| 1. |
- Albin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of asthma in female Swedish hairdressers.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ. - 1470-7926 .- 1351-0711. ; 59:2, s. 119-23.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of asthma in hairdressers. METHODS: The incidence of asthma was retrospectively estimated in a Swedish nationwide study including all female hairdressers certified from vocational schools from 1970 to 1995, and a stratified sample of women from the general population were referents. A postal questionnaire included questions on respiratory tract symptoms, atopy, smoking, working periods as a hairdresser, and number of specific hair treatments performed/week. Reported exposures were validated by occupational hygienists. Rate ratios of incidence (IRRs) of asthma were estimated by Poisson regression, adjusted for calendar year of observation, hay fever, smoking, and region of domicile. RESULTS: The crude incidences of asthma/1000 person-years were: 3.9 during active years as a hairdresser, 2.8 among the hairdressers when not working in the profession, and 3.1 among the referents. The corresponding IRR for being an active hairdresser compared with the referents was 1.3 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0 to 1.6). Moderate effects on risk of asthma were found both from hairdressing work (IRR=1.6 (1.1 to 2.2) among never-smokers) and from smoking (IRR=1.6 (1.2 to 2.2) among referents). However, the combined effect from hairdressing work and smoking (IRR=1.5 (1.0 to 2.1)) was less than expected (p=0.02). No effect modification by respiratory atopy was found. The hairdressers most often performing hair bleaching treatments (IRR=1.5 (0.7 to 3.0)) or using hair spray (IRR=1.4 (0.8 to 2.4)) had, compared with the most infrequent users, a slightly, but not significantly higher incidence of asthma. Exposure to persulphates in hair bleach was estimated to be 0.04-0.15 mg/m(3) during mixing of the powder. Reported average number of bleaching treatments agreed well with those performed according to a diary. CONCLUSIONS: Active hairdressing work was associated with a moderately increased incidence of asthma among lifelong non-smokers. The results are moderately supportive, but not conclusive, of associations between asthma and exposure to hair bleach or hair spray.
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| 2. |
- Brisman, Jonas, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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The incidence of respiratory symptoms in female Swedish hairdressers
- 2003
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Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0271-3586. ; 44:6, s. 673-8.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Airway diseases in hairdressers are a concern. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the risk for three respiratory symptoms, wheeze, dry cough, and nasal blockage, in hairdressers. Methods A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, atopy, smoking, and work history was answered by 3,957 female hairdressers and 4,905 women from the general population as referents. Incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs)for the three symptoms were estimated. Results The IRs of all three studied symptoms were higher in the hairdressers compared with the referents. Smoking modified the effects of cohort affiliationfor all threesymptoms; the combined effect from hairdressing work and smoking was less than expected. In addition, the effect of cohort affiliation for wheeze was also modified by atopy, and the effect of cohort affiliation for nasal blockage was also modified by calendar year. Conclusions Hairdressing work was associated with increased incidences of respiratory symptoms. Smoking had a negative modifying effect.
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| 3. |
- Drexler, H, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure assessment and sensitisation in workers exposed to organic acid anhydrides
- 2000
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Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1246 .- 0340-0131. ; 73:4, s. 228-234
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether the intensity of exposure to organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) is associated with the risk of sensitisation to these allergens. METHODS: The investigations were carried out in three different manufacturing plants (A, B, and C) where OAAs were used in the production of epoxy resins. Methyltetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) was used in all three plants. The exposure assessment included stationary and ambient air monitoring (OAAs in the air) and biological monitoring (metabolites in urine). In plant A 20, in plant B 86 and in plant C 113 employees were examined by a physician (anamnesis, skin-prick test, specific IgE, spirometry). In plants B and C, the exposure areas were classified as high, medium, and low, without the results of the exposure assessment being known. RESULTS: The ambient air concentrations (in microg/m3) of MTHPA were 37.2 and 58.5 in plant A (number of samples n = 2), ranged from <0.5-26.2 in plant B (n = 5) and from 2.1-57.9 in plant C (n = 3) with stationary air collecting, and from 8-45 (n = 6), from < 4.7-35.7 (n = 3) and from 2-37.8 (n = 3) with personal air collection. The metabolites of OAAs in urine (in nmol/mmol creatinine) ranged from 5.7-645 (median of MTHPA: 346) in plant A, from < 1-213 (median of MTHPA: 10.1) in plant B and from 0.1-830 (median of the sum of the OOA metabolites: 108.6) in plant C. The prevalence of sensitisation was 35% in plant A, 21% in plant B and 29% in plant C. A higher prevalence in the highly exposed areas, however, could not be seen. Levels of IgE specific for conjugates of MTHPA were not associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. Levels of IgG specific for conjugates of MTHPA, however, were associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that biological monitoring is a useful tool in the exposure assessment of OAAs. Comparing the prevalence of sensitisation and the results of biological monitoring, between the three plants, we found that sensitisation increased with increasing exposure. Within a plant a higher risk of sensitisation in persons working in highly exposed areas at the time of the examination could not be seen, possibly due to frequent job rotation.
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| 4. |
- Flohr Nielsen, Jørn, et al.
(författare)
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Market orientation in Nordic banks : Does nationality matter?
- 2003
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Ingår i: European Journal of Marketing. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0309-0566 .- 1758-7123. ; 37:11, s. 1818-1841
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neither market orientation nor the possible link to performance is easily achieved and in various countries companies may organize differently to cope with the information-processing and customer-responding challenges. Nationwide surveys in banks in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden indicate that a path to performance involves innovations such as “supported empowerment” though there are differences in the antecedents of market orientation. Thus the most distinct Scandinavian ways to improvements may be found in Sweden. Especially Swedish banks and to a lesser extent Finnish banks are upfront in their use of “the technology of customer-focusing”. Nevertheless, the overall analyses based on rigorous structural equation modeling lead to the estimation of a model reflecting causal relationships which seem to be independent of nationality.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Jones, MG, et al.
(författare)
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Association of HLA-DQ5 and HLA-DR1 with sensitization to organic acidanhydrides
- 2004
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1365-2222. ; 34:5, s. 812-816
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Organic acid anhydrides are low molecular weight industrial chemicals, able to cause rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma associated with specific IgE against hapten-carrier protein conjugate. Only a proportion of exposed workers develop IgE-associated allergy to acid anhydrides. Objective We determined whether genetic susceptibility, in particular, HLA Class II alleles may be a risk factor. Methods We undertook HLA typing in 52 cases who had confirmed specific IgE and in 73 referents matched on site, age and duration of acid anhydride exposure identified in cross-sectional studies of workers exposed to hexahydrophthalic (HHPA), methylhexahydrophthalic (MHHPA) and methyltetrahydrophthalic (MTHPA) anhydrides. Results The linked alleles DQ5 (odds ratio [OR]=4.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.7, 11) and DR1 (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.2, 11) were more prevalent in cases than in referents. Within DQ5, DQB1*0501 was particularly frequent (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.2, 7.4). Conclusion DQB1*05 gene confers susceptibility to develop specific IgE antibodies against HHPA, MHHPA and a non-significant trend with MTHPA. DQB1*0501 is protective for other low molecular chemical sensitizers (isocyanates and plicatic acid) which may indicate varying affinities for the corresponding specific class II molecules.
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| 7. |
- Nielsen, Jörn, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to hexahydrophthalic and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydrides--dose-response for sensitization and airway effects
- 2001
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 27:5, s. 327-334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study clarified the exposure-response relationships for the organic acid anhydrides (OAA) hexahydrophthalic (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic (MHHPA) anhydrides and the development of specific immunoglobulin (IG) E and G antibodies and work-related symptoms. METHODS: In an epoxy resin-using factory, air levels of OAA were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Occupational, smoking, and medical histories (questionnaire) were obtained for 154 exposed workers and 57 referents. Work-related symptoms of the eyes and airways were recorded, and OAA metabolites were analyzed in urine. A skin-prick test with common allergens and conjugates of OAA were performed. Specific IgE (radioallergosorbent test) and IgG (enzyme-linked immumosorbent assay) antibodies were determined in serum, and spirometry was performed. RESULTS: Air levels of the OAA were low (HHPA < 1 to 94, MHHPA < 3 to 77 microg/m3) and associated with the concentrations of the OAA metabolites in urine. Furthermore, for the exposed workers, there were high prevalences of sensitization (IgE 22%, IgG 21%), which correlated with the exposure. Neither atopy nor smoking increased this risk significantly. Furthermore, work-related symptoms were more prevalent among the exposed workers than among the referents (eyes 23% versus 14%, nose 28% versus 16%, nose bleeding 8% versus 0%, lower airways 10% versus 4%), and they were related to the exposure (adjusted prevalence odds ratios (POR) in the highest group 7.7, 3.6 and 17, respectively) and the IgE levels (POR 4.9, 3.1 and 5.6, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the very low OAA levels in the air and metabolites in the urine, there were high and exposure-related risks of specific IgE and IgG sensitization and of work-related symptoms for the eyes, nose (especially bleeding), and lower airways.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Rosqvist, Seema, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure-response relationships for hexahydrophthalic and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydrides with total plasma protein adducts as biomarkers.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140. ; 29:4, s. 297-303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the exposure-response relationships of hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) and evaluated the applicability of the total plasma protein adducts (TPPA) of these anhydrides as biomarkers of exposure and risk. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 139 workers in a plant manufacturing electrical capacitors, the long-term exposure to HHPA and MHHPA was assessed through the quantification of TPPA using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Smoking and medical histories were obtained through questionnaires. Work-related symptoms of the eyes and airways were recorded. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E (radioallergosorbent test) and IgG (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were determined in serum. RESULTS: The mean level of the TPPA of HHPA was 840 fmol/ml and that of the TPPA of MHHPA was 1700 fmol/ml. There was no correlation between the TPPA of HHPA and the TPPA of MHHPA. Of all the workers, 19% were found to be positive for specific IgE and 17-19% for IgG. Positive associations were observed between HHPA exposure and specific IgE and IgG and between MHHPA exposure and specific IgG. Regarding work-related symptoms, 27% of the workers had symptoms of the nose, 21% had symptoms of the eyes, 11% had symptoms of the lower airways, and 8% had nose bleeding. There were significant exposure-response relationships for symptoms of the eyes and nose for HHPA exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that there is an exposure-response relationship for HHPA both with specific antibodies and with work-related symptoms and down to adduct levels of 40 fmol/ml plasma. In addition, the results elucidate the potential power of TPPA as a relevant index of exposure and risk.
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| 10. |
- Timonen, KL, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between markers of respiratory morbidity in European children
- 2002
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 1399-3003 .- 0903-1936. ; 19:3, s. 479-486
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- School-aged children often experience acute respiratory symptoms. In a multicentre European study, the association between chronic respiratory symptoms (reported in a questionnaire), skin-prick test results, and lung function, and the occurrence of acute respiratory morbidity, was examined among children aged 6-12 yrs with chronic respiratory symptoms. Children with chronic respiratory symptoms, living in 10 European countries, were selected from a parent-completed questionnaire (n=4,307). Atopy was measured with skin-prick tests, and lung function with spirometry. A total of 1,854 (86%, of those in the initial cohort) children kept a successful daily diary regarding their respiratory symptoms for 2-3 months. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, children with asthmatic symptoms, particularly those with doctor-diagnosed asthma, had a greater risk of occurrence of lower respiratory symptoms (odds ratio (OR): 6.12; 95%, confidence interval (CI): 4.99-8.35) than children with a dry nocturnal cough as their only symptom. Atopy, particularly a positive reaction to indoor allergens, was significantly associated with occurrence of lower respiratory symptoms. For atopy the OR was 1.62 (95%, CI: 1.34-1.96). A reduced level of maximal mid-expiratory How was associated with an increased risk of lower respiratory symptoms, cough and phlegm. The associations were similar in Scandinavia, Central Eastern, Western and Southern Europe. To conclude, asthmatic symptoms reported in a questionnaire, atopic status and a reduced level of maximal mid-expiratory flow were associated with the occurrence of acute respiratory symptoms, especially those of lower respiratory symptoms.
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