فهرست مطالب
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Apr 2019
- تاریخ انتشار: 1398/02/11
- تعداد عناوین: 9
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Pages 57-65BackgroundShift work is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but the causes have not yet been fully established. It has been proposed that the coronary risk factors are more hazardous for shift workers, resulting in a potential interaction effect with shift work.ObjectiveTo analyse interaction effects of work schedule and established risk factors for coronary artery disease on the risk of myocardial infarction.MethodsThis analysis was conducted in SHEEP/VHEEP, a case-control study conducted in two counties in Sweden, comprising all first-time cases of myocardial infarction among men and women 45–70 years of age with controls stratified by sex, age, and hospital catchment area, totalling to 4648 participants. Synergy index (SI) was used as the main outcome analysis method for interaction analysis.ResultsThere was an interaction effect between shift work and physical inactivity on the risk of myocardial infarction with SI of 2.05 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.92) for male shift workers. For female shift workers, interaction effects were found with high waist-hip ratio (SI 4.0, 95% CI 1.12 to 14.28) and elevated triglycerides (SI 5.69, 95% CI 1.67 to 19.38).ConclusionShift work and some established coronary risk factors have significant interactions.Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, Epidemiology, Risk factors, Shift work schedule, Synergy
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Pages 66-72BackgroundThe unsafe use of chemical pesticides, along with the lack of appropriate preventive protocols and equipment may damage the health of users.ObjectiveTo determine the knowledge and practice of the safe use of chemical pesticides by farm workers in northern Iran.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 farmers in Mazandaran province, in 2017. The data collection instrument was a two-part questionnaire: The first part was concentrated on demographic and agricultural characteristics of the participants; the second part dealt with the farmers' knowledge and practice of the safe use of pesticides.ResultsThe mean knowledge and practice scores (out of 100) of the participating farmers in the safe use of pesticides were 84.8 (SD 13.5) and 50.8 (13.2), respectively. There was a significant positive correlation (r=0.466, p<0.001) between their knowledge and practice. Wearing protective clothes, while applying pesticides, was among safe practices. Although more than 60% of farmers had a sufficient level of knowledge of the safe use of pesticides, they did not implement their knowledge in practice. There was a significant (p<0.001) association between the education level and knowledge of the safe use of pesticides.ConclusionThere was a significant correlation between knowledge and practices of the safe use of pesticides among farmers in northern Iran. There was a clear know-do gap—although the majority of the participants possessed a sufficient level of knowledge of the safe use of pesticides, they did not implement it in practice.Keywords: Health knowledge, attitudes, practice, Knowledge, Safety, Pesticides, Farmers
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Pages 73-79BackgroundThiodiacetic acid (TDAA) is the main metabolite of vinyl chloride (VC) and 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) and its urinary level is correlated with the level of exposure to these chemicals.ObjectiveTo study dynamics of the excretion of TDAA into urine of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production workers.MethodsThe study sample consisted of 65 workers of VC and PVC divisions with various time intervals following exposure to the chemicals, 10 shift workers from PVC division, and 34 workers not exposed to the chemicals (control group). Analysis of urinary TDAA was carried out with gas chromatography with mass-selective detector.ResultsThe concentrations of TDAA in the urine of workers of the VC division and in group of primary occupations who had a high level of exposure to the chemicals, were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of workers of the PVC production division and group of auxiliary professions. The highest levels of TDAA in the urine of workers were found at the beginning of the next shift and during a long break, 24–48 hours after the cessation of the exposure.ConclusionWhen conducting biomonitoring studies in PVC production workers, the optimal time for collecting urine samples is at the beginning of the next shift or during a long rest, 24–48 hours after the exposure.Keywords: Vinyl chloride, thiodiacetic acid [Supplementary Concept], Environmental monitoring
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Pages 80-88BackgroundMany workers, particularly those working in manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, rubber, pesticides, textiles, and employees of petrochemical industries are exposed to ammonia in their workplaces. Toxic responses of hematopoietic system and kidney following occupational exposure to this chemical have not been thoroughly investigated.ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between long-term occupational exposure to low levels of ammonia and hematological parameters and kidney function.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 119 randomly selected, male petrochemical workers and 131 office employees (comparison group) were examined. Urine and blood samples were taken from all participants for urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC), serum calcium level, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine. Personal, environmental, and peak ammonia exposure were also measured.ResultsThe median personal, environmental, and peak occupational exposure to ammonia were 0.23, 0.16, and 65.50 mg/m3, respectively, among the exposed group. No significant difference was observed between the exposed and unexposed participants in terms of hematological parameters and urinalysis. Conversely, calcium and BUN, while within the normal range, were significantly higher in the exposed than in the comparison group.ConclusionOccupational exposure to low atmospheric concentrations of ammonia was associated with subtle, sub-clinical, pre-pathologic changes in kidney function. Possible longterm consequences and ramifications of these effects require further investigation.Keywords: Ammonia, Hematology, Kidney diseases, Occupational exposure
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Pages 89-93Lead exposure is associated with several health hazards among workers with different individual responses. We conducted this study to determine the possible effects of lead exposure on hematological parameters and kidney function of a group of Egyptian ammunition workers and the interaction of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) G177C gene polymorphisms as an effect modifier. Significant differences were observed between exposed workers with ALAD1-1 and ALAD1-2 genotypes in terms of blood lead level, hematological parameters and kidney function. It seems that δ-ALAD gene polymorphism may be an effect modifier and a marker of genetic susceptibility to lead toxicity.Keywords: Explosive agents, Lead, Porphobilinogen synthase, Polymorphism, genetic, beta 2-Microglobulin
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Pages 97-98