eLetters

232 e-Letters

  • Effects of phenoxy acid herbicides
    Heikki Savolainen

    Dear Editor,

    This carefully conducted study (1) points at the kidney as a potential target of toxicity of phenoxy acids in a chronic occupational exposure.

    This is biologically plausible as the phenoxy acids are inhibitors of chloride channels in renal tubular cells (2) which leads to alterations in the excretion of urinary electrolytes (3).

    Thus, it is entirely possible that the chronic dysfun...

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  • Consider Hours Worked
    James L Weeks

    To the Editor:

    Laney, et al. [1] provide important and compelling insight to potential causes of the unexpected occurrence of progressive massive fibrosis among underground coal miners in some areas of the U.S. Based on the occurrence of “r” opacities in these films, exposure to quartz is the likely cause. This conclusion is supported by an exposure assessment that shows elevated exposure to quartz dust in area...

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  • Mesothelioma Risk From Chrysotile
    John Hodgson

    We welcome the appearance of this new analysis of asbestos related mortality which constitutes an important addition to the available evidence. We note that the lung cancer risk from this data highlighted by the authors and based on their internal analyses gives an identical risk factor to the one suggested as the 'best estimate' in our earlier meta- analysis (1): a relative risk of 1.102 per 100 f/ml.yr translates almost...

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  • Response to e-letter
    Tilja I. van den Berg

    We welcome the comments on our systematic review on factors associated with the Work Ability Index (WAI) with regard to the practical implications of the WAI instrument. After reading the review, the author of the e-letter concludes that ‘the WAI should be used with caution outside samples of people with musculoskeletal disorders and that more robust psychometric data be produced in other groups’. The intended message o...

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  • What is the extent of ability in workabilty?
    Nicholas Glozier

    The systematic review of factors associated with the Work Ability Index raises significant questions about this measure. The paper repeats the assertion that "the bases for work ability are health and functional capacity, but work ability is also determined by professional knowledge and competence (skills), values, attitudes, and motivation, and work itself." Certainly clinicians are constantly asked to assess the health...

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  • Proper Interpretation of DDREF in IREP
    John R. Trabalka

    The comment by the authors about the computer code IREP used by NIOSH, namely: “IREP includes a DDREF, which lowers the probability of causation [PC] for low-dose-rate exposures,” has the potential to be misinterpreted. IREP contains two discrete DDREF distributions, one for most solid cancers and another, more restricted, distribution for thyroid and female breast cancers. The first mentioned, with values of DDREF rang...

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  • Response to Swaen et al.
    Craig Steinmaus

    Response to Swaen et al.

    Authors Craig Steinmaus1, 2 Allan H Smith1 Martyn T Smith1

    Authors affiliations 1. School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, University Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA 2. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, CA 94612

    Corresponding author Craig Steinmaus, School of Publ...

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  • Meta-analysis on benzene exposure and non Hodgkin lymphoma
    Gerard M H Swaen

    Meta-analysis on benzene exposure and non Hodgkin lymphoma

    June 30 2009

    Gerard M H Swaen1 Shan P. Tsai2 Carol Burns1

    1 Department of Epidemiology, The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan USA. 2 Shell Health, Shell Oil Company, Houston Texas, USA.

    Corresponding Author: Gerard M H Swaen, The Dow Chemical Company, P.O. Box 444, 4530 AK Terneuzen, The Netherlands 31-(0)43-3626042. E-...

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  • Regarding Mortality among British asbestos workers undergoing regular medical examinations
    Bengt Sjögren
    Letter to the editor

    Mortality among British asbestos workers undergoing regular medical examinations (1971-2005). Occup Environ Med 2009; 66: 487-95.

    Bengt Sjögren, MD, PhD Work Environment Toxicology Institute of Environmental Medicine Karolinska Institutet P.O. Box 210 SE-171 77 Stockholm Sweden Tel +46 8 524 822 29 Fax +46 8 31 41 24 E-mail Bengt.Sjogren@ki.se

    Anne-Helen Harding and coworker...

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  • Sinonasal Cancer and the Glassware Industry
    Pere Sanz-Gallén
    Sinonasal Cancer and the Glassware Industry.

    Pere Sanz-Gallén, Santiago Nogué, Eva Muñoz and Francisco Sabater*

    Clinical Toxicology Unit and *Otorhinolaryngology Service. Hospital Clínic. Barcelona

    Sir,

    The case-control study by D' Errico et al (1) on occupational risk factors for sinonasal cancer concludes that exposure to arsenic is one such factor and suggests more cases should be reported, as there...

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