Upper and Lower Respiratory Signs and Symptoms in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Flour Dust.

A group of 142 bakers was studied in order to investigate the relationship between higher/lower respiratory signs/symptoms and inflammation biomarkers and occupational exposure to flour dust. A complete upper and lower respiratory tract evaluation was performed. Seven percent of bakers complained of lower respiratory symptoms, while 22% of them complained of upper respiratory symptoms.

Asbestos exposure and benign asbestos diseases in 772 formerly exposed workers: dose-response relationships.

Background: Since previous studies have provided conflicting results, we investigated the relationship between the risk of benign asbestos-related diseases and different aspects of asbestos exposure in previous asbestos workers who underwent low-dose computed tomography (CT).

Methods: CT scans were carried out in 772 subjects. A questionnaire was employed to collect data on smoking habits and duration, peak and cumulative exposure, and time since first exposure to asbestos.

Feasibility of a screening programme for lung cancer in former asbestos workers.

Background: Low-dose computed tomography (CT) has been found to detect more Stage IA lung cancer than chest x-ray.

Aims: To investigate whether lung cancer screening with CT was effective and acceptable in former asbestos workers.

Methods: CT scanning was carried out following the protocol previously described in the literature.

Mesotheliomas among Italians, returned to the home country, who worked when migrant at a cement-asbestos factory in Switzerland.

Objectives: To report the occurrence of mesotheliomas in Italy among subjects who worked, when migrant, at a cement-asbestos factory in Niederurnen, Switzerland, and had resettled to the home country.

Methods: Information about the disease and on the working history of subjects was collected by regional mesothelioma registries. Only cases diagnosed by means of histo-pathological examinations have been considered here.