| 1. |
- Fan, Chenjing, et al.
(författare)
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Silica exposure increases the risk of stroke but not myocardial infarction : A retrospective cohort study
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 13:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Work-related exposure to silica is a global health hazard that causes diseases such as silicosis. Some studies have also reported that silica exposure is linked to elevated cardiovascular disease mortality. However, these diagnoses have not been investigated in detail and there have been few studies on morbidity. The aim of this study is to examine morbidity and mortality from different cardiovascular diseases among silica-exposed Swedish foundry workers.METHODS: Historical and contemporary measurements (1968-2006) of respiratory silica exposure were matched to job categories, individual foundries, and 4 time periods (1968-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2006) using a mixed model. Morbidity and mortality data for the studied cohorts were matched against the General Population Registry. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS and STATA, and the data were stratified by age, gender, and year.RESULTS: Mortality from cardiovascular disease (SMR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.4) and stroke (SMR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) was significantly elevated among the studied population. The cohort also exhibited significantly elevated morbidity from stroke (SIR 1.34; 95% CI 1.2-1.5) but not myocardial infarction. The mean age at the time of first morbidity from stroke was 64 years, with 36% of the cases occurring before the age of 60.CONCLUSIONS: Swedish foundry workers exposed to respirable silica exhibit elevated morbidity and mortality from stroke, but not from myocardial infarction. Our results also suggest a relationship between silica exposure and morbidity from stroke at a younger age than the general population.
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| 2. |
- Graff, Pål, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Adult onset asthma in non-allergic women working in dampness damaged buildings : A retrospective cohort study
- 2019
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Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - : Wiley-Liss Inc.. - 0271-3586 .- 1097-0274. ; 62:4, s. 357-363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There is still no consensus about the association between working in dampness-damaged buildings and new onset of asthma among adults. The purpose of this study was to assess asthma in the staff of two psychiatric clinics where some premises were suffering from dampness.METHODS: A 20-year retrospective cohort study was performed using questionnaires.RESULTS: Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for asthma were non-significantly elevated (IRR = 2.3) among exposed individuals. The risk was greater among females (IRR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.0-16). IRR for non-atopic women was 8.8 (95% CI 1.4-196). Adjusting for smoking habits weakened the risks marginally (IRR = 7.3, 95% CI 1.1-167). The number of male participants was too low to draw conclusion regarding the risk for men.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that working in dampness-damaged buildings might be a possible health hazard. This finding is most pronounced in non-atopic females.
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| 3. |
- Graff, Pål, et al.
(författare)
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Sarcoidosis and silica dust exposure among men in Sweden : a case-control study
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 10:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine whether occupational exposure to silica dust is associated with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis.DESIGN: Case-control study of all individuals between 20 and 65 years of age diagnosed with sarcoidosis (D86) in Sweden between 2007 and 2016. Controls were matched to cases (2:1) based on age, sex and county at the time of diagnosis. A Job Exposure Matrix was used to estimate the occupational silica exposure of all cases and controls.SETTING: Medical and occupational data from the National Outpatient Register were used to implement a case-control analysis, while the two controls used for each case were selected from the National Register of the Total Population. Information about occupation and time of employment were collected from the Swedish Occupational Register.PARTICIPANTS: All men and women aged 20-65 years old who were diagnosed sarcoidosis (D86) from 2007 to 2016 were included and assigned two controls.MAIN OUTCOMES: Silica dust exposure correlates with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis in men.RESULTS: The prevalence of silica exposure at work was statistically significantly higher among male cases than controls (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.43). For men of an age of 35 years or younger the correlation seems to be stronger (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.87) than in older men (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.39). For men older than 35 with exposure to silica the prevalence of sarcoidosis increased with the exposure time, with an OR of 1.44 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.00) for exposure of more than 10 years.CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to silica dust seems to increase the risk of sarcoidosis among men between 20 and 65 years of age. The risk is higher among exposed men 35 years or younger and older men with longer exposure (>6 years).
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| 4. |
- Johansson, Niclas, et al.
(författare)
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Effects on blood parameters from hand-arm vibrations exposure
- 2023
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Ingår i: Toxicology and industrial health. - : Sage Publications. - 0748-2337 .- 1477-0393. ; 39:6, s. 291-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vibration exposure from handheld tools can affect the hands with neurological symptoms and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon (VRP). The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully known, however, changes in the composition of blood parameters may contribute to VRP with an increase in blood viscosity and inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on blood parameters in capillary blood from fingers that had been exposed to a vibrating hand-held tool. This study involved nine healthy participants who had been exposed to vibration and an unexposed control group of six participants. Capillary blood samples were collected before and after vibration exposure for the exposed group, and repeated samples also from the control group. The exposed groups were exposed to vibration for a 15-min period or until they reached a 5.0 m/s2 vibration dose. Analysis of blood status and differential counting of leucocytes was performed on the capillary blood samples. The results of the blood samples showed an increase in mean value for erythrocyte volume fraction (EVF), hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count and neutrophils, as well as a decrease of mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration. The increase of EVF and neutrophils was statistically significant for samples taken from the index finger but not the little finger. Even though the study was small it showed that an acute vibration exposure to the hands might increase EVF and neutrophilic granulocytes levels in the capillary blood taken from index fingers.
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| 5. |
- Larsson, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Sarcoidosis and increased risk of comorbidities and mortality in Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: Sarcoidosis Vasculitis and Diffuse Lung Diseases. - : MATTIOLI 1885. - 1124-0490. ; 37:2, s. 104-135
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder, with an unclear etiology, involving granuloma formation that in most cases affects the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes. Sarcoidosis occurs in an acute or chronic form, each with different clinical presentation and prognosis.Methods: Case-control study of comorbidity and mortality in people diagnosed with sarcoidosis (ICD10 code D86) from 2007 through 2016 in Sweden. Controls were matched to cases (2:1) based on age, sex and county at the time of diagnosis. Data was collected from the Swedish National Patient Register and The Cause of Death Register. All men and women aged 20-65 years old who were diagnosed with sarcoidosis (D86, ICD10) during the years of study were included, resulting 7828 cases and 15656 controls.Results: Patients with sarcoidosis had increased mortality compared to matched controls (hazard ratio 1.88; 95% CI 1.56 - 2.26) and the Swedish general population (standardized mortality ratios1.75; 95% CI 1.52 - 2.00). The sarcoid cases, compared to controls, also had a significantly greater number of inpatient visits within several different chapters of ICD10 e.g. cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary embolism and malignant neoplasm.Conclusion: Individuals with sarcoidosis are at higher risk of comorbidities and mortality than matched controls as well as the general population of Sweden. These findings are important knowledge for healthcare professionals who meet sarcoid patients, to encourage identification and treatment of comorbidities to reduce the risk of impaired quality of life and, eventually, premature death.
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| 6. |
- Löfgren, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Nerve Function Impairment after Acute Vibration Exposure
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 62:2, s. 124-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the acute effects of hand-arm vibrations on the nerve functions of the hands, and the impact of the grip force applied to the vibrating tool during exposure.METHODS: Grip strength and perception of vibration, touch, and temperature were evaluated using QST before and after vibration exposure in 21 occupationally unexposed individuals. The procedure was performed twice, with a higher grip force being applied during exposure on the second occasion.RESULTS: Vibration perception was significantly impaired after both exposures. Grip strength, perception of touch and temperature were only significantly affected after the high grip force exposure.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to hand-arm vibrations has acute effects on hand nerve function that are sensitive to the grip force applied during exposure.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Löfstedt, Håkan, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees at Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 58:12, s. 1190-1195
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This study investigated trichloramine exposure and prevalence of respiratory and ocular symptoms among Swedish indoor swimming pool workers.Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to pool workers and referents. Lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured before and after work. Exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes was measured over work shifts.Results: The mean personal trichloramine exposure was 36g/m(3). Significantly more exposed workers reported ocular and nasal symptoms. There were significant differences between groups in FeNO change following work, with exposed showing increased FeNO, which grew when analyses included only nonsmokers.Conclusions: The findings indicate that indoor swimming pool environments may have irritating effects on mucous membranes. FeNO data also indicate an inflammatory effect on central airways, but the clinical relevance is unclear. Low trichloramine levels found in this study were not associated with health effects.
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| 9. |
- Ragnebro, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Chloroform exposure in air and water in Swedish indoor swimming pools : urine as a biomarker of occupational exposure
- 2023
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Ingår i: Annals of Work Exposures and Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 2398-7308 .- 2398-7316. ; 67:7, s. 876-885
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Disinfection by-products are produced in water disinfected with chlorine-based products. One such group is trihalomethanes, and chloroform is the most abundant trihalomethane in swimming pool areas. Chloroform can be absorbed by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption, and is classified as possibly carcinogenic.AIM: To investigate if chloroform concentrations in air and water affect the chloroform concentration in urine samples of exposed swimming pool workers. METHODS: Workers from 5 adventure indoor swimming pools carried personal chloroform air samplers and provided up to 4 urine samples during one workday. Chloroform concentrations were analyzed with a linear mixed model analysis to investigate a possible correlation between air and urine concentrations.RESULTS: The geometric mean chloroform concentration was 11 μg/m3 in air and 0.009 µg/g creatinine in urine among individuals with ≤2 h at work, 0.023 µg/g creatinine among those with >2-5 working hours, and 0.026 µg/g creatinine in the group with >5-10 working hours. A risk of higher levels of chloroform in urine was associated with longer hours at work (≤2 h versus >5-10 h, odds ratio [OR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-3.34), personal chloroform concentrations in air (≤17.00 µg/m3 versus >28.00 µg/m3, OR 9.23, 95% CI 3.68-23.13) and working at least half the working day near the swimming pools (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.33-7.55). Executing work tasks in the swimming pool water was not associated with higher chloroform concentrations in urine compared to only working on land (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.27-2.45).CONCLUSION: There is an accumulation of chloroform concentrations in urine during a workday and a correlation between personal air and urine concentrations of chloroform among workers in Swedish indoor swimming pools.
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| 10. |
- Vihlborg, Per, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Association between vibration exposure and hand-arm vibration symptoms in a Swedish mechanical industry
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. - : Elsevier. - 0169-8141 .- 1872-8219. ; 62, s. 77-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Work with vibrating tools is common in many industries. Exposure to hand-arm vibrations is associated with a risk of hand injury in the form of: Vascular disorders, nerve malfunction, and effects on the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hand-arm vibration symptoms among employees at a mechanical company, as well as to follow-up with patients presenting symptoms and evaluate the effects of certain proposed measures. We found that 21% of the employees were judged to have vibration-related problems even though the exposure to vibrations was judged to be relatively low. There seems to be an over-representation of Carpal tunnel syndrome among participants; this may suggest that ergonomic conditions at the investigated company, such as grinding with flexed wrists, are unfavorable.Relevance to industry: Regular screening for early signs of vibration-related damage, even if workers are subject to only moderate vibration exposure, is an important part of preventing the aggravation of health problems.
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