Basic Occupational Health Services for Agricultural Workers in the South of Iran.

The agricultural sector has by far the world's largest labour force, there are more than one billion workers in this industry worldwide, which contains half of the total world labour force. On the other hand, agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations, and many workers suffer occupational accidents and ill health each year. Farming and animal breeding are associated with exposure to a wide variety of risk factors, including zoonotic agents, dust, elements of the thermal environment, noise, vibration and chemicals.

Differences between peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: We examined characteristics of peritoneal (PEM) and pleural (PLM) mesothelioma in Lombardy, Italy.

Methods: From the Lombardy Mesothelioma Registry we selected PEM (N=300) and PLM (N=5011) cases diagnosed in 2000-2014. We investigated asbestos exposure and presence of asbestosis or pleural plaques.

Occupational Health Services Integrated in Primary Health Care in Iran.

Introduction: A healthy workforce is vital for maintaining social and economic development on a global, national and local level. Around half of the world's people are economically active and spend at least one third of their time in their place of work while only 15% of workers have access to basic occupational health services. According to WHO report, since the early 1980s, health indicators in Iran have consistently improved, to the extent that it is comparable with those in developed countries.

Occupational exposure to zoonotic agents among agricultural workers in Lombardy Region, northern Italy.

Objectives: This study was conducted in Northern Italy with the aim of defining the risk of agricultural workers' contact with biological agents through the determination of serum antibodies against selected zoonotic agents. Immunity against tetanus was also investigated.

Methods: Two groups of agricultural workers consisting of 153 animal breeders (exposed) and 46 non- breeders (controls) were included in the study.

Emerging zoonoses: the "one health approach".

Zoonoses represent a public health risk recently pointed out by the spreading of previously unknown human infectious diseases emerging from animal reservoirs such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza caused by H5N1-virus. These outbreaks have shown that animal breeding activities can pose a significant public health risk. Until now, the risk of zoonoses has probably been underestimated, particularly in occupational settings.

Immune changes in animal breeders: a pilot study conducted in northern Italy.

Objective: Farming is associated with exposure to a wide variety of risk factors including organic dusts, endotoxins, allergens and other chemicals. The ability of some of these agents to interact with the immune system is demonstrated in the presented study which was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between pig and cow breeding, and the immune system early changes. Particular attention is paid to selected serum cytokines.