Katakura Y, Kishi R, Okui T
… +2 more, Ikeda T, Miyake H
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435351
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The distribution of 14C after the administration of 14C-formaldehyde was studied in pregnant mice by a whole body low temperature autoradiographic technique. The concentrations of formaldehyde and its metabolites in mate...The distribution of 14C after the administration of 14C-formaldehyde was studied in pregnant mice by a whole body low temperature autoradiographic technique. The concentrations of formaldehyde and its metabolites in maternal and fetal blood and tissues were determined in unsectioned tissues by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. The binding of 14C from 14C-formaldehyde to cells and DNA in maternal and fetal mouse liver was also measured. Radioactivity of 14C deriving from 14C-formaldehyde was found immediately after injection, and showed strong accumulation and retention three hours after injection. The organs that had high concentrations at all studied survival intervals were maternal liver, intestinal mucosa, bone marrow, kidneys, and salivary glands. Considerable amounts of radioactivity were found in the fetuses at six hours after injection, and the concentrations were almost the same as in the maternal tissues. The elimination of 14C-formaldehyde and metabolites from the placenta and fetus occurred more slowly than from maternal tissue.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435350
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Significant differences in several components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) have previously been reported in aluminium potroom workers compared with controls. The present paper describes the long term effec...Significant differences in several components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) have previously been reported in aluminium potroom workers compared with controls. The present paper describes the long term effects in rats of one time exposure to potroom aluminium oxide without fluorides (primary alumina (PA)) or with adsorbed fluorides (secondary alumina (SA)) on components of BAL fluid. Alumina dust (40 mg) suspended in saline was instilled intratracheally; controls received saline. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed one, four, and 12 months after exposure. The number of cells in BAL fluid was increased significantly (p < 0.05) by SA but not PA. The increase was mainly macrophages, but the concentrations of neutrophils also increased about 10-fold one and 12 months after exposure. Although albumin and hyaluronan concentrations did not differ from those of controls, fibronectin concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) increased one year after exposure both in PA exposed and SA exposed rats. The results indicate that SA, possibly because of adhered fluorides, induces early changes in alveolar cell populations including persistent neutrophilia. These cellular changes may have a destructive effect. The late pronounced increase of fibronectin in both PA and SA exposed rats indicates a delayed effect of alumina on the extracellular matrix.
McKenna KM, McGrann S, Blann AD
… +1 more, Allen JA
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435349
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Measurements were made on 46 pairs of riveters and matched control subjects before and after a morning's work. Before starting work, the mean resting finger systolic pressure was 112 (SEM 3.3) mm Hg in the riveters, simi...Measurements were made on 46 pairs of riveters and matched control subjects before and after a morning's work. Before starting work, the mean resting finger systolic pressure was 112 (SEM 3.3) mm Hg in the riveters, similar to 117 (1.7) in the control subjects. After cooling the middle phalanx to 10 degrees C for five minutes, 16 riveters but only one control subject exhibited digital vasospasm and these numbers were unaltered after a morning's work. A subgroup of riveters whose role was always to provide counter pressure to the rivet gun showed a higher incidence (45%) of cold induced vasospasm than did riveters who invariably held the gun (10%) or rotated between both roles (27%). Plasma levels of three markers of vascular activity, endothelin-1 (ET-1), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWFAg), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), were measured in non-smoking riveters and control subjects. Before work, ET-1 concentrations were slightly lower (p < 0.05) in the riveters, but vWFAg concentration and ACE activity were similar in riveters and control subjects. Riveting for a morning did not alter ET-1 concentration or ACE activity but did induce a small increase (p < 0.05) in vWFAg concentration, which may indicate damage to the endothelium. This type of vascular assessment may be helpful in assessing vasospastic complications in workers exposed to vibration.
Hustinx WN, van de Laar RT, van Huffelen AC
… +3 more, Verwey JC, Meulenbelt J, Savelkoul TJ
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435348
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Systemic methyl bromide (CH3Br) poisoning with signs and symptoms of varying severity developed in nine greenhouse workers after acute inhalational exposure on two consecutive days. Measurements of CH3Br, carried out at...Systemic methyl bromide (CH3Br) poisoning with signs and symptoms of varying severity developed in nine greenhouse workers after acute inhalational exposure on two consecutive days. Measurements of CH3Br, carried out at the site within hours after the accident, suggest that exposure on the second day may have been in excess of 200 ppm (800 mg/m3) CH3Br. All workers were admitted for observation. Seven of them were discharged after an uneventful overnight observation and residual symptoms, if any, subsided within three weeks of the accident. Two patients needed intensive care for several weeks because of severe reactive myoclonus and tonic-clonic generalised convulsions. These conditions were unresponsive to repeated doses of diazepam, clonazepam, and diphenylhydantoin but could be suppressed effectively by induction of a thiopental coma that had to be continued for three weeks. In some of the patients prior subchronic exposure to CH3Br, as shown by their occupational histories and high serum bromide (Br-) concentrations, is likely to have been a factor contributing to the severity of their symptoms. A direct association between serum Br- concentrations and the severity of neurological symptoms, however, seemed to be absent. An on site investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident showed the presence of an empty and out of use drainage system that covered both sections of the greenhouse. This was probably the most important factor contributing to the rapid and inadvertent spread of CH3Br.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435347
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Occupational exposure to petroleum vapour was assessed in workers employed in suburban petroleum retail outlets. Urinary output of thioethers provided a non-specific estimate of exposure to chemicals metabolised via a me...Occupational exposure to petroleum vapour was assessed in workers employed in suburban petroleum retail outlets. Urinary output of thioethers provided a non-specific estimate of exposure to chemicals metabolised via a mercapturic acid pathway. Urinary d-glucaric acid (DGA) excretion was taken as an estimate of hepatic enzyme activity. Sister chromatid exchange frequency in lymphocytes was used as an indicator of genotoxic response to exposure. Workers were classified according to their employment at self service (where customers operate petrol pumps) or at driveway attended service stations (at which an employee operates the pumps), and according to exposure to cigarette smoke on the basis of urinary cotinine excretion. Prework and postwork urine samples of workers employed at driveway attended petrol stations contained more thioether than did those of self serve workers. When classified according to smoking behaviour there were no statistically significant differences, although thioether excretion tended to be higher in smokers than in nonsmokers. Urinary DGA excretion was similar in the two exposure groups. Cigarette smokers excreted more DGA, however, than nonsmokers. Sister chromatid exchange frequencies were higher in driveway attendants than in self serve personnel. When the influence of cigarette smoking was investigated there was a significant increase of sister chromatid exchange with combined exposure to petrol and cigarette smoking, but not with either factor alone. Correlation analysis showed that urinary cotinine concentrations were positively associated with urinary excretion of thioether and DGA, indicating that cigarette smoke induces the activity of hepatic enzymes and acts as a source of substrates metabolised through a thioether pathway. In conclusion it seems that exposure to petroleum vapour causes increased sister chromatid exchange in circulating lymphocytes of cigarette smokers, possibly as a result of enhanced hepatic conversion of vapour components to reactive metabolites. Urinary thioether output does not clearly discriminate between workers exposed to different amounts of petroleum vapour at retail outlets.
Kauppinen TP, Partanen TJ, Hernberg SG
… +4 more, Nickels JI, Luukkonen RA, Hakulinen TR, Pukkala EI
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435346
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A case-control study of respiratory cancer, nested within a cohort of male woodworkers, was updated in Finland. The update extended the initial follow up of 3805 workers from 19 plants to 7307 workers from 35 plants. Eac...A case-control study of respiratory cancer, nested within a cohort of male woodworkers, was updated in Finland. The update extended the initial follow up of 3805 workers from 19 plants to 7307 workers from 35 plants. Each case of respiratory cancer (n = 136) diagnosed between 1957 and 1982 within the cohort was matched by year of birth with three controls (n = 408) from the cohort. Chemical exposures were assessed for the cases and the controls by a plant and period specific job exposure matrix. An excess of respiratory cancer was associated with phenol. Concomitant exposures to several other agents occurred as well, however, and no exposure-response relation for phenol was seen. An excess risk and an increasing exposure-response relation were found for engine exhaust from petrol and diesel driven factory trucks. The excess risk associated with pesticides was lower than in our previous study, an indication of qualitative and quantitative differences in exposure between the initial and augmented cohorts. Slightly increased risks were found for terpenes and mould spores, which may be due to chance although the contribution of occupational exposure cannot be ruled out. Exposure to wood dust, mainly from pine, spruce and birch, at a level of about 1 mg/m3, was not associated with lung cancer, upper respiratory cancer, or adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Chau N, Bertrand JP, Mur JM
… +4 more, Figueredo A, Patris A, Moulin JJ, Pham QT
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435345
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A previous study on 536 retired coke oven plant workers in Lorraine Collieries (France) reported an excess of deaths from lung cancer (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 251) compared with the French male population. O...A previous study on 536 retired coke oven plant workers in Lorraine Collieries (France) reported an excess of deaths from lung cancer (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 251) compared with the French male population. Occupational exposures during working life were retraced for each subject, but the number of deaths during the observation period (1963-82) was small, and smoking habits were known only for dead subjects. In 1988, the cohort was re-examined (182 deaths occurred between 1963 and 1987) and smoking habits were determined for all the subjects. This study confirmed the excess of lung cancer (SMR = 238, p < 0.001). It showed an excess of mortality from all causes (SMR = 141, p < 0.001), overall cancers (SMR = 133, p < 0.05), and cardiovascular diseases (SMR = 133, p < 0.05). A significant excess of deaths was found for subjects who worked near the ovens for all causes (145, p < 0.01), lung cancer (SMR = 252, p < 0.01), colon cancer (SMR = 381, p < 0.05), and cardiovascular diseases (SMR = 155, p < 0.05). A significant excess mortality was also found from all causes (176, p < 0.05) and stomach cancer (SMR = 538, p < 0.01) in subjects who worked in byproducts, from lung cancer (SMR = 433, p < 0.001) in those in the workshops, and from cirrhosis of the liver and alcoholism (SMR = 360, p < 0.01) in those underground; but, due to small numbers, these figures were not robust. An excess of mortality from all causes (SMR = 163, p<001), lung cancer (SMR = 228, p<0.05) and cardiovascular diseases (SMR = 179, p<0.01) was shown also for non-exposed or slightly exposed subjects. The fact that, on the whole, mortality of various exposed groups was similar to that of non-exposed or slightly exposed workers may be explained in part by the selection at hiring and the healthy worker effect. As an increased risk of lung cancer was noted among subjects who worked in the old generations of plant compared with the other workers (although the relative risk was not significant) it is concluded that the role of occupational hazards could not be excluded.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435344
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An excess of mortality from stomach cancer has been found in Ontario gold miners (observed (obs) 104, standardised mortality ratio (SMR) 152, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 125-185) and no excess of stomach cancer coul...An excess of mortality from stomach cancer has been found in Ontario gold miners (observed (obs) 104, standardised mortality ratio (SMR) 152, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 125-185) and no excess of stomach cancer could be detected in other miners in Ontario (obs 74, SMR 102, 95% CI 80-128). The excess of stomach cancer appeared five to 19 years after the miners began gold mining in Ontario. In that interval, similar patterns of excess mortality from stomach cancer were found in miners born in north America (obs 14, SMR 268, CI 147-450) and in miners born outside north America (obs 12, SMR 280, 95% CI 145-489). Twenty or more years after the miners began mining gold, an excess of mortality from stomach cancer was found in gold miners born outside of north American (obs 41, SMR 160, 95% CI 115-218) but not in gold miners born in north America (obs 37, SMR 113, 95% CI 80-156). The excess of stomach cancer in gold miners under the age of 60 (obs 45, SMR 167, 95% CI 122-223) seems larger than the excess in gold miners between the ages of 60 and 74 (obs 59, SMR 143, 95% CI 109-184). Exposures to arsenic, chromium, mineral fibre, diesel emissions, and aluminium powder were considered as possible explanations of the excess of stomach cancer in Ontario gold miners. Exposure to diesel emissions and aluminium powder was rejected as gold miners and uranium miners were exposed to both agents but an excess of stomach cancer was noted only in gold miners. The association between the excess of stomach cancer and the time since the miner began mining gold suggested that duration of exposure to dust in gold mines ought to be weighted according to the time since the exposure to dust occurred and that an appropriate time weighting function would be one in the interval five to 19 years after each year of exposure to dust and zero otherwise. A statistically significant association between the relative risk of mortality from stomach cancer and the time weighted duration of exposure to dust in gold mines was found in miners under the age of 60. Time weighted indices of exposure to chromium and arsenic were formed for each gold miner by time weighting the product of the duration of exposure to dust in a gold mine and the percentages of arsenic and chromium in rocks in that gold mine. Exposure to mineral fibre was measured in terms of the time weighted duration of employment in those gold mines that contain mineral fibre. A statistically significant association between the excess of stomach cancer in gold miners under the age of 60 and the time weighted index of exposure to chromium occurred and not association was found between the excess of stomach cancer and either the time weighted duration of employment in mines containing mineral fibre. The excess of stomach cancer in gold miners under the age of 60 was better associated with the time weighted index of exposure to chromium than to the time weighted duration of exposure to dust in gold mines. Although the number of cases of gastric cancer that were classified according to the system of Lauren was small, the data suggest that for miners under the age of 60, exposure to chromium is associated with the development of the intestinal rather than the diffuse type of gastric cancer.
Huang J, Shibata E, Takeuchi Y
… +1 more, Okutani H
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435343
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A cross sectional study on ceramics workers in the Seto area of Japan was conducted to determine whether there are differences in the morbidity pattern and overall health among the working populations employed by differe...A cross sectional study on ceramics workers in the Seto area of Japan was conducted to determine whether there are differences in the morbidity pattern and overall health among the working populations employed by different sized companies engaged in the ceramics industry. The study population consisted of 3324 male ceramics workers (age range 40-69) who participated in the Seto occupational health screening programme in 1990. The prevalences of pulmonary diseases (silicosis and tuberculosis) and findings of some nonpulmonary diseases were compared in terms of company size by categories of 1-19, 20-49, 50-99, and 100 or more employees. The values of various screening tests were subjected to principle component analysis to extract factors representing key indices of health state. The average factor scores stratified by company size were used to quantitatively evaluate the comprehensive health level. Both prevalence and multivariate analysis showed that the employees working for smaller companies had overall worse health. The smaller the company, the higher the prevalence and the lower the health scores for silicosis and pulmonary tuberculosis tended to be; significantly increased rates and lower health scores for hypertension, anaemia, and glucosuria among small companies were also found when compared with larger companies. The high morbidity of silicosis and pulmonary tuberculosis in smaller companies contributed most to the decline in the overall health level.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8435342
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An assessment of exposure to glutaraldehyde in cold sterilisation and x ray development processes was undertaken in 14 locations at six hospitals in south east England. The results obtained indicate that routine exposure...An assessment of exposure to glutaraldehyde in cold sterilisation and x ray development processes was undertaken in 14 locations at six hospitals in south east England. The results obtained indicate that routine exposures of hospital workers to airborne concentrations of the compound are within the current United Kingdom occupational exposure limit of 0.7 mg m-3. There was the potential for skin contact in many of the activities observed and alternative sterilisation and disinfection procedures would have been more appropriate in some situations. Recommendations are made on reducing exposures as the current occupational exposure limit for this compound may not be appropriate.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8382078
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Peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by indirect staphylococcus protein A (SPA) rosette assay using monoclonal antibodies that identify B cells, total T cells (OKT3+), helper-inducer T cells (OKT4+), and suppressor...Peripheral blood lymphocytes were analysed by indirect staphylococcus protein A (SPA) rosette assay using monoclonal antibodies that identify B cells, total T cells (OKT3+), helper-inducer T cells (OKT4+), and suppressor-cytotoxic T cells (OKT8+). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the characteristics of lymphocyte B and T subsets in peripheral blood, and the relation of the changes to radiographic abnormalities in workers exposed to asbestos.
Daniel H, Wastiaux A, Sébastien P
… +1 more, Bégin R
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8382077
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As well as fibre size, fibre chemistry is a determinant of toxicity of mineral fibres. On these grounds, a few years ago, the asbestos industry in Québec developed a process to modify the surface chemistry of chrysotile...As well as fibre size, fibre chemistry is a determinant of toxicity of mineral fibres. On these grounds, a few years ago, the asbestos industry in Québec developed a process to modify the surface chemistry of chrysotile asbestos by fixing phosphorous atoms. The pleuropulmonary fibrogenicity and carcinogenicity of the native and surface treated chrysotile, called chrysophosphate, were tested. Both products initiated similar pulmonary fibrogenicity in rats exposed by inhalation and sheep exposed by injection in the tracheal lobe. Tumour production in rats after long term inhalation or intrapleural injection was not different between chrysotile and chrysophosphate. These findings clearly show that modification of the phosphate surface of chrysotile fibres does not appear to alter the pleuropulmonary activities of the mineral, thus arguing against the earlier contention of less biological activity for chrysophosphate, a contention essentially based upon results of in vitro tests. This study strongly argues for in vivo testing of new fibrous materials before making definite conclusions about their biological activities.
Becher H, Jedrychowski W, Wahrendorf J
… +3 more, Basa-Cierpialek Z, Flak E, Gomola K
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Feb · PMID 8382076
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A population based case-control study was performed in Cracow, Poland, to determine the effect of occupational air pollutants on various histological types of lung cancer. Male cases and controls were identified from the...A population based case-control study was performed in Cracow, Poland, to determine the effect of occupational air pollutants on various histological types of lung cancer. Male cases and controls were identified from the Cracow Death Register. Information was obtained by mailed questionnaire from next of kin on smoking, occupational branch, occupational exposures, and other pertinent variables. Response rates were 73.5% in cases and 72.0% in controls. For cases that underwent a bronchial biopsy or surgical excision the histological diagnosis of the tumour was obtained from clinical records. The case group contained 343 subjects with squamous cell carcinomas, 151 with small cell carcinomas, and 106 with adenocarcinomas. Twenty seven cases showed other histological types (large cell carcinoma and not classifiable). Analysis was performed separately by histological type for occupational exposure variables adjusted for smoking. Long term exposure to mineral dust and metal dust (20 years or more) was found to be a significant risk factor for small cell and squamous cell carcinoma. The effect was more pronounced if the analysis was restricted to those aged less than 70 years. The highest relative risk (RR) due to occupational exposures was found for squamous cell carcinoma and exposure to mineral dust for more than 20 years (RR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.43-4.19). The estimated effect of mineral dust on small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was smaller (RR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.16-4.53 and RR = 2.04, 95% CI 0.89-4.64 respectively). The effect of metal dust and fumes seemed about the same for squamous and small cell carcinoma. No specific agent could be identified as particularly important for a specific histological type; it rather seemed that the effects of the substances considered were similar for lung cancers in general.
Br J Ind Med
· 1993 Jan · PMID 8431397
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OBJECTIVE: A significant twofold increased risk of lung cancer was found among 8000 men employed in the Danish asbestos cement industry between 1928 and 1984. The histological pattern of 104 lung cancer cases was studied...OBJECTIVE: A significant twofold increased risk of lung cancer was found among 8000 men employed in the Danish asbestos cement industry between 1928 and 1984. The histological pattern of 104 lung cancer cases was studied with the aim of evaluating a relation between specific morphological types, duration of employment, and time since first employment. METHODS: Age, sex, and calendar time specific incidence of morphological subtypes of lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma, and unspecified malignant tumour) for all Danish men were computed from 1943 to 1984, from data routinely collected by the Danish Cancer Registry. Person-years of observation were counted from 15 years after the date of first employment until date of diagnosis of cancer, death, emigration, or the end of follow up on 31 December 1984. Expected numbers of cases were computed by applying person-years at risk to the appropriate incidence rates. Observed numbers were distributed accordingly and the relative risk calculated. RESULTS: The relative risk for adenocarcinoma was 3.31 (observed (O) 24, expected (E) 7.26), for squamous cell carcinoma 1.67 (O, 37, E, 22.12), for anaplastic carcinoma 1.58 (O, 23, E, 14.53), and for unspecified malignant tumour 1.57 (O, 18, E, 11.46). An increased risk by duration of employment and time since first employment was most pronounced for adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: The link between adenocarcinoma and asbestos was confirmed in this, the first study of risk of lung cancer by histological category based on incident cancer cases for a whole population during a 50 year period.