Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--plasma levels and thyroid status of workers at an electronic recycling facility.

OBJECTIVES: Personnel working with electronic dismantling are exposed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which in animal studies have been shown to alter thyroid homeostasis. The aim of this longitudinal study was to measure plasma level of PBDEs in workers at an electronic recycling facility and to relate these to the workers' thyroid status. METHODS: PBDEs and three thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxin (T(4)) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were repeatedly analysed in plasma from 11 workers during a period of 1.5 years. RESULTS: Plasma levels of PBDEs at start of employment were <0.5-9.1 pmol/g lipid weight (l.w.). The most common congener was PBDE #47 (median 2.8 pmol/g l.w.), followed by PBDE #153 (median 1.7 pmol/g l.w.), and PBDE #183 had a median value of <0.19 pmol/g l.w. After dismantling the corresponding median concentrations were: 3.7, 1.7 and 1.2 pmol/g l.w., respectively. These differences in PBDE levels were not statistically significant. PBDE #28 showed a statistically significantly higher concentration after dismantling than at start of employment (P=0.016), although at low concentrations (start 0.11 pmol/g l.w. and dismantling 0.26 pmol/g l.w.). All measured levels of thyroid hormones (T(3), T(4) and TSH) were within the normal physiological range. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between T(3) and #183 in a worker, between T(4) and both #28 and #100 in another worker and also between TSH and #99 and #154 in two workers. CONCLUSIONS: The workers' plasma levels of PBDEs fluctuated during the study period. Due to small changes in thyroid hormone levels it was concluded that no relevant changes were present in relation to PBDE exposure within the workers participating in this study.

Predictors of musculoskeletal pain in men: A twenty-year follow-up from examination at enlistment.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study with follow-up by a postal questionnaire to 6626 men nearly 40 years of age who had been examined for the first time at the age of 18. OBJECTIVES: To study the predictability of frequent musculoskeletal problems, health, lifestyle, and work situation from the examination 20 years earlier. BACKGROUND: Those who enlisted for military duty during 6 months in 1979-1980 answered a questionnaire focusing on back pain, smoking, and physical work exposure. As these men enter the biologic age when back pain is most frequent, a follow-up was of interest. METHODS: A new questionnaire was sent to those from the enlistment group who could be identified in the population register, and the answers were compared with those given at enlistment. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain increased from 38% to 74% during the 20-year period. Neck or shoulder problems were nearly as common as back problems. The number of those with a body mass index more than 25 had increased from 9% to 50%, and smoking had decreased from 29% to 14%. The odds ratio for frequent back/neck/shoulder problems at follow-up evaluation was 8.7 (95% CI: 3.78-20.10) if the person had experienced back pain that greatly affected everyday life at enlistment, 3.0 (95% CI: 2.33-3.93) if he had been off work or school because of that pain, and 2.2 (95% CI 1.57-3.24) if he had been doing heavy work already at the time of enlistment. CONCLUSION: Early back pain causing absence from work, reduced activity levels because of the pain, and heavy work loads showed a significantly increased risk for frequent pain problems at follow-up examination.

Musculoskeletal health surveillance. Eight simple, self-administered tests to add to symptom registration: a preliminary report.

STUDY DESIGN: A population-based evaluation including cross-sectional comparisons of eight simple function tests (mobility and strength) and answers on questions concerning lifestyle factors, work environment, and health. The study population was randomly selected among people 35-45 years old. OBJECTIVES: To construct a simple, self-administered surveillance system to test musculoskeletal function to be mailed to a sample population along with a questionnaire. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A surveillance system should be easy to use, detect treatable symptoms at an early stage, and detect change of function or symptoms. METHOD: Questionnaires, which also contained instructions in performing the eight tests of musculoskeletal function, were sent to a randomly selected sample population. The questionnaire covered type and level of musculoskeletal problems, and lifestyle and occupational factors. RESULTS: The questionnaire and the self-administered test were completed by 834 people. The test movements could be performed and the questions answered by the study population. The tests discriminated between those with and without moderate or severe problems. Performance of physically heavy work did not significantly correlate with the test results. The results of the physical function test discriminated significantly between those with different levels of fear of movement (odds ratio, 2.2) and the degree of current somatic distress (odds ratio, 5.9). CONCLUSION: The test of physical function could be performed and the questionnaire completed by this randomly selected cohort, and the results discriminated significantly between groups.

Winter weather conditions and myocardial infarctions.

The daily number of cases of myocardial infarctions admitted to a hospital in middle Sweden over three winter seasons 1984-87 was correlated to the weather conditions on a day-to-day basis. The study encompassed 634 days and all cases younger than 70 years, living within the catchment area, in all 382 subjects. Information on temperature, wind force, precipitation and atmospheric pressure was obtained from the Swedish Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. A low number of myocardial infarctions was seen on Saturdays and Sundays with a mild wind chill factor and on days with moderate snowfall and high atmospheric pressure. A high number was observed for workdays, especially Mondays, as day of diagnosis. Heterogeneity of the study population and a misclassification of the time relationships between dates of diagnosis and weather changes may have caused an underestimation of the impact of weather conditions. However, weather conditions do not seem to be a major triggering factor of myocardial infarctions in Sweden.

Respiratory symptoms among Swedish swine producers.

Two hundred nine male farmers engaged in swine production, born in 1913 or later, and alive in 1985 received mailed questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, medical history, and exposure to contaminated air in swine confinement buildings. The response rate was 76%. The prevalence of three or more symptoms of bronchitis was higher than that in welders who had completed the same questionnaire--Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio 5.26 (1.9-14.8) for smoking subjects. The number of reported symptoms was strongly influenced by smoking habits (p less than .01) and by exposure (p less than .01), and by a positive interaction between these (p less than .01, two-way analysis of covariance). Air in swine confinement buildings is contaminated with bacterial endotoxins and organic dust, and it is concluded that it may pose a risk for airways diseases such as chronic bronchitis.