PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Skyberg

Publications and source records attributed to K Skyberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The effects of intervention with local electrostatic air cleaners on airborne dust and the health of office employees.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this intervention study was to identify any health improvements in the upper and lower airways of office workers after the installation of local electrostatic air cleaners. Eighty persons with airways symptoms were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Half of the air cleaners had a non-functioning electrostatic unit. Both participants and field researchers were blinded to the group status. Subjective symptoms were recorded using a questionnaire, and indexes calculated for general, irritation and skin symptoms. Objective respiratory health indicators were recorded, with acoustic rhinometry and peak expiratory flow (PEF) meters. In the intervention group there was a decrease in mean dust concentration from 65 to 35 microg/m(3), and a reduction from 57 to 47 microg/m(3) in the control group (P < 0.05 for difference in decline). The reduction was observed for all particles sizes. The irritation and general symptom indices decreased in both groups, but there was no improvement in the intervention group, compared with the control group. Median PEF increased 3 ml/s in the intervention group, and decreased 4 ml/s in the control group. The adjusted odds ratio for an increase above the 70th percentile was 5.7 (95% CI 1.0-32). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Electrostatic air cleaners can reduce the dust concentration effectively in the office environment. Small, medium and large sized particles can be reduced by approximately 50%, relatively most effectively for the respirable particles. However, the air cleaners tested in this study produced an annoying fan noise. Cleaning efficiency and noise data should be given consideration before installation. This experimental field study suggests that office workers with airways symptoms may benefit from installation of local electrostatic air cleaners.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Symptoms prevalence among office employees and associations to building characteristics.

A cross-sectional study was performed in eight companies, comprising 32 buildings without previously recognized indoor air problems. Engineers filled in a technical questionnaire on building characteristics, floor surface materials, ventilation, cleaning procedures, heating and cooling. A total of 3562 employees returned questionnaires on individual factors, workload, perceived physical work environment, allergy and symptoms. Frequent symptoms were feeling of fatigue or heavy-headedness, eye irritation, and dry facial skin. Women reported symptoms more frequently than men. Employees with allergy had a 1.8-2.5 times risk of reporting a high score for general, skin, or mucosal symptoms. The risk of a high symptom score increased with daily visual display unit (VDU) work time. Passive smoking and psychosocial load were also relatively strong predictors of symptoms. Weekly cleaning as compared with a frequency of cleaning two to four times a week increased the risk of symptoms. Adjusted odds ratio for a high general symptoms score from infrequent cleaning was 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.0). A high ventilation flow or central ventilation unit filter EU7 vs. EU8 seemed to be associated with an increased risk of general symptoms. Absence of local temperature control increased the risk of mucosal symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

'EUROPART'. Airborne particles in the indoor environment. A European interdisciplinary review of scientific evidence on associations between exposure to particles in buildings and health effects.

The relevance of particle mass, surface area or number concentration as risk indicators for health effects in non-industrial buildings has been assessed by a European interdisciplinary group of researchers (called EUROPART) by reviewing papers identified in Medline, Toxline, and OSH. Studies dealing with dermal effects or cancer or specifically addressing environmental tobacco smoke, house dust-mite, cockroach or animal allergens, microorganisms and pesticides were excluded. A total of 70 papers were reviewed, and eight were identified for the final review: Five experimental studies involving mainly healthy subjects, two cross-sectional office studies and one longitudinal study among elderly on cardiovascular effects. From most studies, no definite conclusions could be drawn. Overall, the group concluded that there is inadequate scientific evidence that airborne, indoor particulate mass or number concentrations can be used as generally applicable risk indicators of health effects in non-industrial buildings and consequently that there is inadequate scientific evidence for establishing limit values or guidelines for particulate mass or number concentrations.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2001

Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of employees in transformer and generator production exposed to electromagnetic fields and mineral oil.

The objective was to study the risk of cytogenetic damage among high voltage laboratory workers exposed to electromagnetic fields and mineral oil. This is a cross sectional study of 24 exposed and 24 matched controls in a Norwegian transformer factory. The exposure group included employees in the high voltage laboratory and in the generator soldering department. Electric and magnetic fields and oil mist and vapor were measured. Blood samples were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations in cultured lymphocytes. In addition to conventional cultures, the lymphocytes were also treated with hydroxyurea and caffeine. This procedure inhibits DNA synthesis and repair in vitro, revealing in vivo genotoxic lesions that are repaired during conventional culturing. In conventional cultures, the exposure group and the controls showed similar values for all cytogenetic parameters. In the DNA synthesis- and repair-inhibited cultures, generator welders showed no differences compared to controls. Among high voltage laboratory testers, compared to the controls, the median number of chromatid breaks was doubled (5 vs. 2.5 per 50 cells; P<0.05) the median number of chromosome breaks was 2 vs. 0.5 (P>0.05) and the median number of aberrant cells was 5 vs. 3.5 (P<0.05). Further analysis of the inhibited culture data from this and a previous study indicated that years of exposure and smoking increase the risk of aberrations. We conclude that there was no increase in cytogenetic damage among exposed workers compared to controls in the conventional lymphocyte assay. In inhibited cultures, however, there were indications that electromagnetic fields in combination with mineral oil exposure may produce chromosomal aberrations.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effects of electric field reduction in visual display units on skin symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the facial skin complaints of office workers before and after the static electric fields of a visual display unit were reduced. METHODS: On the basis of a screening survey of 4556 office workers in 11 companies, 120 of 227 subjects reporting facial skin complaints were randomly selected to this double blind intervention study. Antistatic measures were used to reduce the static electric fields of the visual display unit in the intervention group but not in the control group, which worked with a visual display unit resembling that of the intervention group. Electric fields, dust concentration, health complaints, and psychological behavior tests were recorded before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention group reported statistically significantly fewer facial skin complaints than the control group. In the intervention group, among those with an office dust concentration of >58 microg/m3, a median reduction of 1.5 skin index points (scale 0-8) was achieved, whereas there was no change in the control group. In the regression model "group category" was still a significant variable after control for background factors. In addition, further linear regression analyses indicated that several static electric field parameters were predictors of the skin complaint reduction. CONCLUSIONS: This field trial indicates that removing static electric fields from visual display units can probably help reduce the facial skin complaints of workers in offices with high dust concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Low frequency electromagnetic fields in the working environment--exposure and health effects. Elevated risk of cancer, reproductive hazards or other unwanted health effects?].

The authors describe the physical properties of low frequency electromagnetic fields and occupational exposure to such fields in different working environments. They discuss possible health effects reported in the literature. It is concluded that there seems to be elevated risk of leukemia and brain tumours among persons employed in "electrical work", though there is insufficient evidence that the fields are responsible. No conclusion can be drawn as to risk of adverse outcome of pregnancy. When this is technically and economically feasible, exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields should be kept to a minimum.

Electromagnetic Fields↗
PubMed1993

Chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes of high-voltage laboratory cable splicers exposed to electromagnetic fields.

Thirteen high-voltage laboratory employees and 20 referents participated in a cross-sectional, matched-pairs study of cytogenetic damage. During cable testing the workers were exposed to static, alternating, or pulsed electric and magnetic fields. The alternating magnetic field levels of 50 Hz were 5-10 microT, occasionally much higher. Chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and aneuploidy were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition, chromosome aberrations were investigated in lymphocyte cultures treated with hydroxyurea and caffeine, to inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and repair. Among seven smoking laboratory employees the mean number of chromosome breaks/200 cells was 2.3, as compared with 0.7 for the job-matched referents. The comparable figures for inhibited cultures were 12.0 versus 6.0. No increase was detected in nonsmokers with either method. The other genetic parameters showed no differences between the exposed workers and the referents. The results support, to some extent, the hypothesis of an increased risk of genotoxic effects among high-voltage laboratory workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Lung function and radiographic signs of pulmonary fibrosis in oil exposed workers in a cable manufacturing company: a follow up study.

Thirty seven workers employed for at least three years in oil impregnation of cables during 1963-83 were followed up in 1990 to study the development of pulmonary fibrosis and consequences for lung function. They had been exposed to concentrations of mineral oil vapours of 50-100 mg/m3, and concentrations of oil mist of 0.5-1.5 mg/m3. All 29 living persons were traced. For each person one control matched for age, height, and smoking habits was selected. Among 25 workers followed up with radiographic studies, 10 cases of pulmonary fibrosis were found, by contrast with one case in the control group (p less than 0.01). Chest radiographs from 1979-80 and 1989-90 were reviewed. The profusion of small opacities increased in seven of 16 persons during 10 years without exposure. Seventeen workers had lung function tests. The bellows function (VC, FEV1, MVV) and lung volumes (TLC, RV) did not differ from those in the matched controls (p greater than 0.05), but the carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLCO) was decreased. The largest reduction of TLCO (1.5 mmol/kPa/min) was found among workers exposed for 10 years or more (p less than 0.05). Arterial blood gases were not affected at rest, but during maximum tread mill exercise, PO2 and HbO2 were reduced in exposed workers compared with controls, particularly among those exposed for at least 10 years (p less than 0.05). Exposure to low viscosity oil mist and vapour is the most plausible cause of the fibrosis. Unaffected bellows function, reduced TLCO, and decreased arterial blood oxygen during exercise is compatible with peribronchiolar fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Brain damage caused by hydrogen sulfide: a follow-up study of six patients.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) poisoning involves a risk of hypoxic brain damage. Six patients who lost consciousness due to H2S poisoning are described. The symptoms varied from anosmia in the patient with the shortest but highest exposure to delayed neurological deterioration in the patient with the longest exposure. The two patients with the most serious symptoms developed pulmonary edema, which may have prolonged the hypoxia. The patients were reexaminated 5 years or more after the poisoning. The five patients who had been unconscious in H2S atmosphere for from 5 to 15-20 min showed persisting impairment at neurological and neuropsychological re-examination. Memory and motor function were most affected. One patient was seriously demented. Recent reports of large groups of H2S-poisoned workers probably underestimate the risk of sequelae, due to the inclusion of cases with exposure of short duration and lack of follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae after acute hydrogen sulfide poisoning: affection of motor function, memory, vision and hearing.

A shipyard worker was poisoned by hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and rescued after 15-20 min. He regained consciousness after 2 days. Three days later his condition deteriorated, and he was more or less comatose for a month. When he woke up, he was amnesic, nearly blind, had reduced hearing, and had a moderate spastic tetraparesis and ataxia. Two months after the accident, he had greatly improved. Audiograms showed hearing loss with maximum at 2000 Hz and significantly poorer speech discrimination. EEG showed generalized dysrhythmia. At follow-up 5 years later he had not been able to resume his work, and had slight motor, memory and visual symptoms. CT and MRI showed slight cerebral atrophy. EEG and evoked responses were normal.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Subacute inhalation toxicity of mineral oils, C15-C20 alkylbenzenes, and polybutene in male rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed to mist and vapor of two mineral oils, two C15-C20 alkylbenzenes, and one polybutene at aerosol concentrations of 70 mg.m-3 and 700 mg.m-3 for 2 weeks. Of oil mist particles, 82-97 wt% were respirable (less than 4.7 microns). High-level exposure to polybutene was lethal to three of four animals, due to pulmonary edema. Elevated numbers of pulmonary macrophages and increased macrophage vacuolization were observed after exposure to the polybutene, both mineral oils, and one alkylbenzene. The same alkylbenzene produced body weight loss. Deposition analysis was performed for one mineral oil. No oil was detected in brain tissue, while retroperitoneal fat tissue contained 541 (401-702) micrograms oil/g tissue, half of this still present after an exposure-free period of 2 weeks. It is concluded that inhalation of the polybutene and one of the mineral cable oils tested here produces toxic effects in lung.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1989

[H2S poisoning and nervous system damage].

H2S (hydrogen sulfide) is a very toxic gas. Even brief exposure to high concentrations may be fatal. Unconsciousness may occur without warning. Those who try to help are often poisoned too. In Norway, most poisonings have been described in connection with the herring oil and fish meal industry, farmers handling manure, and sewage work. The risk of hypoxic damage to the nervous system is considerable. The clinical picture varies, and the connection between the patients' symptoms and the poisoning is easily overlooked, especially with delayed sequelae, which may occur several weeks after the acute poisoning. The risk of damage depends on both the exposure time and the concentration of H2S, and a thorough anamnesis, noting the course of events, is important in order to achieve a correct diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A cytogenetic and haematological investigation of oil exposed workers in a Norwegian cable manufacturing company.

Cytogenetic and haematological parameters were studied in 31 oil exposed workers and 31 office workers matched for age and smoking, all men employed by a Norwegian cable manufacturing company. Information was obtained about tobacco and alcohol consumption, infections, allergies, chronic diseases, use of medicines, and exposure to radiography. A decrease in the absolute lymphocyte counts was observed in the most heavily exposed subgroup (p less than 0.05) but no other significant differences were found between exposed workers and referents. The influence of non-occupational variables on the cytogenetic parameters was studied by stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges appeared to be influenced by smoking history (p less than 0.05) and season of sampling (p less than 0.01) and, if season was excluded, by age (p less than 0.05) and current smoking (p less than 0.05). The number of cells with chromosomal aberrations increased with age (p less than 0.05) and lymphocyte count (p less than 0.05), whereas the frequency of stable rearrangements was negatively correlated with current smoking (p less than 0.01).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Mortality and incidence of cancer among oil exposed workers in a Norwegian cable manufacturing company. Part I. Exposure conditions 1920-79.

Heavy high viscosity oils, transformer oils, and very light low viscosity oils have been used in a Norwegian company in the impregnation, sheathing, and installation of paper insulated cables. The aim of the present study was to determine exposures to oils and other chemicals at these workplaces from 1920 to 1979. Oil mist was sampled on glass fibre or membrane filters and analysed by infrared spectroscopy. Oil vapour concentrations were measured with a direct reading total hydrocarbon analyser with a flame ionisation detector. The results suggested average oil mist levels of 0.5-4 mg/m3 and oil vapour levels within 10-100 mg/m3. Definitive exposure to asbestos occurred in sheathing until the late 1950s, whereas only minor exposure to asbestos took place in installation and impregnation.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

Mortality and incidence of cancer among oil exposed workers in a Norwegian cable manufacturing company. Part 2. Mortality and cancer incidence 1953-84.

Mortality and incidence of cancer 1953-84 was studied in a cohort of 529 men exposed to mineral oils in a Norwegian cable manufacturing company. Expected numbers of deaths were calculated from national death rates and cases of cancer from regional incidence rates. Among the 195 men who had worked for less than one year, there were statistically significant excesses of deaths from all causes (O/E = 75/39.3) and from malignant neoplasms, ischaemic heart disease, non-malignant respiratory disease, and violence. In a subcohort of all 248 men with known work category and at least one year's employment in oil exposed work statistically significant excesses of deaths from ischaemic heart disease (O/E = 26/16.1) and cases of lung cancer (O/E = 10/3.9) were observed. Nine of the cases of lung cancer had occurred 20 years or more after first employment (2.7 expected; p less than 0.01). In smokers of this subcohort there were 7.06 cases of lung cancer per 1000 person-years compared with 1.30 in smokers of a general population sample. It is concluded that exposure to mineral oils has probably been an important contributing factor in the development of lung cancer among these workers.

Cohort Studies↗