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W T Sanderson

Publications and source records attributed to W T Sanderson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Occupational and other risk factors for hand-grip strength: the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study.

BACKGROUND: In certain occupations, including farm work, workers are exposed to hazardous substances, some of which are known to be toxic to the nervous system and may adversely affect muscle strength. Measurement of hand-grip strength may be useful for detecting neurotoxic exposure. METHODS: The authors studied 3522 participants of the Honolulu Heart Program and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study to determine whether occupational exposures to pesticides, solvents, and metals assessed at exam I (1965-68) are associated with hand-grip strength at exam IV (1991-93) and change in hand-grip strength over 25 years. Correlation, analysis of variance and covariance, and linear regression were used to evaluate the associations. RESULTS: At exam IV, participants ranged in age from 71-93 years; mean hand-grip strength was 39.6 kg at exam I and 30.3 kg at exam IV. Over 25 years, the decline in hand-grip strength was an average of 8-9 kg for all exposures. Hand-grip strength was inversely associated with age and glucose but directly associated with cognitive function, BMI, and haemoglobin level. No other exposures were associated with hand-grip strength. CONCLUSION: This study did not provide evidence that occupational exposure to pesticides, solvents, and metals adversely affected hand-grip strength in this population, but confirmed other important associations with hand-grip strength.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Urinary bromide and breathing zone concentrations of 1-bromopropane from workers exposed to flexible foam spray adhesives.

1-Bromopropane (1-BP) has been marketed as an alternative for ozone depleting solvents and suspect carcinogens and is in aerosol products, adhesives and solvents used for metal, precision and electronics cleaning. Toxicity of 1-BP is poorly understood, but it may be a neurologic, reproductive and hematologic toxin. Sparse exposure information prompted this exposure assessment study using air sampling, and measurement of urinary metabolites. Mercapturic acid conjugates are excreted in urine from 1-BP metabolism involving removal of bromide (Br) from the propyl group. One research objective was to evaluate the utility of urinary Br analysis for assessing 1-BP exposure using a relatively inexpensive, commercially available method. Complete 48 h urine specimens were obtained from 30 workers on two consecutive days at two facilities using 1-BP adhesives to construct polyurethane foam seat cushions and from seven unexposed control subjects. All of the workers' urine was collected into composite samples representing three daily time intervals (at work; after work but before bedtime; and upon wake-up) and analyzed for Br ion by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Full-shift breathing zone samples were collected for 1-BP on Anasorb carbon molecular sieve sorbent tubes and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection via NIOSH method 1025. Geometric mean (GM) breathing zone concentrations of 1-BP were 92 parts per million (p.p.m.) for adhesive sprayers and 11 p.p.m. for other jobs. For sprayers, urinary Br concentrations ranged from 77 to 542 milligrams per gram of creatinine [mg (g-cr)(-1)] at work; from 58 to 308 mg (g-cr)(-1) after work; and from 46 to 672 mg (g-cr)(-1) in wake-up samples. Pre-week urinary Br concentrations for sprayers were substantially higher than for the non-sprayers and controls, with GMs of 102, 31 and 3.8 mg (g-cr)(-1), respectively. An association of 48 h urinary Br concentration with 1-BP exposure was statistically significant (r(2) = 0.89) for all jobs combined. This study demonstrates that urinary elimination is an important excretion pathway for 1-BP metabolism, and Br may be a useful biomarker of exposure.

Adhesives↗
PubMed2006

Tractor overturn concerns in Iowa: perspectives from the Keokuk county rural health study.

Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S., with tractor overturns producing the greatest number of agricultural machinery-related fatalities. Rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seatbelts effectively reduce tractor overturn deaths. However, a large proportion of tractors in use in American agriculture are older tractors without ROPS and seatbelts. This article describes the tractor-related responses from participants in a population-based study conducted in Keokuk County, Iowa. This study was designed to measure rural and agricultural adverse health and injury outcomes and their respective risk factors. Questionnaires were partially developed from well-documented national surveys. Questions about agricultural machinery use, presence of safety equipment on the machinery, work practices, and attitudes about farm safety were included. Study participants on farms who owned tractors had an average of 3.1 tractors with an average age of 27 years. Only 39% of the 665 tractors had ROPS. Tractor age was associated with the presence of ROPS; 84% of tractors manufactured after 1984 were ROPS-equipped, whereas only 3% of tractors manufactured before 1960 were ROPS-equipped. ROPS-equipped tractors were significantly more common on larger farms and households with higher income. Only 4% of the farmers reported that their tractors had seatbelts and they wore them when operating their tractors. The results of this study support the findings of other studies, which indicate that many older tractors without ROPS and seatbelts remain in use in American agriculture. Until a dramatic reduction in the number of tractors in the U.S. operated without ROPS and seatbelts is achieved, the annual incidence of 120 to 130 deaths associated with tractor overturns will persist.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Bacillus anthracis contamination and inhalational anthrax in a mail processing and distribution center.

AIMS: Four inhalational anthrax cases occurred in a large mail processing and distribution center in Washington, DC, after envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores were processed. This report describes the results of sampling for B. anthracis spores during investigations conducted in October and December 2001. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wet swabs, wet wipes, vacuum sock, and air-filter samples were collected throughout the facility to characterize the extent of building contamination. The results showed widespread contamination of B. anthracis spores, particularly associated with one delivery bar code sorter (DBCS) machine that had sorted the spore-containing envelopes and an area where the envelopes were handled by postal workers. Spore concentrations decreased as distance from the DBCS machine increased, but spores were widely dispersed into surrounding areas. CONCLUSION: The spatial distribution of culture positive samples was closely related to the work areas of the inhalational anthrax cases and supported epidemiological evidence that the workers became ill from exposure to B. anthracis spores in areas where the contaminated envelopes had travelled. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results of this investigation were used to guide decontamination efforts and provided baseline spore concentrations for follow-up measurements after the building had been cleaned. Implementing methods to reduce aerosolization and dispersion of dust within the facility would reduce postal workers' potential exposures to bioterrorism agents.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2003

Occupational silica exposure and risk of various diseases: an analysis using death certificates from 27 states of the United States.

BACKGROUND: Although crystalline silica exposure is associated with silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is less support for an association with autoimmune disease, and renal disease. METHODS: Using data from the US National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) system, a matched case-control design was employed to examine each of several diseases (including silicosis, lung cancer, stomach cancer, oesophageal cancer, COPD, pulmonary tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and various types of renal disease). Cases were subjects whose death certificate mentioned the disease of interest. A separate control group for each of the diseases of interest was selected from among subjects whose death certificate did not mention the disease of interest or any of several diseases reported to be associated with crystalline silica exposure. Subjects were assigned into a qualitative crystalline silica exposure category based on the industry/occupation pairing found on their death certificate. We also investigated whether silicotics had a higher risk of disease compared to those without silicosis. RESULTS: Those postulated to have had detectable crystalline silica exposure had a significantly increased risk for silicosis, COPD, pulmonary tuberculosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, a significant trend of increasing risk with increasing silica exposure was observed for these same conditions and for lung cancer. Those postulated to have had the greatest crystalline silica exposure had a significantly increased risk for silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and pulmonary tuberculosis only. Finally, those with silicosis had a significantly increased risk for COPD, pulmonary tuberculosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: This study corroborates the association between crystalline silica exposure and silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, support is provided for an association between crystalline silica exposure and rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lung cancer case-control study of beryllium workers.

BACKGROUND: Cohort mortality studies have found elevated lung cancer mortality among beryllium-exposed workers, but none evaluated the association between beryllium exposure level and lung cancer risk. A nested case-control study of lung cancer within a beryllium processing plant was conducted to investigate the relationship between level of beryllium exposure and lung cancer. METHODS: Lung cancer cases were identified by mortality follow-up through 1992 of a cohort of male workers at a beryllium alloy production plant. Each of 142 lung cancer cases was age-race-matched to five controls. Calendar-time-specific beryllium exposure estimates were made for every job in the plant and were used to estimate workers' cumulative, average, and maximum exposures. The potential confounding effects of smoking were also evaluated. RESULTS: Lung cancer cases had shorter tenures and lower lifetime cumulative beryllium exposures than controls, but higher average and maximum exposures. However, after applying a 10- and 20-year lag, exposure metrics were higher for cases. Odds ratios in analyses lagged 20 years were significantly elevated for those with higher exposure compared to the lowest exposure category. Significant positive trends were seen with the log of the exposure metrics. Smoking did not appear to confound exposure-response analyses. CONCLUSION: Increased lung cancer among workers with higher lagged beryllium exposures and lack of evidence for confounding by cigarette smoking, provide further evidence that beryllium is a human lung carcinogen. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2001

Estimating historical exposures of workers in a beryllium manufacturing plant.

BACKGROUND: Beryllium is known to be toxic to the lungs, causing beryllium lung disease and associated with increased lung cancer risk. Airborne beryllium exposures have been monitored since the 1940s. This study describes methods used to measure airborne beryllium concentrations and how historical measurements from a beryllium manufacturing plant were used to estimate workers' exposures in a lung cancer case-control study. METHODS: Airborne beryllium concentrations had been measured using all-glass impingers, high-volume air filters, and personal respirable and total dust samplers. To provide consistency in exposure estimates over time, measurements collected by the other monitoring methods were converted to approximate the most frequently used high-volume, time-weighted average measurements. Because industrial hygiene measurements were not collected in every year for all jobs throughout the duration of the case-control study, exposure estimates had to be extrapolated from the existing measurements over time and across jobs. RESULTS: Over 7,000 historical measurements were available to estimate beryllium exposures of workers over time. Average exposures between jobs varied considerably and exposures for all jobs decreased dramatically between the 1940s and 1970s due to major plant production changes. CONCLUSIONS: Although error in the exposure metrics for the cases and controls likely occurred due to limitations of the exposure assessment data, the exposure estimates for each job over time provided a reasonable, objective mechanism for categorizing workers by the relative exposures they were likely to have encountered during their tenure. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of a portable blood lead analyzer with occupationally exposed populations.

BACKGROUND: This project evaluated a portable electroanalytical instrument that is used to rapidly analyze blood lead levels in individuals, using a fresh whole blood sample (venous). METHODS: Samples were obtained from 208 lead-exposed employees who donated two 2 ml venous blood samples into "lead-free" evacuated tubes. One blood sample was analyzed onsite using the portable field instrument while the second sample was analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). RESULTS: According to GFAAS results, employee venous blood lead levels ranged from 1 microg/dl to 42 microg/dl. The mean difference between the results from the field instrument and GFAAS was less than 1 microg/dl. Analysis indicates that the results from the field instrument yielded a slight positive bias overall (P value = 0.0213), with less bias for blood lead levels above 10 microg/dl (P value = 0.0738). CONCLUSIONS: Within the blood range evaluated (1-42 microg/dl), the instrument performed adequately according to Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) proficiency requirements. The ability of the instrument to perform rapid analysis makes it potentially valuable to occupational health professionals for medical monitoring or on-site investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Historical respirable quartz exposures of industrial sand workers: 1946-1996.

BACKGROUND: Besides a clear relationship to silicosis, crystalline silica-quartz-has been associated with lung cancer, nonmalignant renal disease, and auto-immune disease. To study diseases associated with crystalline silica further, NIOSH conducted a cohort mortality study of workers from 18 silica sand plants, which had quarry, crushing, and bagging operations to produce industrial sand. Twelve of these plants also had grinding mills to produce fine silica powder. The historical crystalline silica exposures of workers at these plants were estimated to facilitate exposure-response analyses in the epidemiologic study. METHODS: NIOSH obtained personal respirable dust measurement records from Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) compliance inspections at all 18 plants and from the archives of seven plants which had collected samples. These samples had been analyzed for quartz content by x-ray diffraction. Although no personal samples were available before 1974, impinger dust measurements were reported for 19 silica sand plants in 1946; these data were converted and used to estimate exposures prior to 1974. Statistical modeling of the samples was used to estimate quartz exposure concentrations for workers in plant-job-year categories from the 1930s when mortality follow-up of the cohort began until 1988 when follow-up stopped. RESULTS: Between 1974 and 1996, there were 4,269 respirable dust samples collected at these 18 plants. The geometric mean quartz concentration was 25.9 microg/m(3) (GSD = 10.9) with a range from less than 1 to 11,700 microg/m(3). Samples below 1 microg/m(3) were given a value of 0.5 microg/m(3). Over one-third of the samples -37%) exceeded the MSHA permissible exposure limit value for quartz (PEL = 10 mg/m(3)/(%quartz + 2)) and half (51%) of the samples exceeded the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL=50 microg/m(3)). The samples were collected from workers performing 143 jobs within the 18 plants, but too few samples were collected from many of the jobs to make accurate estimates. Therefore, samples were combined into 10 categories of jobs performing similar tasks or located within the same plant area. CONCLUSIONS: The quartz concentrations varied significantly by plant, job, and year. Quartz concentrations decreased over time, with measurements collected in the 1970s significantly greater than those collected later. The modeled exposure estimates improve upon duration of employment as an estimate of cumulative exposure and reduce exposure misclassification due to variation in quartz levels between plants, jobs, and over time. Am. J. Ind. Med. 38:389-398, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Safe handling of agricultural pesticides in Minnesota: results of a county-wide educational intervention.

Safe pesticide handling in a group of Minnesota farmers, aged 40 years and older, was influenced through the use of a multifaceted, countywide educational intervention. Two intervention counties and two control counties were involved in this effort. The intervention consisted of mailed pesticide information to farm households, educational programs on pesticides for county physicians, elementary school training modules on pesticides and the use of safe pesticide handling displays in key business areas by agricultural extension agents. Five hundred eight farmers were identified as pesticide users (186 in the intervention counties and 322 in the control counties). The use of gloves and other protective clothing while handling pesticides increased in the intervention group. Improvement was greater in those who had used protective equipment the least before the intervention. From these results, it appears that a broad-based educational intervention might have a modest impact in how farmers protect themselves when using pesticides.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Beryllium contamination inside vehicles of machine shop workers.

Inhalation of beryllium particles causes a chronic, debilitating lung disease--chronic beryllium disease (CBD)--in immunologically sensitized workers. Evidence that very low concentrations of beryllium may initiate this chronic disease is provided by incidences of the illness in family members exposed to beryllium dust from workers' clothes and residents in neighborhoods surrounding beryllium refineries. This article describes the results of a cross-sectional survey to evaluate potential take-home beryllium exposures by measuring surface concentrations on the hands and in vehicles of workers at a precision machine shop where cases of CBD had recently been diagnosed. Many workers did not change out of their work clothes and shoes at the end of their shift, increasing the risk of taking beryllium home to their families. Wipe samples collected from workers' hands and vehicle surfaces were analyzed for beryllium content by inductively coupled argon plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results ranged widely, from nondetectable to 40 micrograms/ft2 on workers' hands and up to 714 micrograms/ft2 inside their vehicles, demonstrating that many workers carried residual beryllium on their hands and contaminated the inside of their vehicles when leaving work. The highest beryllium concentrations inside the workers' vehicles were found on the drivers' floor (GM = 19 micrograms/ft2, GSD = 4.9), indicating that workers were carrying beryllium on their shoes into their vehicles. A safe level of beryllium contamination on surfaces is not known, but it is prudent to reduce the potential for workers to carry beryllium away from the work site.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Ozone-induced respiratory illness during the repair of a portland cement kiln.

OBJECTIVES: Workers at a portland cement plant had experienced acute respiratory and eye irritation when performing maintenance inside a kiln. These episodes were associated with a bleach-like odor, which was only reported during maintenance operations. An industrial hygiene investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the illness. METHODS: While workers replaced refractory brick inside the kiln, air samples were collected for chlorine, sulfur dioxide, inorganic acid, ozone, and dust. After the rebricking was completed and all the workers had exited the kiln, its electrostatic precipitator was reduced to half power and the induced-draft (ID) fan was turned off to recreate conditions present during illness episodes. RESULTS: Chlorine, inorganic acid, and ozone were not detected, and only trace concentrations of sulfur dioxide were detected while workers were inside the kiln. However, when conditions present during previous episodes were recreated, the bleach-like odor was soon evident. Chlorine was not detected, but 0.09 to 0.11 ppm of ozone was measured at the discharge end of the kiln, and 4.5 ppm was measured at the inlet end. Within a half hour after the electrostatic precipitator was turned off and the ID fan was turned on, the ozone concentrations decreased to background levels of 0.02-0.03 ppm. CONCLUSIONS: Somewhat lower ozone exposures may have occurred during previous kiln maintenance operations due to more open access portals, but previous episodes of eye and respiratory irritation were probably caused when ozone, generated by the electrostatic precipitator, back-drafted into the kiln after the ID fan was turned off.

Extraction and Processing Industry↗
PubMed1997

Pesticide prioritization for a brain cancer case-control study.

The incidence of brain cancer is rising in the United States while the causes remain largely unknown. Epidemiologic studies indicate that individuals working in agriculture have an increased risk of brain cancer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting a case-control study of incident brain cancer cases in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to evaluate the risk associated with several environmental exposures, in particular agricultural pesticides. Hundreds of different pesticides are used in agriculture and it is not feasible to evaluate the association between brain cancer and exposure to each of these chemicals; therefore, a strategy was developed to identify which pesticides would be targeted in the study. First lists of pesticides were created, documenting usage in each of the four states and the United States as a whole, by using data from reports prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Departments of Agriculture and land grant colleges within the four states. Then the following factors were considered in prioritizing pesticides for evaluation in the study: total volume of use prior to 1985, ranking of use in the four states and the United States as a whole by pesticide category, and toxicological evidence of carcinogenic, teratogenic, or mutagenic effects. Pesticide usage prior to 1985 was determined to allow for a minimum 10-year latency for the incident brain cancer cases diagnosed in 1995 or later. The selected pesticides include 56 herbicides, 49 insecticides, 12 fungicides, and 17 fumigants, accounting for over 99% of the total pounds of herbicides and insecticides and over 98% of the total pounds of fungicides and fumigants applied pre-1985. Prompt lists of the pesticides are sent to study participants a few days before the study questionnaire is administered to allow them time to recall past use of pesticides; the lists include the common chemical names, trade names, the crops that the pesticides are most commonly used on, and the years that the pesticides have been marketed. The methods used to select this subset of 134 pesticides document historical usage and may be useful in prioritizing pesticides for other research studies.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Chest radiography in Portland cement workers.

To investigate the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in Portland cement workers, a controlled cross-sectional survey was conducted. Chest radiographs of approximately 2640 Portland cement workers showed prevalence rates of about 1% for rounded and for irregular small opacities and about 2% for pleural abnormalities. After age and smoking adjustment, the overall prevalences were still significantly elevated over controls, but when examined separately by smoking status, the significant increases were confined to smokers. Although statistically significant, the prevalences were only elevated about 1% in cement workers, compared with controls. A statistically significant relationship with exposure was found for pleural abnormalities but not for rounded or irregular small opacities. Thus a weak association exists between pulmonary radiographic abnormalities and employment in US Portland cement plants, and there appears to be a dose-response relationship between exposure and pleural abnormalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Factors associated with safe use of agricultural pesticides in Minnesota.

How farmers protect themselves against pesticide exposure has important public health consequences. To obtain insights into pesticide self-protection, this study obtained data on chemically resistant glove and other protective equipment use as they relate to the type of farming practice, demographic characteristics of farmers and their farming operations, farmers' preventive health beliefs and behaviors, and factors related to their health care. Data were obtained by telephone interviews conducted in six rural Minnesota counties. Survey respondents totaled 1, 327 (87% response rate), with 502 reporting pesticide use. Ninety-five percent of the latter respondents believed in the effectiveness of protective equipment and 88 percent believed that pesticide exposures are harmful. Fifty-six percent of the subjects wore chemically resistant gloves and 22 percent wore other protective clothing 75 percent of the time or more when using pesticides. Glove use and certification to use restricted pesticides was less frequent for women. The use of protective equipment in this group of Minnesota farmers was weakly related to being certified to apply restricted pesticides, believing in the effectiveness of protective clothing, believing that smoking causes serious health problems, using crop insecticides, and distance to a health care facility.

Agriculture↗