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Biomedical subjects

L A Piacitelli

Publications and source records attributed to L A Piacitelli.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Spontaneous abortion, sex ratio, and paternal occupational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

There is conflicting research regarding an association between fetal death and paternal exposure to Agent Orange, a phenoxy herbicide widely used in Vietnam that was contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Men who worked in the U.S. factories that produced Agent Orange were exposed to TCDD at levels hundreds of times higher than TCDD levels in the general population. Wives of TCDD-exposed chemical workers and wives of nonexposed neighborhood referents were interviewed to determine reproductive history. Paternal serum TCDD level at time of conception was estimated for each pregnancy using serum samples taken in 1987. Estimated TCDD levels of workers during or after exposure were high (median, 254 ppt; range, 3-16,340 ppt) compared to referent levels (median, 6 ppt; range, 2-19 ppt). No association between paternal TCDD level at the time of conception and spontaneous abortion was observed among pregnancies fathered by workers with TCDD levels of < 20 ppt [odds ratio (OR) = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.48-1.22], 20 to < 255 ppt (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.40-1.63), 255 to < 1,120, (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.30-1.58), and >or= 1,120 ppt (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.42-2.17) compared to pregnancies fathered by referents. The sex ratio [males/(males + females)] of offspring also did not differ by TCDD exposure (0.53 and 0.54 among workers and referents, respectively). We did not find an association between paternal serum TCDD level and spontaneous abortion or sex ratio of offspring in this population. The estimated TCDD levels in this exposed worker population were much higher than in other studies, providing additional evidence that paternal TCDD exposure does not increase the risk of spontaneous abortion at levels above those observed in the general population. The study could not evaluate the effect of father's childhood or prenatal TCDD exposure on subsequent sex ratio.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the revised NIOSH lifting equation. A cross-sectional epidemiologic study.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of the 1-year prevalence of low back pain was conducted in workers employed in manual lifting jobs. OBJECTIVES: To provide epidemiologic data to determine the correlation between the prevalence of low back pain and exposure to manual lifting stressors, measured with the lifting index component of the revised lifting equation from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The NIOSH lifting equation has been proposed as a practical, yet valid tool for assessing the risks of low back pain caused by manual lifting. To date, however, there have been few studies in which the effectiveness of the equation to identify jobs with elevated rates of low back pain has been evaluated. METHODS: Fifty jobs from four industrial sites were evaluated with the NIOSH lifting equation. A symptom and occupational history questionnaire was administered to 204 people employed in lifting jobs and 80 people employed in nonlifting jobs. Regression analysis was used to determine whether there was a correlation between the lifting index and reported low back pain. RESULTS: As the lifting index increased from 1.0 to 3.0, the odds of low back pain increased, with a peak and statistically significant odds ratio occurring in the 2 < lifting index < or = 3 category (odds ratio = 2.45). For jobs with a lifting index higher than 3.0, however, the odds ratio was lower (odds ratio = 1.45). CONCLUSIONS: Although low back pain is a common disorder, the lifting index appears be a useful indicator for determining the risk of low back pain caused by manual lifting.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cancer mortality in workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

BACKGROUND: In both animal and epidemiologic studies, exposure to dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or TCDD) has been associated with an increased risk of cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of mortality among the 5172 workers at 12 plants in the United States that produced chemicals contaminated with TCDD. Occupational exposure was documented by reviewing job descriptions and by measuring TCDD in serum from a sample of 253 workers. Causes of death were taken from death certificates. RESULTS: Mortality from several cancers previously associated with TCDD (stomach, liver, and nasal cancers, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) was not significantly elevated in this cohort. Mortality from soft-tissue sarcoma was increased, but not significantly (4 deaths; standardized mortality ratio [SMR], 338; 95 percent confidence interval, 92 to 865). In the subcohort of 1520 workers with greater than or equal to 1 year of exposure and greater than or equal to 20 years of latency, however, mortality was significantly increased for soft-tissue sarcoma (3 deaths; SMR, 922; 95 percent confidence interval, 190 to 2695) and for cancers of the respiratory system (SMR, 142; 95 percent confidence interval, 103 to 192). Mortality from all cancers combined was slightly but significantly elevated in the overall cohort (SMR, 115; 95 percent confidence interval, 102 to 130) and was higher in the subcohort with greater than or equal to 1 year of exposure and greater than or equal to 20 years of latency (SMR, 146; 95 percent confidence interval, 121 to 176). CONCLUSIONS: This study of mortality among workers with occupational exposure to TCDD does not confirm the high relative risks reported for many cancers in previous studies. Conclusions about an increase in the risk of soft-tissue sarcoma are limited by small numbers and misclassification on death certificates. Excess mortality from all cancers combined, cancers of the respiratory tract, and soft-tissue sarcoma may result from exposure to TCDD, although we cannot exclude the possible contribution of factors such as smoking and occupational exposure to other chemicals.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Presence of endotoxins in different agricultural environments.

Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins are contaminants of dusts from agricultural products. They represent a potential health hazard for farmers working in many different processes. However, the occurrence of endotoxins has not been well characterized in the various farming operations. Therefore, two farming activities with potential for generating airborne endotoxins were studied: 1) chopping of baled corn stalks or straw for bedding in New York State, and 2) oat bin unloading in Alabama. Actual airborne endotoxin levels in dusts obtained during bedding chopper operations far exceeded [90 endotoxin units (EU)/m3] the level at which acute pulmonary function decrements occur in cotton dust-exposed individuals. Endotoxin contamination of laboratory-generated dust from an oat sample likewise exceeded these levels. This study documents the presence of potentially hazardous exposures to endotoxins in two common farm processes, which expands the knowledge of airborne endotoxin exposures on the farm.

Agriculture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Review and update of the results of the NIOSH medical study of workers exposed to chemicals contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin.

In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a cross-sectional medical study to examine the long-term health effects of occupational exposure to chemicals and materials contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). This study compared living workers employed more than 15 years earlier in the production of sodium trichlorophenol (NaTCP), and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic ester (2,4,5-T ester) with an unexposed comparison group. Health status of the worker and comparison populations was collected through a comprehensive set of standardized interviews and medical examinations. Lipid adjusted serum TCDD levels were also measured. Workers had a statistically significantly elevated mean serum lipid-adjusted TCDD level (workers = 220 pg per g of lipid [range = not detected-3,400 pg per g of lipid], and referents 7 pg per g of lipid [range not detected-20 pg per g of lipid], P < 0.001). Compared to a community-based referent population, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral neuropathy, depression, cardiovascular outcomes (myocardial infarction, angina, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, and abnormal peripheral arterial flow), abnormal porphyrin levels, and abnormal ventilatory function parameters FEV1.0, FVC, or FEV1.0/FVC% in workers, was not statistically significantly different. In contrast, relationships were observed between serum 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels and the enzyme gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), the reproductive hormones serum testosterone, luteinizing, and follicle-stimulating hormones, and abnormal high-density lipoprotein concentration, counts of CD3/Ta1 cells (helper lymphocytes), and fasting serum glucose levels. Current diagnosis of chloracne was associated with the highest levels of serum 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Analysis of other endpoints continues.

Blood Glucose↗