Lead exposure in firearms instructors of the Italian State Police.

Background: Several studies evaluated exposure to lead in relatively small groups of firearms instructors and shooters, mainly operating at indoor ranges.

Objective: To assess the levels of lead exposure in a large sample of firearms instructors of the Italian State Police (SP) operating at either indoor or outdoor ranges.

Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted in firearms instructors working in indoor (No.

[Commuting accidents: the influence of excessive daytime sleepiness. A review of an Italian Police officers population].

Commuting accidents (CA) play an important role in many systems of workers' compensation insurance and with good reason, as they generally bring about more serious consequences in terms of permanent disablement and death than ordinary occupational accidents; this usually leads to high social costs. Nevertheless, research investigations aimed at studying the possible causes underlying the phenomenon are not available in medical literature. Objective of the present study is to evaluate whether excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) might influence the occurrence of CA.

[Exposure to low doses of inorganic lead and arterial pressure among fire arm instructors of the Italian State Police].

Unlabelled: Firearm instructors represent a particular occupational group exposed to low lead (Pb) doses. Even low blood lead levels (PbB) of this metal can cause an increase of blood pressure (BP).

Objective: To assess the Pb exposure of the firearm instructors of the Italian State Police (SP) and the effects of Pb on their PA.

[Symptoms and musculo-skeletal changes among personnel of the State Police exposed to mechanical risk].

The aim of this present study was to inquire about spine morfo-functional alterations among policemen with jobs regarded as potentially hazardous, in order to identify preclinical alterations of column and to plan adequate preventive measures. A physiopathologic and working anamnesis was carried out by means of questionnaire about personal data, jobs, reported rachidian symptomatology and presence of orthopedic diseases, given to policemen on duty in Bari. Every chosen worker was subject to orthopedic and neurological examination, radiography of column, Formetric tridimensional examination, telethermography of spine.

[Shift-work seniority increases the severity of sleep disorders. Comparison of different categories of shift-workers].

Shift-work disrupts the sleep-wake cycle and could bring about sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness. We studied two samples of shift-workers, a group of 178 nurses and one of 174 police officers, all working in the town of Palermo (Italy); their answers to a sleep disorder questionnaire were scored and added in order to create a Sleep Disorder Score (SDS). The SDS cut-off value, discrimining pathological values from physiological ones, was settled a-priori.