The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified outdoor air pollution and the particulate matter (PM) in outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans, as based on sufficient ...evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and experimental animals and strong support by mechanistic studies. The data with important contributions to the evaluation are reviewed, highlighting the data with particular relevance to China, and implications of the evaluation with respect to China are discussed. The air pollution levels in Chinese cities are among the highest observed in the world today and frequently exceed health-based national and international guidelines. Data from high-quality epidemiologic studies in Asia, Europe, and North America consistently show positive associations between lung cancer and PM exposure and other indicators of air pollution, which persist after adjustment for important lung cancer risk factors, such as tobacco smoking. Epidemiologic data from China are limited but nevertheless indicate an increased risk of lung cancer associated with several air pollutants. Excess cancer risk is also observed in experimental animals exposed to polluted outdoor air or extracted PM. The exposure of several species to outdoor air pollution is associated with markers of genetic damage that have been linked to increased cancer risk in humans. Numerous studies from China, especially genetic biomarker studies in exposed populations, support that the polluted air in China is genotoxic and carcinogenic to humans. The evaluation by IARC indicates both the need for further research into the cancer risks associated with exposure to air pollution in China and the urgent need to act to reduce exposure to the population.
We sought to measure bicyclists' roadway exposures to particulate matter and assess whether those exposures are associated with reduced pulmonary function. Thirty-one (31) volunteer participants ...riding bicycles on selected routes were tracked using the Global Positioning System. Personal exposures to particulate matter (PM-10) were measured during the rides and pulmonary function tests were administered at baseline, immediately after the ride, and 2 and 6-24 hours later. Post-ride decrements in pulmonary function were observed for several outcome measures, with the largest differences immediately post-ride. Statistically-significant declines in FEV
1
(-38.42, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), −63.79 to −13.05 ml), FVC (-36.89, 95% CI, −62.96, −10.84 ml), and PEFR (-162, 95% CI −316.02 to −9.49 ml/sec) were observed for each increase in decile of peak exposure. PM-10 exposures encountered on roadways may put bicyclists at risk for pulmonary deficits.
Reports of leukemia and brain cancer among men in electrical occupations suggest a small increase in risk, but most previous studies have failed to classify magnetic field exposure accurately or to ...consider potential confounders. The authors conducted an historical cohort mortality study of 138,905 men employed at five large electric power companies in the United States between 1950 and 1986 with at least 6 months of work experience. Exposure was estimated by linking individual work histories to data from 2,842 workshift magnetic field measurements. Mortality follow-up identified 20,733 deaths based on 2,656,436 person-years of experience. Death rates were analyzed in relation to magnetic field exposure history with Poisson regression. Total mortality and cancer mortality rose slightly with increasing magnetic field exposure. Leukemia mortality, however, was not associated with indices of magnetic field exposure except for work as an electrician. Brain cancer mortality was modestly elevated in relation to duration of work in exposed jobs and much more strongly associated with magnetic field exposure indices. Brain cancer risk increased by an estimated factor of 1.94 per microtesla-year of magnetic field exposure in the previous 2-10 years, with a mortality rate ratio of 2.6 in the highest exposure category. In contrast to other studies, these data do not support an association between occupational magnetic field exposure and leukemia but do suggest a link to brain cancer.
Background Rugby union has a high rate of injury. The increased use of protective equipment may help mitigate these injuries. This study investigated the injury prevention effectiveness of the ...protective equipment used in rugby union. Methods A cohort of 304 rugby players in Dunedin, New Zealand was followed weekly during the 1993 club season to assess protective equipment use, participation in rugby, and injury outcomes. Generalized Poisson regression was used to model the rate of injury while adjusting for covariates such as level of competition, playing position, and injury history. Results The use of mouthguards appeared to lower the risk of orofacial injury rate ratio (RR) = 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07–4.63, and padded headgear tended to prevent damage to the scalp and ears (RR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.19–1.86). Support sleeves tended to reduce the risk of sprains and strains (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.26–1.27). The risk of concussion was not lessened by the use of padded headgear (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.40–3.16) or mouthguards (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.51–5.11). There was no evidence of protective effects for any other equipment item (taping, shinguards, and grease). Conclusions The protective equipment used in rugby union has limited effectiveness in preventing injuries. The results are supportive, however, of a role for mouthguards and padded headgear in preventing orofacial and scalp injuries, respectively, and for support sleeves in preventing sprains and strains.
We sought to determine the effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and childhood cigarette smoking on asthma symptoms among middle school children in North Carolina.
During ...1999-2000, information was collected from a survey completed by the children. Outcomes of asthma symptom reporting were regressed on tobacco smoke exposures.
Children who currently smoked or reported any exposure to ETS were at increased risk of reporting active asthma symptoms. Exposure to ETS and childhood cigarette smoking was responsible for 15% of the asthma cases observed in the study population and $1.34 million in excess medical expenditures.
Even at low levels of exposure, childhood cigarette smoking and ETS are independently associated with asthmatic symptoms.
On the importance of quantification Loomis, Dana
Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England),
09/2012, Letnik:
69, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
...two papers we published provided key evidence in the recent determination by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic. 1 ...2 Risk assessments are increasingly required for setting occupational and environmental health standards, and their quality depends heavily on the availability of quantitative data on exposure and disease occurrence.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the adequacy of safety training provided to young Latino immigrant construction workers. The study posited that, because of their youth and immigrant status, ...these workers would be less likely to receive adequate training. Methods: We interviewed 50 youths aged ≤21 who had worked at least 10 days in construction in the previous year. The in-person interview included 140 questions covering a range of construction work and health and safety experiences. Results: Participants reported performing a range of hazardous tasks, some while under the age of 18. Of these, 68% to 72% reported receiving some training, but median training time was only 1 hour. Only 24% reported receiving written training material. Those with less English ability received less training. Conclusions: Young Latino immigrants in this study received inadequate training given the hazardous work they performed. Clinical Significance: Result of this research, especially the relatively low level of English communication skills among young Latino workers, point to the need for increased bilingual services not just in worker safety training programs, but also in medical clinics and emergency rooms that treat Latino workers.
We investigated fatal occupational injury rates in the United States by race and Hispanic ethnicity during the period 1990-1996.
Fatalities were identified by means of the national traumatic ...occupational fatalities surveillance system. Fatal occupational injury rates were calculated by race/ethnicity and region using US-census-based workforce estimates.
Non-Hispanic Black men in the South had the highest fatal occupational injury rate (8.5 per 100000 worker-years), followed by Hispanic men in the South (7.9 per 100000 worker-years). Fatal injury rates for Hispanic men increased over the study period, exceeding rates for non-Hispanic Black men in the latter years of observation.
These data suggest a change in the demographics of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. Hispanic men in the South appear to be emerging as the group with the nation's highest unintentional fatal occupational injury rate.
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