Changes in risk behavior and dynamics of hepatitis C virus infections among young drug users in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

To elucidate the character and magnitude of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic among drug users in Amsterdam, 197 young drug users from the period 2000 to 2004 were compared with 215 counterparts from 1985 to 1989. Although injection risk behavior and HCV seroprevalence decreased sharply over time, HCV seroprevalence remains high (44%) among young drug users who have ever injected. Phylogenetic analysis shows that current HCV infections originate from diversification of strains already circulating in the past, but also from the recent introduction of new subtypes.

Amount of self-reported illicit drug use compared to quantitative hair test results in community-recruited young drug users in Amsterdam.

Aims: To assess the dose-effect relationship between self-reported drug intake and the concentration of drugs and/or their metabolites in hair and to examine factors that may mediate this relationship.

Design And Setting: A cohort study among young drug users (YDU) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which began in July 2000. At intake, YDU were asked to report their average drug intake over a 2-month period.

HIV prevalence and risk behaviour in young drug users in Amsterdam.

Objectives: To assess the HIV prevalence and risk behaviour among regular young drug users (YDU) in Amsterdam.

Design: Subjects were 282 YDU (using heroin, cocaine, methadone and/or amphetamines at least 3 days/week) aged 30 years or less who participated in a cross-sectional survey in Amsterdam in 1998. Participants were recruited both directly (41%) through healthcare institutions, and indirectly (59%) by referrals from YDU already enrolled.

Mortality of short-term workers in two international cohorts.

The purpose of this study was to compare the pattern of mortality of blue-collar workers employed less and more than 1 year in the man-made vitreous fiber (MMVF) and the reinforced plastic industries, the latter group being exposed to styrene. We conducted an analysis among 21,784 workers with less than 1 year of employment (short-term workers) and 19,117 workers with 1 or more years of employment (long-term workers) employed in eight European countries. We conducted analyses based on external as well as internal comparisons.

Claims incidence of work-related disorders of the upper extremities: Washington state, 1987 through 1995.

Objectives: This study examined the claim incidence rate, cost, and industry distribution of work-related upper extremity disorders in Washington.

Methods: Washington State Fund workers' compensation claims from 1987 to 1995 were abstracted and categorized into general and specific disorders of gradual or sudden onset.

Results: Accepted claims included 100,449 for hand/wrist disorders (incidence rate: 98.

Environmental risk factors of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is women's most ubiquitous cancer. The role of dietary factors is controversial, but there is limited evidence for such occupational risk factors as employment in the pharmaceutical industry and as a beautician. Ionizing radiation probably increases the risk.

Quantification of historical dust exposures in the diatomaceous earth industry.

Quantitative estimates of dust exposure in a diatomaceous earth (DE) mining and milling operation have been derived based on air sampling records for the period 1948-1988. A total of 6395 records was included in the analysis. Conversion of results obtained by particle counting, expressed as millions of particles per cubic feet (mppcf) of gravimetrically from a filter cassette and expressed as mg m-3 total, were converted to mg m-3 respirable dust using a conversion factor derived from data obtained during the same periods at the plant.

Dose-response associations of silica with nonmalignant respiratory disease and lung cancer mortality in the diatomaceous earth industry.

The potential carcinogenicity of crystalline silica to humans remains a controversial issue. The authors conducted an historical cohort mortality study of 2,342 male workers exposed to crystalline silica, predominantly cristobalite, in a diatomaceous earth mining and processing facility in California. During the years 1942-1994, mortality excesses were detected for nonmalignant respiratory diseases (NMRD) (standardized mortality ratio = 2.

Exposure to styrene and mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases.

A cohort of 34,560 men and 6128 women employed in 660 European factories manufacturing reinforced plastic products, followed up originally to assess the risk of cancer, was used to assess the risk of non-malignant respiratory diseases associated with exposure to styrene. Mortality from pneumonia was associated with intensity of exposure to styrene, but this may have been due to chance. Mortality from bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma was not associated with styrene exposure.

Exposure to styrene and mortality from nonmalignant diseases of the genitourinary system.

Objectives: A historical cohort study was carried out to investigate mortality from nonmalignant diseases of the genitourinary system among workers in the reinforced plastics industry, where high workroom concentrations of styrene are encountered.

Methods: The external comparisons in this report were based on an average of 12.6 years of retrospective follow-up of 35 443 workers who were first employed in the reinforced plastics industry during 1945-1991 and were known to have been exposed to styrene in their work.

[Degree of protection against poliomyelitis of Dutch subjects born before 1945 and of allochthonous subjects in Utrecht, and the relationship to socioeconomic status].

In 1992 a seroepidemiological survey regarding the immune status for poliomyelitis was carried out amongst the population of the city of Utrecht: Dutch people born before 1945 and migrant workers and their families of all ages. Migrant workers and their families were well protected against poliomyelitis, using the WHO criteria (titre > or = I:8). The Dutch people born before 1945 were also well protected.