Hand-arm vibration syndrome in Swedish car mechanics.
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AIMS: To assess the occurrence of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in Swedish car mechanics, and the relation between HAVS and duration of exposure. METHODS: A total of 806 mechanics answered a questionnaire on vascular and neurological symptoms, and exposure to vibrations. Mechanics with symptoms, and some mechanics without symptoms, were invited to a clinical examination, including also a timed Allen test. Vascular and neurological symptoms were classified using the Stockholm Workshop scales. The mean daily exposure (mainly using nut-runners) was 14 minutes and the mean exposure duration, 12 years. Published data have shown vibration levels in nut-runners of about 3.5 m/s(2). RESULTS: In the questionnaire, 24% reported cold induced white finger (WF), 25% persistent numbness, and 13%, reduced grip force. The clinical examination showed a prevalence of vibration induced white finger (VWF) of about 15%, mainly in stage 2, and after 20 years, of 25%. A survival analysis showed similar results. We found that the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) model underestimates the risk of VWF. The incidence after 1975 was 19 cases per 1000 person-years. Slow refill times in the timed Allen test were common (15% had a refill time of >20 seconds), and associated with the presence of VWF. The clinical examination revealed neurological symptoms in the hands in about 25% of subjects, mainly at stage 2. After 20 years, the prevalence was 40%. The questionnaire items on WF and numbness both showed likelihood ratios of 13. CONCLUSION: HAVS is common among Swedish car mechanics in spite of short daily exposure times. This underlines the need for preventive measures. (+info)
Legionnaires' disease outbreak in an automobile engine manufacturing plant.
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We investigated 4 cases of legionnaires' disease (LD) reported among workers at an Ohio automotive plant in March 2001. A "confirmed" case of LD was defined as x-ray-confirmed pneumonia and a confirmatory laboratory test. A "possible" case of LD was defined as elevated titers of antibody and respiratory symptoms. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (LP1) was isolated from 1 case patient. Legionella was isolated from 18 (9%) of 197 environmental samples; 3 isolates were LP1 but did not match the case isolate. We conducted a case-control study; 17 case patients with confirmed or possible LD and 86 control subjects (workers with low antibody titers and without symptoms) were enrolled. Visiting a specific cleaning line (odds ratio, [OR], 7.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.31-23.00) and working in the cleaning region of the plant (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.11-9.38) were associated with LD. LD can be transmitted in industrial settings in which aerosols are produced. Clinicians should consider LD when treating persons from these settings for pneumonia. (+info)
Myocardial infarction in car assembly workers.
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The incidence of myocardial infarction and the return to work for survivors were studied among the employees of an English car assembly plant by analysing 12 811 medical records of persons employed during the seven years between January 1966 and December 1972. The standardized morbidity ratio of myocardial infarction found in this study calculated on the basis of incidence rates reported by Kinlen )1973) for the Oxford community in which the factory was situated was 90. The standardized morbidity ratio from production line workers only was 66 and that for the monthly paid staff 272. Of the production line workers who survived the attack 22 (90%) returned to their previous jobs without undue difficulty and with two exceptions within four months of the onset of their illness; there was no relation between length of absence and age at the time of attack. These findings suggest that workers in mass production jobs such as car assembly are not special risk from myocardial infarction, and most of those who survive a heart attack are able to return to their former work. Taken with Kinlen's (1973) study and that of Armstrong et al. (1972) in Edinburgh, they also bear out mortality data by indicating that in Oxfordshire the incidence of coronary heart disease is lower than the British average. (+info)
Intention to be screened over time for colorectal cancer in male automotive workers.
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Intention is an important construct in health promotion research, yet very little is known about whether cross-sectional correlates of intention to be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC) also predict intention over time or intention change. We used survey data from The Next Step Trial, a worksite health promotion trial, to address the following questions: (1) What is the consistency over time of intention to be screened for CRC? (2) Are the patterns and magnitude of associations between intention to be screened and the Preventive Health Model variables consistent over time? (3) What are the predictors of improving weaker intention to be screened, i.e., changing to strong intention? (4) What are the predictors of no change in strong intention to be screened, i.e., maintaining strong intention? and (5) What is the predictive ability of the models to predict intention to be screened for CRC? The study population consisted of white male automotive employees who responded to baseline (1993) and follow-up (1994 and 1995) surveys and did not have CRC at baseline or develop it during the study period. Of 5042 eligible workers, 2903 (58%) returned a baseline survey, and 2556 (88% of survey responders) met eligibility criteria; 75% (1929 of 2556) returned the year 1 survey, and 74% (1892 of 2556) returned the year 2 survey. We fit logistic regression models separately for the Preventive Health Model variables measured at baseline and each outcome (intention at year 1, intention at year 2, improving weaker intention, and no change in strong intention). The prevalence of strong intention to be screened for CRC was approximately 60% on all three surveys. Overall, 66% maintained their baseline intention over time. The most consistent predictors of strong intention, improving weaker intention, and no change in strong intention were family support, belief in the salience and coherence of screening, prior screening, and lack of concern about screening-related discomfort. Intention measured at baseline predicted intention measured 1 and 2 years later. Perceived susceptibility and lack of fear and worry about a CRC diagnosis predicted improving weaker intention. Having a family history of CRC or polyps predicted maintaining strong intention. Plant factors, self-efficacy, and beliefs about polyp removal were not predictors beyond the baseline year. Basing intervention development on cross-sectional associations may miss important factors or may incorrectly assume that cross-sectional associations are stable over time. A more focused, tailored intervention may be developed using factors that consistently predict intention. (+info)
An exploratory workplace study to investigate the perceived value of continuous low-level heatwrap therapy in manual workers.
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BACKGROUND: Between 60 and 80% of the population in industrialized countries experience low back pain at some time in their lives. The physical demands of work, i.e. manual handling, lifting, bending, twisting, awkward postures and whole body vibration are associated with low back symptoms. This study was undertaken to investigate the benefits of a new form of continuous low-level heatwrap therapy available for the symptomatic relief of acute low back pain in the workplace. METHODS: The subjects were recruited to the study upon their visit to the occupational health doctor after being diagnosed with acute low back pain. RESULTS: The study results show that use of the heatwrap therapy significantly reduced pain intensity and impact of pain on everyday activities. The results of the study were further extrapolated to show potential cost reduction benefits of using this heatwrap therapy in the workplace. (+info)
Exposure to brake dust and malignant mesothelioma: a study of 10 cases with mineral fiber analyses.
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OBJECTIVES: A large number of workers in the USA are exposed to chrysotile asbestos through brake repair, yet only a few cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) have been described in this population. Epidemiologic and industrial hygiene studies have failed to demonstrate an increased risk of MM in brake workers. We present our experience of MM in individuals whose only known asbestos exposure was to brake dust and correlate these findings with lung asbestos fiber burdens. METHODS: Consultation files of one of the authors were reviewed for cases of MM in which brake dust was the only known asbestos exposure. Lung fiber analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in all cases for which formalin-fixed or paraffin-embedded lung tissue was available. RESULTS: Ten cases of MM in brake dust-exposed individuals were males aged 51-73 yr. Nine cases arose in the pleura and one in the peritoneum. Although the median lung asbestos body count (19 AB/g) is at our upper limit of normal (range 0-20 AB/g), half of the cases had levels within our normal range. In every case with elevated asbestos fiber levels by SEM, excess commercial amphibole fibers were also detected. Elevated levels of chrysotile and non-commercial amphibole fibers were detected only in cases that also had increased commercial amphibole fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Brake dust contains exceedingly low levels of respirable chrysotile, much of which consists of short fibers subject to rapid pulmonary clearance. Elevated lung levels of commercial amphiboles in some brake workers suggest that unrecognized exposure to these fibers plays a critical role in the development of MM. (+info)
Degradation of car engine base oil by Rhodococcus sp. NDKK48 and Gordonia sp. NDKY76A.
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Two microorganisms (NDKK48 and NDKY76A) that degrade long-chain cyclic alkanes (c-alkanes) were isolated from soil samples. Strains NDKK48 and NDKY76A were identified as Rhodococcus sp. and Gordonia sp., respectively. Both strains used not only normal alkane (n-alkane) but also c-alkane as a sole carbon and energy source, and the strains degraded more than 27% of car engine base oil (1% addition). (+info)
Active or passive journeys and low back pain in adolescents.
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The objective of this cross-sectional study was to study associations between low back pain (LBP) and modes of transport to school and leisure activities among adolescents. The study population included all adolescents in eighth and ninth grade in two geographic areas in eastern Norway. Eighty-eight adolescents participated (mean age 14.7 years), making the response rate 84%. Data concerning active (walking/bicycling) and passive (bus/car) journeys were obtained from lists and maps from local authorities, and from the pupils, using a questionnaire that also included LBP, activities and wellbeing. Distance walked/bicycled to school was slightly shorter among those reporting LBP in bivariate analyses. Walking/bicycling more than 8 km weekly to regular activities was inversely associated with LBP in multivariate analysis (OR 0.3; 95% confidence interval 0.1-1.0). No associations were found between passive journeys and LBP. The results raise the question for future research of whether lack of active transport may be one cause behind the increase in juvenile LBP. (+info)