An international prospective general population-based study of respiratory work disability

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that job change due to breathing problems at the workplace (respiratory work disability) is common among adults of working age. That research indicated that occupational exposure to gases, dust and fumes was associated with job change due to breathing problems, although causal inferences have been tempered by the cross-sectional nature of previously available data. There is a need for general population-based prospective studies to assess the incidence of respiratory work disability and to delineate better the roles of potential predictors of respiratory work disability.Methods: A prospective general population cohort study was performed in 25 centres in 11 European countries and one centre in the USA. A longitudinal analysis was undertaken of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey including all participants employed at any point since the baseline survey, 6659 subjects randomly sampled and 779 subjects comprising all subjects reporting physician-diagnosed asthma. The main outcome measure was new-onset respiratory work disability, defined as a reported job change during follow-up attributed to breathing problems. Exposure to dusts (biological or mineral), gases or fumes during follow-up was recorded using a job-exposure matrix. Cox proportional hazard regression modelling was used to analyse such exposure as a predictor of time until job change due to breathing problems.Results: The incidence rate of respiratory work disability was 1.2/1000 person-years of observation in the random sample (95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) and 5.7/1000 person-years in the asthma cohort (95% CI 4.1 to 7.8). In the random population sample, as well as in the asthma cohort, high occupational exposure to biological dust, mineral dust or gases or fumes predicted increased risk of respiratory work disability. In the random sample, sex was not associated with increased risk of work disability while, in the asthma cohort, female sex was associated with an increased disability risk (hazard ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.9).Conclusions: Respiratory work disability is common overall. It is associated with workplace exposures that could be controlled through preventive measures

Occupational exposures and small airways obstruction in the UK Biobank Cohort

Background Small airways obstruction (SAO) is a key feature of both Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma, which have been associated with workplace exposures. Whether SAO, which may occur early in the development of obstructive lung disease and without symptoms, also associates with occupational exposures is unknown. Methods Using UK Biobank data, we derived measurements of SAO from the 65,145 participants with high quality spirometry and lifetime occupational histories. The ALOHA+ Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign lifetime occupational exposures to each participant. The association between SAO and lifetime occupational exposures was evaluated using a logistic regression model adjusted for potential confounders. A second logistic regression model was run to also account for potential co-exposures. Results SAO was present in varying proportions of the population depending on definition used: 5.6% (FEF25–75<LLN)and 21.4% (FEV3/FEV6<LLN). After adjustment for confounders and co-exposures, people in the highest category of exposure to pesticides were significantly more likely to have SAO (FEV3/FEV6<LLN: OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.06–1.44). The association between pesticides and SAO showed an exposure-response pattern. SAO was also less likely among people in the highest exposure categories of aromatic solvents (FEV3/FEV6<LLN: OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.73–0.99) and metals (FEV3/FEV6<LLN: OR 0.77, 95%CI 0.62–0.94). Conclusion Our findings suggest that occupational exposure to pesticides play a role in the SAO. However, further work is needed to determine causality, and identify the specific component(s) responsible and the underlying mechanisms involved

Теоретичні засади дослідження виборчих технологій в електоральному процесі України та проблеми їх ефективності

Здійснено політологічний аналіз ефективності виборчих технологій та проаналізо­вано їх вплив на електоральні процеси в Україні.Осуществлен политологический анализ эффективности избирательных технологий и проанализировано их влияние на электоральные процессы в Украине.Political analysis of electoral technologies effectiveness and analyzes of their impact on the electoral process in Ukraine are made

Крим в українських історичних піснях

Метою даної роботи є Кримські мотиви в історичних піснях. Тема широка, але ми розглянемо окремі її аспекти, взявши пісні про боротьбу з татарами і турками ХVI – XVII ст

Інноваційна діяльність через впровадження технопарків

Досвід усього світу показує, що економічне зростання країн вже давно базується на використанні сфери знань і високих технологій, а їх ефективне поєднання гарантує прогресивний розвиток нації та людства. Однією з найбільш вдалих форм такої інтеграції є технопарки. Саме тому розвитку технопарків на сьогоднішній день приділяють увагу вчені та економісти. Основною метою статті є інноваційна діяльність через впровадження технологічних парків, їх призначення та вплив на розвиток країни

Wood Dust in Joineries and Furniture Manufacturing: An Exposure Determinant and Intervention Study.

: To assess wood dust exposures and determinants in joineries and furniture manufacturing and to evaluate the efficacy of specific interventions on dust emissions under laboratory conditions. Also, in a subsequent follow-up study in a small sample of joinery workshops, we aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a cost-effective and practicable intervention to reduce dust exposures. : Personal inhalable dust (n = 201) was measured in 99 workers from 10 joineries and 3 furniture-making factories. To assess exposure determinants, full-shift video exposure monitoring (VEM) was conducted in 19 workers and task-based VEM in 32 workers (in 7 joineries and 3 furniture factories). We assessed the efficacy of vacuum extraction on hand tools and the use of vacuum cleaners instead of sweeping and dry wiping under laboratory conditions. These measures were subsequently implemented in three joinery workshops with 'high' (&gt;4 mg m-3) and one with 'low' (&lt;2 mg m-3) baseline exposures. We also included two control workshops (one 'low' and one 'high' exposure workshop) in which no interventions were implemented. Exposures were measured 4 months prior and 4 months following the intervention. : Average (geometric means) exposures in joinery and furniture making were 2.5 mg m-3 [geometric standard deviations (GSD) 2.5] and 0.6 mg m-3 (GSD 2.3), respectively. In joinery workers cleaning was associated with a 3.0-fold higher (P &lt; 0.001) dust concentration compared to low exposure tasks (e.g. gluing), while the use of hand tools showed 3.0- to 11.0-fold higher (P &lt; 0.001) exposures. In furniture makers, we found a 5.4-fold higher exposure (P &lt; 0.001) with using a table/circular saw. Laboratory efficiency experiments showed a 10-fold decrease in exposure (P &lt; 0.001) when using a vacuum cleaner. Vacuum extraction on hand tools combined with a downdraft table reduced exposures by 42.5% for routing (P &lt; 0.1) and 85.5% for orbital sanding (P &lt; 0.001). Following intervention measures in joineries, a borderline statistically significant (P &lt; 0.10) reduction in exposure of 30% was found in workshops with 'high' baseline exposures, but no reduction was shown in the workshop with 'low' baseline exposures. : Wood dust exposure is high in joinery workers and (to a lesser extent) furniture makers with frequent use of hand tools and cleaning being key drivers of exposure. Vacuum extraction on hand tools and alternative cleaning methods reduced workplace exposures substantially, but may be insufficient to achieve compliance with current occupational exposure limits.<br/

Morphology and function of dog arterial grafts preserved in UW-solution

Objectives:To assess the function of arterial grafts after prolonged preservation in the University of Wisconsin solution (UW), in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Carotid arteries were harvested from dogs and stored for 1–21 days at 4°C in UW (n = 10) or in PBS (0.9% NaCl, pH 7.4), (PBS) (n = 10). Slices were examined by lightmicroscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For viability testing, specimens were connected to an isometric force transducer (2 × n = 9). Contractile and relaxation responses were examined by adding phenylephrine (200μM) and metacholine (200μM), respectively. For in vivo studies (n = 41), 2.5cm carotid artery segments were implanted orthotopically, as autografts and allografts, after 14 days of storage in UW or in PBS. Autologous veins were used as controls. After 28 days or 56 days, arteriography was performed and the grafts were excised for LM and SEM.Results:The arterial endothelial layer remained intact after up to 14 days of storage in UW. In PBS, the endothelium was lost after 3 days. The functional response after 14 days storage in UW was approximately 50% vs. 0% after 14 days in PBS. In the autografts, total patencies (28 days + 56 days) were 100% (8/8) and 63% (5/8) for UW and PBS stored grafts, respectively. In the allografts, the UW and PBS preserved grafts showed total patencies of 86% (12/14) and 83% (5/6), respectively. Microscopically, the allografts showed fibrotic degeneration.Conclusions:Arteries are well preserved in UW up to 14 days of storage. Arterial autografts preserved in UW showed good patency and better integrity of the vessel wall after implantation, than grafts stored in PBS or allografts (without immunosuppressive therapy)

Long-term effect of mobile phone use on sleep quality: results from the cohort study of mobile phone use and health (COSMOS)

BACKGROUND: Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure (RF-EMF) from mobile phone use on sleep quality has mainly been investigated in cross-sectional studies. The few previous prospective cohort studies found no or inconsistent associations, but had limited statistical power and short follow-up. In this large prospective cohort study, our aim was to estimate the effect of RF-EMF from mobile phone use on different sleep outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included Swedish (n = 21,049) and Finnish (n = 3120) participants enrolled in the Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) with information about operator-recorded mobile phone use at baseline and sleep outcomes both at baseline and at the 4-year follow-up. Sleep disturbance, sleep adequacy, daytime somnolence, sleep latency, and insomnia were assessed using the Medical Outcome Study (MOS) sleep questionnaire. RESULTS: Operator-recorded mobile phone use at baseline was not associated with most of the sleep outcomes. For insomnia, an odds ratio (OR) of 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.51 was observed in the highest decile of mobile phone call-time (>258 min/week). With weights assigned to call-time to account for the lower RF-EMF exposure from Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS, 3G) than from Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM, 2G) the OR was 1.09 (95% CI 0.89-1.33) in the highest call-time decile. CONCLUSION: Insomnia was slightly more common among mobile phone users in the highest call-time category, but adjustment for the considerably lower RF-EMF exposure from the UMTS than the GSM network suggests that this association is likely due to other factors associated with mobile phone use than RF-EMF. No association was observed for other sleep outcomes. In conclusion, findings from this study do not support the hypothesis that RF-EMF from mobile phone use has long-term effects on sleep quality

Respiratory symptoms and occupation: a cross-sectional study of the general population

BACKGROUND: This study focused on respiratory symptoms due to occupational exposures in a contemporary general population cohort. Subjects were from the Dutch Monitoring Project on Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (MORGEN). The composition of this population enabled estimation of respiratory risks due to occupation from the recent past for both men and women. METHODS: The study subjects (aged 20–59) were all inhabitants of Doetinchem, a small industrial town, and came from a survey of a random sample of 1104 persons conducted in 1993. A total of 274 cases with respiratory symptoms (subdivided in asthma and bronchitis symptoms) and 274 controls without symptoms were matched for age and sex. Relations between industry and occupation and respiratory symptoms were explored and adjusted for smoking habits and social economic status. RESULTS: Employment in the 'construction' (OR = 3.38; 95%CI 1.02 – 11.27), 'metal' (OR = 3.17; 95%CI 0. 98 – 10.28), 'rubber, plastics and synthetics' (OR = 6.52; 95%CI 1.26 – 53.80), and 'printing' industry (OR = 3.96; 95%CI 0.85 – 18.48) were positively associated with chronic bronchitis symptoms. In addition, the 'metal' industry was found to be weakly associated with asthma symptoms (OR = 2.59; 95%CI 0.87 – 7.69). Duration of employment within these industries was also positively associated with respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: Respiratory symptoms in the general population are traceable to employment in particular industries even in a contemporary cohort with relatively young individuals