Acute pulmonary toxicity following occupational exposure to a floor stain protector in the building industry in Switzerland

Background Waterproofing agents are widely applied to leather and textile garments; they are also used as floor stain protectors by professionals. Acute respiratory injury is described in three cases of young healthy adults following occupational inhalation of a new waterproofing formulation containing an acrylate fluoropolymer. Within 1 or 2 h after exposure they developed a rapidly progressive dyspnoea; two of them had hypoxaemia and flu-like reactions. All patients improved with supportive treatment in a few days. The mechanism of toxicity is still under investigation, but experimental data suggest the role of this new acrylate fluoropolymer.Conclusion Tilers should be warned against spraying floor stain repellents; there is also a need to make consumers aware that the spraying of waterproofing agents in a closed environment and concomitant smoking should be avoided.     

Comparison of potential adjustment variables representing primary intellectual level in epidemiological studies on neurotoxicity

BACKGROUND: Primary intellectual abilities (PIA) are a confounder in epidemiological studies on neurotoxicity. A good measure of this confounder should be independent of age as PIA is an intrinsic ability. Furthermore, as PIA is related to health endpoints, any measure of PIA should reveal this association. This study is aimed at comparing vocabulary test, diploma and age at end of schooling properties as measures of PIA in a non-exposed population of workers. METHODS: The design was a cross-sectional study of 413 non-exposed workers (203 women and 210 men) selected from a health check-up center. The effect of age on the vocabulary score was assessed using an analysis of covariance adjusted for diploma. Relationships between neuropsychological performances and vocabulary score, diploma and end of schooling age were, respectively, assessed using multiple linear regressions adjusted for age and gender. RESULTS: Vocabulary score increased significantly with age, both for men and women. The increase was 0.14 word per year for women, and 0.18 word per year for men. The explained variance of the models evaluating the relationships between age at end of schooling, diploma, vocabulary test, and neuropsychological performances was quite similar for the three measures of PIA. CONCLUSIONS: Vocabulary score was found to be age-related, even after adjustment for diploma. No difference was found between these three variables in terms of their relationship to neuropsychological endpoints. Moreover, the literature shows that vocabulary test performances are influenced by exposure to neurotoxic agents. These results suggest that vocabulary score could be of interest for participants of similar ages and similar diplomas. Otherwise, the other two variables would be better PIA measures in neurotoxicology studies.     

Carpal tunnel syndrome: role of occupation

Summary A total of 21 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome in a regional hospital were analysed for their trade and serum ₁-antitrypsin phenotypes. The majority of these cases were women and mostly manual trades and professions were involved. Furthermore, heterozygous antitrypsin phenotypes were more frequent among the surgical cases than among the general Swiss population. In a second stage, the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Switzerland was studied for 1 year from June 1988 through May 1989 using the sentinel system developed by the Federal Office of Public Health Administration. In all, 188 cases were found, most of whom were women, which was compatible with the frequency in other countries. A complementary questionnaire that was filled out by 65 cases and their matched controls showed that housewifes and shop clerks were overrepresented among the patients. Likewise, exposure to vibrating tools and frequent extensions and/or flexions of the wrist were mentioned more often by the cases than by the controls. The present study confirms previous findings that women are at greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome especially in jobs requiring repetitive movements or operation of vibrating tools. A constitutional element in pathogenesis was suggested by observations that the mothers of the cases had often also been afflicted with carpal tunnel syndrome and that the frequency of distribution of antitrypsin phenotypes in patients differed from that in the general population.     

Musculoskeletal and skin disorders in a population of floor-layers

Summary In the frame of a study on hydrocarbon-induced toxic effects, the knee morbidity and the prevalence of work-related arthralgias, gonalgias, myalgias and skin anomalies were investigated in a group a floorlayers. The results show that a previous history of knee morbidity is distinctly higher in floorlayers and that these workers have a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal and cutaneous disturbances than the comparison group. Owing to the fairly high prevalence of these troubles, it seems that this pathology deserves more attention and that more efficient preventive measures are indicated.

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Zusammenfassung Die auf Beschwerden des Kniegelenkes oder dessen umliegenden Weichteile zurückzuführende Morbidität ebenso wie die Prävalenz von Arthralgien, Myalgien und Hautkrankheiten wurden im Rahmen einer Feldstudie über die toxischen Wirkungen von Kohlenwasserstoffen in einer Gruppe Bodenleger untersucht. Die Resultate zeigen, dass die Bodenleger ein Knieleiden deutlich häufiger aufweisen, und dass die Prävalenz von Störungen des Bewegungsapparates in dieser beruflichen Gruppe erhöht ist. Es scheint, dass es angezeigt wäre, der Pathologie dieser beruflichen Gruppe mehr Beachtung zu schenken und wirkungsvollere Präventivmassnahmen ins Auge zu fassen.

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Résumé Dans le cadre d'une étude sur les effets toxiques des hydrocarbures, la morbidité due à l'atteinte de la région du genou ainsi que la prévalence d'arthralgies, de myalgies et de lésions cutanées liées au travail ont été examinées dans un groupe de poseurs de sol. Les résultats montrent que l'atteinte de la région du genou est nettement plus fréquente chez les poseurs de sol et que la prévalence de troubles locomoteurs ou cutanés est augmentée dans ce groupe. Compte-tenu de la prévalence assez élevée de ces divers troubles, il paraît que la pathologie de ce corps de métier mériterait davantage d'attention et que des mesures préventives plus efficaces devraient être envisagées.

     

Identification de maladies professionnelles: Point de vue d'un médecin d'un institut universitaire

Occupational diseases are more difficult to demonstrate than accidents. The role of a university institute of occupational medicine in this effort of identification is mainly to provide for occupational health clinics, teaching and practical research.