ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an evidence-based, behavioral lifestyle intervention program delivered at a worksite setting is effective in improving type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors. METHODS: A randomized 6-month delayed control design was utilized, with two thirds of the participants assigned to begin intervention immediately, and one third beginning 6 months later. The year-long program (weekly for 3 months transitioning to monthly) focused on weight loss and increasing physical activity. RESULTS: The immediate intervention group had greater mean weight loss (-10.4 lb, 5.1%, vs -2.3 lb, 1%; P = 0.0001) than the delayed control group at 6 months and relatively greater improvements in activity, HbA1c, and other risk factors. The delayed group experienced similar improvements after completing the intervention program. CONCLUSIONS: A worksite behavioral lifestyle intervention is feasible and effective in significantly improving risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Health Behavior , Life Style , Occupational Health Services , Occupational Health , Adult , Aged , Exercise , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Risk Factors , Weight Loss , WorkplaceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To identify possible cases of occupational asthma and assess accidental skin and inhalation exposures to aliphatic diisocyanates. METHODS: Seventy-three employees from two plants, manufacturing or producing aliphatic diisocyanates, were surveyed using a detailed respiratory history questionnaire with additional questions on accidental skin and inhalation exposures. Further reviews of medical records and interviews were used to determine whether any of 15 employees with questionable responses had developed occupational asthma. RESULTS: No cases of occupational asthma were identified. Nevertheless, many employees reported occasional accidental unprotected skin exposures and/or detecting the odor of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate or isophorone diisocyanate. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with a previous study, no cases of occupational asthma were identified from exposure to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, methylene bis(4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), or their polyisocyanates even though many employees reported detection of odors (93%) or skin exposures (53%).
Subject(s)
Asthma, Occupational/diagnosis , Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects , Isocyanates/toxicity , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/toxicity , Asthma, Occupational/etiology , Chemical Industry , Cross-Sectional Studies , Cyanates/toxicity , Female , Humans , Male , Medical History Taking , Odorants , Skin , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In 2004, The American Chemistry Council Phosgene Panel established a phosgene exposure registry among US phosgene producers with the primary purpose of monitoring health outcome information for workers with acute exposure. METHODS: We examine symptoms among 338 workers with phosgene exposure. The phosgene exposures averaged 8.3 ppm-minutes ranging up to 159 ppm-minutes with most exposures below 10 ppm-minutes. RESULTS: We found that the level of phosgene exposure in ppm-minutes was related to workers reporting mostly irritation symptoms of the nose, throat and eyes within 48 hours of exposure. However, we found no relationship between phosgene exposure and the presence of symptoms 30 days after exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings lend credence to the theory that prolonged respiratory effects do not occur with doses less than 150 ppm-minutes.
Subject(s)
Chemical Industry , Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects , Inhalation Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Phosgene/adverse effects , Population Surveillance , Registries , Adult , Female , Humans , Inhalation Exposure/analysis , Male , Occupational Exposure/analysis , Pulmonary Edema/chemically induced , Time Factors , United StatesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify if 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) workers demonstrated an increased prevalence of occupational asthma or accelerated decline in pulmonary function. METHODS: Employees from two plants manufacturing or producing 1,6-HDI monomer and/or HDI polyisocyanates were matched to a control population by age, gender, race, and smoking status. A random coefficient regression analysis compared the decline in pulmonary function test values over time. Retrospective medical review was used to identify potential cases of occupationally induced asthma. RESULTS: No significantly accelerated annual decline in force expiratory volume after 1 second in the HDI exposure group compared to the matched control group was observed. No cases of adult onset asthma, beyond those present at time of hire, and no cases of occupational asthma were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value time-weighted average of 5 ppb.
