Occupational sunlight exposure in relation to suicide among electric utility workers

BACKGROUND: Occupational sunlight exposure was examined in relation to death from suicide in a United States cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers. METHODS: Case-control sampling included 536 deaths from suicide and 5,348 eligible controls randomly selected from the cohort. Exposure was classified based on work history linked to indices of cumulative sunlight exposure. RESULTS: Mortality from suicide was not associated with estimates of recent and career occupational sunlight exposure, with adjusted odds ratios around unity. Occupational sunlight exposure was positively associated with nonviolent suicides, but no dose-response gradient was observed and risk estimates were notably imprecise. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence against an association between occupational sunlight exposure and mortality from suicide.     

Occupational exposures and head and neck cancers among Swedish construction workers

OBJECTIVES: Occupational exposures in the construction industry may increase the risk of head and neck cancers, although the epidemiologic evidence is limited by problems of low study power and inadequate adjustment for tobacco use. In an attempt to address this issue, the relationship between selected occupational exposures and head and neck cancer risk was investigated using data from a large cohort of Swedish construction workers. METHODS: Altogether 510 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (171 in the oral cavity, 112 in the pharynx, 227 in the larynx) were identified during 1971-2001 among 307 799 male workers in the Swedish construction industry. Exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, organic solvents, metal dust, asphalt, wood dust, stone dust, mineral wool, and cement dust was assessed using a semi-quantitative job-exposure matrix. Rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for head and neck cancers in relation to occupational exposure, using Poisson regression with adjustment for age and smoking status. RESULTS: Asbestos exposure was related to an increased laryngeal cancer incidence (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.1). Excesses of pharyngeal cancer were observed among workers exposed to cement dust (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.1). No occupational exposures were associated with oral cavity cancer. These findings did not materially change upon additional adjustment for cigarette pack-years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings offer further evidence that asbestos increases the risk of laryngeal cancer. The observation of a positive association between cement dust exposure and pharyngeal cancer warrants further investigation.     

Mortality and incidence of cancer among Swedish gas workers

The mortality and incidence of cancer was studied among 295 workers at a Swedish gas production company. All men employed for at least one year between 1965 and 1972 were included in the study. The follow up period for mortality was 1966 to 1986, and the incidence of cancer was followed up from 1966 to 1983. Expected numbers of deaths were based on local death rates among occupationally active men, the expected numbers of cancer were based on national statistics. The total mortality was increased, mainly due to an excess of deaths from circulatory diseases. The excess was larger after long follow up and after long employment periods. Two cases of cancer in the nose and nasal sinuses were found; there was no excess of lung cancer. Smoking habits were investigated for a subset of the cohort and did not differ from the average for men in large cities. The findings are discussed in relation to other studies of soot and combustion exposed workers.     

Occupational sunlight exposure and mortality from non-Hodgkin lymphoma among electric utility workers.

This case-control study examined occupational sunlight exposure and death from non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and NHL subtypes among 188 cases and 1880 controls selected from a cohort of 138,905 male electric utility workers. Exposure was classified according to work history linked to indices of cumulative sunlight exposure. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were derived from conditional logistic regression models and were conditioned on the matching factors birth year and ethnicity. Mortality from NHL and intermediate/high-grade lymphomas was not related to cumulative sunlight exposure, with odds ratios around the null. For low-grade lymphomas, a dose-response gradient was observed for exposure in the past 12 to 21 years, but this result seemed to be sensitive to cut points for categorization of cumulative exposure. These data do not provide evidence for an association between occupational sunlight exposure and mortality from NHL or NHL subtypes.     

Mortality and cancer incidence among Swedish paint industry workers with long-term exposure to organic solvents

Cause-specific mortality was studied in a cohort of 416 men who had worked for at least five years in the Swedish paint manufacturing industry during the period 1955-1975. The calculations of expected numbers were based on national, male, calendar-year, and cause-specific death rates for the period 1961-1981. Ninety-six paint industry workers had died, whereas 110 deaths were expected. Three workers had died from multiple myeloma (0.6 expected), and the excess might be related to solvent exposure. Three cleaners had died from infectious urinary tract disease, in comparison to 0.2 deaths expected from all genitourinary diseases, in this small and very heavily exposed group. This association might possibly indicate a modifying effect on the prognosis of urinary tract morbidity from solvents.     

Mortality and incidence of cancer among Swedish gas workers.

The mortality and incidence of cancer was studied among 295 workers at a Swedish gas production company. All men employed for at least one year between 1965 and 1972 were included in the study. The follow up period for mortality was 1966 to 1986, and the incidence of cancer was followed up from 1966 to 1983. Expected numbers of deaths were based on local death rates among occupationally active men, the expected numbers of cancer were based on national statistics. The total mortality was increased, mainly due to an excess of deaths from circulatory diseases. The excess was larger after long follow up and after long employment periods. Two cases of cancer in the nose and nasal sinuses were found; there was no excess of lung cancer. Smoking habits were investigated for a subset of the cohort and did not differ from the average for men in large cities. The findings are discussed in relation to other studies of soot and combustion exposed workers.     

Occupational exposure and cancer incidence among workers from an aluminum smelter in western Norway.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the associations between specific cancers and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), asbestos, electromagnetic fields, and heat in a cohort of workers from a Norwegian aluminum smelter. METHODS: Cancer incidence between 1953 and 1993 was observed for 2647 male short-term workers and 2 cohorts of men with at least 4 years' employment (2888 production workers and 373 maintenance workers). Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated from the national male cancer incidence, and associations with cumulative exposure were investigated by stratified analysis. Cumulative exposure in 15-year time windows was used as an alternative dose indicator. RESULTS: Investigation of the a priori hypotheses in the production cohort revealed a positive association between bladder cancer and PAH exposure 30 years or more before observation. The results also suggested an association between PAH and pancreatic cancer, although not statistically significant. No association was seen between exposure to PAH and cancers of the lungs or between magnetic field exposure and lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer. In the maintenance cohort there was a positive association between employment as an electrician and lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer and a statistically nonsignificant association between PAH and lung cancer. The short-term workers showed a statistically significant excess of lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results support previous findings of an association between exposure to PAH and bladder cancer.     

Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish smelter workers

Cancer incidence was analysed in a retrospective cohort of 3710 male Swedish smelter workers between 1958 and 1982 using a record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register. During this period 467 cancers were registered in the cohort. An excess incidence of total cancer of about 30% was shown relative to general and local populations mainly due to 120 respiratory cancers. Excess SMRs for all cancer and respiratory cancer were highly significant. Trends in the incidence of cancer were studied using moving five year calendar periods. A decreasing rate of lung cancer was found during 1976-80 for both mortality and incidence. Incidence figures for two more years show a continued decreasing trend. This is validated by an analysis of different employment cohorts, taking latency into account, showing that the later the date of first employment the lower the incidence of cancer, especially for lung cancer.     

Mortality and incidence of cancer among Swedish rubber workers, 1952-1981

The mortality and incidence of cancer was studied among 8,734 workers from two Swedish rubber manufacturing companies. Mortality was investigated from 1952 to 1981 and cancer incidence from 1959 to 1980. The expected numbers of deaths were calculated from national statistics. No significant risk excesses were detected when the cohort was analyzed without consideration of employment time or latency period. However, the mortality from coronary heart disease and the incidence of lung cancer were increased when the study period was limited to greater than or equal 40 years since first employment. The standardized mortality ratio for coronary heart disease correlated positively with employment duration. The mortality from asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema was nonsignificantly increased. The incidence of bladder cancer was increased among individuals with heavy and long-term exposure in the weighing and mixing departments. Twenty-five percent of the individuals in the cohort were not Swedish citizens at the time of employment, and an analysis of the mortality and cancer incidence in this group showed a markedly increased lung cancer incidence for certain immigrant groups, probably mainly due to ethnic factors. The results indicate that ethnic factors must be considered in the analysis of occupational groups when a high proportion of the workers are immigrants.     

Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish smelter workers.

Cancer incidence was analysed in a retrospective cohort of 3710 male Swedish smelter workers between 1958 and 1982 using a record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register. During this period 467 cancers were registered in the cohort. An excess incidence of total cancer of about 30% was shown relative to general and local populations mainly due to 120 respiratory cancers. Excess SMRs for all cancer and respiratory cancer were highly significant. Trends in the incidence of cancer were studied using moving five year calendar periods. A decreasing rate of lung cancer was found during 1976-80 for both mortality and incidence. Incidence figures for two more years show a continued decreasing trend. This is validated by an analysis of different employment cohorts, taking latency into account, showing that the later the date of first employment the lower the incidence of cancer, especially for lung cancer.     

Occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers

This study investigated the association between occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers. Male workers, 32 who were exposed to organophosphate pesticides and 43 who were not exposed were recruited from two nearby factories and interviewed. Following a work shift, semen and urine samples were collected for pesticide metabolite analysis. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, percentage of motility, and percentage of normal structure. Within the exposed group, the mean end-of-shift urinary p-nitrophenol levels were 0.22 and 0.15 mg/L for the high- and low-exposure subgroups, respectively. Linear regression analysis of individual semen parameters revealed a significant reduction of sperm concentration (35.9 x 10(6) vs 62.8 x 10(6), p < 0.01) and percentage of motility (47% vs 57%, p = 0.03) but not percentage of sperm with normal structure (57% vs 61%, p = 0.13). Multivariate modeling showed a significant overall shift in the mean semen parameter. Occupational exposure to ethylparathion and methamidophos seems to have a moderately adverse effect on semen quality.     

香港建筑业工伤事故住院病人调查分析

目的：了解香港地区建筑业工伤的特征、伤害程度和危险因素。方法：对 在某公立医院住院治疗的122例工伤病人及相同数量无工伤记录的人员（对照）的社会人口学特征、工作场所的安全措施和使用情、吸烟与饮酒情况进行调查。并用简化计分法（AIS）和伤害严重程度计分法＊（ISS）对工伤病人的伤害特征、类型和程度进行编码分析。结果：80％的工伤者身体只有一处受伤。按照：AIS编码，194个受伤身体部位中，49％是体表伤，26％属四肢伤，11％为脊柱伤。高空作业与伤害程度得分（ISS）显著相关。68％受伤者的工伤场所存在安全隐患。未接受正规教育、未接受安全培训和现在吸烟是发生工伤的危险因素。结论：建筑业是香港地区的高危险职业，改善工作场所安全设施和加强工人的安全教育有助于减少或消除建筑业工伤的发生。     

Testicular cancer among Swedish pulp and paper workers

BACKGROUND: The incidence of testicular cancer has increased in recent decades. The aims of the present study were to elucidate whether Swedish paper and pulp mill workers had an increased incidence of testicular cancer, and to investigate whether certain occupational groups within the pulp and paper mill workforce were at increased risk. METHODS: The study was based on the Swedish Cancer Environment Register, which links the incidence of cancer for the period 1971-1990 with 1960 and 1970 National Census data on specific industries and occupations for all employed subjects in Sweden. RESULTS: Among maintenance workers employed both in 1960 and in 1970 in paper mills there was an increased risk for testicular cancer (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 7.4, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.5-22), especially for seminomas (SIR 10.1, 95% CI 2.1-29). Maintenance workers were also at increased risk when analyzing workers employed in 1960, 1970, or both years. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates an increased risk for testicular cancer, especially seminomas, among maintenance workers, but not among process workers, in Swedish paper mills.     

中国医务人员职业暴露与防护工作的调查分析

目的了解医务人员职业暴露与防护工作现状,为制定职业暴露防护措施提供依据。方法采用分层抽样方法于2016年4月6日—5月6日向全国13个省份158所不同级别医院发放调查问卷进行调查,分别调查各所医院开展职业暴露监测首年、2010年及2015年的职业暴露与防护管理及监测情况。结果81.65%（129/158）的医院医务人员职业暴露管理工作由医院感染管理部门负责;98.73%（156/158）的医院制定了相关规章制度;77.22%（122/158）的医院存在医务人员职业暴露漏报现象。共发生职业暴露事件11 116例,调查首年发生1 542例,2010年发生2 474例,2015年发生7 100例。锐器伤在各类职业暴露类型中占96.76%;职业暴露人员职业分布中,护理人员占53.90%;职业暴露人员科室来源主要为普通病房、手术室、重症监护病房等;引起医务人员职业暴露器具主要为注射器、头皮钢针、手术缝针等;静脉注射、针头丢入利器盒、手术缝针等是引起医务人员职业暴露的高危操作;在职业暴露源阳性分布中,以乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）为主,占58.69%。结论我国医务人员面临职业暴露的风险大,危害重,形势严峻,应通过政府立法、推广应用安全器具、规范医务人员操作行为、正确使用个人防护用品、强化医务人员教育与培训、建立健全职业暴露报告、评估和随访机制等措施,以切实减少职业暴露的发生。     

某院医务人员职业暴露监测

目的了解医务人员发生职业暴露人群的分布特征、危险因素与风险环节。方法对某院所有医务人员2011年1月—2014年6月发生的职业暴露进行风险监控,分别从发生职业暴露者的职业类别,暴露的地点、环节以及方式进行数据统计。结果 286例次职业暴露者中,男性63例(22.03%),女性223例(77.97%);2011年111例次(38.81%),2012年75例次(26.22%),2013年67例次(23.43%),2014年1—6月份33例次(11.54%);对不同人群发生职业暴露者统计数据显示,各年度不同人群发生职业暴露所占百分比相似,由高到低依次为护士(31.97)%、医师(19.90%)、护工(15.79%)、技师(7.64%)、护师(4.17%)和保洁员(2.84%);整理废物、拔针或更换针头、丢弃锐器入利器盒、手术缝合或器械传递、各种穿刺(含抽血)操作时的锐器伤是医务人员发生职业暴露损伤的主要风险环节,其构成比分别为22.38%、19.58%、14.34%、12.94%和11.19%;各年度职业暴露发生地点相似,主要是病房、手术室和注射(治疗)室,其构成比分别为51.40%、19.58%和11.54%。结论医院应建立完善的职业暴露监控与风险管理体系,强化标准预防,加强对职业暴露高危人群的培训,对风险环节及危险因素进行监控和干预,以有效降低医务人员职业暴露发生率。     

医务人员血源性病原体职业暴露调查

目的了解医务人员发生血源性病原体职业暴露的特点和危险因素,探讨防治对策。方法采用回顾性调查方法,运用《医务人员血源性职业暴露登记表》对某院2013年1月1日—2015年12月31日发生的血源性病原体职业暴露事件进行调查分析。结果共发生血液/体液职业暴露246例。职业暴露人群以在职护士为主(95例,占38.62%);职业暴露发生地点主要为病房(148例,60.16%);职业暴露方式以锐器伤为主(219例,占89.02%);医务人员发生职业暴露时的操作环节主要为手术意外(69例,占28.05%);暴露源主要为乙型肝炎病毒(HBV),共123例(占50.00%);暴露医务人员经局部处理和预防用药后,无1例发生感染。结论医疗机构应加强医务人员血源性病原体职业暴露相关培训,提高防护意识,规范操作行为,改善工作环境,最大限度地减少职业暴露的发生。     

739名医务人员锐器伤职业暴露现状调查

目的了解某院医务人员锐器伤职业暴露发生情况,以探讨防治措施。方法2011年11月,对该院739名在岗职工发放《医务人员锐器伤职业暴露筛查表》,调查其1-10月是否发生职业暴露,筛查出发生职业暴露的人员,再填写《医务人员锐器伤职业暴露危害因素调查表》。对资料进行分析。结果739名在岗职工发生锐器伤职业暴露83例,107例次,锐器伤职业暴露发生率为11.23%,例次率为14.48%。锐器伤职业暴露以护士的发生率最高,达17.23%;工作年限以5～10年的工作人员发生率最高,达24.68%;发生的环节主要是将针头放入利器盒（26.17%）、双手回套针帽（18.69%）;暴露场所居前3位的是普通病房（57.95%）、手术室（12.15%）和急诊科（10.28%）;锐器伤涉及的主要医疗器具是针头（93.46%）。结论对医务人员锐器伤职业暴露现状进行调查,有利于了解其职业暴露情况,对建立和健全职业暴露的监测体系提供科学依据。     

杭州市场罐头类食品的双酚A污染调查及其膳食风险评估

人类通过多种途径暴露于双酚A（BPA）,膳食暴露是普通人群暴露途径之一。人群膳食暴露量评估资料表明,BPA的膳食暴露量远低于美国推荐的可耐受每日摄入量（50 μg/kg·bw/d）。BPA进入人体后表现为弱的雌激素作用,干扰人体内分泌系统,对人体健康风险表现在影响女性激素水平、胎儿的生长发育和男性生殖系统功能,与儿童肥胖、复发性流产、多囊卵巢综合征、2型糖尿病相关。研究表明,人群暴露于BPA呈现出多途径、低剂量、长期暴露的特点,该特点的暴露会对人体健康有一定影响。     

Cancer incidence and work place exposure among Swedish biomedical research personnel

OBJECTIVE: This cohort study aimed to elucidate cancer occurrence in relation to occupational exposure to specific chemical, biological and physical agents among biomedical research laboratory personnel in Sweden. METHODS: Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for the period 1970-1994 were calculated for specific exposures in the laboratory group (n = 3,277) and for personnel working in non-laboratory departments (n = 2,011), as an internal reference group. Expected numbers were based on national cancer rates. RESULTS: The total number of cancer cases was lower than expected in both laboratory and non-laboratory personnel. Elevated SIRs were noted for malignant melanoma among female laboratory employees for whom use was reported of solvents (SIR 2.73; CI 1.10-5.63) and of selected carcinogenic (International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) group 2B) agents (SIR 3.15; CI 1.16-6.85). A light increase of the risk estimate for breast cancer was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: In general, there were few cases of cancer in this comparatively young cohort, but the findings give some indication of increased risks for malignant melanoma in female laboratory personnel after exposure to organic solvents or substances classified by IARC as being possibly carcinogenic.