Respiratory function and immunological status were studied in 40 cocoa and 53 flour processing workers employed as packers in a confectionry industry and in 65 unexposed control workers in the same industry. A high prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was recorded in exposed workers, varying from 5.0% to 30.0% in cocoa workers and from 5.7% to 28.3% in flour workers. Occupational asthma was diagnosed in 2 (5%) of the cocoa workers and in 3 (5.7%) of the flour workers. None of the control workers suffered from occupational asthma. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly greater in cocoa and flour workers than in control workers. There was also a high prevalence of acute symptoms that developed during the work shift, being highest for cough (cocoa: 57.5%; flour: 50.9%) and eye irritation (cocoa: 50.0%; flour: 54.7%). Significant across‐shift reductions of ventilatory capacity were recorded in exposed workers, being largest for flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow‐volume (MEFV) curves (FEF50, FEF75). The prevalence of positive skin tests for cocoa (60.2%) was significantly higher than the prevalence of positive skin tests for flour (25.8%) among the 93 exposed workers (p < 0.05). Control workers had significantly lower prevalences of positive skin tests to cocoa (4.6%) and flour (12.3%) than exposed workers (p < 0.01). Increased total serum IgE levels were found in 17.5% of cocoa and in 18.7% of flour workers; none of the control workers had increased IgE levels. Bronchoprovocation testing demonstrated significant decreases in lung function following inhalation of cocoa dust extract and flour dust in workers with respiratory symptoms and large across‐shift reductions in lung function. Dust concentrations in the working environment were higher than those recommended by Croatian standards. These data suggest that workers employed in the processing of cocoa and flour may be at a high risk for the development of allergic sensitization and respiratory impairment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:24–32, 1998 © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

In order to test the effectiveness of captive‐rearing and release strategies for future restoration of birds in Hawai'i, this pilot study was conducted in forests where introduced avian disease and mammalian predators were present. Methodology used resulted in the first successful hatching of Drepanidinae eggs in an incubator and subsequent hand‐rearing of chicks from hatch. Sixteen Common 'Amakihi (Hemignathus virens virens) (mean hatch weight = 1.4 g) were hand‐reared. Two different reintroduction strategies were evaluated for small honeycreepers. Known mortality in the wild after release was due to mosquito‐transmitted disease (avian malaria and pox). This pilot study shows that the techniques necessary to hatch, rear, and release endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers are available. However, restoration efforts will probably not succeed unless mosquito‐free, predator‐controlled reintroduction sites are available or strategies are developed to decrease mortality in naive honeycreepers exposed to disease after release. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The wild 'Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis) population has been declining for many years, and only a few pairs of birds are currently reproductively active on the island of Hawaii. A recovery program was initiated in 1993 which included removing eggs from wild nesting birds for artificial rearing and reintroduction. This paper describes the artificial incubation and hand‐rearing techniques. Eleven eggs were removed from three nesting pairs; eight were fertile, and seven hatched and were hand‐reared (fertility, 72.7%; hatchability, 87.5%; survivability, 100%). Eggs were incubated in a forced‐air incubator at 99.5°F (dry bulb), 80.0–86.0°F (wet bulb), and hatched under still‐air conditions at 99.0°F (dry bulb) and 88.0–90°F (wet bulb). Hatched chicks were hand‐fed a diet of fruit, insects, and mouse pups. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The wild alala Corvus hawaiiensis population has been declining for many years and only three pairs of birds are currently reproductively active on the island of Hawaii. At the recommendation of a committee formed by the National Academy of Sciences, a restoration programme was initiated in 1993 by The Peregrine Fund in collaboration with private land-owners, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service and the State of Hawaii. The restoration programme includes removing eggs from wild nesting birds for artificial incubation, handrearing and reintroduction. In two breeding seasons (1993, 1994), 17 eggs were removed from alala nests in the wild. Three eggs were infertile, 13 chicks hatched and 12 alala were successfully reared (hatchability: 93 per cent; survivability: 92 per cent). Four of these chicks were sent to the State of Hawaii's Olinda Endangered Species Propagation Facility, while four chicks from this facility were sent to the reintroduction programme. Twelve alala have been released by The Peregrine Fund: five in 1993 and seven in 1994. Three of the five birds released in 1993 and all seven of the birds released in 1994 are currently surviving in the wild.