A 10-year Follow-up Cohort Study of the Health Effects in Toner-handling Workers.

In this study, we compare the results of a cross-sectional survey and secular changes between toner-handling workers and non-toner-handling workers, focusing on blood tests, urinalysis, respiratory function tests, and chest imaging results as indices of health effects. Of 116 employees who participated in the survey conducted at an office equipment manufacturer in Japan, 65 male employees who could be followed up for 10 years were included in the analysis. Thirty-eight workers engaged in toner-handling operations were considered toner-handling workers, and 27 not engaged in these operations were considered non-toner-handling workers.

Effects of toner-handling work on respiratory function, chest X-ray findings, and biomarkers of inflammation, allergy, and oxidative stress: a 10-year prospective Japanese cohort study.

Background: Exposure to toner, a substance used in photocopiers and printers, has been associated with siderosilicosis and other adverse effects. However, these findings are limited, and there is insufficient evidence on the long-term effects of toner exposure. Using longitudinal analysis, this study aimed to examine the effects of work involving toner exposure on the respiratory system over time.

A 4-Year Follow-up Cohort Study of the Respiratory Functions in Toner-handling Workers.

Background: Focusing on the respiratory function for health effect indices, we conducted a cross-sectional study on workers who did and did not handle toner to compare the longitudinal changes.

Methods: Among 116 individuals who worked for a Japanese business equipment manufacturer and participated in the study, the analysis included 69 male workers who we were able to follow up for 4 years. We categorized the 40 workers engaged in toner-handling work as the exposed group and the 29 workers not engaged in these tasks as the referent group, and compared their respiratory function test results: peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), vital capacity (VC), predicted vital capacity (%VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percent of forced vital capacity (FEV1%).

A cohort study on self-reported respiratory symptoms of toner-handling workers: cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis from 2003 to 2008.

This study examines the relationship between toner-handling work and its health effects on self-reported respiratory symptoms. The subjects were 1,504 male workers in a Japanese toner and photocopier manufacturing company. Personal exposure measurement, pulmonary function tests, chest X-ray examination, measurement of biomarkers, and a questionnaire about self-reported respiratory symptoms were performed annually.

Distributions and ranges of values of blood and urinary biomarker of inflammation and oxidative stress in the workers engaged in office machine manufactures: evaluation of reference values.

Background: Interleukins, interferons and oxidative DNA products are important biomarkers assessing the inflammations and tissue damages caused by toxic materials in the body. We tried to evaluate distributions, reference values and age related changes of blood levels of inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), IgE and urine levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) among workers in a cohort study evaluating the health influences of toner particles.

Methods: A total of 1366 male workers under age 50 years (age 19-49 years; 718 exposed and 648 not exposed to toner particles) in a cross sectional study of 1614 (categorized as 809 exposed and 805 not exposed, age 19-59 years) workers in a photocopier company has been followed prospectively as the cohort.

Relationship between smoking and a new index of arterial stiffness, the cardio-ankle vascular index, in male workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Cigarette smoking is one of the major factors that increases arterial stiffness. The purpose of this study was to examine further the relationship between smoking status and arterial stiffness using a new index, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), in male Japanese workers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 4,729 male Japanese workers undergoing annual health checkups.