Effects of grain dust on lungs prior to and following dust remediation.

Objective: To determine longitudinal estimates of pulmonary function decline in Canadian grain elevator workers before and after dust control by analyzing data collected from five regions of Canada over 15 years.

Methods: Declines in forced expired volume in one second and forced vital capacity before and after dust control were estimated by using a generalized estimating equations approach.

Results: For grain workers who were in the grain industry for 20 or more years both before and after dust control: the mean annual loss of forced expired volume in one second was greatest among current smoking grain workers followed by ex-smokers and nonsmokers, respectively.

The potential of gait analysis to contribute to differential diagnosis of early stage dementia: current research and future directions.

Early differential diagnosis of dementia is becoming increasingly important as new pharmacologic therapies are developed, as these treatments are not equally effective for all types of dementia. Early detection and differential diagnosis also facilitates informed family decision making and timely access to appropriate services. Information about gait characteristics is informative in the diagnostic process and may have important implications for discriminating among dementia subtypes.

Lung function and farm size predict healthy worker effect in swine farmers.

Background: Swine farmers are exposed to a number of airborne contaminants associated with respiratory ill health.

Objectives: To examine the factors associated with healthy worker effect in the swine industry from a longitudinal follow-up of farmers at 4 years and 13 years.

Design: A prospective study of swine farmers and nonexposed rural residents was conducted using similar questionnaires and same spirometer at each time point.

Respiratory response to endotoxin and dust predicts evidence of inflammatory response in volunteers in a swine barn.

Background: It has been shown that exposure in intense exposure in swine barn facilities is associated with increased respiratory symptoms and reduction in pulmonary functions. This study investigated if systemic response could be predicted by FEV(1) response following swine barn exposure.

Methods: Naïve males were tested at baseline, low and high endotoxin and dust levels.

Differential effect of damp housing on respiratory health in women.

Objective: To investigate the effect of exposure to damp housing on respiratory symptoms in women and men.

Method: We examined sex differences in the relationship between damp housing and respiratory symptoms in a cross-sectional survey of 1988 adults, 18 to 74 years of age, using a self-administered questionnaire. We used chi (2) and t-tests to test associations between potential risk factors and respiratory symptoms in men and women.

Total dust and endotoxin in poultry operations: comparison between cage and floor housing and respiratory effects in workers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess respiratory outcomes and environmental exposure levels of workers in cage-housed and floor-housed poultry operations.

Methods: Poultry operations were evaluated for total dust, endotoxin, and ammonia, and respiratory symptoms and lung function tests of workers were conducted.

Results: Workers in floor-housed poultry operations had significantly greater exposures to total dust and ammonia, whereas workers from cage-housed poultry operations reported greater frequency of current and chronic symptoms overall and significantly greater current and chronic phlegm (39% vs 18% and 40% vs 11%, respectively).

Longitudinal changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms among Canadian grain elevator workers.

Objectives: To determine longitudinal changes in the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among Canadian grain workers.

Design: Data on respiratory symptoms, smoking status, and pulmonary function were obtained approximately every 3 years (termed cycle) over 15 years beginning in 1978 from five regions of Canada.

Participants: The number of grain workers participating in each cycle were as follows: cycle 1 (n = 5,702); cycle 2 (n = 5,491); cycle 3 (n = 3,713); cycle 4 (n = 2,847); and cycle 5 (n = 3,079).

Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcomas, insect repellents, and phenoxyherbicides.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if there is an additional risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or soft tissue sarcoma as a consequence of exposure to a combination of phenoxyherbicides, rubber gloves, DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), and sunlight compared with each of the individual chemicals.

Methods: This was a population-based study of men with specific cancers and age, province-matched control subjects.

Results: No additional risk from these combinations of exposures of developing these three types of tumor was found in contrast to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Host factors and genetic susceptibility: a paradigm of the conundrum of pesticide exposure and cancer associations.

Millions of people are exposed to pesticides in non-trivial ways though their work, their leisure and their home environment. Women and children are understudied populations. The mode and types of pesticides to which women and children are exposed are often different from exposures experienced by men.

Insect repellents, phenoxyherbicide exposure, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Objective: We sought to test a hypothetical explanation of contradictory results in studies of phenoxyherbicides and NHL, that the exposure of rubber gloves recommended for use by farmers when mixing or applying pesticides simultaneously to 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), and ultraviolet rays increased their permeability to 2,4-D.

Methods: We conducted a case (NHL n = 513)/control (n = 1506) study among men using age; province of residence; exposure to insect repellents containing DEET, phenoxy-herbicides, or dicamba; and gloves when handling pesticides.

Results: Using conditional logistic regression, the stratum with reported exposure to mecoprop, to DEET and the use of rubber gloves had higher odds ratios (3.

Altered gene expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells exposed to low-level 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and potassium nitrate.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and nitrate are agricultural contaminants found in rural ground water. It is not known whether levels found in groundwater pose a human or environmental health risk, nor is the mechanism of toxicity at the molecular/cellular level understood. This study focused on determining whether 2,4-D or nitrate at environmentally realistic levels elicit gene expression changes in exposed cells.

Occupational asthma in newly employed workers in intensive swine confinement facilities.

Respiratory symptoms, reductions in pulmonary function and increased bronchial responsiveness have been described in exposed workers and in naïve volunteers exposed to intensive swine production facilities. Typically, this occurs in persons who have been employed for a long duration or in previously unexposed, naïve volunteers. The current authors describe four cases, all female, who developed acute onset of wheezing and cough suggestive of asthma within weeks of commencing full-time employment in intensive swine production facilities.

Exposure to animals and selected risk factors among Canadian farm residents with Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, or soft tissue sarcoma.

Exposures to farm animals has been associated with certain rare cancers. Simultaneously, using the same methodology and control group, we conducted a six-province incident, population-based study of Hodgkin's disease (HD), multiple myeloma (MM), and soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Farm residence or work was reported by 38% (n = 119) of HD, 45% (n = 178) of MM, 43% (n = 156) of STS cases and 45% (n = 673) of controls.

Case reports of on-site investigations of auger-related farm injuries.

Previous reports have indicated that injuries involving augers (screw conveyors) are a serious problem in agriculture, but to date on-site engineering inspections linking injuries to mechanical and procedural aspects have not been available. This article details four events involving injuries as the result of being entangled in auger flighting. In each report, the circumstances surrounding the injury event are outlined, and the machinery involved is evaluated in terms of its compliance with current safety standards.