International archives of occupational and environmental health
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jul 2008
Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals.
This study presents occupational peak and average exposures to nitrous oxide in delivery suites in six Swedish hospitals and evaluates different scavenging techniques. ⋯ A diffusive sampling method and a GC-MS analytical technique was used for long- and short-term sampling of nitrous oxide. A large number of TWAs exceeded the ACGIH-TLV. Mask connected to scavenging systems significantly reduced the exposures. Furthermore, using a forced general air ventilation system in addition to improved work and delivery routines for the staff and the mother-to-be substantially improved the air quality in the delivery suites.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jul 2008
Comparative StudyResidential proximity to large airports and potential health impacts in New York State.
This study assessed whether residents living near commercial airports have increased rates of hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases compared to those living farther away from these airports. ⋯ There is the suggestion that residential proximity to some airports may increase hospital admissions for respiratory disorders. However, there are many factors that could influence this association that may differ by airport, which should be measured and studied further.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Apr 2008
Syndromes from segmental vibration and nerve entrapment: observations on case definitions for carpal tunnel syndrome.
The purpose of this paper is to assess the overlap and stability of two different case definitions of carpal tunnel syndrome CTS. The analysis considers the association between different case definitions and objective tests (sensory nerve conduction velocities, SNCVs and vibrotactile perception thresholds, TTS), and the natural history of CTS, in the context of two vibration-exposed cohorts. ⋯ Clinical case definitions of CTS based on diagrams and self-assessment, and clinical evaluation have limited overlap. Combining clinical criteria to create a more narrow or specific case definition of CTS does not appear to predict SNCV. The natural history of CTS suggests a protean disorder with considerable flux in case status over time.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Aug 2007
Work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave in patients with neck or upper extremity complaints.
To study work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave among patients who have visited their general practitioner for neck or upper extremity complaints. ⋯ Heavy physical work increased the risk of sick leave and prolonged sitting reduced the risk of sick leave in a subgroup of patients who worried much about their pain. Additional large longitudinal studies of sufficiently large size among employees with neck or upper extremity complaints are needed to confirm our results.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Aug 2007
Air pollution, socioeconomic position, and emergency hospital visits for asthma in Seoul, Korea.
Some epidemiological literature has observed that air pollution effects on health differed across regional or individual socioeconomic position. This study evaluated whether regional and individual socioeconomic position, as indicated by health insurance premiums, modified the effect of air pollution on hospital visits for asthma. ⋯ In Seoul, community but not individual socioeconomic conditions modified risk of asthma hospital visits on high air pollution days.