card from 33 months of age. Replacement of the key card with plastic letters lowers the age to 30 months and thereafter there is a gain of some 25% of children up to 39 months. All children were successfully tested at 20ft (6m). The most difficult age for occlusion was in the age group around the second birthday.     

Vision and eating behavior

OBJECTIVE: Eating behavior is influenced by internal and external factors. Vision is one part of the complex pattern of factors influencing the amount of food consumed during a meal. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of vision on the microstructure of eating behavior and the subjective motivation to eat. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Nine blind subjects and nine matched seeing control subjects consumed a standardized meal registered by VIKTOR, an eating monitor, measuring the microstructure of the eating behavior. The eating behavior of the control subjects was registered twice, with and without blindfold. RESULTS: The eating behavior of the blind subjects did not differ from that of seeing control subjects. However, the eating behavior of seeing subjects eating with blindfold demonstrated a clear impact of vision on eating behavior. When blindfolded, subjects ate 22% less food (p < 0.05), had shorter meal durations (p < 0.05), and had less decelerated eating curves (p < 0.05). Despite a smaller amount of food consumed when blindfolded, the reported feeling of fullness was identical to that reported after the larger meal consumed without blindfold. DISCUSSION: The importance of vision in regulating our eating behavior is further stressed in this study. Eating with a blindfold decreased the intake of food, without making subjects feel less full. Eating blindfolded, therefore, may force subjects to rely more on internal signals. These results might be used as an aid in the development of new treatment strategies for obese subjects.     

Monocular Vision and Occupation

The normal state of binocular vision is accurate and efficientin locating objects. The loss of vision in one eye affects judgementin several ways and the adaptive mechanisms only compensatefor the loss to a limited extent. Monocular vision may haveserious implications with regard to safety in employment. Mr B. R. Kesby, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Wolverhampton & Midland Counties Eye Infirmary, Compton Road, Wolverhampton.     

Job stress models,depressive disorders and work performance of engineers in microelectronics industry

Objectives  

Microelectronic engineers are considered valuable human capital contributing significantly toward economic development, but they may encounter stressful work conditions in the context of a globalized industry. The study aims at identifying risk factors of depressive disorders primarily based on job stress models, the Demand–Control–Support and Effort–Reward Imbalance models, and at evaluating whether depressive disorders impair work performance in microelectronics engineers in Taiwan.     

Eine Vision

Ohne Zusammenfassung