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To compare data obtained in a pilot study (2002) which evaluated the risk from exposure to stress and burnout in health care workers, the same three subjective questionnaires were administered: the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The evaluation considered 294 workers employed in eight units: two of the six previous units were reorganized in four subunits. Preliminary data showed that questionnaires' scores have a concordant trend in the different units, as observed in 2002, confirming the validity of the instruments adopted. Results indicated a decreased level of the perceived stress in all the units, especially in the Third Division. We can hypothesize that the new organization, workers' turnover during the 5 years and the effect due to individual variables could have contribute to the observed variation. No significant associations, compared to 2002, between questionnaires' scores and task were found. Further evaluations, including measurement of objective parameters, will be carried out to complete the follow-up study and to determine which variables could have a role in the variation of the levels of stress and burnout's subjective perception.

Welding fumes are a complex mixture composed of different metals. Most welding fumes contain a small percentage of manganese. There is an emerging concern among occupational health officials about the potential neurological effects associated with the exposure to manganese in welding fumes. Little is known about the fate of manganese that is complexed with other metals in the welding particles after inhalation. Depending on the welding process and the composition of the welding electrode, manganese may be present in different oxidation states and have different solubility properties. These differences may affect the biological responses to manganese after the inhalation of welding fumes. Manganese intoxication and the associated neurological symptoms have been reported in individual cases of welders who have been exposed to high concentrations of manganese-containing welding fumes due to work in poorly ventilated areas. However, the question remains as to whether welders who are exposed to low levels of welding fumes over long periods of time are at risk for the development of neurological diseases. For the most part, questions remain unanswered. There is still paucity of adequate scientific reports on welders who suffered significant neurotoxicity, hence there is a need for well-designed epidemiology studies that combine complete information on the occupational exposure of welders with both behavioral and biochemical endpoints of neurotoxicity.

The existence of a risk of musculoskeletal disorders work-related of the upper extremity (UEWMSDs) in the textile industry, specifically in particular working phases as spinning, appears today controversial. The upper limb disorders, sometimes described, have not a location ever plausible with the level of the biomechanical overload, as when carpal tunnel syndromes are signalled during activities in which the shoulder is the only segment eventually interested. Moreover these findings are shown in workers appointed at tasks or actions not clearly identified at risk. For example the spinning activity, that requires the movement of shuttles of modest weight, sometimes on levels above the shoulder line, is organized with cyclical cadences sometimes as repetitive tasks concentrated in a short period, sometimes in longer during the entire shift. Distribution and number of the actions, would however allow a sufficient biomechanical recovery. The identification of the single technical action may result difficult, due to interindividual variability of actions, of their speed and complexity. Furthermore the other possible activities, alternate with specific spinning activities, can require strength or not correct posture even if they may have short duration. In this paper we present and discuss the results of the ergonomic survey for risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders work-related of the upper limb. These analysis have been carried out in two textile plants, in which some cases of disorders of the upper limb in workers employed in spinning activities have been described by occupational health physicians. In addition to assessment of possible risk for UEWMSDs in spinning activities, we founded the capability of usual methods for ergonomic analysis to adequately examine work situations like spinning, in which the hazardous actions are diluted over the entire shift or concentrate in a short period and in which there is a specific biomechanically overloaded segment i.e. the shoulder. Finally attention was paid to evaluate psychosocial factors which appear to be important when biomechanical factors are low-lying.

Modern neurobehavioral methods are used in the assessment of the early effects due to exposure to neurotoxic agents in working and general environment. This paper describes the history and evolution of neurobehavioral methods and their contribution for research on the effects due to the exposure to neurotoxic substances. Moreover, the paper describes the different fields of application of neurobehavioral tests: experimental, epidemiological and follow-up studies, health surveillance, clinical diagnosis, definition of job fitness and risk assessment for the definition of threshold limit values.

Due to its paramagnetic properties, manganese (Mn) can be effectively visualized by MRI. Mn accumulates selectively in the globus pallidus of basal ganglia, where it can produce high signals at brain magnetic resonance. These hyperintensities are bilateral, symmetrical, and visible in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of different manganese overload conditions. A review of the literature shows identical findings in manganese exposed workers, hepatopatic patients, and patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition with excessive amount of manganese. Two indicators of exposure and hyperintensity were considered, represented respectively by the concentration of Mn in total blood (MnB), and the pallidal index (PI). These two indicators show a positive association, which indicates a possible continuum from normality to clinical stages both in workers occupationally exposed to Mn and in patients suffering from chronic liver disease. Since both MnB and PI show a high degree of variability, further research should be focused on the identification of more accurate indicators.

A cross sectional field study was planned to assess neurotoxic effects caused by low-level occupational lead exposure. Two groups of 66 workers and 86 controls were examined with a battery including a questionnaire on neurotoxic symptoms, the measure of performance at neurobehavioral testing, the detection of visual contrast sensitivity, and the dosage of serum prolactin. Both current and cumulative exposure to lead were defined. The average PbB was 27.50 +/- 28 microg/dl (median 28, range 6-61) in the exposed and 8.11 +/- 4.47 microg/dl (median 7, range 2-21). The test results were controlled for possible confounders including age, schooling, alcohol and coffee intake. Significant differences were observed between exposed and controls regarding neurotoxic symptoms reporting, the exposed reporting more frequently mood changes and abnormal fatigue. The exposed subjects showed a decreased visual contrast sensitivity, and a marked increase of prolactin secretion. No changes emerged regarding neurobehavioral testing. The alterations observed resulted associated to the current lead exposure and not to the cumulative indices. A safe exposure level was calculated on the basis of dose-response relationship with prolactin alteration, yielding a PbB value of 10 microg/dl.