Biomedical subjects

P Torri

Publications and source records attributed to P Torri.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

A study of airborne Ulmaceae pollen in Modena (northern Italy).

We examined Ulmaceae airborne pollen at the Modena-Geophysical Observatory monitoring station in 1993. The pollen trap was placed 15 m above the ground. 365 daily slides were fully analyzed to obtain daily and bi-hourly pollen concentrations. Morphological analysis on native and introduced Ulmaceae pollen was also conducted between February 3rd and May 17th. Five pollen types were identified: Celtis cf. australis, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus cf. laevis, Ulmus cf. minor, and Ulmus minor/laevis. Pollen concentrations and percentages showed that the Elm family contributed little pollen to the air (about 1% of the total pollen recorded), Ulmus and Celtis being 0.9% and 0.04%, respectively. The maximum levels were 30 p/m3/24 hr and 118 p/m3/ 2 hr (Ulmus) and 4 p/m3/24 hr and 13 p/m3/2 hr (Celtis). The highest levels of Ulmus were during the morning and afternoon, while the afternoon was highest for Celtis. In general, Ulmaceae trees appear worth planting in urban areas, but Celtis pollen should also be monitored at human height.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1995

Peripheral neuropathy in styrene-exposed workers.

BACKGROUND: The toxicity of styrene on the peripheral nervous system is still debated. CASES: The paper presents two cases of peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy in styrene-exposed workers. Exposure, evaluated by biological monitoring, ranged between 100 and 150% of the current limits proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The subjects complained of leg weakness and numbness, cramps, and paresthesia. Electrophysiology revealed a moderate peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy of a demyelinating type. Color-vision testing showed a subclinical deficit. Common inherited and acquired causes of peripheral neuropathy and dyschromatopsia other than styrene were ruled out by personal history, medical examination, laboratory data, and chest X-ray. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that long-term occupational exposure to environmental levels of styrene that are equal, or slightly above, the ACGIH limits can induce a clinical form of peripheral neuropathy and a subclinical impairment of color vision. As a consequence, a careful reappraisal of the real preventive meaning of the current ACGIH occupational limit for styrene, at least on an individual basis, is needed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The experience of managing the risk due to the manual lifting of patients in the hospital reality of Local Health Screening Unit Enterprise 18, the Veneto region].

The possibility of accidents and diseases connected with manual handling of patients can be considered as one of the major risks in hospital environments for nursing, non-nursing and technical staff. Health surveillance of exposed workers has revealed numerous cases of back disorders with consequent temporary or permanent limitations of working activity. This involves not only heavy costs for the hospital but also a reduction in the quality of the assistance due to the difficulty in replacing or increasing staff. For these reasons the hospitals of the Local Health and Social Services Unit 18 of the Regione Veneto drew up a plan of interventions in order to address this problem and reduce exposure to manual handling of patients. Details of the costs borne by the hospital due to this risk factor are reported; after the implementation of the improvement plan (health surveillance, introduction of aids, training of staff) it is shown how a reduction in costs was achieved, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the measures taken (reduction of 39.2% in days of staff absence due to back disorders).

Costs and Cost Analysis↗