Cohort study of workers at a New Zealand agrochemical plant to assess the effect of dioxin exposure on mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To describe how the exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) influenced mortality in a cohort of workers who were exposed more recently, and at lower levels, than other cohorts of trichlorophenol process workers. DESIGN: A cohort study. SETTING: An agrochemical plant in New Zealand PARTICIPANTS: 1,599 men and women working between 1 January 1969 and 1 November 1988 at a plant producing the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) with TCDD as a contaminant. Cumulative TCDD exposure was estimated for each individual in the study by a toxicokinetic model. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Calculation of cause-specific standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI's) compared those never and ever exposed to TCDD. Dose-response trends were assessed firstly through SMRs stratified in quartiles of cumulative TCCD exposure, and secondly with a proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The model intercept of 5.1 ppt of TCDD was consistent with background TCDD concentrations in New Zealand among older members of the population. Exposed workers had non-significant increases in all-cancer deaths (SMR=1.08, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.34), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SMR=1.57, 95% CI: 0.32 to 4.59), soft tissue sarcoma (one death) (SMR=2.38, 95% CI: 0.06 to 13.26), diabetes (SMR=1.27, 95% CI: 0.55 to 2.50) and ischaemic heart disease (SMR=1.21, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.50). Lung cancer deaths (SMR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.53) were fewer than expected. Neither the stratified SMR nor the proportional hazard analysis showed a dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of an increase in risk for 'all cancers', any specific cancer and no systematic trend in cancer risk with TCDD exposure. This argues against the carcinogenicity of TCDD at lower levels of exposure.

Evaluación de la exposición a campos electromagnéticos de radiofrecuencia en ámbitos académicos / Exposure assessment of radiofrecuency electromagnetic fields in academic areas

Introducción: Las radiaciones no ionizantes no poseen el nivel de energía requerido para producir ionización en los tejidos o causar daño al DNA, pero pueden generar efectos térmicos y no térmicos en la salud de los seres humanos que son actualmente motivo de estudio y discusión. Gran parte de la actividad cotidiana en ámbitos académicos se desarrolla bajo la influencia de innumerables radiaciones. Objetivo: Evaluar y determinar el nivel de exposición a las radiaciones no ionizantes en ámbitos académicos de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. Metodología: Las mediciones fueron realizadas mediante el instrumento marca Narda® NBM 550 con sonda de medición isotrópica en la banda de 100 kHz a 3 GHz. Se realizaron mediciones exteriores (outdoor) en diferentes facultades de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. En la facultad de Ciencias Médicas se efectuaron mediciones interiores (indoor). En esta última se seleccionaron tres ambientes para determinar las principales fuentes de emisión. Resultados: Los valores máximos obtenidos de las mediciones se encontraron por debajo del valor máximo permitido de 0,2 mW/cm2. En la facultad de Ciencias Médicas se realizaron mediciones específicas en dos lugares de alto tránsito y uno de varias horas de permanencia en el lugar de exposición. El procesamiento de los datos reveló que las mediciones específicas a 20 cm de los artefactos eléctricos de iluminación fueron superiores al máximo permitido. Discusión: Si bien los resultados de las mediciones exteriores realizadas en los diversos ámbitos académicos se encuentran dentro de los valores permitidos, es recomendable que las mediciones se efectúen en forma anual, además de instalar fuentes de bajas emisiones

Introduction: Non-ionizing radiation does not have the level of energy required to produce ionization in tissues or cause DNA damage, but can generate thermal and non-thermal effects on human health that are currently the subject of study and discussion. Much of the daily activity in academic areas is performed under the influence of innumerable radiations. Objective: Evaluate the exposure levels to non-ionizing radiation in academic and sensitive areas in different faculties of the National University of La Plata, Argentina. Methodology: The measurements were made using the Narda® NBM 550 instrument with an isotropic measurement probe in the 100 kHz band at 3 GHz. Seven exterior measurements were taken (outdoor) in different Faculties: In the Faculty of Medical Sciences internal (indoor) measurements were made. Of the latter, three environments were selected to determine the main sources of emission. Results: The maximum values obtained from the external and internal measurements were found below the maximum value of 0.2 mW / cm2. At the Faculty of Medical Sciences, specific measurements were made on two sites of high circulation and on one of several hours of permanence at the place of exposure. Data processing revealed that the specific measurements at 20 cm of the electric lighting fixtures were higher than the maximum allowed. Discussion: It can be inferred that although the results of the external measurements made in the different academic fields are within the allowed values, it is recommended that the measurements be made annually and the use of low emission sources

Consequências individuais e ocupacionais da exposição a material biológico entre trabalhadores de enfermagem / Individual and occupational consequences of exposure to biological material among nursing workers / Consecuencias individuales y ocupacionales de la exposición a material biológico entre profesionales de enfermería

A prevenção de acidentes de trabalho com exposição a material contaminado é um desafio para trabalhadores e instituições. O objetivo foi analisar a ocorrência, características e consequências do acidente de trabalho com material biológico para trabalhadores de enfermagem e instituição empregadora. Estudo descritivo, realizado com 69 trabalhadores de enfermagem que sofreram exposição a material biológico, em 2013. Os dados foram coletados por consulta aos registros do Serviço Especializado em Engenharia de Segurança e em Medicina do Trabalho, registrados no protocolo eletrônico da Rede de Prevenção de Acidente de Trabalho, analisados por estatística descritiva e apresentados em tabelas. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 42 trabalhadores de enfermagem acidentados e 19 chefes do hospital pesquisado, em São Paulo. Para os entrevistados, o acidente causou principalmente preocupação, insegurança e medo. As consequências acarretadas pela exposição ocupacional a material biológico foram afastamento de trabalhadores do trabalho e custos do tratamento para as instituições.

Preventing accidents from exposure to contaminated material is a challenge for workers and institutions. This descriptive study of the consequences of labor accidents with biological material, for nursing staff and the hospital, involved 69 nursing workers exposed to biological material in 2013. Data were drawn from the records of the Specialized Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine Service, and entered on the Labor Accident Prevention Network's electronic protocol. Semistructured interviews were conducted of 42 workers who had suffered accidents and 19 head nurses. Data wereanalyzed using descriptive statistics and tabulated. The accidents caused respondents primarily concern, insecurity and fear. Occupational exposure to biological material incurred leaves of absence for workers and treatment costs for the institution.

La prevención de accidentes de trabajo con exposición a material contaminado es un desafío para trabajadores e instituciones. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la ocurrencia, características y consecuencias del accidente de trabajo con material biológico para los profesionales de enfermería y la institución que los emplea. Estudio descriptivo, realizado con 69 trabajadores de enfermería que han estado expuestos a material biológico en 2013. Los datos se recolectaron mediante consulta a los registros del Servicio Especializado en Ingeniería de Seguridad y Medicina del Trabajo, registrados en el protocolo electrónico de la Redde Prevención de Accidentes de Trabajo, analizados por estadística descriptiva y presentados en tablas. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con 42 trabajadores de enfermería accidentados y 19 jefes del hospital encuestado, en São Paulo. Para los entrevistados, el accidente causó principalmente preocupación, inseguridad y miedo. Las consecuencias acarreadas por la exposición ocupacional a material biológico fueron la baja de funcionarios del trabajo y costos del tratamiento para las instituciones.

A job-exposure matrix for occupational noise: development and validation.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a job-exposure matrix (JEM) for occupational noise in Sweden and to estimate its validity. METHODS: The JEM, developed by a group of experienced occupational hygienists, contains 321 job families with information regarding occupational noise from 1970 to 2004. The occupational noise information derives from measurements collected from different sources. The time period label has a 5-year scale starting in 1970. The estimated average 8h (TWA) noise level in decibel [dB(A)] for every 5-year period was coded either as <75 dB(A), 75-84 dB(A), or ≥85 dB(A) and the risk of peak level exposure assessed. The validity of the JEM is tested, using Svensson's non-parametric methods based on classification consensus, reached by a second group of occupational hygienists. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Validation results show ~ 80% agreement and no systematic differences, in classification, between the two different groups of occupational hygienists, classifying the occupational noise exposure. However, classification of peak level exposure did show a systematic difference in relative position. The results will give more power to the JEM that it gives a good general estimate for the occupational noise levels in Sweden for different job families during 1970-2004. We, thus, intend to use it in further studies and also make it available to collaborators.