Biomedical subjects

Helena Taskinen

Publications and source records attributed to Helena Taskinen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Occupational exposure in dentistry and miscarriage.

BACKGROUND: Information on the reproductive effects of chemical exposures in dental work is sparse or inconsistent. AIM: To investigate whether dental workers exposed to acrylate compounds, mercury amalgam, solvents or disinfectants are at an increased risk of miscarriage. METHODS: The study was conducted among women dental workers and a comparison group of workers occupationally unexposed to dental restorative materials. Information on pregnancies was obtained from national registers and outpatient units of hospitals. Data on occupational exposure were obtained using postal questionnaires. The final study population included 222 cases of miscarriage and 498 controls (births). An occupational hygienist assessed exposure to acrylate compounds, disinfectants and solvents. Exposure to other agents was assessed on the basis of the questionnaire data. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The ORs adjusted for confounding factors were increased for moderate-exposure and high-exposure categories of mercury amalgam (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.1 and OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.5, respectively). The risk was slightly increased for the highest-exposure category of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.7 to 2.6) and polymethylmethacrylate dust (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.4). A slightly increased risk was also detected for likely exposure to organic solvents (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.3) and disinfectants (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.7). CONCLUSIONS: No strong association or consistent dose-response relationship was observed between exposure to chemical agents in dental work and the risk of miscarriage. A slightly increased risk was found for exposure to mercury amalgam, some acrylate compounds, solvents and disinfectants. These findings indicate that the possibility of a weak association between exposure to these agents and an increased risk of miscarriage cannot be excluded.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2004

Liver echogenicity: measurement or visual grading?

OBJECTIVE: Two methods to assess liver echogenicity were compared. METHODS: Liver/kidney echogenicity ratio was measured in 41 persons with the ultrasound software and visually graded by two radiologists and a radiographer. These echogenicity ratios and grades were related to risk factors for fatty liver and to liver enzyme levels. RESULTS: These determinants explained 55% of the radiologists' mean grades, 14% of the radiographer's and 31% of the measured echogenicity ratios. CONCLUSION: Radiologists' visual gradings correlated best with the indirect determinants of early liver pathology. Computerized measurements may be inferior to visual grading due to the lack of holistic tissue diagnostics.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Results of common laboratory tests in solvent-exposed workers.

OBJECTIVES: The screening and identification of occupational liver or other organ-system injury related to long-term, low-level solvent exposure are difficult in clinical practice. We studied the feasibility of the use of common laboratory tests combined with a detailed exposure history. METHODS: The relationships between laboratory tests and exposure to organic solvents were studied in regression modelling adjusted to age, alcohol consumption, gender and body mass index (BMI). The subjects were 29 solvent-exposed workers and 19 referents. Laboratory tests included serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose and total and conjugated bilirubin. Positive hepatitis serology, systemic diseases or medications with known hepatic effects and current pregnancy were exclusion criteria. The main exposures of each subject were identified. Current solvent exposure status, exposure during the past 3 months, exposure during the past 5 and 10 years, and total life-time exposure were recorded. RESULTS: AST (P=0.0031), ALT (P=0.0015) and cholesterol (P=0.0110) correlated positively with cumulative solvent exposure in the past 5 years, total bilirubin with current exposure (P=0.0380), and glucose with exposure in the past 5 (P<0.0001) and 10 (P=0.0003) years. Triglycerides correlated positively with exposure in the past 5 (P=0.0025) and 10 (P=0.0059) years and with life-time exposure (P=0.0005). Creatinine correlated negatively with exposure in the past 10 years (P=0.0300) and life-time exposure (P=0.0005). Most laboratory values were within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a multi-system health effect of solvents. The laboratory data had some similarities with those in the metabolic syndrome. The screening and diagnostics of solvent-related conditions should be based on a thorough work history and a set of carefully selected laboratory tests. No single test seems sufficient for this purpose.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Work environment and occupational health of Finnish veterinarians.

BACKGROUND: Health and work environment of Finnish veterinarians was evaluated by The Finnish Veterinary Association and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in a questionnaire survey. METHODS: The questionnaire was mailed in the spring of 2000 to all veterinarians under 65 years of age and working in Finland (n = 1169); 785 (67%) responded. RESULTS: A veterinarian's work was physically demanding, and often involved an elevated risk of accident. The risks were considered moderately or considerably high by over half of the respondents, and the highest risks occurred among veterinarians working in equine, mixed (both small and large animals), or in production animal practice. The veterinarians were committed to their work, although, at the same time they experienced work-related stress and fatigue. Particularly veterinarians working in towns, or those involved in education and research, reported the most stress. Serious work-related exhaustion was experienced most often by women in the youngest and by men in the oldest age groups. On average, the veterinarians spent over 100 hr a month on call. Over two-thirds of the participants in the survey reported their general state of health as good or fairly good, while less than 5% of the participants reported their health as rather poor or poor. CONCLUSIONS: The work of a Finnish veterinarian, the work environment, and the risks of the work varied greatly depending on the tasks assigned to the veterinarian. This has to be taken into consideration when occupational health services are planned for veterinarians.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed2003

Time to pregnancy among the wives of Finnish greenhouse workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the possibility of men's work in greenhouses and their exposure to pesticides being associated with reduced fertility. METHODS: A study on time to pregnancy was conducted among the families of Finnish male greenhouse employers and employees. Exposure to pesticides was assessed on the basis of questionnaire information and data gathered from the enterprises. Fecundability density ratios (FDR) for occupational exposure were calculated with discrete proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: After three mailings, 578 (43%) couples participated. Fecundability was suggestively decreased for exposed greenhouse workers who were inefficiently protected, with FDR values of 0.67 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.33-1.35], 0.92 [95% CI 0.45-1.88] and 0.77 [95% CI 0.46-1.29] for high exposure, moderate exposure and low exposure, respectively, as compared with unexposed greenhouse workers. The exposed men who efficiently used personal protective equipment were as fertile as the unexposed greenhouse workers. Exposure to pyrethroids (FDR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.85) was related to decreased fecundability. Suggestive associations were observed for organophosphates (FDR 0.70, 95% CI 0.42-1.17) and carbamates (FDR 0.55, 95% CI 0.27-1.11). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study provide limited support for the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides is associated with reduced fertility. The findings for pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates can serve as a basis for a hypothesis for future studies.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on reproductive health.

The scientific evidence on the effects of preconceptional and prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on reproductive health is reviewed in this article. The evidence is the most convincing for the adverse effects of environmental tobacco smoke on birthweight. In meta-analyses, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke has been estimated to reduce mean birthweight by about 25-40 grams. The majority of the studies on low birthweight also show a moderately or slightly increased risk among infants of exposed women. There is also some support for an association between high exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and preterm birth. The evidence on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on spontaneous abortion and birth defects is weak and inconsistent. Very little is known about the impact of exposure on fertility, menstrual function, reproductive health of men, and childhood cancer. Further studies, paying attention to study design and careful exposure assessment, are therefore needed on these associations.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗