The Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine最新文献

Haematological parameters, iso-transferrin ratio in plasma and serotonin uptake in platelets were studied in 10 men (age range 21-54 years) with occupational long-term, low level exposure to vapours from epoxy paints. The control group consisted of 10 healthy men (age range 20-48 years) not occupationally exposed to chemicals or organic solvents. The mean cellular volume of erythrocytes was significantly higher for the house painters than the controls (p less than 0.05). The plasma concentration of iso-transferrin with isoelectric point 5.7 (Tf5.7) and the ratio between Tf5.7 and total transferrin (Tftot) were significantly higher in the exposed group (p less than 0.05). The uptake of serotonin in platelets (Vmax) from the exposed workers was significantly lower than the values for the controls (p less than 0.01). The results indicate an association between the observed biological effects and the chemical exposure, and we speculate that this is caused by changes in structure and function of the cell membranes.

An audit was undertaken of time lost from work and reasons given to employers for absence in a group of patients attending a city centre outpatients department. For the audit a Department of Genito-urinary Medicine was selected and 54 patients were interviewed. The time lost by attendance and the reasons given are discussed as are ways of improving medical care through new treatments and altered appointment times.

Particularly since the Bradford football stadium fire of May 1985, the UK Police Service has been developing increasingly sophisticated procedures for managing post-traumatic stress reactions in its officers. Coupled with the growth of dedicated occupational health units within the Police Service, this suggests that physicians working within police forces will have an increasingly important role to play in the management of such problems. A brief account is given of the confidential screening and counselling service for police officers that was instituted after the Bradford fire, and a corresponding description is given of the more elaborate procedures implemented after the Hillsborough football stadium crush disaster of April 1989. In conclusion, the possible scope for preventive management of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highlighted.

Five hundred and five subjects retired for medical reasons in 1987. Two hundred and ninety-nine were male and 206 female. Thirty (5.94 per cent) subjects had diabetes of whom 4 were insulin-treated. Twelve of these subjects retired because of diabetes and diabetic complications; 10 retired because of the former and other pathology and 8 retired because of other pathology but had diabetes incidentally at the time of assessment. The expected prevalence of diabetes in the 20-69-year-old group from recent population studies is 9.2-10.1/1000 population. The figure of 59.4/1000 is significantly greater than this. Excluding those who had diabetes incidentally at the time of assessment reduces this figure to 43.6/1000 which still remains significant. After age-standardization the results remain significant. Morbidity from diabetes as assessed by numbers of retirements with diabetes indicates that this is greater than expected.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 772 workers in 27 mills in the North of England involved in the processing of cotton waste. The overall prevalence of byssinosis as defined by Schilling's criteria was 9.8 per cent with 5.4 per cent having grades 2 and 3. The prevalence in workers who had only ever had cotton waste exposure (5 per cent) was significantly less than for those who had mixed waste and raw cotton exposure. There was no clear relationship between prevalence of byssinosis and years of exposure or dust levels.

The mortality experience of 716 male hydrometallurgical nickel refinery employees who worked at Sherritt Gordon Limited in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta for at least 12 continuous months during the years 1954 to 1978 was examined. Mortality ascertainment was obtained utilizing the Canadian Mortality Data Base maintained by Statistics Canada and covered the years 1954 through 1984. Cause-specific mortality analyses were accomplished using male, age and calendar-year adjusted death rates for Canada and the province of Alberta. Total mortality was significantly below expectation (27 observed vs. 47 expected). Statistically significant fewer observed deaths were found for circulatory disease while multiple myeloma demonstrated a statistically significant increase of observed deaths. No deaths due to nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer were detected. Only one lung cancer death was found with three deaths expected (SMR 33). No association was found in this study between exposure to nickel concentrate or metallic nickel and the subsequent development of respiratory cancer.