Environmental Public Health Commons^™

Sex Differences In Copd And Lung Cancer Mortality Trends—United States, 1968–1999, Neely Kazerouni, C. J. Alverson, Stephen C. Redd, Joshua A. Mott, David M. Mannino

David M. Mannino

Purpose: Cigarette smoking by U.S. women in the 1940s and 1950s caused large increases in smoking-related lung disease among women. To determine the magnitude of these increases, we compared the mortality trends for males and females in the United States for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer for 1968-1999.

Methods: We used the national mortality data files compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC and U.S. census data to calculate age-adjusted (2000) death rates for COPD, lung cancer, and all causes.

Results: COPD death rate for females increased by 382% from 1968 through 1999, …

Risk Factors For Asthma Incidence: A Review Of Recent Prospective Evidence, M. S. King, David M. Mannino, F. Holguin

David M. Mannino

AIM:

The aim of this study is to determine what factors have been shown, in prospective studies, to predict the incidence of asthma.

METHODS:

We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from 1994 to 2004 to determine what factors predict the development of asthma in both children and adults. This search strategy yielded 40 studies, with 36 providing some estimate of asthma incidence for the total sample and or a specific subgroup.

RESULTS:

Annual estimated incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma ranged from 0.6 to 29.5 per 1000 persons. Risk factors for incident asthma among children included: male sex, atopic sensitization, …

The Presence Of P22 Bacteriophage In Electrocautery Aerosols, Dale Stephenson, David Allcott, Michael Koch

Dale J. Stephenson

Electrosurgery units, including lasers and electrosurgical cauterizers, are commonly used for both inpatient and outpatient procedures. The generation of an aerosol plume, associated with the use of these devices, is a result of many factors including: 1) direct aspiration of blood and body fluids, 2) direct heating and vaporization of cellular fluid causing cells to explode, and 3) the carbonization of cells and cell fragments at high temperatures. Although initial studies have concluded that these plumes create only a malodorous nuisance, subsequent research suggests the presence of potential chemical and pathological hazards, including bacteria and virus. Most scientific research has …

Copd In The Never-Smoker, David M. Mannino, Kathryn Marie Mcgonigle

David M. Mannino

Objectives 1. Identify never-smokers as an important subset of the COPD population. 2. Discuss the relationship between asthma and COPD. 3. Understand the genetic components of COPD. 4. Identify occupational risk factors for COPD. 5. Discuss prevention methods for COPD in the never-smoker.

Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated With Selected University Staff And Faculty In An Office Environment, R. Konkel, Thomas Fisher, Carolyn Harvey

Steve Konkel

A research team with backgrounds in occupational therapy, rehabilitation, policy and rulemaking, and prevention programs affecting occupational health and safety designed, validated, and analyzed an ergonomics survey of university staff and faculty. The purpose of the study was to validate identified risk factors from the literature contributing to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in an office setting within a university setting. The study was also designed to determine differences between faculty and staff in the university setting and their exposure to physical risk factors to WRMDs. The results suggest faculty have their keyboard in awkward positions more frequently than staff, and …