| 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. |
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| 4. |
- 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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| 5. |
- 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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| 6. |
- Vihlborg, Per, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Risk of sarcoidosis and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis from occupational silica exposure in Swedish iron foundries : a retrospective cohort study
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 7:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of occupational silica exposure on the incidence rates of sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort of exposed workers in Swedish iron foundries.DESIGN: The prevalence of sarcoidosis and RA in a cohort of silica exposed workers was compared with the prevalence in the general Swedish population in this register study. A mixed model was used to calculate silica exposure, and individual silica exposures were used to compute dose responses.SETTING: Personnel records from 10 iron foundries were used to identify workers whose employment began before 2005 which was then linked to the national non-primary outpatient visits register.PARTICIPANTS: The final cohort consisted of 2187 silica-exposed male workers who had been employed for at least 1 year and were still alive without having emigrated when the follow-up study began. The cohort's employment period covers 23 807 person-years at risk.MAIN OUTCOME: The presented results indicate that moderate to high levels of silica exposure increase risks for sarcoidosis and seropositive RA.RESULTS: Mean levels of airborne silica dust in the foundries decreased significantly between the 1970s and 2000s. Incidence rates of sarcoidosis (3.94; 95% CI 1.07 to 10.08) and seropositive RA (2.59; 95% CI 1.24 to 4.76) were significantly higher among highly exposed individuals.CONCLUSION: Our results reveal increased risks for sarcoidosis and seropositive RA among individuals with high exposure to silica dust (>0.048 mg/m(3)) compared with non-exposed and less-exposed groups.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes : adverse health effects among personnel in habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1545-9624 .- 1545-9632. ; 16:1, s. 78-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Personnel in swimming pool facilities typically experience ocular, nasal, and respiratory symptoms due to water chlorination and consequent exposure to disinfection by-products in the air. The aim of the study was to investigate exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) from the perspective of adverse health effects on the personnel at Swedish habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools. The study included ten habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pool facilities in nine Swedish cities. The study population comprised 24 exposed swimming pool workers and 50 unexposed office workers. Personal and stationary measurements of trichloramine and trihalomethanes in air were performed at all the facilities. Questionnaires were distributed to exposed workers and referents. Spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured. Personal and stationary measurements yielded trichloramine levels of 1-76 µg/m3 (average: 19 µg/m3) and 1-140 µg/m3 (average: 23 µg/m3), respectively. A slightly higher, but not significant, prevalence of reported eye- and throat-related symptoms occurred among the exposed workers than among the referents. A significantly increased risk of at least one ocular symptom was attributed to trichloramine exposure above the median (20 µg/m3). Lung function (FVC and FEV1) was in the normal range according to the Swedish reference materials, and no significant change in lung function before and after shift could be established between the groups. Average FENO values were in the normal range in both groups, but the difference in the values between the exposed workers and referents showed a significant increase after shift. Hourly registered PEF values during the day of the investigation did not show any unusual individual variability. In conclusion, the increased risk of developing at least one ocular symptom at personal trichloramine concentrations over 20 µg/m3 combined with an increase in the difference in FENO during the work shift of the exposed workers should not be neglected as an increased risk of respiratory inflammation in the habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pool environment.
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| 10. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational Exposure to Trichloramine and Trihalomethanes in Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools : Evaluation of Personal and Stationary Monitoring
- 2015
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Ingår i: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press. - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 59:8, s. 1074-1084
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Chlorination is a method commonly used to keep indoor swimming pool water free from pathogens. However, chlorination of swimming pools produces several potentially hazardous by-products as the chlorine reacts with nitrogen containing organic matter. Up till now, exposure assessments in indoor swimming pools have relied on stationary measurements at the poolside, used as a proxy for personal exposure. However, measurements at fixed locations are known to differ from personal exposure.Methods: Eight public swimming pool facilities in four Swedish cities were included in this survey. Personal and stationary sampling was performed during day or evening shift. Samplers were placed at different fixed positions around the pool facilities, at similar to 1.5 m above the floor level and 0-1 m from the poolside. In total, 52 personal and 110 stationary samples of trichloramine and 51 personal and 109 stationary samples of trihalomethanes, were collected.Results: The average concentration of trichloramine for personal sampling was 71 mu g m(-3), ranging from 1 to 240 mu g m(-3) and for stationary samples 179 mu g m(-3), ranging from 1 to 640 mu g m(-3). The air concentrations of chloroform were well below the occupational exposure limit (OEL). For the linear regression analysis and prediction of personal exposure to trichloramine from stationary sampling, only data from personal that spent > 50% of their workday in the pool area were included. The linear regression analysis showed a correlation coefficient (r (2)) of 0.693 and a significant regression coefficient beta of 0.621; (95% CI = 0.329-0.912, P = 0.001).Conclusion: The trichloramine exposure levels determined in this study were well below the recommended air concentration level of 500 mu g m(-3); a WHO reference value based on stationary sampling. Our regression data suggest a relation between personal exposure and area sampling of 1:2, implying an OEL of 250 mu g m(-3) based on personal sampling.
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