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Biomedical subjects

D Wegman

Publications and source records attributed to D Wegman.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

A nested case-control study of stomach cancer mortality among automobile machinists exposed to metalworking fluid.

PURPOSE: In a nested case-control study of 140 stomach cancer deaths (1941-1984) among 46,384 automobile workers, we examined risk in relation to lifetime exposure to metalworking fluid (MWF) in machining and grinding operations.METHODS: Exposure was defined during varying windows of biologic time (<10 years before death, 10-20 years before death, and > 20 years before death) and evaluated using a nonparametric smoothing technique and conditional logistic regression. Exposure was measured by duration, intensity (mg/m(3)), and cumulative exposure (mg/m(3)-years) to each MWF type (straight, soluble, or synthetic), as well as by duration of exposure to selected metals, additives, and components of the fluids.RESULTS: When data from three plants were combined, grinding with water-based synthetic or soluble MWF increased the risk of stomach cancer mortality. Those grinding with synthetic MWF with more than 1.3 mg/m(3)-years exposure during the 10 years just prior to death experienced a 4.4-fold risk of stomach cancer (95% CI 1.5-13.1). Increased risk was also observed among those in the highest category of soluble grinding grading exposure (OR 1.9; 85% CI 1.0-3.6). In plant-specific analysis, there was evidence of increased risk of stomach cancer associated with exposure to straight MWF and iron, as well as the water-based fluids.CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that stomach cancer mortality was associated with exposure to each MWF type. Results suggesting that synthetic MWF may act as a stomach cancer promoter are of particular concern because this MWF is widely used in today's high speed grinding operations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

A field investigation of the acute respiratory effects of metal working fluids. II. Effects of airborne sulfur exposures.

An investigation of the acute respiratory effects of workers exposed to metal working fluids (MWF) was conducted in an automobile parts manufacturing facility. After observing an association between cross-shift decline in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and aerosol mass concentration, improved characterization of the exposure was sought through investigation of four elements of a priori interest (Cl, Cr, Ni, S). Of these, only sulfur showed an association with cross-shift FEV1 decrement. The relative risk of 5% cross-shift FEV1 decrement was 2.7 (95% confidence interval = 1.0-6.0) comparing those with > 4.4 micrograms/m3 to those with < 2.5 micrograms/m3 sulfur exposure. Because the concentrations of sulfur in this environment were relatively low and other respiratory irritants were present, sulfur is more likely to be an indicator of more irritating conditions than the sole agent responsible for the observed acute respiratory effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Hazard surveillance in occupational disease.

We have reviewed existing data sources available for conducting hazard surveillance. Both the NIOSH NOHS/NOES and the OSHA IMIS can have significant value for hazard surveillance that is designed both to establish priorities for various preventive strategies--including intervention, research, and planning--and to complement disease surveillance. These systems also have certain limitations that affect their overall value in these regards. We have proposed alternative hazard surveillance systems that would expand the database on actual exposures in the workplace by requiring that industry systematically conduct environmental monitoring for defined substances and then provide the data to OSHA and NIOSH for use in hazard surveillance.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1983

Interactive electronic computing of the mortality odds ratio.

An interactive computer program which computes the standardized mortality odds ratio and the standardized proportional mortality ratio has been developed for use in the analysis of occupational mortality studies. The program provides flexibility in the selection of the comparison (unexposed) population, permitting both internal and external comparison, including comparison with the United States general population. Considerable control for potential confounding factors and for differences in information collection procedures can be exercised through careful choice of the comparison population. The user must select the reference cause(s) of death among 55 categories (59 for women). The condition for equivalence of the standardized mortality odds ratio and the standardized mortality ratio will be met when the selected reference cause(s) is unrelated to the exposure. The program reduces the loss of information due to sparse data during stratification by allowing the user to define the length of the age and time intervals. The program is written in Fortran IV and is designed to produce rapid, cost-efficient interactive results on any mainframe computer system.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Validation of the NES2 in patients with neurologic disorders.

Performance on the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES) has been demonstrated to be affected by exposure to a variety of neurotoxicants. However, the relation of NES subtests to CNS function has not yet been documented in patients diagnosed with neurologic disorders known to implicate specific brain substrates. A validation study of the NES2 was carried out in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), disorders exhibiting neuropathology at loci (white matter in MS, basal ganglia in PD) believed to be the sites of action of several known neurotoxicants. The results indicated that performance on certain NES2 subtests was affected in expected ways in both types of patients. However, performance on many more subtests was impaired, relative to controls, in MS than in PD. The relative insensitivity to PD suggests that expansion and refinement of the battery are required if it is to serve well in detecting the effects of toxicants in subjects without frank physical symptoms. These are the goals of a new version of the instrument currently under development (NES3).

Affect↗