| 1. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Reproductive effects of chemical exposures in health professions
- 1995
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752. ; 37:8, s. 957-61
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Numerous chemical substances are handled by persons working in the health care sector. At exposure levels that may occur in the occupational setting, some of these substances are potentially harmful to the reproductive processes. Among the potentially harmful substances are anesthetic gases, antineoplastic agents, and sterilants. The epidemiological evidence of increased risks for adverse reproductive effects (eg, subfertility, spontaneous abortions, congenital defects) from such exposure is not unequivocal. However, due to the toxic potential, exposures should be kept at a minimum, and this may be especially important for workers who are pregnant or are planning to achieve pregnancy.
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| 2. |
- Johansson Hanse, Jan, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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Sense of Coherence and Ill Health Among the Unemployed and Re-employed After Closure of an Assembly Plant
- 1999
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Ingår i: Work and Stress. - 0267-8373 .- 1464-5335. ; 13:3, s. 204-222
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between employment status, ill health and sense of coherence (SOC). A cross-sectional sample of the former workers at the closed down Volvo Kalmar plant in Sweden was used. A questionnaire was mailed to all identified subjects 2 years after the closure of the plant. Responses were obtained from 344 persons, of whom 173were re-employed and 92were unemployed. They answered the questionnaire anonymously on background variables, SOC and ill health (physical and psychological symptoms). A notable difference was found between the re-employed and unemployed, where the unemployed reported symptoms significantly more often as well as a significantly weaker SOC. The main finding in a four-cell model indicated that unemployment had a rather low impact on symptoms in the presence of a strong SOC. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed with simultaneous analysis of the unemployed and reemployed. The SEM analysis indicated that SOC seemed to have a greater impact on psychological symptoms among unemployed compared with re-employed persons. However, it should be noted that the present study does not allow for the determination of cause-effect relationships. A comment: This publication is authored together with a senior research competency within psychology with whom Engström have had long time cooperation procedures.
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| 3. |
- Cyrén, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Task Specific Exposure Information as a Basis for Production System Design
- 1998
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This publication was written during a period of time when the authors were engaged in an extensive research programme financed by the National Institute for Working Life in Solna (Cooperative for Optimisation of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics COPE).
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948
(författare)
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Working environment and pregnancy
- 1991
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Ingår i: Jordemodern. - 0021-7468. ; 104:11, s. 406-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Axelsson, Gösta, 1950, et al.
(författare)
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Shift work, nitrous oxide exposure, and spontaneous abortion among Swedish midwives
- 1996
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1351-0711. ; 53:6, s. 374-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To study the relation between irregular work hours, nitrous oxide (N2O) exposure, and the risk of spontaneous abortion. METHODS: All 3985 female members of the Swedish Midwives Association in 1989, born in 1940 or later, received a questionnaire on exposure before and during all of their pregnancies. Questions on work conditions covered occupation, extent of employment, workplace, work schedules, use of anaesthetics, and work load. The association between exposure variables and spontaneous abortion was analysed by logistic regression models. RESULTS: Night work and three shift schedules among midwives showed increased odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (95% CI)) 1.63 (0.95-2.81) and 1.49 (0.86-2.59), respectively. The ORs of late spontaneous abortions (after the 12th week of pregnancy) was increased for night work 3.33 (1.13-9.87). Use of N2O (> 50% of the deliveries) was not associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion OR 0.95 (0.62-1.47). Frequent or permanent shortage of staff was related to an increased risk of spontaneous abortions before the 13th week of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that night work and high work load increase the risk of spontaneous abortion.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948
(författare)
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Physical work load and pregnancy outcome
- 1995
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752. ; 37:8, s. 941-4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pronounced physical exertion may influence intraabdominal pressure and uterine blood flow, hormonal balance, and nutritional status, all of which are important determinants of embryonic and fetal development and survival. Most of the epidemiologic evidence of reproductive effects from occupational physical activity concerns gestational age/premature birth, birth weight/intrauterine growth retardation, and spontaneous abortion. Strenuous work, especially when involving long hours of standing and walking, seems to increase the risk of preterm delivery. The effect on intrauterine growth and spontaneous abortion risk is less clear. As a single factor, heavy lifting has in most circumstances not been associated with a significantly increased risk of these outcomes. In general, heavy work duties should be avoided, and enough rest periods assured, especially in late pregnancy.
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| 11. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Shift work, nitrous oxide exposure and subfertility among Swedish midwives
- 1996
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Ingår i: International Journal of Epidemiology. - 0300-5771. ; 25:4, s. 783-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Shift work and nitrous oxide exposure have both been suspected of having adverse influence on the reproductive performance of health workers. Time to pregnancy has been suggested as a sensitive measure of fecundity in occupationally exposed groups. We investigated the effects of shift work and nitrous oxide exposure on the fertility of Swedish midwives. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to all members of the Swedish Midwives Association who were born 1940 or thereafter, 3985 in all. Eighty-four per cent responded. Detailed information on the number of menstrual cycles required to achieve pregnancy and the working conditions during that period were obtained concerning the most recent, planned pregnancy occurring after 1983. The per cycle probability of becoming pregnant was calculated for each exposure category, and the relation to the unexposed was expressed as fecundability ratios. RESULTS: Midwives who worked two-shift, three-shift rotas, or only nights had reduced fertility compared to those working in the day time. The fecundability ratios were 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.94), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.60-0.98), and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.64-1.03), respectively, after adjustment for covariates. No effect of nitrous oxide exposure was noted except in the small group reporting that they assisted at more than 30 deliveries per month when nitrous oxide was used (fecundability ratio = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.95). CONCLUSION: Shift work and frequent, high occupational exposure to nitrous oxide may have a negative influence on the ability of women to become pregnant.
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| 12. |
- Bodin, L., et al.
(författare)
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The association of shift work and nitrous oxide exposure in pregnancy with birth weight and gestational age
- 1999
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Ingår i: Epidemiology. - 1044-3983. ; 10:4, s. 429-36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examined the relation between shift work and occupational nitrous oxide exposure in the second trimester of pregnancy and birth weight and gestational age at delivery among the members of the Swedish Midwives Association. Eighty-four per cent of members who were registered in 1989 responded to a postal questionnaire concerning occupational exposures, including work schedule and the use of nitrous oxide, in relation to each of their pregnancies. We obtained information on births from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. We used models with allowance for dependence between births for the same woman and found that night work was associated with preterm birth (<37 weeks) [odds ratio (OR) = 5.6; 95% confidence limits (CL) = 1.9, 16.4] and to a lesser extent with low birth weight [OR = 1.9 (95% CL = 0.6, 5.8)]. Three-shift work schedule (day, evening, and night rotation) showed a possible association with preterm birth [OR = 2.3 (95% CL = 0.7, 7.3)]. Exposure to nitrous oxide use was associated with reduced birth weight (-77 gm; 95% CL = -129, -24) and an increase in the odds of infants being small for gestational age (< or = 10th percentile of weight for gestational week) (OR = 1.8; 95% CL = 1.1, 2.8).
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| 13. |
- Ulander, A., et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of intermittent trichloroethylene exposure in vapor degreasing
- 1992
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Ingår i: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. - 0002-8894. ; 53:11, s. 742-3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To validate various sampling strategies in assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure, urine and air samples were obtained from 29 metal workers involved in vapor degreasing. Urinary trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol were useful metabolites to estimate TCE exposure on a group basis, but the predictive value of a single urine sample was low when related to the air concentration. With intermittent TCE exposure, the best information is obtained by analyzing both metabolites.
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| 14. |
- Lind, Pernilla
(författare)
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Biomarkers of aromatic isocyanates in exposed workers
- 1997
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aromatic isocyanates, toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), are used in the production of polyurethane (PUR) foams, paints, elastomers and glues. The use of isocyanates is increasing, and exposure to isocyanates is the most common cause of occupational asthma. Biomarkers of TDI and MDI were determined as the corresponding amines, toluenediamine (TDA) and methylenedianiline (MDA), in hydrolysed urine, plasma and erythrocytes from exposed workers. The amines were determined, after derivatisation with pentafluoropropionic anhydride, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with chemical ionisation, monitorinh negative ions. The levels of TDA and MDA in urine varied considerably during and between work days, while only limited variations were seen in plasma. At least two urinary elimination phases were observed. A relation was found between the concentrations of TDA and MDA in plasma and the urinary elimination rates of TDA and MDA after the cessation of work. A significant correlation was also found between the concentrations of TDA in plasma and the TDI air levels. TDI was found to be covalently bound to albumin in plasma and most likely to haemoglobin in erythrocytes. In urine, different TDI-modified biomolecules were observed. The use of biomarkers has made it possible to discover new groups of exposed workers, and to make preventive measures to reduce/eliminate exposure and avoid illness.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Kadefors, Roland, 1939, et al.
(författare)
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Ergonomics in Parallelized Car Assembly: A Case Study with References Also to Productivity Aspects
- 1996
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 27:2, s. 101 - 110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This publication was gaining data at the very early phase of the Volvo Uddevalla plant projection process (it required a extensive time to complete and to finally publish). (That is, long before the authors became engaged in an extensive research programme financed by the National Institute for Working Life in Solna) (Cooperative for Optimisation of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics COPE). It deals with e.g. efficiency aspects and ergonomics of this (very) plant and the more embryonic aspects of the so-called tilting devices are evaluated in this publication (a controversial equipment at the early period of time). As was developed by the Volvo personnels and the authors (ergonomic aspects was an accepted way for us to gain access to this plant, to deal with the assembly system design process was from the beginning not accepted (since this was a work task assigned only to the Volvo professionals). But this situation changed after some years (development of the assembly work instructions were a also an accepted work task for us scientist) (see other publications registered in Chalmers Public Library).
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| 17. |
- Ahlborg, Gunnar, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Tobacco smoke exposure and pregnancy outcome among working women. A prospective study at prenatal care centers in Orebro County, Sweden
- 1991
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Ingår i: Am J Epidemiol. - 0002-9262. ; 133:4, s. 338-47
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Among 4,687 women undergoing prenatal care in Orebro County, Sweden, from October 1980 to June 1983, 678 nonsmokers reported passive exposure to tobacco smoke. Of these women, 267 had been passively exposed at work, and the risk ratio (RR) for intrauterine death (spontaneous abortion or stillbirth) among these pregnancies was increased to 1.53 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-2.38) compared with pregnancies of unexposed working women. This could not be explained by age, previous spontaneous abortion, educational level, planning of pregnancy, or alcohol use. The effect was confined to first-trimester fetal loss (adjusted RR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.23-3.81), while active smoking was associated with intrauterine death after the first trimester. Passive exposure in the workplace was weakly associated with preterm birth (less than 37 weeks) but not with low birth weight (less than 2,500 g) among full-term livebirths. Active smoking clearly increased the risk of both of these outcomes. However, passive exposure in the home only did not seem to affect pregnancy outcome. The lack of quantitative exposure data points to the need for more research before passive exposure to tobacco smoke can be regarded as an established hazard to fetal development and survival.
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| 18. |
- Johansson Hanse, Jan, 1954, et al.
(författare)
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Musculoskeletal Symptoms, Ergonomic Aspects and Psychosocial Factors in Two Different Truck Assembly Concepts
- 1993
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Ingår i: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. - 1872-8219 .- 0169-8141. ; 12:1-2, s. 35-48
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The project was carried out as a multidisciplinary correlational study of two truck-axle assembly systems (System A and B). System A (the old system) could be characterized as an unpaced line assembly system, whereas the change to the new system, System B, involved a parallelized system with longer job cycle time. The study included all permanent assembly workers in the two systems (System A 17 workers, System B 28 workers). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the two systems with respect to ergonomic factors, psychosocial factors and self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms. The job cycles were studied by means of video observation. Each subject answered a questionnaire regarding musculoskeletal symptoms and physical and psychosocial environment. The assemblers in System B were more satisfied with the physical work environment (e.g. noise, air), but less satisfied with the psychosocial environment, and the period prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was not lower, compared with the assemblers in System A. Video observation techniques showed that deep forward flexion was less common, but that the work was more hand intense in System B. In System B, neck/shoulder symptoms were associated principally with physical work (load) variables, whereas low back symptoms were associated with psychosocial variables.
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| 19. |
- Iwarsson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
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Occupation and survival: a 25-year follow-up study of an aging population
- 1998
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Ingår i: American Journal of Occupational Therapy. - 0272-9490. ; 52:1, s. 65-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: In this retrospective study of an elderly population cohort living in a defined Swedish rural area, the relationship between occupation and survival as a measure of objective health was investigated. The cohort has been followed for 25 years. METHOD: On the basis of the baseline socioeconomic interview from assessments performed when the participants were 67 years of age, an index of active participation in daily occupation was devised. The index was used to investigate the covariation between generic everyday occupation and long-time survival. RESULTS: For the female participants, Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated differences in survival between the "less active" and "more active," and Cox regression survival analyses resulted in a significant covariance between occupation and survival. For the male participants, no such differences were found. CONCLUSION: The significant results for the women implied support for the core assumption of occupational therapy that a relationship exists between occupation and health. The lack of differences in survival among more active and less active men demonstrates the complexity of studying occupation.
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| 20. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Pleural mesotheliomas are underreported as occupational cancer in Sweden.
- 1995
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Ingår i: American journal of industrial medicine. - 0271-3586. ; 27:4, s. 577-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to estimate to what degree malignant pleural mesotheliomas were reported as occupational cancers. The study included all malignant pleural mesotheliomas (n = 210) found in the Cancer Registry 1980-1989 from four Swedish counties. Whether or not a case was reported as occupational cancer was found in the Swedish Register of Reported Occupational Diseases. To evaluate the presence of exposure histories, the chest department files for 58 mesotheliomas from one county were reviewed. The reporting was low, with only 75 mesotheliomas (36%) reported. All the cases were men, and for the men, the reporting frequency was 42%. The reporting was significantly lower for the last part of the decade than for the first part. The reporting frequency decreased with age. In the review of the chest department files, an exposure history was found in 93% of the reported cases and in 47% of the unreported cases. It is concluded that physicians must give more priority to exposure histories in patients with pleural mesotheliomas.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Engström, Tomas, 1950, et al.
(författare)
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Technical and Human Aspects of Welding Work - Analysis of Efficiency and Ergonomics of Two Work Stations
- 1999
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This publication was written during a period of time when the authors were engaged in an extensive research programme financed by the National Institute for Working Life in Solna (Cooperative for Optimisation of industrial production systems regarding Productivity and Ergonomics COPE). And, this publication deals with welding and welding work with regard to specific time consumption and particular ergonomic aspects, as was practised within the Autonova plant in Uddevalla (i.e. the successor of the Volvo Uddevalla plant reopened some years later).
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| 25. |
- Zhang, Xing-Dong
(författare)
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Relationship between chemical structure and airway sensitizing potential for organic acid anhydrides : an animal model
- 1997
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Oranic acid anhydrides (OAAs) are important reactive, low-molecular-weight industrial chemicals which induce allergic rhinitis and asthma in exposed subjects. Specific IgE has been demonstrated in a large proportion of OAA-exposed workers. The characteristics of the OAAs make them excellent model compounds for studies of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) of allergenicity. In the present work, guinea pigs (GPs) and rats were intradermally immunized with various OAAs, and induced IgE and IgG titers were analyzed by ELISA. GPs gave positive airway responses after sensitization to free OAAs and challenge with the corresponding GP serum albumin conjugates, and the airway responses were closely related to the IgG1 titers. Various OAAs showed a wide range in antibody titers. Ring structure, the position of double bonds, and methyl group substitution affected the immunogenicity of the OAAs. The hapten specificity of the antibodies and the QSAR were proved by in-vitro and in-vivo inhibition tests of cross-reactivity. There was a good agreement between the titers of induced GP IgG1 and rat IgE after sensitization to the various OAAs. Further, the results of the animal models were in good correspondence with findings in OAA-exposed workers. Thus, the models may be used to predict the sensitizing potential of OAAs, and possibly other low-molecular-weight compounds, and may also be valuable tools for the evaluation of QSAR.
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