Asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum.

The aim of the study was to determine the concordance of asbestos body (AB) detection in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). AB were detected in the BALF of 110 former or current asbestos workers with medium weak exposure level and, for 65 subjects, in sputum. Several spontaneous sputum samples were taken from each subject. AB prevalence in BALF was rather low (48.2%) especially in subjects with former chrysotile exposure (32.5%). AB prevalence was lower in smokers (40.9%) and ex-smokers (40.7%) than in non-smokers (68.7%). In the sub-group, who underwent both sputum and BALF examination, the concordance of AB detection was observed only in 56.8% of the cases. Neither of the two methods had significant prevalence over the other but were complementary, as both are useful in increasing the probability of AB detection.

Relationship between asbestos bodies in sputum and the number of specimens.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between asbestos body identification and the number of sputum specimens obtained from each subject. METHODS: The presence of asbestos bodies in sputum was studied in 142 asbestos workers with former low-exposure levels; the number of specimens collected during 1-3 weeks varied from 2 to more than 4. Furthermore the persistence of asbestos bodies in the sputum of 15 asbestos workers was studied during a long-time follow-up. RESULTS: Asbestos bodies were present in at least 1 specimen in 44.4% of the 142 subjects. The cumulative percentage of asbestos body presence increased linearly, from 20% to 68%, as the number of specimens increased. CONCLUSIONS: Five specimens did not seem to be sufficient to obtain satisfactory sensitivity in a group with low exposure to asbestos. Neither the type of exposure (to chrysotile only or to chrysotile plus amphibole) nor the presence of an asbestos-related disease clearly influenced the probability of finding asbestos bodies.

Asbestos bodies in sputum of asbestos exposed workers.

The prevalence of asbestos bodies (AB) in sputum was studied in a group of 220 former or current asbestos workers, who came under observation because of a claim for compensation and who had, in most cases, high levels of exposure. Only one sputum specimen was obtained from each subject. The overall AB prevalence was 34%; it was 24.5% among workers exposed to chrysotile only, and 42% among workers also exposed to amphiboles, thus showing a statistically significant difference. No significant differences were found in AB prevalence either between current asbestos workers and former workers or between asbestosis cases and those without asbestosis. AB prevalence among current smokers was significantly lower than that observed among non-smokers and ex-smokers pooled together. The highest AB prevalence was found among currently exposed textile workers (65.7%), especially in male subjects (66.7%). As the exposure of these groups was heavy and included amphiboles, it may be concluded that although AB counts are highly specific they have low sensitivity.

Factors related to the development of sensitization to green coffee and castor bean allergens among coffee workers.

BACKGROUND: Occupational allergic respiratory symptoms in coffee workers have been frequently reported, but the ultimate cause of sensitization is still debated, castor bean being considered besides green coffee beans. Atopy and cigarette smoking have been suggested as promoting factors of sensitization for several occupational allergens. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms and of sensitization to both green coffee beans and castor bean in the whole workforce of a coffee manufacturing plant. Furthermore we wanted to ascertain both the presence of castor bean antigens in the settled dust of the green coffee beans warehouse and the possible crossreactivity between the two beans. Meanwhile, the effect of smoking and atopy was considered. METHOD: Two-hundred and eleven workers were examined. A questionnaire on oculorhinitis and asthma was administered and skin-prick tests for green coffee beans, castor bean and 15 common inhalant allergens were carried out. Isoelectric focusing, isoelectric focusing immunoblot and radioallergosorbent assay (RAST) inhibition were performed on samples of settled environmental dust from the green coffee area, as well as on castor bean and green coffee beans. RESULTS: Ten per cent of the workers complained of oculorhinitis alone and 16% of asthma (nearly always associated with oculorhinitis). The overall prevalence of skin-sensitization was: 15% for green coffee beans, 22% for castor bean, 22% for common allergens. Evidence of sensitization to occupational allergens was more common in smokers, with a more than twofold increase in relative risk. The strong association between skin positivity to common and occupational allergens suggests that atopy acts as an enhancing host factor towards occupational sensitization. The analysis of the dust confirmed the presence of castor bean antigens. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that castor bean is the major cause of occupational sensitization among coffee workers, whereas smoking and atopy act as enhancing factors.

[Respiratory impairment and metal exposure in a group of 68 industrial welders]. / Compromissione respiratoria ed esposizione a metalli in un gruppo di 68 saldatori al lavoro.

A group of 68 currently employed welders were examined who were exposed to welding fumes either for the whole or for at least half the working day and who used at least two welding processes, which were mainly manual metal arc welding and metal active gas welding, but also metal and tungsten inert gas welding, or oxyacetylene welding. The welders were classified into 3 groups according to the class of materials used, i.e.: 1) only mild and stainless steel; 2) mild and stainless steel and other metals; 3) only other metals. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were observed in 22% of the subjects; signs of suspected radiological fibrosis were present in 18%, initial signs of radiological fibrosis in 4%. Small airway disease was prevalent in the smokers (28 smokers versus 2 nonsmokers); one worker had an obstructive syndrome and another a restrictive syndrome (both were smokers). There was a good correlation between years of exposure and: 1) MEF25 in non-smokers; 2) urinary cobalt in the whole group. There was also a correlation between smoking and FEV1, MEF50, MEF25, PaO2 and urinary cadmium. Serum copper was higher in workers exposed full time than in those exposed part time. Urinary chromium and cobalt and serum copper were high in steel welders, lower in welders using steel and other metals and low in welders using other metals. Urinary chromium was similar in smokers and non-smokers. Serum zinc was found to be of little use for biological monitoring of welders. Urinary chromium was studied for one week in 10 full-time exposed steel welders. The difference between the chromium values at the end of the workshift and those at the beginning was small (low current exposure); the chromium values at the end of the workshift were not uniform in the whole group (different past exposure levels).

Further cases of lead poisoning from wine.

Lead intoxication has been reported to occur as a consequence of nonoccupational exposure, the source being mostly the leaching of lead from fluid containers in domestic use. Three such cases are described, for which the cause has been identified to be in the lining of the vat used to contain home-made wine. All cases are members of the same family.

[Risk in welding operations. Etiopathogenetic, preventive and legislative considerations]. / Rischi nelle operazioni di saldatura. Considerazioni eziopatogenetiche, prevenzionali e legislative.

This work classifies different types of welding procedure, occasional and specific contaminating elements, both of the welding material, and of other possible substances (particularly plastic materials) used in the pre-treating phase. The authors show the risk evaluation factors of the welding operations and, moreover, suggest a diagnostic and prevention program on the exposed subjects. Finally they include a table of references on italian law concerning the contaminating substances produced by welding processes.

[Toxicological risks from industrial pesticides. Preliminary results of a study]. / Rischio tossicologico di pesticidi industriali. Risultati preliminari di un'indagine.

An examination of various commercially available pesticides was made in an evaluation of the potential risks presented by phytopharmaceuticals. It was found that insecticides anticryptogamic products, and weed-killers are most commonly used. Insecticides mainly contain organophosphoric compounds, followed by organochlorates, carbamates, and organic sulphur compounds. Anticryptogamic products are primarily composed of dithiocarbamates, followed by inorganic copper and sulphur compounds. Herbicides are mostly represented by the triazines, followed by phenoxycarboxylic acid derivatives, carbamates, and urea derivatives. Lastly, most pesticides fall into the IIIrd and IVth toxicological classes.

[Investigation of subjects exposed to mercury nitrate]. / Indagine su soggetti esposti a nitrato di mercurio.

Tests have been carried out on 50 ex-workers of a hat-factory who had been exposed to mercury nitrate in order to investigate whether a symptomatological pattern attributable to professional exposure would be still present as a consequence of long term exposure and after a long latency period. Because of the small number of examined workers, the collected data have been compared with those of a control group in order to assess the significance of the results. The incidence of subjective and objective signs has been detected to be higher in female group. The symptoms and objective signs may only partially be included in the chronic hydrargiric pattern described by many Authors. These signs are not so marked as to be expected from heavy hydrargiric chronic poisoning and they include: changes in the oral cavity, psychic erethism and neurologycal signs of sensibility impairment.