Occupational exposure to particulate matter from three agricultural crops in California

Agricultural work is a major contributor to California's and the nation's economy and employs a large number of workers. However, agricultural work can have numerous risks, such as exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) and other airborne pollutants with potential adverse health effects. To determine the magnitude of occupational exposures, PM levels were assessed for 89 workers from three major crops in California; almonds, melons and tomatoes. Personal samples were collected for PM_2.5 and inhalable PM using personal sampling equipment. Geometric mean concentrations from personal exposure for workers in almonds (inhalable PM = 4368 μg/m³, PM_2.5 = 122 μg/m³, N = 5), tomatoes (inhalable PM = 1410 μg/m³, PM_2.5 = 12 μg/m³, N = 33), and melons (inhalable PM = 1118 μg/m³, PM_2.5 = 19 μg/m³, N = 51) showed high PM exposure when working with these three crops. Large exposure differences by crop were more common than by task (i.e. harvesting, packing and weeding) among the three crops studied. This is the largest study of agricultural workers engaged in hand harvesting, a significant employer of farm labor, and relatively high levels of exposure to PM were measured.     

Occupational exposure to cadmium and kidney dysfunction

Summary Investigations were carried out in an alkaline battery factory. The study group consisted of 102 persons and the control group of 85 persons. Cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and cadmium in urine (Cd-U), as well as ₂-microglobulin (B₂-M), retinol binding protein (RBP), amino acids in urine were determined. Exposure to cadmium was high; Cd-B and Cd-U concentrations were higher than recommended, 10 gmg/l and 10 gmg/g creat. in 65% and 56% of workers, respectively. Excretion of B₂-M and RBP in urine was higher than the accepted upper limits of 380 and 130 I g/g creat. in about 20% of the workers. A significant correlation was observed between: log Cd-U log Cd-B (r = 0.85), log B₂-M log RBP (r = 0.66), log Cd-U · log B₂- M (r = 0.52), and log Cd-U · log RBP (r = 0.55). To evaluate the admissible period of occupational exposure to cadmium, an integrated exposure index (Cd-B × years of exposure) is proposed. According to the dose-response relationship, an increase of low molecular protein excretion in urine can be expected in 10% of the cases at Cd-U amounting to 10 to 15 g/g creat. and Cd-B × years of about 300 to 400.     

妊娠期空气颗粒物暴露与早产

越来越多的研究证据表明,孕妇妊娠期颗粒物暴露可通过母体影响胎儿的发育,导致早产、低出生体重、胎儿生长受限和潜在的不良心血管和呼吸道结局。但研究结果并不一致,且生物学机制尚不明确。本文通过对近年来国内外主要几种颗粒物人体暴露来源和其对早产影响及生物学机制作一简要综述,为控制空气污染和减少早产等不良妊娠结局的发生以及进一步探讨其可能的生物学机制提供基础依据。     

实习医学生血源性病原体职业暴露调查

目的 调查实习医学生血源性职业暴露情况,探讨针对性防护措施,减少职业暴露的发生.方法 对2009年1月1日-2011年12月31 日实习医学生上报登记的35名职业暴露进行分析.结果 1438名实习医学生中共收到35名发生血源性职业暴露报告,暴露率为2.43％;护理专业实习生发生血源性职业暴露,27名占77.14％,护理专业与临床医学专业及其他专业实习生发生职业暴露比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);锐器伤为导致暴露的主要形式,32名占91.43％,致锐器伤操作环节多发生在输液、注射、采血后拔针时,占77.14％;暴露源中患有血源性传播疾病22名,占62.86％.结论 实习医学生面临血源性职业暴露的潜在危险,尤其是护理专业的学生,医院应加强实习医学生职业防护的教育、规范操作行为;实习医学生也应提高自身防护意识,避免和减少血源性职业暴露的发生.     

医院检验人员的职业暴露及防护

目的分析医院检验专业人员职业暴露的致伤原因及风险因素,提出安全防护对策和职业暴露发生后的处理措施,以减少检验人员的职业暴露和暴露后感染的发生。方法提高检验专业各种风险因素的思想认识,从加强培训,提高职业防护意识;加强管理,规范操作程序,使用必备的防护用具,实施标准预防;强化生物安全理念,落实必要防护措施做起。结果根据检验人员的工作性质和特点制定切实可行的职业暴露的防护干预措施。结论正确的安全防护对策和职业暴露发生后的处理措施,可最大限度地预防和降低医院检验人员的职业暴露和暴露后感染的发生。     

Occupational paraquat exposure of agricultural workers in large Costa Rican farms

Objective  Paraquat is an herbicide widely used worldwide. This study determined the extent of occupational exposure to paraquat among farm workers in Costa Rica and identified determinants of occupational exposure. Methods  Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected from 119 paraquat handlers and 54 non-handlers from banana, coffee and palm oil farms. Information about herbicide handling operations was also collected. The urinary paraquat levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2 ng/mL. Inhalable dust and airborne paraquat levels were simultaneously measured for a subset of the participants. Results  Urinary paraquat measurements were non-detectable or very low when workers did not handle paraquat. For handlers, 83.3, 47.1 and 63.9% of the samples were below the LOQ on before-, during- and after-paraquat spray days, respectively. The arithmetic mean (±SD) of urinary paraquat level on days when workers handled paraquat was 6.3 (±10.45) μg/24 h. Paraquat exposures among handlers on spray day were significantly associated with the type of crop. Conclusion  Non-handlers had negligible urinary paraquat, while detectable paraquat exposures were observed among handlers on spray day. Urinary paraquat levels were different by crop.     

Personal inhalable dust and endotoxin exposure among workers in an integrated textile factory

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine personal exposure to inhalable dust and endotoxin levels among workers in an integrated cotton-processing textile factory and exposure variability across the different work sections. Full shift measurements were carried out using inhalable conical samplers with 37?mm glass-fiber filters. Personal inhalable dust was determined gravimetrically, and endotoxin levels were analyzed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocytes Lysate assay. The geometric means of personal dust and endotoxin concentrations were 0.75?mg·m^?3 and 831 EU·m^?3, respectively. The highest dust and endotoxin concentrations were observed in carding section (1.34?mg·m^?3 and 6,381 EU·m^?3, respectively). Altogether, 11% of dust and 89% of endotoxin samples exceeded workplace exposure limits. This study showed a moderate correlation between inhalable dust and endotoxin (r?=?0.450, p?<?0.001). Our findings indicate that low dust exposure does not guarantee a low exposure to endotoxin.     

发电厂作业人员工频电磁场职业暴露现况调查

目的探讨发电厂作业人员工频电磁场职业暴露现况。方法按发电量不同,抽取3家300 MW、3家600 MW、2家1 000MW共8家发电厂作为研究对象,对存在工频电磁场的作业环境进行检测,对其中作业人员进行个体磁场的测量。以我国国家标准GBZ 2.2-2007及国际非电离辐射防护委员会规定的导出限值对结果进行评估。结果对发电厂共510个点的作业环境进行了检测,电场强度的中位数为0.005 kV/m,最大值为12.080 kV/m,有6个点超过了10 kV/m,占总数1.18%,有27个点超过了5 kV/m,占5.29%;磁场强度的中位数为7.39μT,最大值为318.00μT,有15个点超过100μT,占2.94%。其中电场强度超过5kV/m的点均在高压输电线下方(包括主变的出线端及升压站的室外设备)。作业人员工频磁场日暴露水平在0.80~1.36μT之间。结论发电厂作业人员在高压输电线下方作业时有短时接触高剂量工频电场的危险。     

焦炉工职业性多环芳烃暴露特征的研究

目的 探讨焦炉工职业性多环芳烃暴露特征。方法 个体采样、高效液相色谱法测定作业环境中多环芳烃含量,以分析焦炉工职业暴露特征,并引入毒性当量因子概念,评价焦炉工职业性多环芳烃暴露的致癌潜能。结果 焦化厂炉顶工多环芳烃职业暴露水平明显高于炉侧工和炉底工,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);焦炉工多环芳烃职业暴露中非致癌性物质所占比例>70％,致癌性物质中苯并(a)芘(B[a]Py)占总B[a]Py等当量浓度的65.5％-72.4％;多环芳烃职业暴露总量和B[a]Py及芘含量呈正相关(r2分别为0.84和0.94,P<0.05)。结论 焦炉工职业性多环芳烃暴露水平较高且具有一定的致癌潜能,致癌性物质以B[a]Py为主。     

Occupational exposure to organophosphorus insecticides and synthetic pyrethroid

Summary Dermal and respiratory exposure to pirimiphosmethyl, dimethoate and permethrin were determined for applicators and operators in greenhouse tomato spraying operations. Dermal exposure is several times higher than the degree of respiratory exposure. Dermal exposure in terms of different parts of the body shows significant differences. For applicators the exposure of hands, arms and legs is the greatest, and the operators are the most exposed on their hands and to a small extent on legs. This fact should be taken into account when providing the workers with suitable protective clothing. The carefully selected technology of spraying also has great significance in decreasing the degree of exposure. Because of the chronic toxicity of dimethoate, all possible methods should be taken to reduce exposure.     

医务人员血源性病原体职业暴露调查分析

目的了解医务人员血源性病原体污染锐器伤发生的情况,探讨原因与防护对策。方法通过建立医务人员锐器伤监测系统,对64名医务人员发生血源性病原体污染锐器伤的情况进行统计分析。结果护士和外科医师锐器伤发生率高分别为54.68%、35.94%;46.88%锐器伤发生在手术室;按致伤锐器的种类统计,针刺伤占81.25%、手术器械损伤占18.75%,其中发生在分离针头、套帽、操作时未对准、整理和清理物品、尖锐物品藏于其他物品中、他人意外损伤等操作环节分别为15.62%、12.50%、17.19%、17.19%、9.38%、20.31%。结论加强医务人员职业防护知识和安全操作技能训练,完善和规范操作规程,降低医务人员血源性病原体职业暴露的风险。     

Occupational ethylene oxide exposure and reproduction

Summary Animal and epidemiological studies on the reproductive toxic effects of ethylene oxide (ETO) were considered in relation to occupational exposure levels (OELs) of ETO in the occupational environment of sterilisation units. Actual exposure levels in sterilisation units at Belgian and Dutch hospitals are presented and compared to data from recent studies conducted elsewhere. The animal studies did not match the actual exposure situation, involving a pattern of high peak levels and low time-weighted average levels. This may be the reason why epidemiological studies show contrasting results; they suggest reproductive toxicity of ETO at actual exposure levels. However, human data are scarce. There is a need for animal studies with a design that reflects the actual exposure situation. Epidemiological studies on reproductive events are also needed and a multi-country study would seem to be a possible approach, provided that the study design and data collection method are standardised.     

Occupational chronic exposure to organic solvents

Summary Seventeen persons (2 women and 15 men), who were exposed to glycolethers in a varnish production plant, were examined according to their external and internal solvent exposure. The workers in the production plant (n =12) were exposed to average concentrations of ethoxyethanol, ethoxyethyl acetate, butoxyethanol, 1-methoxypropanol-2, 2-methoxypropyl-1-acetate and xylene of 2.8; 2.7; 1.1; 7.0; 2.8 and 1.7 ppm. In the air of the store (n = 3) and in the laboratory (n = 2) only minor concentrations of xylene respectively xylene and ethoxyethyl acetate could be measured. Internal exposure was estimated by measuring butoxyethanol (BE) in blood as well as ethoxyacetic acid (EAA) and butoxyacetic acid (BAA) in urine samples. Urine samples were taken pre- and post-shift. As expected, the highest values were found in the varnish production. The average post shift concentrations of BE, EAA and BAA were 121.3 g/l; 167.8 and 10.5 mg/l. The relatively high concentrations of EAA and BAA in pre-shift samples can be explained by the long half-lives of these metabolites. According to our findings most of the glycolethers were taken up through the skin. Comparing our results with those reported in the literature we think that a future tolerable limit value for the concentration of ethoxyacetic acid in urine should be in the order of 100 to 200 mg/l.     

Contributions of inhalation and dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos dose in Egyptian cotton field workers

Abstract

Objective: Chlorpyrifos exposures were assessed in 12 Egyptian cotton field workers.

Methods: 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) was measured in 24-hour urine samples to estimate absorbed dose. Workshift air samples were used to calculate chlorpyrifos inhalation dose.

Results: Patches on legs had the highest chlorpyrifos loading rates among body regions sampled. Geometric mean chlorpyrifos air concentrations were 5·1, 8·2, and 45·0 μg/m³ for engineers, technicians, and applicators, respectively; peak TCPy urinary concentrations were 75–129, 78–261, and 487–1659 μg/l, respectively; geometric mean doses were 5·2–5·4, 8·6–9·7, and 50–57 μg/kg, respectively, considering TCPy excretion half-life values of 27 and 41 hours. All worker doses exceeded the acceptable operator exposure level of 1·5 μg/kg/day. An estimated 94–96% of the dose was attributed to dermal exposure, calculated as the difference between total dose and inhalation dose.

Discussion: Interventions to reduce dermal exposure are warranted in this population, particularly for the hands, feet, and legs.     

Occupational and environmental human lead exposure in Brazil

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of data on assessment of exposure and adverse effects due to environmental and occupational lead exposure in Brazil. Epidemiological investigations on children lead exposure around industrial and mining areas have shown that lead contamination is an actual source of concern. Lead in gasoline has been phasing out since the 1980s, and it is now completely discontinued. The last lead mining and lead refining plant was closed in 1995, leaving residual environmental lead contamination which has recently been investigated using a multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, there are hundreds of small battery recycling plants and secondary smelting facilities all over the country, which produce focal urban areas of lead contamination. Current regulatory limits for workplace lead exposure have shown to be inadequate as safety limits according to a few studies carried out lately.     

试论医学职业暴露及其安全防护对策

本文就非典型肺炎流行中医务人员感染现象，介绍了医学职业暴露的危害。常见的医学职业暴露危害有四大类，包括生物性危害，有乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎、人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染等；化学性危害，有抗肿瘤药物、清洁剂及消毒剂、麻醉剂、粉尘等；物理性危害有辐射、锐器伤、负重伤、强制体位等；心理性危害。并提出了安全防范的对策建议：加强医学职业安全教育、加强高危人群和高危部位的防护、加强防护材料的供应和防护设施的完善、建立健全长效防护机制与保障体制。     

Occupational exposure to chemical agents in the paper industry

As part of an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) international epidemiological study of workers in the pulp and paper industry, previously unpublished exposure measurements were assembled in a database. This article summarizes the results of 3,873 measurements carried out in the production departments of paper and paperboard mills and recycling plants in 12 countries. In the paper and paperboard mills, most of the agents were measured in the pulping and refining departments and in on-machine coating and winding of paper/paperboard. Exposures to asbestos, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, fungal spores, bacteria, nitrogen dioxide, minerals dusts, paper dust, sulphuric acid and different solvents sometimes exceeded exposure limit values. In the re-pulping and de-inking departments of recycling plants high exposures to formaldehyde, fungal spores, bacteria and paper dust were observed. High exposures to asbestos, bioaerosols, carbon monoxide and paper dust were found in many departments; ammonia, formaldehyde, mineral and paper dust and solvents were found in coating machines; and diphenyl and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were found in some special circumstances. Measurements in the newsprint and uncoated paper machine departments revealed only a few elevated exposures. In nearly all departments, measurements of epichlorohydrin, PCBs, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans tended to be low, often even below their detection limits. In spite of some uncertainties in the measurement data, the study provides new insights into the level and variation of occupational exposures of production workers in the paper and paperboard industry.     

Occupational exposure to sevoflurane during sedation of adult patients

Objectives: In a field study we evaluated the workplace pollution occurring during conscious sedation with sevoflurane in adults. Methods: Sevoflurane was given in 100% oxygen at a fresh gas flow rate of 3 l/min via a nasal mask. This was conducted in 25 patients scheduled for surgical procedures performed under regional anesthesia. Trace concentrations of sevoflurane were directly measured every minute in the breathing zone by means of a photoacoustic infrared spectrometer in an operating room with an air turnover of 20 changes/h. Results: The mean sedation time was 49.6 ± 20.4 min. The average vaporizer setting of the anesthesia machine was 1.63 ± 0.6 vol%, resulting in a patient's mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentration of 0.78 ± 0.2 vol%. The 8-h time-weighted average was calculated to be 0.58 ppm sevoflurane. Conclusions: The trace gas concentrations were low and comparable with values obtained under inhalation induction in adults and children. Although no occupational standard for sevoflurane is currently defined, the measured values are clearly under the standards recommended for enflurane (20 ppm) and isoflurane (10 ppm) by the European health authorities. We conclude that the new anesthesiologic method of conscious sedation with sevoflurane in adults using a nasal mask would not result in a violation of occupational standards, provided that the future value set for sevoflurane would be similar to those recommended for isoflurane or enflurane. Received: 3 August 1998 / Accepted: 14 November 1998     

Occupational exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Objective To investigate the association between occupational exposure to ionizing, ultraviolet (UV), radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation and risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in a population-based case-control study. Methods The study population consisted of 694 NHL cases, first diagnosed between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2001, and 694 controls from two regions in Australia, matched by age, sex and region of residence. A detailed occupation history was first obtained using a lifetime calendar and a telephone interview. Exposure to radiation was then assessed using a Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from logistic regression models that included the matching variables as covariates. Results For ionizing radiation, the ORs were close to unity. For UV and ELF radiation, the highest exposed group of workers had ORs of 1.32 (95% CI = 0.96–1.81) and 1.25 (95% CI = 0.91–1.72), respectively. For UV radiation there was a positive dose–response when exposure was lagged by 5 and 10 years (P for trend 0.04 for both lag periods). Workers in the upper tertile of exposure for RF radiation had an OR of 3.15 (95% CI = 0.63–15.87), but the estimate was based on very small numbers. Conclusions Our results do not provide support for an association between NHL and occupational exposure to ionizing or ELF radiation. For UV radiation, our findings are consistent with a weak positive association. Further investigation focusing on UV and RF radiation and NHL is required.