Occupational exposures associated with disorders

The effects of occupational exposure to lindane have been investigated extensively (96—100). These studies indicated that occupational exposure to lindane resulted in increased body burdens of this chemical however, toxic effects associated with these exposures were minimal and no central nervous system disorders were observed. This is in contrast to the polyneuropathies that are often observed after exposure to other haloorganic solvents. 

Occupational illness Any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment. It includes acute and chronic illnesses or diseases that may be caused by inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct contact. 

Humans can be exposed to POPs through diet, occupational exposures (for example, farmworkers may be exposed to POPs through pesticides), industrial accidents and the environment (including indoor exposure). Exposure to POPs, either acute or chronic, can be associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, including illness and death (L. Ritter et al., 1995). Laboratory animal studies and wildlife studies have associated POPs with endocrine disruption, reproductive and immune dysfunction, neurobehavioral disorders and cancer. More recently, some POPs have also been connected to reduced immunity in infants and children and a concomitant increase in infections. Other studies have linked POPS concentrations in humans with developmental abnormalities, neurobehavioral impairment and cancer and tumor induction or promotion.4... 

Deaths due to ingestion or inhalation of 1,2-dichloroethane have been attributed to circulatory and respiratory failure repeated exposures in the occupational environment have been associated with anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, irritation of the mucous membranes, dysfunction of liver and kidney and neurological disorders (lARC, 1979). 

A number of other LMW chemicals have been associated with occupational respiratory hypersensitivity disorders including asthma. For the most part these are anecdotal case reports of work-associated symptoms developing after exposure to primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines (Malo and Bernstein, 1993 Bernstein, JA et al., 1994), formaldehyde (Malo and Bernstein,... 

Some adverse reproductive effects in women have been reported to be associated with occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene in dry cleaning operations. These effects include menstmal disorders and spontaneous abortion. However, no definitive conclusions can be made because of the limitations associated with these studies. 

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