| 1. |
- Aasa, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
-
Stress monitoring of ambulance personnel during work and leisure time
- 2006
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 80:1, s. 51-59
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess physiological and subjective stress markers during a 24-h ambulance work shift and during the next two work-free days, and relate these parameters to self-reported health complaints. Methods: Twenty-six ambulance personnel were followed during a 24-h work shift and during the next two work-free days with electrocardiogram, cortisol assessments and diary notes. The ambulance personnel also performed tests of autonomic reactivity before and at the end of the work shift. The subjects were categorized into two groups according to their number of health complaints. Results: In general, stress markers did not show differences between the work shift and leisure time. However, a modest deviation in heart rate variability pattern and higher morning cortisol values during work in comparison with work-free days were observed in personnel with many health complaints. Conclusions: Subjective and physiological characteristics of ambulance personnel did not indicate distinctive stress during the 24-h work shift. Relationships between frequent health complaints and specific work-related factors require further prospective studies.
|
|
| 2. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948
(författare)
-
Occupational and environmental medicine in Sweden
- 2000
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - 0340-0131. ; 73:1, s. 1-6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Great changes have taken place in the fields of occupational and environmental medicine in Sweden during the past decade. Unemployment, work stress, and indoor climate problems have become increasingly common. Chemical exposures in industry and serious work accidents have continued to decrease. State subsidies to occupational health services have been withdrawn and the legislation concerning, for example, occupational diseases has been changed in order to decrease state expenditure. Research has focused on, for instance, ergonomic and psycho-social factors, electromagnetic fields and exposures causing allergy. There is a growing awareness of the need for more emphasis on prevention, which should act in favour of both hospital-based occupational and environmental medicine and the occupational health services sector.
|
|
| 3. |
- Alhamdow, Ayman, et al.
(författare)
-
Chimney sweeps in Sweden : a questionnaire-based assessment of long-term changes in work conditions, and current eye and airway symptoms
- 2017
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 90:2, s. 207-216
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To explore chimney sweeping work tasks, chimney sweeps’ use of protective equipment, and type of fuel used by clients, over time. Further, to assess work-relatedness of current eye and airway symptoms. Methods: In a cross-sectional study in 2011, male Swedish chimney sweeps (n = 483; age 21–69 years) answered a questionnaire about their occupational history and eye and airway symptoms. Results: Between 1960 and 2010, black-soot-sweeping in private homes was the major task, although it decreased during the time period, for chimney sweeps. Between 1975 and 2010, the use of petroleum oil decreased, whereas the use of pellets and wood increased. Also, the use of gloves and masks increased significantly. Black-soot-sweeping in industry was associated with work-related eye symptoms (prevalence odds ratio POR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.72–8.24, for every 10% increment of working time, adjusted for age and tobacco smoking). Chimney sweeps also had slightly higher prevalence of cough with increasing black-soot-sweeping (POR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99–1.13 for every 10% increment, further adjusted for the use of mask), and the association was more pronounced, although nonsignificant, for black-soot-sweeping in industry (adjusted POR = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.98–1.61). Conclusions: Chimney sweeping tasks and use of protective equipment as well as type of fuel used by the clients changed significantly over the last 35 years, which may have changed chimney sweeps’ exposure to soot. Still, chimney sweeps in Sweden have black-soot-sweeping-related eye and airway symptoms.
|
|
| 4. |
- Almerud, Pernilla, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
Low personal exposure to benzene and 1,3-butadiene in the Swedish petroleum refinery industry
- 2017
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 90:7, s. 713-724
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Petroleum refinery workers are exposed to the carcinogens benzene and 1,3-butadiene. Declining exposures have been reported internationally but information on current exposure in the Swedish refinery industry is limited. The aim was to examine refinery workers' personal exposure to benzene and 1,3-butadiene and increase awareness of exposure conditions by collaboration with involved refineries. Altogether 505 repeated personal exposure measurements were performed among workers at two refineries. Full-shift measurements were conducted in different exposure groups using Perkin Elmer diffusive samplers filled with Carbopack X. Mean levels were calculated using mixed-effects models. A large fraction of measurements below the limit of detection (LOD) required imputation of computer-generated data. Mean benzene exposure among process technicians was 15.3 A mu g/m(3) (95% CI 10.4-22.5 A mu g/m(3)) and 13.7 A mu g/m(3) (95% CI 8.3-22.7 A mu g/m(3)) for Refinery 1 and 2, respectively. Process technicians working outdoors had higher exposure than maintenance workers (20.7 versus 5.9 A mu g/m(3), p < 0.01). Working in the harbour and tank park (Refinery 1), compared with the process area, was associated with higher exposure. The 1,3-butadiene exposure was low, 5.4 and 1.8 A mu g/m(3), respectively. The total variation was generally attributed to within-worker variability. Low benzene and 1,3-butadiene levels were found among refinery workers. Mean benzene exposure was about 1% of the Swedish occupational limit (1500 A mu g/m(3)) and for 1,3-butadiene, exposure was even lower. A large fraction of values below the LOD can be managed by carefully modelled, computer-generated data.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Andersson, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Cancer incidence among Swedish pulp and paper mill workers: a cohort study of sulphate and sulphite mills.
- 2013
-
Ingår i: International archives of occupational and environmental health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1246 .- 0340-0131. ; 86:5, s. 529-40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Associations between various malignancies and work in the pulp and paper industry have been reported but mostly in analyses of mortality rather than incidence. We aimed to study cancer incidence by main mill pulping process, department and gender in a Swedish cohort of pulp and paper mill workers.The cohort (18,113 males and 2,292 females, enrolled from 1939 to 1999 with >1 year of employment) was followed up for cancer incidence from 1958 to 2001. Information on the workers' department and employment was obtained from the mills' personnel files, and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using the Swedish population as reference.Overall cancer incidence, in total 2,488 cases, was not increased by work in any department. However, risks of pleural mesothelioma were increased among males employed in sulphate pulping (SIR, 8.38; 95 % CI, 3.37-17) and maintenance (SIR, 6.35; 95 % CI, 3.47-11), with no corresponding increase of lung cancer. Testicular cancer risks were increased among males employed in sulphate pulping (SIR, 4.14; 95 % CI, 1.99-7.61) and sulphite pulping (SIR, 2.59; 95 % CI, 0.95-5.64). Female paper production workers showed increased risk of skin tumours other than malignant melanoma (SIR, 2.92; 95 % CI, 1.18-6.02).Incidence of pleural mesothelioma was increased in the cohort, showing that asbestos exposure still has severe health consequences, and highlighting the exigency of strict asbestos regulations and elimination. Testicular cancer was increased among pulping department workers. Shift work and endocrine disruptors could be of interest in this context.
|
|
| 8. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(författare)
-
Cancer mortality in a Swedish cohort of pulp and paper mill workers.
- 2010
-
Ingår i: International archives of occupational and environmental health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1246 .- 0340-0131. ; 83:2, s. 123-32
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To study cancer mortality among Swedish pulp and paper mill workers by main mill pulping process and department, and to present the Swedish part of an international exposure measurements database. METHODS: A cohort of 18,163 male and 2,290 female workers at four sulfate and four sulfite mills, enrolled from 1939 to 1999, was followed up for mortality during 1952-2001. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) relative to the general Swedish population were calculated. RESULTS: There were 1,340 malignant cases out of 5,898 deaths. Total cancer mortality was not increased in either sulfate or sulfite mill workers, or by gender. Lung cancer mortality was increased among female workers (SMR 1.70, 95% CI 1.04-2.63), especially in paper production, but not among male workers (SMR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79-1.04). Exposure to wood dust and sulfur dioxide frequently exceeded occupational exposure limits. CONCLUSIONS: Female paper production workers had an increased mortality from lung cancer.
|
|
| 9. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(författare)
-
Lung function and paper dust exposure among workers in a soft tissue paper mill.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: International archives of occupational and environmental health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1246 .- 0340-0131.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To study respiratory effects of exposure to soft paper dust exposure, a relationship that is rarely studied.Soft tissue paper mill workers at a Swedish paper mill were investigated using a questionnaire and lung function and atopy screening. Spirometry without bronchodilation was performed with a dry wedge spirometer, and forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were obtained and expressed as percent predicted. Exposure to soft paper dust was assessed from historical stationary and personal measurements of total dust, in addition to historical information about the work, department, and production. The impact of high exposure to soft paper dust (> 5 mg/m3) vs. lower exposure ≤ 5 mg/m3, as well as cumulative exposure, was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Multivariate models were adjusted for smoking, atopy, gender, and body mass index.One hundred ninety-eight current workers (124 male and 74 female) were included. There were significant associations between both cumulative exposure and years of high exposure to soft paper dust and impaired lung function. Each year of high exposure to soft paper dust was associated with a 0.87% decrease in FEV1 [95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.39 to - 0.35] and decreased FVC (- 0.54%, 95% CI - 1.00 to - 0.08) compared to the lower exposed workers.The present study shows that occupational exposure to soft paper dust (years exceeding 5 mg/m3 total dust) is associated with lung function impairment and increased prevalence of obstructive lung function impairment.
|
|
| 10. |
- Andersson, Linus, et al.
(författare)
-
Chemosensory perception, symptoms and autonomic responses during chemical exposure in multiple chemical sensitivity
- 2016
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - : Springer. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 89:1, s. 79-88
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a prevalent medically unexplained symptom characterized by symptom reactions to everyday chemical exposure below hygienic thresholds. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of hyper-reactivity in MCS during whole-body exposure to low concentrations of the odorant n-butanol.Methods: We exposed 18 participants with MCS and 18 non-ill controls to a low concentration of the odorantn-butanol using an exposure chamber. The first 10 min constituted blank exposure, after which then-butanol concentration increased and reached a plateau at 11.5 mg/m3.Results: MCS participants, compared with controls, reported greater perceived odor intensities, more unpleasantness to the exposure and increasing symptoms over time. MCS participants also expressed higher pulse rate and lower pulse rate variability than controls did. No group differences were found for breathing rate or tonic electrodermal activity responses.Conclusions: We conclude that MCS sufferers differ from healthy controls in terms of autonomic responses, symptoms and chemosensory perception during chemical exposure.
|
|
