Despite improvements in industrial working conditions, mercury remains second only to lead as a cause of heavy metal poisoning. Cases of poisoning by inhaled mercury vapour, though rare, are well documented in the literature. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to...

A 38-year-old Chinese man and lifetime non-smoker, who had previously been well, was referred for investigation of bilateral reticulonodular infiltrates noted on his chest roentgenogram. He had experienced progressive dyspnoea on exertion associated with cough productive of whitish sputum for 6 months preceding this evaluation in April 1998. This article...

Sharps/needlestick injuries are a common occupational hazard among healthcare workers (HCWs). It is an issue of major infection control concern as it carries with it the possible risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens e.g. hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus. This article is available only as...

Occupational asthma is the most common occupational respiratory disease in the United Kingdom and also in Singapore. Recent estimates of the proportion of adult asthmatics where the cause could be occupational range from 4% to 9%. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on...

The possible health effects of increased exposure of aviators to cosmic rays at altitude have been a source of concern for some time, although such concern has been largely confined to a relatively small circle of experts in aerospace medicine and radiation biology. But the situation is changing rapidly. This...

Over the past two decades, there has been increasing interest in the biological effects and possible health outcomes of weak, low-frequency electric and magnetic fields. Epidemiological studies on the effects of magnetic fields on cancer, reproduction and neurobehavioural reactions have been presented. This article is available only as a PDF....

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common clinical problem seen in our dermatology outpatient clinics, comprising 0.5% of patients seen in 1999. In addition to our contact dermatitis clinic and occupational dermatosis clinic which caters to subsidised patients, many patients have also been worked up and patch tested in the...

Concerning patients with thrombosis of the upper extremity, you can find only a small number of case studies regarding the question of assessment in occupational medicine. This study aims to look at the circumstances under which this kind of thrombosis may be recognised as an occupational hazard. This article is...

Carbon disulfide (CS₂) is an organic solvent which is used all over the world in the production of viscose rayon fibres. A large number of animal, clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that CS₂ toxicity may harm many organ systems including the neurological and cardiovascular systems. This article is available...

The earliest reports of a wasting disease among miners date back in the 1500s, with the description by Paracelsus and Agricola of the so-called “mala metallorum” among Schneeberg miners. The presence of uranium in the ores from Schneeberg mines was discovered only in 1921, and the carcinogenic role of...

In 1989, the International Agency for Research on Cancer acknowledged “painting” as an occupation that definitely causes cancer. Lung cancer was most strongly associated with painting, but an excess for bladder cancer was also noted. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top...

Since Warren and Marshall successfully cultured Helicobacter pylori in 1983, it has been recognised as a major cause of several gastroduodenal diseases, including gastric and duodenal ulcers, although most infections remain asymptomatic. Infection with H. pylori has been associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer and gastric lymphoma. This...

Occupational health has been aptly described as a two-way relationship between work and health. This has served as a useful model emphasizing that workplace exposure has both adverse and positive effects on health as well as the health status of the worker having an impact on his work and...

Chronic lead exposure causes progressive nephropathy that eventually results in renal failure. Known as chronic lead nephropathy, this disease has been recognised since the 19th century and is occasionally accompanied by hypertension and gout. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to...

Having ‘grown-up’ on occupational medicine practice textbooks traditionally written by European and American counterparts, I was pleasantly surprised to pick up a new book that has been edited and published locally, with strong contributions from largely local occupational health professionals and clinical medical specialists—a number of whom have been...

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare tumour and is typically associated with asbestos exposure. In endemic areas, it has an estimated incidence as high as 66 per million for men aged 35 and above. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view...

Dear Editor,      Excessive sound levels in the hospital can impair the work performance of healthcare professionals and affect patient well-being.1 Previous studies have also linked excessive sound levels with sleep disturbances and cardiovascular morbidity.2 While there have been data published regarding noise levels in the intensive care unit (ICU),3...

I want to thank the Chapter and organisers for honouring me with this kind invitation to speak to you. This millennium is only 4 years old, and yet I cannot see beyond the next decade, with things moving so rapidly. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click...

The modern world remains full of superstition. Often, despite their better judgement, intelligent rational people adopt rituals and strategies to cope with anxiety and uncertainty. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.

A significant similarity between family medicine and occupational medicine (OM) is the focus on disease prevention and health promotion. Family medicine aims for primary prevention through health education and personalised care of the family unit. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top...

The history of the Chapter of Public Health and Occupational Physicians began with the founding of the Academy of Medicine in 1957. It was the first professional corporate body of medical and dental specialists in Singapore. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on "Download PDF" to...

Workplace related accidents are major problems around the world and in Singapore. The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States reported a total of 5702 work related fatal injuries and a rate of 4.0 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2005, with falls and being struck by objects as the second and third...

Work-related low back disorders consist of both low back pain (LBP) and low back injuries. They are a significant and increasing problem all over the world. Studies estimate that between 60% and 90% of people will suffer from low back disorders at some point in their life. Among the...

Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia with a multi-ethnic population comprising 74.2% Chinese, 13.4% Malays, 9.2% Indians, and the rest belonging to ‘Other’ ethnic groups. In 2011, 78% of the resident population aged 25 to 64 years was employed and there were over 2 million residents in...

Singapore employs a large foreign worker (FW) population, defined as non-Singapore citizens and non-permanent residents working locally. Holders of “work permit” (WP), the work pass issued to semiskilled workers, comprise 26.0% of Singapore’s entire labour force. Two other work passes held by FWs, “S pass” and “employment pass”, are...