1,720,970 research outputs found
Ultrafine particles and effects on the organism: Literature review
No full textThe International laws and the technology developments led to a situation where the current levels of environmental pollution are below those that existed at the beginning of the century: however, these pollution levels produce harmful effects to health linked to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Over the years the pollution has changed: following the transformation of heating, motor innovation and emissions reducing, has been a reduction in air concentration of some conventional pollutants (sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene), while there wasn’t a significant reduction of particulateair pollution. In this work have been questioned several electronic databases of scientific literature based on a selection algorithm that contains expressions for the following topics: “ultrafine particles”, “effects on human health”, “occupational and environmental exposure”. We analyzed 200 articles, progressively reduced to 88, selected for keywords, year of publication and arguments; the main topics covered by the articles were related to chemical and physical UFP properties, UFP exposure, European legislation relating to the values of particle concentrations in the atmosphere, toxicokinetics and effects on various organs such as, in particular, the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system and the intracellular mechanism of action. Analysis of the literature showed that ultrafine particles (PM0.1 aerodynamic diameter less than 0.1 μm) are more powerful than the coarse particle fraction (2.5-10 μm) and fine (0.1-2.5 μm) in inducing adverse effects to human health. Unfortunately, the study of mechanisms of action of these particles presents particular difficulties because of the large number of chemical and biological mechanisms that come into play in the body after exposure to ultrafine particles
Professional divers: analysis of critical issues and proposal of a health protocol for work fitness
No full textAbstract
INTRODUCTION:
From many years now, thanks to the development of modern diving techniques, there has been a rapid spread of diving activities everywhere. In fact, divers are ever more numerous both among the Armed Forces and civilians who dive for work, like fishing, biological research and archeology.
AIM:
The aim of the study was to propose a health protocol for work fitness of professional divers keeping in mind the peculiar work activity, existing Italian legislation that is almost out of date and the technical and scientific evolution in this occupational field.
METHOD:
We performed an analysis of the most frequently occurring diseases among professional divers and of the clinical investigation and imaging techniques used for work fitness assessment of professional divers.
RESULTS:
From analysis of the health protocol recommended by D.M. 13 January 1979 (Ministerial Decree), that is most used by occupational health physician, several critical issues emerged. Very often the clinical investigation and imaging techniques still used are almost obsolete, ignoring the execution of simple and inexpensive investigations that are more useful for work fitness assessment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Considering the out-dated legislation concerning diving disciplines, it is necessary to draw up a common health protocol that takes into account clinical and scientific knowledge and skills acquired in this area. This protocol's aim is to propose a useful tool for occupational health physicians who work in this sector
MAtrix metalloproteinases: new effect biomarkers in the occupational exposure of tosic agents
No full textSclerosi laterale amiotrofica ed esposizione a metalli ed altri agenti di rischio di natura occupazionale/ambientale: stato dell’arte
No full textNella letteratura scientifica recente ha acquisito sempre più importanza lo studio dell’esposizione occupazionale ed ambientale in relazione allo sviluppo della Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica (SLA), una patologia
neurodegenerativa a prognosi infausta caratterizzata dalla degenerazione dei motoneuroni. Lo scopo del lavoro di revisione è stato quello di valutare lo stato delle conoscenze sul tema, focalizzando l’attenzione su alcune esposizioni occupazionali o ambientali ed in particolar modo sull’esposizione a metalli pesanti. Sono stati selezionati articoli di ricerca in base a parole-chiave ed anno di pubblicazione, includendo studi che lasciano ipotizzare un’associazione tra esposizione e meccanismi di danno neuronale connessi all’insorgenza di SLA. La revisione effettuata mostra che anche se la produzione scientifica ha incrementato sempre più l’interesse per la valutazione
delle cause extragenetiche di insorgenza SLA, ancora pochi sono i lavori riguardanti lo studio accurato delle attività lavorative dei singoli pazienti, inoltre, ancora carenti sono le deduzioni che si possono ad oggi trarre circa l’eventuale connessione tra esposizione occupazionale a fattori di rischio ed insorgenza di degenerazione motoneuronale
Functional changes in human peripheral neutrophils in workers with different exposure to noxious agents.
No full textPeripheral neutrophils (PMN) are a useful model to study cell activation and to evaluate the multiple stressors’ interference with signalling pathways. This study
aimed to evaluate the effects of different exposure to noxious agents on PMN activity by chemiluminescence assays. Two groups of office workers were recruited: peripheral whole blood cells and isolated PMNs were analyzed, performing intra- and extra-cellular chemiluminescence evaluation to study
compartmental release of radical species. The exposed group shows a higher emission in resting whole blood chemiluminescence than in controls; the
intracellular chemiluminescence emission in urban employees was increased, whereas the extracellular was not affected. After stimulation, the extracellular chemiluminescence was decreased in urban employees, whereas the intracellular emission did not show differences. We hypothesize that once stimulated, exposed subjects’ PMNs respond to stimuli less than unexposed: PMNs could be considered indicators of chronic exposure to noxious agents
Blood Pressure Variability and ABPM in Industrial Employees: a Cohort Study
No full textThe evaluation of arterial hypertension in workplaces is an important prevention act and a public health priority; few epidemiological study, up to date, has been projected to detect correlation between workplaces and hypertension disease. We studied a cohort of industrial employees(mainly engineering area) to evaluate epidemiological disease data and to study particular aspects of disease; this work focalized to the role of blood pressure variability in workplace and its measurement by Ambulatory blood pressure in 24 hours (ABPM), useful instrument to predict and help to evaluate cardiovascular risk in workers
exposed to several agents. In our study underwent ABPM 56 patients referred to an occupational physician; all of these patients were employed in industrial area (mainly engineering district). Identified risk factors: noise (85 dBA), handling of loads (Niosh
Index > 1,6), inorganic powders. Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ)was administered to the entire study population, in order to
identify the highest risk behavior profiles work related stress. The analysis performed showed no statistically significant
correlation. The monitoring was carried out on patients with the indications provided by the ESH-ESC 2007 guidelines for the treatment of hypertension. The data analysis has highlighted the correlation between profile and BP circadian variability, in particular the SBP and MAP, calculated by evaluating the standard deviations; data also have shown that SBP and MAP variability within 24-hour and circadian profiles are two mutually independent variables and not correlated. The dipper group, which preserves a physiological circadian rhythm and is therefore considered a lower risk of cardio-cerebrovascular accidents,
has a higher pressure variability compared to other groups, therefore an additional factor of cardiovascular risk. Exposure to noise, and high cardiometabolic request due to handling of loads (with a METs estimated to 3-4), may be contributing cause of
these peculiar aspects of disease in our study cohort. Further studies are needed to confirm the observations made so far, in terms of examined population follow-up that we propose to make in the coming years. All these information should be considered in
occupational medicine, especially in cardiometabolic risk management of industrial workers
Valutazione delle modifiche funzionali dei neutrofili in lavoratori esposti a xenobiotici.
No full textInfarto miocardico e lavoro: individuazione dei fattori che influenzano l'outcome lavorativo.
No full textThe timing of return to work after a myocardial infarction (AMI) is influenced by many factors (angina pectoris, noncardiovascular comorbidities, left ventricle ejection fraction, stress test performance). It is also influenced by professional risk and work-related energy expenditure level. A quick resumption of ordinary occupational activities may cause a worsening of
psychological and physical conditions and quality of life with an increased risk for health and safety at work. The aim of this study is to evaluate the working-outcome in 124 patients at three months from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and identify individual, clinical and procedural factors related to it.
The working outcome was assessed by the Work Performance Scale (WPS) of the Functional Status Questionnaire (FSQ) in
order to study the level of disability and monitor the functional capacity of the patients. Clinical variables evaluated were the left
ventricular ejection fraction (EF), performing a cardiac rehabilitation program and the functional capacity measured at a stress
test. Statistical analysis (Student's t test for unpaired data with p <0.05) showed that the WPS score were lower in patients who
had a decline in ejection fraction at discharge, reduced functional capacity, and had not perform a cardiac rehabilitation program
after a heart attack. These factors are consistently associated with a worse working-outcome. This suggests the benefits of a close
collaboration between cardiologist and specialist in occupational medicine
Outcome lavorativo dopo infarto miocardico: studio dei fattori che influenzano il reinserimento professionale del lavoratore cardiopatico
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