Search

Objectives Prior studies have indicated a high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among Navy personnel; however, it is not clear whether this is caused by work on board. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of hearing loss among Navy personnel in the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN), and to investigate whether there is an association between work on board RNoN vessels and occurrence of hearing loss. Methods Navy personnel currently working on board RNoN vessels were recruited to complete a questionnaire on noise exposure and health followed by pure tone audiometry. Hearing loss was defined as hearing threshold levels ≥25 dB in either ear at the frequencies 3,000, 4,000 or 6,000 Hz. Hearing thresholds were adjusted for age and gender using ISO 7029. Results The prevalence of hearing loss among Navy personnel was 31.4 %. The work exposure variables: years of work in the Navy, years on vessel(s) in the Navy and years of sailing in the Navy were associated with reduced hearing after adjusting for age, gender and otitis as an adult. Among the work exposure variables, years of sailing in the Navy was the strongest predictor of reduced hearing, and significantly reduced hearing was found at the frequencies 1,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Hz. Conclusions Our results indicate that time spent on board vessels in the RNoN is a predictor of reduced hearing. publishedVersion

The objective of this study was to determine to what extent the substitution of solvent-based paint by water-based paint has reduced potential exposure to organic solvents for spray painters in car repair shops.Full-shift personal air sampling (n=79) was carried out over 3 consecutive days in eight car repair shops. Blood samples on the Monday morning (n=26) and at the end of the shift on the Wednesday (n=26), were analysed for organic solvents by headspace techniques.Toluene was the organic solvent detected at the highest geometric mean concentration in air samples when solvent-based paint systems were used (0.8 ppm), whereas xylene was found at the highest level when water-based systems were used (0.25 ppm). Toluene, isopropanol, acetone and butyl acetate were detected at higher concentrations when solvent-based paint was used than when water-based paint was employed. The additive factor, based on Norwegian limit values, was three-times higher for the painters using solvent-based paint (0.15) than for those using water-based paint (0.05). On Wednesday after shift the geometric mean of toluene in blood was significantly higher for the painters using solvent-based paint (0.044 microg/ml) than for the painters using water-based paint (0.007 microg/ml). There was a significant correlation between toluene in personal air samples and toluene in blood samples taken at the end of the shift on the same day.When solvent-based paint systems were used the additive factor for organic solvent exposure was three-times higher than when water-based systems were employed. The exposure levels of the organic solvents were well below the Norwegian limit values. The significant correlation between the toluene concentration in air and blood samples indicated that the uptake of organic solvents was correspondingly reduced. At the levels of organic solvents presently described the risk of acute and chronic health effects caused by organic solvents is low.

Purpose: Characterize ethylbenzene and xylene air concentrations, and explore the biological exposure markers (urinary t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA) and unmetabolized toluene) among petroleum workers offshore. Offshore workers have increased health risks due to simultaneous exposures to several hydrocarbons present in crude oil. We discuss the pooled benzene exposure results from our previous and current studies and possible co-exposure interactions. Methods: BTEX air concentrations were measured during three consecutive 12-h work shifts among 10 tank workers, 15 process operators, and 18 controls. Biological samples were collected pre-shift on the first day of study and post-shift on the third day of the study. Results: The geometric mean exposure over the three work shifts were 0.02ppm benzene, 0.05ppm toluene, 0.03ppm ethylbenzene, and 0.06ppm xylene. Benzene in air was significantly correlated with unmetabolized benzene in blood (r=0.69, p

To describe the relationship between cumulative respirable dust and quartz exposure and lung functioning among workers in a labour-intensive coal mine.The study population comprised 299 men working at a coal mine in Tanzania. Lung function was assessed using a Vitalograph alpha III spirometer in accordance with American Thoracic Society recommendations. Multiple linear regression models were developed to study the relationship between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV(1)/FVC and the cumulative dust or quartz exposure while adjusting for age, height and ever smoking. To evaluate trends for dose response, cumulative exposure concentrations for respirable dust and quartz were ranked and categorized in quartiles and the highest decile, with the first quartile as the reference group. Logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios for FEV(1)/FVC0.7 and FEV(1)%80 for categories of cumulative dust or quartz exposure.The prevalence of FEV(1)/FVC0.7 among the workers was 17.3%. Workers in the development team (20.5%) had the highest prevalence of FEV(1)%80%. The estimates of the effects of cumulative exposure on FEV(1)/FVC were -0.015% per mg years m(-3) for respirable dust and -0.3% per mg years m(-3) for respirable quartz. In logistic regression models, the odds ratios for airway limitation (FEV(1)/FVC0.7) for the workers in the highest decile of cumulative dust and quartz exposure versus the referents were 4.36 (95% confidence interval: 1.06, 17.96) and 3.49 (0.92, 13.21), respectively. The upper 10% of workers by cumulative dust and quartz exposure also had higher odds ratios for predicted FEV(1)%80% than the reference group odds ratio: 10.38 (1.38, 78.13) and 14.18 (1.72, 116.59), respectively. The results must be interpreted with caution due to a possible healthy worker effect and selection bias.Exposure to respirable coal mine dust was associated with airway limitation as measured by FEV(1)/FVC and predicted FEV(1)%.