Abstrak: The involvement of organophosphate insecticides in cognitive disorders is supported by epidemiologic and biological evidence, but the effects of long-term exposure remain debated. We studied the association between organophosphate exposure and cognitive performance in vine workers from the PHYTONER study cohort in the Bordeaux area of France. Results from interviews of 614 subjects conducted at the 4-year follow-up between 2001 and 2003 were analyzed. Exposure to pesticides since 1950 was assessed with cumulative exposure scores for 34 organophosphates combining an historical crop-exposure pesticide matrix and field exposure studies, taking into account the characteristics of treatment (mixing, spraying, equipment cleaning) and reentry tasks. For the 11 organophosphates retained in the analysis, exposure (ever vs. never) was associated with low cognitive performance. No dose-effect relationship was found, but an increased risk was observed with a 50-mg increase in the cumulative score, which was greater with mevinphos (Benton Visual Retention Test: odds ratio = 3.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.54, 6.88; Trail Making Test, part A: odds ratio = 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 6.62). Our results support the hypothesis that cognitive disorders observed in vine workers may be associated with exposure to specific organophosphates.

Abstrak: Inconsistent evidence exists regarding the association between work-related factors and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined the association between occupational exposures and risk of a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD), which is strongly associated with progression to MS, in a matched case-control study of 276 FCD cases and 538 controls conducted in Australia (2003-2006). Using a personal residence and work calendar, information on occupational history and exposure to chemicals and animals was collected through face-to-face interviews. Few case-control differences were noted. Fewer cases had worked as professionals (≥6 years) than controls (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 0.96). After further adjustment for number of children, cases were more likely to have ever been exposed to livestock than controls (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.29). Among women, there was an increase in FCD risk associated with 10 or more years of exposure to livestock (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.22, 6.33) or 6 or more years of farming (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.25; also adjusted for number of children). Similar findings were not evident among men. Thus, farming and exposure to livestock may be important factors in the development of FCD among women, with this finding further revealed after the confounding effect of parity or number of children is considered.

Abstrak: Lima negara di Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) yang meliputi Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapura, Thailand dan Filipina, menggunakan banyak zat kimia dalam industri yang menghasilkan risiko keselamatan dan kesehatan kerja bagi para pekerjanya. Nilai Ambang Batas (NAB) kimia digunakan sebagai regulasi atau instrumen referensi untuk mengendalikan risiko kimia. Penelitian ini membandingkan NAB kimia di negara ASEAN-5 dengan TLV ACGIH 2016 dan PEL OSHA 2016 untuk mengajukan kemungkinan harmonisasi NAB kimia di ASEAN. 713 zat kimia yang ada di dalam daftar perbandingan dengan 40 zat kimia selalu ada di semua daftar NAB kimia serta 124 zat kimia yang keluar hanya di dalam 1 daftar NAB kimia. Dalam non-metric multidimensional scaling plot, 5 NAB kimia diketahui mirip dengan TLV ACGIH 2016 dan PEL OSHA 2016 sedangkan dua daftar NAB kimia (NAB Thailand dan Permenkes 70 2016) berbeda karena jumlah substansi yang ada dalam daftar NAB tersebut jauh lebih sedikit daripada jumlah substansi NAB yang lain. NAB kimia ASEAN-5 memiliki rata-rata geometrik lebih tinggi daripada TLV ACGIH 2016 dan lebih rendah daripada PEL OSHA 2016 kecuali untuk Rule 1070 Filipina dan NAB Thailand. Ada persamaan dan perbedaan pada NAB kimia ASEAN-5 untuk dipertimbangkan dalam upaya harmonisasi NAB di ASEAN. Kata kunci: NAB Faktor Kimia, ASEAN-5, Studi Perbandingan, substansi kimia, regulasi Five countries within Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) which are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippine, use a lot of chemical substances in their industries that put risk on health and safety to their worker. Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) is used as regulation or reference instrument to control chemical risk. This study compared OEL in ASEAN-5 countries with TLV ACGIH 2016 and PEL OSHA 2016 in order to propose a harmonization possibility within ASEAN. There are 713 chemical substances in comparison list with 40 substances that always available in all OEL lists and 124 unique substances that only appear on 1 list OEL. In non-metric multidimensional scaling plot, it was found that 5 OEL list were quite similar with both TLV ACGIH 2016 and PEL OSHA 2016, while the other two (Thailand OEL and Permenkes 70 2016) much differ due to less number of substances listed on these OEL lists. ASEAN-5 OEL list found higher geometric means than TLV ACGIH 2016 and lower than PEL OSHA 2016 except for Rule 1070 Philippine and OEL Thailand. There are similarities and differences in OEL ASEAN-5 to consider in ASEAN OEL harmonization effort. Key words: Occupational Exposure Limit, ASEAN-5, comparative study, regulation