Asbestos in fresh water fish of a pond in Milan. Where is it coming from?

INTRODUCTION: Cement-based material containing asbestos was found in the water of a pond in the city of Milan, Italy, where recreational fishing activities take place. Some fishes are in 'no-kill' fishing areas, others are caught and consumed. OBJECTIVE: To verify the presence of asbestos in water, sediments and some fish species living in the pond. To verify the presence of asbestos in fish feed and to test fish exposure by ingestion. METHODS: Samples of water, sediments, fish feed and fish species have been collected and the presence of asbestos fibers has been ascertained in the different matrices. RESULTS: No traces of asbestos were found in water. Instead, the asbestos content in sediments was beyond regulatory limits. Asbestos was detected also in benthic fish species, and in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that does not reproduce in the pond but must be restocked periodically through aquaculture. In the meat of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) 36,000,000 fibers/100 g of wet cloth have been found. Values up to 15,000,000 ff/100 g of wet cloth have been detected in the rainbow trout. Asbestos has also been found in animal feeds, in particular crocidolite fibers and asbestos tremolite bundles. CONCLUSIONS: Benthic fish species have likely been contaminated by their close contact with the polluted bottom of the pond. Instead, the presence of asbestos in the trout is probably linked to a previous contamination during farming, since this fish spend a brief period of time in the water of the pond. Asbestos distribution and concentration exclude a risk for public health; however, some values of asbestos found in fish meat deserve attention. Accordingly, precautionary indications have been given to the Municipality of Milan and to the fishermen association. A larger scale monitoring of water, food and animal feed is worth performing to better assess exposure by ingestion.

[Effectiveness of Health and Safety at Work Services (PSAL) in reducing occupational injuries in Lombardy Region]. / Efficacia dei Servizi di Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (Servizi PSAL) neella riduzione degli infortune professionali in Regione Lombardia.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, Italy has seen a reduction in workplace accidents due to several factors, including the controls carried out by the Health and Safety at Work Services (PSAL) of the Local Health Units (ATS). OBJECTIVE: To verify the contribution of PSAL Services to injury reduction. In particular, to identify the existence of a difference between incidence rates of accidents in companies before and after inspections and possible variations in rates between inspected and non-inspected companies. METHODS: We analyzed data of the activities carried out by the PSAL Services of the Lombardy Region in the system I.M.Pre.S@ (Computerization and Health Prevention Monitoring) in the period 2010-2015, together with data from the Regional Accident Database of the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL). The "difference in difference" (DID) method was used to evaluate the different effect on inspected and non-inspected industries. RESULTS: Between the pre- and post-vigilance periods, inspected companies showed a greater reduction either of total injury rates (DID=-2.7 per 1000 worker-years; 90% confidence interval (CI): -4.1; -1.3) or of severe injury rates (DID=-1.1; 90% CI: -1.7; -0.5). These effects were visible in the majority of ATS and occupational sectors. CONCLUSIONS: This study, made possible by a valid and efficient regional data tracking system, has shown the positive effect of the PSAL prevention actions on the frequency of both total and severe injuries.

[The safety data sheets of the paint and coatings sector: analysis of the items of most interest to health and safety in the workplace]. / Le schede di dati di sicurezza del comparto vernici e rivestimenti: analisi degli elementi di maggior interesse per la salute e sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro.

INTRODUCTION: The interlinked REACH-CLP regulations promote the sharing of knowledge regarding the risks and hazards of chemicals throughout the supply chain. The safety data sheet (SDS) is the main instrument to achieve this goal. OBJECTIVE: to study 100 SDS of paints and coatings sector in order to highlight major criticisms related to health and safety of workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the criteria prescribed by Regulation 453/2010/EC and preparing a suitable check list, some items of the sections 1 "Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company", 2 "Hazards identification", 3 "Composition/information on ingredients", the first part of section 7 "Precautions for safe handling", sections 8 "Exposure controls/personal protection" and 16 "Other information", were therefore evaluated for their appropriateness. RESULTS: Seven SDS were written in a foreign language and were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 93 SDS, only 23% had a proportion of adequate items greater than 80%, 49 % had adequate items between 60 and 80%, and 28% had less than 60% adequate items. The most critical sections were those relating to workers' safe handling and exposure controls and protection. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, from the analysis of SDS we found high percentages of inadequacy, especially in sections 7 and 8, the most relevant for the protection of the health and safety of workers.

[Employment of psychiatrically disabled people. The Lavoro LiberaMente project]. / L'inserimento lavorativo dei disabili psichici. Il progetto Lavoro LiberaMente.

BACKGROUND: The complexity of giving psychiatrically disabled persons access to work is well known. The percentage of persons thus defined who are on the provincial unemployment lists is constantly increasing. OBJECTIVES: The 'Lavoro Liberamente" ('I work freely') project is aimed not only at enabling a number of psychiatric patients to gain access to work but to do so by experimenting with a network methodology that includes the various agencies that can contribute to a successful outcome. METHOD: The project was developed in various stages--psychiatric services and company awareness campaigns and task-definition, candidate selection, skills assessment, and work placement--all aimed at finding and maintaining employment. RESULTS: After a thorough preparatory phase, 19 psychiatrically disabled persons were placed in 14 companies. When the apprenticeship was concluded, 13 of them were hired. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the short time-frame--about one year between candidates being selected and finally recruited--the ratio between the number of disabled people recruited and those placed was satisfactory. This result should be interpreted positively because, even taking into account some of the most sensitive issues that surfaced and were analysed, it shows that access of the psychiatrically disadvantaged to work is possible if all involved people work synergistically, each according to their responsibilities and knowledge, and on condition that a recognised management of each individual project exists. Within such a network synergism, it is even possible to identify some tasks that are the responsibility of the Occupational Health Physician, therefore further contributing to the overall success of placements.

The role of asbestos fiber dimensions in the prevention of mesothelioma.

A recent interpretation of the pathogenetic role of asbestos fiber size in the development of mesothelioma and in the possibility of mesothelioma prevention needs clarification. This point of view is based on a biased interpretation of the literature. Epidemiologic, experimental, and molecular evidence suggests that the arguments for the role of fiber size relative to dose, dose-response effect, and genetic susceptibility are scientifically unsound. Their proponent also states that means available in the past for the implementation of dust-control measures and/or personal protective equipment would not have contributed to reducing the frequency of mesothelioma among exposed subjects, an argument again based on invalid assumptions.

[Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in a truck driver]. / Mesotelioma maligno della pleura in un autotrasportatore.

BACKGROUND: Among the responsibilities of the health operators in the occupational health and safety services of the local health units in Lombardy (Italy) is the administration of standardized questionnaires for the investigation of possible occupational exposure to asbestos fibres in subjects diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. OBJECTIVES: To describe a case of malignant mesothelioma in a truck driver suspected of being occupationally exposed to asbestos during the course of administration of the questionnaire. METHODS: Analysis of the literature regarding asbestos contamination of truck cabs. Some years ago Italian authors described a case of asbestosis in a truck-driver and findings of pollution by asbestos fibres in the cabs of some models of trucks. RESULTS: The subject had worked for more than 30 years as a truck driver operating on long distances on truck models described in literature as contaminated by asbestos fibres. He had not transported materials made of asbestos, and had not carried out maintenance on the trucks, nor had he any non-occupational sources of exposure to asbestos. Thus the mesothelioma was related to occupational exposure and procedures were initiated for reporting a suspected occupational disease.

[The role of asbestos fibre dimensions in the pathogenesis and prevention of mesothelioma]. / Il ruolo della dimensione delle fibre di amianto nella patogenesi e nella prevenzione del mesotelioma.

The particular point of view, recently published by Gerolamo Chiappino, on the pathogenetic role of asbestos fibres size in the origin of mesothelioma and on the possibility of mesothelioma prevention until the middle of the '80s needs to be critically clarified. The suggestion of an exclusive role of ultrashort and ultrathin fibres in the origin of mesothelioma is based on a biased interpretation of the literature. A review of the epidemiological, experimental, and molecular literature suggests that Chiappino's statements on the role of dose, dose-response effect, and genetic susceptibility are scientifically unsound Chiappino states that, in the past, in the workplaces where use and exposure to asbestos were not stopped, any reduction in the intensity of exposure by means of dust control measures or personal protective equipment would not have contributed to reduce the frequency of mesothelioma. In the authors' opinion the underlying assumptions are invalid.

[Is there any correlation between psychiatric disease and the teaching profession?]. / Quale rischio di patologia psichiatrica per la categoria professionale degli insegnanti?

BACKGROUND: Some professional categories are at risk for burnout due to job-related stressors. Burnout is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion, apathy, cynical attitude, low personal accomplishment and reduced self-control. Several studies on occupational stress have demonstrated that burnout has a strong impact on certain professions and in particular on teachers. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to highlight and compare differences among clinical disorders diagnosed in four different classes of workers in the Public Administration sector, with particular focus on job-related and mental disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the data collected in 3,447 medical examinations, performed by the Milan Health District from January 1992 to December 2003, in order to assess work fitness, researchers compared four categories of state employees (teachers, clerks, health care professionals and blue collars). RESULTS: The findings revealed that the risk of teachers to develop psychiatric disorders is 2-, 2.5-, and 3-fold higher than that of clerks, health care professionals and blue collars, respectively. Age or sex did not represent a confounding factor for increased rate of psychiatric disorders. Interestingly, teachers also presented an approximately 1.5-2 fold higher risk of developing neoplasms, compared with clerks and blue collars. CONCLUSIONS: The increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders among teachers that was detected in this cohort of state employees applying for a disability pension is striking and warrants further investigation. This finding points to the need for job-related interventions aimed at preventing teachers' psychiatric disorders, a multidimensional issue which requires active debate among institutions, unions, school authorities, the scientific community, professional associations and, last but not least, students and their families.