International archives of occupational and environmental health
-
Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Nov 2000
Review Comparative StudyThe relationship between leisure time, physical activities and musculoskeletal symptoms and disability in worker populations.
To assess the association between leisure time physical activity and musculoskeletal morbidity, as well as possible interactions with physical activity at work. ⋯ Stimulation of leisure time physical activity may constitute one of the means of reducing musculoskeletal morbidity in the working population, in particular in sedentary workers.
-
Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Nov 2000
Comparative StudyRole of occupational asbestos exposure in Hungarian lung cancer patients.
What is the frequency of occupational asbestos exposure among patients suffering from malignant respiratory tumours and how many of these tumours are associated with asbestos in Hungary? ⋯ The annual incidence of lung cancer in Hungary is about 6,000. Since in our series of lung cancer patients about 4% were observed, which could be accepted as representing occupational disease because of a cumulative exposure to 25 fibre-years or more, the annual asbestos related lung tumour incidences may be estimated to be approximately 150 or more. The proportion of nearly two estimated cases of lung cancer per case of pleural mesothelioma corresponds to international experience. Up to now, lung cancer cases only exceptionally have been registered as occupational diseases, i.e. they were seriously under-diagnosed in Hungary. For improving this situation, diagnostic assistance by a self-interview with a questionnaire covering the working history for all newly diagnosed lung cancer patients would be helpful.
-
Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jun 2000
Case ReportsSuccessful treatments of lung injury and skin burn due to hydrofluoric acid exposure.
Recent growth in the electronics and chemical industries has brought about a progressive increase in the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF), along with the concomitant risk of acute poisoning among HF workers. We report severe cases of inhalation exposure and skin injury which were successfully treated by administering a 5% calcium gluconate solution with a nebulizer and applying 2.5% calcium gluconate jelly, respectively. Case 1: A 52-year old worker used HF for surface treatment after welding stainless steel, and was hospitalized with rapid onset of severe dyspnea. ⋯ Persistent high concentrations of serum and urinary F were disclosed for 2 weeks. After treatment with applications of HF burn jelly, he was confirmed as being completely recovered. The present cases and a review of published data suggest that an adequate method of emergency treatment for accidental HF poisoning is necessary.
-
Int Arch Occup Environ Health · May 2000
Spinal troubles in sewage workers: epidemiological data and work disability due to low back pain.
To determine the prevalence of spinal troubles (i.e., neck, upper back and low back pain) in a population of sewage workers, and to establish the effect of sociodemographic, work-related, physical, and psychosocial factors on the reported work disability due to low back pain (LBP) during the previous 12 months. ⋯ This study revealed a high incidence of spinal troubles among sewage workers. In a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrated that not one factor alone but a combination of sociodemographic, work-related and psychosocial factors have shown associations with work disabilities due to LBP. Additional studies evaluating the relative importance of individual risk factors are warranted.
-
Int Arch Occup Environ Health · May 1999
Occupational exposure to sevoflurane during sedation of adult patients.
In a field study we evaluated the workplace pollution occurring during conscious sedation with sevoflurane in adults. ⋯ The trace gas concentrations were low and comparable with values obtained under inhalation induction in adults and children. Although no occupational standard for sevoflurane is currently defined, the measured values are clearly under the standards recommended for enflurane (20 ppm) and isoflurane (10 ppm) by the European health authorities. We conclude that the new anesthesiologic method of conscious sedation with sevoflurane in adults using a nasal mask would not result in a violation of occupational standards, provided that the future value set for sevoflurane would be similar to those recommended for isoflurane or enflurane.