[Computer terminals. Evaluation of utilization time]. / Valutazione dei tempi di utilizzo del videoterminale.

The aim of the present study was to compare the duration of computer use assessed through a software package and through self-report by questionnaire. Applied in a large Public Administration the software package led altogether to a remarkable reduction in the number of workers reaching the duration of use which requires medical examination. Nevertheless, it highlighted that self-reporting of a considerable number of workers had underestimated the computer use. The consistency with Italian laws is also discussed.

Hantavirus and arenavirus antibody prevalence in rodents and humans in Trentino, Northern Italy.

The spatial and temporal distribution of hantavirus and arenavirus antibody-positive wild rodents in Trentino, Italy, was studied using immunofluorescence assays (IFA) in two long-term sites trapped in 2000-2003, and six other sites trapped in 2002. The overall hantavirus seroprevalence in the bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus (n=229) screened for Puumala virus (PUUV) antibodies was 0.4%, and that for Apodemus flavicollis mice (n=1416) screened for Dobrava virus (DOBV) antibodies was 0.2%. Antibodies against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were found in 82 (5.6%) of the 1472 tested rodents; the seroprevalence being 6.1% in A. flavicollis (n=1181), 3.3% in C. glareolus (n=276), and 14.3% in Microtus arvalis (n=7). Of the serum samples of 488 forestry workers studied by IFA, 12 were LCMV-IgG positive (2.5%) and one DOBV-IgG positive (0.2%), however, the latter could not be confirmed DOBV-specific with a neutralization assay. Our results show a widespread distribution but low prevalence of DOBV in Trentino, and demonstrate that the arenavirus antibodies are a common finding in several other rodent species besides the house mouse.

[Hand-arm vibration syndrome and upper limb disorders associated with forestry work]. / Sindrome da vibrazioni mano-braccio e patologie degli arti superiori correlate con il lavoro forestale.

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration in forestry workers is associated with an increased risk for vascular, neurological and musculo-skeletal disorders of the upper limbs. OBJECTIVES: To carry out a cross-sectional study of the hand-arm vibration syndrome and soft-tissue disorders of the upper limb in a group of forestry workers employed in the Forestry Service of the Province of Trento (Italy). In the forestry worker group, usage of anti-vibration chain-saws was intermittent over a typical work year (16 weeks/yr, on average). METHODS: To investigate vascular, neurological and musculo-skeletal disorders of the upper limbs, the forestry workers (n=159) and a control group of manual workers, unexposed to hand-transmitted vibration, employed in the same Forestry Service (n=146) underwent a structured medical interview and a complete physical examination. The clinical diagnoses of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and carpal tunnel syndrome were made according to internationally recognised consensus criteria. Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration was assessed according to the recommendations of the International Standard ISO 5349-1 (2001). RESULTS: The forestry workers showed an increased prevalence of peripheral sensory-neural disturbances (33.3%), musculo-skeletal disorders of the upper limbs (37.7%), and carpal tunnel syndrome (21.4%) compared to those observed in the control group. There was no significant difference in the prevalence ofRaynaud' sphenomenon between the forestry workers (6.3%) and the controls (4.1%). After adjustment for confounding factors (age, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol consumption), a significant association was observed between peripheral neuropathies (peripheral sensory-neural disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome) and several indices of vibration exposure such as 8-hr energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration [A(8) in m/s2 r.m.s.], duration of exposure (years), and lifetime vibration dose (m2/s4 hr). An excess, although not significant, risk for VWF was observed only in the forestry workers with A(8) > or = 4 m/s2 r.m.s.. In the forestry workers, there was no significant association between VWF and sensory-neural disorders, and between VWF and carpal tunnel syndrome. This finding seems to support the hypothesis that the vascular and neurological components of the hand-arm vibration syndrome develop independently of each other. Within the forestry worker group, the variable "years of tool usage" showed the strongest association with peripheral sensory-neural symptoms, carpal tunnel syndrome, and soft-tissue disorders of the upper limbs. It is likely that in the forestry workers the variable "years of tool usage" represents an overall index of duration of exposure to several adverse ergonomic and mechanical risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest a tendency for a decrease in the occurrence of VWF among forestry workers, and this finding seems to be associated with the use of anti-vibration chain saws, the reduction of exposure duration, and the improvement of work organization. On the other hand, the forestry workers showed an increase in the occurrence of peripheral sensory neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, and upper-extremity musculo-skeletal disorders. This finding seems to support the view that there is epidemiological evidence for a positive association between exposure to a combination of risk factors (segmental vibration, forcefulness, awkward posture) and the occurrence of soft-tissue disorders of the upper limb in working populations.

Scleroderma and occupational exposure.

OBJECTIVES: A case-referent study was conducted in the province of Trento, Italy, to investigate the possible association between occupational exposure and scleroderma (systemic and localized variants). METHODS: Twenty-one cases of scleroderma were ascertained from the computerized admission files of all of the local hospitals from 1976 to 1991. For each case, two age- and gender-matched referents were selected that were discharged from the hospital on the same day as the case. The subjects were interviewed with a structured questionnaire which included items for personal, work, and medical history. Exposure to organic solvents, other selected chemicals, silica dust, and hand-arm vibration was carefully investigated. RESULTS: A significant association was found between exposure to organic solvents (aromatic hydrocarbons) and scleroderma [odds ratio (OR) 9.28, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08-243.8]. For the men, the OR for exposure to silica was 5.20 (95% CI 0.48-74.1), whereas for the women it was 2.11 (95% CI 0.20-22.0) for exposure to other selected chemicals. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this case-referent study are consistent with those of previous case reports on the important role of occupation in the etiology of scleroderma. In particular, our findings confirm that exposure to organic solvents and silica is associated with this rare connective tissue disease.

[Scleroderma and occupational factors: a case-control study and analysis of literature]. / Sclerodermia e fattori occupazionali: studio caso-controllo e analisi della letteratura.

The scientific literature concerning occupational factors associated with scleroderma consists mostly of case report type studies. We therefore undertook a case-control study in the Province of Trento using as data source the Hospital Records System. The annual rate of scleroderma incidence in the period considered (1976-1991) was 5.8 per million in females and 1.5 per million in males. A statistically significant association was observed (OR = 9.28, p = 0.039) in the population under study for occupational exposure to solvents. Also, an excess risk was observed in male subjects exposed to silica dust, even though the simultaneous exposure to other risk factors, such as hand-arm vibrations, makes it difficult to establish the specific contribution of silica dust exposure.