Impairment of color vision in aircraft maintenance workers

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine possible persisting effects to color vision in a group from the Royal Australian Air Force who had exposure to formulations containing neurotoxins during F-111 fuel tank maintenance, relative to two contemporaneous comparison groups. Methods: Color vision was tested in 512 exposed personnel, 458 technical-trade comparisons, and 330 non-technical comparisons using the Ishihara test plates and the Lanthony D-15 Desaturated Color disk arrangement test. Participants were excluded if they failed the Ishihara test as this indicates congenital color blindness. From the Lanthony results, the type of color deficient vision (CDV) was diagnosed, and additionally, the Bowman’s color confusion index (CCI) was calculated. Regression models were used to examine whether there was an association between color vision deficiencies and F-111 fuel tank maintenance, adjusting for possible confounders. Results: The CCI ranged from 1 to 2.8 (median 1.2, quartiles 1.1, 1.4) in the 2,600 eyes tested. Forty five percent of all participants had blue-yellow CDV in at least one eye. Deficiencies of this nature are caused by environmental exposures. Logistic regression demonstrated statistically significant differences in CCI category in the exposed group versus technical group (odds ratio 1.7: 95% CI 1.3–2.0) and a blue-yellow confusion in the exposed group versus technical group (odds ratio 1.4: 95% CI 1.1–1.7). No differences were observed between the exposed group and the non-technical group. Conclusion: The results indicate reduced color discrimination among the exposed subjects compared to one of two control groups. The findings may be due to previous exposure to solvents among the air force personnel

Cancer incidence and mortality in aircraft maintenance workers

Background: A cancer incidence and mortality study was conducted in response to health concerns raised by workers from F-III aircraft deseal/reseal fuel tank maintenance programs, to determine whether personnel exposed to deseal/reseal had an excess of cancers and mortality. Methods: Number of deaths and cancers,for individuals involved in F-111 DSRS activities were matched against two Air Force comparison groups. Analyses were weighted to adjust for differences in age, exposure period and rank. Results: Eight hundred seventy-three exposed, 7,577 comparison group one, and 9,408 comparison group two individuals were matched against death and cancer data, with 431 cancers and 431 deaths. Cancer incidence was higher in the exposed group, with marginally significant increases of 40-50% (cancer incidence rate ratio range 1.45-1.62). Exposed group mortality was significantly lower than both comparison groups, likely due to survivor bias in the exposed group (mortality rate ratio range 0.33-0.44). Conclusions: On the balance of probabilities, there is an increased risk of cancer associated with participation in F-111 deseal/reseal activities

Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in Korean War veterans 50 years after the war

To assess the association between parental post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and offspring PTSD and its specificity for other disorders in a non-clinical epidemiological cohort of Australian Vietnam veterans, their partners and their sons and daughters

Peripheral neuropathy in military aircraft maintenance workers in Australia

Objective: This study aimed to examine possible persisting peripheral neuropathy in a group who undertook fuel tank repairs on F-111 aircraft, relative to two contemporaneous comparison groups. Methods: Vibration perception threshold (VPT) was tested using biothesiometry in 614 exposed personnel, compared with two unexposed groups (513 technical trades and 403 nontrades). Regression modeling was used to examine associations, adjusting for possible confounders. Results: We observed that 26% of participants had chronic persistent increased VPT in the great toe. In contrast, statistically significant higher VPT of the great toe was observed in the comparison groups; however, the effect was small, about 1/4 the magnitude of diabetes. Age, height, and diabetes were all significant and strong predictors in most models. Conclusion: This study highlights chronic persisting peripheral neuropathy in a population of aircraft maintainers

Neuropsychological health in F-111 aircraft maintenance workers

Objective: To contrast subjective and objective measures of neuropsychological health in F-111 aircraft Deseal/Reseal maintenance personnel, against two appropriate comparison groups. Methods: Exposed and comparison participants completed a postal questionnaire which included a validated memory questionnaire and additional questions relating to possible cognitive symptoms. They also underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and screening for a past or current disturbance of mood. Multiple linear or logistic regression was conducted for each outcome using exposure group and potential confounders as explanatory variables. Results: There was a strong and consistent excess of self-reported cognitive problems among the exposed group relative to the comparison groups including a 2.8–4.3-fold increase in self-reported symptoms of forgetfulness, loss of concentration and difficulty finding the right word. On detailed neuropsychological testing, the exposed group performed significantly worse than comparisons on tests of psychomotor speed, executive functioning, and new learning/memory. These findings could not be accounted for by disturbances of mood or other potential confounders. Conclusions: There was a strong and consistent increase in self-reported cognitive problems among the exposed, and small but significant exposure-specific differences on objective tests of cognitive functioning. The findings are consistent with the development of adverse neuropsychiatric changes related to occupational exposure to solvents

Mental health in F-111 maintenance workers: the Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) general health and medical study

Objective: We sought to contrast mood disorder symptoms in F-111 aircraft Deseal/Reseal maintenance personnel with appropriate comparisons. Methods: Participants completed a comprehensive health assessment, including measures of mood disorder, self-reported mood symptom questionnaire items, and review of anxiolytic and depression medication. Multiple logistic regression was conducted for each outcome using exposure group and potential confounders as explanatory variables. Results: There was high agreement between self-reported mood disturbance and objective tests. The exposed group was more likely to self-report previous diagnoses of depression/anxiety, had higher use of antidepressant medications, and had increased risk of diagnosis of depression/anxiety. Results were consistently strong against both comparison groups, with the exposed more likely to have mental distress and social dysfunction when compared with the Australian population. Conclusions: There is robust evidence for an association between F-111 Deseal/Reseal exposure and impaired mental health

War-related psychological stressors and risk of psychological disorders in Australian veterans of the 1991 Gulf War

L’entreprise de la Germania sacra ne se contente pas de poursuivre, depuis des décennies, un vaste programme de publication de monographies sur les grandes institutions ecclésiastiques de l’Empire médiéval, elle incite également les chercheurs à réfléchir sur la pertinence des distinctions institutionnelles qui fondent leurs enquêtes. Les différences entre communautés de moines et communautés de chanoines ont jusqu’à présent été privilégiées et ont fait l’objet de deux importants volumes : Un..

War-related psychological stressors and risk of psychological disorders in Australian veterans of the 1991 Gulf War

Copyright © 2004 The Royal College of PsychiatristsBackground Questions remain about the long-term health impacts of the 1991 Gulf War on its veterans. Aims To measure psychological disorders in Australian Gulf War veterans and a military comparison group and to explore any association with exposure to Gulf War-related psychological stressors. Method Prevalences of DSM-IV psychological disorders were measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Gulf War-related psychological stressors were measured using a service experience questionnaire. Results A total of 31% of male Gulf War veterans and 21% of the comparison group met criteria for a DSM-IV disorder first present in the post-Gulf War period. The veterans were at greater risk of developing post-Gulf War anxiety disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, affective disorders and substance use disorders. The prevalence of such disorders remained elevated a decade after deployment. The findings can be explained partly as a ‘war-deployment effect’. There was a strong dose-response relationship between psychological disorders and number of reported Gulf War-related psychological stressors. Conclusions Service in the 1991 Gulf War is associated with increased risk of psychological disorders and these are related to stressful experiences.J. F. Ikin, M. R. Sim, M. C. Creamer, A. B. Forbes, D. P. Mckenzie, H. L. Kelsall, D. C. Glass, A. C. McFarlane, M. J. Abramson, P. Ittak, T. Dwyer, L. Blizzard, K. R. Delaney, K.W. A. Horsley, W. K. Harrex and H. Schwar