Journal of Occupational Health
Online ISSN : 1348-9585
Print ISSN : 1341-9145
ISSN-L : 1341-9145
Volume 47, Issue 6
Displaying 1-11 of 11 articles from this issue
Original
  • Chuen-Chau Chang, Jing-Shiang Hwang, Chang-Chuan Chan, Peng-Yau Wang, ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 471-480
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In the present study, the cardiovascular toxicity of PM2.5 was determined in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats using the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences of adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) as outcome measurements. Four SH rats implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters were repeatedly exposed to concentrated PM2.5 in nose-only exposure chambers. Gravimetric analysis revealed the mean post-concentrating mass concentration of particles during the 5 h of exposure was 202 μg/m3. Using each animal as its own control and linear mixed-effects model, to adjust for circadian nature and individual differences, we found that SDNN decreased by 15% initially then gradually decreased to 60% of the initial value at the end of exposure. Our results indicate that concentrated PM2.5 may decrease SDNN on SH rats during PM exposure. The study also showed that SDNN is more sensitive to PM induced effects than RMSSD.
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  • Ulrika Aasa, Margareta Barnekow-Bergkvist, Karl-Axel Ängquist, Ch ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 481-489
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This cross-sectional study on a random sample of 1,500 ambulance personnel investigated the relationships between self-reported work-related physical and psychosocial factors, worry about work conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders among female and male ambulance personnel. Three different outcomes, complaints, activity limitation, and sick leave, for the neck-shoulder and low-back region, respectively, were chosen. Among the female personnel, physical demands was significantly associated with activity limitation in the neck-shoulder (OR 4.13) and low-back region (OR 2.17), and psychological demands with neck-shoulder (OR 2.37) and low-back (OR 2.28) complaints. Among the male personnel, physical demands was significantly associated with low-back complaints (OR 1.41) and activity limitation (OR 1.62). Psychological demands and lack of social support were significantly associated with neck-shoulder complaints (OR 1.86 and OR 1.58, respectively) and activity limitation (OR 3.46 and OR 1.71) as well as activity limitation due to low-back complaints (OR 2.22 and OR 1.63). Worry about work conditions was independently associated with activity limitation due to low-back complaints among the female (OR 5.28), and to both neck-shoulder and low-back complaints (OR 1.79 and OR 2.04, respectively) and activity limitation (OR 2.32 and OR 1.95) among the male personnel. In conclusion, the association patterns between physical and psychological demands and MSDs suggest opportunities for intervention.
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  • Akira Babazono, Yoshio Mino, Jun Nagano, Toshihide Tsuda, Tomoko Araki
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 490-495
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The purpose of this study was to clarify the influences of subjective stress in the workplace on mental health according to work contents in subjects without mental health problems. In a survey in fiscal 1997, 1,246 (84.6%) of all 1,363 workers of a manufacturing company in Japan, responded to a questionnaire including questions on subjective stress and GHQ60, and 1,135 workers answered all questions (effective response rate, 83.3%). In fiscal 1997, there were 705 "mentally healthy" workers with a GHQ score of 16. Of the 705 workers, 603 (85.5%) could be followed up by another survey 2 yr later (fiscal 1999). According to the contents of the work, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using the status of mental health in fiscal 1999 as a dependent variable and subjective workplace stress, sex, age, smoking, and alcohol usage in fiscal 1997 as explanatory variables. The statistically significant items relating to problematic mental health for "factory work" were "too much competition", "feel pressed for time", and "cannot keep up with new technology" (Table 4). For "too much competition", the odds ratios (95% CI) of "always" and "sometimes" to "do not feel" were 4.04 (1.39-11.76) and 1.85 (0.92-3.70), respectively. For "feel pressed for time", the odds ratios (95% CI) of "always" and "sometimes" to "do not feel" were 2.40 (1.08-5.35) and 0.98 (0.46-2.06), respectively. For "cannot keep up with new technology", the odds ratio (95% CI) of "always" and "sometimes" to "do not feel" were 6.54 (0.37-116.36) and 2.52 (1.34-4.77), respectively. The statistically significant items relating to problematic mental health for "research and development or office work" were "too much trouble at work" and "feel pressed for time". For "too much trouble at work", the odds ratios (95% CI) of "always" and "sometimes" to "do not feel" were 3.92 (1.41-10.93) and 1.44 (0.67-3.09), respectively. For "feel pressed for time", the odds ratios (95% CI) of "always" and "sometimes" to "do not feel" were 2.69 (1.04-6.93) and 2.09 (0.94-4.67), respectively. Our study suggests that subjective stress items aggravating mental health are different among work contents. If we could identify items of workplace stress influencing mental health by work contents, we could utilize the results for a mental health promotion program.
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  • Isao Saito, Tomonori Okamura, Shunichi Fukuhara, Taichiro Tanaka, Yosh ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 496-503
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Although light and moderate alcohol drinkers are likely to have better subjective health, the sub-scales for subjective health have not been well documented. Methods: We studied 4,521 male workers aged 25 yr and older with no history of cancer or cardiovascular disease, in 12 occupational groups in Japan. Data were from the High-risk and Population Strategy for Occupational Health Promotion Study (HIPOP-OHP). Drinking status was classified according to daily alcohol intake or frequency of drinking. We assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) based on scores for five scales of the SF-36. Results: Decreased odds ratios of sub-optimal HRQOL conditions, defined as less than the median SF-36 scores, for Role-Physical and General Health were found among persons who consumed 1.0 to 22.9 g/d of alcohol. Odds ratios for sub-optimal Vitality conditions were lowered according to increased levels of alcohol intake. Role-Emotional scores were not associated with alcohol drinking. People who drank 5 to 6 d/wk had higher levels of Role-Physical and Vitality, and those who drank 1 to 2 d/wk had better Vitality and Mental Health scores than non-drinkers. When adjusted for age, marital status, working hours, physical activity at work, self-reported job stress, smoking, regular exercise, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, the associations were almost unchanged except for General Health. Conclusions: Associations of drinking patterns with subjective health varied in five sub-scales of the SF-36. Overall, alcohol drinkers rated their health as good in comparison with non-drinkers.
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  • Yasuo Morimoto, Hiroko Nagatomo, Masami Hirohashi, Takako Oyabu, Akira ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 504-509
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    It has been theorized that Clara cell secretion protein (CCSP) plays a critical role in regulating the acute inflammatory response in the lung. We hypothesized that CCSP is also related to lung injury induced by occupational dust. The present study was conducted to investigate the time course of the expression of CCSP in lungs exposed to crystalline silica in vivo. Male Wistar rats were administered 1 mg or 2 mg of silica suspended in saline by a single intratracheal instillation and were sacrificed at 3 d, 1 wk, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of recovery time. The expression of CCSP was observed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Exposure to 2 mg of silica decreased in levels of CCSP mRNA at 3 d, 1 wk, 1 month and 6 months following intratracheal instillation. The protein level of CCSP in silica-exposed rats was decreased at 3 d, 7 d and 1 month after a single instillation of 2 mg. The decreases in CCSP at the acute phase in this experiment suggest that CCSP may regulate the acute injury of the lung exposed to silica.
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  • Yoshihisa Fujino, Hiroyasu Iso, Akiko Tamakoshi, Yutaka Inaba, Akio Ko ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 510-517
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This study prospectively examined the association between employment status (employed or self-employed) and the risk of death from circulatory diseases among Japanese workers. A baseline survey was conducted between 1988 and 1990 among 110,792 inhabitants of 45 areas. Follow-up surveys were conducted annually and causes of death were identified from death certificates. Analysis was restricted to 25,945 individuals (15,434 male and 10,511 female) with ages ranging from 40 to 59 years. These subjects were employed or self-employed at the time of recruitment. The risks of self-employment for death due to circulatory system disease, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. During the 10-year follow-up period (151,817 and 104,870 person-years for males and females, respectively), 720 male and 193 female deaths were recorded. No significant differences were detected between the employed and self-employed workers in the total death risk, or the risk of death from ischemic heart disease. However, self-employed men showed a significantly lower risk of death from cerebrovascular disease compared with employed men (relative risk=0.58; 95% confidence interval=0.35, 0.97). Our findings suggest that employed men are at increased risk of death from cerebrovascular disease compared with self-employed men.
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Field Study
  • Banjong Vitayavirasuk, Supaporn Junhom, Pitchaya Tantisaeranee
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 518-522
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Environmental and biological monitoring of lead, cadmium and chromium levels in spray painters is reported. All of the study subjects worked in automobile body repair shops that had no standard spraying room. They were divided into 2 groups, those who wore an aerosol-removing respirator while spraying (n=20) and those who did not wear the respirator (n=50). Air in the breathing zone of each subject was sampled and analyzed for lead, cadmium and chromium levels. The subjects' blood lead levels and urinary cadmium and chromium levels were also measured along with those of a control group. The mean environmental and biological levels of these metals between the two groups of the painters were not significantly different (p>0.05). However, the biological levels of the metals were significantly higher in the study groups than in the control group (p<0.01). On-site observations revealed that improper use of an aerosol-removing respirator, lack of an isolated spraying room and poor personal hygiene habits caused the failure to prevent heavy metal exposure among the automobile spray painters.
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  • Mattijn Morren, C. Joris Yzermans, Ruth M.A. van Nispen, Stephan J.M. ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 523-532
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    On May 13, 2000, a firework depot exploded in a residential area of the city of Enschede, The Netherlands. Many disaster workers responded, including volunteer firefighters, a group that has received little attention in disaster research. This study examined the presence of health problems in volunteer firefighters who were involved in disaster work, three years after the disaster. Furthermore, it was investigated whether demographic characteristics and disaster exposure predicted health problems. The study population consisted of 246 volunteer firefighters who were deployed in disaster work and 71 non-deployed controls. These firefighters completed a questionnaire which inquired about their perceived health and health change, physical symptoms, post-traumatic stress, mental health problems, and health care utilization. Three years after the disaster, no health differences emerged between deployed and non-deployed firefighters. Good health and health improvement over the previous year were reported. Respondents who encountered more distressing experiences during disaster work or carried out more direct disaster-related recovery tasks reported more mental health problems and health care utilization. However, the most reliable predictors of health problems were distressing experiences unrelated to the disaster in personal life or during work. Three years after the disaster, the health of volunteer firefighters involved in the disaster work was not much impaired, possibly because aftercare was available and utilized. Nevertheless, disaster exposure was associated with elevated post-traumatic stress symptoms and mental health care utilization. Health care workers should direct specific attention to the treatment and prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms in cases of major accidents or disasters.
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  • Futoshi Kawashita, Yukari Taniyama, Song You Hwi, Takeshi Fujisaki, Ta ...
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 533-539
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Recently, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming widely recognized as an issue for Japanese companies. Corporate responsibility for employees is considered important by various stakeholders, and occupational safety and health is regarded as one of these responsibilities. The present authors examined this issue from the viewpoint of corporate management by analysis of statements found in CSR-related reports. For companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), we searched for CSR-related reports, and titles and contents, based on two established guidelines: the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines 2002 as the international reference and the Environmental Reporting Guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, as the domestic reference. Corporations that published CSR reports were 26.3% (416/1,581) of the total, and large differences were recognized by type of industry. Comparing the numbers of pages for various contents, more concern was shown about the environment than about social activity, indicating the environment to be the main issue of CSR in Japan. In the items included in the guidelines, many matters about occupational accidents were mentioned, but it was found that statements regarding HIV/AIDS, which is not of such strong social concern in Japan, and statements regarding the costs of safety that are difficult to calculate were few. However, statements regarding mental health, which is of high interest socially, were many, even though this issue is not included in the two guidelines used. In revising the guidelines, these matters should be reviewed. In the future, continuance of analysis of CSR-related reports with regard to changes and comparisons with overseas reports will help improve occupational safety and health.
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  • Michael K.H. Leung, Chun-Ho Liu, Alan H.S. Chan
    2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 540-547
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The extensive use of multiple organic solvents in offset lithographic printing causing high emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indeed poses a serious risk to printing workers' health. In this study, indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments were carried out in seven printing plants and the main objectives were to understand the effect of VOC emissions on IAQ and develop effective mitigation measures to protect workers. The thorough gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) measurements showed that although a variety of VOCs were presented in the indoor air, none of them was found close to individual 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) of the occupational exposure limit (OEL). The additive effect was also found below the critical value of unity. However, short-term personal exposure to total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was exceedingly high when a print worker carried out blanket and ink roller cleaning procedures. Therefore, the occupational health risk was mainly due to repeated short-term exposures during intermittent VOC-emitting procedures rather than long-term exposure to background VOCs. Push-pull local exhaust ventilation (LEV) was identified as an effective mitigation measure. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted to study the push-pull LEV operation. It was found that there existed a threshold LEV air flow rate for an abrupt reduction in the worker's exposure to VOCs. The reduction was less sensitive when the LEV airflow was further increased beyond the threshold. These phenomena, consistent with experimental results reported by other investigators, were explained by detailed CFD analysis showing the competition between the general ventilation and the push-pull LEV to become the dominating driving force for the resultant local flow pattern.
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Erratum
  • 2005 Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages E1
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: December 21, 2005
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Wrong:The nasal lesions included thickening of the bone and atrophy and respiratory metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium at 5 ppm and above for both sexes.
    Right:The nasal lesions included thickening of the bone and atrophy and respiratory metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium at 10 ppm and above for both sexes.
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