Occupational exposure to traffic pollutants and peripheral blood counts.

Aim of the study is to evaluate whether occupational exposure to low doses of pollutants present in the air of the city selected for the study could cause alterations in peripheral blood counts in workers of the Municipal Police with outdoor tasks vs workers with indoor tasks. 279 non smoker males were enrolled and divided on the basis of their different kind of task. The dosage of air pollutants was carried out through the use of personal air samplers on a representative group of workers. Data obtained were subject to statistical evaluation consisting of Homogeneity of variance test, ANOVA univariate test with post hoc Bonferroni correction, Jonckheere-Terpstra test and multiple linear regression analysis. The differences were considered statistically significant when p values were lower than 0.05. Mean levels of RBC, HB, MCHC, WBC and neutrophil cells were significantly higher in traffic policemen and police drivers compared to controls (workers with indoor tasks). Mean levels of MCV, MCH and lymphocytes were significantly lower in traffic policemen and police drivers compared to controls. These results were confirmed by Multiple linear regression test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test. The results suggest that prolonged occupational exposure to low doses of traffic pollutants can alter some lines of the hematopoietic system in exposed workers.

[Phlebopathies and occupation]. / Flebopatie e lavoro.

Chronic venous disorder is a public health problem that affects the western industrialized countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the etiology and prevalence of venous disease of the lower limb in workers, and to identify some risk factors using a detailed and systematic analysis of the literature from 1964 to 2011. There is an important relationship between standing position at work and venous disease. The prolonged orthostatic position of the body implies: venostasis, high pressure and risks of blood clots and thrombosis; in standing workers there is an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with oxidation of the components of cell membranes, endothelial damage and increase in vascular permeability. Other risk factors were investigated: sitting during work time, weight lifting-moving and exposure to heat sources, the data suggest that this risk factors are less important than orthostatic body position. Age, sex and familiarity are relevant as the extra-occupational risk factors. For a more accurate study of the role of the prolonged orthostatic position on the development of venous disease in the lover limb all authors should define exactly the population, the role and the length of standing time at work. They should also set a universal language to define the correct standing position (ie. within 1 m2 or steps) and time (ie. one hour or 50%-70% of work time). Attention should be given to prevention, to use early therapeutic measures in view of mortality as a consequence of venous disease, of the high social costs related to the loss of working days, of medical care and of residual disability.

[Urban stressors and thyroid hormones]. / Stressor urbani e ormoni tiroidei.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether occupational exposure to urban stressors could cause alterations in thyroid hormones plasma levels (TSH, FT3 and FT4) in female outdoor workers vs. administrative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study has been performed on an initial sample of 198 female subjects divided in two groups (occupationally exposed and not exposed to urban stressors). After excluding the subjects with the main confounding factors, female outdoor workers and administrative staff were matched by age, working life and drinking habit. RESULTS: In 40 female outdoor workers mean plasma TSH levels were significantly higher compared to 40 administrative staff. The distribution of TSH values in outdoor workers and in administrative staff was significant. Plasma FT3 and FT4 levels were not significantly different in the two groups. Our results suggest that exposure to urban stressors (chemical, physical and psycho-social), can alter the plasma concentration of TSH. CONCLUSIONS: According to our previous research, plasma TSH levels may be used as an early biological marker of chronic exposure to urban stressors, in occupational set even before the onset of the related disorders.

[Cardiovascular parameters in workers exposed to urban pollutions]. / Parametri cardiovascolari in lavoratori esposti ad inquinamento urbano.

The aim of the study is to evaluate if "outdoor" workers exposed to chemical, physical and psycho-social urban stressors could have alterations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest and heart disease investigated by electrocardiogram compared with a group of "indoor" workers not exposed. Among non-smoking, the mean values of systolic blood pressure at rest were significantly higher in exposed compared to non exposed (p = 0.002) and frequency of electrocardiographic abnormalities was significantly higher in exposed (20.8%) than not exposed (10.4%, p = 0.02). Among exposed, the values of systolic blood pressure at rest were significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (p = 0.002). Among non-exposed, the frequency of electrocardiographic abnormalities was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (p = 0.002). The study results suggest that chronic exposure to chemical, physical and psycho-social stressors can be a cardiovascular risk factor in addition to cigarette smoking in a manner determined by the categories of outdoor workers.

[Meta-analysis: effectiveness of the preventive interventions in agriculture accidents]. / Meta-analisi: efficacia degli interventi preventivi negli infortuni in agricoltura.

The aim of our study is to determine the effectiveness in reducing workplace accidents in agriculture using preventive interventions including awareness and effective knowledge of hazards with workers who followed training-informative programs. On the basis of the data reported in the 11 studies three categories we identified: Reduction in the number of workplace accidents: comparison between groups; Reduction in the number of workplace accidents: before-after comparison; Self-rating of injuries risk reduction. The second category showed significant statistical differences in the subgroup who followed preventive intervention compared to subgroup who did not follow this intervention. The third category showed a significant statistical increase of the Consciousness Index of the agricultural workers who followed the training-informative programs. The results suggested the need to use assessment models more suitable to the nature of the examined variables. A promising area is the evaluation of knowledge of risks achieved by workers exposed to formative-informative programs.