Child labor still with us after all these years.
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Child labor is a major threat to the health of children in the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than four million children are legally employed and that another one to two million are employed under illegal, often exploitative conditions. Across the United States, child labor accounts for 20,000 workers compensation claims, 200,000 injuries, thousands of cases of permanent disability, and more than 70 deaths each year. Agriculture and newspaper delivery are the two most hazardous areas of employment for children and adolescents. Poverty, massive immigration, and relaxation in enforcement of Federal child labor law are the three factors principally responsible for the last two decades' resurgence of child labor in the United States. Control of the hazards of child labor will require a combination of strategies including vigorous enforcement, education, and public health surveillance. (+info)
Improvement of accuracy of chromosome aberration analysis for biological radiation dosimetry.
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The frequency of chromosome aberrations in circulating lymphocytes is accepted as being the most reliable indicator of the absorbed dose of radiation. Researches done to improve the accuracy of cytogenetic analysis are described in this review. These include investigations of in vitro factors that affect the yield of radiation-induced aberrations and of in vivo factors that affect the chromosomal radiosensitivity of individuals. Improved chromosome-painting methods for accurate judgment of dicentrics and translocations are introduced. The practicality of these advanced cytogenetic techniques is shown by examinations of individuals exposed in the radiation accident at Tokaimura in 1999. (+info)
Work-related vision hazards in the dental office.
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Among the numerous threats to the dentist's health there is one relating to the eye. The paper discusses the impact of selected adverse factors on the eye in connection with dental practice in the surgery. (+info)
Occupational fatalities associated with 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) exposure, 1980-1998.
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2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) is a feedstock chemical primarily used to produce the herbicide 2,4-dichloropheoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). In October 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified of the death of a worker acutely exposed to 2,4-DCP. Follow-up investigation by EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identified four earlier deaths associated with acute 2,4-DCP exposure, which occurred during 1980-1992. All of these incidents resulted in rapid death after dermal exposure to the heated liquid form of the chemical. This report describes the five deaths associated with 2,4-DCP exposure (presented in the order in which they were identified) and provides recommendations for preventing additional deaths. (+info)
Non-fatal work related injuries in a cohort of Brazilian steelworkers.
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OBJECTIVES: Workers in the steel industry are exposed to various severe hazards. This study investigated risk factors for non-fatal injury occurring in the workplace and during travel to and from work in steelworkers in Brazil. METHODS: Non-fatal work related injuries during employment from January 1977 to September 1992 were analysed in a cohort of 21 732 male workers in the steel plant of USIMINAS, Brazil. RESULTS: There were 14 972 non-fatal injuries during follow up, with 10 891 injuries in the workplace and 4081 during travel to and from work (travel to work injury). The rate of injury in the workplace was 5.6/100 person-years and that of travel to work injury was 2.1/100 person-years. The most common injuries were to hands, arms, and eyes, with 90% of the eye injuries caused by a foreign body. Both rates of workplace and travel to work injury increased significantly with the number of injuries previously experienced, and decreased with number of years in employment and calendar period. The rates of travel to work injury also seemed to decrease with age, but age was not an independent predictor of workplace injury when we controlled for duration of employment. The rate of workplace injury was increased eightfold for workers who had experienced more than six previous injuries compared with those with no previous workplace injuries after adjusting for duration of employment and calendar period. Labourers were most at risk of workplace injury, with about eight injuries per 100 person-years. Travel to work injury was most common among support workers, with nearly half of the travel to work injuries affecting the eyes. CONCLUSION: The rate of injury was high in these steelworks, both for workplace and travel to work injuries. Characteristics of the work areas and the employees can identify high risk groups; protective measures, safety, health training, and injury programmes should concentrate particularly on these groups. Prevention of eye injury needs special attention in steelworks. (+info)
Sleep-disordered breathing and occupational accidents.
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OBJECTIVES: The relationship between a common type of sleep disturbance, sleep-disordered breathing, and the risk of becoming involved in an occupational accident was studied. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective comparison was made of occupational injuries reported to the Occupational Injury Statistics Division of the Swedish National Board of Occupational Safety and Health. The injury rates for 704 consecutive patients suffering from sleep-disordered breathing were compared with the rates for an employed, age-matched random sample of 580 subjects, drawn from the general population. RESULTS: The risk of being involved in an occupational accident was about 2-fold among male heavy snorers and increased by 50% among men suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). For females the risk increased by at least 3-fold among heavy snorers and OSAS patients. Reduced vigilance and attention due to sleep-disordered breathing are the proposed mechanisms behind the results. CONCLUSION: The early identification and treatment of persons suffering from sleep-disordered breathing would not only have positive impact on individual health and well-being but also on occupational safety. (+info)
Inadvertent topical exposure to isocyanates caused damage to the entire eyeball.
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Isocyanates are part of a group of important chemicals necessary in the production of adhesives, synthetic rubbers, and a variety of plastics. They are known to have minimal toxic effects when administered locally. However, we experienced a case of damage involving the entire eyeball in a person who accidentally exposed his eye to isocyanates. The patient presented with inflamed conjunctiva, and shrunken cornea and sclera, with focal atrophic changes in the iris. The lens and vitreous were opacified. After removal of the lens and vitreous, there were large areas of atrophic retina and areas of retinal necrosis with holes. We found that locally absorbed isocyanates can cause damage to the entire eyeball. Therefore, we recommend that if there is any evidence of isocyanate penetration, early vitrectomy should be performed to help in determining the extent of retina damage and to decrease the amount of toxic substance in the vitreous. (+info)
Agricultural work-related injuries among farmers in Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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OBJECTIVES: This population-based study evaluated patterns of and risk factors for, agricultural injuries among farmers in the People's Republic of China. METHODS: A multistage sample of 1500 Chinese farmers was selected from 14 villages. Face-to-face interviews with 1358 farmers were conducted between July 1997 and September 1997 (response rate = 91%). Agricultural work-related injuries that occurred in the previous 24 months and the associated factors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 33% of the farmers reported at least 1 work-related injury in the 24 months before the survey. Major external causes of the injuries were hand tools (50%), falls (26%), and heavy falling objects (10%). The statistically significant risk factors for injury were low family income, 1 to 6 school years of education, self-reported pesticide exposure, tension in relationships with neighbors, and stress in life. The most notable result was the relation between self-reported pesticide exposure and injury, with farmers with greater pesticide exposure at significantly greater risk for injury. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that injuries occurring among Chinese farmers may have unique patterns and potential risk factors. (+info)