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Biomedical subjects

G A Aresini

Publications and source records attributed to G A Aresini.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of biomarkers in the EC directives on health and safety.

In the European Union, several Council Directives have been adopted which contain measures relating to ambient monitoring and the health surveillance for workers, but only one relates specifically to biological monitoring. Even if the legislative provisions on biological monitoring are limited, the Commission of the European Community has supported activities in this field for several years. In a proposal for a Council Directive on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work, which is now under discussion, there are some sentences relating to biological monitoring: (i) where biological monitoring is carried out it shall form part of health surveillance. Where indicated by the nature of the risk, biological monitoring shall be used to reveal pre-clinical effects on the health status of workers in order to permit intervention to prevent clinical deterioration; (ii) the result of biological monitoring shall not be used to discriminate against the worker. Biological limit values and related requirements are to be observed as part of health surveillance.

Biomarkers↗

Mortality of chrysotile asbestos workers at the Balangero Mine, Northern Italy.

The mortality from 1946 to 1975 of over 900 North Italian chrysotile asbestos workers first employed between 1930 and 1965 has been studied. Nine deaths were certified as attributable to asbestosis, and eleven to lung cancer. One death was attributed to mesothelioma of pleura but this diagnosis was not supported by histological examination. Comparison with the national figures for all Italy did not reveal an excess of deaths from lung cancer but during the last quinquennium of observation, the SMR for lung cancer rose to 206. Simulation experiments enabled a dust index in fibre/years to be attached to each man in the cohort. All but two of the deaths from lung cancer occurred in the higher exposure group. The relative risk of lung cancer in this group was 2.89. The eleven workers who died from lung cancer were all cigarette smokers. A further period of observation is required to monitor the mortality of the surviving workers.

Asbestos↗

[Environmental and occupational exposure to vitreous fibers: the initiatives of the European Commission].

The recent classification of a certain number of glass fibres by the European Commission within the framework of the Council Directive 67/548/CEE has reopened the debate on the carcinogenicity of these fibres at the level of the European Union. There is the risk of a law suit being field before the Court of Justice in Luxembourg against Germany, "guilty" of not having observed Community regulations. As regards worker protection, the recent Council Directive on chemical agents reviews the legal aspects concerning both preventive measures and the setting of limit values of occupational exposure.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗