Allergic contact dermatitis due to a PVC table cover.

BACKGROUND: Plastics are a common cause of occupational skin disorders such as irritant or allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). CASE REPORT: We report a case of occupational ACD due to a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic table cover used as a mouse pad for which we performed patch tests and obtained positive patch tests for the PVC table cover. Composition testing revealed the presence of phthalates and phosphites, which may represent the specific allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Contact with some of the chemical components of the PVC table cover, together with a combination of sweating and friction, may have enhanced the allergenicity of these components. Workplace adjustment resulted in disappearance of the dermatitis.

Neurological effects in workers exposed to manganese.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects on the nervous system in enamels-production workers who have low levels of and long exposure to manganese (Mn). The study included 138 Mn-exposed workers and 137 controls who received questionnaires on symptoms, a battery of psychological tests, and assessments of blood concentrations of metal. The exposure levels to airborne Mn concentrations were determined by personal and stationary samplings. The mean duration exposure to Mn was 19.87 years (SD +/- 9). The workers exposed to Mn reported more nonspecific subjective complaints than the control group. No effect of Mn exposure was indicated by the results of any of the neuropsychological tests. The Mn workers did not have higher concentrations of Mn in blood than the controls. Exposures of workers currently working with Mn averaged 57 micrograms/m3 respirable (personal samplings) and 12 g/m3 (stationary samplings). In conclusion, long exposure to low levels of Mn (approximately 200 micrograms/m3), as induced in our study, showed no significant disturbance of neurological performance.

[Risks associated with exposure to cytostatics in health care personnel]. / Risques liés à l'exposition aux cytostatiques pour le personnel soignant.

RISKS RELATED TO HANDLING: Cytostatic drugs (CS) destroy malignant cells. However, they also have deleterious effects on healthy cells. Manufacturing staff and nurses may suffer from side effects when handling these molecules. WHAT TYPE OF RISKS?: Laboratory staff and nurses handling these molecules are exposed to sub-therapeutic concentrations of these products, which induce little known biological effects. Cytostatics can provoke allergies, mutations and probably have carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE: Exposure can be assessed by calculating the index of cytostatic contact. Medical surveillance includes measurement of he surrounding metrology and specific biometry. PREVENTION: Basic preventive measures include the wearing of masks, gloves and overalls and the installation of vertical laminar flow hoods.

Methyl bromide intoxication during grain store fumigation.

There have been over 300 cases of methyl bromide poisoning reported in the literature. The first objective of this case report was to bring out an experience with the false belief that work in a closed space is safe when accompanied by the use of a cartridge respirator with activated charcoal. The second objective of this article was to demonstrate the marked toxicity of methyl bromide with the potential to cause long-term neurological damage. Two experienced fumigation workers (equipped with rapidly saturable respiratory cartridges) entered a building where the concentration of methyl bromide was 17g x m-3 instead of the advised 20mg x m-3. They felt rapidly unwell and complained of nausea and shortness of breath, followed for one them by generalized convulsions. Five months later this last man was still bedridden. The other worker had almost no after-effects. The highest bromide level was found in the blood and also in the activated charcoal cartridge of the most injured worker. There was a relationship between methyl bromide level exposure and neurological damage importance.