A Bergamaschi, C Grandi, M D'Addato, V Di Carlo, A Russo
{"title":"[Health risks from infrared emissions from radiant tube heaters in the workplace].","authors":"A Bergamaschi, C Grandi, M D'Addato, V Di Carlo, A Russo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the exception of domestic rooms, Overhead Radiant Tube Heaters (ORTH) are an effective system for indoor heating (e.g. warehouses, factories, garage workshops, shipyards, greenhouses, schools hall etc.). The growing number of units installed is due to several advantages, such as uniform heating, absence of air movements, energy saving, versatility and safety. Indoor heating is obtained by an infrared emission, which is produced by the circulation of combustion exhaust gases within tubes and is collected by a set of reflecting surfaces located around the tubes. In the present communication, the attention is driven on the characteristics of ORTH infrared emissions, with reference to potential health risks for the exposed people (especially people working within areas heated by this system). A reason for this is represented by the existence of a specific italian regulation (Circolare N. 1322/4134-28.01.1992, Direzione Generale della Protezione Civile-Ministero dell'Interno). Following the last one, ORTH surface temperatures resulting in a spectral emission which includes wavelengths less than 3 microns have to be considered, in the case of ORTHs with thermal power greater than 34.89 kW, as hazardous for exposed people. Although the ORTHs emission spectrum partially covers the near infrared region (0.8-1.4 microns) at 400 degrees Celsius and may adversely affect the retained tissue a gross evaluation of the near infrared energetic flux, weightened on the surface unit, allows to exclude this risk. On the opposite, the results of the same evaluation carried out in the medium and far infrared spectral region at 200 degrees-400 degrees Celsius (the normal temperature range for ORTHs) do not allow to preliminary exclude a thermal risk for eye structures such as lens, near the tube surface at least. In every case, a burn hazard for both corneal tissue and skin is excluded. With the aim to carry out a detailed set of radiometric estimates, some preliminary considerations are furnished concerning the risk assessment for the eye, with reference to the following parameters: emission spectrum, energetic flux, workstation, presence of reflecting surfaces, potential interferences, exposure duration, angle between the incident radiation on eye surface and the optic axis. ACGIH 1992/93 for infrared radiation TLVs are followed as reference standard.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"41-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19954101","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}
{"title":"[Acrylonitrile and chemotaxis: in vitro experiments].","authors":"F Monaco, M Amati, I Visonà","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We have verified that chemotaxis of isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was a target of in vitro toxicant effect of acrylonitrile (ACN). This toxicant induced a significant dose dependent decreasing of chemotaxis with 50% inhibition (IC50) occurring at 15 mM. We assume that PMN from workers exposed to ACN reacts vivo in a similar way to PMN exposed in vitro to ACN. We propose therefore to use chemotaxis assay as a biomarker of early biological effect of ACN in workers, since for their monitoring there are so far only internal dose indicators but no suitable effect indicators.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"99-103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19953276","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}
{"title":"[Retrospective study of the morbidity in a group occupationally exposed to chlorotriazine herbicides: preliminary results].","authors":"G Catenacci, S Tringali, M Imbriani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two different groups of workers, involved in production or formulation of chlorotriazine herbicides during the last 10 years, have been retrospectively studied for occurrence of diseases related to the exposure to Atrazine, Simazine, Propazine, and Terbuthylazine. A control group has been selected between clerical workers of the same plants. Subjects exposed to the different compounds have been studied for inhalator and dermal exposure by active sampling, skin pads, and hand washings; samples have been further processed and specifically analysed. Urines have been studied for the presence and concentrations of mono and bidealkylated triazine metabolites. Exposure data have been collected during the last five years and extrapolations have performed for exposures in the preceding years. Clinical finding and laboratory data for all workers have been obtained from medical surveillance records. Data available for the last 10 years have been evaluated to highlight possible differences between the investigated groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"23-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19954100","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}
P Boscolo, M Di Gioacchino, M Cervone, F Di Giacomo, P Bavazzano, G Giuliano
{"title":"Lymphocyte subpopulations of workers in a plant producing plastic materials (preliminary study).","authors":"P Boscolo, M Di Gioacchino, M Cervone, F Di Giacomo, P Bavazzano, G Giuliano","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 31 men working in a plant producing plastic materials in relation with control groups of similar age and smoking habit. 8 workers (group A) were exposed to solvents (mainly methylethylketone and dimethylformamide), 8 men (group B) to dust containing particles of calcium carbonate, polyvinylchloride, phtalates, unsaturated oils, paraffin wax, iron oxides, titanium bioxides, barium, zinc and lead and 15 men (group C), working in the same department as group B, were studied after a period of 16 months during which lead chromate was employed in the preparation of colors. The lymphocyte subpopulations were normal in group A, while in B there was a significant increase of HLA-DR + cells (monocytes, B and activated T lymphocytes). In group C, T helper/inducer lymphocytes (mainly CD4(+)-CD45RO- \"virgin\" lymphocytes), CD19+ B lymphocytes, CD3-HLADR+ and CD3-CD25+ (activated B lymphocytes and monocytes) were significantly reduced without changes of serum IgM, IgG and IgA. Highly significant correlation was found between B lymphocytes (reduced in the workers about 40%) and CD4(+)-CD45R0+ \"memory\" lymphocytes (reduced about 20%). Moreover, blood lead (correlated with urinary chromium) showed a highly significant negative correlation with the B lymphocytes. This study demonstrates that combined exposure to toxic agents produces specific modifications in the lymphocyte subsets without changes in immunoglobulins and confirms the results of previous researches showing that the exposure to lead or chromate induces reduction of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"27-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19904509","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}
G Assennato, G M Ferri, G Tria, A Porro, L Macinagrossa, M Ruggieri
{"title":"[Tumors of the hemolymphopoietic tract and employment in agriculture: a case-control study carried out in an epidemiologic area in southern Italy].","authors":"G Assennato, G M Ferri, G Tria, A Porro, L Macinagrossa, M Ruggieri","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To evaluate the role of agricultural exposures in the development of lymphatic and haemopoietic tumors a population-based case-referent study has been carried out in three health districts of Southern Italy. All incident cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1989, aged 14 years or more, have been identified (71 subjects). The control group is formed by subjects with other neoplasms. A Job Exposure Matrix, specific to 10 areas, to 6 major crops and to 4 calendar periods, was built for assessing pesticide exposure. To date 100 interviews (to the index subject or to proxies) have been carried out (26 cases and 74 referents). The odds ratio (OR) of hematologic malignancies for agricultural workers was 1.63 [95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI): 0.69-4.34] in the whole sample and 6.00 (95% CI: 1.21-25.52) in the female group. Significative increased risks have been observed for exposure to DDT and creolin (OR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.16-14.55) and, for leukemia, for cattle breeders (OR = 6.38; 95% CI: 1.46-27.83).</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"91-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19953279","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}
{"title":"[Mortality by tumors and other causes in dairy cattle and other agricultural workers in Veneto].","authors":"G Mastrangelo, V Marzia, P Paruzzolo, B Saia","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study was conducted to verify a reduction in mortality from tumors in dairy farm workers, exposed to endotoxins, which increase in the host a cytotoxic antitumoral. From the SCAU files of the Province of Padova, we selected 2.415 subjects with informations on: date of hire, date of work termination, number of dairy cattle, area of the farm. The vital status was ascertained through the Communes of residence, and for the 541 decedents the cause of death was established. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated on the basis of age-sex-cause-calendar period specific mortality rates in the Veneto. In the 1.641 dairy farm workers, SMRs were significantly low for total tumors (= 81) and lung tumors (= 66), and significantly high for brain tumors (= 283). In other 774 farmers, no significant SMRs were observed. The data will be further processed to verify a dose-response relationship with the occupational risk indicators. Smoking habits will be collected.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"19-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19954099","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}
M Di Gioacchino, S Masci, E Cavallucci, G Pavone, M Andreassi, M Gravante, G Pizzicannella, P Boscolo
{"title":"[Immuno-histopathologic changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa in patients with nickel contact allergy].","authors":"M Di Gioacchino, S Masci, E Cavallucci, G Pavone, M Andreassi, M Gravante, G Pizzicannella, P Boscolo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study concerns the histological and immunohistochemical findings of the gastrointestinal mucosa of 20 patients (group A) suffering from contact allergic dermatitis (CAD) to Ni, with symptom recrudescence due to food ingested Ni. Results were compared with those observed in 20 patients suffering from CAD to Ni (group B), without sensitivity to food ingested Ni, and in 20 normal subjects (controls). The sensitivity to food ingested Ni, as suggested by history, was demonstrated by placebo-controlled oral-Ni challenge. The biopsies for histological and immunohistochemical study were performed during endoscopy and obtained from the antrum and from the duodenal mucosa. In the biopsies obtained from 16 of group A patients there was evidence of inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes and plasma cells with oedema and vasodilation in the lamina propria. Slight flattening of the villi and enlongation of the crypts were concomitant. These findings were light in the 4 patients of group A and in 11 of group B and instead were absent in the remaining group B patients and in the controls. Immunohistochemically, lymphocytes in the lamina propria were prevalently CD20 + (B cells) and CD4 + (Th cells), some were CD45RO + (memory) and finally few CD8 + (Tc/s cells). CD45RO + cells was found in cluster in patients of group A and in 4 of group B, whereas in the others were isolated. Since some studies have shown that immunological pattern of skin reaction to Ni is characterized by increased CD45RO + cells, it may be hypothesized that in patients suffering from CAD to Ni, the sensitivity to food-ingested Ni may be induced by a type IV immunological reaction in the gut.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"33-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19952049","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}
{"title":"[Toxicologic effects of cadmium on gametes and embryonal kinetics of paracentrotus lividus].","authors":"G Arru, A M Congiu, S Bosia, G Ugazio","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The adverse effects of cadmium chloride or cadmium sulphate on both fertilization of sea urchin eggs by spermatozoa and cadmium treated embryos have been studied. Cd treated ova can be fertilized by control spermatozoa. On the contrary, the preliminary treatment of spermatozoa with CdCl2 or CdSO4 succeeds in reducing the fertilization rate of control eggs at concentrations as low as 2 micrograms/ml. Cd sulphate appears to be more noxious than Cd chloride. The study of the residual motility of sea urchin embryos exposed to either CdCl2 or CdSO4 has evidenced a fairly effect at 21 hours after fertilization. On the contrary, concentrations of 25 micrograms/ml Cd chloride or Cd sulphate significantly affect the motility of 48 hours embryos. Higher levels of cadmium, for example, 150 or 200 micrograms/ml, completely block the translation of developing organisms. In this instance, Cd chloride is more effective than Cd sulphate. In addition, a few embryos are affected by malformations and are underdeveloped. These results are interpreted on the basis of the inhibitory effect of cadmium on the CaCO3 uptake by tissues and structures which physiologically need to be calcified in order to develop and function. Further, they give support to the predictive significance of the toxicological tests on the sea urchin plutei in monitoring environmental hazards.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"17 1-6","pages":"61-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19954104","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}
{"title":"[Evaluation of urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea in subjects occupationally and non-occupationally exposed to ethylenebis(dithiocarbamates)].","authors":"G Sciarra, C Aprea, P Sartorelli","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ethylenebisdithiorcabamate (EBDC) fungicides are broken down metabolically and in the environment to ethylenethiourea (ETU), a suspected carcinogen. Urinary ETU was assayed in control groups and subjects occupationaly exposed to EBDC and was found to be an excellent indicator of exposure both to ETU and EBDC. Correct use of protective clothing greatly reduced exposure and urinary excretion of ETU. ETU was excreted, albeit in low concentrations, in a high percentage (91% and 30%) of subjects in both control groups, demonstrating its utility as an indicator of widespread EBDC contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"16 1-6","pages":"49-52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19656441","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}
E De Rosa, M Cellini, G Sessa, C Saletti, G Marcuzzo, G B Bartolucci
{"title":"[Interference of acetone in styrene metabolism in subjects exposed to both solvents].","authors":"E De Rosa, M Cellini, G Sessa, C Saletti, G Marcuzzo, G B Bartolucci","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thirty-seven workers exposed to styrene and acetone in fiberglass industry were monitored on Monday and Thursday for 8 hours (two subsequent samplings of 4 hours each) using passive dosimeters (mod. TK200). The charcoal disks of the passive dosimeters were analysed by gas-chromatography. Urine samples were collected at the end of the workshift and before the start of the workshift the next morning (Tuesday and Friday). Mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) were measured in the urine, using a HPLC method; values were expressed in mg/g of creatinine. The 8-h TWA exposure values ranged from 10 to 522 and 13 to 1581 mg/m3 on Monday and 8 to 423 and 10 to 579 mg/m3 on Thursday for styrene and acetone, respectively. Styrene TWA exposure values significantly correlated with the sum of metabolites at the end of workday (r = 0.72 on Monday and r = 0.91 on Thursday) and also the next morning (r = 0.88 on Tuesday and r = 0.85 on Friday). A calculated styrene exposure level of 213 mg/m3 (ACGIH-TLV) was associated with an excretion of metabolites (MA+PGA) higher on Thursday (814 mg/g creat.) than on Monday (600 mg/g creat.). The same observation was made on Friday (409 mg/g creat.) as compared with Tuesday (302 mg/g creat.). In conclusion, the TLV of styrene was associated with different values of metabolites at the beginning and at the end of the work-week. Moreover our data show that the simultaneous exposure to acetone does not modify the excretion of MA.</p>","PeriodicalId":77147,"journal":{"name":"Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro","volume":"16 1-6","pages":"43-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"19656440","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}