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Biomedical subjects

G Wingren

Publications and source records attributed to G Wingren.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Urinary malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine as potential markers of oxidative stress in industrial art glass workers.

Previous epidemiological studies have indicated that industrial art glass workers have increased mortality risks for certain types of cancer and for cardio- and cerebrovascular disease. To test the hypothesis that increased oxidative stress might contribute to these increased mortality risks, the urinary levels of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the oxidative DNA adduct, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) were determined in 343 workers (230 men and 113 women) from the art glass industry in the southeast of Sweden. Of the study subjects, 199 (181 men and 18 women) were engaged in the process of glass production and were regarded as exposed, whereas the remainders performed clerical, warehouse and other service work and were regarded as unexposed. One hundred and sixteen were smokers (75 men and 41 women) and 215 were non-smokers (142 men and 73 women). The findings indicate that (a) exposure to industrial art glass work per se does not cause any major oxidative stress as measured by urinary levels of MDA and 8OHdG, (b) the effects from smoking per se are limited to increased lipid peroxidation among men, and (c) joint exposure to industrial art glass work and smoking may cause increased lipid peroxidation among men and increased DNA hydroxylation among both men and women. While these findings provide no evidence for increased oxidative stress due to industrial art glass work per se, the increased 8OHdG excretion, in workers who smoke may be associated with a higher risk of developing free radical-dependent degenerative diseases including cancer.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1996

Diabetes mellitus among Swedish art glass workers--an effect of arsenic exposure?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to search for evidence of an association between occupational arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus, as implied by the relation of this disease to arsenic in drinking water in a recent study from Taiwan. METHODS: A case-referent analysis on death records of 5498 individuals in the art glass producing part of southeastern Sweden was performed. Out of all the enrolled subjects, 888 were glass workers. According to occupational title, glassblowers, foundry workers, and unspecified workers were regarded as potentially exposed to arsenic. Persons with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus either as an underlying or contributing cause of death were considered cases. Referents were decedents without any indication of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. RESULTS: A slightly elevated risk [Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio (MH-OR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.82-1.8] was found for diabetes mellitus among the glassworks employees, especially in combination with cardiovascular disease (MH-OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.81-2.3). For the glassblowers, other foundry workers and unspecified glassworkers probably exposed to arsenic, the M-H odds ratio was 1.4 (95% CI 0.92-2.2). Unspecified glass workers, who probably included persons with high exposure, carried the higher risk (MH-OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). CONCLUSIONS: The observations from this study provide limited support for the possibility that occupational arsenic exposure could play a role in the development of diabetes mellitus. Many other metallic compounds are also used in art glass production, however, and there is a possibility of confounding.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1995

Occupation and female papillary cancer of the thyroid.

This article presents the joint results of two Swedish case-control studies regarding occupational exposure and female papillary thyroid cancer. Questionnaires inquiring about lifetime occupations and specific occupational exposures were mailed to cases and controls, aged 20 to 70 years. Some 185 female papillary or mixed cancer cases and 426 female controls were included in the analysis. Increased risks were seen for women who had worked as a dentist/dental assistant, teacher, shoemaker, or warehouse worker. In addition, occupational contacts with undefined chemicals, x-rays, or video display terminals were indicated as risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Medical diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing radiation and the risk for thyroid cancer: a case-control study.

The aim of this study was to investigate exposure to diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing radiation as a risk factor for thyroid cancer. This case-control study encompassed 180 women and men with thyroid cancer, aged 20-70 years at the time of diagnoses in 1980-89. From the National Population Registry 360 controls were selected. The response rate was 95% for the cases and 90% for the controls. Thyroid radiation dose from medical and dental X-ray examinations was divided into three categories. The highest exposure category (> 0.59 mGy) yielded an odds ratio (OR) for women < or = 50 years of age of 2.7 with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.2-6.6. OR increased to 4.9 (CI = 1.6-16) if papillary cancer alone was considered in this age group. For women aged > 50 years and for men no significantly increased risks were seen. External radiotherapy yielded OR = 3.1 (CI = 0.9-12) and for women only OR = 4.9 (CI = 1.1-24). In papillary thyroid cancer, logistic regression gave increased risk for X-ray examinations with a thyroid dose > 0.59 mGy (OR = 2.7, CI = 1.0-6.9) and for external radiotherapy (OR = 2.7, CI = 0.4-16). No increased risk was found for exposure to 131I. The findings in this study indicated an association between diagnostic or therapeutic radiation and thyroid cancer in women, but may have been influenced by recall bias.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Determinants of papillary cancer of the thyroid.

Determinants of papillary thyroid cancer were evaluated in a questionnaire-based case-control study from southeastern Sweden. A total of 104 cases, diagnosed from 1977 to 1987, and 387 randomly selected controls were included in the analyses. Female subjects with papillary cancer reported a work history as dentists/dental assistants, telephone operators, teachers, and day nursery personnel, and an occupational contact with chemicals and video display terminals more often than did controls. The 11 male cases more often reported working as mechanics and metal workers and having occupational contact with solvents. Other factors associated with increased risk for female papillary cancer were having private well water at the birth address; leisure time exposure to combustion smoke; low intake of cruciferous vegetables and seafood; and a family history of goiter, heart disease, biliary disorder, or female genital cancer. Diagnostic radiographic examinations, especially to the head, neck, or upper back/chest area, or repeated dental examinations, were also found to be associated with this form of cancer. With regard to the possible influence from hormonal factors among women less than age 50 years at time of diagnosis, an increased risk was found for a pregnancy soon after puberty. Tendencies toward a decreasing risk with increasing age at first pregnancy as well as an increasing risk with increasing number of pregnancies were found as well. Multiparity seemed to potentiate the effect from prior radiographic examinations.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiologic studies of occupational cancer as related to complex mixtures of trace elements in the art glass industry.

In the art glass industry workers run increased risks of dying from several types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. This paper considers the diseases of glass workers in relation to exposure to particular elements, a high degree of correlation being found for some of them. Case-referent evaluations showed an association between stomach cancer and exposure to a mixture of elements, namely, arsenic, copper, nickel, and manganese, and to some extent also to lead and chromium. For colon cancer, a clearly increasing trend in risk was seen with increasing use of antimony, and to some extent also with increasing use of lead, the two elements being strongly correlated. For lung cancer no obvious correlation with any metal could be found. In addition, the risk for death from cardiovascular disease was fairly evenly distributed, although slightly more related to increasing consumption of the strongly correlated metals nickel and copper.

Glass↗
PubMed1992

Lung cancer risk among workers exposed to man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) in the Swedish prefabricated house industry.

Mortality and cancer incidence was investigated among 2,807 workers, employed for at least one year before 1972, at 11 Swedish companies manufacturing prefabricated wooden houses. A total of 1,068 workers had been exposed to man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) used for insulation. Mortality was followed from 1969 to 1988 and cancer incidence from 1969 to 1985. Exposure conditions were investigated at all plants. There were 14 deaths from lung cancer in the total cohort, whereas 20.7 would be expected (SMR = 68; 95% CI:37-113), based on regional mortality. After a latency of 20 years of more, two lung cancer cases had occurred among all workers exposed to MMMF, whereas 4.3 would be expected (SMR = 46; 95% CI: 5-168). The exposure levels that have prevailed do not seem to be associated with an increased lung cancer rate, but extended follow-up is necessary for a definitive evaluation.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1992

Cluster of brain cancers spuriously suggesting occupational risk among glassworkers.

Indications of an increased risk of brain cancer in some, but not all, epidemiologic studies on glassworkers inspired further investigations in a geographically restricted region where the Swedish glass industry is located. Only a small and insignificant excess of brain cancer death was found among glassworkers when compared with the rest of the population in the area. However, when the brain cancer mortality of the glassworkers was compared with that of the whole Swedish population, a rather high risk was found, but an equally high risk was also seen for the rest of the population in this region when compared with national figures. Besides glassworkers, especially farmers, but also other occupational groups had an increased risk of brain cancer that suggested the possibility of an environmental factor affecting the whole population in the region. Hence particular worker groups may sometimes take on a regional mortality pattern that simulates an occupational risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Mortality pattern among pulp and paper mill workers in Sweden: a case-referent study.

The mortality pattern among Swedish pulp and paper mill workers was evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 4,070 men decreased during the period 1950-1987. The subjects were identified from the register of deaths and burials in six parishes. A significantly increased mortality was seen for diabetes mellitus and for secondary tumors of the lung and liver among the pulp and paper mill workers. Indications of excess risks were also found for obstructive lung disorders, pulmonary emboli, accidents, and pneumonia, as well as for malignant lymphomas, leukemias, and cancer of the pancreas and stomach. In the only parish where a sulfite process was exclusively used, cancer of the digestive tract and especially of the rectum was found to be in excess. Except for this parish, the sulfate process predominated in the plants included. The mortality pattern found in this study is in reasonable agreement with findings in various studies from this type of industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Soft tissue sarcoma and occupational exposures.

The associations between soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and occupational exposures were studied in a case-referent study in the southeast of Sweden. Exposure information was obtained through mailed questionnaires to 96 cases, 450 randomly selected population referents, and 200 cancer referents. Odds ratios (OR), were calculated for various occupational groups, and particularly, for occupations with potential exposure to chlorinated phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols. In the analyses based on population referents, increased risks for soft tissue sarcoma were seen for especially gardeners (OR = 4.1), but also railroad workers (OR = 3.1); construction workers with exposure to impregnating agents (OR = 2.3), asbestos (OR = 1.8), or pressure impregnating agents (OR = 1.7); and unspecified chemical workers with potential exposure to phenoxy herbicides and/or chlorophenols (OR = 1.6). A similar pattern appeared when cancer referents were used although the numerical values of the odds ratios became different. A grouping of jobs resulted in Mantel-Haensel OR from 1.5 to 1.9 for farmers and forestry workers, dependent on referents used and even more increased OR for railroad workers and unspecified chemical workers with potential exposure to phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols. The results of the study confirm rather than refute that phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols could be of etiologic importance for STS; the high risk for gardeners, although based on a small number of individuals, was unexpected and remains unclear. Also, since other cancers were used as referents, no definite problems of recall bias should obtain in this material. None of the exposed groups had a higher proportion of smokers than the unexposed group.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Occupational risks of thyroid cancer: data from the Swedish Cancer-Environment Register, 1961-1979.

Using data from a record-linkage between the Swedish population census of 1960 and the Swedish Cancer Registry, we performed an explorative, hypothesis-generating analysis of the incidence of thyroid cancer in 208 occupations and 231 industries. Relative risks were computed with adjustment for age, period of follow-up, and geographic region. A total of 1,230 male and 2,937 female cases of thyroid cancer were reported during 1961-1979 among individuals aged 20-69 years in 1960. As a group, male blue-collar workers had a lower reported incidence than other men. Significantly elevated risks were seen among drivers, pharmacists, workers in the canning and preserving industry, workers in the petroleum industry, and among X-ray operators and laboratory assistants. Horticulture workers, painters in the construction industry, and unskilled manual workers showed decreased risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Some hygienic observations from the glass industry.

Metallic compounds and other agents used in the manufacturing of glass are probably responsible for the cancer risks observed for glassworkers, especially glassblowers. Few hygienic observations have been reported from the art glass industry. Three glassworks were therefore studied with regard to air concentrations of lead, arsenic, nickel and manganese. The hygienic conditions of the blow-pipes were investigated at these glassworks and another two with regard to inside deposits of slag containing lead, arsenic, manganese and nickel as possible transporters that cause oral exposure. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for the analyses. Apart from lead, the metal concentrations in the air were around the detection limit. Glassworks producing heavy crystal glass usually had higher concentrations of lead in the air than the semi-crystal glassworks. Seven out of 12 samples from heavy crystal glassworks exceeded the Swedish threshold limit of 50 micrograms/m3, while only four out of 28 samples from the semi-crystal glassworks exceeded this limit. Regarding metals in the slag from inside the blow-pipes, the concentrations (geometrical means) of lead and nickel were higher in the heavy crystal glassworks (6.9 micrograms lead/mg slag, and 5.0 micrograms nickel/mg slag versus 0.7 micrograms lead/mg slag and 0.6 micrograms nickel/mg slag in semi-crystal glassworks, respectively). The concentration of arsenic was similarly low in the pipes from all the glassworks (approximately 0.30 micrograms/mg slag) and the concentration of manganese was only slightly higher in heavy crystal glassworks (5.4 micrograms/mg slag versus 3.6 micrograms/mg slag in semi-crystal glassworks).

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

Mortality and cancer morbidity in a cohort of Swedish glassworkers.

A cohort of 625 male, art glassworkers with employment of more than one month for some time between 1964 and 1985 was studied with regard to causes of death and cancer incidence. The number of total deaths was 97 versus 98.9 expected from national death rates and 82.9 expected from county death rates. A moderate increase in total cancer deaths was seen (26 observed cases vs 22.3 and 18.9 expected from national and county death rates, respectively) as also associated with duration of exposure. The excess number of cases was particularly noted for lung cancer, (6 observed cases vs 4.2 and 2.5 expected, respectively), colon cancer (4 observed cases vs 1.6 expected from both national and county death rates), cancer of the pharynx (2 observed cases vs 0.2 and 0.1 expected, respectively), and prostate (4 observed cases vs 3.0 and 2.4 expected, respectively). Most of these excesses occurred among men working in the foundry producing either heavy crystal glass or semicrystal glass, except for cancer of the prostate which occurred in the context of glass refinement. Excess risks for deaths from ischemic heart disease (39 observed cases vs 32.1 and 30.9 expected, respectively) and cerebrovascular disease (11 observed cases vs 7.3 and 6.5 expected, respectively) were also found, although with no clear relationship to duration of exposure. These latter risks occurred particularly among men working with the refinement of glass. Approximative correction for smoking habits resulted in increased risk estimates for lung cancer and ischemic heart disease, indicating a negative confounding effect from smoking in this material.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Indoor radon exposure and active and passive smoking in relation to the occurrence of lung cancer.

Exposure to indoor radon and radon daughters is currently attracting great interest as a possible cause of lung cancer. This concern is supported by several studies, most of them relatively small in numbers or weak in the assessment of exposure. This study encompasses 177 persons with lung cancer and 677 noncancer referents, all deceased and with 30 years or more of residency in the same house in an area with radon-leaking alum shale deposits in the central part of southern Sweden. Exposure categories based on building material, type of house, and ground conditions were created, but measurements of the indoor radon daughter concentration were also made for 142 cases and 264 referents. Active and passive smoking was ascertained through questionnaires sent to the next-of-kin. Overall, the lung cancer risk was approximately twofold with regard to the categories of assumed radon daughter exposure for the rural sector of the population but not for the same categories of the urban sector, possibly because of less precise exposure assessment and influence from other factors. Occasional and passive smokers, as well as passive smokers alone, had a particularly increased risk of lung cancer in association with the increased exposure categories.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Mortality in the Swedish glassworks industry.

An earlier, relatively small case-referent study has shown an increased risk for glassworks employees to die from stomach cancer, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. This observation suggested an extended study virtually covering the entire glass-producing industry of Sweden. This new study confirmed the earlier results and, furthermore, an excess risk for colon cancer was also identified. No deviation was found in the cancer mortality pattern for all men in the glass-producing area compared to the whole of Sweden. The grouping of glassworks employees according to type of metal consumption at the glassworks showed the excess risks of stomach cancer, colon cancer, and cardiovascular deaths to relate to glassworks with a high consumption of lead, arsenic, antimony, and manganese. However, the strong correlation of these various metal exposures did not permit any successful separation of the effects of the different metals. For cardiovascular mortality, as for cancer, the glassblowers especially suffered from increased risk. Their exposure might, to a great extent, be oral, involving the glassblower's pipe as a "vector" for the exposure to various metals.

Aged↗