| ||||
| Authors: John R. Wilson; Jo-Roxy Vaegen-Lloyd; Carlo Caponecchia | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641619 | ||||
| Understanding safety and production risks in rail engineering planning and protection | Pages 774 - 790 | |||
| Authors: John R. Wilson; Brendan Ryan; Alex Schock; Pedro Ferreira; Stuart Smith; Julia Pitsopoulos | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802642211 | ||||
| Predicting vigilance: A fresh look at an old problem | Pages 791 - 808 | |||
| Authors: V. Finomore; G. Matthews; T. Shaw; J. Warm | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641627 | ||||
| Prospective risk analysis of health care processes: A systematic evaluation of the use of HFMEA™ in Dutch health care | Pages 809 - 819 | |||
| Authors: M. M. P. Habraken; T. W. Van der Schaaf; I. P. Leistikow; P. M. J. Reijnders-Thijssen | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802578563 | ||||
| Inter-rater reliability of PATH observations for assessment of ergonomic risk factors in hospital work | Pages 820 - 829 | |||
| Authors: Jung-Keun Park; Jon Boyer; Jamie Tessler; Jeffrey Casey; Linda Schemm; Rebecca Gore; Laura Punnett; Promoting Healthy and Safe Employment (PHASE) in Healthcare Project Team | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641585 | ||||
| Car driving with and without a movable back support: Effect on transmission of vibration through the trunk and on its consequences for muscle activation and spinal shrinkage | Pages 830 - 839 | |||
| Authors: Idsart Kingma; Jaap H. van Dieën | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802559019 | ||||
| Dependence of safety margins in grip force on isometric push force levels in lateral pinch | Pages 840 - 847 | |||
| Author: Na Jin Seo | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802578555 | ||||
| Effects of strap support in a hand-held device on the muscular activity in female workers assessed by electromyography and subjective rating | Pages 848 - 859 | |||
| Authors: Nasser Koleini Mamaghani; Yoshihiro Shimomura; Koichi Iwanaga; Tetsuo Katsuura | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641593 | ||||
| Reliability of different thresholds for defining muscular rest of the trapezius muscles in computer office workers | Pages 860 - 871 | |||
| Authors: Alain Delisle; Christian Larivière; André Plamondon; Érik Salazar | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641601 | ||||
| The effect of idle time thresholds on computer use time estimations by electronic monitoring | Pages 872 - 881 | |||
| Authors: Jao-Yu Yeh; Hui-Wen Liang; Yaw-Huei Hwang | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641577 | ||||
| The advantage of positive text-background polarity is due to high display luminance | Pages 882 - 886 | |||
| Authors: Axel Buchner; Susanne Mayr; Martin Brandt | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130802641635 | ||||
| Book Reviews | ||||
| Modelling Command and Control: Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork | Pages 887 - 888 | |||
| Author: Nick Gkikas | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130902924196 | ||||
| Just Culture | Pages 888 - 889 | |||
| Author: Trudi Farrington-Darby | ||||
| DOI: 10.1080/00140130902924220 | ||||
viernes, 26 de junio de 2009
Ergonomics - Volumen 52, número 7
jueves, 25 de junio de 2009
Article from Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Review Pandemic influenza: implications for occupational medicine Journeay W, Burnstein MD Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2009, 4:15 (23 June 2009) [Abstract] [Provisional PDF] |
martes, 23 de junio de 2009
RxTx digital
Hoy fuimos consultados acerca de la posibilidad de hacer controles radiológicos por vigilancia de silicosis con un sistema radiológico portátil que toma Rx en formato digital.
Para poder responder con fundamento revisamos el manual del PEECASI (PROGRAMA DE EVALUACIÓN EXTERNA DE LA CALIDAD DE LOS EXAMENES MÉDICOS RELACIONADOS A LA SILICOSIS), que es la norma técnica vigente en este tema, emitida por el Ministerio de Salud, disponible en la siguiente dirección:
http://www.ispch.cl/salud_ocup/programas/PEECASI/pdf/PROGRAMA%20PEECASI.pdf
Atte.,
http://www.ispch.cl/salud_ocup/programas/PEECASI/pdf/PROGRAMA%20PEECASI.pdf
En su texto señala que la radiografía de tórax debe ser realizada e interpretada con la técnica de la OIT para Neumoconiosis; además, entre los objetivos del programa se señala explícitamente que se busca "Implementar un programa de evaluación externa de la calidad dirigido a los Centros radiológicos y espirométricos (PEECASI)".
Así, entre los Pre - requisitos de Postulación para ser un centro autorizado por el programa PEECASI se señala que todo aquel Centro público o privado que realice Radiografía de Tórax para la Vigilancia y Evaluación Médico Legal debe cumplir con lo siguiente:
- Contar con equipo de Rayos fijo (no portátil).
- Contar con Equipo de Revelado de Radiografía Automático.
- Contar con Certificado vigente del ISP de aprobación de parámetros contemplados en Protocolo "Control y garantías de calidad de la Unidad Radiodiagnóstica para Centros Radiológicos que postulan al PEECASI." .
- Que el Médico que interpreta las radiografías de tórax tenga aprobado y actualizado debe el "Curso de Lectura Radiológica de Silicosis con el Sistema OIT para Neumoconiosis" que imparte el ISP. (El curso tiene una vigencia de 3 años)
- Que el Médico que interpreta las radiografías de tórax integre formalmente la "Red de Médicos Lectores de RxTx para Silicosis".
- Que el Tecnólogo Médico tenga aprobado el "Curso de Toma de RxTx para Neumoconiosis con técnica OIT" dictado por una Institución de educación superior, debidamente patrocinado por el ISP. y posteriormente su certificado de competencia al día, (una vez realizado y aprobado el curso práctico teórico el tecnólogo médico deberá rendir exámenes de competencia cada 3 años)
Por lo tanto, a la vista de lo señalado en el Manual, en mi opinión no nos sirve un sistema de radiografía portátil, por estar explícitamente descartado en la Norma. Además, el sistema de Vigilancia exige conservación de documentación, para lo cual dudo que nos sea de utilidad la versión de radiología en formato digital.
Ahora bien, es claro que la radiografía digital está reemplazando a los métodos estándar de imagenología análoga. No tengo claro cómo irá a evolucionar este tema en nuestras Mutualidades, pero es posible pensar que se seguirá esta tendencia, que se contrapone con lo establecido en las normas Minsal y del ISP.
De otra lista hemos obtenido los documentos que se enlazan más abajo; son algo antiguos (del año pasado hacia atrás) pero aluden específicamente al tema.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chestradiography/breader-info.html#d
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200707/000020070707A0177032.php
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/RDRP/ch3.1b.htm
Agradeceré sus comentario en el Blog de Salud Ocupacional de ACHISO (Asociación Chilena de Higiene y Salud Ocupacional), en http://soachiso.blogspot.com/
Dr. MAA
--
Dr. Miguel E. Acevedo Álvarez
Médico del Trabajo, Epidemiólogo, MSP
Ergonomista
Miembro Titular, Presidente 2006-2008, Sociedad Chilena de Ergonomía - SOCHERGO
Director de Salud Ocupacional, Asociación Chilena de Higiene Industrial y Salud Ocupacional - ACHISO
Director Académico, Diplomado en Ergonomía y Salud Laboral, Universidad Mayor - ErgoMAYOR
http://www.ergonomia.cl
Dr. Miguel E. Acevedo Álvarez
Médico del Trabajo, Epidemiólogo, MSP
Ergonomista
Miembro Titular, Presidente 2006-2008, Sociedad Chilena de Ergonomía - SOCHERGO
Director de Salud Ocupacional, Asociación Chilena de Higiene Industrial y Salud Ocupacional - ACHISO
Director Académico, Diplomado en Ergonomía y Salud Laboral, Universidad Mayor - ErgoMAYOR
http://www.ergonomia.cl
domingo, 21 de junio de 2009
Behaviour & Information Technology
MedPage: Armodafinil Rx'd Shift Workers Normalizes Alertness
Medical News from
APSS: Associated Professional Sleep Societies Meeting
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/APSS/14780?pfc=101&spc=235
Armodafinil Normalizes Alertness for Shift Workers
By MedPage Today, Staff
Published: June 18, 2009
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and
Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner
SEATTLE, June 18 -- Armodafinil (Nuvigil) brings wake-time sleepiness levels back to normal for symptomatic shift workers after just one night of treatment, researchers found.
In a small randomized clinical trial, patients with shift work disorder were more alert and less prone to napping at night after taking armodafinil compared with placebo, Christopher L. Drake, PhD, of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and colleagues reported here at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting.
The seven-minute improvement in Multiple Sleep Latency Test scores with the wake-promoting drug compared with placebo brought shift work disorder patients back into the normal range, Dr. Drake noted.
By comparison, previous studies had shown only a 1.7- to 3.0-minute improvement on the same test using similar doses of the medication.
Armodafinil -- a longer lasting r-enantiomer formulation of modafinil (Provigil) -- was used at similar doses across studies, but the difference appeared to be the patient populations, he said.
Prior studies have included patients selected as candidates for clinical improvement based on high laboratory values, such as taking less than six minutes to fall asleep during waking hours on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.
But "shift work disorder patients with a symptom-based diagnosis (i.e., subjective sleepiness) unselected based on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test may respond differently to wake-promoting agents," Dr. Drake's group noted.
So to determine the unbiased response, they conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design study in five patients who met subjective criteria for shift work disorder with excessive sleepiness during waking hours and inability to sleep during sleeping hours.
The participants worked at least 10 night shifts per month. All screened negative for other medical problems or sleep disorders on a daytime polysomnogram at baseline.
Their baseline daytime polysomnography data was consistent with sleep work disorder, the researchers noted. Sleep latency averaged 13.2 minutes with 125.5 minutes spent awake after sleep and a mean sleep efficiency of 70.6%.
After patients received 150 mg of armodafinil or placebo at 11 p.m., they underwent a Multiple Sleep Latency Test with naps throughout their nocturnal "day" at 1:30 a.m., 3:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m., and 7:30 a.m.
Nocturnal sleepiness was significantly less when objectively measured by the mean time to fall asleep during the Multiple Sleep Latency Test after one night of armodafinil treatment compared with placebo (12.65 versus 5.68 minutes, P<0.05).
The study was supported by Cephalon, manufacturer of armodafinil and modafinil.
The researchers provided no information on conflicts of interest.
Primary source: Associated Professional Sleep Societies
Source reference:
Drake C, et al "Armodafinil in shift work disorder: normalization of the MSLT" Sleep 2009; Abstract 32:A34.
Action Points
* Explain to interested patients that shift work disorder can affect people who work irregular, rotating, or night shifts and is characterized by inability to stay alert enough to accomplish daily tasks during waking hours and inability to sleep during sleeping hours.
* Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
APSS: Associated Professional Sleep Societies Meeting
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/APSS/14780?pfc=101&spc=235
Armodafinil Normalizes Alertness for Shift Workers
By MedPage Today, Staff
Published: June 18, 2009
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and
Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner
SEATTLE, June 18 -- Armodafinil (Nuvigil) brings wake-time sleepiness levels back to normal for symptomatic shift workers after just one night of treatment, researchers found.
In a small randomized clinical trial, patients with shift work disorder were more alert and less prone to napping at night after taking armodafinil compared with placebo, Christopher L. Drake, PhD, of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and colleagues reported here at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting.
The seven-minute improvement in Multiple Sleep Latency Test scores with the wake-promoting drug compared with placebo brought shift work disorder patients back into the normal range, Dr. Drake noted.
By comparison, previous studies had shown only a 1.7- to 3.0-minute improvement on the same test using similar doses of the medication.
Armodafinil -- a longer lasting r-enantiomer formulation of modafinil (Provigil) -- was used at similar doses across studies, but the difference appeared to be the patient populations, he said.
Prior studies have included patients selected as candidates for clinical improvement based on high laboratory values, such as taking less than six minutes to fall asleep during waking hours on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.
But "shift work disorder patients with a symptom-based diagnosis (i.e., subjective sleepiness) unselected based on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test may respond differently to wake-promoting agents," Dr. Drake's group noted.
So to determine the unbiased response, they conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design study in five patients who met subjective criteria for shift work disorder with excessive sleepiness during waking hours and inability to sleep during sleeping hours.
The participants worked at least 10 night shifts per month. All screened negative for other medical problems or sleep disorders on a daytime polysomnogram at baseline.
Their baseline daytime polysomnography data was consistent with sleep work disorder, the researchers noted. Sleep latency averaged 13.2 minutes with 125.5 minutes spent awake after sleep and a mean sleep efficiency of 70.6%.
After patients received 150 mg of armodafinil or placebo at 11 p.m., they underwent a Multiple Sleep Latency Test with naps throughout their nocturnal "day" at 1:30 a.m., 3:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m., and 7:30 a.m.
Nocturnal sleepiness was significantly less when objectively measured by the mean time to fall asleep during the Multiple Sleep Latency Test after one night of armodafinil treatment compared with placebo (12.65 versus 5.68 minutes, P<0.05).
The study was supported by Cephalon, manufacturer of armodafinil and modafinil.
The researchers provided no information on conflicts of interest.
Primary source: Associated Professional Sleep Societies
Source reference:
Drake C, et al "Armodafinil in shift work disorder: normalization of the MSLT" Sleep 2009; Abstract 32:A34.
Action Points
* Explain to interested patients that shift work disorder can affect people who work irregular, rotating, or night shifts and is characterized by inability to stay alert enough to accomplish daily tasks during waking hours and inability to sleep during sleeping hours.
* Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Fwd: [occ-env-med-l] ATS Clinical Educational Resources (Occupational Respiratory Disorders)
The American Thoracic Society ( ATS) has a very active Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) Assembly. Web Resources include Interactive Educational Clinical Cases and Position Statements:
INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASE CASES.
§ Workplace Spirometry: Early Detection Benefits Individuals, Worker Groups and Employers (http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/ats-clinical-cases/pages/workplace-spirometry--early-detection-benefits-individuals,-worker-groups,-and-employers..html )
§ "Horse play and the Lung" – a possible cobalt effect? (http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/ats-clinical-cases/pages/horse-play-and-the-lung--a-possible-cobalt-effect.html )
Others cases are accessed at:
(http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/environmental-and-occupational/clinical-cases/index.html )
§ Fixed airways obstruction in a microwave popcorn packaging facility
§ Asthma in an Auto Body Shop Worker
§ Case Study
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Metal Parts Coating Factory
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Hot Tub User
§ Respiratory Failure in an Onion Worker
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Miner/Recycler
§ Acute Pneumonitis in a Thermostat Assembly Worker
§ Pleuroparenchymal Disease In A Ship Repair And Maintenance Worker
§ Respiratory Symptoms Associated with Occupational Exposure to Metal Working Fluid
§ Maltoma of Lung in a Glass Blower
§ Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonitis or Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?
POSITION STATEMENTS include:
* (The Report on the ATS Workshop on the Health Effects of Atmospheric Acids and Their Precursors<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/502.html>
* Adverse Effects of Crystalline Silica Exposure<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/506.html>
* Respiratory Health Hazards in Agriculture<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/agriculture1-79.html>
* What Constitutes an Adverse Health Effect of Air Pollution?<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/airpollution1-9.html>
* Diagnosis and Initial Management of Nonmalignant Diseases Related to Asbestos<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/asbestos.html>
* Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Asthma Risk at Work, School, and Recreation<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/asthma2004.html>
* Occupational Contribution to the Burden of Airway Disease<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/burden1-11.html>
* Achieving Healthy Indoor Air<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/indoor1-33.html>
* Workshop on Lung Disease and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/lungenvir.html>
* Proceedings of the First Jack Pepys Occupational Asthma Symposium<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/occup.html>
* Respiratory Protection Guidelines<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/resp1-13.html>
(Position statements): http://www.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/assemblies/eoh/statements/index.html
GENERAL EOH website is at:
http://www.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/assemblies/eoh/index.html
CONTRIBUTORS:
If interested in submitting a case report or other material for review, please contact Dr Kanta Sircar (editor) at ksircar@ph.lacounty.gov<mailto:ksircar@ph.lacounty.gov> or me (ex-editor).
Phil Harber MD MPH
UCLA
pharber@ucla.edu
<mailto:pharber@ucla.edu>
http://fm.mednet.ucla.edu/OEM/occup.asp
INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASE CASES.
§ Workplace Spirometry: Early Detection Benefits Individuals, Worker Groups and Employers (http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/ats-clinical-cases/pages/workplace-spirometry--early-detection-benefits-individuals,-worker-groups,-and-employers..html )
§ "Horse play and the Lung" – a possible cobalt effect? (http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/ats-clinical-cases/pages/horse-play-and-the-lung--a-possible-cobalt-effect.html )
Others cases are accessed at:
(http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/environmental-and-occupational/clinical-cases/index.html )
§ Fixed airways obstruction in a microwave popcorn packaging facility
§ Asthma in an Auto Body Shop Worker
§ Case Study
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Metal Parts Coating Factory
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Hot Tub User
§ Respiratory Failure in an Onion Worker
§ Interstitial Lung Disease in a Miner/Recycler
§ Acute Pneumonitis in a Thermostat Assembly Worker
§ Pleuroparenchymal Disease In A Ship Repair And Maintenance Worker
§ Respiratory Symptoms Associated with Occupational Exposure to Metal Working Fluid
§ Maltoma of Lung in a Glass Blower
§ Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonitis or Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?
POSITION STATEMENTS include:
* (The Report on the ATS Workshop on the Health Effects of Atmospheric Acids and Their Precursors<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/502.html>
* Adverse Effects of Crystalline Silica Exposure<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/506.html>
* Respiratory Health Hazards in Agriculture<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/agriculture1-79.html>
* What Constitutes an Adverse Health Effect of Air Pollution?<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/airpollution1-9.html>
* Diagnosis and Initial Management of Nonmalignant Diseases Related to Asbestos<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/asbestos.html>
* Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Asthma Risk at Work, School, and Recreation<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/asthma2004.html>
* Occupational Contribution to the Burden of Airway Disease<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/burden1-11.html>
* Achieving Healthy Indoor Air<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/indoor1-33.html>
* Workshop on Lung Disease and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/lungenvir.html>
* Proceedings of the First Jack Pepys Occupational Asthma Symposium<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/occup.html>
* Respiratory Protection Guidelines<http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/statements/pages/eoh/resp1-13.html>
(Position statements): http://www.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/assemblies/eoh/statements/index.html
GENERAL EOH website is at:
http://www.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/assemblies/eoh/index.html
CONTRIBUTORS:
If interested in submitting a case report or other material for review, please contact Dr Kanta Sircar (editor) at ksircar@ph.lacounty.gov<mailto:ksircar@ph.lacounty.gov> or me (ex-editor).
Phil Harber MD MPH
UCLA
pharber@ucla.edu
<mailto:pharber@ucla.edu>
http://fm.mednet.ucla.edu/OEM/occup.asp
miércoles, 17 de junio de 2009
CHILE: 5º Workshop Fisiologia y Medicina de Altura La Serena 2009
Envío Informacion sobre V workshop de Fisiologia y Medicina de Altura a Realizarse en la Serena el 15, 16 y 17 de Julio.
Por favor replicar informacion a contactos de posible interés.
Más informacion en www.cbn-chile.cl o en www.workshopdefisiologiaymedicinadealtura.blogspot.com , Saluda atentamente
Gonzalo Andre Araya Diaz <gonzalo.andre@hotmail.com>
Gonzalo Andre Araya Diaz <gonzalo.andre@hotmail.com>
Occupational Cancer Research Survey by Ontario Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC)
Dear Sir/Madam,
We, at the newly established Ontario Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), are requesting your participation in a brief online survey as part of a broad stakeholder consultation. We hope you will help us with this activity to learn more about the issue of cancer in the workplace. (Please see below for more information on the new OCRC.)
Please set aside 15 to 30 minutes to link to and complete the online survey prior to July 6th, 2009: Click Here to Access Survey
Results of the survey will be used to help the Centre develop its research agenda and to identify collaborations and partnerships with interested individuals and organizations. We are seeking feedback from as many stakeholders, experts in the field, and potential collaborators as possible. Please pass this weblink on to colleagues/friends who might be interested and willing to complete this short survey. If you are unable to access this online survey, please email ocrc@cancercare.on.ca requesting that we send you a PDF copy.
The information collected will be securely stored and analyzed only by the OCRC staff. Release and/or publication of survey results will not identify responses from individuals. You may provide your name and contact information, or you may choose to remain anonymous altogether (i.e. not identifiable to OCRC staff). If you choose to remain anonymous, we will not be able to follow-up on potential collaborations and preferences for future engagement. In addition, we may wish to further discuss your ideas with you as part of a more in-depth telephone consultation later this summer. Providing your name and contact information on the survey will allow us to do this.
We look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,
Aaron Blair, Ph.D.
Interim Director
Occupational Cancer Research Centre
505 University Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1X3
416-971-9800 X….
Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) – A Backgrounder
A New Research Centre in Ontario, Canada
The Occupational Cancer Research Centre is a joint undertaking funded by Cancer Care Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and the Canadian Cancer Society's Ontario Division, and developed in collaboration with the United Steelworkers. This innovative and unique partnership brings together health, workplace safety, labour and industry groups to identify, prevent and ultimately eliminate exposures to cancer-causing substances in the workplace, through surveillance, research, capacity building and knowledge transfer and exchange.
Why Now
Although studies of the workplace have made significant contributions to our understanding of the causes of cancer, there still is no good estimate of the number of occupationally-related cancers occurring in Ontario residents, or in other jurisdictions. What is known is that industrial workers are more likely to have been exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals than white collar workers and perhaps 20-30% of cancers in this subpopulation might be related to such exposures. While there is convincing evidence that a number of products and processes used in the workplace cause cancer, there are many additional substances where the relationship with cancer is not clear.
How the Centre Will Work
A Steering Committee with broad stakeholder representation has been assembled to provide oversight to the fledgling centre. A Scientific Advisory Committee will guide the Centre's research activities.
Dr. Aaron Blair, who has made a number of outstanding contributions to the fields of occupational and environmental epidemiology, is the Interim Director of the Centre. He will provide leadership while a permanent director is being recruited.
Collaboration and partnership with other institutions and groups involved in promoting a healthy workplace is a core operating principle of the Centre.
For further information: http://www.cancercare.on.ca/about/programs/ocrc/
Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario
6519B Mississauga Rd
Mississauga, ON L5N 1A6
We, at the newly established Ontario Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), are requesting your participation in a brief online survey as part of a broad stakeholder consultation. We hope you will help us with this activity to learn more about the issue of cancer in the workplace. (Please see below for more information on the new OCRC.)
Please set aside 15 to 30 minutes to link to and complete the online survey prior to July 6th, 2009: Click Here to Access Survey
Results of the survey will be used to help the Centre develop its research agenda and to identify collaborations and partnerships with interested individuals and organizations. We are seeking feedback from as many stakeholders, experts in the field, and potential collaborators as possible. Please pass this weblink on to colleagues/friends who might be interested and willing to complete this short survey. If you are unable to access this online survey, please email ocrc@cancercare.on.ca requesting that we send you a PDF copy.
The information collected will be securely stored and analyzed only by the OCRC staff. Release and/or publication of survey results will not identify responses from individuals. You may provide your name and contact information, or you may choose to remain anonymous altogether (i.e. not identifiable to OCRC staff). If you choose to remain anonymous, we will not be able to follow-up on potential collaborations and preferences for future engagement. In addition, we may wish to further discuss your ideas with you as part of a more in-depth telephone consultation later this summer. Providing your name and contact information on the survey will allow us to do this.
We look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,
Aaron Blair, Ph.D.
Interim Director
Occupational Cancer Research Centre
505 University Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1X3
416-971-9800 X….
Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) – A Backgrounder
A New Research Centre in Ontario, Canada
The Occupational Cancer Research Centre is a joint undertaking funded by Cancer Care Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and the Canadian Cancer Society's Ontario Division, and developed in collaboration with the United Steelworkers. This innovative and unique partnership brings together health, workplace safety, labour and industry groups to identify, prevent and ultimately eliminate exposures to cancer-causing substances in the workplace, through surveillance, research, capacity building and knowledge transfer and exchange.
Why Now
Although studies of the workplace have made significant contributions to our understanding of the causes of cancer, there still is no good estimate of the number of occupationally-related cancers occurring in Ontario residents, or in other jurisdictions. What is known is that industrial workers are more likely to have been exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals than white collar workers and perhaps 20-30% of cancers in this subpopulation might be related to such exposures. While there is convincing evidence that a number of products and processes used in the workplace cause cancer, there are many additional substances where the relationship with cancer is not clear.
How the Centre Will Work
A Steering Committee with broad stakeholder representation has been assembled to provide oversight to the fledgling centre. A Scientific Advisory Committee will guide the Centre's research activities.
Dr. Aaron Blair, who has made a number of outstanding contributions to the fields of occupational and environmental epidemiology, is the Interim Director of the Centre. He will provide leadership while a permanent director is being recruited.
Collaboration and partnership with other institutions and groups involved in promoting a healthy workplace is a core operating principle of the Centre.
For further information: http://www.cancercare.on.ca/about/programs/ocrc/
Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario
6519B Mississauga Rd
Mississauga, ON L5N 1A6
Colombia: Resolución Nº1918 - Evaluaciones médicas ocupacionales, manejo y contenido de las historias clínicas ocupacionales
Colombia
Resolución Nº1918 - Evaluaciones médicas ocupacionales, manejo y contenido de las historias clínicas ocupacionales
Mediante la presente Resolución 1918 de 2009 el Ministerio de la Protección Social de Colombia modifica los Artículos 11 y 17 de la Resolución 2346 de 2007 en relación con las personas y entidades facultades para la práctica de evaluaciones médicas ocupacionales y con la guarda, archivo y custodia de la Historia Clínica ocupacional.
Más información: http://www.ila.org.pe/publicaciones/publicaciones.htm#res-1918-2009
Resolución Nº1918 - Evaluaciones médicas ocupacionales, manejo y contenido de las historias clínicas ocupacionales
Mediante la presente Resolución 1918 de 2009 el Ministerio de la Protección Social de Colombia modifica los Artículos 11 y 17 de la Resolución 2346 de 2007 en relación con las personas y entidades facultades para la práctica de evaluaciones médicas ocupacionales y con la guarda, archivo y custodia de la Historia Clínica ocupacional.
Más información: http://www.ila.org.pe/publicaciones/publicaciones.htm#res-1918-2009
lunes, 15 de junio de 2009
Medical Experts Prescribe Legislation To Help Prevent Cancer
Medical Experts Prescribe Legislation to Help Prevent Cancer
CHICAGO, IL, June 15, 2009 -- /WORLD-WIRE/ -- A report on the Obama Cancer Plan to key Congressional Committees was released today by national experts on the causes and prevention of cancer. The report recommends that Congress enact legislative reforms to the 1971 National Cancer Act, including a statement that it is the national policy of the United States to reduce carcinogenic exposures by at least half during the next decade. The report also urges the annual publication of a comprehensive public register of carcinogens.
The experts prescribe major policy changes for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These include the appointment of a new Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention, and the allocation of at least 40% of the NCI budget to prevention programs for Fiscal Year 2011.
The report emphasizes that President Barack Obama has boldly pledged to reform the national health care system. Central to this, as the President has stressed, is containing the spiraling costs of health care -- costs which are soaring at about 6% each year.
Most experts agree that this is not possible without a better plan to prevent Americans from getting cancer in the first place. This year, 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. Of them, 562,000 people - over 1,500 every day - will die.
The cancer epidemic strikes as many as one in three Americans and takes the life of one in four. After 37 years of losing the war against cancer (a war that President Nixon originally declared in December 1971), we are taking grossly and demonstrably inadequate action to protect us from this menace.
While research on the prevention and treatment of cancer is predominantly the responsibility of the National Cancer Institute, other governmental agencies are also involved. These include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Unfortunately, action amongst these agencies is uncoordinated and unbalanced.
The connection between our losing the cancer war and the need to control costs through prevention is clear. Cancer is not only one of the most costly and sometimes deadly diseases in America, it is also one of the most preventable.
Based on recent estimates by the National Institutes of Health, the total costs of cancer are $219 billion a year. The annual costs to taxpayers of diagnosis and treatment amount to $89 billion; the annual costs of premature death are conservatively estimated at $112 billion; and the annual costs due to lost productivity are conservatively estimated at $18 billion. And these are the quantifiable, inflationary economic costs. The human costs are of far greater magnitude.
To be sure, smoking remains the best-known and single largest cause of cancer, particularly lung cancer. While incidence rates of lung cancer in men have declined by 20% over the past three decades, rates in women increased by 111%.
But more importantly, non-smoking cancers -- due to known chemical and physical carcinogens -- have increased substantially since 1975. Some of the more startling realities in the failure to prevent cancer are illustrated by their soaring rates of increase. These include:
Malignant melanoma of the skin in adults is increasing by 168% due to the use of sunscreens in childhood that fail to block long wave ultraviolet light;
Thyroid cancer is increasing by 124% due in large part to ionizing radiation;
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is increasing 76% due mostly to phenoxy herbicides; and phenylenediamine hair dyes;
Testicular cancer is increasing by 49% due to pesticides; hormonal ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products; and estrogen residues in meat;
Childhood leukemia is increasing by 55% due to ionizing radiation; domestic pesticides; nitrite preservatives in meats, particularly hot dogs; and parental exposures to occupational carcinogens;
Ovary cancer (mortality) for women over the age of 65 has increased by 47% in African American women and 13% in Caucasian women due to genital use of talc powder;
Breast cancer is increasing 17% due to a wide range of factors. These include: birth control pills; estrogen replacement therapy; toxic hormonal ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products; diagnostic radiation; and routine premenopausal mammography, with a cumulative breast dose exposure of up to about five rads over ten years.
Reflecting these concerns about breast cancer, Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Henry Waxman have introduced bills promoting educational campaigns, including teaching regular breast self examination to high school students. However, and in spite of its scientifically proven efficacy, this initiative has been strongly challenged by breast cancer prevention "experts" who remain unaware of the scientific evidence on the cancer risks of high dose radiation premenopausal mammography. Furthermore, these "experts" are unaware of the well-documented scientific evidence of avoidable causes of breast cancer, other than factors related to . . . "childbirth and breastfeeding."
It is now beyond dispute in the independent scientific community that environmental and occupational exposures to carcinogens are the primary cause of non-smoking related cancers. An October 2007 publication on environmental and occupational causes of cancer by one of us (Dr. Richard Clapp) further emphasized that the increasing incidence of cancer is due to preventable exposures to carcinogens in the workplace and environment.
The Clapp report provides a wide range of evidence showing preventable cancers resulting from environmental exposures to formaldehyde, chlorinated organic pesticides, and organic solvents, among other substances.
Dr. Clapp cites a wealth of evidence attributing the increasing incidence of lung cancers to preventable occupational exposures to asbestos, silica, chromium VI, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, benzene, and ethylene oxide.
The National Cancer Institute is the primary federal agency devoted exclusively to fighting cancer. Paradoxically, the escalating incidence of cancer over the last thirty years parallels its sharply escalating annual budget - from $690 million in 1975 to $6 billion this year. Of this a mere $131 million is allocated to NCI's mission on Prevention and Early Detection. Furthermore, President Obama has proposed a 5% increase in funding the NCI for unspecified cancer research, with a doubling to $11.5 billion over the next eight years.
However, in spite of well-documented evidence relating the escalating incidence of cancer to a wide range of avoidable carcinogenic exposures, the NCI remains "asleep at the wheel," and has stubbornly refused to devote significant resources or even attention to prevention.
The NCI has also ignored proddings from Congress and independent scientific experts to develop a comprehensive registry of carcinogens. Worse still, the NCI has misled the public by claiming that most cancers are due to unhealthy behavior, "blaming the victim," despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
NCI officials still claim, for instance that 94% of all cancers are due to "unhealthy behavior" such as smoking, poor nutrition, inactivity, obesity and over exposure to sunlight – and that a mere 6% are attributable to exposures to environmental and occupational exposures.
These estimates are based on those published in 1981 by the late U.K. epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll. However, from 1976 to 1999, Doll had been a closet consultant to U.K. and U.S. industries, including General Motors, Monsanto and the asbestos industry. Following revelation of these conflicts of interest, just prior to his death in 2002, Doll admitted that most cancers, other than those related to smoking and hormones, "are induced by exposure to chemicals often environmental."
Furthermore, the NCI has touted the imminent success of new cancer treatments – promises that have seldom borne out, and which have been widely questioned by the independent scientific community. For instance, in 2004, Nobel Laureate Leland Hartwell, President of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Control Center, warned that Congress and the public are paying NCI $4.7 billion a year, most of which is spent on "promoting ineffective drugs" for terminal disease.
As members of the independent scientific community, we welcome the Obama Administration's goal of health care reform and prevention. But while President Obama has put forward a unique cancer plan, it focuses far too much on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, rather than on prevention.
The simple truth is that the more cancer is prevented, the less there is to treat. That will also save lives and money.
Congress now has an epochal opportunity to reform our health care system and prevent diseases, particularly cancer, from occurring in the first place. By taking some simple steps, Congress should enact reforms to prevent cancer. Accordingly, we recommend that Congress enact the following specific legislative reforms to the 1971 National Cancer Act:
Congress declares that it is the national policy of the United States to reduce carcinogenic exposures to confirmed or suspected carcinogens by at least half during the next decade.
Congress shall create a Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention of the NCI who, in consultation with the administrators of EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies, shall report to Congress annually on steps needed during the next decade, under existing regulatory authority, to reduce, by at least half, exposures reasonably anticipated to reduce the prevalence of future preventable cancers.
The Deputy Director of NCI shall meet quarterly with the administrators of EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies to identify opportunities to reduce exposures to carcinogens in the environment, the workplace, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products -- food, household products, and cosmetics and personal care products.
The Deputy Director's annual report shall include recommendations for changes in statutes, regulations and enforcement authority, necessary to achieve this national policy, in consultation with the administrators of the EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies.
Congress shall allocate at least 40% of the NCI budget to explicit prevention related programs for FY 2011, and 50% by FY 2014.
Congress shall mandate the annual publication of a comprehensive register of carcinogens. This will provide federal, state and local governments, as well as the public, with comprehensive information on carcinogens in the workplace, environment, and consumer products so that necessary preventive action can be promptly undertaken.
These steps alone will not win the war against cancer, but they will be critical in redirecting a failing war on cancer that can best be described as one of the most notorious public health failures of the 20th century. Cancer prevention is a critical public policy area in which reform is long overdue.
Accordingly, these concerns have also been addressed to four congressional committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Senate Appropriations; House Energy and Commerce; and the House Appropriations Committee.
Experts on Causes and Prevention of Cancer:
Samuel S. Epstein, MD Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Nicholas A. Ashford, PhD., JD
Professor of Technology and Policy
Director, MIT Technology and Law Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Richard W. Clapp, DSc, MPH
Professor Environmental Health
Boston University School of Public Health
Quentin D. Young, MD
Past President American Public Health Association
Chairman, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, Chicago
CONTACT:
Samuel S. Epstein, MD
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Email: epstein@uic.edu
CHICAGO, IL, June 15, 2009 -- /WORLD-WIRE/ -- A report on the Obama Cancer Plan to key Congressional Committees was released today by national experts on the causes and prevention of cancer. The report recommends that Congress enact legislative reforms to the 1971 National Cancer Act, including a statement that it is the national policy of the United States to reduce carcinogenic exposures by at least half during the next decade. The report also urges the annual publication of a comprehensive public register of carcinogens.
The experts prescribe major policy changes for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These include the appointment of a new Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention, and the allocation of at least 40% of the NCI budget to prevention programs for Fiscal Year 2011.
The report emphasizes that President Barack Obama has boldly pledged to reform the national health care system. Central to this, as the President has stressed, is containing the spiraling costs of health care -- costs which are soaring at about 6% each year.
Most experts agree that this is not possible without a better plan to prevent Americans from getting cancer in the first place. This year, 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. Of them, 562,000 people - over 1,500 every day - will die.
The cancer epidemic strikes as many as one in three Americans and takes the life of one in four. After 37 years of losing the war against cancer (a war that President Nixon originally declared in December 1971), we are taking grossly and demonstrably inadequate action to protect us from this menace.
While research on the prevention and treatment of cancer is predominantly the responsibility of the National Cancer Institute, other governmental agencies are also involved. These include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Unfortunately, action amongst these agencies is uncoordinated and unbalanced.
The connection between our losing the cancer war and the need to control costs through prevention is clear. Cancer is not only one of the most costly and sometimes deadly diseases in America, it is also one of the most preventable.
Based on recent estimates by the National Institutes of Health, the total costs of cancer are $219 billion a year. The annual costs to taxpayers of diagnosis and treatment amount to $89 billion; the annual costs of premature death are conservatively estimated at $112 billion; and the annual costs due to lost productivity are conservatively estimated at $18 billion. And these are the quantifiable, inflationary economic costs. The human costs are of far greater magnitude.
To be sure, smoking remains the best-known and single largest cause of cancer, particularly lung cancer. While incidence rates of lung cancer in men have declined by 20% over the past three decades, rates in women increased by 111%.
But more importantly, non-smoking cancers -- due to known chemical and physical carcinogens -- have increased substantially since 1975. Some of the more startling realities in the failure to prevent cancer are illustrated by their soaring rates of increase. These include:
Malignant melanoma of the skin in adults is increasing by 168% due to the use of sunscreens in childhood that fail to block long wave ultraviolet light;
Thyroid cancer is increasing by 124% due in large part to ionizing radiation;
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is increasing 76% due mostly to phenoxy herbicides; and phenylenediamine hair dyes;
Testicular cancer is increasing by 49% due to pesticides; hormonal ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products; and estrogen residues in meat;
Childhood leukemia is increasing by 55% due to ionizing radiation; domestic pesticides; nitrite preservatives in meats, particularly hot dogs; and parental exposures to occupational carcinogens;
Ovary cancer (mortality) for women over the age of 65 has increased by 47% in African American women and 13% in Caucasian women due to genital use of talc powder;
Breast cancer is increasing 17% due to a wide range of factors. These include: birth control pills; estrogen replacement therapy; toxic hormonal ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products; diagnostic radiation; and routine premenopausal mammography, with a cumulative breast dose exposure of up to about five rads over ten years.
Reflecting these concerns about breast cancer, Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Henry Waxman have introduced bills promoting educational campaigns, including teaching regular breast self examination to high school students. However, and in spite of its scientifically proven efficacy, this initiative has been strongly challenged by breast cancer prevention "experts" who remain unaware of the scientific evidence on the cancer risks of high dose radiation premenopausal mammography. Furthermore, these "experts" are unaware of the well-documented scientific evidence of avoidable causes of breast cancer, other than factors related to . . . "childbirth and breastfeeding."
It is now beyond dispute in the independent scientific community that environmental and occupational exposures to carcinogens are the primary cause of non-smoking related cancers. An October 2007 publication on environmental and occupational causes of cancer by one of us (Dr. Richard Clapp) further emphasized that the increasing incidence of cancer is due to preventable exposures to carcinogens in the workplace and environment.
The Clapp report provides a wide range of evidence showing preventable cancers resulting from environmental exposures to formaldehyde, chlorinated organic pesticides, and organic solvents, among other substances.
Dr. Clapp cites a wealth of evidence attributing the increasing incidence of lung cancers to preventable occupational exposures to asbestos, silica, chromium VI, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, benzene, and ethylene oxide.
The National Cancer Institute is the primary federal agency devoted exclusively to fighting cancer. Paradoxically, the escalating incidence of cancer over the last thirty years parallels its sharply escalating annual budget - from $690 million in 1975 to $6 billion this year. Of this a mere $131 million is allocated to NCI's mission on Prevention and Early Detection. Furthermore, President Obama has proposed a 5% increase in funding the NCI for unspecified cancer research, with a doubling to $11.5 billion over the next eight years.
However, in spite of well-documented evidence relating the escalating incidence of cancer to a wide range of avoidable carcinogenic exposures, the NCI remains "asleep at the wheel," and has stubbornly refused to devote significant resources or even attention to prevention.
The NCI has also ignored proddings from Congress and independent scientific experts to develop a comprehensive registry of carcinogens. Worse still, the NCI has misled the public by claiming that most cancers are due to unhealthy behavior, "blaming the victim," despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
NCI officials still claim, for instance that 94% of all cancers are due to "unhealthy behavior" such as smoking, poor nutrition, inactivity, obesity and over exposure to sunlight – and that a mere 6% are attributable to exposures to environmental and occupational exposures.
These estimates are based on those published in 1981 by the late U.K. epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll. However, from 1976 to 1999, Doll had been a closet consultant to U.K. and U.S. industries, including General Motors, Monsanto and the asbestos industry. Following revelation of these conflicts of interest, just prior to his death in 2002, Doll admitted that most cancers, other than those related to smoking and hormones, "are induced by exposure to chemicals often environmental."
Furthermore, the NCI has touted the imminent success of new cancer treatments – promises that have seldom borne out, and which have been widely questioned by the independent scientific community. For instance, in 2004, Nobel Laureate Leland Hartwell, President of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Control Center, warned that Congress and the public are paying NCI $4.7 billion a year, most of which is spent on "promoting ineffective drugs" for terminal disease.
As members of the independent scientific community, we welcome the Obama Administration's goal of health care reform and prevention. But while President Obama has put forward a unique cancer plan, it focuses far too much on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, rather than on prevention.
The simple truth is that the more cancer is prevented, the less there is to treat. That will also save lives and money.
Congress now has an epochal opportunity to reform our health care system and prevent diseases, particularly cancer, from occurring in the first place. By taking some simple steps, Congress should enact reforms to prevent cancer. Accordingly, we recommend that Congress enact the following specific legislative reforms to the 1971 National Cancer Act:
Congress declares that it is the national policy of the United States to reduce carcinogenic exposures to confirmed or suspected carcinogens by at least half during the next decade.
Congress shall create a Deputy Director for Cancer Prevention of the NCI who, in consultation with the administrators of EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies, shall report to Congress annually on steps needed during the next decade, under existing regulatory authority, to reduce, by at least half, exposures reasonably anticipated to reduce the prevalence of future preventable cancers.
The Deputy Director of NCI shall meet quarterly with the administrators of EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies to identify opportunities to reduce exposures to carcinogens in the environment, the workplace, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products -- food, household products, and cosmetics and personal care products.
The Deputy Director's annual report shall include recommendations for changes in statutes, regulations and enforcement authority, necessary to achieve this national policy, in consultation with the administrators of the EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FDA and other relevant regulatory agencies.
Congress shall allocate at least 40% of the NCI budget to explicit prevention related programs for FY 2011, and 50% by FY 2014.
Congress shall mandate the annual publication of a comprehensive register of carcinogens. This will provide federal, state and local governments, as well as the public, with comprehensive information on carcinogens in the workplace, environment, and consumer products so that necessary preventive action can be promptly undertaken.
These steps alone will not win the war against cancer, but they will be critical in redirecting a failing war on cancer that can best be described as one of the most notorious public health failures of the 20th century. Cancer prevention is a critical public policy area in which reform is long overdue.
Accordingly, these concerns have also been addressed to four congressional committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Senate Appropriations; House Energy and Commerce; and the House Appropriations Committee.
Experts on Causes and Prevention of Cancer:
Samuel S. Epstein, MD Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Nicholas A. Ashford, PhD., JD
Professor of Technology and Policy
Director, MIT Technology and Law Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Richard W. Clapp, DSc, MPH
Professor Environmental Health
Boston University School of Public Health
Quentin D. Young, MD
Past President American Public Health Association
Chairman, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, Chicago
CONTACT:
Samuel S. Epstein, MD
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Email: epstein@uic.edu
domingo, 14 de junio de 2009
Ergonomía para soldadores
La Marina de los EE.UU. ha producido un documento específico para Ergonomía en soldadores.
Aunque está en inglés puede ser de ayuda para quienes deben aborda esta actividad.
Está disponible aquí
Antemortem diagnosis of asbestosis by screening chest radiograph and Toxicology
Antemortem diagnosis of asbestosis by screening chest radiograph correlated with postmortem histologic features of asbestosis: a study of 273 cases Mizell KN, Morris CG, Carter J Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2009, 4:14 (12 June 2009) [Abstract] [Provisional PDF] |
| |
Canadian Asbestos in India
http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/healtheducation/canadas_ugly_secret.html
Last night, the Canadian Broadcasting Co. National News presented a
major documentary on the use of Canadian asbestos in India. They had
film footage showing workers picking up piles of asbestos fiber with
their hands, feeding it into processing equipment, fiber and dust
everywhere, in a textile plant using Canadian chrysotile asbestos. It
looks like the investigators had gotten in a time machine and gone back
100 years to film this. Canadian government and taxpayer-supported
Chrysotile Institute spokesmen declined to face the CBC interviewer. A
stunning piece of investigative journalism, 15 minutes long.
It remains to be seen how long Canada will cling to its pariah status in
promoting its asbestos exports to the developing world. There is only
one asbestos mine left operating in Canada, employing a few hundred
workers. As a national election looms, members of Parliament are
starting to say it's time to close the asbestos mines and join the ~ 45
countries that have banned asbestos. Medical authorities and public
health scientists in Quebec have protested Canada's opposition to
including chrysotile asbestos under an international convention that
requires prior informed consent from the intended importing country
before the product can be shipped. The Canadian Cancer Society has
called for an asbestos ban. And finally the media are starting to raise
the issue, with some insight and persistence. If the government of
Canada and the "Canadian Chrysotile School" of scientists promoting
asbestos can be sidelined, we will be able to better confront this
quasi-criminal industry in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
--
Barry Castleman, ScD
Environmental Consultant
P.O. Box 188
Garrett Park MD 20896 USA
Tel. 301-933-9097
-------------------------------
Last night, the Canadian Broadcasting Co. National News presented a
major documentary on the use of Canadian asbestos in India. They had
film footage showing workers picking up piles of asbestos fiber with
their hands, feeding it into processing equipment, fiber and dust
everywhere, in a textile plant using Canadian chrysotile asbestos. It
looks like the investigators had gotten in a time machine and gone back
100 years to film this. Canadian government and taxpayer-supported
Chrysotile Institute spokesmen declined to face the CBC interviewer. A
stunning piece of investigative journalism, 15 minutes long.
It remains to be seen how long Canada will cling to its pariah status in
promoting its asbestos exports to the developing world. There is only
one asbestos mine left operating in Canada, employing a few hundred
workers. As a national election looms, members of Parliament are
starting to say it's time to close the asbestos mines and join the ~ 45
countries that have banned asbestos. Medical authorities and public
health scientists in Quebec have protested Canada's opposition to
including chrysotile asbestos under an international convention that
requires prior informed consent from the intended importing country
before the product can be shipped. The Canadian Cancer Society has
called for an asbestos ban. And finally the media are starting to raise
the issue, with some insight and persistence. If the government of
Canada and the "Canadian Chrysotile School" of scientists promoting
asbestos can be sidelined, we will be able to better confront this
quasi-criminal industry in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
--
Barry Castleman, ScD
Environmental Consultant
P.O. Box 188
Garrett Park MD 20896 USA
Tel. 301-933-9097
-------------------------------
sábado, 13 de junio de 2009
WHO: Pandemic phase 6
Statement to the press by WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan
11 June 2009
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html/?scan
World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic
Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization
Ladies and gentlemen,
In late April, WHO announced the emergence of a novel influenza A virus. This particular H1N1 strain has not circulated previously in humans. The virus is entirely new.
The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries.
This is only part of the picture. With few exceptions, countries with large numbers of cases are those with good surveillance and testing procedures in place.
Spread in several countries can no longer be traced to clearly-defined chains of human-to-human transmission. Further spread is considered inevitable.
I have conferred with leading influenza experts, virologists, and public health officials. In line with procedures set out in the International Health Regulations, I have sought guidance and advice from an Emergency Committee established for this purpose.
On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met.
I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.
The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.
We are in the earliest days of the pandemic. The virus is spreading under a close and careful watch.
No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely, in real-time, right at the very beginning. The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic
preparedness.
We have a head start. This places us in a strong position. But it also creates a demand for advice and reassurance in the midst of limited data and considerable scientific uncertainty.
Thanks to close monitoring, thorough investigations, and frank reporting from countries, we have some early snapshots depicting spread of the virus and the range of illness it can cause.
We know, too, that this early, patchy picture can change very quickly. The virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time.
Globally, we have good reason to believe that this pandemic, at least in its early days, will be of moderate severity. As we know from experience, severity can vary, depending on many factors, from one country to another.
On present evidence, the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.
Worldwide, the number of deaths is small. Each and every one of these deaths is tragic, and we have to brace ourselves to see more. However, we do not expect to see a sudden and dramatic jump in the number of
severe or fatal infections.
We know that the novel H1N1 virus preferentially infects younger people. In nearly all areas with large and sustained outbreaks, the majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 25 years.
In some of these countries, around 2% of cases have developed severe illness, often with very rapid progression to life-threatening pneumonia.
Most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.
This pattern is significantly different from that seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza, when most deaths occur in frail elderly people.
Many, though not all, severe cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions. Based on limited, preliminary data, conditions most frequently seen include respiratory diseases, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.
At the same time, it is important to note that around one third to half of the severe and fatal infections are occurring in previously healthy young and middle-aged people.
Without question, pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This heightened risk takes on added importance for a virus, like this one, that preferentially infects younger age groups.
Finally, and perhaps of greatest concern, we do not know how this virus will behave under conditions typically found in the developing world. To date, the vast majority of cases have been detected and investigated in comparatively well-off countries.
Let me underscore two of many reasons for this concern. First, more than 99% of maternal deaths, which are a marker of poor quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, occurs in the developing world.
Second, around 85% of the burden of chronic diseases is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.
Although the pandemic appears to have moderate severity in comparatively well-off countries, it is prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture as the virus spreads to areas with limited resources, poor health care, and a high prevalence of underlying medical problems.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A characteristic feature of pandemics is their rapid spread to all parts of the world. In the previous century, this spread has typically taken around 6 to 9 months, even during times when most international travel was by ship or rail.
Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection.
Guidance on specific protective and precautionary measures has been sent to ministries of health in all countries. Countries with no or only a few cases should remain vigilant.
Countries with widespread transmission should focus on the appropriate management of patients. The testing and investigation of patients should be limited, as such measures are resource intensive and can very quickly strain capacities.
WHO has been in close dialogue with influenza vaccine manufacturers. I understand that production of vaccines for seasonal influenza will be completed soon, and that full capacity will be available to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come.
Pending the availability of vaccines, several non-pharmaceutical interventions can confer some protection.
WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures.
Influenza pandemics, whether moderate or severe, are remarkable events because of the almost universal susceptibility of the world's population to infection.
We are all in this together, and we will all get through this, together.
Thank you.
11 June 2009
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html/?scan
World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic
Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization
Ladies and gentlemen,
In late April, WHO announced the emergence of a novel influenza A virus. This particular H1N1 strain has not circulated previously in humans. The virus is entirely new.
The virus is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries.
This is only part of the picture. With few exceptions, countries with large numbers of cases are those with good surveillance and testing procedures in place.
Spread in several countries can no longer be traced to clearly-defined chains of human-to-human transmission. Further spread is considered inevitable.
I have conferred with leading influenza experts, virologists, and public health officials. In line with procedures set out in the International Health Regulations, I have sought guidance and advice from an Emergency Committee established for this purpose.
On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met.
I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.
The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.
We are in the earliest days of the pandemic. The virus is spreading under a close and careful watch.
No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely, in real-time, right at the very beginning. The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic
preparedness.
We have a head start. This places us in a strong position. But it also creates a demand for advice and reassurance in the midst of limited data and considerable scientific uncertainty.
Thanks to close monitoring, thorough investigations, and frank reporting from countries, we have some early snapshots depicting spread of the virus and the range of illness it can cause.
We know, too, that this early, patchy picture can change very quickly. The virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time.
Globally, we have good reason to believe that this pandemic, at least in its early days, will be of moderate severity. As we know from experience, severity can vary, depending on many factors, from one country to another.
On present evidence, the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.
Worldwide, the number of deaths is small. Each and every one of these deaths is tragic, and we have to brace ourselves to see more. However, we do not expect to see a sudden and dramatic jump in the number of
severe or fatal infections.
We know that the novel H1N1 virus preferentially infects younger people. In nearly all areas with large and sustained outbreaks, the majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 25 years.
In some of these countries, around 2% of cases have developed severe illness, often with very rapid progression to life-threatening pneumonia.
Most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.
This pattern is significantly different from that seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza, when most deaths occur in frail elderly people.
Many, though not all, severe cases have occurred in people with underlying chronic conditions. Based on limited, preliminary data, conditions most frequently seen include respiratory diseases, notably asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.
At the same time, it is important to note that around one third to half of the severe and fatal infections are occurring in previously healthy young and middle-aged people.
Without question, pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This heightened risk takes on added importance for a virus, like this one, that preferentially infects younger age groups.
Finally, and perhaps of greatest concern, we do not know how this virus will behave under conditions typically found in the developing world. To date, the vast majority of cases have been detected and investigated in comparatively well-off countries.
Let me underscore two of many reasons for this concern. First, more than 99% of maternal deaths, which are a marker of poor quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, occurs in the developing world.
Second, around 85% of the burden of chronic diseases is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.
Although the pandemic appears to have moderate severity in comparatively well-off countries, it is prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture as the virus spreads to areas with limited resources, poor health care, and a high prevalence of underlying medical problems.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A characteristic feature of pandemics is their rapid spread to all parts of the world. In the previous century, this spread has typically taken around 6 to 9 months, even during times when most international travel was by ship or rail.
Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection.
Guidance on specific protective and precautionary measures has been sent to ministries of health in all countries. Countries with no or only a few cases should remain vigilant.
Countries with widespread transmission should focus on the appropriate management of patients. The testing and investigation of patients should be limited, as such measures are resource intensive and can very quickly strain capacities.
WHO has been in close dialogue with influenza vaccine manufacturers. I understand that production of vaccines for seasonal influenza will be completed soon, and that full capacity will be available to ensure the largest possible supply of pandemic vaccine in the months to come.
Pending the availability of vaccines, several non-pharmaceutical interventions can confer some protection.
WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures.
Influenza pandemics, whether moderate or severe, are remarkable events because of the almost universal susceptibility of the world's population to infection.
We are all in this together, and we will all get through this, together.
Thank you.
Global Influenza Pandemic Declared
Global Influenza Pandemic Declared
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 11, 2009 (ENS) - The world is now in the early days of a global pandemic of novel H1N1 influenza, the World Health Organization announced today. WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said she has decided to raise the level of pandemic alert from Phase 5 to Phase 6, which indicates that a global pandemic is underway. Since the virus was first detected in April, 74 countries have reported 28,774 laboratory confirmed cases of the virus, with 144 deaths. Further spread of the virus is "inevitable," said Dr. Chan.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2009/2009-06-11-02.asp
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 11, 2009 (ENS) - The world is now in the early days of a global pandemic of novel H1N1 influenza, the World Health Organization announced today. WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said she has decided to raise the level of pandemic alert from Phase 5 to Phase 6, which indicates that a global pandemic is underway. Since the virus was first detected in April, 74 countries have reported 28,774 laboratory confirmed cases of the virus, with 144 deaths. Further spread of the virus is "inevitable," said Dr. Chan.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2009/2009-06-11-02.asp
Manual de la OMS sobre el manejo de salud pública de emergencias químicas
Se puede descargar completo de la siguiente dirección electrónica:
http://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/publications/Manual_Chemical_Incidents/en/index.html
Por ahora solo está disponible la versión en inglés.
http://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/publications/Manual_Chemical_Incidents/en/index.html
Por ahora solo está disponible la versión en inglés.
domingo, 7 de junio de 2009
Asbesto: Condena a Uralita
Una sentencia pionera condena a empresa a indemnizar afectados por amianto
Una sentencia de un juzgado de Sabadell (Barcelona) ha condenado por primera vez en Cataluña a la empresa Uralita a indemnizar con hasta 78.600 euros a tres trabajadores de la fábrica por los daños causados por el amianto al que estaban expuestos, que acabó provocando la muerte de dos de ellos.
La sentencia, que no es firme, otorga indemnizaciones de 52.418,76, 68.511,2 y 78.628,14 euros a cada uno de los tres trabajadores, al reconocer que la fábrica de Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona) incumplió "durante más de 25 años" la normativa en materia de seguridad y actuó de forma negligente.
Las demandas fueron interpuestas por las viudas de dos empleados de Uralita que murieron, respectivamente, por una mesotelioma peritoneal y un carcinoma escamoso de pulmón, así como por un tercer empleado que sufre una pleuritis fibronosa por el contacto con el amianto, todos ellos representados por el bufete de abogados Colectivo Ronda.
En una primera fase, los tres demandantes acudieron a los tribunales hasta conseguir que la Seguridad Social les reconociera que sufrían una enfermedad profesional.
Tras ese primer logro, los tres afectados presentaron una demanda ante el juzgado de lo social número 3 de Sabadell para que condenara a la empresa Uralita S.A. a indemizarles por los daños y perjuicios que había causado en su salud la exposición a amianto seco mientras trabajaron en la fábrica.
En una sentencia única en Cataluña -existen casos en Andalucía y Madrid- el juzgado ha estimado parcialmente la demanda al considerar que existe una relación causal entre el incumplimiento por parte de la empresa de sus obligaciones en materia de seguridad e higiene y las patologías sufridas por los empleados.
La empresa alegó en su defensa que la normativa legal para la prevención de la asbestosis era insuficiente hasta avanzada la década de los 80 y que las medidas que Uralita estableció antes de esa fecha eran incluso superiores a las que fijaba la legislación.
No obstante, la sentencia mantiene que ya desde 1947 se conocía, a través de un decreto, que la asbestosis como enfermedad profesional era derivada de la inhalación de polvo (de amianto) producido en la fabricación de cemento.
Además, añade el juez, "la empresa no podía desconocer las consecuencias que para la salud de los trabajadores podía comportar el incumplimiento de la normativa contenida en las órdenes de 31 de enero de 1940 y 7 de marzo de 1941 que establecían normas de seguridad e higiene laboral en ambientes pulvígenos".
Especialmente, prosigue la sentencia, cuando un decreto de 1957 prohibía a los hombres menores de 18 años y las mujeres de menos de 21 trabajar en actividades de extracción, manipulación o molienda de asbesto y amianto, "polvo que expresamente se calificaba como nocivo, esto es perjudicial para los trabajadores".
Miquel Arenas, abogado de los demandantes, ha explicado en rueda de prensa que, una vez ganados los casos contra la Seguridad Social y contra la empresa, los afectados por la asbestosis se están planteando reclamar la responsabilidad de la administración pública en la propagación de la enfermedad.
En opinión de Arenas, la administración española "era también conocedora de los riesgos que conllevaba el amianto y no hizo nada para evitarlo".
Los abogados del Colectivo Ronda han denunciado las dificultades con que se encuentran para demostrar los daños provocados por el amianto, tanto por parte de las empresas como de los poderes públicos.
Actualmente, han acudido a los tribunales para exigir indemnizaciones unos 25 ex trabajadores o familiares de empleados de la fábrica Uralita y una quincena de la empresa Rocalla de Castelldefels (Barcelona) representados por el bufete Colectivo Ronda.
Una sentencia de un juzgado de Sabadell (Barcelona) ha condenado por primera vez en Cataluña a la empresa Uralita a indemnizar con hasta 78.600 euros a tres trabajadores de la fábrica por los daños causados por el amianto al que estaban expuestos, que acabó provocando la muerte de dos de ellos.
La sentencia, que no es firme, otorga indemnizaciones de 52.418,76, 68.511,2 y 78.628,14 euros a cada uno de los tres trabajadores, al reconocer que la fábrica de Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona) incumplió "durante más de 25 años" la normativa en materia de seguridad y actuó de forma negligente.
Las demandas fueron interpuestas por las viudas de dos empleados de Uralita que murieron, respectivamente, por una mesotelioma peritoneal y un carcinoma escamoso de pulmón, así como por un tercer empleado que sufre una pleuritis fibronosa por el contacto con el amianto, todos ellos representados por el bufete de abogados Colectivo Ronda.
En una primera fase, los tres demandantes acudieron a los tribunales hasta conseguir que la Seguridad Social les reconociera que sufrían una enfermedad profesional.
Tras ese primer logro, los tres afectados presentaron una demanda ante el juzgado de lo social número 3 de Sabadell para que condenara a la empresa Uralita S.A. a indemizarles por los daños y perjuicios que había causado en su salud la exposición a amianto seco mientras trabajaron en la fábrica.
En una sentencia única en Cataluña -existen casos en Andalucía y Madrid- el juzgado ha estimado parcialmente la demanda al considerar que existe una relación causal entre el incumplimiento por parte de la empresa de sus obligaciones en materia de seguridad e higiene y las patologías sufridas por los empleados.
La empresa alegó en su defensa que la normativa legal para la prevención de la asbestosis era insuficiente hasta avanzada la década de los 80 y que las medidas que Uralita estableció antes de esa fecha eran incluso superiores a las que fijaba la legislación.
No obstante, la sentencia mantiene que ya desde 1947 se conocía, a través de un decreto, que la asbestosis como enfermedad profesional era derivada de la inhalación de polvo (de amianto) producido en la fabricación de cemento.
Además, añade el juez, "la empresa no podía desconocer las consecuencias que para la salud de los trabajadores podía comportar el incumplimiento de la normativa contenida en las órdenes de 31 de enero de 1940 y 7 de marzo de 1941 que establecían normas de seguridad e higiene laboral en ambientes pulvígenos".
Especialmente, prosigue la sentencia, cuando un decreto de 1957 prohibía a los hombres menores de 18 años y las mujeres de menos de 21 trabajar en actividades de extracción, manipulación o molienda de asbesto y amianto, "polvo que expresamente se calificaba como nocivo, esto es perjudicial para los trabajadores".
Miquel Arenas, abogado de los demandantes, ha explicado en rueda de prensa que, una vez ganados los casos contra la Seguridad Social y contra la empresa, los afectados por la asbestosis se están planteando reclamar la responsabilidad de la administración pública en la propagación de la enfermedad.
En opinión de Arenas, la administración española "era también conocedora de los riesgos que conllevaba el amianto y no hizo nada para evitarlo".
Los abogados del Colectivo Ronda han denunciado las dificultades con que se encuentran para demostrar los daños provocados por el amianto, tanto por parte de las empresas como de los poderes públicos.
Actualmente, han acudido a los tribunales para exigir indemnizaciones unos 25 ex trabajadores o familiares de empleados de la fábrica Uralita y una quincena de la empresa Rocalla de Castelldefels (Barcelona) representados por el bufete Colectivo Ronda.
sábado, 6 de junio de 2009
World Bank Asbestos Guidance Note
The World Bank Group has issued a "good practice note" on asbestos 1) to increase awareness of asbestos hazards, 2) present information on available alternative construction materials, and 3) advise adherence to international guidelines when in-place asbestos materials have to be disturbed.
The World Bank finances government and private sector construction projects. This document will serve as guidance for bank project officers to select safer construction materials than the asbestos-cement sheets and pipes that account for 90% of the asbestos use in the world today. Asbestos materials are also to be avoided in disaster relief projects. Use of safer alternative materials will avoid the needless, continuing, mortal endangerment of workers and building occupants whenever the structures have to be renovated or demolished.
Similar policies may now be adopted by the regional development banks, some private banks, and governments. This in turn may do something to reduce global asbestos use, which is again on the rise after dropping by half in the 1990s, mainly fueled by growth in Asia, particularly China and India.
I was delighted to be asked by the World Bank to start drafting this document in 2006, just as ILO and WHO launched new initiatives on asbestos and called for a global ban on asbestos use. Industrial hygienist Andrew Oberta drafted the parts of this guidance note on asbestos abatement, an area in which he is expert. Bank environmental staff provided advice and editing in getting the report in final form. The guidance note consists of 7 pages of referenced text and 10 pages of appendices.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPOPS/Resources/AsbestosGuidanceNoteFinal.pdf
The World Bank finances government and private sector construction projects. This document will serve as guidance for bank project officers to select safer construction materials than the asbestos-cement sheets and pipes that account for 90% of the asbestos use in the world today. Asbestos materials are also to be avoided in disaster relief projects. Use of safer alternative materials will avoid the needless, continuing, mortal endangerment of workers and building occupants whenever the structures have to be renovated or demolished.
Similar policies may now be adopted by the regional development banks, some private banks, and governments. This in turn may do something to reduce global asbestos use, which is again on the rise after dropping by half in the 1990s, mainly fueled by growth in Asia, particularly China and India.
I was delighted to be asked by the World Bank to start drafting this document in 2006, just as ILO and WHO launched new initiatives on asbestos and called for a global ban on asbestos use. Industrial hygienist Andrew Oberta drafted the parts of this guidance note on asbestos abatement, an area in which he is expert. Bank environmental staff provided advice and editing in getting the report in final form. The guidance note consists of 7 pages of referenced text and 10 pages of appendices.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPOPS/Resources/AsbestosGuidanceNoteFinal.pdf
viernes, 5 de junio de 2009
CHILE: CONGRESO DE ERGONOMIA 2009, OCTUBRE
Estimados Amigos de SOCHERGO:
Junto con saludarlos, les remito en archivos adjunto, las respectivas instrucciones que los autores de trabajos podrán utilizar para estructurar sus presentaciones en el “IV CONGRESO NACIONAL DE ERGONOMIA 2009 : ERGONOMIA UN APORTE A LA PRODUCTIVIDAD DEL PAIS ”. ( VIÑA DEL MAR 7-8-9 DE OCTUBRE )
Les recuerdo que las comunicaciones a presentar en el congreso deben estar vinculadas con cualquier tema relacionado a la investigación, desarrollo y/o aplicación de la ergonomía en alguno de los tópicos siguientes:
- Responsabilidad social empresarial y ergonomia
- Factores psicosociales en el trabajo
- Factores músculo esqueléticos en el trabajo
- Ergonomia en el trabajo minero
- Factores legales y políticas publicas vinculadas a la ergonomía
Por otra parte, el dia 07 de octubre en el mismo lugar y oportunidad del IV Congreso Nacional de Ergonomia, se realizará la “ I JORNADA DE ERGONOMIA PARA ESTUDIANTES”. Las comunicaciones a presentar en estas Jornadas. deben estar patrocinadas por un profesor guía y orientadas en algunos de los tópicos siguientes:
- Ergonomia, Hapticidad y Herramientas de trabajo
- Ergonomia y Fisiología del trabajo físico
- Ergonomia y Calidad de vida laboral
Las comunicaciones enviadas serán expuestas al trabajo de los respectivos comités científicos del “IV CONGRESO NACIONAL DE ERGONOMIA 2009 : ERGONOMIA UN APORTE A LA PRODUCTIVIDAD DEL PAIS ” ( Elias Apud, Guillermo Solar, Carole Baudin, Ma. Eugenia Figueroa, Miguel Acevedo, Horacio Rivera, Guido Solari ) y de la
“ I JORNADA DE ERGONOMIA PARA ESTUDIANTES”.( Luisa Vericat, Consuele Vergara, Eduardo Valdes, Felipe Meyer, Guido Solari)
Esperamos su participación y colaboración para difusión del evento, el programa está listo de modo que pueden visitar la pagina web de SOCHERGO en la que encontrarán mas antecedentes sobre el evento.
Por favor infórmense, consúltennos si así lo requieren, difundan y reenvíen este correo a quien les parezca conveniente a modo de promover la participación y encontrarnos en Viña del Mar en el marco de un gran Congreso y Jornada 2.009.
Cordiales saludos
Guido Solari
Secretario General
SOCHERGO
miércoles, 3 de junio de 2009
Ann Occ Hyg 53/4 contents
Annals of Occupational Hygiene vol 53 number 4
----------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
----------------------------------------------------------------
T. L. Ogden FREE ACCESS
Canadian Chrysotile Report Released--At Last
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 307-309; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep031.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/53/4/307?etoc
----------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
----------------------------------------------------------------
Perry Logan, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, John Mulhausen, and Paul Hewett FREE ACCESS
Occupational Exposure Decisions: Can Limited Data Interpretation Training Help Improve Accuracy?
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 311-324; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep011.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/311?etoc
Paolo Lenzuni, Daniela Freda, and Michele Del Gaudio
Classification of Thermal Environments for Comfort Assessment
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 325-332; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep012.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/325?etoc
B. Berlinger, M. Naray, I. Sajo, and G. Zaray
Critical Evaluation of Sequential Leaching Procedures for the Determination of Ni and Mn Species in Welding Fumes
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 333-340; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep013.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/333?etoc
Guangqin Fan, Chang Feng, Yu Li, Chunhong Wang, Ji Yan, Wei Li, Jiangao Feng, Xianglin Shi, and Yongyi Bi
Selection of Nutrients for Prevention or Amelioration of Lead-Induced learning and Memory Impairment in Rats
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 341-351; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep019.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/341?etoc
A. Dufresne, V. Turcotte, H. Golshahi, S. Viau, G. Perrault, and C. Dion
Solvent Removal of Beryllium from Surfaces of Equipment Made of Beryllium Copper
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 353-362; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep007.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/353?etoc
Raymond Vincent, Jacques Catani, Yvon Creau, Anne-Marie Frocaut, Andree Good, Pierre Goutet, Alain Hou, Fabrice Leray, Marie-Ange Andre-Lesage,
and Alain Soyez
Occupational Exposure to Beryllium in French Enterprises: A Survey of Airborne Exposure and Surface Levels
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 363-372; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep015.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/363?etoc
B. L. McAtee, E. P. Donovan, S. H. Gaffney, W. Frede, J. S. Knutsen, and D. J. Paustenbach
Historical Analysis of Airborne Beryllium Concentrations at a Copper Beryllium Machining Facility (1964-2000)
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 373-382; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep018.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/373?etoc
Lena Elfman, Carl Hogstedt, Karin Engvall, Erik Lampa, and Christian H. Lindh
Acute Health Effects on Planters of Conifer Seedlings Treated with Insecticides
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 383-390; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep016.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/383?etoc
M. Debia, D. Begin, and M. Gerin
Comparative Evaluation of Overexposure Potential Indices used in Solvent Substitution
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 391-401; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep014.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/391?etoc
E. Bye, S. Foreland, L. Lundgren, K. Kruse, and R. Ronning
Quantitative Determination of Airborne Respirable Non-Fibrous {alpha}-Silicon Carbide by X-ray Powder Diffractometry
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 403-408; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep022.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/403?etoc
Yufen Zhang, Sudipto Banerjee, Rui Yang, Claudiu Lungu, and Gurumurthy Ramachandran
Bayesian Modeling of Exposure and Airflow Using Two-Zone Models
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 409-424; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep017.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/409?etoc
Rong Fung Huang and Chun I. Chou
Flow and Performance of an Air-curtain Biological Safety Cabinet
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 425-440; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep020.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/425?etoc
D. Bemer, I. Subra, and R. Regnier
Methods for Measuring Performance of Vehicle Cab Air Cleaning Systems Against Aerosols and Vapours
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 441-447; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep024.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/441?etoc
----------------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
----------------------------------------------------------------
T. L. Ogden FREE ACCESS
Canadian Chrysotile Report Released--At Last
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 307-309; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep031.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/53/4/307?etoc
----------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
----------------------------------------------------------------
Perry Logan, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, John Mulhausen, and Paul Hewett FREE ACCESS
Occupational Exposure Decisions: Can Limited Data Interpretation Training Help Improve Accuracy?
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 311-324; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep011.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/311?etoc
Paolo Lenzuni, Daniela Freda, and Michele Del Gaudio
Classification of Thermal Environments for Comfort Assessment
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 325-332; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep012.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/325?etoc
B. Berlinger, M. Naray, I. Sajo, and G. Zaray
Critical Evaluation of Sequential Leaching Procedures for the Determination of Ni and Mn Species in Welding Fumes
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 333-340; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep013.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/333?etoc
Guangqin Fan, Chang Feng, Yu Li, Chunhong Wang, Ji Yan, Wei Li, Jiangao Feng, Xianglin Shi, and Yongyi Bi
Selection of Nutrients for Prevention or Amelioration of Lead-Induced learning and Memory Impairment in Rats
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 341-351; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep019.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/341?etoc
A. Dufresne, V. Turcotte, H. Golshahi, S. Viau, G. Perrault, and C. Dion
Solvent Removal of Beryllium from Surfaces of Equipment Made of Beryllium Copper
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 353-362; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep007.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/353?etoc
Raymond Vincent, Jacques Catani, Yvon Creau, Anne-Marie Frocaut, Andree Good, Pierre Goutet, Alain Hou, Fabrice Leray, Marie-Ange Andre-Lesage,
and Alain Soyez
Occupational Exposure to Beryllium in French Enterprises: A Survey of Airborne Exposure and Surface Levels
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 363-372; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep015.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/363?etoc
B. L. McAtee, E. P. Donovan, S. H. Gaffney, W. Frede, J. S. Knutsen, and D. J. Paustenbach
Historical Analysis of Airborne Beryllium Concentrations at a Copper Beryllium Machining Facility (1964-2000)
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 373-382; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep018.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/373?etoc
Lena Elfman, Carl Hogstedt, Karin Engvall, Erik Lampa, and Christian H. Lindh
Acute Health Effects on Planters of Conifer Seedlings Treated with Insecticides
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 383-390; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep016.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/383?etoc
M. Debia, D. Begin, and M. Gerin
Comparative Evaluation of Overexposure Potential Indices used in Solvent Substitution
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 391-401; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep014.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/391?etoc
E. Bye, S. Foreland, L. Lundgren, K. Kruse, and R. Ronning
Quantitative Determination of Airborne Respirable Non-Fibrous {alpha}-Silicon Carbide by X-ray Powder Diffractometry
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 403-408; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep022.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/403?etoc
Yufen Zhang, Sudipto Banerjee, Rui Yang, Claudiu Lungu, and Gurumurthy Ramachandran
Bayesian Modeling of Exposure and Airflow Using Two-Zone Models
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 409-424; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep017.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/409?etoc
Rong Fung Huang and Chun I. Chou
Flow and Performance of an Air-curtain Biological Safety Cabinet
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 425-440; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep020.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/425?etoc
D. Bemer, I. Subra, and R. Regnier
Methods for Measuring Performance of Vehicle Cab Air Cleaning Systems Against Aerosols and Vapours
Ann Occup Hyg 2009 53: 441-447; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mep024.
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/4/441?etoc
martes, 2 de junio de 2009
Segundo aviso, trabajos libres
Colegas y Amigos,
Por este medio les informo que el próximo Congreso de la Federación Nacional de Medicina del Trabajo tiene la intensión de privilegiar y estimular los trabajos de investigación con miras a ICOH 20012, por lo cual se generará mas tiempo para trabajos libres y se darán tiempos constantes y atención especial a los trabajos en carteles, adicional a la beca para asistir en el caso del participante que presente el trabajo. Por lo cual los invito a revisar la convocatoria e iniciar el envío de sus trabajos, los cuales sin duda darán realce al Congreso y cumplirán con la finalidad de FeNaSTAC de llegar al Congreso Internacional con nuestra mejor representación de trabajos de investigación original. Reciban afectuosos saludos y mi más alta consideración.
Dr. José Víctor Calderón Salinas
Laboratorio de Bioquímica Médica
Departamento de Bioquímica
Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN.
Correo Electrónico: jcalder@cinvestav.mx
Tel (55) 5747-3955
Fax (55) 5747-3391
Celular 55-1481-8364
Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2505
Col. San Pedro Zacatenco,
CP 14-740 México 07000 DF.
El Comité organizador del XIV Congreso Nacional de Salud en el Trabajo y la Mesa Directiva de FeNaSTAC, ha decidido continuar con la política de apoyo a la realización de trabajos científicos y de información original, por lo cual el ponente de la presentación de trabajos libres no pagará inscripción, siempre y cuando su trabajo sea aceptado y programado. Esta política, estamos convencidos aumentará el interés para la presentación de sus trabajos, de sus colaboradores y alumnos en el marco del Congreso.
Estamos seguros que la presentación de sus importantes trabajos de investigación y la información original que nos transmitan en la presentación de trabajos libres, contribuirán a dar realcé al Congreso y que al mismo tiempo, la presentación de su trabajo en este foro nacional, permitirá que su trabajo sea difundido y discutido en un ambiente crítico y de gran impacto.
Atentamente,
Dr. José Víctor Calderón Salinas, Comité Científico FeNaSTAC
-----
El XIV Congreso Nacional de Salud en el Trabajo se realizará del 9 al 12 de Septiembre del 2009 en la Ciudad de León, Gto. Se aceptan trabajos que se realicen en las siguientes áreas: Legislación y normatividad; Riesgos psicosociales en el trabajo, Administración y organización del trabajo; Patología laboral; Sistemas de protección en seguridad, salud, medio ambiente y protección civil; Estándares de higiene industrial; Programas preventivos y vigilancia epidemiológica de las POE; Rehabilitación profesional; Ambiente y salud; Enfermedades emergentes y reemergentes Programas de asistencia a empleados; Promoción de la salud en las empresas; Sociología del trabajo; Dinámica organizacional; Uso y manejo de químicos, fármacos y productos naturales; Mecanismos de acción y de respuesta a agentes xenobióticos; Efectos fisiopatológicos y lesiones patológicas; Alteraciones moleculares y celulares en enfermedades; Métodos diagnósticos de frontera; Interacciones metabólicas de xenobióticos; Estudios clínicos; Estudios epidemiológicos.
INSTRUCCIONES PARA RESÚMENES
A. Los resúmenes deberán ser preparados como archivos Word en letra tipo Arial 11, en solo una página tamaño carta en formato estándar. Todos los márgenes serán de 2.5 cm.
B. La sección que contiene el título, el nombre de los autores y las direcciones deberá estar separada por doble espacio del texto. La sección del texto irá a renglón seguido y podrá contener figuras.
C. El título debe ir en bold y en mayúsculas. Escribir los nombres completos de los autores y las direcciones en renglones independientes y a renglón seguido.
D. Escriba el nombre de los autores empezando con los apellidos. Subraye el autor que presentará el trabajo y coloque un asterisco en el jefe de grupo. En el renglón siguiente escriba la o las dependencia en donde se realizó el trabajo, marcando con números entre paréntesis el autor y su dependencia). Se deberá incluir solamente la dirección postal completa, el teléfono, el fax y el correo electrónico del autor que presente el trabajo.
E. Los trabajos que sean presentados deberán ser escritos en español.
F. Acompañando el resumen en hoja aparte debe de indicarse claramente si se desea presentar en forma ORAL o en forma de CARTEL e indicar el AREA DE CONOCIMIENTO consideradas en el Congreso e indicadas al inicio de este mensaje.
NOTA: Dada la cantidad limitada de salones y tiempo es posible que se requiera hacer una selección de trabajo para presentación oral, lo cual estará a cargo del comité de selección de trabajos libres.
El formato será como el siguiente ejemplo:
| EL PAPEL FISIOPATOLOGICOS DE OXIDASAS ALTERNATIVAS EN LA INTOXICACIÓN CON PLOMO
|
Los trabajos se recibirán exclusivamente VIA CORREO ELECTRÓNICO en la dirección: victor_calderon@cinvestav.mx
Favor de enviar una sola vez su archivo para evitar confusiones. Recibirá un acuse de recibo por la misma vía electrónica y la transformación de su resumen a "pdf". Si en 48 horas no recibimos respuesta o correcciones el resumen será publicado en el estado en que se encuentre. La carta de aceptación le será remitida también por correo electrónico en un lapso no mayor de quince días a partir de la fecha en que se cierre la recepción de resúmenes.
La fecha límite para la recepción de resúmenes será el 17 de julio a las 12 de la noche, pudiéndose enviar a partir del primer día del mes de mayo.
Los resúmenes recibidos después de la fecha y hora límite no serán aceptados.
Los resúmenes de los trabajos libres se publicarán en las Memorias del Congreso. Su resumen y la constancia de aceptación y presentación del trabajo no se otorgaran, aun cuando el mismo este aceptado por el comité de evaluación de trabajos libres, si no se envían los datos solicitados en el apartado de REGISTRO de la Página Electrónica del Congreso.
CARTELES
A. La dimensión de los carteles será de 90 cm de ancho X 120 cm de largo. El formato de los carteles es libre, aunque es necesario que se consideren los siguientes puntos.
B. Los trabajos presentados en serán presentados en idioma español.
C. El titulo del trabajo deberá escribirse en mayúsculas, con excepción de los nombres científicos que se anotarán con una combinación de mayúsculas/minúsculas en cursiva.
D. Los nombres de los autores deberán iniciar con su apellido. Subraye el nombre del autor que va a presentar el trabajo.
E. Escriba la dependencia en donde se realizó el trabajo y el correo electrónico del autor que presenta el trabajo.
F. El cuerpo del cartel debe de contener: Introducción; Objetivo(s); Metodología; Resultados y Discusión; Conclusiones; Referencias Bibliográficas (máximo cinco).
G. El documento se recomienda que sea elaborado en formato Arial y con un tamaño mínimo de 24.
H. Las figuras y los cuadros son totalmente necesarios y se recomienda cuidar el contraste y el tamaño.
I. Los carteles se fijarán con material suministrado por los organizadores y de acuerdo a las indicaciones que se darán en las salas de exhibición.
PRESENTACIONES ORALES
A: Para las presentaciones seleccionadas para su exposición oral se contará con el equipo audiovisual (videoproyector) pertinente para sus presentaciones.
B. El material se podrá descargar de memoria USB o disco compacto.
C. El tiempo de exposición será de 15 minutos considerando preguntas.
D. Se recomienda revisar su presentación en los sitios asignados antes de pasar a la sala de proyección.
PARA MAYOR INFORMACIÓN
Enviar correo a: Dr. José Víctor Calderón Salinas. Correo electrónico: <victor_calderon@cinvestav.mx> o al teléfono: <(55)57473955>
Entradas
