The following articles refer to this text: 2007;33(5): 379-386; 2008;34(6):444-450

Objectives: To measure the levels of exposure to nitrogen trichloride (NCl 3 ) and aldehydes among cleaning and disinfecting workers in the atmosphere of food industry plants during cleaning and disinfecting operations, and to examine how they relate to irritant and chronic respiratory symptoms-which are indices of pulmonary function-and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine. Methods: 175 exposed workers (M = 149; F = 26) recruited from 17 enterprises of the food industry (8 cattle, pig, and ovine slaughterhouses, 8 fowl slaughterhouses, and 1 catering firm) and 70 non-exposed workers (M = 52; F = 18) were examined. Concentration levels of NCl 3 and aldhehydes were measured by personal sampling. Symptoms were assessed by means of a questionnaire and the methacholine bronchial challenge (MBC) test using an abbreviated method. Subjects were labelled MBC+ if forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) fell by 20% or more. The linear dose-response slope (DRS) was calculated as the percentage fall in FEV1 at last dose divided by the total dose administered. Results: 277 air samples were taken in the 17 food industry plants. For a given plant and in a given workshop, the actual concentrations of chloramines, aldehydes, and quaternary ammonium compounds were measured with personal samplers during the different steps of the procedures. For each cleaner, a total exposure index S was calculated. A statistically significant concentration-response relationship was found between eye, nasal, and throat symptoms of irritation-but not chronic respiratory symptoms-and exposure levels or exposure duration. No relation was found between BHR and exposure. Conclusions: These data show that cleaning and disinfecting workers in the food industry are at risk of developing eye, nasal, and throat irritation symptoms. Although NCl 3 exposure does not seem to carry a risk of developing permanent BHR, the possibility of transient BHR cannot be ruled out entirely. C onsumer safety demands strict hygiene and cleaning requirements in the food industry processes. All equipment and work surfaces must be carefully cleaned on a daily basis. This imposes the use of detergents and disinfectants, which are usually chlorinated alkalis and aldehydes. These cleaning and disinfecting operations have been described in the vegetable processing industry 1 and in different food industries 2 where sensory irritation phenomena were notified. These acute eye and upper respiratory airway irritations were also reported by Sanderson 3 in poultry processing plants. The irritant agents were chloramines, especially nitrogen trichloride (NCl 3 ), resulting from the reaction between hypochlorite and nitrogen compounds coming from the proteins released by vegetables or animals. The same applies in swimming pools, where the chlorine-containing agents used for disinfecting the water react with nitrogenous compounds introduced by swimmers. 4 In the food industry, other disinfectants, including formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and quaternary ammonium compounds ...

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The increased mortality by both malignant and non-malignant liver diseases is probably due to excessive alcohol consumption, but could be partially the result of occupational exposure to chemical and infectious agents and interactions of these factors. The excess lung cancer is unlikely to be due to an increased smoking prevalence.

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The Micropaleontology Project, Inc. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Micropaleontology.ABSTRACT: Sediment grab samples from a series of depth transects were collected at 112 locations on the continental margin of Portugal. The benthic microfauna is rich and diverse; 248 species in 107 genera were observed. Distributions of the more frequent benthic species were further examined. Twenty-four species of planktonic foraminifera were identified. All the data have been treated by a descriptive multivariate analysis (correspondence analysis).The major oceanographic feature is seasonal upwelling, which decreases the planktonic-benthic ratio and permits the introduction of cold water species, both benthic and planktonic. The distribution of benthic and planktonic species depends on the depth and more exactly on factors related to it: temperature and its seasonal variations, salinity and sediment facies. Three benthic distributional patterns have been related to the grain size of the sediment. We can distinguish sand-dwellers, species tolerant towards muddy sediment, species tolerant towards muddy sand and species living indifferently in sand and mud.

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This study showed a statistically significant excess of cancer mortality in a population of municipal pest-control workers exposed to a wide variety of chemicals. These cancer sites might be related to occupational activities, since they tended to be more frequently observed when duration of employment increased.

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