Occupational exposure to saw dust: a case study

ABSTRACT: Occupational exposure to saw dust is associated with the development of oncological diseases, namely nasopharyngeal cancers (about 44% are from nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers), in the wood and furniture industries, about 55.000, according to the (Associação das Indústrias de Madeira e Mobiliário de Portugal) AIMMP. It should be noted that since 1995 these dusts have been classified as carcinogenic, by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The main objective of this study is to evaluate the exposure to saw dust, quantifying its concentration, comparing with values stipulated by existing legislation and standardization. In order to reach the objectives described above, total dust sampling was performed following the NIOSH0500 methodology, in several jobs, in three different carpentries. From the samplings performed, an average value of saw dust concentration was obtained in each workstation. After analyzing the values obtained in the measurements, performed in the real work context, it was verified there was legal non-compliance in the Garlopa workstation and values of the order of magnitude of the NP 1796 exposure limit values ELV, in the Manual Polishing workstation, in some of the Carpentry Workshops. However, if we consider the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limit (SCOEL) ELV we can state that only the Trimmer complies with the established ELV. Thus, corrective and/or preventive measures should be implemented by employers and preventive measures should be receptive by workers by implementing/complying to ensure the health and well-being of all, will be proposed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em espanholas com osteoporose

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the health-related quality of life in patients with osteoporosis and to compare it with the overall population. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 60 female patients of the rheumatology service at a university hospital, in Spain, from April to October 2003. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was applied in order to obtain demographic data, clinical characteristics and data about lifestyles related to health. Patients were classified in age groups. The statistics tests performed were Chi-square, general linear model, Student's t-test. RESULTS: The interviewees' average age was 65.57 years old (SD: ±9.7 years), and average time interval for diagnosis was 3.4±2.84 years. The best scores were in social functioning (89), emotional aspects (72.2), mental health (63), and vitality (53.7). The lowest scores were in general health (45.1), physical capacity (47.7), pain (52.3) and physical aspects (59.9). The patients' average scores were lower than the general Spanish population's scores in the following dimensions: functional capacity, physical aspects, pain and overall health status. The greatest differences between the average SF-36 scores for patients and for the overall Spanish population were in the age group ranging from 55 to 64 years old. Scores were lower or similar to the general Spanish population in all other dimensions of the questionnaire. No significant associations were found between the dimensions of the SF-36 contemplated in this study and the clinical, demographic and lifestyle data. CONCLUSIONS: The patients presented bad quality of life, particularly with respect to those dimensions that are most relevant with respect to osteoporosis, when compared with the overall Spanish population. The physical dimensions were the ones most affected.OBJETIVO: Analisar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes com osteoporose e compará-la com a população geral. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal com 60 pacientes do sexo feminino no serviço de reumatologia de um hospital universitário na Espanha, de abril a outubro de 2003. Foi aplicado o questionário Short Form-36, abordando dados demográficos, características clínicas e dados sobre estilos de vida relacionados à saúde. As pacientes foram classificadas em grupos etários. Foram utilizados os seguintes testes estatísticos: qui-quadrado, modelo linear geral, t de Student. RESULTADOS: As entrevistadas tinham idade média de 65,57 (DP: ±9,7 anos), e tempo de diagnóstico médio de 3,4±2,84 anos. As melhores pontuações foram obtidas nas dimensões aspectos sociais (89), aspectos emocionais (72,2) e saúde mental (63). As mais baixas foram em estado geral de saúde (45,1), capacidade funcional (47,7), dor (52,3) e aspectos físicos (59,9). As pontuações médias dos pacientes resultaram inferiores às pontuações conhecidas da população geral espanhola nas dimensões capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos, dor e estado geral de saúde. As máximas diferenças entre as pontuações médias do SF-36 dos pacientes e os valores populacionais espanhóis correspondem ao grupo de idade de 55 a 64 anos. Nas demais dimensões do SF-36, as pontuações foram inferiores ou similares aos valores populacionais espanhóis. Não se encontraram associações significativas entre as dimensões do SF-36 estudadas e os dados clínicos, demográficos e de estilos de vida analisados. CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes apresentaram baixa qualidade de vida, sobretudo nas dimensões mais relevantes da enfermidade, quando comparada com valores da população espanhola em geral. As áreas físicas foram as mais afetadas

Medidas de frecuencia, asociación e impacto en investigación aplicada

En la Sociedad actual del conocimiento y la información es preciso disponer de herramientas básicas para medir los fenómenos epidemiológicos como la enfermedad, la incapacidad o la siniestralidad laboral. Las formas de medir son instrumentos que se deben conocer y aplicar para planificar y tomar decisiones en Salud Pública y en Salud Laboral. El objetivo de este artículo es dar a conocer las principales medidas de frecuencia, asociación e impacto utilizadas en investigación aplicada, clínica o de Salud Pública para tratar de medir, valorar y estimar la importancia de los problemas de salud y enfermedades de relacionadas con el trabajo, de los factores de riesgo ocupacionales y otros eventos relacionados con la seguridad e higiene en el trabajo y, en definitiva, con la Salud de los trabajadores. Se describen los conceptos teóricos de las formas de medir en epidemiología, su interpretación y aplicación práctica de los indicadores básicos utilizados en la práctica habitual de los profesionales de las Ciencias de la Salud. Su utilidad fundamental es poder disponer de una información objetiva, fiable y precisa que permita tomar decisiones adecuadas y pertinentes en relación con la prevención, seguridad laboral, atención y rehabilitación de los trabajadores.<br>In the society´current knowledge and information is necessary to have basic tools to measure the epidemic phenomena such as illness, disability or workplace accidents. The ways of measuring are instruments that they must know and apply to plan and take decisions on Public Health and Labour/Occupational Health. The aim of this article is to inform about the most important measures of frequency, association and impact used in applied research, clinical or Public Health to try to measure, to value and estimate the importance of health problems and diseases related work. The occupational risk factors and other events related to safety and healthy working conditions and ultimately with Workers´Health. We describe the theoretical concepts of ways to measure in epidemiology, their interpretation and practical applicaticon of basic indicators used in the practice of professionals in the Health Sciences. Its usefulness is essential to have an objetive, reliable and precise information to make sound decisions and allow relevant to the prevention, labour/occupational safety, care and rehabilitation of the workers