Medical Yoga for Patients with Stress-Related Symptoms and Diagnoses in Primary Health Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

An increasing number of patients are suffering from stress-related symptoms and diagnoses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medical yoga treatment in patients with stress-related symptoms and diagnoses in primary health care. A randomized controlled study was performed at a primary health care centre in Sweden from March to June, 2011. Patients were randomly allocated to a control group receiving standard care or a yoga group treated with medical yoga for 1 hour, once a week, over a 12-week period in addition to the standard care. A total of 37 men and women, mean age of 53±12 years were included. General stress level (measured using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)), burnout (Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ)), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)), pain (visual analogue scale (VAS)), and overall health status (Euro Quality of Life VAS (EQ-VAS)) were measured before and after 12 weeks. Patients assigned to the Yoga group showed significantly greater improvements on measures of general stress level (P<0.000), anxiety (P<0.019), and overall health status (P<0.018) compared to controls. Treatment with medical yoga is effective in reducing levels of stress and anxiety in patients with stress-related symptoms in primary health care

Self-reported symptoms in Swedish hairdressers and association with exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including aldehydes

Abstract Background Working as a hairdresser involves combined exposure to multiple chemicals in hair treatment products that may induce symptoms in airways and skin. Methods In this cross-sectional study, perceived symptoms among Swedish hairdressers at 10 hair salons were surveyed through a questionnaire. Associations with personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including aldehydes, and their corresponding hazard index (HI), based on the estimated risk for non-cancer health effects, were examined. The prevalence of four out of 11 symptoms was compared to available reference datasets from two other studies of office workers and school staff. Results All 11 surveyed symptoms were reported among the hairdressers (n = 38). For the whole study group, the most prevalent symptoms were dripping nose (n = 7) and headache (n = 7), followed by eczema (n = 6), stuffed nose (n = 5), cough (n = 5) and discomfort with strong odors (n = 5). Significant relationships between exposure and symptoms were scarce. The exception was total VOC (TVOC) exposure adjusted to worked years in the profession; a difference was observed for any symptom between hairdressers in the group with 20 + years compared to 0–5 years in the profession (logistic regression, OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.001–0.70). Out of the four symptoms available for comparison, the prevalence of headache and cough was significantly higher in hairdressers than in controls (OR 5.18, 95% CI 1.86–13.43 and OR 4.68, 95% CI 1.17–16.07, respectively). Conclusions Adverse health effects related to occupation was common among the hairdressers, implying a need for exposure control measures in hair salons. Symptoms of headache and cough were more frequently reported by hairdressers than staff in offices and schools. A healthy worker effect among the hairdressers was indicated in the group with 20 + years compared to 0–5 years in the profession. Significant relationships between measured exposure and symptoms were scarce but gave information about advantages and disadvantages of the different exposure measures. The study design could be improved by increasing the size of the study population, using a better match of reference data and increasing the applicability and representability over time of the measured exposure

Cancerframkallande ämnen i tätortsluft Lindesberg 2005/2006

Den allmänna befolkningens exponering för bensen, butadien, formaldehyd, kvävedioxid samt partiklar PM 2,5 i Lindesberg har studerats från oktober 2005 till och med januari 2006. Totalt ingick 40 personer och 60 personburna mätningar (exponeringsmätningar) av olika cancerframkallande ämnen genomfördes i sjudygnsperioder. Ökat intresse för de partikulära luftföroreningarnas betydelse vid bland annat hjärt-kärlsjuklighet innebar att mätningar av partiklar PM 2,5 genomfördes stationärt i hemmen under 2 dygn. Parallellt med exponeringsmätningarna genomfördes även bakgrundsmätningar av samtliga ämnen vid byggnaden där Bergslagens Miljö- och Byggförvaltning är inhysta (Kungsgatan) och vid trafikerad gata på Räddningstjänstens tak (Kristinavägen) av samtliga ämnen med mätperiod totalt uppgående till fem veckor. Liknande studier i större tätorter har tidigare genomförts i Göteborg, Umeå, Stockholm och Malmö. Resultaten från undersökningarna i Lindesberg kan sammanfattas i följande tabell: Lufthalter för olika ämnen i Lindesbergs kommun hösten 2005 Ämne Personburna mätningar Bakgrundsmätningar μg/m³ Kristinavägen μg/m³ Kungsgatan μg/m³ Bensen 1,6 0,4 0,4 Butadien 0,5 0,04 0,05 Formaldehyd 27 3 2 Kvävedioxid 6 10 7 Partiklar PM 2,5 9,3 9 9,7 Vi har inte kunnat konstatera någon säkerställd påverkan på lufthalter av enskilda miljöfaktorer eller levnadsmönster. För enskilda individer sågs god korrelation mellan lufthalter vid olika mätomgångar. Skillnader i exponering kunde inte konstateras då rökvanor eller boendeform jämfördes, för pendlare sågs dock skillnader i bensen-, butadien- och kvävedioxidexponering. Korrelationen mellan exponeringsmätningar och bakgrundsmätningar var låg för samtliga ämnen utom för bensen, motsvarande samvariation mellan olika ämnen i enskilt prov erhölls endast för bensen och butadien. De uppmätta lufthalterna av olika ämnen i Lindesbergs kommun är väl i nivå med de olika nationella och internationella rikt- och gränsvärden som finns antagna

Cancer incidence among Swedish pulp and paper mill workers: a cohort study of sulphate and sulphite mills

Associations between various malignancies and work in the pulp and paper industry have been reported but mostly in analyses of mortality rather than incidence. We aimed to study cancer incidence by main mill pulping process, department and gender in a Swedish cohort of pulp and paper mill workers. The cohort (18,113 males and 2,292 females, enrolled from 1939 to 1999 with > 1 year of employment) was followed up for cancer incidence from 1958 to 2001. Information on the workers' department and employment was obtained from the mills' personnel files, and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using the Swedish population as reference. Overall cancer incidence, in total 2,488 cases, was not increased by work in any department. However, risks of pleural mesothelioma were increased among males employed in sulphate pulping (SIR, 8.38; 95 % CI, 3.37-17) and maintenance (SIR, 6.35; 95 % CI, 3.47-11), with no corresponding increase of lung cancer. Testicular cancer risks were increased among males employed in sulphate pulping (SIR, 4.14; 95 % CI, 1.99-7.61) and sulphite pulping (SIR, 2.59; 95 % CI, 0.95-5.64). Female paper production workers showed increased risk of skin tumours other than malignant melanoma (SIR, 2.92; 95 % CI, 1.18-6.02). Incidence of pleural mesothelioma was increased in the cohort, showing that asbestos exposure still has severe health consequences, and highlighting the exigency of strict asbestos regulations and elimination. Testicular cancer was increased among pulping department workers. Shift work and endocrine disruptors could be of interest in this context

Dermal and inhalable cobalt exposure-Uptake of cobalt for workers at Swedish hard metal plants

PURPOSE: Cobalt exposure is known to cause adverse effects on health. A major use of cobalt is in the manufacture of hard metal. Exposure can lead to asthma, hard metal lung disease, contact allergy and increased risk of cancer. Cobalt is mainly absorbed from the pulmonary tract, however penetration through skin may occur. The relationships between exposure to inhalable cobalt in air and on skin and the uptake in blood and urine will be investigated, as well as the association between dermal symptoms and dermal exposure. METHODS: Cobalt exposure in 71 workers in hard metal production facilities was measured as inhalable cobalt in the breathing zone and cobalt found on skin with acid wash. Uptake of cobalt was determined with concentrations in blood and urine. Correlations between exposure and uptake were analysed. RESULTS: Inhalable cobalt in air and cobalt in blood and urine showed rank correlations with coefficients 0.40 and 0.25. Cobalt on skin and uptake in blood and urine presented correlation coefficients of 0.36 and 0.17. Multiple linear regression of cobalt in air and on skin with cobalt in blood showed regression coefficients with cobalt in blood (β = 203 p &lt; 0.0010, and β = 0.010, p = 0.0040) and with cobalt in urine (β = 5779, p = 0.0010, and β = 0.10, p = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Our data presents statistically significant correlations between exposure to cobalt in air with uptake of cobalt in blood and urine. Cobalt on skin was statistically significant with cobalt in blood but not with urine

Silica exposure increases the risk of stroke but not myocardial infarction - A retrospective cohort study

Work-related exposure to silica is a global health hazard that causes diseases such as silicosis. Some studies have also reported that silica exposure is linked to elevated cardiovascular disease mortality. However, these diagnoses have not been investigated in detail and there have been few studies on morbidity. The aim of this study is to examine morbidity and mortality from different cardiovascular diseases among silica-exposed Swedish foundry workers.Historical and contemporary measurements (1968-2006) of respiratory silica exposure were matched to job categories, individual foundries, and 4 time periods (1968-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2006) using a mixed model. Morbidity and mortality data for the studied cohorts were matched against the General Population Registry. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS and STATA, and the data were stratified by age, gender, and year.Mortality from cardiovascular disease (SMR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.4) and stroke (SMR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) was significantly elevated among the studied population. The cohort also exhibited significantly elevated morbidity from stroke (SIR 1.34; 95% CI 1.2-1.5) but not myocardial infarction. The mean age at the time of first morbidity from stroke was 64 years, with 36% of the cases occurring before the age of 60.Swedish foundry workers exposed to respirable silica exhibit elevated morbidity and mortality from stroke, but not from myocardial infarction. Our results also suggest a relationship between silica exposure and morbidity from stroke at a younger age than the general population

Silica exposure increases the risk of stroke but not myocardial infarction-A retrospective cohort study.

Work-related exposure to silica is a global health hazard that causes diseases such as silicosis. Some studies have also reported that silica exposure is linked to elevated cardiovascular disease mortality. However, these diagnoses have not been investigated in detail and there have been few studies on morbidity. The aim of this study is to examine morbidity and mortality from different cardiovascular diseases among silica-exposed Swedish foundry workers.Historical and contemporary measurements (1968-2006) of respiratory silica exposure were matched to job categories, individual foundries, and 4 time periods (1968-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2006) using a mixed model. Morbidity and mortality data for the studied cohorts were matched against the General Population Registry. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS and STATA, and the data were stratified by age, gender, and year.Mortality from cardiovascular disease (SMR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.4) and stroke (SMR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) was significantly elevated among the studied population. The cohort also exhibited significantly elevated morbidity from stroke (SIR 1.34; 95% CI 1.2-1.5) but not myocardial infarction. The mean age at the time of first morbidity from stroke was 64 years, with 36% of the cases occurring before the age of 60.Swedish foundry workers exposed to respirable silica exhibit elevated morbidity and mortality from stroke, but not from myocardial infarction. Our results also suggest a relationship between silica exposure and morbidity from stroke at a younger age than the general population

Sarcoidosis and silica dust exposure among men in Sweden: a case–control study

Objective To determine whether occupational exposure to silica dust is associated with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis.Design Case–control study of all individuals between 20 and 65 years of age diagnosed with sarcoidosis (D86) in Sweden between 2007 and 2016. Controls were matched to cases (2:1) based on age, sex and county at the time of diagnosis. A Job Exposure Matrix was used to estimate the occupational silica exposure of all cases and controls.Setting Medical and occupational data from the National Outpatient Register were used to implement a case–control analysis, while the two controls used for each case were selected from the National Register of the Total Population. Information about occupation and time of employment were collected from the Swedish Occupational Register.Participants All men and women aged 20–65 years old who were diagnosed sarcoidosis (D86) from 2007 to 2016 were included and assigned two controls.Main outcomes Silica dust exposure correlates with an increased risk of developing sarcoidosis in men.Results The prevalence of silica exposure at work was statistically significantly higher among male cases than controls (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.43). For men of an age of 35 years or younger the correlation seems to be stronger (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.87) than in older men (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.39). For men older than 35 with exposure to silica the prevalence of sarcoidosis increased with the exposure time, with an OR of 1.44 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.00) for exposure of more than 10 years.Conclusions Occupational exposure to silica dust seems to increase the risk of sarcoidosis among men between 20 and 65 years of age. The risk is higher among exposed men 35 years or younger and older men with longer exposure (&gt;6 years)

Cancerframkallande ämnen i tätortsluft Lindesberg 2010/2011

Inom Naturvårdsverkets programområde Hälsorelaterad miljöövervakning (HÄMI), delprogram Luftförorening – exponeringsstudier ingår personburen mätning av vissa cancerframkallande och luftvägsirriterande ämnen i tätortsluft. De övriga orter som ingår i projektet är Göteborg, Umeå, Stockholm och Malmö. Lindesberg får här representera en mindre inlands kommun. Mätningarna genomförs för att försöka skatta allmänbefolkningens exponering för hälsoskadliga ämnen och samtliga orter har nu genomfört två mätomgångar från starten år 2000. De ämnen som ska mätas är bensen, butadien, formaldehyd, kvävedioxid, pratiklar PM 2,5 och benso(a)pyren. Lindesberg genomför inga egna mätningar av bakgrundshalter och vi har därför även vid denna mätomgång valt ut samma två platser som vid föregående mätning. Räddningstjänstens tak (Kristinavägen) som representerar en trafikerad central gata och Bergslagens Miljö- och Byggförvaltning (Kungsgatan). De uppmätta lufthalterna är på samma låga nivåer som vid mätningen år 2005. Bakgrundhalterna i Lindesberg är i jämförelse med övriga orter lägre, vilket känns troligt då det rör sig om en mindre tätort. För de personburna mätningarna är nivåerna lika med eller i vissa fall något högre jämfört med de övriga orterna. Det uppmättes några höga bensen- och butadienhalter med det beror på en yrkesmässig exponering

Occupational Dust Exposure as a Risk Factor for Developing Lung Function Impairment

Objective  Dust exposure is high in several industries. We investigated associations of exposure in paper mills, wood pellet plants, and iron foundries with lung function impairment. Methods  Respirable silica, inhalable paper dust, or inhalable wood dust were collected as personal samples and spirometry was performed. Multiple linear regression analyzed associations with FEV1%pred and FVC%pred. Results  Wood pellet workers with high exposure to inhalable dust had lower FEV1%pred (95% CI) (−9.4 [−16 to −2.6]) and FVC%pred (−9.8 [−15 to −4.0]) compared with lowest exposure level. Workers at paper mills and foundries had no dose-dependent association but lower FEV1%pred and FVC%pred than in workers at wood pellets plants. Conclusions  Increased exposure to inhalable wood dust is associated with decreased lung function. Foundry and paper mill workers have generally lower lung function than wood pellet workers. Spirometry should be considered in workers in industries with airborne particulate matter pollution