-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Introduction. Exposure to passive smoking at work has been forbidden for few years in France. This study's aim is to estimate the prevalence of passive smoking at work (PSW), the characteristics of illegal passive smoking and to identify eventual respiratory effects. Methods. Occupational practitioners (OPs) of a French county of 320,000 wage earners were contacted by mail. Then OP answered questions from a standardized questionnaire. These questions concerned the practised job, exposure features linked to PSW and health effects in relationship with second-hand smoke in workplace, and the focus on nonsmoker encountered by OP during the most recent occupational medical examination. Results. Ninety-five percent of a total group of 172 OP of Champagne county filled the postal questionnaire. More than 80% of OP's replies identified illegal PSW. The average prevalence of PSW exposure was 0.7% of the total working population. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) levels were considered between low and medium for most passive smokers (71%). Main features exposure to ETS at work for non-smokers was associated with female gender (69.5%), age between 40 and 49 years (41.2%) and belonging to tertiary sector (75.6%). Environmental tobacco smoke exposures at work was firstly in the office for 49.7% of the subjects and secondly in the restroom for 18% of them. Main medical symptoms encountered by non-smokers were respiratory tractus irritation (81.7%). Eighty-three percent of OPs indicated solution to eradicate PSW. Illegal PSW is really weaker than fifteen years ago. However, the findings support a real ban on smoking in the workplace in order to protect all workers.
Advances in preventive medicine. 01/2011; 2011:975678.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Nanotechnology is a scientific domain with a full expansion. Nanomaterials have a big variety of applications in many technological domains. The diffusion, the persistence in atmosphere and the health impacts of nanoparticles are totally different by the bigger particles for the same chemical composition. Studies made, found, cutaneous, pulmonary, cardiovascular and carcinogen toxicities. Properties of nanotubes show that their toxicity may be close to asbestos. Many studies concerning health impacts and environment effects are in course, and the results will be available in a few years. Suspected health impacts on humans and animals justify, in the spirit of precaution, to make all that's possible to reduce the exposure and to protect the health of the exposed people.
La Presse Médicale 10/2008; 37(10):1431-7. · 0.67 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms. During periodic medical examination, 392 French nonsmokers responded to an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Then spirometry was performed to assess pulmonary function. All of the subjects were carefully examined by two occupational physicians. ETS exposure at the workplace was more common than this exposure at home (20% vs. 5%). ETS exposure was significantly associated with forced vital capacity (FVC; -3.16%; 95% CI: -5.67 to -0.64) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1; -2.90%; 95% CI: -5.59 to -0.23). Abnormal FVC results were significantly increased in exposed subgroup [odds ratio = 2.71 (95% CI: 1.09 to 6.75)]. We did not find any significant dose-response relationship between ETS exposure and lung function results. The effects of ETS exposure on respiratory symptoms and diseases (asthma, wheezing, chronic bronchitis, and dyspnea) were not significant. Thus, this study showed that there was a significant inverse association between exposure to ETS and pulmonary function. Even pulmonary function results inferior to the lower limit of normal may be possible. A stricter legislation against ETS is proposed.
Inhalation Toxicology 08/2006; 18(8):569-73. · 1.92 Impact Factor
-
Frédéric Deschamps
La Revue du praticien 10/2004; 54(13):1469-76.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The role of the police in Western society is undergoing a transformation that reflects the economic social and technological changes in the community and the assertion of individual rights within a democracy. The aim of this study is to evaluate level of stress among a group of French policemen and to examine the association between policing, potential stressors and stress levels. The sample is drawn from a large metropolitan police force (n=617). The population extends from the first line policeman to top senior management. Each policeman is matched for age (more or less five years) and sex, to a control. Policemen and controls complete a self administered questionnaire including demographic, occupational and health characteristics, and a stress level assessment with the help of a visual analogue scale. The average age of the two groups is 40 yr. Eighty-four percent are men. The total score for average sources is not statistically significantly different for policemen and controls. Comparison of a police group with a high stress level to a police population with a low and moderate stress level is made. The comparison is done first only with men, and second with the whole population. Policemen with a high stress level (same results only for men and the whole population) belong to the following groups: more than 15 yr service, sergeant, officer and administrative employee rank, divorced experience, age over 30, no leisure-time activities and no hobbies. Multivariate analysis shows that the two last parameters are bound to the stress level. For the whole population, age over 30 has to be added, and for the group of men, length of service over five years should be noted. Stress at work is an ill-health provoking factor. Police from minority groups such as ageing subjects or police officers have been reported to experience greater stress. This population is adversely affected by lack of available manpower and long working hours. In fact sources of stress in the police population are found both in the weariness of the job and private life planning.
Journal of Occupational Health 12/2003; 45(6):358-64. · 1.55 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Prevalence of cancer of the testis has been increasing in recent decades. We studied risk of testicular cancer in relation to occupations and occupational exposures. A significantly increased risk of testicular cancer is associated with occupations in the agricultural, tannery and mechanical industries. Consistent associations with painting, mining, plastic and metal working, and occupational use of hand-held radar have been observed. Because of the small number of exposed subjects in some studies, results have been spurious in many cases and require further analysis.
Annales de medecine interne 04/2002; 153(2):89-96.
