Visual evoked potentials in rotogravure printers exposed to toluene

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) from stimulation by checkerboard pattern reversal were examined in 54 rotogravure printers exposed to toluene (all men, aged 22-64 years, duration of exposure 1-41 years). A control group consisted of 46 subjects (23 men and 23 women; aged 22-54 years). Compared with controls the exposed group showed more frequent responses with reduced reproducibility or absence of some waves, or both; the mean P1 wave latency was prolonged and mean amplitudes N1P1 and P1N2 were reduced. The VEPs were abnormal in 24% of workers. The frequency of abnormal VEPs correlated positively with the duration of exposure to toluene and also with the degree of alcohol drinking. No association was found between measurements of VEP and electroencephalogram (EEG) or electromyogram (EMG) examinations. A VEP measurement was made in 78% of the exposed workers two years after the first examination. No statistically significant difference between the two results was found. This suggests a marked stability of the observed VEP changes. These changes can be interpreted as a subclinical sign of dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS) related to exposure to toluene and also to alcohol consumption.     

Occupational exposure to toluene: neurotoxic effects with special emphasis on drinking habits

Summary Neurotoxic effects of toluene were examined in 43 male rotogravure printers exposed to toluene (age 27–63, mean 41 years; duration of exposure 11–40, mean 22 years) and 31 male offset printers of the same age with slight exposure to aliphatic hydrocarbons. A neurological examination, tests for autonomic nervous function, electroencephalography, psychological tests and computerized tomography of the brain were carried out in addition to a standardized interview. Exposure levels were evaluated for each person separately on the basis of his work history and the results of an earlier study on exposure levels at the same printing shops. Besides a thorough history of alcohol consumption, information about the printers' drinking habits was obtained from the occupational health care centers of the printing shops. The examinations found only slight abnormalities, and there were no statistically significant group differences in the prevalences of abnormalities. No correlations between the abnormalities and the exposure indices were found either. One of the retired workers, however, who had been exposed to high toluene concentrations for over 40 years, had been diagnosed as having chronic organic solvent intoxication. Heavy drinkers of alcohol were clearly more common in the toluene-exposed group. This study detected no clinically significant abnormalities attributable to toluene alone among workers exposed to 68–185 ppm (mean 117) of toluene for over 10 years. The connection between alcohol consumption and toluene exposure is interesting and deserves further study.     

Somatosensory evoked potentials in workers exposed to toluene and styrene.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were used to evaluate possible subclinical impairment of the nervous system due to occupational exposure to toluene and styrene. A group of 36 rotogravure printers with severe exposure to toluene, 20 workers with severe exposure to styrene in a glass laminate manufacturing plant, and a comparison group of healthy subjects were studied. The severity of exposure was documented by measurements of toluene and styrene concentrations in breathing zone air, by hippuric acid concentration in urine in the group exposed to toluene, and by urinary mandelic acid concentration in the group exposed to styrene. Somatosensory evoked potentials were measured by stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist and the tibial nerve at the ankle. Peripheral conduction velocities (CVs) in both extremities and central conduction time (CCT) after tibial nerve stimulation were significantly decreased in both exposed groups. Significantly prolonged latencies of peripheral and cortical SEPs to median nerve stimulation as well as cortical SEPs to tibial nerve stimulation were found in workers exposed to styrene. Some abnormalities in SEPs at peripheral or spinal and cortical levels were found in eight workers exposed to toluene and six workers exposed to styrene. Of these, in three workers exposed to toluene and two to styrene increased CCT and delayed latencies of cortical responses at normal conduction values in the periphery were found. A trend for increased frequency of abnormal SEPs with duration of exposure to toluene and styrene and alcohol abuse was found. Abnormalities in SEPs in the exposed groups are most probably of multifactorial origin. Central SEP abnormalities in both exposed groups could indicate early signs of subclinical dysfunction at spinal and cortical levels and could be due to toluene or styrene exposure probably potentiated by alcohol consumption in the group exposed to toluene.     

Changes induced by short-term xylene exposure in human evoked potentials

Summary Nine healthy male volunteers were exposed to m-xylene for 3 h in the morning and 40 min in the afternoon with a 40-min break in between. The atmospheric m-xylene concentrations were either stable at 8.2 mol/l (200 ppm) or they fluctuated (5.2–16.4 mol/1; 135–400 ppm) with peaks of 16.4 mol/1 and duration of 20 min at the beginning of each exposure session. The subjects were either sedentary or exercised at 100 W for 10 min at the beginning of each session during both exposure types. The two control days, with and without exercise, were similar to the exposure days but without exposure. Evoked potentials were recorded in the morning before the exposure and immediately after the morning and afternoon sessions. Visual evoked potentials were studied to a pattern reversal stimulus (pattern VEP) and to a light flash (flash VEP). For pattern VEPs the latencies of P50, N70, P100, N135 and P170 as well as the peak-to-peak amplitude of N70 to P100 were measured. For flash VEPs the latencies of P50, N70, P100, N150 and P200 as well as the peak-to-peak amplitude of P100 to N150 were measured. Short-latency auditory evoked potentials arising in the brainstem (BAEP) were recorded for a click stimulus. The peaks 1, II, III, IV and V were identified from the grand averages. The effect of various exposure paradigms was evaluated by comparing the individual changes on an exposure day to those during the control days. The latency N135 of the pattern VEP decreased in exposure at 400 ppm with exercise, and the latency P210 in the flash VEP decreased both at the stable and fluctuating exposure with exercise. The results might suggest some activation of the arousal level of the subjects after the most intensive exposure situations.     

沥青烟暴露工人肺功能及纹理改变分析

目的 探讨沥青烟对作业工人肺功能及肺纹理的影响。方法 收集某铝厂职工基本资料,选择炭素分厂生阳极车间接触沥青烟工人53名作为观察组,另外选择本厂非沥青烟作业职工50名作为对照组,进行肺功能检查和胸片拍摄。结果 观察组肺活量(VC)、最大自主通气量(MVV)实测值和其预测值的百分比与对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组1秒钟用力呼气量(FEV₁)实测值和其预测值的百分比与对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);FEV₁实测值和其预测值的百分比与接触工龄呈负相关(r=-0.321,P<0.05);MVV实测值和其预测值的百分比与接触工龄呈负相关(r=-0.287,P<0.05)。观察组肺纹理改变胸片检出率与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);接触工龄5~20年组和>20年组胸片肺纹理改变检出率分别与<5年组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 沥青烟可能引起作业工人肺功能和X线肺纹理改变,且随接触工龄的延长,改变更明显。     

甲苯的慢性危害和尿中的马尿酸作为职业性接触的生物学监测指标探讨

本文对１４０名接触以甲苯为主的有机溶剂的包漆工（平均接触工龄８．３９年）进行了横断面调查，发现头昏、头痛、失眠、乏力、腹隐痛等症状的出现率，神衰综合征和慢性咽炎的患病率明显高放对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５或Ｐ＜０．０１）。常规肝功能和血清碱性磷酸酶（Ｓ－ＡＫＰ）无明显改变（Ｐ＞０．０５）。包漆工班末尿马尿酸平均浓度显著高於班前和对照组班末的平均浓度（分别Ｐ＜０．０５，Ｐ＜０．０１）。男、女包漆工班末尿马尿酸平均浓度均高于班前（分别Ｐ＜０．０５，Ｐ＜０．０１）。空气中苯系物的浓度均在最高允许浓度范围内。结果提示，长期接触低浓度的以甲苯为主的有机溶剂，对中枢神经系统有不利影响。尿中马尿酸水平可作为反映工人接触低浓度甲苯的有用的、生物学监测指标。     

Alcohol consumption and biological markers for alcoholism in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a case-controlled study.

The aim of this study was to compare alcohol consumption and biological markers for alcoholism in a population of 23 men (57 +/- 8 years) admitted to hospital with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and a control group of 46 men (54 +/- 8 years) with coronary artery disease, matched for age. The DCM group had a higher daily alcohol consumption (82 g/day vs. 30 g/day, P < 0.0002). This difference was greater for the consumption of wine (63 g/day in the DCM group vs. 24 g/day in the control group, P < 0.002). Duration of regular daily alcohol consumption was longer in DCM patients (34 years vs. 22 years, P < 0.01) as well as duration of heavy alcohol consumption (> 60 g/day) (25 years vs. 10 years, P < 0.001). Among the biological markers, only the serum levels of immunoglobulin A were significantly increased in the DCM group (3.7 g/l vs. 2.7 g/l, P < 0.03). In this French population, alcohol is strongly linked to DCM. Biological markers appear to be poor predictors of alcohol intoxication in this so-called 'idiopathic' myocardial disease.     

Respiratory impairment in Brazilian foundry workers exposed to sand

OBJECTIVE: Foundries date back to the 16th century in Brazil and still constitute a strong economic activity today. Workers are at risk of respiratory diseases due to various exposures such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrolysis degradation products, mineral dust, organic dust, resin, and isocyanates. We evaluate respiratory morbidity among workers in foundries using sand. METHODS: Six foundries with sand molding operations were selected. Length of exposure in years was utilized as a surrogate for exposure. The medical evaluation consisted of a respiratory symptoms questionnaire, occupational history, spirometry, and chest X-rays. Additionally, workers exposed to resins and a control group underwent bronchial provocation tests. RESULTS: A sample of 598 male workers with a mean age of 36.5 years (SD = 10.0) was analyzed. The mean length of exposure was 10.1 years (SD = 7.4). The overall prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 4.5%. Chronic bronchitis (CB) and X-ray profusion were significantly related to the quartiles of length of exposure (trend tests: P = 0.0055 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant risk of having an abnormal FVC and FEV(1) with the presence of pneumoconiosis (OR = 4.63 CI 1.40-13-23, OR 3.34 CI 1.03-9.26, respectively). Workers exposed to resins compared with controls showed no differences in relation to spirometry, respiratory symptoms and bronchial reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant associations between length of exposure CB and prevalence of profusion 1/0 or above. There was also a significant association for pneumoconiosis versus and abnormal FVC and FEV(1). Foundry workers currently exposed to resins did not show an excess of respiratory symptoms, abnormal spirometry or increased bronchial reactivity.     

Occupational toluene exposure induces cytochrome P450 2E1 mRNA expression in peripheral lymphocytes

Print workers are exposed to organic solvents, of which the systemic toxicant toluene is a main component. Toluene induces expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), an enzyme involved in its own metabolism and that of other protoxicants, including some procarcinogens. Therefore, we investigated the association between toluene exposure and the CYP2E1 response, as assessed by mRNA content in peripheral lymphocytes or the 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (6OH-CHZ)/chlorzoxazone (CHZ) quotient (known as CHZ metabolic ratio) in plasma, and the role of genotype (5 -flanking region RsaI/PstI polymorphic sites) in 97 male print workers. The geometric mean (GM) of toluene concentration in the air was 52.80 ppm (10-760 ppm); 54% of the study participants were exposed to toluene concentrations that exceeded the maximum permissible exposure level (MPEL). The GM of urinary hippuric acid at the end of a work shift (0.041 g/g creatinine) was elevated relative to that before the shift (0.027 g/g creatinine; p < 0.05). The GM of the CHZ metabolic ratio was 0.33 (0-9.3), with 40% of the subjects having ratios below the GM. However, the average CYP2E1 mRNA level in peripheral lymphocytes was 1.07 (0.30-3.08), and CYP2E1 mRNA levels within subjects correlated with the toluene exposure ratio (environmental toluene concentration:urinary hippuric acid concentration) (p = 0.014). Genotype did not alter the association between the toluene exposure ratio and mRNA content. In summary, with further validation, CYP2E1 mRNA content in peripheral lymphocytes could be a sensitive and noninvasive biomarker for the continuous monitoring of toluene effects in exposed persons.     

人类NRAMP1基因单核苷酸多态与接尘工人肺结核易感性

目的 探讨人类自然抵抗相关巨噬细胞蛋白1（NRAMP1）基因多态性与接尘工人肺结核易感性的关系.方法 采用1：2病例对照设计,按年龄相差小于5岁,工种、吸烟、饮酒率、总粉尘接触量和矽肺患病同比例匹配,选择61例男性肺结核患者为病例组（矽肺50例、非矽肺11例）,122例男性无肺结核者为对照组（矽肺100例、非矽肺22例）.应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析（PCR-RFLP）技术检测NRAMP1 INT4和D543N位点的多态性.结果 NRAMP1 INT4多态位点野生纯合子（G/G）、杂合子（G/C）和突变纯合子（C/C）在病例组的分布频率分别为63.9%、34.4%、1.6%,与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,NRAMP1 INT4 C等位基因携带者患肺结核的危险性升高（OR=2.73,95% CI：1.32～5.64）,D543N位点多态与接尘工人肺结核易感性之间无关联（P＞0.05）.结论 NRAMP1基因第4内含子G＞C单核苷酸可能是接尘工人肺结核的易感因素.     

Occupational exposure to mixtures of organic solvents increases the risk of neurological symptoms among printing workers in Hong Kong

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Summarize the nature and extent of exposure to organic solvents to which printing workers in this study were subjected. Compare the numbers of neurological symptoms in exposed and non-exposed workers and how they related to level of exposure, as defined by specific job title or by air sampling. Clarify the relationship between exposure to organic solvents and individual psychoneurological and other symptoms. ABSTRACT: The health effects of low-dose occupational exposure to organic solvents remains unclear. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 762 male printing workers to assess the impacts of exposure to mixtures of n-hexane, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, and benzene on neurological and other symptoms. After controlling for age, smoking, alcohol drinking, past exposure history, working hours and shift work, current exposure to solvent mixtures was significantly associated with the total number of neurological symptoms and with the prevalence of specific symptoms of the nervous system and mucous membrane irritation. The adjusted odds ratio of neurovegetative lability (1.7-5.9), abnormal or reduced smell (1.6-4.1), memory loss (1.8), and mucous membrane irritation symptoms (1.5-4.6) significantly increased in the exposed group, especially when the summation index of exposure exceeded one.     

Occupational dimethylformamide exposure

A factory survey was conducted in a plant where N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was in use during the production of polyurethane plastics and related materials. In all, 318 DMF-exposed workers (195 men and 123 women) and 143 non-exposed controls (67 men and 76 women) were examined for time-weighted average exposure (to DMF and other solvents by diffusive sampling), hematology, serum biochemistry, subjective symptoms, and clinical signs. Most of the exposed workers were exposed only to DMF, whereas others were exposed to a combination of DMF and toluene. DMF exposure in the former group was up to 7.0 ppm (geometric mean on a workshop basis), whereas it was up to 2.1 ppm in combination with 4.2 ppm toluene. Both hematology and serum biochemistry, results (including aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and amylase) were essentially comparable among the 3 groups. There was, however, a dose-dependent increase in subjective symptoms, especially during work, and in digestive system-related symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain in the past 3-month period. The prevalence rate of alcohol intolerance complaints among male (assumedly) social drinkers was also elevated in relation to DMF dose.     

尿邻甲酚作为接触甲苯生物监测指标的探讨

目的探讨尿邻甲酚作为接触甲苯生物监测指标的可能性。方法建立柱前衍生高效液相色谱法测定人体尿中邻甲酚,且使用该方法测定非职业及职业接触甲苯人群尿中邻甲酚水平,并进行接触评定。结果甲苯接触者尿邻甲酚水平为(2.61±1.94)mg/L,明显高于对照组[(0.32±0.23)mg/L],差异有显著性(P<0.001),且接触甲苯工人班后尿邻甲酚水平比班前明显升高,最高可达29倍。接触甲苯者尿邻甲酚水平与个体接触甲苯浓度明显相关(r=0.6295,P<0.01)。结论尿邻甲酚可以作为接触甲苯的生物监测指标。     

Respiratory findings in chemical workers exposed to low concentrations of organic and inorganic air pollutants

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to respiratory irritants may effect respiratory function in workers exposed to ambient air pollutants in the workplace. METHODS: We studied 567 male and 135 female workers employed in two chemical plants in Zagreb, Croatia. Measurements of the ambient concentrations of air pollutants were performed. The mean age of the men was 37 years and mean duration of employment was 12 years; a majority of these workers were smokers. The mean age of the women was 37 years with a mean duration of employment of 14 years; only one-third of the women smoked. An unexposed group of 340 male and 110 female unexposed workers was also studied. Acute and chronic work related symptoms were recorded for all workers. Ventilatory capacity was measured by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves. RESULTS: There were higher prevalences for all chronic respiratory symptoms in exposed than in unexposed workers particularly among women, a majority of which were nonsmokers. Occupational asthma was recorded in three (0. 5%) of the men and in two (1.5%) of the women workers. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was primarily associated with the amount of smoking. Additionally, there were high prevalences of acute symptoms during the work shift. Among the chemical workers these were greatest for eye irritation (male: 43. 9%; female: 51.9%), dryness of the throat (male: 43.4%; female: 57. 0%) and irritation of the throat (male: 37.4%; female: 56.6%). Ventilatory capacity data among the chemical workers demonstrated that most of the measured tests, particularly the FVC and FEV1 were significantly decreased compared to predicted (P < 0.01 or P < 0. 05)). In particular nonsmoking women exhibited abnormal lung function. The effect of smoking among exposed workers was demonstrated on all ventilatory capacity tests by regression analysis for all measured respiratory parameters. Both length of exposure and age were correlated with lung function loss for FVC. Measured pollutant levels were for the most part within acceptable standard limits. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that in this population of chemical workers exposed to low levels of pollutants respiratory symptoms were primarily associated with smoking. Environmental effects, possibly due to an interaction of pollutants were also suggested.     

Alcohol consumption and blood pressure in Japanese men.

In a study of Japanese men, a nonlinear association of alcohol consumption and blood pressure was not observed. This cross-sectional study was conducted to clarify the effect of infrequent or light alcohol consumption on blood pressure in normotensive Japanese men. The subjects were 2,179 male workers ranging in age from 40 to 54 years. Drinking habits were represented by three indices: episodic alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, and monthly alcohol consumption. Seven items were analyzed as covariates: age, body mass index, salt intake, physical activity, and levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, and plasma glucose. The association between drinking habits and blood pressure was evaluated by using analysis of covariance. Both episodic alcohol consumption and frequency of drinking were significantly associated with blood pressure in subjects aged 45 to 54 years. In those aged 40 to 44 years, there was a significant association between frequency of drinking and diastolic blood pressure. Significant associations of monthly alcohol consumption with blood pressure in every age group also were found. In subjects aged 45 to 54 years, linear associations between episodic alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, monthly alcohol consumption, and adjusted blood pressure were observed. In those aged 40 to 44 years, nonlinear associations of monthly alcohol consumption and frequency of drinking with adjusted blood pressure were observed, and threshold effects of 540 ml of alcohol per month and a frequency of 1 to 12 days per month were found. In conclusion, habitual alcohol consumption increases blood pressure linearly in normotensive workers aged 45 to 54 years, although light consumption does not affect blood pressure in those aged 40 to 44 years.     

接尘工人和尘肺患者痰细胞表面标记物

目的 探讨接尘工人和尘肺患者痰细胞细胞间黏附因子-1(CD54,又称ICAM-1)、表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)、血小板衍生因子(PDGF)对尘肺早期诊断的意义.方法 选择接尘工人62名为接尘组,非接尘工人51名为非接尘组,22例尘肺患者为尘肺组,健康检查者10例为健康对照组,用呼吸道诱痰技术收集研究对象的痰液,并利用流式细胞技术测定细胞表面标记物CD54、EGFR、PDGF的表达水平.结果 接尘组与非接尘组痰细胞(中性粒细胞、巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞及嗜酸/碱粒细胞)表面标记物CD54、EGFR、PDGF的表达水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).与其他接尘工龄工人比较,接尘工龄10年及以上的工人痰细胞表面CD54、EGFR表达水平明显升高,PDGF表达水平明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).与健康对照组比较,Ⅰ期、Ⅱ+Ⅲ期尘肺患者痰细胞CD54、EGFR表达水平明显升高,PDGF表达水平明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 接尘工人和尘肺患者的痰细胞表面CD54、EGFR、PDGF表达水平有改变,可能对早期检测尘肺有重要意义.     

甲苯与职业性噪声接触对听力损失的联合作用

目的 探讨甲苯与噪声联合接触对听力损失的影响。 方法 选择珠海市两家企业中同时接触甲苯和噪声人员78例为混合接触组,单纯接触噪声人员75例为噪声接触组,不接触职业病危害因素的办公室和后勤人员90例为对照组,进行现场甲苯浓度和噪声强度检测,对三组研究对象进行纯音测听检查,并对结果进行统计学分析。 结果 接触组各作业点甲苯浓度、噪声强度均超过国家职业接触限值。混合接触组与噪声接触组在高频段(3.0 kHz、4.0 kHz、6.0 kHz)听阈值差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。混合接触组与对照组比较,各频段听力差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。混合接触组、噪声接触组的语频听力异常检出率(25.6%、22.7%)均高于对照组(2.2%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05/3);混合接触组的高频听力异常检出率(51.3%)均大于噪声组(24.0%)和对照组(7.8%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05/3)。工龄≥ 5年者,混合接触组与噪声接触组听力损害发生率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论 甲苯与噪声联合接触对听力损害有协同作用,应充分考虑联合接触因素的职业安全防护。     

Evaluation of lead exposure in workers at a lead-acid battery factory in Korea: with focus on activity of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5''-nucleotidase (P5N).

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate lead exposure among lead-acid battery workers in Korea, to evaluate in more detail the erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) test for lead exposure, and to evaluate the abnormal accumulation of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides in the battery workers. METHODS--Activity of P5N and other biological variables were examined in 66 exposed workers in a lead-acid battery factory and in 26 non-exposed workers in Korea. RESULTS--At the factory the time-weighted average of 13 (72%) of 18 air samples for lead exceeded 0.05 (range 0.012-0.468) mg/m3. Blood lead concentration (PbB) in 39 of the 66 exposed workers was above 40 micrograms/dl, and the mean (SD) PbB in the exposed group was 45.7 (15.7) micrograms/dl. Compared with the nonexposed group, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in the exposed group was significantly increased, whereas erythrocyte P5N activity and activity of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) were significantly inhibited. Erythrocyte P5N activity had valid correlation biologically with PbB and with other biological variables, such as ALAD activity. In 28 exposed workers, the concentration of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides (uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucose and cytidine 5'-triphosphate) correlated inversely with P5N activity and positively with PbB. CONCLUSIONS--These findings show that the depression of erythrocyte P5N activity by lead exposure results in the accumulation of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides. In general, the standard analysis of PbB performed in laboratories around the world remains the most useful index of recent exposure. The results indicate that the erythrocyte P5N activity test provides supporting evidence of lead exposure and shows the effect of lead on nucleotide metabolism.     

Adverse reproductive effects in female workers of lead battery plants

Fifty seven female workers at mean age 32 years (range, 23-45 years), employed in a storage battery plant and a capacitor factory were investigated. The lead exposure period was 7.4 years (range, 1-17 years). The retrospective method was used to analyse reproductive functions of women: menses, libido, abortion and delivery. The results were compared with the control group (62 female workers, mean age 32 years; range, 24-45 years). The incidence of polymenorrhea, prolonged and abnormal menstruations, hypermenorrhea was significantly higher in the lead exposed group than in controls. The incidence of spontaneous abortions was reported by 6 exposed female workers whereas it was not observed in the control group (p = 0.01). The authors conclude that occupational lead exposure of female workers could lead to the impairment of the functions of reproductive system, however poor working conditions and workload may prove to be additional factors responsible for functional disorders in the subjects under study.     

噪声作业对工人心脑血管系统影响的分析

本文对３５２ 名接触噪声工人为接噪组,１５０ 名非接触噪声工人为对照组进行脑血流图和心电图的测试。发现５ 年工龄以上的接噪组脑血流图和心电图异常率分别高于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０．０１）,而且脑血流图和心电图都异常率也明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０．０１）,并且异常率随工龄增长而增加（ｒ＝ ０．９９５１,Ｐ＜ ０．０１）,可以认为超过国家试行卫生标准的噪声对噪声作业工人心脑血管有影响。