STRESS CHARACTERISTICS IN DIFFERENT WORK CONDITIONS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY SPECIFICITY OF RISK FACTORS BY THE QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD?

The aim of this study is to identify, by a brief ad hoc questionnaire, specific dimensions of perceived occupational stress that could be relevant in two different work conditions of female workers: visual display unit (VDU) operators, for whom the risk of work-related stress is already known in literature, and kindergarten teachers, for whom very few studies have examined this risk. A questionnaire, prepared specifically for workers, was filled in by 70 all-female kindergarten teachers and 70 all-female VDU operators. The two groups were matched for age and length of service. The questionnaire was examined by factor analysis and questionnaire single item scores. Total score and factor scores were examined between group comparison of means analysis. The level of significance was established at p<0.05. Kindergarten teachers show significantly higher values of the questionnaire total score than VDU operators, indicating a higher level of perceived stress related to their occupation. In particular, the factor scores concerning perceived load of work responsibilities, the first of the three factors accounting for the structure of the questionnaire (1. perceived load of work-responsibility; 2. independence and autonomy in performing work-duties; 3. negative features of work interfering with psycho-physical wellbeing) are significant between groups. Compared to VDU operators, kindergarten teachers perceive a more stressful condition of responsibility in taking independent decisions and autonomously managing their work. When appropriate comparisons are performed between groups of workers operating under different occupational conditions, it is possible to identify, using an ad hoc questionnaire, different sources of occupational stress which are effective in the work environment of different categories of female workers

Exposure to urban stressors and free testosterone plasma values

The chemical agents present in the environment, such as traffic pollutants, may affect male fertility. Traffic policemen are daily exposed to traffic pollutants. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether occupational exposure to urban stressors could cause alterations in free testosterone plasma values in male traffic policemen versus administrative staff of Municipal Police of a big Italian city. Both groups were divided into two subgroups based on age (first group: 30-40 years; second group: 41-50 years) to assess whether age could affect laboratory results of free testosterone plasma levels in traffic policemen versus controls. The characterization of exposure to urban pollutants for traffic policemen was assessed using the concentrations of pollutants monitored in fixed stations. A total of 220 subjects were studied: 110 traffic policemen and 110 controls, after excluding subjects with main confounding factors. Mean free testosterone values were significantly lower in traffic policemen than in controls (P < 0.001). Such statistical reduction persisted stratifying the mean testosterone values for classes of age (30-40 and 41-50 year) of workers (respectively P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). The distribution into classes of testosterone values in traffic policemen and in controls was significant (P < 0.001), and this result persisted after the stratification for classes of age of workers (30-40 year: P < 0.001) (41-50 year: P < 0.001). According to data in literature, free testosterone plasma levels could be used as an early biological marker, to be employed in occupational sets, valuable for the group, even before the onset of values out of range and of fertility disorders

Environmental and biological monitoring of arsenic in outdoor workers exposed to urban air pollutants

The aim of this study is to evaluate personal exposure to As in urban air in two groups of outdoor workers (traffic policemen and police drivers) of a big Italian city through: (a) environmental monitoring of As obtained by personal samples and (b) biological monitoring of total urinary As. The possible influence of smoking habit on urinary As was evaluated. We studied 122 male subjects, all Municipal Police employees: 84 traffic policemen and 38 police drivers exposed to urban pollutants. Personal exposure to As in air was significantly higher in traffic policemen than in police drivers (p = 0.03). Mean age, length of service, alcohol drinking habit, number of cigarettes smoked/day and BMI were comparable between the groups of subjects studied. All subjects were working in the same urban area where they had lived for at least 5 yrs. Dietary habits and consumption of water from the water supply and/or mineral water were similar in traffic policemen and in police drivers. The values of total urinary As were significantly higher in traffic policemen (smokers and non smokers) than in police drivers (smokers and non smokers) (p = 0.02). In the subgroup of non-smokers the values of total urinary As were significantly higher in traffic policemen than in police drivers (p = 0.03). In traffic policemen and in police drivers total urinary As values were significantly correlated to the values of As in air (respectively r = 0.9 and r = 0.8, p < 0.001). This is the first research in literature studying the exposure to As in outdoor workers occupationally exposed to urban pollutants, such as traffic policemen and police drivers. Personal exposure to As in the air, as well as the urinary excretion of As, is significantly higher in traffic policemen compared to drivers. These results can provide information about exposure to As in streets and in car for other categories of outdoor workers similarly exposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Assessment of occupational exposure to benzene, toluene and xylenes in urban and rural female workers

Objectives: This is the first research study to compare among female, non-smoker workers: (a) the exposure to benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTXs) in urban air during work in the street (traffic policewomen, TP) vs. work in vehicles (police drivers, PD); (b) the exposure to BTXs in urban environments (in street and in car) vs. rural environments (roadwomen, RW); (c) the values of blood benzene, urinary trans, trans muconic acid (t,t-MA) and urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) in urban areas (in street and in car) vs. rural areas. Methods: Passive personal samplings and data acquired using fixed monitoring stations located in different areas of the city were used to measure environmental and occupational exposure to BTXs during the work shift in 48 TP, 21 PD and 22 RW. In the same study subjects, blood benzene, t,t-MA and S-PMA were measured at the end of each work shift. Results: Personal exposure of urban workers to benzene seemed to be higher than the exposure measured by the fixed monitoring stations. Personal exposure to benzene and toluene was (a) similar among TP and PD and (b) higher among urban workers compared to rural workers. Personal exposure to xylenes was (a) higher in TP than in PD and (b) higher among urban workers compared to rural workers. Blood benzene, t,t-MA and S-PMA levels were similar among TP and PD, although the blood benzene level was significantly higher in urban workers compared to rural workers. In urban workers, airborne benzene and blood benzene levels were significantly correlated. Conclusions: Benzene is a human carcinogen, and BTXs are potential reproductive toxins at low dose exposures. Biological and environmental monitoring to assess exposure to BTXs represents a preliminary and necessary tool for the implementation of preventive measures for female subjects working in outdoor environments. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Spinal and temporo-mandibular disorders in male workers of the State Police

Objective. The aims of this study are to evaluate the prevalence of disorders of the lumbar region and the temporomandibular district co-morbidity in drivers and workers of the State Police employed for different office activities Materials and methods. The study population included 103 drivers as cases and 100 police officers as controls. The study was carried out through questionnaire and clinical evaluation of the spine and temporo-mandibular region. Results. At clinical examination, the drivers were found to have a higher prevalence (p < 0.05) of both symptoms and clinical signs at the spine and temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), when compared with the controls. The results also showed a higher prevalence (p < 0.05) of co-morbidity in the two districts among the drivers, when compared with the controls. Conclusions. These results confirm that morbidity related to back and TMJ and increase in co-morbidity between the two districts are higher in professional drivers

Exposure to Arsenic in urban and rural areas and effects on thyroid hormones

Context: Arsenic is a ubiquitous element present in urban air as a pollutant, and it may interfere with thyroid hormones. Objective: To evaluate the association between the personal exposure to arsenic and levels of TSH, fT4, fT3, and Tg in urban and rural workers. Materials and methods: Total urinary arsenic and thyroid markers were obtained from 108 non-smoking traffic policemen and 77 subjects working as roadmen in a rural area. Fifty subjects were monitored to evaluate airborne exposure to arsenic. Results: The mean value of exposure to arsenic was 2.9 g/m3 in traffic policemen, while the mean value was less than 0.1 g/m3 in roadmen. The mean values of urinary arsenic (10.4 μg/g creatinine vs. 5.2 μg/g creatinine; p = 0.000), TSH (1.6 lU/ml vs. 1.3 lU/ml; p = 0.006), fT3 (3.5 pg/ml vs. 3.7 pg/ml; p = 0.000), fT4 (1.2ng/dl vs. 1.3ng/dl; p = 0.000) and Tg (42.8ng/ml vs. 36.1ng/ml; p = 0.04) were significantly different between traffic policemen and roadmen. In traffic policemen, urinary arsenic and arsenic in the air were correlated to the airborne arsenic and TSH values, respectively. Urinary arsenic was correlated to TSH, Tg, fT3, and fT4 values. The multiple linear regression models showed the following associations: i) among urinary arsenic, arsenic in the air and job title; ii) among TSH, fT3, Tg and urinary arsenic; and iii) between fT4 and both urinary arsenic and alcohol intake. Conclusion: These results provide information about the relationship between exposure to arsenic and thyroid markers and may be useful for other categories of outdoor workers who are similarly exposed. © 2012 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc