| 1. |
- Liu, Yuanhua, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Considering the importance of user profiles in interface design
- 2009
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Ingår i: User Interfaces. ; , s. 23-
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- User profile is a popular term widely employed during product design processes by industrial companies. Such a profile is normally intended to represent real users of a product. The ultimate purpose of a user profile is actually to help designers to recognize or learn about the real user by presenting them with a description of a real user’s attributes, for instance; the user’s gender, age, educational level, attitude, technical needs and skill level. The aim of this chapter is to provide information on the current knowledge and research about user profile issues, as well as to emphasize the importance of considering these issues in interface design. In this chapter, we mainly focus on how users’ difference in expertise affects their performance or activity in various interaction contexts. Considering the complex interaction situations in practice, novice and expert users’ interactions with medical user interfaces of different technical complexity will be analyzed as examples: one focuses on novice and expert users’ difference when interacting with simple medical interfaces, and the other focuses on differences when interacting with complex medical interfaces. Four issues will be analyzed and discussed: (1) how novice and expert users differ in terms of performance during the interaction; (2) how novice and expert users differ in the perspective of cognitive mental models during the interaction; (3) how novice and expert users should be defined in practice; and (4) what are the main differences between novice and expert users’ implications for interface design. Besides describing the effect of users’ expertise difference during the interface design process, we will also pinpoint some potential problems for the research on interface design, as well as some future challenges that academic researchers and industrial engineers should face in practice.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Håkansson, Carita, et al.
(författare)
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Self-rated health in middle-aged women : Associations with sense of coherence and socioeconomic and health-related factors
- 2003
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - London : Taylor & Francis. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 10:3, s. 99-106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to describe and analyse self-rated health in relation to sense of coherence and socioeconomic and health-related factors and to explore the associations between self-rated health and these factors in order to identify health resources and health limitations in a group of healthy middle-aged women. Healthy middle-aged women from a defined geographical area in Southern Sweden ( n =577) answered a postal survey with the sense of coherence scale and questions about socioeconomic and health-related conditions. The results showed that very good/rather good self-rated health was associated with high sense of coherence and good economic situation, and these factors can be seen as a health resource. Poor self-rated health was most strongly associated with perceived symptoms of tension, weak sense of coherence, treatment for depression, treatment for chronic disease, and difficult economic situation, and these factors can be seen as health limitations. In conclusion, only 29% of the women rated their health as very good and 41% of the women had symptoms of tension but they were not sick-listed. It is of major public health interest to improve the understanding of self-rated health and to develop health promotion for women and methods to prevent symptoms of tension and sick-listing.
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| 4. |
- Wilhelmson, Karl, et al.
(författare)
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Impact on Economic Growth of Investing in Maternal-Newborn Health
- 2006
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the evidence of the impact on economic growth of investments in maternal--newborn health (MNH). The methodology used for the review includes a systematic search for published literature in relevant electronic databases. In the paper, we review five studies: four empirical and one theoretical. One of the empirical papers measures health by infant mortality. The study finds that a 1/1000-point reduction in the infant mortality rate leads to an increase in the level of State Domestic Product by Indian Rs 2.70 and an increase in the average growth rate per year of 0.145%. Similar results are reported for other health measures in other studies. Our main conclusion, however, is that the area lacks research and that considerably more is needed before any advice can be provided to policy-makers about the contribution to growth of investments in MNH. Specifically, first and foremost, studies are needed that explicitly analyse the impact of MNH on level and growth of output. Second, we suggest the use of more comprehensive MNH measures that consider the health of both mothers and newborns and aspects of ill-health other than death, such as measures of quality of life, functional limitations, mental health and sickness absenteeism. Third, estimates of the effects of MNH on growth need to be controlled for other health dimensions, i.e. aspects that may confound the impact of MNH. Fourth, studies are needed of the effects on determinants of growth in order to understand better the links between MNH and growth. Fifth, studies based on smaller geographical areas within countries and longer time series are needed, in order to obtain more precise estimates and also better estimates of the long-term growth paths. Finally, we suggest compilation of other data sets on microeconomic data, for example, to study effects at firm level of MNH on labour productivity through inability to work, disability, sick days, etc.
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| 5. |
- Frisk, Margot, et al.
(författare)
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An investigation of the housing environment for persons with asthma and persons without asthma
- 2006
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 13:1, s. 4-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Asthma is a chronic disease affected by environmental factors that may increase symptoms that impact on a persons' well-being. An important issue in occupational therapy is to improve the relationship between a person's functional capacity and the physical environment. The aim of the study was to compare the housing environment of persons with asthma (cases, n=49) and persons without asthma (controls, n=48), with regard to building construction and condition, physical, chemical and biological factors, and cleaning routines. A secondary aim was to compare different types of accommodation within cases and controls. A specialist team, including a construction engineer, a biological scientist, and an occupational therapist, conducted the study. Data were collected using protocols, as well as a number of established technical methods from the field of occupational and environmentsl medicine. The primary results showed no major differences in the housing environment between the two groups. However, in individual homes environmental factors at levels that could increase symptoms were identified. When single-familyhouses were compared with multi-family houses, significant differences were found indicating that preventive interventions may be needed in some single-family houses. Further studies are needed to clarify the person-environment relationship for persons with asthma, focusing on their ability to perform daily activities.
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| 6. |
- Hasson, Dan, et al.
(författare)
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Self-rated Health and Allostatic Load in Women Working in Two Occupational Sectors
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Health Psychology. - : Sage Publications. - 1359-1053 .- 1461-7277. ; 14:4, s. 568-577
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study set out to investigate how biological dysregulation, in terms of allostatic load (AL), relates to selfrated health (SRH) in women. Data on SRH and 12 biomarkers used to assess AL were available for 241 employees from the health care sector and 98 employees from the IT/media sector. In line with the hypothesis, results showed that a poor SRH, along with occupational sector, age and education, were significantly associated with a high AL, particularly for those working withinthe health care sector. This association between a poor SRH and AL, suggests a link between SRH and biological dysregulation.
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| 7. |
- Eriksson, Kåre, et al.
(författare)
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Tape-stripping as a method for measuring dermal exposure to resin acids during wood pellet production
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1464-0325 .- 1464-0333. ; 10:3, s. 345-352
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific method for quantifying dermal exposure to the resin acids 7-oxodehydroabietic acid (7-OXO), dehydroabietic acid (DHAA), abietic acid ( AA), and pimaric acid (PA). In addition the method was evaluated in occupational settings during production of wood pellets. Tape-strips were spiked with the substances to evaluate the recovery of the acids from the tape. The removal efficiency of the tape was assessed by tape-stripping a specified area on a glass plate spiked with resin acids. The recovery of the acids from human skin in vivo was evaluated by applying acids in methanol onto the skin of volunteers. Occupational dermal exposure to the resin acids was assessed by tape-stripping the skin of workers involved in the production of wood pellets. The resin acids were analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The limit of detection was 15 pg (7-OXO), 150 pg ( DHAA), 285 pg ( AA) and 471 pg ( PA) per injection. The recovery from spiked tapes was in general 100%. The removal efficiency of the tape was 48-101%. Recovery tests from human skin in vivo showed a mean recovery of 27%. Quantifiable amounts of resin acids were observed on four different skin areas with an increase in exposure during a work shift. This study shows that occupational dermal exposure to resin acids can be assessed by tape-stripping and quantified by LC-MS.
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| 8. |
- Hagström, Katja, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to wood dust, resin acids and volatile organic compounds during production of wood pellets
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. - Philadelphia, PA : Taylor and Francis. - 1545-9624 .- 1545-9632. ; 5:5, s. 296-304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main aim of this study was to investigate exposure to airborne substances that are potentially harmful to health during the production of wood pellets, including wood dust, monoterpenes, and resin acids, and as an indicator of diesel exhaust nitrogen dioxide. In addition, area measurements were taken to assess background exposure levels of these substances, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide. Measurements were taken at four wood pellet production plants from May 2004 to April 2005. Forty-four workers participated in the study, and a total of 68 personal measurements were taken to determine personal exposure to wood dust (inhalable and total dust), resin acids, monoterpenes, and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, 42 measurements of nitrogen dioxide and 71 measurements of total dust, resin acids, monoterpenes, VOCs, and carbon monoxide were taken to quantify their indoor area concentrations. Personal exposure levels to wood dust were high, and a third of the measured levels of inhalable dust exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. Parallel measurements of inhalable and total dust indicated that the former were, on average, 3.2 times higher than the latter. The data indicate that workers at the plants are exposed to significant amounts of the resin acid 7-oxodehydroabietic acid in the air, an observation that has not been recorded previously at wood processing and handling plants. The study also found evidence of exposure to dehydroabietic acid, and exposure levels for resin acids approached 74% of the British OEL for colophony, set at 50 microg/m3. Personal exposure levels to monoterpenes and nitrogen dioxide were low. Area sampling measurements indicated that aldehydes and terpenes were the most abundant VOCs, suggesting that measuring personal exposure to aldehydes might be of interest. Carbon monoxide levels were under the detection limit in all area measurements. High wood dust exposure levels are likely to have implications for worker health; therefore, it is important to reduce exposure to wood dust in this industry.
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| 9. |
- Eklund, Mona, et al.
(författare)
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Outcomes of activity-based assessment (BIA) compared with standard assessment in occupational therapy
- 2008
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1103-8128 .- 1651-2014. ; 15:4, s. 196-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was aimed at investigating the outcomes of an activity-based assessment (BIA) compared with standard assessment (SA) for evaluating clients undergoing psychiatric occupational therapy. Patients admitted to a psychiatric occupational therapy unit were randomized into the BIA or the SA assessment. The outcome indicators were (a) clients' satisfaction with the occupational therapy during the assessment period, (b) clients' awareness of capacities and occupational problems, (c) satisfaction with the assessment among the referring physicians, and (d) outcomes of the intervention following the assessment, in terms of changes in occupational performance and satisfaction. The groups did not differ in awareness of occupational problems, but the BIA group was more satisfied than the SA group with the support of their contact person and with the group leader during the period of assessment. Furthermore, physicians receiving feedback on patients in the BIA group were more satisfied than those receiving feedback on patients in the SA group. However, the groups did not differ concerning change during the treatment period in occupational performance or satisfaction. Thus, there was no difference between the assessment methods regarding the outcomes of the treatment following assessment. Minor advantages from the patients' perspective were found, in terms of better satisfaction in the BIA group, and from the referring physicians' perspective the BIA clearly seemed more satisfying than the SA. Thus, the findings showed that the BIA possessed better qualities than the SA regarding the indicators pertaining to satisfaction, but not concerning awareness of capacities and problems or the outcome of the subsequent treatment.
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| 10. |
- Eek, Frida
(författare)
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Subjective annoyance attributed to electrical equipments and smells - Epidemiology and stress physiology
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Self-reported annoyance from electrical equipment has been in evidence since the mid-eighties, and the first reports of illness from everyday chemicals arose already in the 1960?s. However, the extent of the problem or the mechanisms behind the development of environmentally related annoyance has not yet been fully established. Increased vulnerability to stress has been suggested to be a possible mechanism behind sensitivity to electricity and common smells. The aim of this thesis was to estimate the prevalence of annoyance related to electrical and chemical factors in a Swedish general population, and to assess possible relations to subjective health, daily functioning and health care utilisation. A further aim was to disclose differential patterns of cortisol secretion in three environmentally annoyed groups, compared with non-annoyed persons, and to test whether the environmentally annoyed subjects would fail to show a suppressed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response after an overnight dexamethasone suppression test. A population based health survey encompassing 13 604 persons were used for the epidemiological analyses regarding prevalence of environmental annoyance, and relation to subjective health and well being. Record linkage was performed to analyse health care utilisation. The stress study included 141 subjects, recruited from the survey population. During a two-week period, the participants filled in a logbook including questions regarding sleep quality, subjective stress and health complaints. During four days, the participants also collected saliva samples, four samples each day, with reference to awakening. The functioning of the HPA axis was tested by an overnight dexamethasone suppression test. Annoyance attributed to environmental factors was common in the general Scanian population studied. Of the respondents, 30% stated to be annoyed to any degree, and 6% reported ?much? annoyance, attributed to some electrical factors, chemicals or smells. Subjects associating annoyance with electrical factors, chemicals or smells rated their overall health and functional capacity significantly poorer than the general population. Despite this, the health care utilisation was not much increased in a group with annoyance attributed to both electricity and chemicals/smells. In the stress study, the environmentally annoyed subjects did not present elevated physiological stress levels during daily life. The group with annoyance attributed to both electricity and smells experienced higher levels of subjective stress and health complaints during the two-week period, although these feelings did not influence the HPA activity. All groups showed normal suppression of the HPA axis after ingestion of dexamethasone. Subjective annoyance attributed to electrical and chemical factors was common in the population. Subjects attributing annoyance to both electrical and chemical factors appeared to be the most affected regarding subjective stress and well being. However, no evidence of elevated physiological stress response was found in any of the examined groups.
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| 11. |
- Pedersen, Eja, et al.
(författare)
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Living in the Vicinity of Wind Turbines - A Grounded Theory Study
- 2007
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Ingår i: Qualitative Research in Psychology. - Philadelphia, PA : Routledge. - 1478-0887 .- 1478-0895. ; 4:1-2, s. 49-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known of wind turbines' impact on people living in their vicinity. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how people perceive and are affected by wind turbines in their living environment. In-depth interviews with 15 informants, strategically chosen to form a heterogeneous group, were analyzed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. The informants were to different extents affected by the swishing noise, flickering light, and constant movement of the turbines' rotor blades. Some informants perceived the exposures as outside their territory while others perceived them as intrusion into privacy; a divergence partly determined by the informants' personal values about the living environment. The feeling of intrusion was associated with feeling a lack of control, subjected to injustice, a lack of influence, and not being believed. Informants used various coping strategies, such as rebuilding their houses or complaining, but mainly tried to ignore exposures from the wind turbines. The findings can help us to better understand the severe reactions wind turbines sometimes evoke and contribute to the knowledge base used when planning for new wind farms.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Nilsson, Ulrika Nilsson, et al.
(författare)
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SPE and HPLC/UV of resin acids in colophonium-containing products.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of separation science. - Weinheim, Fed. Rep. of Germany : Wiley. - 1615-9314 .- 1615-9306. ; 31:15, s. 2784-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new method, involving SPE and HPLC/UV diode-array detection (DAD), was developed for the quantification of colophonium components in different consumer products, such as cosmetics. Colophonium is a common cause of contact dermatitis since its components can oxidize into allergens on exposure to air. Three different resin acids were used as markers for native and oxidized colophonium, abietic acid (AbA), dehydroabietic acid (DeA), and 7-oxodehydroabietic acid (7-O-DeA). The SPE method, utilizing a mixed-mode hydrophobic and anion exchange retention mechanism, was shown to yield very clean extracts. The use of a urea-embedded C(12) HPLC stationary phase improved the separation of the resin acids compared to common C(18). Concentrations higher than 2 mg/g of both AbA and DeA were detected in wax strips. In this product also 7-O-DeA, a marker for oxidized colophonium, was detected at a level of 28 microg/g. The LODs were in the range of 7-19 microg/g and the LOQs 22-56 microg/g. The method is simple to use and can be applied on many types of technical products, not only cosmetics. For the first time, a method for technical products was developed, which separates AbA from pimaric acid.
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| 15. |
- Islam, Kamrul
(författare)
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Essays on Social Capital, Health and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health A Health Economic Study
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The thesis comprises four independent research papers and a summary that focus on two related dimensions. The first dimension focuses on the understanding of the production of health. Particularly, the question is asked whether community's stock of social capital influence individual's health. The second dimension focuses on an attempt to understand the causes of socioeconomic health inequality (SHI). The research questions are asked whether individual and contextual area factors explain SHI, how SHI change over time and whether population aging may impact on SHI. The first paper of the thesis critically reviews the notion of social capital and systematically reviews empirical literature on the association between social capital and health across countries. The study also explores some analytical and interpretational issues that may be pertinent when assessing health impact of contextual or area-level social capital. The paper concludes that there is a robust association between social capital and health at the individual-level with respect to the degree of egalitarianism within a country. Area-level social capital may be less salient when used to explain health differences across places in egalitarian countries. The second paper tests whether individual health status is related to area-level social capital, controlling for personal characteristics. The analysis is based on unbalanced panel data from Statistic Sweden's Survey of Living Conditions (the ULF survey) and a 3-level multilevel regression analysis, where level-1 consists of a total of 31,585 observations of 24,419 individuals at level-2 nested within 275 Swedish municipalities at level-3. The results show that the health status increases significantly with area-level social capital; however, almost all variation in health status exists across individuals. The third paper explores a conceptual model whereby the study suggests mechanisms by which community social capital (CSC) may act as an aggregate factor that may increase the efficiency of the long-run production function of an individual with respect to health production. The study explores the effects of CSC externalities on individual all-cause and cause-specific mortality risks. Two municipality-level variables? election participation rate and crime rate- are used to be a proxy for CSC. The study uses pooled ULF survey data from the annual interviews conducted in 1980-1997 for all the subjects aged 20-84 years who were followed up for 4-21 years. Using the extended Cox model (considering both flexible baseline hazard and time varying covariates), the study estimates the effects of CSC externalities controlling for the initial health status and a number of individual characteristics. The results indicate that CSC influence individual risk from all-cause mortality only for the males but not for females. The impacts are higher for the elderly males than for the entire population. A higher CSC decrease the mortality risk from cancer for the elderly males and may also have exerted protective effects for cardiovascular mortality and deaths due to ?suicide? or ?other external causes?. The fourth paper attempts to explain how population aging affects socioeconomic health inequality (SHI) and how SHI changes over time. Using a Swedish long panel data of 3,310 individuals and concentration index (CI) as a measure of SHI, the changes in SHI over time have been estimated. The CIs for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores are calculated and decomposed on its sources based on an estimation of the determinants of health using a panel data fixed-effect model. Results show that CIs increase over time when individuals are ranked by current income and demonstrates that one of the channels behind this upward trend in CIs is the fact that retired people dropped in relative income ranking as the cohorts aged. This trend in standardized indices is found to remain stable when people are instead ranked according to lifetime (mean) income. List of Papers The thesis is based on the following original papers I. Islam M. K., Merlo J., Kawachi I., Lindström M., Gerdtham U-G (2006). Social capital and health: Does egalitarianism matter? A literature review, International Journal for Equity in Health, 5 (3). II. Islam M. K., Merlo J., Kawachi I., Lindström M., Burström K., Gerdtham U-G. (2006). Does it really matter where you live? A panel data multilevel analysis of Swedish municipality level social capital on individual health-related quality of life, Health Economics Policy and Law, 1(3): 209-235. III. Islam M. K., Gerdtham U-G., Gullberg B., Lindström M., Merlo J. (2007). Social capital externalities and mortality in Sweden. Accepted for publication in Economics and Human Biology. IV. Islam M. K., Gerdtham U-G., Cleark, P., Burström K. (2006). Does socioeconomic health inequality change as the population ages? Evidence from Swedish panel data. Manuscript submitted for publication.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Dellve, Lotta, 1965, et al.
(författare)
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“Making it work in the frontline” explains female home care workers´ defining, recognising, communicating and reporting of occupational disorders.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Qualitative Studies On Health And Wellbeing. - Abingdon : Informa UK Limited. - 1748-2623 .- 1748-2631. ; 3:3, s. 176-184
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epidemiological research has so far failed to explain the high incidence of occupational disorders among home care workers (HCWs) and the great differences in organizational incidence rate. A qualitative approach may contribute to a deeper understanding of work group reasoning and handling in a more contextual manner. The aim of this grounded theory study was to gain a deeper understanding of the main concern in the processes of recognizing, communicating and reporting occupational disorders among HCWs. Focus group interviews were conducted with 40 HCWs in 9 focus groups. The selected municipalities represented variations in municipality type and incidence rate of occupational disorders. Making it work in the frontline was identified as the core category explaining that the perceived work situation in home care work was the main concern but interacted with work-group socialising processes as well as with the communicability and derivability of the occupational disorder when defining and reporting occupational disorders. Complex problems could be reformulated and agreed within the workgroup to increase communicability. Described significances for reporting/non-reporting were related to financial compensation, to a part of organizational political game or to an existential uncertainty, i.e. questioning if it belonged to their chosen work and life. Our conclusion is that working situation and work group attitudes have importance for reporting of occupational disorders. To support work-related health for HCWs, integrating communication should be developed about work-related challenges in work situation, as well as about attitudes, culture and efficiency within work-group.
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| 18. |
- Forsell, Karl, 1975, et al.
(författare)
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Lung cancer and mesothelioma among engine room crew--case reports with risk assessment of previous and ongoing exposure to carcinogens.
- 2007
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Ingår i: International maritime health. - : Via Medica. - 1641-9251 .- 2081-3252. ; 58:1-4, s. 5-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this article is to illustrate, by means of case reports on occupational exposure in four men with cancer, the hazards of previous and ongoing carcinogenic exposures in ships' engine rooms. Several cases of cancer occurred within a few years among the engine room crew of a passenger ferry. An investigation was undertaken to establish the number of cases, the types of cancers involved, and their possible relation to work.Nine cases of cancer among crew members of the ferry were reported between 2001 and 2006, six of which occurred in crew working in the engine room. During the investigated time period, 65 men had been employed in the engine room (mean age 40, range 16-65, years). Four cases were referred to our department. Medical history, personal risk factors and specific diagnoses were collected by medical examinations and from the medical files. An experienced occupational hygienist evaluated work-related exposure to carcinogens.Two engine room ratings contracted lung cancer at the age of 54 and 61, respectively. Both men had been smokers for many years (33 and 45 years, respectively). One engine room rating and one electrical engineer were diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 61 and 63, respectively. All four had started to work in engine rooms between 1959 and 1967. Carcinogenic exposure included asbestos, with an estimated cumulative exposure of 2-5 fibreyears/mL, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitroarenes from oils, soot and engine exhaust.For the lung cancer cases, smoking and asbestos exposure were considered clear risk factors, and PAHs and nitroarenes possible risk factors. For the mesothelioma cases, former asbestos exposure was considered a causal factor. Asbestos can still be present on ships. Steps should be taken to reduce the exposure to asbestos, PAHs and nitroarenes, and smoking.
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| 19. |
- Selinus, Olle, et al.
(författare)
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12. Metal Flows and Environmental Impact
- 2003. - 1
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Ingår i: Environmental Science. - Uppsala : Baltic University Press. - 9197001708 ; , s. 356-383, s. 356-383 of 824
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Bokkapitel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 20. |
- Sjölander, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the Swedish Sami population : incidence and mortality in relation to income and level of education
- 2008
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 36:1, s. 84-91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Gender differences in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the Sami have been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of and mortality from stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Swedish Sami population between 1985 and 2002, and to analyse the potential impact of income and level of education on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods: A Sami cohort of 15,914 persons (4,465 reindeer herding and 11,449 non-herding Sami) were followed up from 1985 to 2002 with regard to incidence and mortality rates of AMI, stroke, and SAH. Incidence and mortality ratios were calculated using a demographically matched non-Sami control population (DMC) as the standard (71,550 persons). Results: There was no elevated risk of developing AMI among the Sami compared with the DMC. However, the mortality ratio of AMI was significantly higher for Sami women. Higher incidence rates of stroke and SAH for both Sami men and women was observed, but no differences in mortality rates. Apart from the reindeer-herding men who demonstrated lower levels of income and education, the income and education levels among Sami were similar to the DMC. Conclusions: High mortality rates from AMI rather than stroke explain the excess mortality for CVD previously shown among Sami women. The results suggest that the differences in incidence of stroke between herding and non-herding Sami men, and between Sami women and non-Sami women, are caused by behavioural and psychosocial risk factors rather than by traditional socioeconomic ones.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Christiansson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in aircraft cabins - A source of human exposure?
- 2008
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1298 .- 0045-6535. ; 73:10, s. 1654-1660
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Commercial aircrafts need a high degree of fire protection for passenger safety. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), may be used for this purpose. Because PBDEs readily absorb to dust particles, aircraft crew and passengers may receive significant PBDEs exposure via inhalation. The aims of this work were to assess whether PBDEs could be found in aircraft cabin dust and whether serum levels of PBDEs increased in passengers after long-distance flights. Hence nine subjects on intercontinental flights collected cabin dust samples, as well as donated blood samples before departure and after return to Sweden. Two subjects who were domestic frequent flyers were also investigated. The levels of PBDEs in dust and serum were determined by GC/MS in electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) mode. Authentic reference substances were used for identification and quantitation. PBDEs were found in all aircraft dust samples at high concentrations, higher than in common household dust. Congener patterns indicated that the technical products PentaBDE, OctaBDE and DecaBDE were used in the aircrafts. Serum concentrations in the travellers were similar to those observed in Swedish residents in general. Post-travel serum levels of BDE-28. BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, and BDE-154 were significantly higher(p<0.05) than concentrations prior to travel. The findings from this pilot study call for investigations of occupational exposures to PBDEs in cabin and cockpit crews. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 23. |
- Cuadra, Steven, et al.
(författare)
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Persistent organochlorine pollutants in children working at a waste-disposal site and in young females with high fish consumption in Managua, Nicaragua
- 2006
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Ingår i: Ambio. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 35:3, s. 109-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to assess persistent organochlorine pollutant (POP) levels in serum collected from children (11-15 years old) working and sometimes also living at the municipal waste-disposal site in Managua, located at the shore of Lake Managua, and in nonworking children living both nearby and also far away from the waste-disposal site. The influence of fish consumption was further evaluated by assessing POPS levels in serum from young women (15-24 years old) with markedly different patterns of fish consumption from Lake Managua. 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloro-ethane (4,4’-DDT) and 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloro-ethene (4,4-DDE), T-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), polychlorinated biphenyls, pentachlorophenol, and polychlorobiphenylols were quantified in all samples. In general, the levels observed were higher than those reported in children from developed countries, such as Germany and United States. Toxaphene, aldrin, dieldrin, and beta-HCH could not be identified in any sample. The children working at the waste-disposal site had higher levels of POPS compared with the nonworking reference groups. In children not working, there were also gradients for several POPs, according to vicinity to the waste-disposal site. Moreover, in children, as well as in young women, there were gradients according to fish consumption. The most abundant component was 4,4-DDE, but at levels still lower than those reported in children from malarious areas with a history of recent or current application of 4,4-DDT for vector control.
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| 24. |
- Håkansson, Carita, et al.
(författare)
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Well-being and occupational roles among middle-aged women
- 2005
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Ingår i: Work. - Amsterdam : IOS Press. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 24:4, s. 341-351
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One purpose of the present study is to explore the stability of the pattern of health/work and sickness absence among middle-aged women over a period of three years. Two hypotheses were tested: 1. that enduringly healthy working women would perceive more valued occupational roles and higher well-being than long-term sick-listed women, and 2. that high levels of well-being at baseline would predict enduring health and occupational role value at a 3-year follow-up. Middle-aged women (n = 208) answered a postal survey with the Role checklist, a well-being scale and questions about work and sickness situation. The results showed that there was a considerable variability in the pattern of health/work and sickness absence. The results showed that the enduringly healthy women experienced a more valued worker role and higher well-being than the long-term sick-listed women. Furthermore, high levels of well-being concerning health and work predicted enduring health in the studied sample.
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| 25. |
- Warenius, Linnéa, et al.
(författare)
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Vulnerability and sexual and reproductive health among Zambian secondary school students
- 2007
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Ingår i: Culture, Health and Sexuality. - : Routledge. - 1369-1058 .- 1464-5351. ; 9:5, s. 533-544
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study aimed to explore secondary school students' needs in relation to sexual and reproductive health in order to inform efforts to improve the quality of health services available to young people. The study involved data collection from 716 11-22-year-old students in four secondary schools in an urban area in Zambia. Students completed a questionnaire and were invited to write down any inquiries they had regarding sexuality and reproduction. Findings revealed that boys and girls lack adequate information about human reproduction and STIs, including HIV. To avoid misconceptions and myths, they also need clear information on contraceptives and masturbation. Responses indicate that young people would welcome guidance and support related to contraception, pregnancy, abortion and STIs/HIV, but also on love and relationships. Culture, religion and gender are important factors influencing sexuality and sexual abuse. These issues need to be taken into consideration when developing youth-friendly programmes for young people
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| 26. |
- Byström, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Appraised psychological workload, musculoskeletal symptoms, and the mediating effect of fatigue: A structural equation modeling approach.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. ; 45:4, s. 331-341
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to test two structural models of the relationship between appraised psychologicla workload and musculoskeletal symptoms from the neck, shoulder, and upper and lower back with different aspects of perceived fatigue as mediating variables. In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire survey was conducted among employees at three Swedish assembly plants (n=305). The proposed models were tested for one general fatigue dimension - lack of energy - and four specific fatigue dimensions - physical discomfort, physical exertion, lack of motivation, and sleepiness - using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that the role of perceived fatigue in the relationship between appraised workload and musculoskeletal symptoms is different for different aspects of fatigue. The general fatigue dimension, lack of energy, does not mediate the relationship. As regards the specific fatigue dimensions, the relationship is partially mediated by physical discomfort and lack of motivation but not by physical exertion or sleepiness. Appraised psychological workload has a unique effect on musculoskeletal symptoms not mediated by fatigue.
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| 27. |
- Johansson Hanse, Jan, 1954
(författare)
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Arbetsorganisation och belastningsskador ur psykologisk synvinkel
- 2007
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Ingår i: Konferens om ”Belastningsskador. Promotion, prevention och intervention”, Stockholm 6-7 februari, 2007. ; :konferenspärm, flik 3
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Arbetsorganisatoriska faktorer lyfts fram när det gäller promotion, dvs. ett generellt främjande synsätt där man syftar till att skapa goda arbetsmiljöer med möjligheter och förutsättningar till en bättre hälsa. En viktig förutsättning för att lyckas med ett arbetsorganisatoriskt förändringsarbete är att ha ledningens stöd. Ett nödvändigt villkor för att ett förändringsarbete skall kunna genomföras framgångsrikt är att ledningen ställer sig bakom förändringsarbetet och är beredda att aktivt stödja det. En annan viktig förutsättning för ett framgångsrikt arbetsorganisatoriskt förändringsarbete är att man har identifierat ett troligt huvudproblem till uppkomna belastningsskador. Här kan förslagsvis berörda parter i klartext formulera vad som är det troliga huvudproblemet, exempelvis att många medarbetare har ett enformigt arbete som i sin tur förmodligen ger upphov till de belastningsskador som har inrapporterats.
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| 28. |
- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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A longitudinal path model of psychological workload, fatigue and neck/shoulder symptoms among female childcare workers.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Work. ; 32:2, s. 219-226
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to test a path model of the relation between psychological workload and neck/shoulder symptoms with general fatigue as a proposed mediating variable. In this longitudinal two-wave cohort study a questionnaire survey was conducted among female childcare workers. The analyses were based on initially symptom free participants (n=388). Two models were tested, with fatigue at baseline and at follow-up as the proposed mediators, respectively. The results indicate that appraised psychological workload is related to the development of symptoms measured at an 18-month follow-up. The results further indicate that this relation may be partially mediated by general fatigue (also measured at follow-up). The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of the psychosocial workload in the development of neck/shoulder symptoms among childcare workers. This means that in addition to workplace ergonomic interventions it is important also to pay attention to the psychosocial conditions in order to reduce these symptoms.
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Psychological and physical workload and the development of musculoskeletal symptoms among female child-care workers.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Occupational Ergonomics. ; 4:7, s. 275-287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to test a structural model of the relations between psychological and mechanical workload and musculoskeletal neck/shoulder symptoms. This two-wave longitudinal cohort study was based on a questionnaire survey among Swedish female child-care workers (n = 789). Two models were tested using structural equation modelling, one containing only those participants considered symptom free at baseline, thus focusing on symptom development, and one containing all participants irrespective of their baseline musculoskeletal status. The results indicate that psychological workload was related to the development of neck/shoulder symptoms, and thus highlight the importance of addressing psychosocial work environment factors in organization design and workplace interventions. However, psychological workload was not related to symptoms (when controlling for baseline mechanical workload and symptoms) in the model not distinguishing between different symptoms processes. These findings point to the importance of distinguishing between different processes such as development, maintenance and recovery from symptoms in studies of workplace factors and
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| 31. |
- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Psychological and physical workload and the development of musculoskeletal symptoms among female elderly-care workers.
- 2008
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Ingår i: The Ergonomics Open Journal. ; 1, s. 34-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to investigate the relations between psychological and physical workload and musculoskeletal neck, shoulder and upper back symptoms. In this longitudinal two-phase cohort study a survey was conducted among non-managerial female elderly-care workers (n = 553). The analyses were based on respondents who were considered free from the respective symptoms at initial ratings, resulting in study samples of n = 230 for neck symptoms, n = 211 for shoulder symptoms, n = 400 for upper back symptoms, and n = 204 for low back symptoms. The results indicate that psychological workload is related to the development of musculoskeletal (neck and upper back) symptoms measured at an 18-month follow-up, both in itself and in combination with physical workload. The most important finding was that psychological workload shows significant temporal relations to neck and upper back symptoms.
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| 32. |
- Larsman, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of decision latitude, psychological load and support at work on the development of neck, shoulder and low back symptoms among female human service organization workers
- 2009
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. ; 39:2, s. 442-446
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to investigate longitudinal relations between decision latitude, psychological workload and social support and musculoskeletal neck, shoulder and low back symptoms. In this longitudinal two-wave cohort study a questionnaire survey was conducted among female human service organization workers (n=1690). The analyses were based on respondents who were considered free from the respective symptoms at baseline measurements, resulting in study samples of n=741 for neck symptoms, n=670 for shoulder symptoms, and n=640 for low back symptoms. In general support was found for the job demand-control-(support) model. High strain work (high psychological load coupled with low decision latitude) in combination with low social support ("iso-strain") was related to increased risks of developing symptoms (occurence of new episode) in all the body regions studied (neck, shoulder and low back). Relevance to industry: The results indicate that, in order to minimize the occurence of musculoskeletal symptoms, it is important to ensure that employees have adequate levels of decision latitude, to keep the workload at optimal levels, and to provide supervisor support and structures that facilitate coworker support.
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| 33. |
- Ekman, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Integrating health interventions for women, newborn babies, and children: a framework for action.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: The Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 372:9642, s. 990-1000
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For women and children, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged, to benefit from primary health care, they need to access and use cost-effective interventions for maternal, newborn, and child health. The challenge facing weak health systems is how to deliver such packages. Experiences from countries such as Iran, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and China, and from projects in countries like Tanzania and India, show that outcomes in maternal, newborn, and child health can be improved through integrated packages of cost-effective health-care interventions that are implemented incrementally in accordance with the capacity of health systems. Such packages should include community-based interventions that act in combination with social protection and intersectoral action in education, infrastructure, and poverty reduction. Interventions need to be planned and implemented at the district level, which requires strengthening of district planning and management skills. Furthermore, districts need to be supported by national strategies and policies, and, in the case of the least developed countries, also by international donors and other partners. If packages for maternal, newborn and child health care can be integrated within a gradually strengthened primary health-care system, continuity of care will be improved, including access to basic referral care before and during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and throughout childhood.
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| 34. |
- Bohlin, Pernilla, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Observations on persistent organic pollutants in indoor and outdoor air using passive polyurethane foam samplers
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1352-2310. ; 42:31, s. 7234-7241
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air quality data of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) indoors and outdoors are sparse or lacking in several parts of the world, often hampered by the cost and inconvenience of active sampling techniques. Cheap and easy passive air sampling techniques are therefore helpful for reconnaissance surveys. As a part of the Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO) project in Mexico City Metropolitan Area in 2006, a range of POPs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)) were analyzed in polyurethane foam (PUF) disks used as passive samplers in indoor and outdoor air. Results were compared to those from samplers deployed simultaneously in Gothenburg (Sweden) and Lancaster (United Kingdom). Using sampling rates suggested in the literature, the sums of 13 PAHs in the different sites were estimated to be 6.1–180 ng m−3, with phenanthrene as the predominant compound. Indoor PAH levels tended to be higher in Gothenburg and outdoor levels higher in Mexico City. The sum of PCBs ranged 59–2100 ng m−3, and seemed to be highest indoors in Gothenburg and Lancaster. PBDE levels (sum of seven) ranged 0.68–620 ng m−3, with the highest levels found in some indoor locations. OCPs (i.e. DDTs, HCHs, and chlordanes) were widely dispersed both outdoors and indoors at all three studied areas. In Gothenburg all POPs tended to be higher indoors than outdoors, while indoor and outdoor levels in Mexico City were similar. This could be due to the influence of indoor and outdoor sources, air exchange rates, and lifestyle factors. The study demonstrates how passive samplers can provide quick and cheap reconnaissance data simultaneously at many locations which can shed light on sources and other factors influencing POP levels in air, especially for the gaseous fractions.
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
- Ostensvik, Tove, et al.
(författare)
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Work exposure and complaints in a sample of French and Norwegian forest machine operators. A comparative field study within the ErgoWood programme.
- 2005
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of the present work is to evaluate muscle activity pattern, psychosocial working conditions and self-reported complaints of fatigue and pain in the neck, shoulders and forearms in two samples of forest machine operators driving harvesters in France and Norway. The EMG readings from four muscle groups were analysed in predetermined periods of sustained low level muscle activity (SULMA), ranging from 1.2-5 seconds up to > 20 minutes. The main result was the similarity between operators of the two different countries. Tendencies were found for higher static muscle activity and less muscular relaxation in all evaluated muscles in the French operators, but significant only for the right trapezius muscle. However, the level of muscular complaints was significantly higher among the Norwegian operators. The amount of both short and long SULMA was not significantly higher in the Norwegian group for the right side. This indicates that the amount of low-level muscle activity could be of higher importance than the gaps, or that the gaps are too short to have effect in reducing risk for discomfort or pain. The results indicate that the introduction of the SULMA concept may be of importance as a method for MSD risk assessment. Future work should concentrate on exploring the best linkage between SULMA and muscular complaints.
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| 38. |
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
- Westberg, Håkan, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to nitrous oxide in delivery suites at six Swedish hospitals
- 2008
-
Ingår i: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. - Berlin : Springer. - 0340-0131 .- 1432-1246. ; 81:7, s. 829-836
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: This study presents occupational peak and average exposures to nitrous oxide in delivery suites in six Swedish hospitals and evaluates different scavenging techniques. METHODS: Exposure measurements based on four consecutive 2-h samples (n = 111) were used to calculate 8-h time-weighted averages (8-h TWAs) for 36 midwives and assistant midwives. Short-term (15 min) samples to study peak exposure were also included in the monitoring program. Diffusive samplers were used for monitoring, and analyzed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effect on exposure of different types of scavenging systems was studied by mixed model analysis. RESULTS: The 8-h TWA (n = 36) nitrous oxide concentrations varied between 2.5 and 260 mg/m3, and the geometric means for all the 8-h TWAs was 17 mg/m3 for the midwives and 42 mg/m3 for the assistant midwives. Around 25% of all the 8-h TWAs exceeded the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV-TWA) of 90 mg/m3 (50 ppm). For the short-term samples (n = 29) the nitrous oxide levels varied between 19 and 4,200 mg/m3, and 14% exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure ceiling limit value of 900 mg/m3. The 8-h TWAs were four times higher when the non-ventilated and ventilated simple masks were compared to the double mask (P = 0.02). This trend, although not statistically significant, was also seen for the short-term samples. CONCLUSION: 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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| 41. |
- Olin, Anna-Carin, 1960, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of asthma and exhaled nitric oxide are increased in bleachery workers exposed to ozone.
- 2004
-
Ingår i: The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology. - 0903-1936. ; 23:1, s. 87-92
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aims of the present study were to determine whether exposure to high peaks of ozone resulted in an increased prevalence of asthma or respiratory symptoms among bleachery workers and whether nitric oxide (NO) was elevated in the exhaled air of these workers. Bleachery workers (n=228) from three Swedish pulp mills who had been exposed to ozone, together with 63 unexposed control subjects, were investigated by means of spirometry, Phadiatop, exhaled and nasal NO and answers to a questionnaire concerning respiratory symptoms and exposure. Exposure to an ozone peak that gave rise to respiratory symptoms was defined as a "gassing". Bleachery workers reporting four or more gassings involving ozone had an increased prevalence of adult-onset asthma, wheeze, and current asthma symptoms. They also had a higher median concentration of exhaled NO in comparison with those who reported no such gassings (19.2 versus 15.7 parts per billion). No such associations were found in respect of nasal NO. The results from this study show that bleachery workers who have been repeatedly exposed to ozone gassings have an increased prevalence of adult-onset asthma. The results also indicate exhaled nitric oxide may be a marker of airway inflammation in bleachery workers who have been exposed to high peaks of ozone.
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| 42. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Cohort mortality study of Swedish pulp and paper mill workers-nonmalignant diseases
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 33:6, s. 470-478
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The aim of this study was to determine mortality among pulp and paper mill workers according to the main mill pulping process, department, and gender, particular reference being given to diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems.Methods The cohort of 18 163 men and 2 291 women employed between 1939 and 1999 and with >1 year of employment was followed for mortality from 1952 to 2001 (acute myocardial infarction from 1969). Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by comparing the observed number of deaths with the expected number for the entire Swedish population. Exposure was assessed from personnel files in the mills. Data from an exposure measurement database are also presented.Results There were 5898 deaths in the cohort. Total mortality had an SMR of 1.02 (95% CI 0.98–1.06) for the men in the sulfate mills and an SMR of 0.93 (95% CI 0.90–0.97) for the men in the sulfite mills. Mortality from acute myocardial infarction was increased among the men in both the sulfate and sulfite mills [SMR 1.22 (95% CI 1.12–1.32) and SMR 1.11 (95% CI 1.02–1.21), respectively] and by department in sulfate pulping (SMR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.54), paper production (SMR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49), and maintenance (SMR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.30). Mortality from cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and nonmalignant respiratory diseases was not increased.Conclusions Death from acute myocardial infarction, but not cerebrovascular diseases, was increased in this cohort and was probably related to a combination of different occupational exposures (eg, dust, sulfur compounds, shift work, and noise).
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| 43. |
- Härenstam, Annika, 1949
(författare)
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Exploring gender, working conditions and health - suggestions for contextual and comprehensive approaches
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 1795-9926. ; 35:2, s. 127-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- New methods are needed to complement traditional epidemiological methods in the analyses of complex multivariate exposures. Contextual and comprehensive analyses such as multilevel and cluster analyses are particularly suitable for comparisons of women’s and men’s risk factors for health in working life as well as for guidance in preventive action. Such methodologies are presented in this discussion paper. Contextual and comprehensive (or holistic) approaches help identify the gender structured situations for women and men as well as facilitating the discovery of differences among all women and all men. Empirical studies using these approaches show that it is important to take the gender composition in the workplace and in the sector into consideration when exploring risk factors for health.
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
- Thuresson, Kaj, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational exposure to commercial decabromodiphenyl ether in workers manufacturing or handling flame retarded rubber
- 2005
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American chemical society. - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 39:7, s. 1980-1986
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Commercial decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is commonly used as a flame retardant in different electrical and textile applications. It is also used in the production of flame-retarded rubber compound. DecaBDE is the major technical polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) in use today and consists mainly of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). PBDEs, including BDE-209, are well-known environmental pollutants, ubiquitous both in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The aim of the present study was to assess the exposure to PBDEs in workers manufacturing or handling rubber which was flame retarded with DecaBDE. A referent group, abattoir workers (slaughterhouse workers), with no occupational exposure to PBDEs, was also investigated. Moreover, the methodology for analysis of PBDEs in serum was refined, with special emphasis on congeners with a high number of bromine substituents, i.e., octa- to decaBDEs. The highest BDE-209 concentration observed among the rubber workers was 280 pmol/g lipid weight (l.w.) (270 ng/g l.w.). The median concentration of BDE-209 among rubber workers was 37 pmol/g l.w. (35 ng/g l.w.). Among referents, the median was 2.5 (range 0.92−9.7) pmol/g l.w. (median 2.4 ng/g l.w.). In rubber workers the BDE-209 concentrations were up to 32% (median 4%) of the 2,2‘,4,4‘,5,5‘-chlorobiphenyl (CB-153) concentra tions, on a molar basis, whereas the referents had BDE-209 concentrations which were similar to that of 2,2‘,4,4‘-bromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), below 1.4% (median 0.3%) of the CB-153 concentration. Concentrations of all nonabromodiphenyl ethers (nonaBDEs) and several octabrmodiphenyl ethers (octaBDEs) congeners, including BDE-203, were also elevated among the rubber workers, with 2.5- to 11-fold higher median concentrations, compared to the referents. The results confirm a significant uptake of BDE-209 in the workers exposed to DecaBDE and indicate a potential for in vivo formation of lower BDEs in these persons.
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| 46. |
- Wiebert, P., et al.
(författare)
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Mortality, morbidity and occupational exposure to airway-irritating agents among men with a respiratory diagnosis in adolescence
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 65:2, s. 120-125
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objectives: To examine the influence of an airway diagnosis in adolescence on future health and occupation in Swedish men.Methods: Data were collected from the linkage of four Swedish national registers: the Military Service Conscription Register, the Population and Housing Censuses, the Inpatient Care Register and the National Cause of Death Register. A job-exposure matrix for airway-irritating substances was developed for application on the conscription cohort. The cohort included 49 321 Swedish men born 1949–51. Three groups—(1) healthy, (2) asthmatics (mild and severe asthma) and (3) subjects with allergic rhinitis without concurrent asthma—were identified at conscription and analysed for mortality, in-patient care and strategies for choice of occupation with emphasis on airway-irritating job exposure. Analyses were adjusted for smoking and childhood socioeconomic position.Results: The prevalence of total asthma was 1.8%, severe asthma 0.45% and allergic rhinitis 2.7%. Mortality for all causes was significantly higher in total asthma, hazard ratio (HR) 1.49 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.23), and lower in allergic rhinitis, HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.91). Asthma was a risk factor for inpatient care while allergic rhinitis was associated with less in-patient care (odds ratio (OR) for total asthma 1.16 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.34), severe asthma 1.38 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.85), allergic rhinitis 0.92 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.03)). Those with asthma tended to avoid jobs with a high probability for airway-irritating exposure (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.09), but not to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.70) (ORs from 1990).Conclusion: Subjects with asthma did not change their exposure situation to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis. Further, asthmatics had an increased risk for morbidity and mortality compared to healthy subjects and subjects with allergic rhinitis.
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| 47. |
- Härenstam, Annika, 1949
(författare)
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Gendered organizational and working conditions, and women's and men's health.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: V International Congress on Women, Work and Health, Zacatecas Mexico, October 2008, Keynote, Abstracts.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Working life is segregated by gender, both vertically and horizontally. This is a well-known fact. Gender segregation can be found everywhere, in all times and places over the world. Despite efforts to increase gender equality, not the least in the Scandinavian countries which sometimes are regarded as the best of worlds for women, the gender order is over and over again reconstructed. In order to facilitate change towards gender equality, gendering structures and processes have to be revealed. But they are inert, immanent and difficult to explore. Field-studies of daily work practices, and relations in organizations is one method. Another is to apply a holistic approach that includes information on both work and non-work activities. I will present results of a Swedish survey study where different types of work and living conditions are identified by pattern analysis and compared with regard to health, salary, employability and job satisfaction. By this method, different varieties of situations for women and men are detected and generalisations to all women and all men are avoided. The results show that gender and class are interrelated and help to explain risks and possibilities for different groups. However, regardless of socio-economic position, situations typical for women had the highest risks of ill-health and low salary. Situations typical for low-educated men had increased risks of low employability and job satisfaction. The best situation regardless of outcome studied, were found in gender-mixed situations. Results of field-studies of female and male dominated organizations show how organizational changes are implemented differently in these organizations and thus contribute to reconstruct the traditional gender order. The two methodological approaches in combination contribute to the understanding of why women and men are exposed to different working conditions and lead to different power in working life and risks of ill-health.
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Larsson, Matz, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and health effects among hospitality workers in Sweden : before and after the implementation of a smoke-free law
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - Helsingfors : Institutet för arbetshygien. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 34:4, s. 267-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives This study attempted to identify changes in exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, as well as symptoms and attitudes among hospitality workers after the introduction of extended smoke-free workplace legislation.Methods A total of 37 volunteers working in bingo halls and casinos (gaming workers) and 54 bars and restaurant employees (other workers) in nine Swedish communities participated in the study. Altogether 71 of 91 persons (14 daily smokers and 57 nonsmokers) participated in both the preban baseline survey and the follow-up 12 months after the ban. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, smoking habits, respiratory and sensory symptoms, and attitudes towards the ban were recorded, and spirometry was carried out.Results The frequency of reported respiratory and sensory symptoms was approximately halved among the nonsmokers in both occupational groups after the introduction of the ban. Initially 87% had exposure to environmental tobacco smoke that was over the nicotine cut-off level chosen to identify possible health risk (<0.5 µg/m3), while, after the ban, it was only 22%, a relative risk of 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.15–0.41). The risk decreased in both occupational groups, but gaming workers experienced the highest preban exposure levels. Attitudes towards the legislation were largely positive, particularly after the ban. However, there was no notable change in lung function, and there was no notable reduction in the number of cigarettes consumed by smokers.Conclusions The introduction of smoke-free legislation was associated with a substantial reduction in respiratory and sensory symptoms, as well as reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work, particularly among gaming workers.
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