[Development of the agricultural sector in Italy: need to harmonize production and health protection].

Epidemiological data show excess of respiratory, dermatological, infectious, carcinogenic and musculoskeletal disorders among agricultural workers. Nevertheless, the national rates of reported cases do not correspond to the expected epidemiological data. In 2009, 3.

[Exposure to asbestos dust in agricultural environment. Some significant exposure forms documented by the Hospital Unit of Occupational Medicine of Hospital Institute of Cremona].

Although it is difficult to document the exposition to asbestos in the agricultural workers, mesotelioma has however been noticed in the rural environment that may seem to have low risk because of its nature. This work describes the systematic diffusion of asbestos dust in the rural environment near Cremona due to the activity of "non-agricultural" workers who have fallen ill with mesothelioma. The patient described their work in details to the occupational medical doctor underlining the circumstances and the ways asbestos dust has been diffused in the rural environment.

[Analysis of work accidents during the years 1999-2006 in a hospital company in Lombardia].

This study describe accidents occurred in the period between 1999 and 2006 in the Hospital of Cremona, in which about 2400 subjects operate. The analysis of Accident Register showed a reduction of about 30% of the total number of accidents during the examined period and a non homogeneous distribution of the various types of accidents. The most frequent accidents were prick (25.

Neurobehavioral functions in operating theatre personnel: a multicenter study.

The study was conducted to evaluate neuropsychological symptoms, subjective stress and response speed functions in subjects occupationally exposed to low levels of anesthetic gases. A group of 112 operating theatre personnel exposed to anesthetic gases (nitrous oxide and isoflurane), and 135 non exposed hospital workers from 10 hospitals in Northern Italy were examined before and after the shift on the first and the last day of the working week. Three different tasks were administered: a complex reaction time test (the Stroop Color Word); a questionnaire for neuropsychological symptoms (EURO-QUEST); the block design subtest (WAIS).

[Risk of infectious hepatitis and risk of anesthetic gases in operating rooms: considerations on 3 cases of chronic hepatic pathology].

Three subject with professional activity in operating theatre and with a diagnosis of chronic viral "C" hepatitis are considered. All cases (Two surgeons and an anesthetist) had been continuously exposed to low level of airborne anesthetic compounds (Nitrous oxide and halogenated compounds). According to possible, but not proved, synergic effects, two cases with a clinical picture of active chronic hepatitis were classified as unqualified to specific work.

[Evaluation of the risk of anesthetic gases to exposed subjects with different tasks in operating rooms].

A research was carried out on risk evaluation of workers with different tasks in operating theatre. The airborne concentrations were determined by an IR analyzer with two distinct sampling lines: the first was placed in surgical zone and the second one in anesthesiological zone. The anesthetists resulted more at risk than surgical team.

[Early effects of exposure to anesthetic gases and vapors. A critical review on the suitability of several indicators of the effect].

Apart from a risk excess of liver disease among operating theatre personnel and of spontaneous abortion in women exposed during pregnancy, no definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding health impairment among anaesthesiology staff. However, many studies pointed out that several adverse effects occur as a consequence of experimental, therapeutic and occupational exposure to inhalation anaesthetics. This paper reviews the early changes of the organ systems (hepatobiliary, renal, cardiac, hematopoietic, reproductive systems; immunologic functions; cytogenetic effects), which are considered to follow anaesthetics exposure, to evaluate their possible use as biological indices of effect.