Covid-19 Across Professions-Infection, Hospitalization, and Intensive Care Unit Patterns in a Swedish County.

Objective: The aim of the study was to study infection, hospitalization, and admission to intensive care unit for COVID-19 in different occupations and pandemic waves in a Swedish county.

Methods: Individual registry data of infection and hospitalization were merged with occupational data in this cross-sectional study. Infected, hospital-, and intensive care unit-admission were analyzed by occupational groups.

Silica Exposure and Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular, and Respiratory Morbidity in a Cohort of Male Swedish Iron Foundry Workers.

Objective: We present quantitative exposure-response data on silica exposure in male Swedish iron foundry workers for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory morbidity.

Methods: This research is a cohort study of 2063 male Swedish iron foundry workers. From the Swedish National Patient Registers, data on morbidity incidence were retrieved.

Occupational quartz and particle exposure affect systemic levels of inflammatory markers related to inflammasome activation and cardiovascular disease.

Background: The inflammatory responses are central components of diseases associated with particulate matter (PM) exposure, including systemic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to determine if exposure to PM, including respirable dust or quartz in the iron foundry environment mediates systemic inflammatory responses, focusing on the NLRP3 inflammasome and novel or established inflammatory markers of CVDs.

Methods: The exposure to PM, including respirable dust, metals and quartz were determined in 40 foundry workers at two separate occasions per worker.

Respirable Dust and Silica: Respiratory Diseases Among Swedish Iron Foundry Workers.

Objective: The mortality and morbidity pattern for respiratory diseases was determined in a cohort of 1752 Swedish foundry workers, particularly for respirable silica dust exposure.

Methods: The morbidity follow-up in the Swedish National Non-primary Outpatient Register covered 2001 to 2017 (NPR; specialist not in care patients), the mortality from the National Causes of Death Register covered 2001 to 2017. Cumulative exposures to silica and dust were determined.

Effects on white blood cell counts and the NLRP3 inflammasome due to dust and cobalt exposure in the hard metal industry.

Introduction: In light of potential negative health effects of cobalt exposure, a characterization of inflammatory mechanisms in exposed individuals is warranted. The current study investigated cobalt exposure in the Swedish hard metal industry and its relationship to inflammatory markers, including NLRP3 inflammasome activation and white blood cell (WBC) counts.

Materials And Methods: Inhalable cobalt and dust exposures, and systemic cobalt levels, were determined for 72 workers in the hard metal industry and linear regression models were applied to correlate exposure to markers of inflammasome activation and WBC counts.

Dermal exposure to cobalt studied in keratinocytes - effects of cobalt exposure on inflammasome activated cytokines, and mRNA response.

Background: Cobalt is a dermal sensitizer, and keratinocytes respond to cobalt exposure by releasing proinflammatory mediators, regulating the immune response.

Objective: To determine the effect of cobalt on the inflammasome associated cytokine- and gene expression in cultured human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Cultivation in low- or high calcium conditions model separate differentiation states of keratinocytes in the skin.

Inflammatory and coagulatory markers and exposure to different size fractions of particle mass, number and surface area air concentrations in the Swedish hard metal industry, in particular to cobalt.

Purpose: To study the relationship between inhalation of airborne particles and cobalt in the Swedish hard metal industry and markers of inflammation and coagulation in blood.

Methods: Personal sampling of inhalable cobalt and dust were performed for subjects in two Swedish hard metal plants. Stationary measurements were used to study concentrations of inhalable, respirable, and total dust and cobalt, PM and PM, the particle surface area and the particle number concentrations.

Dose- and time-dependent changes in viability and IL-6, CXCL8 and CCL2 production by HaCaT-cells exposed to cobalt. Effects of high and low calcium growth conditions.

Background: Sensitization requires exposure to an allergen with subsequent production of a "danger "signal. In the skin, keratinocytes are the main producers of these signals.

Objective: To compare dose- and time-effects of cobalt on the viability of and cytokine release from HaCaT cells cultured at low or high calcium.

Respiratory Health and Inflammatory Markers-Exposure to Cobalt in the Swedish Hard Metal Industry.

Objective: To study the relationship between inhalable dust and cobalt, and respiratory symptoms, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide in expired air, and CC16 in the Swedish hard metal industry.

Methods: Personal sampling of inhalable dust and cobalt, and medical examination including blood sampling was performed for 72 workers. Exposure-response relationships were determined using logistic, linear, and mixed-model analysis.

Dermal and inhalable cobalt exposure-Uptake of cobalt for workers at Swedish hard metal plants.

Purpose: Cobalt exposure is known to cause adverse effects on health. A major use of cobalt is in the manufacture of hard metal. Exposure can lead to asthma, hard metal lung disease, contact allergy and increased risk of cancer.

Quartz Dust Exposure Affects NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Plasma Levels of IL-18 and IL-1Ra in Iron Foundry Workers.

Purpose: To study the association between inhalation of particulate matter or quartz in Swedish iron foundries and the effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Methods: Particle exposure measurements were performed during an eight-hour work day for 85 foundry workers at three Swedish iron foundries. Personal sampling was used for measurement of respirable quartz and dust and stationary measurements to obtain exposure measurements for inhalable dust and PM.

Respiratory health and inflammatory markers - Exposure to respirable dust and quartz and chemical binders in Swedish iron foundries.

Purpose: To study the relationship between respirable dust, quartz and chemical binders in Swedish iron foundries and respiratory symptoms, lung function (as forced expiratory volume FEV1 and vital capacity FVC), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and levels of club cell secretory protein 16 (CC16) and CRP.

Methods: Personal sampling of respirable dust and quartz was performed for 85 subjects in three Swedish iron foundries. Full shift sampling and examination were performed on the second or third day of a working week after a work free weekend, with additional sampling on the fourth or fifth day.

Inflammatory and coagulatory markers and exposure to different size fractions of particle mass, number and surface area air concentrations in Swedish iron foundries, in particular respirable quartz.

Purpose: To study the relationship between inhalation of airborne particles and quartz in Swedish iron foundries and markers of inflammation and coagulation in blood.

Methods: Personal sampling of respirable dust and quartz was performed for 85 subjects in three Swedish iron foundries. Stationary measurements were used to study the concentrations of respirable dust and quartz, inhalable and total dust, PM10 and PM2.

Evaluating the Risk Assessment Approach of the REACH Legislation: A Case Study.

Risk assessments based on occupational exposure to chemicals have increased since REACH (European regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals) came into force. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommends that chemical exposure could be calculated using exposure models and that parameters used to calculate the exposure scenario (ES) should be communicated in extended safety data sheets (e-SDS) as workplace instructions which downstream users are obligated to follow. We aimed to evaluate REACH's risk assessment approach using the Stoffenmanager® 6.

Occupational exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes: adverse health effects among personnel in habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools.

Personnel in swimming pool facilities typically experience ocular, nasal, and respiratory symptoms due to water chlorination and consequent exposure to disinfection by-products in the air. The aim of the study was to investigate exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) from the perspective of adverse health effects on the personnel at Swedish habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools. The study included 10 habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pool facilities in nine Swedish cities.

DNA methylation of the cancer-related genes F2RL3 and AHRR is associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are known carcinogens and workplace PAH exposure may increase the risk of cancer. Monitoring early cancer-related changes can indicate whether the exposure is carcinogenic. Here, we enrolled 151 chimney sweeps, 152 controls and 19 creosote-exposed male workers from Sweden.

Cancer Incidence Among Hardmetal Production Workers: The Swedish Cohort.

: The cancer incidence was determined for 3713 workers from three plants from 1958 to 2011. The exposure measures were ever/never exposed, duration, cumulative, and mean cobalt concentrations.The incidence of all malignant neoplasms was increased at one plant, but standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 0.

Mortality Among Hardmetal Production Workers: Pooled Analysis of Cohort Data From an International Investigation.

Objectives: Based on a pooled analysis of data from an international study, evaluate total and cause-specific mortality among hardmetal production workers with emphasis on lung cancer.

Methods: Study members were 32,354 workers from three companies and 17 manufacturing sites in five countries. We computed standardized mortality ratios and evaluated exposure-response via relative risk regression analysis.

Mortality Among Hardmetal Production Workers: Swedish Measurement Data and Exposure Assessment.

Background: Mortality pattern was determined in a cohort of 16,999 white and blue-collar workers in the Swedish hardmetal industry. Exposure assessment for cobalt is presented.

Methods: A historical database (1970 to 2012) of personal and area measurements of cobalt, tungsten, and nickel in the Swedish hardmetal industry was created.

Mortality Among Hardmetal Production Workers: The Swedish Cohort.

Background: The mortality pattern was determined in a cohort of 16,999 white and blue-collar workers in the Swedish hardmetal industry, particularly for cobalt exposure and lung cancer.

Methods: The mortality follow-up analysis in the Swedish Mortality register covered the period from 1952 to 2012. The exposure measures were ever/never exposed, duration of exposure, cumulative, and mean cobalt concentrations.

Biological monitoring of dermal and air exposure to cobalt at a Swedish hard metal production plant: does dermal exposure contribute to uptake?

Background: Occupational exposure to cobalt is well established in hard metal manufacture. Cobalt is known to cause contact allergy, asthma, hard metal lung disease, and lung cancer. The relationship between skin exposure and uptake determined in blood has not been extensively investigated.

A Study of the Validity of Two Exposure Assessment Tools: Stoffenmanager and the Advanced REACH Tool.

The use of exposure modelling tools for estimating chemical airborne exposure has increased since the European Union's REACH legislation for safe use of industrial chemicals came into force. Two tools that European Chemicals Agency recommends are Stoffenmanager® and the Advanced REACH Tool (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of these two exposure modelling tools by comparing the lack of agreement between estimated and measured exposure.

Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees at Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools.

Background: This study investigated trichloramine exposure and prevalence of respiratory and ocular symptoms among Swedish indoor swimming pool workers.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to pool workers and referents. Lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured before and after work.

Occupational Exposure to Cobalt and Tungsten in the Swedish Hard Metal Industry: Air Concentrations of Particle Mass, Number, and Surface Area.

Exposure to cobalt in the hard metal industry entails severe adverse health effects, including lung cancer and hard metal fibrosis. The main aim of this study was to determine exposure air concentration levels of cobalt and tungsten for risk assessment and dose-response analysis in our medical investigations in a Swedish hard metal plant. We also present mass-based, particle surface area, and particle number air concentrations from stationary sampling and investigate the possibility of using these data as proxies for exposure measures in our study.

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.