No Correlation between Blood Benzene Levels and Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Values in Outdoor Workers.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether low-dose exposure to benzene, an environmental pollutant to which male and female traffic policemen are daily exposed to could cause alterations in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. METHODS: From an initial sample of 1594 workers, we only selected 95 workers of whom study we knew the values of late-shift benzene and LH hormone. All subjects underwent biological monitoring (final blood benzene evaluation) and luteinizing hormone dosing. Excluding subjects with the main confounding factors, the final sample included 76 workers. The normal distribution of the variables was evaluated using the Kolmogorov - Smirnov test, followed by the logarithmic transformation of the LH and benzene values. The comparison among means was performed by using the t-test for the independent samples. The ANOVA test was performed for variables with more than 2 modes (ages and seniority) and Pearson correlation index between variables in the total sample and after subdivision as to sex, job, sports activity and smoking. The results were considered significant when p values were less than 0.05. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The study did not show a correlation between benzene levels and LH plasma levels in outdoor workers.

[Arterial pressure in workers exposed to urban stressors]. / Pressione arteriosa in lavoratori esposti a stressors urbani.

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether occupational exposure to urban stressors could cause alterations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in "outdoor" workers. The research was conducted on a sample of 101 municipal policemen. The sample was divided in 2 groups according to length of service: group A (length of service between 1 and 15 years) and group B (length of service > 15 years). Group A and Group B were matched for age, overall length of service, cigarette smoking habit and consumption of alcohol and spirits. Group A was then divided into: Al (length of service between 1 and 7 years) and A2 (length of service between 7 and 15 years). The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest showed statistically significant differences with increased values in group B compared to both groups Al (p<0.05) and A2 (p<0.05). The study suggests that occupational exposure to urban stressors affects the blood pressure regulating system enhancing the risk of blood hypertension.

Cadmium and hypertension in exposed workers: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In the general population, cadmium seems to be responsible for hypertension, atherosclerosis and an increase in acute coronary events. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to analyze controlled studies conducted on cadmium and arterial pressure in occupationally-exposed workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After analyzing all the relevant articles found in the literature, 6 publications were selected. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of hypertension and higher values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded in the exposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Cadmium in occupationally-exposed individuals appears to induce an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and an increase in the prevalence of hypertension.

Correlation between total blood lead values and peripheral blood counts in workers occupationally exposed to urban stressors.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between occupational exposure to airborne lead (Pb) and alterations in peripheral blood counts in workers of the Municipal Police assigned to different types of outdoor tasks. Then, 337 both male and female subjects were enrolled and divided on the basis of sex, cigarette smoking habit and kind of task. Exposure to airborne Pb, dosage of total blood Pb and peripheral blood count were carried out. A significant positive correlation was detected between the values of total blood Pb and values of plasma reticulocytes (%RET) both in the total sample and for all the classes of the subdivision except for police drivers. Some statistically significant correlations were present but discontinuous for other variables of peripheral blood counts. Results suggest that occupational exposure to low doses of airborne Pb is able to influence lines of the hematopoietic system in exposed workers, with special reference to %RET.

Risk of upper extremity biomechanical overload in automotive facility.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for upper extremity-work-related musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSD) on 13 production lines in an airbag factory using the threshold limit values-American conference of industrial hygienists- hand activity level (TLV-ACGIH-HAL) method and introduce the ergonomic improvement to reduce the repetitiveness and the peak force (Pf). METHODS: Professional exposure level on 13 production lines in a automobile factory was measured using the TLV-ACGIH-HAL method and a further risk was assessed according to the ergonomic improvement. RESULTS: The first assessment of 9 production lines showed that the professional exposure level was above the TLV or HAL limit. The second assessment showed that the professional exposure level was below the AL limit on all production lines except 1, in which the professional exposure level was between TLV and HAL. CONCLUSION: The assessment of UE-WMSD-related risk can identify the riskiest emplacements and evaluate the reduction of risk in professional exposure through interventions of structural- organizational type.

Urban pollution.

Air pollution represents a health risk for people living in urban environment. Urban air consists in a complex mixture of chemicals and carcinogens and its effects on health can be summarized in acute respiratory effects, neoplastic nonneoplastic (e.g. chronic bronchitis) chronic respiratory effects, and effects on other organs and systems. Air pollution may be defined according to origin of the phenomena that determine it: natural causes (natural fumes, decomposition, volcanic ash) or anthropogenic causes which are the result of human activities (industrial and civil emissions). Transport is the sector that more than others contributes to the deterioration of air quality in cities. In this context, in recent years, governments of the territory were asked to advance policies aimed at solving problems related to pollution. In consideration of the many effects on health caused by pollution it becomes necessary to know the risks from exposure to various environmental pollutants and to limit and control their effects. Many are the categories of "outdoor" workers, who daily serve the in urban environment: police, drivers, newsagents, etc.

[Alienation to burn-out. Psyche and the Universe of Technology]. / Dall'Alienazione al Burn-out. la Psiche e l'Universo della Tecnica.

The new D. Lgs. N 81, 2008 Article 28 paragraph 1 sanctions that the risk assessment must involve all the possible risks to safety and health of workers, including the work-related stress factors. Stressors at work may vary as to: quantity of work assigned, whether excessive or inadequate; lack of recognition or reward for good job performance; degree of responsibility; precariousness of work; emotional pressures exerted on workers; violence and harassment of psychological nature, poor balance between work and private life. The need man has to understand the causes of his psycho-physical and social disease are old. Only the words we use when dealing with the topic has changed over the time: once it was Alienation now it is Burn-out. The concept of alienation, which has been very important over the time, has many different aspects and has had countless interpretations (which have followed one another), the psycho-analytical, the sociological analysis and the Marxist one, Burnout is actually a syndrome characterized by three interrelated dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. Therefore it is important to prevent, eliminate or reduce problems related to occupational stress. Among preventive measures, the Europe Agreement identified in the management and in the communication the information necessary to define the goals of the company and the role each employee has. Moreover information and formation are considered the necessary elements to increase awareness and understanding of the problem, its potential causes and possible ways of approading it. Our research group, has developed targeted questionnaires, biological indicators and medical instrumental examinations the occupational doctors can make use of to assess these issues.

Follicle-stimulating hormone levels in female workers exposed to urban pollutants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if there were alterations in FSH plasma levels in female outdoor workers (traffic policewomen and drivers) exposed to chemical urban stressors vs. control group. After excluding subjects with main confounding factors, traffic policewomen, drivers and indoor workers were matched by age, working life, socioeconomic status, marital status, menstrual cycle day, age of menarche, habitual consumption of Italian coffee and soy. A total of 129 female subjects were included in the study: some 63 workers studied during proliferative phase and 66 during secretory phase of menstrual cycle. Proliferative phase of menstrual cycle: FSH mean values were significantly higher in traffic policewomen compared to controls (p < 0.05). Results suggest that in outdoor workers exposed to urban chemical stressors there are alterations in FSH levels; therefore FSH may be used as an early biological marker, valuable for the group, used in occupational set.