Inflammatory markers and exposure to airborne particles among workers in a Swedish pulp and paper mill.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between exposure to airborne particles in a pulp and paper mill and markers of inflammation and coagulation in blood. METHODS: Personal sampling of inhalable dust was performed for 72 subjects working in a Swedish pulp and paper mill. Stationary measurements were used to study concentrations of total dust, respirable dust, PM10 and PM2.5, the particle surface area and the particle number concentrations. Markers of inflammation, interleukins (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and fibrinogen and markers of coagulation factor VIII, von Willebrand, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and D-dimer were measured in plasma or serum. Sampling was performed on the last day of the work free period of 5 days, before and after the shift the first day of work and after the shifts the second and third day. In a mixed model analysis, the relationship between particulate exposures and inflammatory markers was determined. Sex, age, smoking, and BMI were included as covariates. RESULTS: The average 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) air concentration levels of inhalable dust were 0.30 mg/m(3), range 0.005-3.3 mg/m(3). The proxies for average 8-h TWAs of respirable dust were 0.045 mg/m(3). Significant and consistent positive relations were found between several exposure metrics (PM 10, total and inhalable dust) and CRP, SAA and fibrinogen taken post-shift, suggesting a dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSION: This study supports a relationship between occupational particle exposure and established inflammatory markers, which may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Comparison and Evaluation of Multiple Users' Usage of the Exposure and Risk Tool: Stoffenmanager 5.1.

Stoffenmanager is an exposure and risk assessment tool that has a control banding part, with risk bands as outcome and a quantitative exposure assessment part, with the 90th percentile of the predicted exposure as a default outcome. The main aim of the study was to investigate whether multiple users of Stoffenmanager came to the same result when modelling the same scenarios. Other aims were to investigate the differences between outcomes of the control banding part with the measured risk quota and to evaluate the conservatism of the tool by testing whether the 90th percentiles are above the measured median exposures. We investigated airborne exposures at companies in four different types of industry: wood, printing, metal foundry, and spray painting. Three scenarios were modelled and measured, when possible, at each company. When modelled, 13 users visited each company on the same occasion creating individual assessments. Consensus assessments were also modelled for each scenario by six occupational hygienists. The multiple users' outcomes were often spread over two risk bands in the control banding part, and the differences in the quantitative exposure outcomes for the highest and lowest assessments per scenario varied between a factor 2 and 100. Four parameters were difficult for the users to assess and had a large impact on the outcome: type of task, breathing zone, personal protection, and control measures. Only two scenarios had a higher measured risk quota than predicted by the control banding part, also two scenarios had slightly higher measured median exposure value than modelled consensus in the quantitative exposure assessment part. Hence, the variability between users was large but the model performed well.

Isocyanate exposure in bathtub refinishing: à propos a case of occupational asthma.

Work-related asthma in a bathtub refinishing technician prompted measurements of isocyanate exposure in this operation. Very high levels of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) oligomer, up to 8500 microg/m3 NCO, were found during top varnish spray-painting, whereas the levels of HDI monomer were substantially lower. The results suggest that only full-piece, self-contained respirators would suffice to protect technicians from serious pulmonary disease.

Airways symptoms, immunological response and exposure in powder painting.

OBJECTIVES: Powder painting is an alternative to solvent-based spray painting. Powder paints may contain organic acid anhydrides (OAAs), which are irritants to the airways and may cause sensitisation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and immunological response among powder painters and to describe the exposure to OAAs. METHODS: In all, 205 subjects in 32 enterprises participated: 93 exposed and 26 formerly exposed workers in 25 powder paint shops and 86 unexposed workers. They completed a questionnaire about working conditions and symptoms and took part in a medical examination, which included a lung function test. Urine samples, for determination of two OAAs, and blood samples, for analysis of specific antibodies against the OAAs, were taken. In addition, 33 paint samples were analysed for nine OAAs. RESULTS: The powder painters reported more work-related respiratory symptoms than unexposed subjects did. The prevalence of three or more symptoms was 24% in subjects with low exposure, 44% in highly exposed individuals, 46% in formerly exposed subjects and 19% in unexposed workers. Asthma symptoms were frequent, 7%, 40%, 15% and 2%, respectively. Regression analyses of the lung volumes did not show any influence of exposure. IgG, but not IgE, against the OAAs and metabolites of OAAs was found in some subjects, but no associations with the exposure could be observed. OAAs were found in only small amounts in the paint samples. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to organic acid anhydrides was estimated to be low, and yet, IgG antibodies to OAA were observed in some subjects. The prevalence of work-related symptoms from the eyes and the airways was relatively high among the powder painters, and these symptoms, but not the lung volumes, were clearly related to exposure. The symptoms were probably caused by irritative properties of the powder paint dust.

Preneoplastic non-papillary lesions and conditions of the urinary bladder: an update based on the Ancona International Consultation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This paper summarizes the work done by the members of the Committee no. 2 at the International Consultation on the Diagnosis of Non-Invasive Urothelial Neoplasms held in Ancona, Italy (11-12 May 2001). The committee members discussed and reached consensus regarding the optimal contemporary diagnosis and classification of the preneoplastic non-papillary lesions of the urothelium. An important objective was to promote a precise terminology and to use it consistently in daily practice in pathology and urology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The result of the meeting is represented by a refined classification of the non-papillary intraepithelial lesions and conditions of the urothelium. This classification includes epithelial abnormalities (reactive urothelial atypia and flat urothelial hyperplasia), presumed preneoplastic lesions and conditions (keratinizing squamous and glandular metaplasia, and malignancy-associated cellular changes), as well as preneoplastic (dysplasia) and neoplastic non-invasive (carcinoma in situ) lesions. Each of these lesions is defined with strict morphological criteria in order to provide more accurate information to urologists in managing patients.

A trnL-F cpDNA sequence study of the Condamineeae-Rondeletieae-Sipaneeae complex with implications on the phylogeny of the Rubiaceae.

DNA sequences from the chloroplast trnL-F region of 154 Rubiaceae and 11 outgroup taxa were analyzed cladistically. An emphasis was placed on the tribes Rondeletieae, Sipaneeae, and Condamineeae. Sipaneeae are not close to Rondeletieae and belong in the Ixoroideae. There is no support for a widely distributed Rondeletieae in a broad sense. Instead, Rondeletieae sensu stricto form an almost entirely Antillean clade. Support was found for the separation of Arachnothryx, Rogiera, Roigella, and Suberanthus from Rondeletia. The Guettardeae as well as Gonzalagunia are found close to a complex formed by Arachnothryx, Javorkaea, and Rogiera. Condamineeae, in a strict sense, belongs in the Ixoroideae. A number of Rondeletieae genera should be transferred to Condamineeae or other parts of Ixoroideae. Support is found for an emended tribe Naucleeae, comprising several genera with spherical pseudanthia. For the first time, tribal or subfamilial affiliation based on molecular sequence data is suggested for Allenanthus, Blepharidium, Chione, Coutaportla, Dolichodelphys, Mazaea, Neobertiera, Neoblakea, Phialanthus, Phyllacanthus, Phyllomelia, Schmidtottia, and Suberanthus.