Development of Occupational Health Measures for the National Health Security Preparedness Index

[First paragraph] The 2001 World Trade Center and 2005 Hurricane disasters, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak were major events that tasked the United States’ public health emergency preparedness and response apparatus. The health and economic cost of these events is huge including over 4000 deaths and damages to infrastructure worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Unfortunately, the U.S. labor force was disproportionately affected (1–4). Similar public health impact of other disasters on workers has also been reported. In the immediate aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, for instance, approximately 75% of those who developed acute health effects and sought medical care were clean-up workers (5)

Toxic Environmental Risk Factors for Alzheimer\u27s Disease: A Systematic Review

There is growing evidence of a possible association between toxic environmental factors and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a disabling neurodegenerative condition with no known cause. Previous reviews of toxic environmental factors for AD either focused on occupational exposures or used a non-systematic methodology. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the evidence on the link between AD and exposure to a variety of toxic environmental risk factors beyond the work environment. Structured database search was used to identify relevant studies. Twenty-nine eligible studies examining the effect of various toxic environmental agents including electromagnetic fields, solvents, pesticides, toxic metals, and air pollutants were identified. Six out of 11 cohort studies and only two out of 18 case-control studies were considered high quality. Eight out of 12 studies found electromagnetic fields exposure to be a significant risk factor for AD. Significant evidence was also found for pesticide, aluminum, and solvent exposures. Evidence is now emerging of a possible association between air pollution and AD. However, more research is needed to substantiate this evidence. Key methodological issues especially those relating to the assessment of exposure(s) need to be addressed in future studies to facilitate interpretation and synthesis of study result

Wooden breast e white striping : ocorrência em três empresas avícolas

To increase the amount of meat produced, researchers have promoted intensive genetic selection for growth rate and muscling and have improved nutrition and management conditions. However, there has been an increase in the number of reports of breast muscle myopathies observed in poultry processing plants, including white striping (WS) and wooden breast (WB). This study aimed to evaluate and to compare the occurrence of WS and WB myopathies in three poultry processing plants and to perform an anatomopathological characterization, including macroscopic and microscopic analyses. A total of 408,334 carcasses were condemned or downgraded due to the presence of WB or WS, which represents 0.73% of the total number of slaughtered animals during the evaluated period. WB was more frequent than WS, but the occurrence of each myopathy varied significantly according to each establishment. WB was more frequent in the establishment which includes only male flocks, an average age of 45 days, and an average live weight of 2775g (B). WS was more frequent in establishment with male, female and mixed flocks, average ages ranging from 41 to 44 days, and average live weight 1731g-2830g (A). It is probably related with specific condition of each poultry company, including genetics, age, nutrition and management conditions. Macroscopically, WB and WS lesions are characterized by hypertrophy and stiffness of the pectoralis major muscle. Under microscopy, the myopathies showed similarities regarding the detected histological abnormalities, characterized by a process of myodegeneration, although the connective tissue infiltrate was more severe in the breasts with WB than in those with WS myopathy. The results found in this study demonstrate that the rates of condemnation for these myopathies are high, vary significantly among the analyzed companies and may cause major economic losses for the productive sector in the region.Para melhorar a quantidadede carne produzida, os pesquisadores têm promovido ao longo dos anos uma seleção genética intensiva para a taxa de crescimento e desenvolvimento de músculos, além de melhorias nas condições nutricionais, sanitárias e de manejo. No entanto, houve um aumento no número de relatos de miopatias dos músculos do peito observados em abatedouros-frigoríficos de aves, incluindo white striping (WS) e wooden breast (WB). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de WB e WS em três abatedouros-frigoríficos de aves e realizar uma caracterização anatomopatológica, incluindo análises macroscópicas e microscópicas. Um total de 408.334 carcaças foi condenado (total ou parcialmente) devido à presença WB ou WS, o que representou 0,73% do número total de animais abatidos durante o período avaliado. Apesar de a ocorrência de WB ter sido maior do que a de WS, a frequência de cada uma variou significativamente de acordo com o estabelecimento. WB foi mais frequente no estabelecimento que incluía apenas lotes de machos, com média de 45 dias de idade e peso médio ao abate de 2775g (B). WS foi mais frequente no estabelecimento com lotes de machos, fêmeas e mistos, com idade entre 41 e 44 dias e peso médio ao abate entre 1731g-2830g (A). Isto pode ser justificado por condições específicas de cada empresa, incluindo genética, idade das aves, nutrição e condições de manejo. Macroscopicamente, as lesões de WB e de WS foram caracterizadas principalmente por hipertrofia e rigidez do músculo pectoralis major. À microscopia, ambas as miopatias mostraram semelhanças em relação às anormalidades histológicas detectadas, caracterizadas principalmente por um processo de miodegeneração. Nos músculos apresentando WB, o infiltrado de tecido conjuntivo foi mais intenso quando comparado àqueles com WS. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho demonstram que os índices de condenação por essas miopatias são altos, variam significativamente entre as empresas analisadas e podem causar grandes perdas econômicas para o setor produtivo da região

Investigation of occupational and environmental causes of respiratory cancers (ICARE): a multicenter, population-based case-control study in France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Occupational causes of respiratory cancers need to be further investigated: the role of occupational exposures in the aetiology of head and neck cancers remains largely unknown, and there are still substantial uncertainties for a number of suspected lung carcinogens. The main objective of the study is to examine occupational risk factors for lung and head and neck cancers.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>ICARE is a multi-center, population-based case-control study, which included a group of 2926 lung cancer cases, a group of 2415 head and neck cancer cases, and a common control group of 3555 subjects. Incident cases were identified in collaboration with cancer registries, in 10 geographical areas. The control group was a random sample of the population of these areas, with a distribution by sex and age comparable to that of the cases, and a distribution by socioeconomic status comparable to that of the population. Subjects were interviewed face to face, using a standardized questionnaire collecting particularly information on tobacco and alcohol consumption, residential history and a detailed description of occupational history. Biological samples were also collected from study subjects. The main occupational exposures of interest are asbestos, man-made mineral fibers, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chromium and nickel compounds, arsenic, wood dust, textile dust, solvents, strong acids, cutting fluids, silica, diesel fumes, welding fumes. The complete list of exposures of interest includes more than 60 substances. Occupational exposure assessment will use several complementary methods: case-by-case evaluation of exposure by experts; development and use of algorithms to assess exposure from the questionnaires; application of job-exposure matrices.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The large number of subjects should allow to uncover exposures associated with moderate increase in risks, and to evaluate risks associated with infrequent or widely dispersed exposures. It will be possible to study joint effects of exposure to different occupational risk factors, to examine the interactions between occupational exposures, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and genetic risk factors, and to estimate the proportion of respiratory cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France. In addition, information on many non-occupational risk factors is available, and the study will provide an excellent framework for numerous studies in various fields.</p

Faktori rizika od karcinoma larinksa u Crnoj Gori

Laryngeal cancer is the most common head and neck cancer. There might be many risk factors for laryngeal cancer. Smoking, especially cigarette smoking and alcohol are indisputable risk factors. The authors of this paper assessed the presumed risk factors in order to identify possible aetiological agents of the disease. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted. The study group consisted of 108 histologically verified laryngeal cancer patients and 108 hospital controls matched by sex, age (±3 years) and place of residence. Laryngeal cancer patients and controls were interviewed during their hospital stay using a structured questionnaire. According to multiple logistic regression analysis six variables were independently related to laryngeal cancer: hard liquor consumption (Odd Ratio /OR/=2.93, Confidence Interval /CI/ 95 % = 1.17 to 7.31), consumption more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day (OR=4.96, CI 95 % = 2.04 to12.04), cigarette smoking for more than 40 years (OR=4.32, CI 95 % = 1.69 to 11.06), smoking more than 30 cigarettes per day (OR=4.24, CI 95 % = 1.75 to 10.27), coffee consumption more than 5 cups per day (OR=4.52, CI 95 % = 1.01 to 20.12) and carbonated beverage consumption (OR=0.38, CI 95 %= 0.16 to 0.92). The great majority of laryngeal cancers could be prevented by eliminating tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.Maligni tumori larinksa najčešći su tumori glave i vrata. Glavni faktori rizika od razvoja malignih tumora grkljana su pušenje i konzumiranje alkoholnih pića. Cilj rada bio je ispitivanje potencijalnih faktora rizika od nastanka malignih tumora larinksa. Sprovedena je studija slučaj-kontrola. Studijsku grupu činilo je 108 pacijenata s histološki verificiranim rakom larinksa i 108 kontrola individualno izjednačenih po spolu, dobi (± 3 godine) i mjestu stanovanja. Svi ispitanici su anketirani ciljanim epidemiološkim upitnikom a u analizi podataka korištena je multivarijantna logistička regresijska analiza. Koristeći se multivarijantnom logističkom regresijskom analizom, statistički značajnu povezanost s rakom larinksa dobili smo za sljedeće varijable: konzumiranje žestokih pića (omjer izgleda /OR/=2.93, interval pouzdanosti /CI/ 95 % = 1.17 do 7.31), konzumiranje više od 2 alkoholna pića na dan (OR = 4.96, CI 95 % = 2.04 do 12.04), konzumiranje cigareta duže od 40 godina (OR = 4.32, CI 95 % = 1.69 do 11.06), konzumiranje više od 30 cigareta na dan (OR = 4.24, CI 95 % = 1.75 do 10.27), konzumiranje više od 5 šalica kave na dan (OR = 4.52, CI 95 % = 1.01 do 20.12) i konzumiranje gaziranih pića (OR = 0.38, CI 95 % = 0.16 do 0.92). Obolijevanje zbog malignih tumora larinksa moglo bi se značajno smanjiti prestankom konzumiranja duhana i alkohola

Essential Medicines at the National Level : The Global Asthma Network's Essential Asthma Medicines Survey 2014

Patients with asthma need uninterrupted supplies of affordable, quality-assured essential medicines. However, access in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Global Action Plan 2013-2020 sets an 80% target for essential NCD medicines' availability. Poor access is partly due to medicines not being included on the national Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and/or National Reimbursement Lists (NRL) which guide the provision of free/subsidised medicines. We aimed to determine how many countries have essential asthma medicines on their EML and NRL, which essential asthma medicines, and whether surveys might monitor progress. A cross-sectional survey in 2013-2015 of Global Asthma Network principal investigators generated 111/120 (93%) responses41 high-income countries and territories (HICs); 70 LMICs. Patients in HICs with NRL are best served (91% HICs included ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) and salbutamol). Patients in the 24 (34%) LMICs with no NRL and the 14 (30%) LMICs with an NRL, however no ICS are likely to have very poor access to affordable, quality-assured ICS. Many LMICs do not have essential asthma medicines on their EML or NRL. Technical guidance and advocacy for policy change is required. Improving access to these medicines will improve the health system's capacity to address NCDs.Peer reviewe

in water and fish tissue samples

An aminated Amberlite XAD-resin as a solid phase extractant was tested for speciation of inorganic mercury, Hg (II) and methylmercury, MeHg(I) in water and fish tissue samples. It was found that Hg(II) and MeHg(I) ions could be simultaneously retained by a column filled with AAXAD-4 resin at pH 4 and the sequential quantitative elutions of Hg(II) and MeHg(I) were achieved using 10 mL of 0.1%(m/v) thiourea in 3%(v/v) HCl and 10 mL of 6 mol L-1 HCl, respectively. Hg(II) in the eluent was directly determined and MeHg(I) in the second eluent is quantified using FI-CVG-AAS after its oxidative digestion with KMnO4. The limits of detection for Hg(II) and MeHg(I) ions were found to be 0.148 and 0.157 mu g L-1, respectively. The method was validated by analysing a certified reference material. The relative errors for Hg(II), MeHg(I) and T-Hg were in range of -1.8% and -3.2%.C1 [Caylak, Osman] Pamukkale Univ, Vocat Sch Tech Sci, Chem Dept, TR-20017 Denizli, Turkey.[Elci, Sukru Gokhan] Pamukkale Univ, Technol Fac, Biomed Engn Dept, TR-20017 Denizli, Turkey.[Hol, Aysen; Divrikli, Umit; Elci, Latif] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Sci & Art, Chem Dept, TR-20017 Denizli, Turkey.[Akdogan, Abdullah] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Engn, Chem Engn Dept, TR-20017 Denizli, Turkey

Development of Occupational Health Measures for the National Health Security Preparedness Index

[First paragraph] The 2001 World Trade Center and 2005 Hurricane disasters, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak were major events that tasked the United States’ public health emergency preparedness and response apparatus. The health and economic cost of these events is huge including over 4000 deaths and damages to infrastructure worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Unfortunately, the U.S. labor force was disproportionately affected (1–4). Similar public health impact of other disasters on workers has also been reported. In the immediate aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, for instance, approximately 75% of those who developed acute health effects and sought medical care were clean-up workers (5)