[Integrated approach to the promotion of health and safety in agriculture: a pilot study in the Cremona area]. / Approccio integrato per la promozione della salute e sicurezza in agricoltura: studio pilota nella provincia di Cremona.

The agricultural sector in Cremona country is made up of many small farms and this makes it difficult to realease the principles of health and safety at work. In this experience an innovative platform for information and training, in which the agricoltural trade unions are privileged partner of public institutions in the road map for continuous improvement, has been tested. In a first phase, the availability of expert technicians to check the consistency of the application of safety standards has been offered by the trade associations free of charge to 100 farms. The critical points and problems were identified using specific checklists and a custom proposal to solve them was proposed. In a second phase, farms participating in the project have been officially inspected by the local public health authority. The comparison between the data collected in the two phases allowed to ascertain a good effectiveness and efficiency of the preventive intervention plan experienced.

[Trend of the asbestos related diseases mortality in workers of a company in the province Cremona which manufactured asbestos products]. / Andamento delle patologie e della mortalità asbesto correlate in lavoratori di un'azienda della provincia di Cremona che produceva manufatti in amianto.

The study analyzes the trend of asbestos-related diseases and mortality in workers of a company in the province of Cremona which manufactured asbestos products. It is confirmed that the exposure to a high concentration of asbestos fibers (estimated to more than 20 fibers/cc) strictly correlates with the onset of pathologies from asbestos. In the studied population were found 19 cases of neoplastic diseases (12 mesotheliomas and 7 bronchopulmonary carcinomas). This figure, compared to the company working population, which over the years has been an average of 80 units, while not enabling to calculate an incidence rate due to the lack of reliable data on population, is indicative of a very significant cause-effect relationship since these are neoplastic diseases that can still arise. So it is necessary to continue the health monitoring of formerly exposed workers and appropriate to try to extend it to all workers of the asbestos compartment.

Endocrine effects of psychological stress associated with neurobehavioral performance testing.

Twenty-four healthy subjects were submitted to a computer-based performance evaluation system. The set of tests required sustained attention, and the last test was expressly designed to cause a moderate, acute psychological stress. Compared to baseline levels, both serum ACTH and beta-endorphins were increased after psychological testing in all subjects. Serum prolactin showed a slight and statistically nonsignificant decrease compared to baseline values. These results question the belief that psychological stress stimulates prolactin secretion, whereas it suggests that serum ACTH and beta-endorphins are reliable indicators of acute psychological stress.