职业危害风险评估法在电镀行业职业病危害评价中的应用

目的了解职业危害风险评估法在电镀行业职业病危害评价中的应用。方法选取本辖区1家电镀行业作业工人作为调查对象。根据职业病危害因素固有的危害性和职业卫生调查确定有害因素危害等级(HR)和暴露等级(ER),对工作场所职业危害风险等级进行评估。结果在研究的企业中,硫酸风险等级为2,属于低风险职业危害;盐酸风险等级为4,属于高风险职业危害;甲苯等级为3,属于中等职业危害;二甲苯风险等级为2,属于低风险职业危害;三氯乙烯风险等级为4,属于高风险职业危害。结论职业危害风险评估是完成评价与管理工作的关键技术。对不同等级的风险应采取不同的防控措施。     

绥芬河、东宁口岸地区鼠类感染新发蜱媒病原的检测

目的了解黑龙江省绥芬河、东宁口岸地区鼠类感染新发蜱媒病原的情况。方法采用现场调查与分子流行病学调查手段,监测分析两地鼠类感染新发蜱媒病原的情况。结果对102只鼠类进行检测,发现有9种蜱媒病原,主要感染的鼠类为黑线姬鼠和东方田鼠;病原感染率高的是微小巴贝西原虫,分别为25．0％－27．3％和33．0％－42．9％;其次是莱姆病螺旋体,感染率分别达21．2％－30．0％和28．6％－33．0％;病原感染率较低的是病毒类森林脑炎,仅在东宁林区的2只黑线姬鼠中发现,感染率为5．00％。结论两地蜱媒病原的感染均以黑线姬鼠和东方田鼠为主。该检测结果为下一步深入了解这些疾病的性质及其流行病学特征提供了基础。     

基于模糊综合法的高校食堂食品安全风险评价

目的 运用模糊综合法对某高校食堂食品安全风险水平开展量化评判实证研究,为高校食堂风险预警及防控提供借鉴和参考。 方法 基于高校食堂食品安全风险评价指标体系,组织专家对评价对象进行现场考核评分,应用模糊综合法完成某高校食堂风险水平的量化评判。结果 评价对象的风险水平总体处于“极低风险”等级,隶属度为0.6844,一级评价指标“极低风险”的隶属度由高到低依次为采购0.7344、加工0.6725、销售0.6252、贮存0.5808,但内部指标有所差异,5个二级评价指标呈现出明确的“低风险”或“中等风险”隶属等级。 结论 模糊综合法契合高校食堂食品安全风险评价的需要,其评价过程清晰明了,评价结果客观可靠,在高校食堂的风险预警和防控中具备实际应用价值。     

绥芬河地区三种蜱媒疾病的血清学调查

１９９６年４～６月，对黑龙江省绥芬河、东宁地区驻军及部分林业工人进行了蜱传斑点热、Ｑ热、莱姆病的血清学调查。应用Ｍｉｃｒｏ－ＩＦ共调查２２１人，三种蜱媒疾病的总感染率为２２．２％，其中斑点热感染率为最高（１１．８％），同莱姆疾病（５．９％）、Ｑ热（４．５％）相比差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。部队战士的感染率略低于林业工人，分别是斑点热：９．５％和２１．４％，莱姆病：５．６％和７．１％，Ｑ热：４．５％和４．８％。结果表明，上述三种蜱媒疾病在该地区存在程度不同的感染。     

牡丹江林业中心医院92例蜱媒传染病病例分析

目的 对2012年牡丹江林业中心医院全部92例蜱媒传染病患者进行分析,了解该地区就诊患者的蜱媒传染病人口学分布特征、医院救治能力等,为该地区蜱媒传染病风险评估提供数据支撑.方法 对牡丹江林业中心医院2012年1-9月全部92例蜱媒传染病资料进行分析,比较人口学差异影响、入院时间分布、复合感染情况以及治愈情况等.结果 92例患者中,感染率由高到低依次为莱姆病、森林脑炎和斑点热,其中复合感染率为7.61％(7/92).患者就诊时间与蜱季节消长不完全一致,该医院对蜱媒传染病治疗的总有效率在91.67％以上.结论 牡丹江地区存在蜱媒传染病风险.该地区专业医院具有很好的蜱媒传染病救治能力,是降低蜱媒传染病风险的有利因素.     

工作场所化学有害因素职业危害风险评价方法探讨与应用

目的 探讨一种职业危害风险评价方法,为更好地控制和管理工作场所的职业危害提供依据.方法 综合考虑了危害等级、暴露等级和控制措施等级这3项指标,采用风险记分图得到风险等级.结果 风险等级分为5级.分别是极高风险、高风险、中等风险、低风险和极低风险.运用此方法对某企业部分工种的有害因素进行评价,结果显示,此风险评价法优于现有的评价方法.结论 建立了一种新的风险评价方法,评价结果可以为风险管理提供依据.     

基于风险评估矩阵法的城市蚊媒疾病风险研究

目的 建立城市蚊媒疾病发生风险评估体系,并运用于实际工作中.方法 运用专家咨询法,确定影响蚊媒疾病风险发生可能性及严重程度的指标体系及各指标权重,通过风险评估矩阵,判断城市虫媒传染病的风险等级.结果 该指标体系确定了4个影响风险发生可能性的一级指标和21个二级指标,6个影响风险严重程度的指标,并计算出每个指标的权重系数,同时运用建立的风险评估体系,评估南昌市发生登革热的风险等级为低级.结论 该指标体系具有一定的实用性,可用于多种蚊媒疾病风险的预测.     

基于风险矩阵分析的新疆吉木萨尔地区某煤化工企业模糊综合风险评价

目的综合评价新疆吉木萨尔地区某煤化工企业职业危害风险水平。方法采用风险矩阵分析法评估企业化学有害因素风险水平,进而根据改进的模糊层次分析法构造比较矩阵,计算权重。最后通过模糊综合评价法综合评判企业化学有害因素、物理有害因素以及粉尘的危害风险。结果化学有害因素风险排序为氨(3.14)、二氧化氮(2.93)、二氧化硫(2.64)、硫化氢(2.62)、一氧化碳(2.62)。从各因素检测结果隶属度矩阵来看,各化学有害因素隶属于可忽略风险等级的程度较高;噪声隶属于中等风险的等级较高,达到33.3%;粉尘相对于高风险的隶属度达到41.7%。该企业化学有害因素、粉尘、噪声模糊综合评价等级为Ⅰ级(42.0%),为可忽略风险。结论该煤化工企业职业危害风险水平较低,属于可忽略风险水平;将风险矩阵分析法、改进的模糊层次分析法、模糊综合评价法综合应用于企业职业危害风险评价,有利于得到客观科学的评价结果。     

脲醛树脂胶企业职业病危害半定量风险矩阵等级评价分析

[目的]探讨脲醛树脂黏胶生产企业职业病危害因素风险等级评估,为做好建设项目职业病危害评价提供实用指标。[方法]采用化学物质急性毒性定性分级(HR)及职业健康暴露水平定量分级(ER)为基础的风险矩阵等级直接评价法。[结果]经HR和ER职业病危害半定量风险矩阵等级评定,甲醛胶池放料的风险等级为4级(高风险水平);甲醛反应釜投料的风险等级为3级(一般风险水平);甲醛的运输卸载、氨水的反应釜投料及运输卸载、氢氧化钠的反应釜投料及运输卸载的风险矩阵等级为2级(低风险水平);尿素的反应釜投料及运输卸载的风险等级为1级(可忽略风险水平)。[结论]对脲醛树脂黏胶生产工艺过程产生的有毒有害物质进行了风险分级,找出了高风险。职业病危害半定量风险矩阵等级评定方法可作为建设项目职业病危害风险评价技术的补充指标。     

黑龙江省11个边境口岸蜱类调查

〔目的〕调查黑龙江省11个边境口岸蜱的种群组成。〔方法〕采用人工小时布旗法采集蜱。〔结果〕在黑龙江省11个边境口岸采获蜱3926只,计3属4种。林缘的优势种群为森林革蜱(95.9%);针阔混交林为全沟硬蜱(46.1%)和森林革蜱(31.8%)。不同口岸的蜱种组成有所不同。绥芬河口岸蜱密度指数最高(93.1%只/人工小时)。不同生境蜱密度指数有所不同。4种蜱的雌雄比:日本血蜱2.7:1,森林革蜱1.7:1,嗜群血蜱1.3:1,全沟硬蜱1.1:1。〔结论〕本次调查为黑龙江省边境口岸地区的蜱种群组成研究提供了依据。     

Knowledge,attitudes, and behaviors regarding tick-borne disease prevention in Lyme disease-endemic areas of the Upper Midwest,United States

Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are a major public health threat in the Upper Midwestern United States, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. To prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases, public health officials commonly recommend personal protective measures and property management techniques. Adoption of tick-borne disease prevention behaviors and practices by individuals are, however, highly variable. We aimed to characterize current tick-borne disease knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors (KAB) practiced by the public in these states, as well as their willingness to use specific tick control methods. We conducted a population-based survey in summer 2019 in 48 high-risk counties (those having a five-year average (2013–2017) Lyme disease incidence of ≥ 10 cases per 100,000 persons per year), in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A total of 2713 surveys were analyzed; survey weights were used to account for household selection probability and post-stratified to match county-level joint age and sex population distributions in population-level inference. An estimated 98% of the population had heard of Lyme disease, with most perceiving it as very or extremely serious (91%); however, only an estimated 25% perceived tick-borne diseases as very or extremely common in their community. Among those who spent time in places with ticks from April through October, an estimated 68% check themselves thoroughly for ticks most of the time or always and 43% use bug repellent on skin or clothing most of the time or always. An estimated 13% of the population had ever treated their property with a pesticide to kill ticks, and 3% had ever used devices that apply pesticide to rodents to kill ticks on their property. Willingness to practice tick bite prevention behaviors, however, was estimated to be much higher; with 82% being willing to perform tick checks at least once a day, and more than 60% willing to use bug repellent, tick control products on pets, or to bathe within two hours of being outdoors. We found that residents would likely be willing to support a county-wide tick control program to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their community (81%) or to apply tick control products to their property to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their household (79%). Tick checks were more likely to be practiced among participants who perceived tick-borne diseases to be highly prevalent in their community, if they or a household member had been previously diagnosed with a tick-borne disease?, or if they perceived tick exposure to be likely around their home, cabin, or vacation home. In addition, property-based tick control methods were associated with perceived risk of encountering ticks around the home, cabin, or vacation home. Participants who had seen information from state health departments were also more likely to practice preventive measures. The most common reported barriers to using any of these methods were forgetfulness, safety concerns, and lack of awareness. Our survey findings shed light on how residents from these Upper Midwest states may adopt tick control and tick bite prevention measures and how public health outreach may be most effective for this population.     

Linking human tick bite risk with tick abundance in the environment: A novel approach to quantify tick bite risk using orienteers in Scotland

The rate that people are bitten by ticks is critical in determining the risk of tick-borne infections but is rarely quantified accurately. Often tick abundance in the environment is used as a proxy for tick bite risk, but the relationship with risk is poorly understood. We used a novel citizen science approach to measure tick bite rate in orienteers, to assess the relationship between tick abundance and tick bite risk and to identify risk factors for tick bites. Eleven orienteering events were attended in Scotland between August 2018 and September 2019. The number of tick bites in orienteers, and the time and distance of activity were collected using an online questionnaire. Tick abundance in the same areas used for the orienteering events was estimated by surveying ticks on ground vegetation using blanket drags. Among orienteers, mean incidence was 409 tick bites per 1,000 person-hours. Tick abundance and tick bite rate were strongly correlated, indicating that data from questing tick surveys is a useful proxy for the risk of human tick bites. Tick bite rate was better explained by the activity duration than distance covered and was higher in orienteers that ran earlier in the day, exposed to higher temperatures and in woodland habitats. This study highlights the value of the citizen science approach used, which crucially included submission of activity reports both with and without ticks, to generate robust data on tick bite rate. Accurately measuring tick bite rate and understanding environmental factors that influence it are essential in mitigating the risk of tick-borne diseases.     

Ticks on the Channel Islands and implications for public health

The Channel Islands are British Crown dependencies located in the English Channel to the west of the Normandy coast in northern France. Whilst there have been studies investigating tick occurrence and distribution in different habitats on the mainland of the UK and in France, the Channel Islands have been relatively understudied. As such, little is known about whether the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus, is present, and whether there is a potential risk of Lyme borreliosis on the Channel Islands. To ascertain the presence of I. ricinus on the three largest islands in the archipelago: Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, surveys of ticks questing in the vegetation and ticks feeding on hosts were undertaken during April and May 2016. Across all three islands, the highest numbers of ticks were found in woodland habitats. Ixodes ricinus was the predominant questing tick species found on Jersey, and Ixodes ventalloi the most common questing tick species on Alderney and Guernsey, with little or no evidence of questing I. ricinus on either island. During field studies on small mammals, I. ricinus was the predominant tick species feeding on Jersey bank voles (Myodes glareolus caesarius), with Ixodes hexagonus the most common species infesting hedgehogs on Guernsey. We propose that the greater diversity of small mammals on Jersey may be important in supporting immature stages of I. ricinus, in contrast to Guernsey and Alderney. Morphological identification of tick species was confirmed by PCR sequencing based on amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit one (cox1) gene (COI DNA barcoding). To date, there have been few records of human tick bites in the Channel Islands, suggesting that the current risk from tick-borne disease may be low, but continued reporting of any human tick bites, along with reporting of cases of Lyme borreliosis will be important for continued assessment of the impact of tick-borne diseases in the Channel Islands.     

Tick ecology and Lyme borreliosis prevention: a regional survey of pharmacists’ knowledge in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,France

The most prevalent vector-borne diseases in Europe are caused by tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria of the genus Borrelia that cause Lyme borreliosis.In this context, retail pharmacists are frequently the first medical source of information in the event of a tick bite. The objective of this study was to assess pharmacy professionals’ knowledge about both tick ecology and the appropriate measures for tick bites and Lyme borreliosis prevention. It was based on an online survey of 364 pharmacists and pharmacy assistants located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The results showed solid knowledge about preventive measures for tick bite and Lyme borreliosis, but weaker knowledge about tick biology (hosts, suitable habitats, favorable conditions for tick activity, etc.). In particular, several stereotypes were observed in the responses of the pharmacy professionals. These appear to result from a social construction of the knowledge on ticks and tick-borne diseases previously shown to the general population in the region. The results highlight the need for continuous training about ticks and tick-borne diseases for healthcare professionals serving local populations that live in endemic areas.     

Knowledge,attitudes, and practices for tick bite prevention and tick control among residents of Long Island,New York,USA

In the United States, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a major public health concern and a source of significant morbidity. To reduce tick-borne disease incidence, understanding factors associated with increased risk in humans for tick bites is necessary. These risk factors can include TBD knowledge, attitudes about prevention and care, and associated practices of individuals and their communities, including paying for preventive services. Our study focused on Long Island, New York, a region with high endemicity of ticks and TBDs. The purpose of our study was to identify gaps in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding TBDs in residents of this region to inform priorities for TBD interventions. To this end, we performed a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey and collected 803 responses from Long Island residents. Our survey results demonstrated that Long Island residents had a low to moderate level of knowledge regarding ticks and TBDs. Still, residents expressed concern regarding TBDs, with increased levels of concern associated with increased likelihood of paying for tick control and for practicing tick bite prevention strategies. Individuals with pets were more likely to practice these tick bite prevention strategies. Residents with more frequent exposure to ticks, with a history of TBD in their household, and with higher general concern over ticks were also more likely to pay for tick control services. These findings highlight gaps in resident knowledge, differences in attitudes towards tick preventative behavior, and potential factors affecting motivation towards implementing tick control measures, which can inform future public health messaging regarding tick bite prevention.     

Tick abundance and diversity are substantially lower in thinned vs. unthinned forests in the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve,USA

Forest thinning is a management tool used in the New Jersey Pinelands and elsewhere to improve forest health and resilience, mitigate wildfire risk, and manage for wildlife. Forest thinning leads to warmer drier microclimates, which have been shown in both field and laboratory studies to reduce tick survival and reproduction. To directly assess the effects of forest thinning on the abundance and diversity of ticks and on the prevalence of tick-borne human pathogens, we sampled ticks weekly from March to November 2021 at three replicated pairs of thinned and unthinned forest sites composed primarily of pitch-pine, shortleaf pine, and various oak species. We characterized microclimate in the understory and forest floor at each sampling plot by deploying multiple data loggers to monitor temperature and relative humidity throughout the study period. As expected, we found that thinned plots were significantly drier and warmer than unthinned plots. We also found that average questing tick abundance was 92% lower in thinned as compared with unthinned plots. Of the three main tick species collected in unthinned plots (Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, and Dermacentor albipictus) only A. americanum and a single I. scapularis were collected in thinned plots. Prevalence of Ehrlichia species in A. americanum did not differ between treatments, and the sole I. scapularis collected in a thinned plot was infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. However, the significant and much lower tick abundance in thinned plots indicates a lower risk of human-tick encounters. Our results add to the growing evidence that landscape and forest management can reduce local tick abundance, thereby reducing tick-borne disease risk.     

金华地区家畜和野生动物体表寄生蜱类调查

目的对金华地区蜱类的分布状况进行调查和评估,为查明金华地区发生的人可疑埃立克体病的原因提供依据。方法从2005年1月起,于每月10、20、30日在1例人可疑埃立克体病例所在区域的某山脉及金华市周边集贸市场,对该地区家畜和野生动物体表寄生蜱类的情况进行调查。结果调查发现金华地区家畜和野生动物体表寄生蜱类有6属6种,其中中华硬蜱在1年内有2个高峰期,分别为2-4月和10-12月;龟形花蜱出现略晚,为3-5月,也呈双峰型分布,在8-10月会出现另一个小高峰;长角血蜱只有1个高峰期,在5-9月。结论金华地区的龟形花蜱和中华硬蜱为优势种,而前者曾检测出埃立克体,因此可能引起一些蜱媒传染病的发生,应引起公共卫生部门的重视。     

Inter-annual variation in prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) at long-term surveillance sites in the upper midwestern United States: Implications for public health practice

The geographic range of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and its associated human pathogens have expanded substantially over the past 20 years putting an increasing number of persons at risk for tick-borne diseases, particularly in the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Prevention and diagnosis of tick-borne diseases rely on an accurate understanding by the public and health care providers of when and where persons may be exposed to infected ticks. While tracking changes in the distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens provides fundamental information on risk for tick-borne diseases, metrics that incorporate prevalence of infection in ticks better characterize acarological risk. However, assessments of infection prevalence are more labor intensive and costly than simple measurements of tick or pathogen presence. Our objective was to examine whether data derived from repeated sampling at longitudinal sites substantially influences public health recommendations for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis prevention, or if more constrained sampling is sufficient. Here, we summarize inter-annual variability in prevalence of the agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.) and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs and adults at 28 longitudinal sampling sites in the Upper Midwestern US (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Infection prevalence was highly variable among sites and among years within sites. We conclude that monitoring infection prevalence in ticks aids in describing coarse acarological risk trends, but setting a fixed prevalence threshold for prevention or diagnostic decisions is not feasible given the observed variability and lack of temporal trends. Reducing repeated sampling of the same sites had minimal impact on regional (Upper Midwest) estimates of average infection prevalence; this information should be useful in allocating scarce public health resources for tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance, prevention, and control activities.     

The TICKPRO computer program for predicting Ixodes ricinus host-seeking activity and the warning system published on websites

The computer program with the acronym TICKPRO (tick prognosis) facilitates medium-range forecasts of the level of host-seeking activity in ticks within a 1-4 day horizon. The program is based on the medium-range weather forecast routinely produced at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), as well as on previously developed mathematical models describing the correlation of meteorological factors with the host-seeking activity of Ixodes ricinus. These models are based on a 6-year whole-season monitoring of I. ricinus host-seeking activity on experimental fields in the Central Bohemia Region in a typical habitat, oakhornbeam forest, where tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and Borrelia burgdorferi s.str., B. afzelii, and B. garinii have been found. Meteorological data provided by the CHMI meteorological station in Prague-Libus were used, and during the development of the forecasting algorithm micrometeorological data have been collected directly at the tick monitoring sites under selected synoptic weather situations. In the TICKPRO program, the two most successful models utilized ambient air temperature, quantity of atmospheric precipitation, and relative air humidity. The prediction determines 5 levels of risk of attack according to the current proportion of host-seeking ticks, and thus determines the risk of TBE infection. The levels of risk defined by the TICKPRO program are supplemented by instructions on how to prepare oneself for entering sites with potential tick occurrence, how to move around once there, and how to behave on returning home. This warning system is weekly published on websites of National Institute of Public Health and CHMI, Prague, over entire season (March-November).     

Emergence of Lyme Disease on Treeless Islands,Scotland, United Kingdom

Lyme disease is usually associated with forested habitats but has recently emerged on treeless islands in the Western Isles of Scotland. The environmental and human components of Lyme disease risk in open habitats remain unknown. We quantified the environmental hazard and risk factors for human tick bite exposure among treeless islands with low and high Lyme disease incidence in the Western Isles. We found a higher prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato–infected ticks on high-incidence than on low-incidence islands (6.4% vs. 0.7%); we also found that residents of high-incidence islands reported increased tick bite exposure. Most tick bites (72.7%) occurred <1 km from the home, including many in home gardens. Residents of high Lyme disease incidence islands reported increasing problems with ticks; many suggested changing deer distribution as a potential driver. We highlight the benefits of an integrated approach in understanding the factors that contribute to Lyme disease emergence.