Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

62-71

Authors: R Rahimpoor , AR Bahrami * , MJ Assari , F Ghorbani , AR Negahban , S Rahimnejad , B Mehdizadegan

Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including carcinogens and toxic compounds, are produced in petrochemical industries. We undertook this study in order to study workers’ respiratory exposure to different VOC concentrations and compare the results with the urinary levels of its metabolites and study the correlation between them in petrochemical industries. Materials and Methods: Exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene isomers, phenol, and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) was evaluated in 104 male subjects using personal sampling pump and charcoal sorbent tube at the breathing zone and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The urine samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Results: The mean concentration of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA), was 1431 µg/g creatinine and hippuric acid, methyl hippuric acid, phenol, and MEK were, 0.394, 0.444, 0.098 g/g creatinine, and 0.15 mg/l. The mean concentration of benzene in the breathing zone was greater than the threshold limit value (TLV) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Conclusions: In this study, a more significant relationship was found between benzene in breathing zone and urinary t,t-MA in those exposed to benzene in concentrations higher than 1 ppm (r2 = 0.89) than lower than 1 ppm. Moreover, the same results were observed for other hydrocarbons and their level of urinary biological index. A more significant relationship was observed between phenol in breathing zone and urine through exposure to airborne phenol in concentrations of higher than 0.049 ppm than lower than 0.049 ppm (r2 = 0.75). The relationship between MEK in breathing zone and urinary MEK was more significant in concentrations of higher than 0.1 ppm (r2 = 0.79) than lower than 0.1 ppm.

81-87

Authors: P Khalili , R Vazirinejad * , A Jamalizadeh , P Nakhaee , F Fatehi , A Fallah

Background: Due to increasing life expectancy and declining fertility rates, the population over the age of 60 in developed and developing countries is increasing. This matter draws attention toward the improvement of the health of the elderly and consideration of the health and treatment needs of this important group of human society. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of integrated care and educational interventions of a healthy lifestyle on the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Materials and Methods: This semi-empirical study was conducted on 180 elderly patients admitted to the health centers in Rafsanjan, Iran. Multistage sampling was performed in the health centers of the city and the suburbs. The subjects were divided into two groups of intervention (n = 90) and control (n = 90). The intervention group was under the program of healthy lifestyle education for a period of 6 months. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The quiestionnaires were completed through interviews during two time intervals of before and after the intervention. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Results: The mean ages of subjects in the intervention and control groups were 71.8 ± 2.3 and 66.4 ± 2.3, respectively. The mean QOL scores of subjects in the intervention and control groups before the intervention were 56.05 ± 2.17 and 61.39 ± 1.46 (out of 100), and after the intervention were 62.11 ± 3.03 and 56.9 ± 1.59, respectively. The statistical comparison showed that the QOL score of the intervention group after the intervention was significantly higher than before the intervention (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed an increase in QOL of the elderly after the intervention compared to before the intervention. Therefore, by educating the elderly as groups and individuals about adopting a healthy lifestyle and by implementing healthcare, their QOL can be promoted.

96-103

Authors: SA Afroghi , R Mirzaei * , M Nasrabadi

Background: One of the necessities of industrial societies is the application of developed measures/strategies for the prevention of occupational incidents in industrial companies. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the role of the safety management system on safety culture of an oil and gas exploration and production company. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 240 participants, chosen through simple random sampling, based on the research goals, statistical society size, and the Krejcie and Morgan table. For data collection, the Safety Management System Questionnaire, with a Cronbach’s α of 0.96, and the Safety Culture Questionnaire, with a Cronbach’sα of 0.91, were utilized after determining their validity. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL softwares. Results: First level confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the use of LISREL package on 5 factors of encouraging/motivating employees to observe safety tips, educating employees on safety tips, safety policies in organizations, safety control in organizations, and urgent planning in organizations. The results showed that all the indices on obtained values were very desirable. In addition, the results of this research indicated that there was a statistically positive, meaningful relationship between the variable of safety management system and its components (i.e., safety policies, employees’ motivators, safety education, urgent prevention plans, and internal control), and safety culture (P<0.01). High education levels of the employees had meaningful impacts on the safety management system (P<0.01).However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the education level and occupational background of the employees and the company’s safety culture (P>0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present paper proved that the safety management system and its components play an important role in the development of the safety culture of an oil company. Therefore, notifying the related authorities of this fact in order to establish a safety management system is a vital issue.

112-116

Authors: M Askarishahi , H Malaki Moghadam * , H Fallahzade , MH Lotfi , M Afkhami-Ardekani

Background: Determining the mortality rate of diseases in a community is one of the main components in health care planning of that community. This study used a join point regression model to determine the trend of mortality due to diabetes mellitus (DM) in Iran. Materials and Methods: The data on the rate of mortality due to DM were obtained from the reports of the Iranian Ministry of Health. The variation in the trend of mortality due to DM over the past eight years was analyzed using the join point regression model. For the evaluation of the regression parameters, the permutation test and least square method were applied. Data analysis was performed using the JOINPOINT statistical software. Results: The number of deaths due to DM has increased from 3047 cases per 100,000 people in 2003 to 5838 cases per 100,000 in 2010. A variation point was observed in 2007 with a P-value of 0.06 and 4500 permutations. The annual percentage change (APC) of the rate of mortality due to DM for the first period (2003-2007) was 6.6% with a confidence interval of -3-17.2 and for the second period (2007-2010) was 1.8% with a confidence interval of -12.4-18.2. APC was 4.6% in men with the confidence interval of 2.4-6.9 and 4.5% in women with the confidence interval of 2-7. Conclusions: The rate of mortality due to DM in Iran has increased during this 8-year period. The rate of mortality due to DM increased with a steep slope from 2003 to 2007 and with a gentle slope from 2007 to 2010.