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PubMed2004

Airflow obstruction attributable to work in industry and occupation among U.S. race/ethnic groups: a study of NHANES III data.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the fraction of airflow obstruction attributable to workplace exposure by U.S. race/ethnic group. METHODS: U.S. population-based third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data on 4,086 Caucasians, 2,774 African-Americans, and 2,568 Mexican-Americans, aged 30-75, were studied. Airflow obstruction was defined as FEV1/FVC<75% and FEV1<80% predicted. Weighted prevalence, and prevalence odds ratios (OR) adjusted for the effect of age, smoking status, pack-years, body mass index, education, and socio-economic status were estimated using SUDAAN software. RESULTS: Industries with the most cases of airflow obstruction attributable to workplace exposure include: armed forces; rubber, plastics, and leather manufacturing; utilities; textile mill manufacturing; health care; food products manufacturing; sales; construction; and agriculture. The fraction of cases with airflow obstruction associated with work in industry varied by race/ethnic group and was estimated as 22.2% (95% CI 9.1-33.4) among Caucasians, 23.4% (95% CI 2.2-40.0) among African-Americans, and 49.6% (32.1-62.6) among Mexican-Americans. CONCLUSIONS: This study found differences in the fraction of airflow obstruction cases associated with employment pattern among major U.S. race/ethnic population groups.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Lung cancer and occupation in Alameda County: a death certificate case-control study.

A case-control comparison of lung cancer deaths versus deaths from all other cancers occurring in Alameda County, California, between 1958 and 1962 was conducted to investigate possible associations between lung cancer and occupation. Age-adjusted, sex-specific analyses indicated that a history of work in certain industries and occupations was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Among males, a significant positive association was found for glass, metal, furniture, professional and photographic equipment, rubber, leather and plastic manufacturing; water and air transportation; auto repair services; and construction. Specific occupations associated with a significant positive risk for males were: electricians, aircraft mechanics, painters, plasterers, machine operators, construction workers, bus and truck drivers, and guards and nightwatchmen. Among females, beauticians had a significantly high risk associated with lung cancer. These results were consistent with other studies of lung cancer related to occupation.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Mortality among workers in a shoe manufacturing company.

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that leather workers have an elevated risk of bladder cancer, nasal cancer, and leukemia. A case-control analysis of patient files at a large cancer treatment facility in New York State indicated that several bladder cancer patients had worked at a large shoe manufacturing company in upstate New York. A mortality study was initiated to determine whether there was an unusual cancer risk associated with employment in this facility. Because company records were not available, local newspaper obituaries were used to identify former company employees who died between 1960 and 1979. Proportionate mortality (PMR) analyses were conducted by using 4,734 death certificates and the general U.S. population for comparison. There were no excess deaths from nasal cancer or bladder cancer, and mortality from leukemia was slightly lower than expected. Increased relative frequencies of digestive cancers were seen among men and women. There were significant excesses of deaths from multiple myeloma among both men (PMR = 193) and women (PMR = 346).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Surveillance of occupational skin disease using the Supplementary Data System.

The utility of the Supplementary Data System (SDS) compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in conducting surveillance of occupational skin disease was evaluated by examining 14,703 workers' compensation cases reported to the SDS for the year 1981. Combined with state employment denominators obtained from the BLS Employment and Earnings Program, rates of illness (cases of dermatitis/10,000 employed) calculated for eight major industrial divisions varied significantly according to the criteria used for reporting cases. Despite quantitative variations in the rate of skin disease that depended on specific reporting criteria, the relative ranking of the major industrial divisions remained unchanged, with highest rates of skin disease consistently found in three major industry divisions: agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. This ranking of major industry divisions by rate of dermatitis corresponded extremely well with rankings generated from the 1981 Annual Survey (Spearman rank correlation = .98, p less than .01). At the two-digit level of the Standard Industrial Classification, the rankings based on the SDS had a 77% rank correlation with those from the Annual Survey. Two-digit SIC codes identified from the top 10 in both sets of rankings included crop and livestock production from the agricultural division and leather products, food products, rubber and plastic products from the manufacturing division.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗

PubMed1991

Alcohol, smoking, and occupational factors in cancer of the larynx: a case-control study.

A hospital-based case-control study of laryngeal cancer was conducted in Bremen in 1986 and 1987 with 100 prevalent male laryngeal cancer patients and 100 male hospital controls with diseases not considered to be related to smoking, alcohol, or occupational exposures, who were frequency matched by age. The odds ratio for heavy smoking (more than 30 pack-years) reached a value of 3.5 (95% confidence limits (CL) 1.1, 7.9). Ex-smokers showed a significant decrease in risk; this reached the level of those who had never smoked about 15 years after smoking cessation. For daily consumers of alcohol an odds ratio of 3.2 (95% CL 1.4, 7.5) was observed. Among the 17 occupations in which at least ten subjects had worked, excess risks were observed for stock keeping and transportation workers, and for leather and textile workers. The odds ratio was significantly increased for the latter (p less than 0.05). Among all those persons ever employed in a priori defined-risk occupations, an odds ratio of 2.74 (95% CL 1.23, 6.06) was observed. Considering responses to an exposure check-list, no increased risks could be shown for exposure to asbestos, coal tar, or welding fumes. On the other hand, excess risks were observed for exposures to diesel oil, gasoline, and mineral oil, controlling for smoking and alcohol. The findings in occupational and exposure subgroups were based on small numbers of cases and controls and, consequently, were subject to large sampling errors. Many of the results are consistent, however, with occupational risk factors reported from other studies.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

A case-control study of cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses and occupational exposures.

The association between nasal cancer and various occupations was investigated in a case-control study in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza (northeastern Italy) and Siena (central Italy). Cases of malignant epithelial neoplasm of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses diagnosed in the years 1982-1987 in the hospitals of Verona, Legnago, Bussolengo, Vicenza, and Siena comprised the study. Controls were patients admitted to the same hospitals as the cases, with any diagnosis except chronic rhino-sinusal disease and nasal bleeding. Age, gender, residency, and date of admission were taken into account by matching. Cases and controls, or their next of kin, were interviewed or required to fill in a mailed questionnaire; the overall response rate was 70%. Altogether, 78 cases and 254 controls provided information on occupational history. Significantly increased risks were associated (in males) with work in the wood industry (odds ratio [O.R.]: 5.8; 90% confidence interval [C.I.]: (2.2-16) and in the leather industry (6.8; 1.9-25). Textile workers, furnacemen, construction workers, and workers with possible exposure to organic dusts showed increased risks even if statistical significance was not reached.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2001

Use of hair pores to determine the orientation of collagen fibers in skin.

Most people are interested in recovery of skin defects caused by burn, scald or trauma from the aesthetic and functional point of view. It will occupy an important role for successful skin graft for patients with such skin defects that the orientation of collagen fibers in the grafted skin matches to the fiber orientation in surrounding skin. There have been, to my best knowledge, no methods for determining the orientation of collagen fibers in the skin from the clinical point of view. Recently, the author has found a new method for directly determining the collagen-fiber orientation without cutting samples from a calf leather by analyzing the anisotropic shape of hair pore. Its principle is based on the quantitative evaluation of collagen-fiber orientation by approximating a hair pore to an ellipse. The results obtained by the new method using hair pores were supported by the microwave method, mechanical measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Such a method will be applicable for determining the orientational distribution of collagen fibers in skins of animals and humans and give a valuable probe for performing skin grafting based on the scientific data of hair pores.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Occupation and bladder cancer in males: a case-control study.

A case-control study of 512 male cases of bladder cancer and 596 male hospital controls (all living in the province of Turin, Northern Italy, an area with a high proportion of car workers) has been analyzed for occupations. Relative risks were 1.8 (95% c.l. 0.9-3.6) for the textile industry, 3.8 (1.3-11.5) for the leather industry, 1.8 (0.8-4.0) for printing, 8.8 (2.7-28.6) for dyestuff production, 1.2 (0.6-2.4) for tire production and 2.5 (1.0-6.0) for other rubber goods, 2.0 (0.9-4.5) for brickyards and related activities. A relative risk of 3.1 (0.9-10.5) was found for turners having started work before 1940 and with at least 10 years of activity. For truck drivers the relative risk was 1.2 (0.6-2.5). A job-exposure matrix was developed for the development of new hypotheses; an association with bladder cancer was found for aromatic amines only. The attributable risk percent in the population was estimated as 10%, when only those occupations consistently associated with bladder cancer were considered.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Sinonasal cancer and occupational exposure to formaldehyde and other substances.

A case-control study of cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses was conducted in France to determine whether occupational exposure to formaldehyde was associated with an increased risk of sinonasal cancer. Exposures to 14 other substances or groups of substances were also studied (wood dust, leather dust, textile dust, flour dust, sugar dust, coal/coke dust, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, chromium VI, welding fumes, soldering fumes, cutting oils, paints and lacquers, glues and adhesives). Cases (n = 207) and controls (n = 409) were interviewed to obtain detailed information on job history and other potential risk factors for sinonasal cancer. In addition, a questionnaire specially designed for this study was used to help assess exposures to formaldehyde and other substances of interest. The questionnaires were translated into history of occupational exposure by an expert in industrial hygiene, without knowledge of case-control status. Several exposure variables (lifetime average level, duration, cumulative level) were used to describe the risk related to exposure to formaldehyde. Potential confounding factors (occupational and non-occupational) were examined and adjusted for when necessary. No significant association was found between exposure to formaldehyde and squamous-cell carcinomas of the sinonasal cavities. Because of the strong association between exposure to wood dust and nasal adenocarcinoma, it was not possible to assess an independent effect of formaldehyde on this type of cancer. However, among males exposed to medium or high levels of wood dust, the risk of adenocarcinoma associated with formaldehyde was significantly elevated for the highest exposure categories for average level (OR = 5.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-22.2), cumulative level (OR = 6.9, 95% CI = 1.7-28.2) and duration of exposure (OR = 6.9, 95% CI = 1.7-27.8). Although a residual confounding effect of wood dust could not be excluded, this study suggests that exposure to both formaldehyde and wood dust may increase the risk of nasal adenocarcinoma, by comparison with the risk due to wood dust alone. This study also indicated an increased risk among males who had been exposed to glues and adhesives, for all histologic types, which was not explained by a confounding effect of paints and lacquers, wood dust or formaldehyde. No other significant association was observed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chromium-induced micronuclei in fish.

An investigation of the cytogenetic effects of chromium (Cr(VI) and Cr(III)) in Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) was made. For detecting cytogenetic damage, micronuclei induction in fish erythrocyte cells was employed. Fish were investigated 100 m above and 400 m below the discharge of leather waste products into the river Ljubljanica, and by exposing fish to three doses of chromium (Cr(VI) and Cr(III)) in the laboratory. The exposure of fish to various concentration levels (sub-lethal) of chromium under laboratory and field conditions caused an increase in the frequency of micronuclei compared with the control groups.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Cytogenetic effects of leachates from tannery solid waste on the somatic cells of Vicia faba.

The contamination of surface- and groundwater by the leaching of solid wastes generated by industrial activities as a result of water runoff and rainfall is a matter of great concern. The leachates from tannery solid waste (TSW), a major environmental pollutant, were examined for their possible genotoxic effects on the somatic cells of Vicia faba. Leachates were prepared from solid wastes procured from leather-tanning industrial sites, and V. faba seedlings were exposed to three test concentrations, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, through soil and aqueous media for 5 days. The root tips examined for cytogenetic damage revealed that leachate of TSW significantly inhibited the mitotic index and induced significantly frequent chromosomal and mitotic aberrations (CA/MA) in a dose-dependent manner. The chemical analysis of TSW samples revealed that the chief constituents were chromium and nickel, which may cause genetic abnormalities. The frequency of aberrations was found to be higher in the root meristematic cells of Vicia faba exposed through the aqueous medium than those exposed through the soil medium. The results of the present study indicated that contamination of potable water bodies by leachates of TSW may cause genotoxicity. For the biomonitoring of complex mixtures of toxicants with the V. faba bioassay, the use of the aqueous medium seems to be a more promising method than the use of the soil medium.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

PubMed1994

Some effects of elevated levels of chromium (III) in sediments to the Mullet Chelon labrosus (R.).

An investigation into the possible toxic effects of elevated levels of chromium (III) in estuarine sediments as a result of leather tanning operations was conducted in parallel to a control study. The gray mullet Chelon labrosus (R.), which feeds directly on sediments, was monitored in a field study and in an aquarium experiment. Growth, mortality, gross tissue damage, and liver bioaccumulation were assessed. Growth was found not to be adversely affected by the elevated chromium levels in either field or aquarium studies and no macroscopic physiological damage was detected. In the aquarium experiment of 2-month duration, there were no mortalities, although significant bioaccumulation was measured in the livers of exposed mullet (P < 0.01). In contrast, the concentrations of chromium in the livers of mullet sampled from the contaminated site were not significantly elevated compared to those of controls. It is suggested that the levels of chromium in the estuary are not overtly toxic to mullet and, although short-term accumulation occurs, long-term exposure appears to lead to a stabilization in liver chromium levels.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Postural sway frequency analysis in workers exposed to n-hexane, xylene, and toluene: assessment of subclinical cerebellar dysfunction.

To clarify the effects of organic solvents on the postural balance system, 29 male sandal, shoe, and leather factory workers exposed to n-hexane, xylene, and toluene (solvent workers) were examined by computerized static posturography with sway frequency analysis. Concentrations of metabolites of solvents in urine samples taken from the workers in the morning before work ranged from 0.41 to 3.06 (mean, 1.20) mg/g creatinine (Cn) for 2,5-hexanedione, from 0.10 to 0.43 (mean, 0.19) g/g Cn for methylhippuric acid, and from 0.05 to 2.53 (mean, 0.37) g/g Cn for hippuric acid; estimated concentrations of n-hexane in workplace air ranged from 13 to 100 (mean, 40) ppm. Control subjects were 22 healthy males without exposure to solvents. With eyes open, postural sway with a frequency of 2-4 Hz in solvent workers was significantly larger than that in controls in the anteroposterior direction. With eyes closed, sway with a frequency of 0-1 Hz was significantly larger in solvent workers in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions. Results of multiple regression analysis showed that with eyes open the 1- to 2-Hz and 2- to 4-Hz sways were related positively to 2,5-hexanedione and inversely with methylhippuric acid. The pattern of changes suggests that the vestibulocerebellar and spinocerebellar afferent systems are asymptomatically affected by n-hexane; the effect of n-hexane on the vestibulocerebellar system is possibly inhibited by xylene.

Cerebellum↗

PubMed1998

Solution structure of the M13 major coat protein in detergent micelles: a basis for a model of phage assembly involving specific residues.

The three-dimensional structure of the major coat protein of bacteriophage M13, solubilized in detergent micelles, has been determined using heteronuclear multidimensional NMR and restrained molecular dynamics. The protein consists of two alpha-helices, running from residues 8 to 16 and 25 to 45, respectively. These two helices are connected by a flexible and distorted helical hinge region. The structural properties of the coat protein make it resemble a flail, in which the hydrophobic helix (residues 25 to 45) is the handle and the other, amphipathic, helix the swingle. In this metaphor, the hinge region is the connecting piece of leather. The mobility of the residues in the hinge region is likely to enable a smooth transformation from the membrane-bound form, mimicked by the structure in detergent micelles, into the structure in the mature phage. A specific distribution of the residues over the surface of the two helices was observed in the presented high-resolution structure of the membrane-bound form of the major coat protein as well as in the structure in the mature phage. All data suggest that this arrangement of residues is important for the interactions of the protein with the membrane, for correct protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions in the phage and for a proper growth of the phage during the assembly process. By combining our findings with earlier NMR results on the major coat protein in detergent micelles, we were able to construct a model that addresses the role of specific residues in the assembly process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Occurrences, uses, and properties of chromium.

Chromium is the 21st most abundant element in the Earth's crust with a mean concentration in United States soils of about 40 mg/kg. Although it exists in several oxidation states, the zero, trivalent, and hexavalent states are the most important in commercial products and the environment. Nearly all naturally occurring chromium is in the trivalent state, usually in combination with iron or other metal oxides. Although only about 15% of the chromium mined is used in the manufacture of chemicals, most applications of chromium utilize the chemistry of chromium. For instance, the "stainless" nature of stainless steel is due to the chemical properties of the chromium oxides which form on the surface of the alloy. Similarly, the protective properties of chrome plating of metals, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treatment of wood, and chrome tanning of leather are all dependent on chromium chemistry. The key to these uses is that under typical environmental and biological conditions of pH and oxidation-reduction potential, the most stable form of chromium is the trivalent oxide. This form has very low solubility and low reactivity resulting in low mobility in the environment and low toxicity in living organisms. In this paper the chemical properties of chromium are discussed for the major commercial products in the context of the Eh-pH diagram for chromium.

Chromium↗

PubMed2003

Chromium-microorganism interactions in soils: remediation implications.

Discharge of Cr waste from many industrial applications such as leather tanning, textile production, electroplating, metallurgy, and petroleum refinery has led to large-scale contamination of land and water. Generally, Cr exists in two stable states: Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Cr(III) is not very soluble and is immobilized by precipitation as hydroxides. Cr(VI) is toxic, soluble, and easily transported to water resources. Cr(VI) undergoes rapid reduction to Cr(III), in the presence of organic sources or other reducing compounds as electron donors, to become precipitated as hydroxides. Cr(VI)-reducing microorganisms are ubiquitous in soil and water. A wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts; and algae, with exceptional ability to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) anaerobically and/or aerobically, have been isolated from Cr-contaminated and noncontaminated soils and water. Bioremediation approaches using the Cr(VI)-reducing ability of introduced (in bioreactors) or indigenous (augmented by supplements with organic amendments) microorganisms has been more successful for remediation of Cr-contaminated water than soils. Apart from enzymatic reduction, nonenzymatic reduction of Cr(VI) can also be common and widespread in the environment. For instance, biotic-abiotic coupling reactions involving the microbially formed products, H2S (the end product of sulfate reduction), Fe(II) [formed by Fe(III) reduction], and sulfite (formed during oxidation of elemental sulfur), can mediate the dissimilatory reduction of Cr(VI). Despite the dominant occurrence of enzymatic and nonenzymatic reduction of Cr(VI), natural attenuation of Cr(VI) is not taking place at a long-term contaminated site in South Australia, even 225 years after the last disposal of tannery waste. Evidence suggests that excess moisture conditions leading to saturation or flooded conditions promote the complete removal of Cr(VI) in soil samples from this contaminated site; but Cr(VI) reappears, probably because of oxidation of the Cr(III) by Mn oxides, with a subsequent shift to drying conditions in the soil. In such environments with low natural attenuation capacity resulting from reversible oxidation of Cr(III), bioeremediation of Cr(VI) can be a challenging task.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

PubMed1991

Pesticide personal protective clothing.

A fairly large established data base provides information on clothing worn by U.S. and Canadian farmers to work with pesticides, their attitudes and beliefs about pesticide risk, and clothing as a dermal barrier. Very limited similar data are available for farmers in less developed countries. Clearly, farmers perceive the benefits of pesticides to far exceed any risks. While few report poisoning symptoms, most believe that their usual work clothing offers a sufficient pesticide barrier, and few wear special-purpose protective clothing. Gloves of various materials, including cotton and leather, appear to be the major protective clothing item. Although farmers feel that their usual work clothing provides excellent protection, fabric penetration research does not support this. Shirting-weight fabrics offer some limited protection against light spray of field-strenght pesticides. Heavier-weight fabrics, such as denim and twill, are better barriers. With a heavier spray or a spill, usual work clothing does not give sufficient protection. Greater protection can usually be achieved with the use of a fluorocarbon finished fabric, such as Scotchgard or Zepel. Scotchgard can readily be applied at home. A durable-press finish does not appear to improve fabric's pesticide-barrier resistance and some data suggest that it may decrease barrier properties. A second alternative for increased protection is the use of a special-purpose fabric, such as a coated nonwoven or possibly Gore-Tex. Numerous other new "waterproof breathable" fabrics have recently come to the market. Many of these are finished or coated fabrics and one would expect them to be at least somewhat resistant to pesticides. However, they have not been tested. Wearing an additional layer also appears to be another clothing strategy to minimize exposure. Fabric penetration research also shows that pesticide formulation, volume or spray regime, concentration, and active ingredients influence the barrier properties of fabrics. Clothing evaluation studies have shown that protective clothing and coveralls of various materials and designs were effective in reducing exposure. Results of some of these studies suggested that the farmer's typical work clothing was more effective than fabric penetration results suggested. This apparent conflict is not surprising, given the methods used in both types of research. The field studies use pads placed in various areas under the clothing. This method assumes that exposure is uniform over entire body regions. But fluorescent tracer research has shown that this is not a valid assumption (DeJonge et al. 1985; Fenske 1988). Also, the way in which the pads are attached may make a difference, although no research has examined this issue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗

PubMed1977

Chemistry of the crosslinking of collagen during tanning.

The materials commonly used for crosslinking collagen as part of the process of converting animal hides into leather fall into three main groups: mineral tannages, aldehyde tannages, and "vegetable" tannages. The most important mineral crosslinking agents are hydrated basic chromium III sulfate complexes. These compounds form extended polynuclear coordination complexes containing hydroxol, oxo, and sulfato bridges into which ionized carboxyl groups on collagen enter readily as coordinating ligands accomplishing crosslinking. On pH adjustment and partial drying, highly stable complexes are formed with oxo bridges predominating and protein amide groups entering the coordination complex. The aldehyde tannages proceed through aldehyde condensation reactions with collagen amino groups to give alpha-hydroxyamines which can condense with other collagen amine groups to effect crosslinking. The vegetable type tanning agents, whether natural plant extracts or synthesized, are complex, high molecular weight polyhydroxy compounds that do not rely on crosslinking as such to be effective. Their effectiveness appears to depend on other properties. This and additional information concerning these commerical tannages are reviewed.

Aldehydes↗