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Occupational Risk Factors (occupational + risk_factor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences88%

Selected Abstracts

Occupational risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A population-based case,control study in Northern Germany

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008
David B. Richardson
Abstract Objectives To identify occupational factors associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Methods A population-based case,control study was conducted in which incident cases of high-malignancy NHL (NHLhigh), low-malignancy NHL (NHLlow), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were ascertained during the period 1986,1998 among men and women aged 15,75 years residing in six German counties; controls were drawn from population registries. Occupational histories were collected and agent-specific exposures were estimated via a job-exposure-matrix. Odds ratios were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Results A total of 858 cases were included in these analyses. Agricultural workers [odds ratio (OR),=,2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99, 7.21) and farmers (OR,=,1.98, 95% CI: 0.98, 3.98] had elevated risk of NHLhigh. Risk of NHLlow was elevated among agricultural workers (OR,=,2.46, 95% CI: 1.17, 5.16), and among blacksmiths, toolmakers, and machine tool operators (OR,=,3.12, 95% CI: 1.31, 7.47). Workers in sales and construction had elevated risks of NHLhigh and NHLlow. Exposure to arsenic compounds, chlorophenols, diesel fuel, herbicides, nitrites/nitrates/nitrosamines, and organic dusts were associated with NHLhigh and NHLlow, while exhibiting little association with CLL. A positive monotonic trend in NHLlow risk across tertiles of cumulative diesel fuel exposure was observed [P -value for test of linear trend (P),=,0.03]. Conclusions These findings provide insights into several potential occupational risk factors for NHL and suggest some specific occupational agents for further investigation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:258,268, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2007
Andrea M. Sass-Kortsak PhD
Abstract Background Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer have been investigated with inconsistent findings. Methods This was a population-based case-control study of men in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Cases (n,=,760) were from the Ontario Cancer Registry, 50 to 84 years old, and diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1995 and 1998. Age-frequency matched controls (n,=,1,632) were obtained from telephone listings. A questionnaire yielded information on occupational history and self-reported exposures to a list of occupational hazards. Exposures to these hazards were assessed by an occupational hygienist. Results An odds ratio estimate (OR) of 1.21 (95 percent confidence interval (% CI) 1.01, 1.46) was found for employment in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, possibly related to exposure to whole-body vibration (OR,=,1.38, 95% CI 1.07, 1.78). For the highest quartile of lifetime cumulative workplace physical activity an OR of 1.33 (95% CI 1.02, 1.74) was found. No statistically significant associations were found for any other occupational category or exposure. Conclusions This study does not provide strong evidence for significant occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. However, whole-body vibration exposures, as well as physical activity, may be worth pursuing in future occupational studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:568,576, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Incidence of Cancer Among Female Flight Attendants: A Meta-Analysis

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2006
Osamu Tokumaru MD
Background Airline flight personnel work in a unique environment with exposure to known or suspected carcinogens and mutagens including ionizing cosmic radiation. A meta-analysis was conducted to study whether the occupational exposure of female flight attendants (FA) increased their relative risk of cancer incidence. Methods A bibliographical computer search from 1966 to 2005 of cancer incidence cohort studies of female FA was performed. Combined relative risks (RRc) in cancer incidence were calculated by means of meta-analysis. Results RRc and 95% confidence interval (CI) for malignant melanoma and breast cancer in female FA were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.58,2.88) and 1.41 (1.22,1.62) (p < 0.0001). Excess risk was not significant for all-site cancer with RRc of 1.10 (0.99,1.21). Conclusions The meta-analysis confirmed the significantly increased risks for malignant melanoma and breast cancer in female FA. Increased exposure to cosmic radiation during flight has been suggested as a potential occupational risk factor. Ultraviolet radiation exposure on board seems an unlikely occupational risk, but nonoccupational leisure time sun exposure is a possible risk factor. The etiology of the observed increase in incidence of some cancers remains controversial because assessment of possible confounders, especially nonoccupational exposure factors, has thus far been limited. [source]

Guideline threshold limit values (TLVs) for discomfort in repetitive assembly work

HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 5 2007
L. O'Sullivan
This study focused on two of the main occupational risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in light repetitive electronic assembly work, namely repetition and force. Present-day evaluation techniques are primarily posture based and show low sensitivity with regard to rating repetition and force. A simulated assembly task was conducted to investigate the interactions of risk factors and the suitability of hand activity level (HAL) and TLV values for electronics assembly work. Subjects completed the assembly task for three levels of repetition and force. For each treatment a subjective rating of discomfort was recorded. Repeated measures ANOVA identified repetition and force as highly significant factors in light electronic assembly work ( p < .001, p < .05, respectively). The task was also rated using HAL and normalized peak forces (NPF). This study questioned the ability of TLVs in rating discomfort and amendments to the TLVs are suggested. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 17: 423,434, 2007. [source]

Nonsolar occupational risk factors for cutaneous melanoma

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Cristina Fortes PhD
First page of article [source]

Occupational risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A population-based case,control study in Northern Germany

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008
David B. Richardson
Abstract Objectives To identify occupational factors associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Methods A population-based case,control study was conducted in which incident cases of high-malignancy NHL (NHLhigh), low-malignancy NHL (NHLlow), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were ascertained during the period 1986,1998 among men and women aged 15,75 years residing in six German counties; controls were drawn from population registries. Occupational histories were collected and agent-specific exposures were estimated via a job-exposure-matrix. Odds ratios were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Results A total of 858 cases were included in these analyses. Agricultural workers [odds ratio (OR),=,2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99, 7.21) and farmers (OR,=,1.98, 95% CI: 0.98, 3.98] had elevated risk of NHLhigh. Risk of NHLlow was elevated among agricultural workers (OR,=,2.46, 95% CI: 1.17, 5.16), and among blacksmiths, toolmakers, and machine tool operators (OR,=,3.12, 95% CI: 1.31, 7.47). Workers in sales and construction had elevated risks of NHLhigh and NHLlow. Exposure to arsenic compounds, chlorophenols, diesel fuel, herbicides, nitrites/nitrates/nitrosamines, and organic dusts were associated with NHLhigh and NHLlow, while exhibiting little association with CLL. A positive monotonic trend in NHLlow risk across tertiles of cumulative diesel fuel exposure was observed [P -value for test of linear trend (P),=,0.03]. Conclusions These findings provide insights into several potential occupational risk factors for NHL and suggest some specific occupational agents for further investigation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:258,268, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2007
Andrea M. Sass-Kortsak PhD
Abstract Background Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer have been investigated with inconsistent findings. Methods This was a population-based case-control study of men in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Cases (n,=,760) were from the Ontario Cancer Registry, 50 to 84 years old, and diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1995 and 1998. Age-frequency matched controls (n,=,1,632) were obtained from telephone listings. A questionnaire yielded information on occupational history and self-reported exposures to a list of occupational hazards. Exposures to these hazards were assessed by an occupational hygienist. Results An odds ratio estimate (OR) of 1.21 (95 percent confidence interval (% CI) 1.01, 1.46) was found for employment in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, possibly related to exposure to whole-body vibration (OR,=,1.38, 95% CI 1.07, 1.78). For the highest quartile of lifetime cumulative workplace physical activity an OR of 1.33 (95% CI 1.02, 1.74) was found. No statistically significant associations were found for any other occupational category or exposure. Conclusions This study does not provide strong evidence for significant occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. However, whole-body vibration exposures, as well as physical activity, may be worth pursuing in future occupational studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:568,576, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Occupation and risk of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2002
Lawrence S. Engel PhD
Abstract Background Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia have risen dramatically in incidence over the past few decades, however, little research has been conducted on the occupational risk factors for these cancers. Methods In this population-based case-control study, lifetime job histories were compared between cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (n,=,283), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (n,=,259), and population controls (n,=,689). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ever employment and by duration in various occupational and industrial categories were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. Results The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma was elevated for persons ever employed in administrative support (OR,=,1.5; 95%CI,=,1.0,2.1); financial, insurance, and real estate (OR,=,1.6; 95%CI,=,1.0,2.4); and health services (OR,=,2.2; 95%CI,=,1.2,3.9). The risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma was increased among transportation workers (OR,=,1.7; 95%CI,=,1.1,2.6), as well as among carpenters (OR,=,1.8; 95%CI,=,0.9,3.9) and workers in the furniture manufacturing industry (OR,=,2.4; 95%CI,=,0.9,6.3). However, we observed few duration,response relations between length of employment in any category and cancer risk. Conclusions This study revealed associations of esophageal adenocarcinoma with employment in administrative support, health services, and a category of financial, insurance, and real estate industries, and of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma with transportation and certain woodworking occupations. Some of these findings may be due to the play of chance associated with the multiple comparisons made in this study. Our results suggest that, overall, workplace exposures play a minor role in the etiology and upward trend of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas. Am. J. Ind. Med. 42:11,22, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]