Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602924
M. Hazucha, V. Rhodes, B. Boehlecke, K. Southwick, D. Degnan, C. Shy
Abstract Waste incinerators are an increasingly common means of solid waste disposal. However, little is documented about the physical health of community members who live close to incinerators. During a 3-yr epidemiological study, spirometric lung function was tested once annually among residents from 3 communities surrounding a hazardous waste, biomedical, or municipal incinerator and among residents in 3 comparison communities. A total of 1,016 nonsmoking individuals, aged 8–80 yr, participated during at least 1 of the 3 yr of the study; 358 individuals participated all 3 yr. Daily air-quality sampling was done for 1 mo/yr in all 6 communities. The average monthly concentrations of particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 pm and less (PM2.5 [range = 14.6–31.5 μg/m3]) in all communities were similar during the 3 yr of study. The mean daily PM2.5 concentrations were significantly less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's allowable 24-hr standard of 65 μg/m3. Individual incinerators contributed less than 2.5% of the areas' total PM2.5 levels. There was no difference in percent predicted forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, or forced expiratory flow rate over the middle 50% of the forced vital capacity among members of the incinerator communities, compared with nonincinerator communities, and there were no significant differences in lung function within the 3 sets of communities. There was no evidence from this study that an association existed between residence in these 3 waste incinerator areas, which met state and federal emissions regulations, and average spirometric pulmonary function of nonsmoking community members.
{"title":"Characterization of Spirometric Function in Residents of Three Comparison Communities and of Three Communities Located near Waste Incinerators in North Carolina","authors":"M. Hazucha, V. Rhodes, B. Boehlecke, K. Southwick, D. Degnan, C. Shy","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602924","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Waste incinerators are an increasingly common means of solid waste disposal. However, little is documented about the physical health of community members who live close to incinerators. During a 3-yr epidemiological study, spirometric lung function was tested once annually among residents from 3 communities surrounding a hazardous waste, biomedical, or municipal incinerator and among residents in 3 comparison communities. A total of 1,016 nonsmoking individuals, aged 8–80 yr, participated during at least 1 of the 3 yr of the study; 358 individuals participated all 3 yr. Daily air-quality sampling was done for 1 mo/yr in all 6 communities. The average monthly concentrations of particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 pm and less (PM2.5 [range = 14.6–31.5 μg/m3]) in all communities were similar during the 3 yr of study. The mean daily PM2.5 concentrations were significantly less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's allowable 24-hr standard of 65 μg/m3. Individual incinerators contributed less than 2.5% of the areas' total PM2.5 levels. There was no difference in percent predicted forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, or forced expiratory flow rate over the middle 50% of the forced vital capacity among members of the incinerator communities, compared with nonincinerator communities, and there were no significant differences in lung function within the 3 sets of communities. There was no evidence from this study that an association existed between residence in these 3 waste incinerator areas, which met state and federal emissions regulations, and average spirometric pulmonary function of nonsmoking community members.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"97 1","pages":"103 - 112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80696789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602922
Jim Fisher
THE POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION between chemical exposures and brain cancer is receiving renewed interest in light of the recently published results of the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation of cancer among current and former workers of the National Semiconductor, Ltd., Facility (NSUK) in Creenock, Scotland.’ The HSE investigators found not only a higher than expected incidence of breast, lung, and stomach cancers among female workers, but approximately 4 times as many brain cancer deaths in males as expected, on the basis of comparisons with age and sex-specific mortality rates for Scotland. Although recognizing the need for additional, broader cancer studies among workers in the semiconductor industry, the HSE investigators took a questionable stance on the brain cancer findings: “In view of the fact that brain cancer was not of specific interest at the outset of the investigation and the short latency for 3 of the 4 cases, it i s most probably not work-related,” the authors wrote.* The statement is worrisome, suggesting that if the HSE does not initially suspect a particular type of cancer as being work related, then indications to the contrary may be dismissed. It is especially worrisome when the cancer in question has been associated with exposure to toxic chemicals since the mid-I 970s3 and when several of the associated chemicals and agents-including the organic solvents trichloroethane and trichloroethylene, and both ionizing and nonionizing radiation-are found in Table 1 of the HSE report, in which the known or suspected carcinogens are listed that had been used or had been present at the NSUK Creenock plant since operations began in 1970.4 In fact, a review of the epidemiological literature over the past 2 decades-which, as the HSE investigators note, is generally based on electronics manufacturing industries-gives reason for one to suspect that the increased risk of brain cancer among NSUK workers is work related. The HSE investigators argue that because exposures in electronics assembly work are not identical to those in semiconductor manufacturing, “It would be unwise to draw any conclusions about the semiconductor industry from more broadly based studies.” However, as was noted earlier, several of the suspected carcinogens associated with brain cancer in these broader studies are as common, if not more so, in the semiconductor industry. At the very least, the studies should caution against concluding that the excess of brain cancer at NSUK is not work related. In 1983, the first (and only) evaluation of the general cancer incidence pattern in the electronics industry-as opposed to a study of a particular cancer or of a subpopulation, such as workers of a particular company or gender-was conducted in Sweden by linking the Swedish Cancer Registry with Swedish census records for the period 1961-1973.5 Of more than 75,000 subjects, the investigators found an increased risk of cancer of 1.1 5 times for men and 1.08
{"title":"Cancer in the Semiconductor Industry","authors":"Jim Fisher","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602922","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602922","url":null,"abstract":"THE POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION between chemical exposures and brain cancer is receiving renewed interest in light of the recently published results of the United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation of cancer among current and former workers of the National Semiconductor, Ltd., Facility (NSUK) in Creenock, Scotland.’ The HSE investigators found not only a higher than expected incidence of breast, lung, and stomach cancers among female workers, but approximately 4 times as many brain cancer deaths in males as expected, on the basis of comparisons with age and sex-specific mortality rates for Scotland. Although recognizing the need for additional, broader cancer studies among workers in the semiconductor industry, the HSE investigators took a questionable stance on the brain cancer findings: “In view of the fact that brain cancer was not of specific interest at the outset of the investigation and the short latency for 3 of the 4 cases, it i s most probably not work-related,” the authors wrote.* The statement is worrisome, suggesting that if the HSE does not initially suspect a particular type of cancer as being work related, then indications to the contrary may be dismissed. It is especially worrisome when the cancer in question has been associated with exposure to toxic chemicals since the mid-I 970s3 and when several of the associated chemicals and agents-including the organic solvents trichloroethane and trichloroethylene, and both ionizing and nonionizing radiation-are found in Table 1 of the HSE report, in which the known or suspected carcinogens are listed that had been used or had been present at the NSUK Creenock plant since operations began in 1970.4 In fact, a review of the epidemiological literature over the past 2 decades-which, as the HSE investigators note, is generally based on electronics manufacturing industries-gives reason for one to suspect that the increased risk of brain cancer among NSUK workers is work related. The HSE investigators argue that because exposures in electronics assembly work are not identical to those in semiconductor manufacturing, “It would be unwise to draw any conclusions about the semiconductor industry from more broadly based studies.” However, as was noted earlier, several of the suspected carcinogens associated with brain cancer in these broader studies are as common, if not more so, in the semiconductor industry. At the very least, the studies should caution against concluding that the excess of brain cancer at NSUK is not work related. In 1983, the first (and only) evaluation of the general cancer incidence pattern in the electronics industry-as opposed to a study of a particular cancer or of a subpopulation, such as workers of a particular company or gender-was conducted in Sweden by linking the Swedish Cancer Registry with Swedish census records for the period 1961-1973.5 Of more than 75,000 subjects, the investigators found an increased risk of cancer of 1.1 5 times for men and 1.08","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"5 1","pages":"95 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84834834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602932
S. Garbarino, L. Nobili, M. Beelke, V. Balestra, A. Cordelli, F. Ferrillo
Abstract Police, who work shifts, participate in both risky and delicate tasks. The authors investigated sleep habits, prevalence of sleep disorders, sleepiness on the job, and hypnotic drug intake (Benzodiazepines, Zaleplon, Zolpidem, or Zoplicone) in a population of Italian state police officers. This study was conducted with self-administered questionnaires. The investigation focused on the difference between 540 non-shiftworkers (413 males, 127 females) and 575 shiftworkers (483 males, 92 females). All individuals were between 20 yr and 39 yr of age. In shiftworkers, there was a higher prevalence of difficulty in initiating sleep; in addition, these individuals had a sleep latency that exceeded 20 min, and they experienced early awakenings. No significant differences in daytime sleepiness and drug intake existed between the 2 groups. Self-evaluation of the number of hours that individuals slept each night and during a 24-hr period revealed that shiftworkers required more sleep. The results indicated that shiftworkers experienced a lower quality of sleep than non-shiftworkers, but the former did not report increased daytime sleepiness or increased hypnotic drug intake (i.e., Benzodiazepines, Zaleplon, Zolpidem, or Zoplicone). Shiftworkers seemed to compensate for the poor quality of their sleep by sleeping for a greater number of hours during 24-hr periods than the non-shiftworkers. Perhaps the aforementioned compensation resulted from a prolonged recovery from shiftwork effects.
{"title":"Sleep Disorders and Daytime Sleepiness in State Police Shiftworkers","authors":"S. Garbarino, L. Nobili, M. Beelke, V. Balestra, A. Cordelli, F. Ferrillo","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602932","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Police, who work shifts, participate in both risky and delicate tasks. The authors investigated sleep habits, prevalence of sleep disorders, sleepiness on the job, and hypnotic drug intake (Benzodiazepines, Zaleplon, Zolpidem, or Zoplicone) in a population of Italian state police officers. This study was conducted with self-administered questionnaires. The investigation focused on the difference between 540 non-shiftworkers (413 males, 127 females) and 575 shiftworkers (483 males, 92 females). All individuals were between 20 yr and 39 yr of age. In shiftworkers, there was a higher prevalence of difficulty in initiating sleep; in addition, these individuals had a sleep latency that exceeded 20 min, and they experienced early awakenings. No significant differences in daytime sleepiness and drug intake existed between the 2 groups. Self-evaluation of the number of hours that individuals slept each night and during a 24-hr period revealed that shiftworkers required more sleep. The results indicated that shiftworkers experienced a lower quality of sleep than non-shiftworkers, but the former did not report increased daytime sleepiness or increased hypnotic drug intake (i.e., Benzodiazepines, Zaleplon, Zolpidem, or Zoplicone). Shiftworkers seemed to compensate for the poor quality of their sleep by sleeping for a greater number of hours during 24-hr periods than the non-shiftworkers. Perhaps the aforementioned compensation resulted from a prolonged recovery from shiftwork effects.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"26 1","pages":"167 - 173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82836456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602933
J. Lane, C. Lassiter, K. W. Gresen, W. Glasgow
Background. A woman presented with complaints of fatigue and a history of childhood pesticide exposure. Problem. A diagnosis of chronic pesticide poisoning is challenging, given its nonspecific presentation and lack of reliable laboratory confirmation. Demographic facts. A 42-yr-old Caucasian woman presented to her physician with complaints of anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Medical history included idiopathic thrombocytic purpura (ITP) and cholelithiasis. Surgical history included a splenectomy for ITP and a cholecystectomy. There had been a high incidence of cancer in her family. No history of acute pesticide poisoning by the patient or other family members was reported. Setting/exposure location. As a child, the patient had routinely played in basins used for mixing pesticides on her family’s farm. Type of chemical. The patient had experienced chronic childhood dermal exposure to organochlorine pesticides. Results. The results of physical examination were within normal limits. Objective measurements. Serum electrolytes, hematologic parameters, and liver and kidney profiles were within normal limits. Laboratory findings were negative for systemic lupus erythematosus. A serum pesticide panel demonstrated trace amounts (i.e., greater than laboratory reference level) of 1, l -dichloro-2,2-bis-(p dichlorodipheny1)-ethylene (p,pDDE). Imaging. Normal chest and pelvic radiographs were obtained. Summary. The use of pesticides for agriculture contributes its share to pesticide exposures. Although much is known about acute exposure, little is known about chronic Both dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and DDE are bound extensively to plasma proteins. The primary sites of toxicity are the central and peripheral nervous systems, with particular toxicity to the cerebellum and motor cortex. Although its chronic toxicity is not understood completely, DDT prolongs neuronal repolarization by disrupting sodium, potassium, and calcium-adenosine triphosphatases-in addition to calmodulin-thus resulting in prolonged depolarization. Symptoms from organochlorine exposure are often nonspecific and include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, anorexia, tremor, parasthesias, and other neurotoxic effect^.^ Organochlorine pesticides are noted for their long half-li~es.~ DDT is transformed slowly in mammalian systems. Furthermore, DDT and its metabolites are not very soluble in water and are highly soluble in Once absorbed, the metabolites are stored in adipose tissue and are transformed slowly by cytochrome P450dependent monooxygenases into bis(dichlorodipheny1) acetic acid and are subsequently excreted in urine. Storage in adipose tissue may be protective because pesticide levels in the brain are minimized.8 Concentrations of DDT and its metabolites within adipose tissue may exist at levels that are several hundred times those that exist in blood, perhaps calling into question the usefulness of serum pesticide panels for the detection of chronic poisoning.’ Analysis of organoc
{"title":"Suspected Chronic Organochlorine Pesticide Poisoning","authors":"J. Lane, C. Lassiter, K. W. Gresen, W. Glasgow","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602933","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602933","url":null,"abstract":"Background. A woman presented with complaints of fatigue and a history of childhood pesticide exposure. Problem. A diagnosis of chronic pesticide poisoning is challenging, given its nonspecific presentation and lack of reliable laboratory confirmation. Demographic facts. A 42-yr-old Caucasian woman presented to her physician with complaints of anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Medical history included idiopathic thrombocytic purpura (ITP) and cholelithiasis. Surgical history included a splenectomy for ITP and a cholecystectomy. There had been a high incidence of cancer in her family. No history of acute pesticide poisoning by the patient or other family members was reported. Setting/exposure location. As a child, the patient had routinely played in basins used for mixing pesticides on her family’s farm. Type of chemical. The patient had experienced chronic childhood dermal exposure to organochlorine pesticides. Results. The results of physical examination were within normal limits. Objective measurements. Serum electrolytes, hematologic parameters, and liver and kidney profiles were within normal limits. Laboratory findings were negative for systemic lupus erythematosus. A serum pesticide panel demonstrated trace amounts (i.e., greater than laboratory reference level) of 1, l -dichloro-2,2-bis-(p dichlorodipheny1)-ethylene (p,pDDE). Imaging. Normal chest and pelvic radiographs were obtained. Summary. The use of pesticides for agriculture contributes its share to pesticide exposures. Although much is known about acute exposure, little is known about chronic Both dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and DDE are bound extensively to plasma proteins. The primary sites of toxicity are the central and peripheral nervous systems, with particular toxicity to the cerebellum and motor cortex. Although its chronic toxicity is not understood completely, DDT prolongs neuronal repolarization by disrupting sodium, potassium, and calcium-adenosine triphosphatases-in addition to calmodulin-thus resulting in prolonged depolarization. Symptoms from organochlorine exposure are often nonspecific and include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, anorexia, tremor, parasthesias, and other neurotoxic effect^.^ Organochlorine pesticides are noted for their long half-li~es.~ DDT is transformed slowly in mammalian systems. Furthermore, DDT and its metabolites are not very soluble in water and are highly soluble in Once absorbed, the metabolites are stored in adipose tissue and are transformed slowly by cytochrome P450dependent monooxygenases into bis(dichlorodipheny1) acetic acid and are subsequently excreted in urine. Storage in adipose tissue may be protective because pesticide levels in the brain are minimized.8 Concentrations of DDT and its metabolites within adipose tissue may exist at levels that are several hundred times those that exist in blood, perhaps calling into question the usefulness of serum pesticide panels for the detection of chronic poisoning.’ Analysis of organoc","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"27 1","pages":"174 - 175"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87603462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602925
K. Kilburn
Abstract Individuals who lived near 2 electronic manufacturing plants were exposed to odorous chlorinated solvents by inhalation (directly) and by outgassing from well water. An exposure zone was defined by concentrations of trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and vinyl chloride in groundwater. The author adopted trichloroethylene as a “shorthand” for the exposure designation. Residents complained of impaired recall and concentration, and of dizziness; therefore, the focus of this investigation was brain functions. Neurobehavioral functions, Profile of Mood States, frequencies of 35 symptoms, and questionnaire responses provided by 236 residents from exposure zones were compared with responses provided by 161 unexposed regional referents and by 67 Phoenix residents who lived outside the exposure zone areas. Pulmonary functions were measured with spirometry. Residents of the exposure zones were compared with regional referents, and the former had significantly (p < .05) delayed simple and choice reaction times, impaired balance, delayed blink reflex latency R-1, and abnormal color discrimination. In addition, these individuals had impaired (1) cognitive functions, (2) attention and perceptual motor speed, and (3) recall. Individuals who lived in exposure zones had airway obstructions. Adverse mood state scores and frequencies of 33 of 35 symptoms were elevated. In conclusion, individuals who lived in the exposure zones had neurobehavioral impairments, reduced pulmonary functions, elevated Profile of Mood State scores, and excessive symptom frequencies.
{"title":"Is Neurotoxicity Associated with Environmental Trichloroethylene (TCE)?","authors":"K. Kilburn","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602925","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Individuals who lived near 2 electronic manufacturing plants were exposed to odorous chlorinated solvents by inhalation (directly) and by outgassing from well water. An exposure zone was defined by concentrations of trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and vinyl chloride in groundwater. The author adopted trichloroethylene as a “shorthand” for the exposure designation. Residents complained of impaired recall and concentration, and of dizziness; therefore, the focus of this investigation was brain functions. Neurobehavioral functions, Profile of Mood States, frequencies of 35 symptoms, and questionnaire responses provided by 236 residents from exposure zones were compared with responses provided by 161 unexposed regional referents and by 67 Phoenix residents who lived outside the exposure zone areas. Pulmonary functions were measured with spirometry. Residents of the exposure zones were compared with regional referents, and the former had significantly (p < .05) delayed simple and choice reaction times, impaired balance, delayed blink reflex latency R-1, and abnormal color discrimination. In addition, these individuals had impaired (1) cognitive functions, (2) attention and perceptual motor speed, and (3) recall. Individuals who lived in exposure zones had airway obstructions. Adverse mood state scores and frequencies of 33 of 35 symptoms were elevated. In conclusion, individuals who lived in the exposure zones had neurobehavioral impairments, reduced pulmonary functions, elevated Profile of Mood State scores, and excessive symptom frequencies.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"113 - 120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77364153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602926
K. Kilburn
Abstract The author examined the effects of duration of residence, proximity to microchip plants, and being a party in litigation involving neurobehavioral functioning in individuals who had been chronically exposed to trichloroethylene-associated solvents from the environment. The author compared duration of exposure for the 236 residents, all of whom were located in 3 proximity zones in Phoenix, Arizona; some of the individuals had been in the process of solvent-related litigation for fewer than 10 yr, whereas some had been involved for more than 10 yr. The 236 residents were compared with 58 nonclaimants in 3 residential areas within the exposure zones. Neurobehavioral function testing was described in the study that appears prior to this study in this issue.1 Prior to comparisons, test scores were adjusted for age, sex, education level, and other significant factors. Individuals who had been exposed for fewer than 10 yr were not different from individuals who had been exposed for longer periods. Proximity to microchip plants produced no statistically significant effects. Among the 169 exposed subjects (i.e., exposure for 15 yr to trichloroethylene-associated solvents), of whom some were parties in lawsuits, those who lived in the near west area (Zone A) of Phoenix did not differ with respect to results of the 14 neurobehavioral tests that were administered. However, Zone B subjects, located to the north of the plant, differed with respect to 2 of the tests; and Zone C subjects, located beyond Zone A, Phoenix, differed with respect to 3 of the tests. In conclusion, duration of residence, proximity to microchip plants, and being a party to a lawsuit had no significant effects on neurobehavioral functioning, but, in this study, parties in the lawsuit were subjects who experienced more frequent symptoms.
{"title":"Do Duration of Exposure, Proximity to Electronic Manufacturing Plants, and Involvement in a Lawsuit Affect Chlorinated Solvent Toxicity?","authors":"K. Kilburn","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602926","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The author examined the effects of duration of residence, proximity to microchip plants, and being a party in litigation involving neurobehavioral functioning in individuals who had been chronically exposed to trichloroethylene-associated solvents from the environment. The author compared duration of exposure for the 236 residents, all of whom were located in 3 proximity zones in Phoenix, Arizona; some of the individuals had been in the process of solvent-related litigation for fewer than 10 yr, whereas some had been involved for more than 10 yr. The 236 residents were compared with 58 nonclaimants in 3 residential areas within the exposure zones. Neurobehavioral function testing was described in the study that appears prior to this study in this issue.1 Prior to comparisons, test scores were adjusted for age, sex, education level, and other significant factors. Individuals who had been exposed for fewer than 10 yr were not different from individuals who had been exposed for longer periods. Proximity to microchip plants produced no statistically significant effects. Among the 169 exposed subjects (i.e., exposure for 15 yr to trichloroethylene-associated solvents), of whom some were parties in lawsuits, those who lived in the near west area (Zone A) of Phoenix did not differ with respect to results of the 14 neurobehavioral tests that were administered. However, Zone B subjects, located to the north of the plant, differed with respect to 2 of the tests; and Zone C subjects, located beyond Zone A, Phoenix, differed with respect to 3 of the tests. In conclusion, duration of residence, proximity to microchip plants, and being a party to a lawsuit had no significant effects on neurobehavioral functioning, but, in this study, parties in the lawsuit were subjects who experienced more frequent symptoms.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"77 1","pages":"121 - 126"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83885225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-03-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602927
S. Moshe, E. Bitchatchi, Joshua Goshen, J. Attias
Abstract A 61-year-old artist in Israel had been painting for 30 years in his home studio. He had been healthy until he reached the age of 59.5 years, at which time he began complaining of weakness and paresthesia in both hands and legs. He also complained that he had difficulty concentrating, and his memory was impaired. His work was unusual in that he painted large posters (i.e., 2 × 3 m) with different mixtures of organic solvents, including toluene, xylene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene diisocyanate, acetone, and thinner. He did not use any protective gloves and did not wear a mask. He was evaluated with several methods and was diagnosed as having peripheral and central neuropathy, including ototoxic hearing loss as a result of long exposures to organic solvents. The authors were unable to find any similar case report in the literature.
{"title":"Neuropathy in an Artist Exposed to Organic Solvents in Paints: A Case Study","authors":"S. Moshe, E. Bitchatchi, Joshua Goshen, J. Attias","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602927","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602927","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A 61-year-old artist in Israel had been painting for 30 years in his home studio. He had been healthy until he reached the age of 59.5 years, at which time he began complaining of weakness and paresthesia in both hands and legs. He also complained that he had difficulty concentrating, and his memory was impaired. His work was unusual in that he painted large posters (i.e., 2 × 3 m) with different mixtures of organic solvents, including toluene, xylene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene diisocyanate, acetone, and thinner. He did not use any protective gloves and did not wear a mask. He was evaluated with several methods and was diagnosed as having peripheral and central neuropathy, including ototoxic hearing loss as a result of long exposures to organic solvents. The authors were unable to find any similar case report in the literature.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"35 1","pages":"127 - 129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79180624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602914
Ö. Hallberg, Olle Johansson
Abstract The incidence of melanoma has been increasing steadily in many countries since 1960, but the underlying mechanism causing this increase remains elusive. The incidence of melanoma has been linked to the distance to frequency modulation (FM) broadcasting towers. In the current study, the authors sought to determine if there was also a related link on a larger scale for entire countries. Exposure-time-specific incidence was extracted from exposure and incidence data from 4 different countries, and this was compared with reported age-specific incidence of melanoma. Geographic differences in melanoma incidence were compared with the magnitude of this environmental stress. The exposure-time-specific incidence from all 4 countries became almost identical, and they were approximately equal to the reported age-specific incidence of melanoma. A correlation between melanoma incidence and the number of locally receivable FM transmitters was found. The authors concluded that melanoma is associated with exposure to FM broadcasting.
{"title":"Melanoma Incidence and Frequency Modulation (FM) Broadcasting","authors":"Ö. Hallberg, Olle Johansson","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602914","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The incidence of melanoma has been increasing steadily in many countries since 1960, but the underlying mechanism causing this increase remains elusive. The incidence of melanoma has been linked to the distance to frequency modulation (FM) broadcasting towers. In the current study, the authors sought to determine if there was also a related link on a larger scale for entire countries. Exposure-time-specific incidence was extracted from exposure and incidence data from 4 different countries, and this was compared with reported age-specific incidence of melanoma. Geographic differences in melanoma incidence were compared with the magnitude of this environmental stress. The exposure-time-specific incidence from all 4 countries became almost identical, and they were approximately equal to the reported age-specific incidence of melanoma. A correlation between melanoma incidence and the number of locally receivable FM transmitters was found. The authors concluded that melanoma is associated with exposure to FM broadcasting.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"46 1","pages":"32 - 40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73053656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602918
Han K. Kang, C. Mahan, Kyung Y. Lee, F. Murphy, S. Simmens, H. Young, P. Levine
Abstract To identify a syndrome unique to Gulf War veterans, the authors applied an exploratory factor analysis to the 47-symptom correlation matrix of 10,423 Gulf War and 8,960 non-Gulf War veteran respondents. A separate factor analysis was performed for Gulf War and non-Gulf War veterans, and the resulting 6 factors were compared between the 2 groups. Five of the factors were very similar in the 2 groups; however, 1 of the factors in the Gulf War group, but not the non-Gulf War group, contained a cluster of symptoms consistent with neurological impairment. Symptoms specific to this factor were blurred vision, loss of balance/dizziness, tremors/shaking, and speech difficulty. The Gulf War veterans who had all of the aforementioned symptoms (n = 277) also reported exposures to several putative risk factors at a rate 3 or more times higher than other Gulf War veterans. This finding suggests a possible syndrome related to Gulf War deployment, which requires objective supporting clinical evidence.
{"title":"Evidence for a Deployment-Related Gulf War Syndrome by Factor Analysis","authors":"Han K. Kang, C. Mahan, Kyung Y. Lee, F. Murphy, S. Simmens, H. Young, P. Levine","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602918","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602918","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To identify a syndrome unique to Gulf War veterans, the authors applied an exploratory factor analysis to the 47-symptom correlation matrix of 10,423 Gulf War and 8,960 non-Gulf War veteran respondents. A separate factor analysis was performed for Gulf War and non-Gulf War veterans, and the resulting 6 factors were compared between the 2 groups. Five of the factors were very similar in the 2 groups; however, 1 of the factors in the Gulf War group, but not the non-Gulf War group, contained a cluster of symptoms consistent with neurological impairment. Symptoms specific to this factor were blurred vision, loss of balance/dizziness, tremors/shaking, and speech difficulty. The Gulf War veterans who had all of the aforementioned symptoms (n = 277) also reported exposures to several putative risk factors at a rate 3 or more times higher than other Gulf War veterans. This finding suggests a possible syndrome related to Gulf War deployment, which requires objective supporting clinical evidence.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"61 - 68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82189781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602912
O. Kunii, Shuzo Kanagawa, Iwao Yajima, Y. Hisamatsu, S. Yamamura, T. Amagai, I. Ismail
Abstract In this study, the authors assessed air quality and health effects of the 1997 haze disaster in Indonesia. The authors measured carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter with diameters less than or equal to 10 μum, inorganic ions, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The authors also interviewed 543 people and conducted lung-function tests and determined spirometric values for these individuals. Concentrations of carbon monoxide and particulate matter with diameters less than or equal to 10 μrn reached “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels, as defined by the Pollution Standards Index. Concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were 6–14 times higher than levels in the unaffected area. More than 90% of the respondents had respiratory symptoms, and elderly individuals suffered a serious deterioration of overall health. In multivariate analysis, the authors determined that gender, history of asthma, and frequency of wearing a mask were associated with severity of respiratory problems. The results of our study demonstrate the need for special care of the elderly and for care of those with a history of asthma. In addition, the use of a proper mask may afford protection.
{"title":"The 1997 Haze Disaster in Indonesia: Its Air Quality and Health Effects","authors":"O. Kunii, Shuzo Kanagawa, Iwao Yajima, Y. Hisamatsu, S. Yamamura, T. Amagai, I. Ismail","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602912","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In this study, the authors assessed air quality and health effects of the 1997 haze disaster in Indonesia. The authors measured carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter with diameters less than or equal to 10 μum, inorganic ions, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The authors also interviewed 543 people and conducted lung-function tests and determined spirometric values for these individuals. Concentrations of carbon monoxide and particulate matter with diameters less than or equal to 10 μrn reached “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels, as defined by the Pollution Standards Index. Concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were 6–14 times higher than levels in the unaffected area. More than 90% of the respondents had respiratory symptoms, and elderly individuals suffered a serious deterioration of overall health. In multivariate analysis, the authors determined that gender, history of asthma, and frequency of wearing a mask were associated with severity of respiratory problems. The results of our study demonstrate the need for special care of the elderly and for care of those with a history of asthma. In addition, the use of a proper mask may afford protection.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"16 - 22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81988508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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