Retroperitoneal and pleural fibrosis in an insulator working in power plants.

We describe a case history of a former insulator who developed concomitant retroperitoneal and pleural fibrosis. In his work, the patient had been exposed on a daily basis to asbestos dust while demolishing and installing pipeline insulations. The heavy asbestos exposure was confirmed by a high level of asbestos content in his autopsy lung sample.

Asbestos-related pleural and lung fibrosis in patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Background: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare fibroinflammatory disease that leads to hydronephrosis and renal failure. In a case-control study, we have recently shown that asbestos exposure was the most important risk factor for RPF in the Finnish population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of asbestos exposure to radiologically confirmed lung and pleural fibrosis among patients with RPF.

Apolipoprotein E and A-IV polymorphisms in ethnic Russians living in Estonia.

137 Russians living in Estonia was screened by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting procedures to determine the distribution of genetic variations in apolipoprotein E (apoE) and apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) genes. The apoA-IV-2 allele and epsilon4 allele frequency of the Russians tended to be lower than in most other European populations.

Asbestos exposure as a risk factor for retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Background: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is an uncommon disease with unknown causation in most cases. The pathognomonic finding is a fibrous mass covering the abdominal aorta and the ureters. Our aim was to clarify the possible role of asbestos exposure in the development of RPF.

Increased risk of asthma among Finnish construction workers.

Aim: To determine the risk of asthma among 7891 Finnish construction workers in the Pirkanmaa Region of southern Finland.

Method: Retrospective cohort study of hospital records of the Tampere University Hospital. A population of Pirkanmaa paper mill workers (n=2686) and the Pirkanmaa working age population (n=252,500) served as reference populations.

Respiratory health of cobalt production workers.

Background: Cobalt production workers are exposed to metallic cobalt and nickel and their compounds and to different irritant gases. The aim of our study was to determine whether long-term exposure is associated with an increased occurrence of respiratory symptoms and findings or diseases, other than asthma, which is a known hazard, among cobalt processing workers.

Methods: The study population was comprised of 110 current and former cobalt workers who had worked more than 10 years in a cobalt plant.

Trends in serum cholesterol and lifestyle indicators in Members of the Finnish Parliament.

Objective: To examine the extent that public health promotion activity is reflected in life styles of national decision makers, by analysing trends in coronary heart disease risk factors in Members of the Finnish Parliament (MPs).

Methods: The MPs were studied at the beginning of two subsequent 4-year parliamentary periods between 1991 and 1999. The studies included analyses of serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and a questionnaire about alcohol, smoking and physical activity.

The effects of asthma on the quality of life and employment of construction workers.

Relatively little is known about the consequences of asthma for patients' work ability. In particular, the relationship between asthma and construction work has not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to determine how asthma affects construction workers' work ability and quality of life, and the most important conditions that cause respiratory symptoms in construction work.

Increased prevalence of atopy among children exposed to mold in a school building.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of immunoglobulin E sensitization to common environmental allergens (atopy) and new allergic diseases among schoolchildren after starting school in a water-damaged school building. The staff and pupils of a Finnish elementary school with visible water damage and mold complained of respiratory and skin symptoms. The school building was examined and widespread moisture damage was found.

Respiratory morbidity among children following renovation of a water-damaged school.

The authors sought to determine whether exposure to molds, resulting from moisture damage in a school, was associated with increased respiratory symptoms and morbidity among schoolchildren and whether the renovation of this building resulted in a decrease in prevalence of respiratory symptoms and morbidity. The study was a follow-up (1-y interval) of children between the ages of 7 and 12 y from two elementary schools in a Finnish suburb. In addition to a questionnaire completed by the parents, the authors assessed the respiratory health of children by examining the health records of a local health center.

Serum cholesterol trends among members of the Finnish parliament.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND. Mortality from coronary heart disease in Finland has declined remarkably since the early 1970s. Most of the change has apparently been due to the active national strategy for reduction of serum cholesterol levels.

Respiratory health of cigar factory workers.

Objectives: To determine whether occupational exposure to raw tobacco causes respiratory or allergic diseases, an excess of respiratory symptoms, a decrease in lung function, or parenchymal changes in chest radiography among Finnish cigar workers.

Methods: This cross sectional study included all Finnish cigar workers (n = 106) exposed to raw tobacco and also a group of unexposed matched referents. Data were collected with a self administered questionnaire, flow volume spirometry, measurements of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, chest radiography and skin prick tests.

Radiographic abnormalities among Finnish construction, shipyard and asbestos industry workers.

Objectives: The prevalence of asbestos-related radiographic abnormalities was surveyed among Finnish construction, shipyard, and asbestos industry workers.

Methods: The radiographic screening focused on active and retired workers who were under the age of 70 years and had been employed for at least 10 years in construction or for at least 1 year in shipyards or in the asbestos industry. In 1990-1992, 18,943 people participated in an X-ray examination of the lungs and an interview on work history and exposure.

Asbestos exposure: a potential cause of retroperitoneal fibrosis.

The etiology of retroperitoneal fibrosis is unknown in 70% of the cases. The aim of our study was to examine the possible association between occupational asbestos exposure and retroperitoneal fibrosis; only two cases have been reported in the literature. We gathered all the cases of retroperitoneal fibrosis diagnosed in the Tampere University Hospital between 1987 and 1995.

Respiratory health of workers exposed to low levels of chromium in stainless steel production.

Objectives: To determine whether occupational exposure to chromite, trivalent chromium, or hexavalent chromium causes respiratory diseases, an excess of respiratory symptoms, a decrease in pulmonary function, or signs of pneumoconiosis among workers in an integrated chain of stainless steel production.

Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in 1993 and the inclusion criterion was a minimum of eight years of employment in the same production department. A self administered questionnaire was collected, and spirometry, measurement of diffusing capacity, chest radiography, and laboratory tests were carried out by a mobile research unit.

Screening for asbestos-induced diseases in Finland.

Screening for asbestos-induced diseases in Finland was carried out in 1990-1992 as a part of the Asbestos Program of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The aim of the present study was to find the workers who had developed an asbestos-induced disease in certain occupations. Examination of active or retired workers included a personal interview on work history and asbestos exposure, and a chest X-ray.

Occupational laryngitis caused by formaldehyde: a case report.

Formaldehyde is commonly accepted to be an allergen and irritant. However, specifically diagnosed occupational respiratory diseases caused by formaldehyde are relatively rare. Occupational laryngitis was diagnosed in a 47-year-old dairy foreman.

Addition of ferrous sulfate to cement and risk of chromium dermatitis among construction workers.

Lowering the water-soluble chromium content of cement to < 2 ppm has been suggested to diminish the risk of allergic hand dermatitis caused by chromium among construction workers. The prevalence of chromium dermatitis was determined for a representative sample of 913 house construction workers and 707 concrete element prefabrication workers, with a questionnaire and clinical examination, before the use of cement with such a low content of water-soluble chromium was started on Finnish construction sites in 1987. The prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis caused by water-soluble chromium, diagnoses confirmed with patch tests among the workers with hand dermatitis, was 9/117 (7.

Medical surveillance programs for construction workers.

In summary, the basic medical examination and carefully documented work and medical history are essential parts of the health examinations of construction workers. To achieve their best potential in preventing occupational and chronic diseases, the examinations should be conducted by professionals who know the working conditions in construction and have a positive attitude toward preventive medicine. One important aspect of these examinations is the opportunity to trigger workplace investigations, followed by exposure reduction.

Parenchymal and pleural fibrosis in construction workers.

Exposure to mineral dust was studied among construction workers (N = 437) with the aid of a questionnaire and a chest X-ray examination of the lungs. The results of the questionnaire showed that 81% of the construction workers had been exposed to asbestos. Exposure had occurred in all of the occupational groups studied.

Prevalence of epicondylitis and tenosynovitis among meatcutters.

The prevalence of epicondylitis and tenosynovitis was assessed among 90 meatcutters and 77 referents (construction foremen). All the participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire about subjective symptoms of the upper extremities. The questionnaire was part of the Nordic standardized questionnaire for rheumatic symptoms.

Asthma, symptoms of chronic bronchitis and ventilatory capacity among cobalt and zinc production workers.

This epidemiologic study was designed to determine whether occupational exposures to cobalt and zinc in the metallurgic industry increase the risk of asthma and symptoms of chronic bronchitis or decrease ventilatory capacity. The results indicated that, already at concentrations under 0.1 mg/m3, cobalt sulfate exposure increased the risk of asthma by about five times in exposed workers.

Urinary beta2 microglobulin related to chronic low level exposure to metallic cadmium dust in Finnish cadmium processing workers.

The determination of urinary beta2 microglobulin is a sensitive method for screening groups which run the risk of developing renal tubular damage due to cadmium exposure. In this study, the urinary beta2 microglobulin excretion of 78 male workers who had been exposed to cadmium dust levels of 6.3-11.