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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

Prevention and control of chemical exposures in the rubber manufacturing industry in The Netherlands.

In a survey in the rubber manufacturing industry in The Netherlands both the chemical and physical exposure of operators as well as company policies on working conditions were assessed. Defining the effectiveness of control measures was a part of this study and is the subject of this article. A method of solution-directed workplace analysis was applied to compare and evaluate the control measures within this branch of industry. Elimination of sources appears to be a strategy for prevention which has been adopted on only a limited scale. Control of exposure to particulates is more frequently applied, with local exhaust ventilation as the most important control measure. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis confirmed that local exhaust ventilation has a limited effect. Dust-free forms of chemicals, especially those with health risks, are used on only a moderate scale. In addition to hazard identification and evaluation based on exposure levels, the foreseeable risks associated with the design and requirements of production processes were established. The forthcoming industrial agreement for the rubber manufacturing industry in The Netherlands will, amongst other measures, stimulate use of source related strategies.

Environmental Monitoring↗

PubMed2003

[Stress management in manufacturing industries].

Job strain factors and stress management for workers in the manufacturing industries were reviewed in this article. Major job stress factors included high job demands, low job control, low social support, role ambiguity and conflict, the physical, chemical and ergonomics of the work environment, work patterns with work schedule and shift work, and job insecurity regarding future employment. In considering effective stress management plans which counteract the job stress factors mentioned above, it is essential to use an organizational approach in the work environment. For workers in the manufacturing industry, through this approach, it is important to promote more autonomy and activities with increasing job control, to give more clarified roles and responsibilities, to provide a more mutually supportive system with better ways to communicate and to introduce a system giving additional rewards, such as paid holidays for refreshment. Plans are also needed for individuals and groups, such as workers, managers, supervisors and workgroups, regarding education, skill training and mutual training according to the personnel characteristics of each target. In order to make these stress management plans successful in the long term, an actual system for stress management is required, with recognition and support by top management. It is also important to assess the effectiveness and method of each stress management plan with proper measurements.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Composting of de-inking sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry.

Composting of two different types of sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry was carried out at laboratory scale. Physico-chemical sludge (PCS) from the de-inking process and biological sludge (BS) from the wastewater treatment plant were composted and co-composted with and without addition of a bulking material. Despite its poor initial characteristics (relatively high C/N ratio, low organic content and moisture), PCS showed excellent behaviour in the composting process, reaching and maintaining thermophilic temperatures for more than 7 days at laboratory scale, and therefore complete hygienization. Pilot scale composting of PCS was also studied, and a respiratory quotient of 1.19 was obtained, indicating a full aerobic biological process. Respiration tests showed a complete stabilization of the material, with final values of the static respiration index in the range of 1.1 mg O2gTOM(-1)h(-1). Composting is proposed as a suitable technology for the effective recycling of this type of sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed1983

Experience with an industrially manufactured gel PGE2 for cervical priming.

An industrially manufactured ready-to-use PGE2 gel for cervical ripening was clinically evaluated. The study included 42 primiparous and eight multiparous women with an unfavourable cervix (Bishop score less than or equal to 5) admitted to hospital for induction of labour on medical grounds. PGE2, 0.5 mg, in 2 ml triacetin gel was instilled into the cervical canal. In nine patients (18%) the gel induced labour and subsequent delivery. In the remaining women the mean Bishop score increased from 3.0 to 7.7 during a 24-h period and labour was induced by either i.v. oxytocin or PGF2 alpha. None of the 50 patients experienced gastrointestinal side effects during pretreatment with PGE2. In 50% of the patients slight uterine contractility was noticed. All patients went into labour. The incidence of Cesarean section was 10%. Except for two patients treated because of intrauterine fetal death there was no perinatal mortality. The 5-min Apgar score was 8 or more in all newborn but 1. The main advantage of the new gel is that it is ready to use without any mixing procedure. Moreover, the stability of PGE2 is sufficient to allow routine clinical use.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

A prospective study of the development of hand eczema in an automobile manufacturing industry.

We have not been able to find any prospective study of the risk of developing occupational dermatitis in the car manufacturing industry. To try to define individual predictive risk factors for the development of hand eczema and to determine the prevalence of hand eczema within 1 year in an automobile manufacturing industry, we investigated prospectively 1564 new employees during one year of employment. Only persons with previous atopic dermatitis or hand eczema were restricted to dry and clean workplaces. The employees were personally interviewed and examined before their employment. Written questionnaires were used at 3 and 12 months to obtain information on type of work, exposure, protection and hand dermatitis. All patients developing hand eczema were examined, patch tested and followed to determine the course and consequence of their eczema. The risk turned out to be only 4% on average, but significantly higher in females (6%). Certain sections within the factory such as wet work (canteen/kitchen and cleaning) and work in the paint shop with high exposure to organic solvents carried significantly higher risks. Heavy exposure to mineral oil, a known risk factor, was effectively counteracted by the extensive use of protective gloves to yield a lower than average prevalence in the press and body shop. Individual risk factors for the development of hand eczema were previous hand eczema, atopic dermatitis, but also wool intolerance and hay fever as isolated phenomena. Most cases of hand eczema were mild, of irritant contact type and only 1 employee developed an allergic contact dermatitis due to the working environment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Automobiles↗

PubMed1996

Occupational health services in manufacturing industries in Nigeria.

The provision of adequate health care facilities to cater for the health of workers is an important consideration in the management of manufacturing industries, since productivity is dependent on the health status of the workers. There are very few studies evaluating the health care provision in Nigerian industries. This study elucidates such health care services in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. One hundred and thirty-five (56%) of the 241 registered manufacturing industries in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria were randomly selected and investigated. The response rate was 91.1% and the result showed that the medical staff comprised 2.5% of the total workforce, with the large scale industries contributing the highest proportion of these. Four point five per cent of the medical staff had formal training in occupational health and 15.6% of them visited the factory shop floor. The doctor:staff ratio in the medium and large scale industries were 1:819 and 1:618 respectively. It was found that all the industries used the health care facilities provided by the government, there were no clinics in all the small scale industries and group practice was not used by any of the industries studied. Pre-employment medical examinations were carried out in each of the groups of industries (100%, 39.4% and 5%) respectively, as were periodic medical examinations during employment, although to a lesser extent (100%, 13.2%, 0%) for the large, medium and small scale industries respectively. These finding suggest the availability of a reasonable standard of health care provision for large scale industries and somewhat less availability for medium and small scale industries. Health education of both the employers of labour, and the employees and the enforcement of existing laws are needed to improve the existing standard of occupational health services.

Developing Countries↗

PubMed2000

Trends in levels of inhalable dust exposure, exceedance and overexposure in the European carbon black manufacturing industry.

In an attempt to investigate the relationship between exposure to carbon black and respiratory morbidity, a study of the complete carbon black manufacturing industry in Western Europe was commissioned. As part of this study, a large number of personal inhalable (n=8015) dust exposure measurements was taken during three phases of data collection between 1987 and 1995. Repeated measurements on the same worker were taken in the last two phases, which enabled the estimation of the within- and between-worker components of variance. Simultaneously, the fixed effects of phase and factory were estimated using mixed-effects analysis of variance. The results show that the personal inhalable dust exposure has reduced significantly since the first phase of the study. In addition, the interaction term between phase and factory was significant in most job categories, confirming that the reduction of exposure was not equal across all factories. When all factories were considered together, the probability that the mean exposure of a randomly selected worker (overexposure) or the probability that the exposure on a randomly selected day for a randomly selected worker (exceedance) was higher than 3.5mg m(-3), was 10% or less for all job categories in the last phase. However, when the factories were considered separately, it appeared that the probability of overexposure or exceedance was in excess of 10% for the job categories 'Fitter/Welder', 'Warehouseman' and 'Site crew' for a number of factories. Therefore, even though exposure levels of inhalable dust have dropped considerably across the whole carbon black manufacturing industry in Western Europe, further reductions in exposure levels are required in these areas to make sure that the probability of overexposure and exceedance falls below a level of 10%.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2001

Mutagenic exposure in the rubber manufacturing industry: an industry wide survey.

Mutagenic exposure conditions in several rubber manufacturing companies (n=9) in The Netherlands were studied. Mutagenicity of total suspended particulate matter in air (TSPM) and of wipe samples from possible contact surfaces were measured in the Ames mutagenicity assay with Salmonella typhimurium YG1041 in the presence of a metabolic activation system. Large differences in median mutagenicity of TSPM samples were observed between companies (range 49-1056rev/m(3)) and to a lesser extent between production functions (range 129-402rev/m(3)). The production function curing revealed overall the highest TSPM mutagenicity levels. Forty-one percent of the surface wipe samples revealed mutagenic activity ranging from 26 to 665rev/cm(2). Mixing had the largest proportion of positive samples resulting in a median surface mutagenic contamination of 39rev/cm(2). Surface mutagenic contamination, averaged per department/company combination, showed only a weak correlation with TSPM mutagenicity (r=0.28, P=0.05). Company, production function and total soluble matter (e.g. mass collected upon extraction with organic solvents with different polarity) explained 79 and 81% of the variability in mutagenicity of TSPM and surface contamination levels, respectively. "Company" was identified as the most important exposure determinant for mutagenic activity in TSPM and surface wipe samples. This indicates the importance of company specific determinants like production volume and rubber chemicals used for the encountered mutagenic exposure conditions. Detection of substantial mutagenic activity on possible contact surfaces supports furthermore the potential importance of the dermal route in the uptake of genotoxic compounds of workers in the rubber manufacturing industry.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2005

Prolonged menstrual cycles in female workers exposed to ethylene glycol ethers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that female workers exposed to ethylene glycol ethers (EGEs) in the semiconductor industry have higher risks of spontaneous abortion, subfertility, and menstrual disturbances, and prolonged waiting time to pregnancy. AIMS: To examine whether EGEs or other chemicals are associated with long menstrual cycles in female workers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey during the annual health examination at a wafer manufacturing company in Taiwan in 1997. A three tiered exposure-assessment strategy was used to analyse the risk. A short menstrual cycle was defined to be a cycle less than 24 days and a long cycle to be more than 35 days. RESULTS: There were 606 valid questionnaires from 473 workers in fabrication jobs and 133 in non-fabrication areas. Long menstrual cycles were associated with workers in fabrication areas compared to those in non-fabrication areas. Using workers in non-fabrication areas as referents, workers in photolithography and diffusion areas had higher risks for long menstrual cycles. Workers exposed to EGEs and isopropanol, and hydrofluoric acid, isopropanol, and phosphorous compounds also showed increased risks of a long menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to multiple chemicals, including EGEs in photolithography, might be associated with long menstrual cycles, and may play an important role in a prolonged time to pregnancy in the wafer manufacturing industry; however, the prevalence in the design, possible exposure misclassification, and chance should be considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Reporting of occupational injury and illness in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

In the United States, occupational illness and injury cases meeting specific reporting criteria are recorded on company Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 200 logs; case description data are submitted to participating state agencies for coding and entry in the national Supplementary Data System (SDS). We evaluated completeness of reporting (the percentage of reportable cases that were recorded in the company OSHA 200 log) in the semiconductor manufacturing industry by reviewing company health clinic records for 1984 of 10 manufacturing sites of member companies of a national semiconductor manufacturing industry trade association. Of 416 randomly selected work-related cases, 101 met OSHA reporting criteria. Reporting completeness was 60 percent and was lowest for occupational illnesses (44 percent). Case-description data from 150 reported cases were submitted twice to state coding personnel to evaluate coding reliability. Reliability was high (kappa 0.82-0.93) for "nature," "affected body part," "source," and "type" variables. Coding for the SDS appears reliable; reporting completeness may be improved by use of a stepwise approach by company personnel responsible for reporting decisions.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1985

Colon cancer incidence among modelmakers and patternmakers in the automobile manufacturing industry. A continuing dilemma.

Modelmakers and patternmakers in an automobile manufacturing corporation located in the Detroit metropolitan area expressed concern about cancer incidence in their work group. In particular, previous studies among woodworking patternmakers and modelmakers employed in the automobile manufacturing industry found excesses in the incidence of cancers of the colon and rectum. To determine cancer incidence among the study corporation's woodworkers, a computerized record linkage study was performed. Cancer incidence data from the Michigan Cancer Foundation Division of Epidemiology's Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS) were linked with corporate records for their woodworkers. In this group of 316 workers, ten cancers were found, four of which were colon cancers. A standard morbidity ratio analysis revealed a statistically significant excess of colon cancer in the woodworkers, compared with a general population group matched for race, gender and age (SMR = 487.0, p less than .01). These results are consistent with observations made in previous studies. The question raised by these findings is whether an occupational exposure contributes to this excess occurrence of colon cancers or whether these groups share some other common attributes, such as dietary habits.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Comparability of different methods of retrospective exposure assessment of metals in manufacturing industries.

Many occupational case-control studies have relied on either self-report or exposure assessment based on job titles linked to a job exposure matrix (JEM) as opposed to the generally considered more accurate, but labor intensive, method of expert review of job histories. Our study examined the comparability of these different methods in assessing occupational exposure to the metals copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe) in manufacturing industries. Subjects were older people from a case-control study of a neurologic disease, and consisted of 188 individuals (72% male, 85% white) who had worked an average of 22.4 years in the manufacturing industry. An industrial hygienist review (IHR) of occupational history data from a comprehensive questionnaire was used as the reference method. The percent agreement (%A), sensitivity (SE), and specificity (SP) for direct self-report of metal exposures were: Cu, %A = 94.6, SE = 83.6, SP = 96.1; Pb, %A = 91.9, SE = 72.5, SP = 93.5; and Fe, %A = 82.7, SE = 64.5, SP = 88.1. Using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) JEM, we analyzed the jobs of 115 of the 188 study subjects who had all their jobs listed in the JEM. Exposure assessment based on the NIOSH JEM compared with the IHR resulted in greater misclassification relative to direct self-report: Cu, %A = 81.5, SE = 21.2, SP = 89.2; Pb, %A = 86.0, SE = 0.0, SP = 92.6; and Fe, %A = 69.2, SE = 15.5, SP = 86.4. For all three study metals, combining the information from both direct self-report and the JEM did not improve upon the results compared with direct self-report alone. Due to the complex nature of metal exposure assessment, we suggest using an expert review of job histories whenever possible to minimize potential misclassification.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Identification of dermal exposure pathways in the rubber manufacturing industry.

Current existing dermal exposure assessment strategies are predominantly based on regulatory protocols. In order to develop effective and efficient strategies more data driven approaches are needed. In a recently developed conceptual model for dermal exposure, compartments, barriers and mass transport processes relevant for dermal exposure were described. We systematically applied this conceptual model to the rubber manufacturing industry to assess dermal exposure to cyclohexane soluble matter (CSM) and used quantitative data to design an exposure assessment strategy. Identification of the spatial distribution of the dermal contamination showed high CSM surface concentrations for the upper body. Moreover, because of the high correlation between dermal exposure at the wrist and calculated total body exposure (r=0.89, P<0.01) an exposure assessment strategy based on only one pad sampler was employed to estimate CSM surface concentrations in the skin contaminant layer. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the relevant compartments and related mass transport processes demonstrated the importance of deposition of airborne contaminants and direct transfer of contaminants from sources and surfaces to the skin contaminant layer. Interestingly, the importance of the different exposure pathways varied considerably between production functions. The use of a model driven exposure assessment strategy in the rubber manufacturing industry revealed relevant skin regions, compartments and mass transport processes and enabled development of an effective and efficient strategy for dermal exposure assessment and hazard control in this particular occupational setting.

Bias↗

PubMed1988

Dermatitis in rubber manufacturing industries.

This review describes the history of rubber technology and the manufacturing techniques used in rubber manufacturing industries. The important aspects of the acquisition of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis within the industry are presented for the reader.

Chemical Industry↗

PubMed1987

A case-control study of skin cancer in the tire and rubber manufacturing industry.

A case-control study was conducted in the tire and rubber manufacturing industry to examine the association of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin with rubber manufacturing materials presumed to be contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Sixty-five cases were compared to 254 matched controls for exposure to carbon black, extender oils, lubricating oils, rubber solvents, and rubber stock. Both magnitude and duration of exposure were compared using data from company personnel records. Rubber stock and lubricating oils were associated with skin cancer. The relative risk (RR) associated with the highest levels of rubber stock exposure was 2.2, and with the highest level of lubricating oil exposure it was 6.5. In analysis of subgroups of study members, the associations were strongest among workers who were born after 1900 (rubber stock, RR = 11.6; lubricating oil, RR = 4.5) and among workers whose skin cancer was diagnosed before the age of seventy (rubber stock, RR = 23.2; lubricating oil, RR = 28.3).

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Dermal exposure, handwashing, and hand dermatitis in the rubber manufacturing industry.

Skin diseases, such as hand dermatitis, are thought to be a common problem in the rubber manufacturing industry, as workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals with known irritant and sensitizing potential. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of rubber manufacturing workers (N = 202), selected from nine different rubber companies. Prevalence of hand dermatitis ("major" and "minor" dermatitis) and skin injuries was assessed on the basis of a diagnosis by a dermatologist. We investigated the possible relations between actual skin exposure, handwashing practices, and hand dermatitis. Prevalence of major hand dermatitis (7%) was comparable with that in the general population; however, minor signs of dermatitis were more common among the surveyed population (28%), as were traumata of the skin (17%). Dermal exposure to cyclohexane-soluble agents at work was related to the occurrence of major hand dermatitis, but not to the occurrence of minor hand dermatitis. Moderate and frequent handwashing especially with industrial surfactants containing scrubbing particles were found to be strongly associated with the occurrence of minor dermatitis [odds ratio = 4.27 (95% confidence interval = 0.90-20.27) and odds ratio = 6.38 (95% confidence interval = 1.33-30.17, respectively)].

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed1999

Potential significance of airborne fiber dimensions measured in the U.S. refractory ceramic fiber manufacturing industry.

BACKGROUND: To determine dimensions of airborne fibers in the U.S. refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) manufacturing industry, fibers collected through personal air sampling for employees at RCF manufacturing and processing operations have been measured. METHODS: Data were derived from transmission electron microscopy analyses of 118 air samples collected over a 20-year period. RESULTS: Characteristics of sized fibers include: diameter measurements of <60; 0.19 to 1.0 micron, m of which 75% are less than 0.6 micron and length ranging from < 0.6 to > 20 micron, with 68% of fibers between 2.4 and 20 micron. CONCLUSIONS: Exposures in RCF manufacturing include airborne fibers with dimensions (diameter < 0.1-0.4 micron, length < 10 micron) historically associated with biological effects in pleural tissues. Air sampling data and a review of studies relating fiber size to pleural effects in animals and humans support the belief that information on fiber dimensions is essential for studies with synthetic vitreous fibers.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Decrease in the n-hexane risk in shoe manufacturing industry].

In recent years the composition of the glues used in the shoe manufacturing industry in the "Riviera del Brenta" area (northern Italy) has changed considerably, with a gradual reduction of n-hexane. This fact emerged from a survey of 337 gluing stations in 105 shoe factories where 104 different commercial products containing organic solvents were found. The determining element in this change was the substitution of technical hexane with other refinery products which have a low n-hexane content (< 5%). There was a possible health risk due to n-hexane exposure in about only 10% of the gluing stations and in about 8% of commercial products, where mixtures of technical hexane are used. Ethyl acetate, cyclo-hexane, hexane isomers, methyl ethyl ketone, heptane and acetone are among the solvents most frequently used. This change means that assessment of glue composition will be necessary before beginning a health monitoring programme of the exposed population.

Adhesives↗