1,721,171 research outputs found
Dioxin exposure and human health 30 years after the Seveso, Italy accident in 1976 : Dioxin occupational exposure and health effects
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Metodologia nell'epidemiologia occupazionale ed ambientale
No full textThe close links between environment and health have long been known. The methodological bases for this study were especially developed in the occupational settings, and notably so in the study of occupational carcinogens. Many pollutants recently spread from the confined work places to the general environment (e.g., lead, benzene, PAHs, asbestos, noise) either as effluents of industrial sites or as exhausts of diverse environmental combustion sources (e.g., traffic, heating). The methodologies developed in the occupational settings proved extremely useful in addressing these new environmental problems. Main experiences in Italy include the study of a large residential population exposed to dioxin; the study of benzene and PHA's exposure in the city environment; the effect of point industrial pollution sources on the surrounding territory; the short and long term effect on respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes and functions after exposure to PM10 and 2.5 in large cities
Peculiar features of mesothelioma as related to exposure patterns and circumstances in the Lombardy Region, Italy
No full textBackground: The "Lombardy Mesothelioma Registry" started its activity in 2000 in accordance with Italian law DL 277/91. Objectives and methods: The Registry collects all new incident cases of Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) of pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and vaginal tunic of testis occurring in residents in the Lombardy Region (Northern Italy). For each "possible case" reported to the Registry by Lombardy hospitals, diagnosis is ascertained according to ISPESL Guidelines. For confirmed cases, a standardized questionnaire is administered to the subject or next-of-kin, to verify sources of lifetime asbestos exposure. Descriptive results are given for cases collected in 2000-2001. Age standardized incidence rates for the year 2000 were calculated for males and females. Results: After revision of clinical records, diagnosis was judged as "certain" MM in 307 (60%) subjects, probable in 63 (12%) and possible in 33 (6%) subjects. 21 were peritoneal mesothelioma. Standardized rates for pleural mesothelioma were respectively 3.7 and 1.4 per 100,000 for males and females. Occupational asbestos exposure was ascertained for 71% of male cases and 26% of females. Exposure was unknown in 11% and 27% of males and females respectively. The main relevant exposures were in building trades, metal manufacturing, machine production and maintenance; an unexpectedly high proportion of female cases was engaged in non-asbestos textile factories. Conclusions: The high proportion of cases with unknown exposure underlines the need to explore new tools and sources to ascertain asbestos exposure. An ad hoc survey in textile industries showed exposure to asbestos to be widely spread in this industry
Occupational epidemiology : from analysis of the apparent to investigation of the unknown
No full textThis paper, as a contribution for the centenary celebration of the establishment of the "Clinica del Lavoro Luigi Devoto" in Milan (Italy), presents a brief 30 year history of the activities of its Department of Occupational Epidemiology. Studies and methodological contributions that characterized the first decade of activity are presented and grouped under the heading of analysis of known health effects. The second decade was dominated by the studies and activities that originated from the Seveso accident (dioxin), with an initial interest towards molecular epidemiology, which became increasingly relevant during the third decade when we addressed topics like melanoma, lung cancer, and benzene, in addition to dioxin. More traditional occupational approaches were not dismissed and cohort mortality studies are currently under way (textile dyeing and finishing industry, sulfuric acid, tetrafluoroethylene). Pros and cons of the epidemiologic approach are discussed in the context of occupational health and the strength of its methodological apparatus is suggested as a fundamental tool for studying adverse occupational health effects. In contrast, it is stressed how occupational epidemiology has been poorly used in the application of law 626/94. Considering that contemporary epidemiology is much more inclined towards the discovery of new work-related risks (electromagnetic fields, air pollution) than the description of known health effects, the paper suggests that occupational epidemiology enlarge its interests: people and environment outside the factories might be good candidates for study
A simple method for risk assessment and its application to 1,3-butadiene
No full textBACKGROUND: This paper presents a risk assessment exercise applied to 1,3-butadiene, a probable carcinogenic agent, in the context of the activity of the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) of the European Commission. Data on cumulative exposures and relative risks for leukaemia in humans were derived from the open literature. METHODS: A variety of excess relative risk models were applied taking into consideration, in a life-table fashion, mortality from leukaemia by age. RESULTS: As an example of the outcome of the method, results are presented for a 1 ppm exposure (each year) lasting for a working lifetime. They show that in a population of 1,000 adult males experiencing mortality rates similar to those of the 1981 male population of England and Wales, occupational exposure to 1 ppm of 1,3-butadiene for each year of a working life (40 years between the age of 20 and 65) will cause from 0 to 7.1 extra leukaemia deaths between the age 20-85 years, in addition to the 5.1 leukaemia deaths expected to occur in the absence of exposure to 1,3-butadiene. A summary of the estimates, in terms of excess leukaemia deaths, obtained for 0.1 ppm, 0.2 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1.0 ppm, 2.0 ppm, 5.0 ppm, and 10 ppm of exposure (each year) is also presented. CONCLUSIONS: The method can be applied to predict the risk of carcinogenic agents for which dose-response data exist and no health-based limit value can be established. Results are consistent with those of previous risk assessments based on similar assumption
Occupational and environmental agents as endocrine disruptors : experimental and human evidence
No full textIn the last few years great concern has arisen from the description of adverse endocrine effects of several occupational and environmental chemical agents on human and/or wildlife health. Such agents may exert their effects directly, specifically binding to hormone receptors, and/or indirectly, by altering the structure of endocrine glands and/or synthesis, release, transport, metabolism or action of endogenous hormones. Many studies have been focused on the outcomes of the exposure to those chemicals mimicking estrogenic or androgenic actions. Nonetheless, the disruption of other hormonal pathways is not negligible. This paper reviews the experimental and human evidence of the effects of occupational and environmental chemical agents on hypothalamus-pituitary unit, pineal gland, parathyroid and calcium metabolism and adrenal glands
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