Using lymphocyte and plasma Hsp70 as biomarkers for assessing coke oven exposure among steel workers.
(49/136)
BACKGROUND: Hsp70, an early-response protein induced when organisms are confronted with simple or complicated environmental stresses, can act as either a cellular protector or a danger signal. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate levels of lymphocyte and/or plasma Hsp70 as biomarkers for assessing exposure response to complex coke oven emissions (COEs). METHODS: We recruited 101 coke oven workers and determined levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), genotoxic damage by comet assay and micronuclei test, and other markers of damage, including plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These were compared to levels of lymphocyte (intra-cellular) and plasma (extracellular) Hsp70 using Western blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), respectively. RESULTS: We observed a COEs-related dose-dependent increase in levels of DNA damage, micronuclei rate, MDA concentration, and LDH activity. Lymphocyte Hsp70 levels increased in the intermediate-exposure group (1.39 +/- 0.88) but decreased in the high-exposure group (1.10 +/- 0.55), compared with the low-exposure group. In contrast, plasma Hsp70 levels progressively increased as the dose of exposure increased. Negative correlations were seen between lymphocyte Hsp70 levels and olive tail moment and LDH activity in the intermediate- and high-exposure groups. However, we observed positive correlations between plasma Hsp70 levels and LDH activity in the low and intermediate groups. CONCLUSIONS: In workers exposed to COEs, high lymphocyte Hsp70 levels may provide protection and high plasma Hsp70 levels may serve as a danger marker. Larger validation studies are needed to establish the utility of Hsp70 as a response marker. (+info)
Protection from steam at high pressures: development of a test device and protocol.
(50/136)
Extensive use of pressurized steam in the oil and gas sectors has led to incidents where workers were seriously injured. In this study a test device and procedure to measure heat transfer through fabrics during steam exposure were developed and evaluated. Several factors were considered while designing the test device to simulate work site conditions. Fabrics were exposed to steam at 2 distances (50 and 100 mm) and 2 pressures (207 and 69 kPa). Theoretical considerations included heat and mass transfer, and fabric structure and performance properties. The test device and procedure differentiated well among both fabrics and exposure conditions. For all fabrics, maximum heat transfer was observed at highest steam pressure and shortest distance. Laminated and coated fabrics performed better than a fabric without such treatments. (+info)
Association of occupational stress and social support with health-related behaviors among chinese offshore oil workers.
(51/136)
To explore the relationship of occupational stress and social support with health-related behaviors of smoking, alcohol usage and physical inactivity, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 offshore oil installation workers of a Chinese state-owned oil company. They were investigated with a self-administered questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, occupational stress, social support and health-related behaviors. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between occupational stress, social support and health-related behaviors and adjusted for age, educational level, marital status, duration of offshore work and job title. Of 561 workers, 218 (38.9%) were current smokers, 124 (22.1%) current drinkers, and 354 (63.1%) physically inactive in their leisure time. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that: (1) Current smoking was significantly negatively related with perceived stress from "Safety" (OR=0.74; 95% CI=0.58-0.94) and lack of supervisors' instrumental support (OR=0.34; 95% CI=0.18-0.65); (2) Current drinking was significantly positively related to perceived stress from "Interface between job and family/social life" (OR=1.32; 95% CI=1.02-1.70) and "Organizational structure" (OR=1.35; 95% CI=1.06-1.74), but was significantly negatively related to poor emotional support from friends (OR=0.54; 95% CI=0.62-0.96); (3) Physical inactivity after work was significantly positively associated with perceived stress from "Safety" (OR=1.44; 95% CI=1.16-1.79) and lack of instrumental support from both supervisors (OR=1.74; 95% CI=1.16-2.65) and friends (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.06-2.42). The findings suggest that psychosocial factors of occupational stress and social support at offshore oil work might affect workers' health-related behaviors in different ways. (+info)
Fatalities among oil and gas extraction workers--United States, 2003-2006.
(52/136)
Oil and gas extraction (i.e., removing oil and natural gas from the ground) is a growing industry in the United States, employing approximately 380,000 workers in 2006. In recent years, activity in this industry has increased substantially, from an average of 800 actively drilling rigs in the United States during the 1990s to approximately 1,300 during 2003-2006. In August 2005, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) asked CDC to investigate a 15% increase in fatalities among oil and gas extraction workers (from 85 fatalities in 2003 to 98 in 2004). CDC analyzed data from the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) for the period 2003-2006. This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that increases in oil and gas extraction activity were correlated with an increase in the rate of fatal occupational injuries in this industry, with an annual fatality rate of 30.5 per 100,000 workers (404 fatalities) during 2003-2006, approximately seven times the rate for all workers (4.0 per 100,000 workers). Nearly half of all fatal injuries among these workers were attributed to highway motor-vehicle crashes and workers being struck by machinery or equipment. Employers should work with existing industry groups and federal, state, and local government agencies to promote seatbelt use. In addition, researchers and public health officials should collaborate with industry groups to establish engineering and process controls that remove workers from potentially dangerous machinery while drilling and servicing oil and gas wells. (+info)
The value of high resolution computed tomography in the diagnostics of small opacities and complications of silicosis in mine machinery manufacturing workers, compared to radiography.
(53/136)
The purpose of this study was to assess the value and usefulness of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the diagnostics of small opacities and complications of silicosis in mine machinery manufacturing workers, compared to conventional radiograms. The diagnosis of silicosis is mainly based on the radiological findings of workers exposed to the dust causing lung fibrosis. However, on radiograms many parenchymal structures overlap, which limits the sensitivity and specificity of the method. Difficulties in accurate interpretation of conventional radiograms in silicosis also result from their relatively low resolution. We randomly selected 30 I period silicosis patients from 77 I period silicosis patients working at a mine machinery manufacturing company. Out of 1078 non-silicosis and 162 0+ period silicosis subjects, 30 non-silicosis and 30 0+ period silicosis subjects were randomly selected and matched with the 30 I period silicosis subjects by age (+/- 3.0 yr) and occupational exposure time (+/- 2.0 yr). Chest X-rays were taken at maximal inspiration. For the HRCT examination, the GE Somatom plus apparatus was used. Eight, five and six subjects were respectively diagnosed as 0+, I or I+ period silicosis based on HRCT among 90 subjects whose original diagnoses were non-silicosis, 0+ or I period silicosis based on radiography. The numbers of small opacities in HRCT scans were significantly higher than those seen in radiography in all lung zones (p<0.01). HRCT was more sensitive than radiography in detecting small opacities of mid-out zones of the lung, but no statistical significance was found between the two methods in the detection of small opacities of lower zones of the lung. A statistically significant increase in the detectability of bulla, emphysema, pleural, mediastinal and hilar changes was observed (p<0.05). HRCT might be more sensitive than radiography in detecting lung parenchymal changes suggestive of silicosis. (+info)
Oil workers and seat-belt wearing behaviour: the northern Alberta context.
(54/136)
OBJECTIVES: Seat-belt wearing rates in the North reflect workers in the oil industry, necessitating sociocultural descriptions on the issue. The objective of this study was to describe how the social context influences oil workers' views of risk and seat-belt wearing behaviour in northern Alberta. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was qualitative research. Focus groups were held with oil workers in three northern Alberta locations. METHODS: Forty-five oil industry workers participated in 3 focus groups held in a different northern Alberta location, each consisting of 15 participants. Focus group discourse was centred on a series of questions that were clustered around the following themes: (1) propensity to take risks; (2) work patterns and workplace routines; (3) driving history and patterns; (4) self-disclosed seat-belt wearing behaviour; and (5) social relationships. RESULTS: Northern oil workers believe that taking safety risks is an essential characteristic of who they are and where they work. Employers demand consecutive number of hours on the job and offer attractive incentives for working overtime that encourages risk-taking. Risk-taking also appears in driving where workers take numerous risks to get home after they have worked 12-hour shifts for 14 consecutive days. Most are situational seat-belt wearers, buckling up in inclement weather, at the presence of numerous logging trucks and the threat of drunk and/or fatigued drivers. Without prompting, northern oil workers consider fatigued driving as the most dangerous driving risk they experience in the north. Nearly every respondent has experienced fatigued driving after completing his last work shift in a 14-day rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Seat-belt wearing initiatives for oil workers during off-work driving should be led by the oil industries. For example, they could support and encourage the police to increase their enforcement, lobby the government for higher penalties, punish their workers who are caught not wearing seat belts and collaborate with local communities to develop programs that will increase awareness of seat-belt wearing. Because workers described fatigued driving as the key risk in the North, oil industries should become engaged in interventions, with seat-belt wearing as a vital component of fatigued driving. (+info)
Evaluation of DNA damage induction on human pulmonary cells exposed to PAHs from organic extract of PM10 collected in a coke-oven plant.
(55/136)
Occupational exposure of coke oven workers, classified by IARC as human carcinogen, is characterized by the presence of PAHs emitted during pyrolysis of coal. We aimed to clarify the mechanism of action of complex mixtures of PAHs and to identify biomarkers of early biological effect, evaluating on lung epithelial cells (A549) genotoxic and oxidative damage of airborne particulate matter collected in a coke plant. Particulate matter was collected in the oven area on glass filter, extract and analysed by GC/MS. Direct/oxidative DNA damage induced by exposure to extract were evaluated by Fpg comet assay. The cells were exposed for 30 min, 2h and 4h to extract of half filter diluted at 0.004%, 0.008% and 0.02%. We evaluated comet percentage and analysed tail moment values of cells treated with Fpg enzyme (TMenz) and untreated (TM) that indicate respectively oxidative and direct DNA damage. Air sample contained 0.328 microg/m3 of pyrene, 0.33 microg/m3 of benzo(a)anthracene, 1.073 microg/m3 of benzo(b)fluoranthene, 0.22 microg/m3 of benzo(k)fluoranthene, 0.35 microg/m3 of benzo(a)pyrene, 0.079 microg/m3 of dibenzo(a,h)anthracene and 0.40 microg/m3 of benzo(g,h,i)perylene. The dose-dependent increase of TM and TMenz in exposed cells was not significant, indicating only a slight direct and oxidative DNA damage in exposed cells. A small dose-time dependent increase of comet percentage was found. The study shows the high sensitivity of comet assay to measure early DNA damage also at low doses suggesting its use on lung epithelial cells to evaluate the effects of complex mixtures of genotoxic substances on target organ. (+info)
Effects of a worker participatory program for improving work environments on job stressors and mental health among workers: a controlled trial.
(56/136)
The Mental Health Action Checklist for a Better Workplace Environment (MHACL) is a tool for a worker participatory approach to improve work environments for worker mental health. The present study investigated the effects of an organizational intervention using the MHACL on reducing job stressors and the psychological distress of workers of a manufacturing enterprise in Japan with a controlled study design. Nine of 45 departments participated in a work environment improvement program, including planning workshops, implementation and monitoring, between July and December 2005 (intervention group, n=321). The remaining 36 departments served as the control group (n=750). Outcomes (job stressors, worksite support, psychological distress, etc.), measured using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, as well as sick leave days taken from the company record, were recorded before and six months after the program for both groups. Among women, skill underutilization, supervisor and coworker support, psychological distress, and job satisfaction changed more favorably in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05). No significant favorable effect of the program was observed among men. Improvements in the outcomes were more prominent among departments with a 50% or higher rate of worker participation in the planning workshops and among departments with a 50% or higher rate of implemented vs. planned actions. A worker participatory organizational intervention using the MHACL seems effective for promoting mental health among Japanese white-collar women. (+info)