The Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union: refining strategies for labor.

In a period of declining union membership and severe economic and environmental crisis it is important that labor unions rethink their traditional roles and organizational goals. Responding to some of these problems and reflecting a history of innovative and progressive unionism, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW) has sought to address occupational and environmental health problems within the context of a political struggle. This study suggests that by joining with the environmental movement and community activists, by pursuing a strategy of coalition building, and by developing an initiative to build and advocate for a new political party, OCAW provides a model for reinvigorating trade unionism in the United States.

Cryptorchidism and delayed testicular descent in Florida black bears.

Retained testes were found in 11 (16%) of 71 black bears (Ursus americanus) examined over a 3-year period in Florida (USA). Four of the 11 bears were older than one year and weighed more than 32 kg; therefore, they were considered to be cryptorchid. The remaining seven bears may have had delayed testicular descent due to their apparent normal immature development. This is the first known published report of the prevalence of cryptorchidism and apparently normal delayed testicular descent in a black bear population.

A comparison of parasitic helminths and arthropods from two subspecies of fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) in Florida.

The faunas of parasitic helminths and arthropods of 87 Sherman's fox squirrels (Sciurus niger shermani) and 32 Big Cypress fox squirrels (Sciurus niger avicennia) collected from Florida (USA) over a 6-yr period (1988 to 1993) were compared. One acanthocephalan, one cestode, nine nematodes, one flea, three sucking lice, three mites, one tick, and one dipteran larva were identified. Citellinema bifurcatum and Physaloptera massino were new records for Florida and Gongylonema pulchrum, Neotrombicula whartoni, and Eushoengastia diversa were new host records. Three core species of nematodes (distributed widely, highly host specific, and very prevalent) were identified from Sherman's fox squirrels. These included Strongyloides robustus, Heligmodendrium hassalli, and C. bifurcatum, which were higher in prevalence and intensity in Sherman's fox squirrels than in Big Cypress fox squirrels. One core species of cestode (Raillietina bakeri) was collected from 32% of Sherman's fox squirrels, but was not observed in Big Cypress fox squirrels. The number of species, prevalences, intensities, and abundances of parasites from Sherman's fox squirrels were greater than those from Big Cypress fox squirrels.

Demodicosis in black bears (Ursus americanus) from Florida.

Demodicosis was diagnosed in five black bears (Ursus americanus) from north-central Florida. The first bear examined, a 5-yr-old male, had severe alopecia except for the dorsal neck, paws, and ears. The skin was characterized by moderate orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, and mild to moderate follicular hyperkeratosis. Superficial dermatitis, follicular pustules, and epidermal pustules were present, but rare. Specimens of Demodex sp. were seen most commonly within hair follicles devoid of hair and at the infundibulum of sebaceous glands. Four additional bears from the same area also had some degree of alopecia and skin scrapings were positive for Demodex sp. This mite may be common, although its prevalence is not known.

Teaching health and safety: problems and possibilities for learner-centered training.

The University of Massachusetts at Lowell Work Environment Department, working jointly with four New England coalitions on occupational safety and health (COSH) groups, has developed and is delivering participatory and learner-centered health and safety training for hazardous waste site workers and emergency responders throughout New England. This consortium has created a technical curriculum for hazardous waste workers accessible to the nonspecialist and which, more importantly, draws upon workers' own experience and knowledge as a source of information, education, and experiential resources. In this article, we examine the goals of the consortium, the applicability of the training method, its successes and failures, and the wider implications such pedagogical techniques have for effective and empowering health and safety training. We conclude that such a teaching technique is a successful means of providing technical knowledge and skills in a positive and rewarding atmosphere. We also conclude, however, that the extent to which this form of education is empowering, as is claimed by many of its proponents, is less clear-cut.