Changes In Occupational Exposure Research Articles

Association of respiratory symptoms with body mass index and occupational exposure comparing sexes and subjects with and without asthma: follow-up of a Norwegian population study (the Telemark study)

BackgroundOccupational exposure and increased body mass index (BMI) are associated with respiratory symptoms. This study investigated whether the association of a respiratory burden score with changes in BMI as well...

From Smoking-Permitted to Smokefree Prisons: A 3-Year Evaluation of the Changes in Occupational Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke Across a National Prison System.

ObjectivesPrisons in Scotland were one of the few workplaces exempt from the 2006 comprehensive smoking ban in indoor public places, excluding the prison workforce from the health benefits of smokefree workplaces. The November 2018 introduction of comprehensive restrictions on smoking in Scottish prisons aimed to protect prison staff and people in custody from the harmful impacts of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study presents SHS exposure data gathered after smokefree policy implementation and compares these with data gathered during and before policy development.MethodsDylos DC1700 monitors were used to measure concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) derived from SHS across Scotland’s 15 prisons. Six days of fixed-site monitoring (09.00 22 May 2019 to 09.00 28 May 2019) were conducted in residential halls in each prison 6 months post-smokefree policy implementation. Prison staff task-based measurements were conducted to assess concentrations of SHS in various locations (e.g. gyms and workshops) and during specific activities (e.g. cell searches, maintenance, and meal service). Utilizing the fixed-site monitoring data, typical daily PM2.5 exposure profiles were constructed for the prison service and time-weighted average (TWA) exposure concentrations were estimated for the typical shift patterns of residential staff pre- and post-smokefree policy implementation. Staff perceptions of changes to SHS exposure were assessed using online surveys.ResultsAnalysis of both fixed-site and mobile task-based PM2.5 measurements showed the smokefree policy implementation was successful in reducing SHS exposures across the Scottish prison estate. Measured PM2.5 in residential halls declined markedly; median fixed-site concentrations reduced by more than 91% compared with measures in 2016 before policy announcement. The changes in the TWA concentrations across shifts (over 90% decrease across all shifts) and task-based measurements (89% average decrease for high-exposure tasks) provide evidence that prison staff exposure to SHS has significantly reduced. Following smokefree policy implementation, the majority of staff reported no longer being exposed to SHS at work.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive international study to objectively measure SHS levels before, during, and after implementation of a smokefree policy across a country’s prison system. The findings confirm that such a policy change can be successfully implemented to eliminate occupational exposures to SHS. The results are highly relevant for other jurisdictions considering changes to prison smoking legislation.

Electrocardiographic changes and exposure to solvents.

BackgroundOccupational exposures can cause cardiovascular disorders. Some exposures may be harmful, and exposures to chemicals such as metal welding fumes, gases, and pesticides, and stress related to physical and occupational hazard, which results in cardiovascular disorders such as arrhythmia, could be prevented. The objective of this study was to determine the electrocardiographic changes in occupational exposure to organic solvents.MethodsIt was a historical cohort study and was carried out on workers of industries. The study was carried out with flexible interview, physical examination, checklist for obtaining clinical history, and electrophysiology test. Group 1 included the workers in the production line of solvent and paint, group 2 included administrative personnel, and group 3 included workers from other industries who did not have solvent exposure. A number of participants in group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 500, 498, and 501, respectively. Electrocardiographic changes were recorded in health issues.ResultsThe frequency of arrhythmia, P wave, and QRS complex changes were highest in group 1. The risk of arrhythmia was 1.15 (1.08‐1.49), P wave change was 1.02 (1.01‐2.28) which was significant and considered as highest risk,, and QRS complex change was highest in group 1, whose relative risk was 1.53 (1.46‐1.61). ST segment and T wave changes (depression or elevation) were highest in group 1 and had no significant differences (P < .05).ConclusionWorking in solvent industry is a risk of developing arrhythmia. Exposure to chemical especially solvent agents mostly affects the cardiovascular system and is effective on electrocardiography, which must be prevented.

Occupational safety and health impact assessment (OSHIA): how to estimate the effects of changes in occupational exposure on health outcomes

ObjectivesPolicy makers have an urgent need for quantitative data to support their decision-making process. This study examines how policy-induced changes in occupational exposure on health could be modelled, using the...

Trends in blood lead levels in UK workers, 1995–2007

ObjectivesThis study evaluated blood lead data (including zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) and haemoglobin levels) collected at the UK's Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) in order to determine temporal changes in occupational...

Cross sectional and longitudinal study on selenium, glutathione peroxidase, smoking, and occupational exposure in coal miners

OBJECTIVESTo understand the variations of selenium (Se) concentration relative to changes in occupational exposure to coal dust, taking into account age and changes in smoking habits in miners surveyed twice,...

Intraindividual variations of DNA adduct levels in humans

Reports on intraindividual changes of DNA adduct levels in humans are rare. Most of the data available in the literature are from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and are measured in white blood cells with 32 P -postlabeling or immunochemical assays. Surprisingly, environmental exposure can have a larger effect on PAH adduct levels than occupational exposure, food or smoking. Highest (13-fold) summer/winter increments, due to indoor heating were observed in Gliwice, Poland. Further studies of environmental PAH exposure confirm the environmental influence on intraindividual changes in PAHs–DNA adduct levels: studies of the Teplice program, (Czech Republic) and studies with US soldiers, stationed in Germany who went for a 8-week period of duty to Kuwait. Variations in occupational exposure, e.g., changing of anode material in aluminium plants (elevation factor 3.94), layoffs, reduced working hours in iron foundries or vacation also led to intraindividual changes in PAH adduct levels. Increase in PAH adduct levels after consumption of charcoal broiled meat evidently depends on individual susceptibility, e.g., polymorphism. In one person a 7.4-fold increment was observed. PAH adduct levels were not significantly influenced by smoking cessation whereas sister chromatid exchanges significantly decreased. Changes in occupational exposure to styrene in lamination plants, e.g., due to vacation, did not significantly influence styrene-O 6-dG adduct levels in lymphocytes and granulocytes as determined by 32 P -postlabeling. Increase of N7-methylguanine and O 6-methylguanine levels were followed in white blood cells during treatment of cancer patients with dacarbazine and allowed insights into pharmacokinetic properties. According to a rough estimation the high increment in the PAHs–DNA adduct level of about 13 observed in Gliwice (see above) would result in a tentative increase in cancer risk from about 1 death/10 7 inhabitants to approximately 10 deaths/10 7 inhabitants which, in general, is considered as acceptable.

Comprehensive evaluation of long-term trends in occupational exposure: Part 1. Description of the database.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a comprehensive evaluation of long term changes in occupational exposure among a broad cross section of industries worldwide. METHODS: A review of the scientific literature identified studies...

An Investigation of Systematic Changes in Occupational Exposure

Nonstationary behavior in occupational exposure was examined among a number of job groups from different industries. A change in the mean level of exposure between two survey periods was evaluated by applying mixed-effects models. Overall, differences between surveys were observed in slightly more than one-third of the industries analyzed and in about one-quarter of the total number of comparisons performed. Exposures in the majority of cases decreased in the later survey. Further analyses examined the impact of nonstationary exposures on the estimation of the between- and within-worker components of variance. When changes in the mean exposure level were detected, point estimates of the variance components generated under the mixed model were compared with those estimates obtained under the one-way random-effects model, which assumes that the mean exposure level remains constant over time. The results indicate that the magnitude of the bias in the variance component estimates can be substantial when the misspecified model is applied. It is concluded that, in the absence of changes known to affect exposure, data collected within a year are likely to result in relatively valid inferences about mean and variance parameters using models that assume stationarity; for periods extending beyond a year, systematic changes in exposure are more likely to occur. Thus, exposure assessment strategies should be designed so that sufficient data are collected among groups of workers to investigate systematic changes and to ensure that appropriate statistical models are applied. In this way, occupational hygienists will be able to make reliable inferences about the underlying distribution of exposures pertinent to each occupational group.

An investigation of systematic changes in occupational exposure.

Nonstationary behavior in occupational exposure was examined among a number of job groups from different industries. A change in the mean level of exposure between two survey periods was evaluated by applying mixed-effects models. Overall, differences between surveys were observed in slightly more than one-third of the industries analyzed and in about one-quarter of the total number of comparisons performed. Exposures in the majority of cases decreased in the later survey. Further analyses examined the impact of nonstationary exposures on the estimation of the between- and within-worker components of variance. When changes in the mean exposure level were detected, point estimates of the variance components generated under the mixed model were compared with those estimates obtained under the one-way random-effects model, which assumes that the mean exposure level remains constant over time. The results indicate that the magnitude of the bias in the variance component estimates can be substantial when the misspecified model is applied. It is concluded that, in the absence of changes known to affect exposure, data collected within a year are likely to result in relatively valid inferences about mean and variance parameters using models that assume stationarity; for periods extending beyond a year, systematic changes in exposure are more likely to occur. Thus, exposure assessment strategies should be designed so that sufficient data are collected among groups of workers to investigate systematic changes and to ensure that appropriate statistical models are applied. In this way, occupational hygienists will be able to make reliable inferences about the underlying distribution of exposures pertinent to each occupational group.

Cancer of respiratory organs among workers at a nickel refinery in Norway.

In a previous report (Pedersen et al., 1973) an excess risk of respiratory cancer among Norwegian nickel workers was demonstrated. The number of cancer cases was relatively small for the study of temporal changes in exposure. In this report the number of cancer cases increased by 70% through an extended follow-up to 1979, and the results published previously were confirmed. Data on smoking habits of the employees at the nickel refinery have now become available. The interaction between smoking and occupational nickel exposure is assessed by comparing the excess risk of lung cancer caused by smoking in the study group and in a sample of the general population. It is shown that the interaction is closer to being additive than multiplicative. This observation has methodological implications for studying temporal changes in occupational exposure. These implications are discussed. No substantial reduction in occupational exposure at the nickel refinery can be observed as far as lung cancer is concerned. For nasal cancer, however, the risk is much smaller among those employed around 1960 than among those employed around 1930. The difference in trend of occupational risk for the two types of cancer cannot be explained by the data presented.