Subjective health complaints and psychosocial work environment among university personnel.

BACKGROUND: Questionnaires are often used to study health problems in working populations. An association between self-reported symptoms and psychosocial strain has been suggested, but results from such studies are difficult to interpret, as a gender difference might be present. The knowledge in this area is not clear. AIMS: To compare the prevalence of subjective health symptoms and their relation to psychosocial work strain among men and women in different age groups, all working as university staff. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among university personnel. The questionnaire included a subjective health complaint inventory consisting of 29 items about subjective somatic and psychological symptoms experienced during the last 30 days and psychosocial work factors. Regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In total, 172 (86%) of 201 eligible employees participated. Women had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms than men. Significant differences were found between the genders for headaches, neck pain and arm pain. There was a significant relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and work strain for both genders. This was found for both men and women below 40 years and among men above the age of 40. No significant difference was found between genders regarding pseudoneurological, gastrointestinal, allergic and flu-like symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: More female than male university personnel reported musculoskeletal symptoms. The musculoskeletal symptoms were associated with high work strain in both genders, but, for women, this was limited to employees under the age of 40. The cause of this gender difference is unknown.

Can air pollution affect tear film stability? A cross-sectional study in the aftermath of an explosion accident.

BACKGROUND: After an explosion and fire in two tanks containing contaminated oil and sulphur products in a Norwegian industrial harbour in 2007, the surrounding area was polluted. This caused an intense smell, lasting until the waste was removed two years later. The present study reports examinations of tear film break up time among the population. The examinations were carried out because many of the people in the area complained of sore eyes. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between living or working close to the polluted area and tear film stability one and a half years after the explosion. METHODS: All persons working or living in an area less than six kilometres from the explosion site were invited to take part in the study together with a similar number of persons matched for age and gender living more than 20 kilometres away. Three groups were established: workers in the explosion area and inhabitants near the explosion area (but not working there) were considered to have been exposed, and inhabitants far away (who did not work in the explosion area) were considered to be unexposed. A total of 734 people were examined, and the response rate was 76 percent. Tear film stability was studied by assessing non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) using ocular microscopy. In addition Self-reported Break Up Time (SBUT) was assessed by recording the time the subject could keep his or hers eyes open without blinking when watching a fixed point on a wall. Background information was obtained using a questionnaire. Non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-tests with exact p-values and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Both NIBUT and SBUT were shorter among the male exposed workers than among the inhabitants both near and far away from the explosion area. This was also found for SBUT among males in a multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced tear film stability was found among workers in an area where an explosion accident had occurred.

Symptoms, complaints, ocular and nasal physiological signs in university staff in relation to indoor environment - temperature and gender interactions.

UNLABELLED: Symptoms, signs, perceptions, and objective measures were studied in university buildings. Two problem buildings with a history of dampness and complaints were compared with two control buildings. Health investigations among university staff were performed at the workplace (n = 173) including tear film stability [non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and self-reported break-up time (SBUT)], nasal patency (acoustic rhinometry), nasal lavage fluid analysis [NAL: eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), lysozyme and albumin] and atopy by total serum IgE and IgE antibodies (Phadiatop). Exposure assessment included inspections, thermal and atmospheric climate at 56 points modelled for all work sites. Multiple regressions were applied, controlling for age and gender. Exposure differences between problem buildings and controls were small, and variations between rooms were greater. Workers in the problem buildings had more general and dermal symptoms, but not more objective signs than the others. Adjusted day NIBUT and SBUT increased at higher night air temperatures, with B (95% CI) 0.6 (0.04-1.2) and 1.3 (-0.02 to 2.5), respectively. Higher relative humidity at mean day air temperature <22.1 degrees C was associated with adjusted NIBUT and SBUT, with B (95% CI) 0.16 (0.03-0.29) and 0.37 (-0.01 to 0.75), respectively. Air velocity below recommended winter values and reduced relative humidity in the range of 15-30% were associated with dry air and too low temperature. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Thermal climate in university buildings may be associated with both perceptions and physiological signs. Reduced night time air temperature, increased difference in air temperature between day and night, and fast changes in air temperature might impair indoor environment. This may have implication for energy-saving policies. It might be difficult to identify the exposure behind, and find the reason why, some buildings are defined as 'problem buildings'.

Pet keeping and dampness in the dwelling: associations with airway infections, symptoms, and physiological signs from the ocular and nasal mucosa.

UNLABELLED: The aim was to utilize data from a study of occupational indoor environments to analyze symptoms and physiological signs in relation to the home environment. A medical investigation was performed at the workplace among university staff (n = 173) from four university buildings in Bergen, in March 2004. Tear film break up time (BUT) was measured by two methods. Nasal patency was measured by acoustic rhinometry. Nasal lavage fluid analysis (NAL) included eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP); myeloperoxidase (MPO), lysozyme and albumin. Atopy was assessed by total serum IgE and specific IgE (Phadiatop). Totally 21%, 21%, 18%, 11%, and 27% had weekly ocular, nasal, facial dermal symptoms, headache and tiredness, respectively, 15% had a damp dwelling, and 20% had a cat or dog. Multiple linear or logistic regressions were applied, controlling for age gender, smoking, and environmental factors. Building dampness was associated with increased NAL-lysozyme (P = 0.02) and an increase of airway infections [odd ratio (OR) = 3.14, P = 0.04]. Pet keeping was associated with difficulties to concentrate (OR = 5.10, P = 0.001), heavy headedness (OR = 4.35, P = 0.004), four more days with tiredness per month (P = 0.04), and less airway infections (OR = 0.32; P = 0.02). In conclusion, pet keeping was associated with more central nervous system (CNS)-symptoms but less airway infections. Dampness in the dwelling may have inflammatory effects on the airway mucosa, possibly mediated via increased infection proneness. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The main health focus on pet keeping has been allergen exposure. Our study indicates that effects on airway infections and other types of symptoms should also be considered. The findings support the view that measures should be taken to reduce building dampness in dwellings.

[Do we have an asthma epidemic?]. / Har vi en astmaepidemi?

The number of persons hospitalized for asthma and mortality from asthma have both shown an increasing tendency in many countries over the last few years. In Norway, 1.4% of the respondents in the 1975 Health Survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics claimed to suffer from asthma. The corresponding number in 1985 was 2.4%. The prevalence of asthma was higher among subjects in rural than in urban communities. There are many sources of error linked to the studies discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, there are certain indications of a real increase in the prevalence of asthma, and analytical studies into the possible causes of this disease should be conducted.

[Indoor climate and occupational health--experiences from Hedmark and Oppland]. / Inneklima og helse i yrkesbygg--erfaringer fra Hedmark og Oppland.

We discuss investigations of 22 buildings where users had complained about indoor air and climate. Complaints about "dry air" were the most frequent. Insufficient care and cleaning of the furnishings and technical installations were demonstrated in 17 buildings. Proper documentation and instruction manuals for the maintenance of the installations were not found in any of the buildings. The personnel responsible for the installations had not received adequate instructions. Free man - made mineral fibres (MMMF) were found in the indoor environments in 12-15 of the buildings, originating from the furnishings or the technical climate-installations. Ten of the premises had filted carpets. In at least 13 of the buildings the indoor air temperature was too high, which exacerbated the problems. Better information and a higher level of understanding of problems relating to the indoor climate seems to be needed for all persons involved with these problems.

[Respiratory tract diseases caused by the environment]. / Miljøbetingede lidelser i luftveiene.

Large variations in the development of chronic airway disturbances in the population have been uncovered, together with possible increased risk of such disturbances. There seems to be a connection to exposure to pollutants at work and in home environment. The interconnection and interaction between irritants, allergens, infectious agents and other biologically active substances may have a decisive impact on the risk an individual runs of developing chronic suffering in the upper and lower respiratory tract. Injuries in mucous membranes and airways, connected with the development of unspecific hyperreactivity may play a central role in the development of allergic and nonallergic airway disturbances and diseases. These findings may have a decisive influence on the choice of prophylaxis and therapy.

[Occupational diseases among personnel at a radiology department]. / Yrkesbetinget sykdom blant personale ved en røntgenavdeling.

Little attention has hitherto been paid to health injuries to personnel in X-ray departments after exposure to photochemicals. 24 out of 30 employees at the X-ray department in Molde were shown to have health problems related to their work, including symptoms relating to the eyes, the upper and lower respiratory tract, and headache and lassitude. Analysis of the work environment showed constant extensive exposure of the employees to chemicals over a long period. After improvements to the environment the health problems were reduced appreciably, but not nullified. Some personnel had acquired permanent impairments. Bronchial hyperreactivity was discovered in 19 of the personnel, 13 of whom had subjective symptoms of obstruction and asthma but no manifestation of allergy. The author discussed the relation between the work environment and the impaired health and gives advice on how to avoid similar problems in the future.

[Photochemicals and their effects on health]. / Fotokjemikalier og helseeffekter.

The discovery of health hazards related to work in X-ray departments and photographic laboratories is a strong incentive for extensive analysis of the interrelationship between photochemicals and their impacts on health. The chemicals which pollute the environment in such premises may cause symptoms related to the skin, mucous membranes, eyes and airways. Teratogenic, mutagenic and neurotoxic effects cannot be excluded.