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Outcome of pregnancy in leatherworkers.

A recent proposal that leatherworkers might face a reproductive hazard was tested using data from a large survey in Montreal of occupational factors in pregnancy. The outcome of pregnancy in almost 400 women employed in the manufacture of leather products, some 6000 employed in other types of manufacture, and nearly 50 000 employed but not in manufacture were compared. There was little difference between the groups in the rates of congenital malformation and spontaneous abortion, but the leatherworkers had a significant excess of stillbirths without defect (eight observed compared with fewer than three expected). The possibility of a fetotoxic agent--perhaps a constituent of glues or cements--should be investigated in the leather industry.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Shoe-makers' polyneuropathy in Italy: the aetiological problem.

Since 1957, when the first cases of the so-called shoe-makers' toxic polyneuropathy were reported, nearly 400 cases have been described in the Italian literature. The substance that was considered to be responsible for the disease was triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP) contained in glues, artificial leathers, and some types of paints. However numerous chemical analyses of glues and leathers taken from factories where cases of the disease occurred have shown that in almost all instances little or no TOCP was present. In addition the disease manifests itself more frequently during winter and spring and this is not consistent with the absorption of the causative agent through the skin and/or gastrointestinal tract. In order to clarify the aetiology of the disease 122 workers in the shoe industry affected by toxic polymeuropathy during the period 1971-74 were studied. Workplaces where cases of polyneuropathy had occurred were visited and samples of glues and solvents were taken for chemical analysis. The polyneuropathy chiefly affects workers engaged in glueing and in the cleaning process, but it also affects those who do not have direct contact with glues or solvents. The disease is more common in women (68%) than in men (32%) and, in its more severe form begins with overwhelming prevalence during winter and early spring regardless of the job performed. No direct relationship has been found between the severity of the disease and the number of years of work in the shoe industry or of specific exposure (that is the number of years of work in the activity performed at the onset of the disease). The polyneuropathy is found almost exclusively among workers of the artisam type in small shoe factories, where standards of hygiene are low. Chemical analysis of glues and cleaning fluids collected from five different factories, where 20 cases of polyneuropathy occurred, showed the presence of paraffin hydrocarbons with a low boiling point (pentane, 2-methyl-pentane, 3-methyl-pentane, n-hexane, etc.) in concentrations of more than 80% by weight.

Adolescent↗

Hair chromium as an index of chromium exposure of tannery workers.

The use of hair chromium (Cr) concentrations as an index of Cr exposure of tannery workers was investigated. As has been shown earlier, Cr from Cr III compounds used in the leather tanning industry is absorbed because concentrations of Cr in serum and urine of tannery workers are significantly increased compared with corresponding concentrations for unexposed controls. Hair samples were collected from 71 male tannery workers from four southern Ontario tanneries and from 53 male controls not exposed to Cr in the workplace. Subjects were matched for age, race, and socioeconomic status. Hair samples were washed, ashed in a low temperature asher, and analysed by flameless atomic absorption. The median hair Cr concentrations for the tannery workers (551 ng/g) was significantly higher (p = 0.0001) than for the controls (123 ng/g). For the tannery workers, hair Cr concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with serum Cr (r = 0.52, p less than 0.01) and with the preshift and postshift urinary Cr/creatinine ratios (r = 0.43, p less than 0.01; r = 0.64, p less than 0.01, respectively). These data indicate that trivalent Cr absorbed from leather tanning compounds results in raised concentrations of Cr in hair and that hair Cr concentrations may be used as an index of industrial Cr exposure.

Adult↗

Congenital malformations and maternal occupation: a registry based case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relations between congenital malformations and maternal occupation during pregnancy with a registry based case-control study. METHODS: Analysis was performed on data derived from the Florence Eurocat registry surveillance programme. The study included cases with isolated conditions, including chromosomal anomalies (n = 1351), cases with multiple anomalies registered during the 1980-91 period (n = 440), and babies with no congenital malformations recognised at birth who were born from 1982 to 1989 and selected as controls (n = 3223). 11 categories were defined, 10 including cases with isolated malformations and one for cases with multiple congenital anomalies. Four categories of maternal occupation were selected for the study. Odds ratio (OR) values were adjusted for maternal origin, maternal and paternal education, number of previous live births, illness during pregnancy, and maternal age when the group of chromosomal anomalies was analysed. RESULTS: A notable and significant association between oral clefts and mothers involved in leather and shoe manufacturing was found (adjusted OR 3.9; 99% confidence interval (99% CI) 1.5 to 9.8) and the risk consistently increased when considering cases with isolated cleft palate separately (OR 5.4; 95% CI 1.8 to 13.4). Moreover, a significant risk was identified for the association between multiple anomalies and textile dye workers (adjusted OR 1.9; 99% CI 1.0 to 3.8). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a notable, significant relation between maternal occupation as a pelt or leather worker and orofacial clefts in offspring. This finding is in agreement with the suggested inheritance models. The dilution effect due to studying large and heterogeneous groups of workers and occupations limits the value of the study; but it provides a good example of the use of a large database to search for teratogenic risk with the aid of malformation registries.

Adult↗

Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract: a clinicopathologic study of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a relatively rare tumor. It commonly affects subjects exposed to wood or leather dust. METHODS: The authors present the clinicopathologic findings of 18 cases of sinonasal ITACs and review the proposed histologic classifications. RESULTS: All patients, except one, were males; mean age was 60 years (range, 41-79); in 9 cases an occupational exposure to wood or leather dust was found. Common presenting symptoms were epistaxis, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. Histologically, tumors were divided into four groups: well-differentiated (G1) ITACs = 3 cases; moderately differentiated (G2) ITACs = 8 cases; poorly differentiated (G3) ITACs = 2 cases; mucinous (M) ITACs = 5 cases. Immunocytochemically, 16/17 cases were positive for carcinoembryonal antigen, 1/17 for somatostatin, and 0/16 cases for gastrin. CONCLUSIONS: Sinonasal ITACs are aggressive tumors, often diagnosed in a relatively advanced stage. Owing the close similarity of the microscopic aspects, a histologic classification of ITACs analogous to that of colonic adenocarcinomas is proposed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Force patterns of heel strike and toe off on different heel heights in normal walking.

This study investigated the changes of force patterns of the heel strike and toe off phases at different heel heights during normal walking. Ten healthy female college students wore running shoes, flat leather shoes and high heeled shoes while walking on a Kistler force platform at their self-comfortable paces. It was found that the high heeled shoes and the leather shoes generated significantly greater vertical impact forces and anterior-posterior forces in the toe off phase than those in the heel strike phase. Accumulated impulses did not show significant increase while the heel heights increased and total support time while wearing the high heeled shoes was significantly longer than while wearing the running shoes.

Adult↗

Political-economic construction of gay male clone identity.

Social Construction is an ill-defined approach, lacking in specificity and poorly suited for solving problems of the real world. A concrete analysis of negative aspects of the Gay Clone Lifestyle, with a particular focus upon the premier gay clone drug, "poppers" (or nitrite inhalants), is contrasted to the desultory verbalizing characteristic of most social constructionist writing. The central point: Many features of the gay clone lifestyle were not created by or in the interests of gay men at all, but instead were economically constructed. The gay subculture largely evolved according to the profit-logic of an expanding sex industry. Over a dozen years ago, the sidewalks of my neighborhood, New York City's Lower East Side, were spray painted with the slogan, "CLONES GO HOME!" This was not an act of antigay bigotry. Gay men themselves had done the spray painting. Living in the Lower East Side-New York's traditional "melting pot"-these men had a way of life they wished to preserve from the encroachment of the "Gay Clone" lifestyle. Gay Lower East Siders considered themselves part of a diverse and vital community. They looked upon the newly emerging Gay Clone lifestyle as the product of a ghettoized mentality, an embodiment of commercialism, conformism, and vacuity. Living in a tough neighborhood, they were not impressed by leather queens with expensive wardrobes, nor by ersatz cowboys, nor by make-believe lumberjacks. They despised disco as an uninteresting species of submusic, referring to it as "Mafia Muzak." Nevertheless, the clone lifestyle came to prevail all over the world, so that an entire generation of gay men defined their own identities in terms of adherence to clonism: little mustaches; very short haircuts; plaid flannel shirts, boots, denim or leather jackets; a particular repertoire of movements, sounds, facial expressions, drug taking, and sexual practices. By the mid-70s there was a phrase in Frankfurt, "ein falscher Amerikaner" ("a fake American"), to describe a German gay man who had adopted the lifestyle of the American clone. At present, the clone lifestyle seems to be on the way out, though no doubt there are those who will carry it with them, as their identity, to the very end. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of social construction theory for understanding the clone episode in gay male history. I am particularly interested in the issues of continuity and specificity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Story of benzene and leukemia: epidemiologic approach of Muzaffer Aksoy.

In 1974, Professor Muzaffer Aksoy established a link to leukemia in humans as a result of occupational exposure to benzene. The aim of this study is to evaluate his epidemiological approach for his investigation on the effects of benzene and to bring attention to the benzene problem in Turkey. Dr. Aksoy observed that a large group of leukemic patients were shoemakers, or they worked in leather manufacturing. In the 1960s, benzene was a popular solvent in the leather industry. Dr. Aksoy conducted a field investigation in Gedikpasa- Istanbul, where the shoemakers worked so that he could draw his key observations from actual environmental conditions. With a gas detector, he found the concentration of benzene in these work places to be 150-210 ppm and up to 650 ppm on rare occasions. He performed an epidemiological study and health education among 28,500 shoe, slipper and handbag workers during the period from 1967 to 1974. He published these data, establishing an association between benzene and leukemia. The incidence of leukemia among the shoe workers was decreased by screening, health education, and legislative actions in Turkey, but it began to increase again because of lack of an occupational health policy and underestimation of the problem. These results suggest the importance of primary prevention of occupational cancers. Dr. Aksoy's epidemiologic approach may highlight the necessity for detailed investigations of the occupational status of patients who need medical aid in order to diagnose the real underlying factor.

Benzene↗

Telemark skiing injuries: characteristics and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the types of injuries associated with telemark skiing and the effects of ability level, equipment, and terrain. METHODS: A survey was mailed to a sample of North American telemark skiers. RESULTS: Completed surveys were returned by 548 telemarkers (response rate = 74.5%). The mean age was 42.7 (+/- 9.3) years, and 69% were male. A total of 439 injury events resulted in 494 body injuries, reported by 285 skiers (52%). Lower-extremity injuries (n = 231) were more frequent than upper-extremity injuries (n = 187). Knee injuries were most common with 128 cases, followed by 80 thumb, 66 shoulder, and 44 ankle injuries. Surgery was required in 39 cases. Skiers suffering thumb injuries with sequela lasting greater than 3 months were 10.1 times less likely to have sought medical attention than skiers with other long-term injuries (p < 0.001). Injuries occurred more often at lift-served ski areas (74.2%) than in the backcountry (25.8% [p < 0.001, OR = 2.09]). There was no association between boot type and overall knee or ankle injury, but risk of severe ankle injury was increased in leather boots compared to plastic (OR = 8.0, CI = 1.05, 60.59). Release bindings were used by 27.9% of all skiers but were in use in only 18.7% of injury events, suggesting that release plates have a protective effect against injury (OR = 0.59, p < 0.001). In 66 of 82 injuries (80.5%) sustained while using release bindings, the bindings did not release. CONCLUSIONS: The knee, thumb, shoulder, and ankle are most frequently injured telemark skiing. Injuries are more likely to occur at lift-served areas than in the backcountry. Thumb injuries are often ignored and may result in long-term sequela. Ankle injuries appear more severe in leather boots. Release bindings appear protective against injury, but they often do not release.

Adolescent↗

The use of running shoes to reduce plantar pressures in patients who have diabetes.

We compared the plantar pressures generated by walking in leather-soled Oxford-style shoes and by walking in inexpensive running shoes with those generated by walking in thin socks on a hard surface for thirty-nine individuals (thirteen who had diabetes and neuropathy, and thirteen who had diabetes without neuropathy, and thirteen who had neither diabetes nor neuropathy [controls]). Except for two anatomical regions, the plantar pressure associated with the Oxford-style shoes were not different from those associated with walking without shoes. In comparison, the inexpensive running shoes relieved plantar pressure in the forefoot and heel by a mean (and standard deviation) of 31 +/- 9.1 per cent, with the most relief occurring in the feet that had the highest pressures when they were unshod. There were significant reductions in pressure in all regions of the foot except for the midfoot (p < 0.01), and there were no significant differences between the groups. Individuals who have insensate feet should be discouraged from wearing leather-soled Oxford-style shoes because of the risk of ulceration due to elevated plantar pressures. Inexpensive running shoes should be viewed as the very minimally acceptable choice for footwear for these individuals if the feet are free of deformity.

Adult↗

Kinetics of azoreductase and assessment of toxicity of metabolic products from azo dyes by Pseudomonas luteola.

This is a continuous study on a decolorization strain, Pseudomonas luteola, which involves treating seven azo dyes with different structures. This study focuses mainly on determining both the mechanism of decolorization by P. luteola and the activity of azoreductase from P. luteola as well as identifying and assessing the toxicity of metabolic products of azo dyes. The growth of P. luteola reached the stationary phase after shaking incubation for 24 hours. Then, while being kept static, the color of seven tested azo dyes (100 mg/l) could be removed. The proportion of color removal was between 59-99%, which figure is related to the structure of the dye. Monoazo dyes (RP2B, V2RP and Red 22) showed the fastest rate of decolorization, i.e. from 0.23-0.44 mg dye-mg cell-1 hr-1. P. luteola could remove the color of V2RP and a leather dye at a concentration of 200 mg/l, and as to the rest of the azo dyes, it could remove at a concentration of up to 100 mg/l. Decolorization of RP2B and Red 22 required activation energy of 7.00 J/mol and 6.63 J/mole, respectively, indicating that it was easier for azoreductase to decolorize structurally simple dyes. The kinetics of azoreductase towards seven azo dyes suggested a competitive inhibition model be applied. Microtox was used to analyze the toxicity of the metabolic products of azo dyes. EC50 showed differences in toxicity before and after the azo dyes had been metabolized. Analysis revealed significant differences between the results obtained by EC50 with Blue 15 and those obtained with the leather dye, indicating that the toxicities of the metabolic products were increased. The differences obtained by EC50 with Red 22, RP2P and V2RP were small, and Black 22 showed no such difference. Sulfanic acid and orthanilic acid may be the intermediate products of Violet 9 and RP2B, respectively. However, according to FT-IR analysis, aromatic amines were present in the metabolic product.

Azo Compounds↗

Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of C.I. Acid Red 114 (CAS No. 6459-94-5) in F344/N Rats (Drinking Water Studies).

C.I. Acid Red 114 is one of five chemicals being evaluated in 2-year carcinogenicity and toxicity studies as part of the NTP's Benzidine Dye Initiative. This Initiative was designed to evaluate representative benzidine congeners, benzidine congener-derived dyes, and benzidine-derived dyes. C.I. Acid Red 114 was nominated for study because of the potential for human exposure during production of bisazobiphenyl dyes and because benzidine, a structurally related chemical, is a known human carcinogen. Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies were conducted by administering desalted, industrial grade C.I. Acid Red 114 in drinking water to groups of F344/N rats of each sex for 13 days, 13 weeks, 9 or 15 months, or 2 years. These studies were performed only in rats because studies of benzidine congeners were being performed in mice at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium, Chinese hamster ovary cells, and Drosophila melanogaster. 13-Day Studies: Rats were exposed to C.I. Acid Red 114 in drinking water at doses of 0, 10,000, 20,000, or 30,000 ppm. All control and dosed rats survived except one male rat in the 20,000 ppm dose group. Final mean body weights in the three dosed groups were 94%, 83%, or 77% of controls for males and 92%, 88%, or 80% of controls for females. Water consumption declined with increased dose. Clinical findings included red stained fur, ears, and tail in all test animals. On gross necropsy, organs and tissues were also stained red. 13-Week Studies: C.I. Acid Red 114 was administered in drinking water at doses of 0, 600, 1,200, 2,500, 5,000, or 10,000 ppm. All control and dosed animals survived until the end of the study. Final mean body weights in the five dosed groups were 97%, 89%, 87%, 87%, or 85% of controls for males and 97%, 94%, 94%, 92%, or 89% of controls for females. Water consumption was decreased in dosed animals. As was seen in the 13-day studies, major organs and tissues from treated animals were stained red. Kidney toxicity characterized by regeneration and karyomegaly of tubule epithelial cells with chronic inflammation was observed in female rats at doses of 1,200 ppm or above. Treatment-related increases in relative liver weights and elevated liver enzyme levels were seen in males and females, centrilobular pallor in the liver was seen in all male dose groups. Because of these body weight differences, decreases in water consumption, and organ toxicity, the doses chosen for the 2-year studies were 70,150, and 300 ppm for males and 150, 300, and 600 for females. 2-Year Studies: Male rats received doses of 0, 70, 150, or 300 ppm of C.I. Acid Red 114, and female rats received 0, 150, 300, or 600 ppm. Seventy animals were in the control and high-dose groups, 45 in the low-dose groups, and 75 in the mid-dose groups. Ten animals were evaluated from the control and high-dose groups at 9 months, and ten animals from all dose groups were evaluated at 15 months. The average amount of compound consumed per day was 4, 8, or 20 mg/kg for males and 9, 20, or 70 mg/kg for females. Survival and Body Weights: Survival at 105 weeks for male rats receiving 0, 70, 150, or 300 ppm was 24/50, 15/35, 26/65, and 1/50; for females receiving 0, 150, or 300 ppm, survival was 36/50, 13/35, and 6/64. All female rats receiving 600 ppm died by week 89. The decreased survival in treated groups was due primarily to the development of chemical-related neoplasms. Of the surviving animals, the final mean body weights for males receiving 70 or 150 ppm were 94% and 90% of control and for females receiving 150 or 300 ppm, 99% and 84% of control. These weight differences began in the second year of the studies and were attributed in part to the development of neoplasms in the dosed groups. Histopathologic Effects in the 2-Year Studies: At 9 and 15 months, a few neoplasms were seen in the liver, lung, clitoral gland, skin, Zymbal's gland, oral cavity epithelium, and small and large intestine, and the number of neoplasms at these sites increased as gland, skin, Zymbal's gland, oral cavity epithelium, and small and large intestine, and the number of neoplasms at these sites increased as the studies progressed. At 2 years, there was a clear carcinogenic response in the skin, Zymbal's gland, and liver of male and female rats, and in the clitoral gland, oral cavity epithelium, small and large intestine, and lung in female rats. Treatment-related increases were also seen in the incidence in neoplasms of the oral cavity epithelium, adrenal gland, and lung of male rats, and in mononuclear cell leukemia and in neoplasms of the mammary gland and adrenal gland in female rats. The incidence of these neoplasms was generally lower, but was significant and considered to be marginally related to chemical treatment. The same neoplastic effects have been previously observed in some or all of the NTP studies with dimethoxybenzidine, dimethylbenzidine, or C.I. Direct Blue 15. Genetic Toxicology: In a standard preincubation protocol, C.I. Acid Red 114 was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 in the presence of induced hamster liver S9, and an equivocal response was noted in strain TA100 with hamster liver S9. However, no significant mutagenic activity was noted in strains TA1535 or TA1537 with or without S9 activation. In a modified S. typhimurium gene mutation test which employed reductive metabolism followed by oxidative metabolism with S9 liver enzymes, C.I. Acid Red 114 was strongly mutagenic in strain TA1538. C.I. Acid Red 114 did not induce sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells with or without S9 activation; reductive metabolism was not used in these cytogenetic tests. No increase in sex-linked recessive lethal mutations was observed in germ cells of male Drosophila melanogaster administered C.I. Acid Red 114 by feeding or injection. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2-year drinking water studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Acid Red 114 for male F344/N rats, as indicated by benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin, Zymbal's gland, and liver. Increased incidences of neoplasms of the oral cavity epithelium, adrenal gland, and lung may have been related to chemical administration. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity for female F344/N rats, as indicated by benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin, Zymbal's gland, clitoral gland, liver, oral cavity epithelium, small and large intestines, and lung. Increased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia, mammary gland adenocarcinoma, and adrenal gland pheochromocytomas may have been related to chemical administration. Synonyms: 1,3-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid, 8-((3,3'-dimethyl-4'-((4-(((4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl)oxy)phenyl)azo)(1,1'-bipheny)-4-yl)azo)-7-hydroxy, disodium salt, Acid Leather Red BG, Acid Red 114, Amacid Milling Red PRS, Benzyl Fast Red BG, Benzyl Red BR, Cerven Kysela, C.I. 23635, Erionyl Red RS, Folan Red B, Kayanol Milling Red RS, Leather Fast Red B, Levanol Red GG, Midlon Red PRS, Milling Red B, Milling Red BB, Milling Red SWB, NCI C61096, Polar Red RS, Sandolan Red N-RS, Sella Fast Red RS, Sulphonol Fast Red R, Supranol Fast Red GG, Supranol Red PBX-CF, Supranol Red R, Telon Fast Red GG, Tertracid Milling Red B, Vondamol Fast Red RS

Journal Article↗

The painful foot.

The inventive physician may find ways of making releasing cuts or openings with existing shoes to alleviate points of pressure. Many patients will suffer misery of pressure in shoes without giving a thought to cutting them, or opening them to allow for more freedom of movement. Releasing cuts may be made along seams, or between sole and upper with leather inserts to increase shoe size at points of major need for improved fit. Soft shoes may be resorted to. Elasticized material or sandals are preferable to the hard, resistant leather which aggravates so many lesions in our offices. Shoes custom made for disordered feet are very expensive. They may have to be ordered for some feet deformed beyond the capacity for ordinary shoes. Again, unless foot care is convenient and helpful in offsetting pain, the patient will usually not comply. Careful explanation of objectives for present and future is as important here as in any condition treated by family practitioners.

Callosities↗

Exposure to dust and its particle size distribution in shoe manufacture and repair workplaces measured with GRIMM laser dust monitor.

OBJECTIVES: Owing to a diversified technological process and a great variety of products and materials used in shoe manufacture, workers may be exposed to dusts that contain different chemicals and particles of various shapes and sizes. The aim of this study was to assess the dust exposure, taking account of concentration of particular size fractions according to the European Standard Norm, and to analyze particle size distribution in inhalable dust at selected workplaces in a modern shoe manufacture plant and in a small shoe repair workshop in comparison with other industrial branches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In these two workplaces, the concentrations of dust, representing the inhalable, thoracic, and respirable fractions, were measured with the GRIMM 1.105 laser dust monitor. RESULTS: The particle size distribution in inhaled dust in the most characteristic workposts was analyzed. In the shoe manufacture plant, the concentrations ranged from 124 microg/m3 (leather cutting out) to 724 microg/m3 (scouring and milling of soles); concentrations of the thoracic and respirable fractions in the same workposts ranged from 74 microg/m3 to 412 microg/m3 and from 24 microg/m3 to 120 microg/m3, respectively. In the shoe repair workshop, the recorded concentrations were higher: the values ranged from 521 microg/m3 (gluing of shoes and soles, zipper exchange and heel abrasion) to 916 microg/m3 (uppers sewing and heel scouring) for the inhaled fraction; from 335 microg/m3 to 499 microg/m3 for the thoracic fraction; and from 88 microg/m3 to 120 microg/m3 for the respirable fraction. The mass median aerodynamic diameters of inhalable dust particles fell within the limits of 6.2-25.0 mm. Dust with the smallest particles (MMAD = 6.2 mm) was observed in shoe brushing and polishing, and with the largest particles (MMAD = 25.0 mm) in uppers sewing. CONCLUSIONS: The modern process of shoe manufacture is characterized by very low concentrations of inhalable dust and its fractions, they are considerably lower than occupational exposure limits in Poland for inhaled (4000 microg/m3) and respirable (2000 microg/m3) dust. In the workplaces under study, a relatively high proportion of extrathoracic fraction of leather dust was found, which supports a hypothesis on a potential etiologic role of this factor in the development of pathologies in the upper airways region.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

[Etiological epidemiology of tumors of the nasal cavities and the paranasal sinuses].

Etiologically-oriented epidemiologic studies on cancer of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses have been carried out since the beginning of the century. These studies showed that several chemical agents (chromates, nickel compounds, isopropylic alcohol, and mustard gas), and two occupational exposures (wood dust in the furniture industry and exposure to leather in shoe factories) were causally associated with nasal cancer. An increased risk has also been associated with several occupations (i.e. metalworker, textile worker, construction worker, and farmer) even in the apparent absence of causal agents. The first reports of an increased risk of nasal cancer in woodworkers and leather workers in Italy date back to 1980. Subsequent studies have provided estimates of the relative risk, ranging from 3.0 to 11.0 among woodworkers and from 8.1 to 47.1 among leatherworkers. Increased risks have been associated to the metal industry (relative risk ranging from 3.1 to 5.9), the textile industry (ranging from 2.9 to 17.0), the mining and construction industry (ranging from 2.3 to 5.3), and the agricultural industry (ranging from 1.9 to 3.3); all of these estimates are time- and place-specific. Moreover, the estimates are not reliable because of the small sample size, resulting from the low occurrence of the disease. The etiologic fraction for the population, taking into account both verified and suspected carcinogenic exposures, ranges between 50% and 65% in males. Relatively few cases of nasal cancer (all of them occurring in woodworkers) have been notified for workman's compensation; woodworkers with nasal cancer have received monetary compensation in Italy since 1988. Nasal cancer is an often fatal but largely preventable disease. Several verified and suspected occupational exposures are associated with this neoplasm. The reduction of dust and fumes in the air of the above mentioned work environments is recommended for reducing the occurrence of this disease.

Air Pollution↗

[Animal welfare legal aspects of rodeo events].

Rodeo events have been criticised by animal welfare organisations as being adverse to animal protection, for years. This was the motive for TVT to put several of these criticised disciplines to evaluation in terms of animal protection aspects. For that purpose, various rodeo events were visited, and videotaped material of almost all events, which had taken place in Germany in 2003 and 2004, was evaluated. Rodeo events are subject to and 11, sec.1, No. 3d, German Animal Protection Act, which implies compulsory accreditation. In the scope of such events, causing any sort of pain and suffering (and 3 No. 6 German Animal Protection Act) is prohibited. A proof of the severity of the pain caused, is therefore no necessity. For the "critical" disciplines "Bare Back Riding" and "Saddle Bronc Riding" a so called "flank" is used. A flank is a leather strap, fastened to the sensitive parts of the horse skin, (around the flanks,) which is tightened to a maximum as soon as the horse is released from the starting box. Analysis show, that the strap has to be seen as the trigger for the wanted kow-tow. The different coping strategies shown by the animals prove that the leather strap is an apt instrument to cause pain and/or suffering (anxiety/fear/stress) in horses. Bull riding, instead, showed that the rider has to be seen primarily as the trigger for defence behaviour, here. In consideration of the current legal position and taking ethic principles into account, it seems appropriate to only authorise rodeo events under the condition of a flank strap ban. Bull riding should be banned in general.

Animal Welfare↗

[Epidemiological investigation on bladder cancer and occupations].

A population-based case-control study was conducted in Boston, U.S.A., Manchester, U.K., and Nagoya, Japan to assess the associations of occupations with bladder cancer in men. In Nagoya, cancer cases were identified through Nagoya Bladder Cancer Registry, and controls were randomly selected from the general population using electoral registers. Study subjects, all males, analyzed were 430 cases and 397 controls in Boston; 339 and 493 in Manchester, and 220 and 443 in Nagoya, respectively. Occupations significantly related to an increased bladder cancer risk were those manufacturing or handling dyes, leather, paint or organic chemicals in Boston, and leather or medical workers in Manchester. Occupations significantly associated with bladder cancer development were not found in Nagoya. In general, risk related to occupations was relatively higher in the younger age group (less than 65 years old) than in the older age group (greater than or equal to 65 yrs old). Statistically significant differences in bladder cancer risk were not demonstrated between manufacturing workers and service workers.

Adult↗