Assessment of genotoxicity biomarkers in gasoline station attendants due to occupational exposure.

Gasoline station attendants are exposed to numerous chemicals that might have genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, such as benzene in fuel vapor and particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vehicle exhaust emission. According to IARC, benzene and diesel particulates are Group 1 human carcinogens, and gasoline has been classified as Group 2A "possibly carcinogenic to humans." At gas stations, self-service is not implemented in Turkey; fuel-filling service is provided entirely by employees, and therefore they are exposed to those chemicals in the workplace during all working hours. Genetic monitoring of workers with occupational exposure to possible genotoxic agents allows early detection of cancer. We aimed to investigate the genotoxic damage due to exposures in gasoline station attendants in Turkey. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the Comet, chromosomal aberration, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Gasoline station attendants (n = 53) had higher tail length, tail intensity, and tail moment values than controls (n = 61). In gasoline station attendants (n = 46), the frequencies of chromatid gaps, chromosome gaps, and total aberrations were higher compared with controls (n = 59). Increased frequencies of micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges were determined in gasoline station attendants (n = 47) compared with controls (n = 40). Factors such as age, duration of working, and smoking did not have any significant impact on genotoxic endpoints. Only exposure increased genotoxic damage in gasoline station attendants independently from demographic and clinical characteristics. Occupational exposure-related genotoxicity risk may increase in gasoline station attendants who are chronically exposed to gasoline and various chemicals in vehicle exhaust emissions.

Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to heavy metals among green space workers in Iran.

Exposure to heavy metals can result in various adverse health effects. Tehran is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities. Green space workers are continuously exposed to such pollutants in this city. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the health risks caused by exposure to heavy metals among green space workers. Eighty-eight workers and office personnel in two regions with different air quality levels were chosen for sampling. Air samples were collected using the NIOSH-7300 method and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) instrument. The hazard quotient (HQ) and the lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) were calculated to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk levels. The results revealed that the rank order of heavy metals was determined as Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Co, and Cd. Workers were subjected to higher concentrations of Ni, Pb, Zn, and Co than office personnel. Furthermore, the Cd, Co, and Zn exposure levels stood significantly higher in region 6 than in region 14. Non-carcinogenic risk levels for all participants fell within the acceptable range. Moreover, no employee had a carcinogenic risk level within the acceptable range when exposed to Cd. Also, 2.3% of individuals demonstrated Ni's acceptable carcinogenic risk level. Owing unacceptable risk levels, proper interventions are required to minimize occupational exposure to heavy metals. These interventions include optimizing shift schedules, using personal protective equipment, and conducting regular health assessments.

Establishment of a headspace-thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method (HS-TD-GC-MS) for simultaneous detection of 51 volatile organic compounds in human urine: Application in occupational exposure assessment.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of ubiquitous environment pollutants especially released into the workplace. Assessment of VOCs exposure in occupational populations is therefore a crucial issue for occupational health. However, simultaneous biomonitoring of a variety of VOCs is less studied. In this study, a simple and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 51 prototype VOCs in urine by headspace-thermal desorption coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-TD-GC-MS). The urinary sample was pretreated with only adding 0.50 g of sodium chloride to 2 mL of urine and 51 VOCs should be determined with limits of detection (LODs) between 13.6 ng/L and 24.5 ng/L. The method linearity ranged from 0.005 to 10 µg/L with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.991 to 0.999. The precision for intraday and inter-day, measured by the variation coefficient (CV) at three levels of concentration, was below 15 %, except for 4-isopropyl toluene, dichloromethane, and trichloromethane at low concentration. For medium and high levels, recoveries of all target VOCs were within the standard range, but 1,1-dichloropropene and styrene, which were slightly under 80 % at low levels. In addition, the proposed method has been used to determine urine samples collected in three times (before, during and after working) from 152 workers at four different factories. 41 types of prototype VOCs were detected in workers urine. Significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared = 117.18, df = 1, P < 0.05) in the concentration levels of VOCs between the exposed and unexposed groups were observed, but not between the three sampling times (Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared = 3.39, df = 2, P = 0.183). The present study provides an alternative method for biomonitoring and assessing mixed exposures to VOCs in occupational populations.

Potential risk assessment: a model for quality evaluation in fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures.

This study presented a model applied for potential risk assessment in an interventional radiology setting. The model of potential risk assessment (MARP) consisted of the creation of a scale of indicators ranging from 0 to 5. The radiation levels were categorized according to gender, kind of procedure, value of kerma air product (Pka), and accumulated radiation dose (mGy). The MARP model was applied in 121 institutions over 8 y. A total of 201 656 patient radiation doses (Dose-area product and accumulated kerma) data were launched into the system over time, with an average of 22 406 doses per year. In the context of the workers (cardiologists, radiographers, and nurses) monitored during the MARP application, 8007 cases (with an average of 890 per year) of occupational radiation doses were recorded. This study showed a strategy for quality evaluation in fluoroscopy using a model with a compulsory information system for monitoring safety.

Public health assessment of Kenyan ASGM communities using multi-element biomonitoring, dietary and environmental evaluation.

The Kakamega gold belt's natural geological enrichment and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) have resulted in food and environmental pollution, human exposure, and subsequent risks to health. This study aimed to characterise exposure pathways and risks among ASGM communities. Human hair, nails, urine, water, and staple food crops were collected and analysed from 144 ASGM miners and 25 people from the ASGM associated communities. Exposure to PHEs was predominantly via drinking water from mine shafts, springs and shallow-wells (for As>Pb>Cr>Al), with up to 366 µg L-1 arsenic measured in shaft waters consumed by miners. Additional exposure was via consumption of locally grown crops (for As>Ni>Pb>Cr>Cd>Hg>Al) besides inhalation of Hg vapour and dust, and direct dermal contact with Hg. Urinary elemental concentrations for both ASGM workers and wider ASGM communities were in nearly all cases above bioequivalents and reference upper thresholds for As, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb and Sb, with median concentrations of 12.3, 0.4, 1.6, 5.1, 0.7 and 0.15 µg L-1, respectively. Urinary As concentrations showed a strong positive correlation (0.958) with As in drinking water. This study highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in integrating environmental, dietary, and public health investigations to better characterise the hazards and risks associated with ASGM and better understand the trade-offs associated with ASGM activities relating to public health and environmental sustainability. Further research is crucial, and study results have been shared with Public Health and Environmental authorities to inform mitigation efforts.

Optimization of benzene exposure risk assessment: An integrated approach utilizing internal and external concentrations with a focus on biomarkers S-PMA & t, t-MA.

In the majority of occupational settings within China, the concentrations of benzene are observed to fall markedly below the demarcated detection thresholds. Employing traditional risk assessment models, the presence of exceptionally low airborne benzene exposure concentrations may infuse heightened degrees of uncertainty. Consequently, the necessity arises to investigate risk assessment methodologies more apt for the prevalent exposure environment among employees. In the present study, a pharmacokinetic model premised on urinary benzene metabolites (S-PMA and t, t-MA) was employed to ascertain a more precise daily airborne benzene exposure concentration per individual. This value was integrated into the linear multistage model as the 'internal exposure concentration'. In conjunction with the U.S National Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inhalation risk assessment model predicated on the external exposure concentration, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) model, and the linear multistage (LMS) model, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of benzene were evaluated for 1781 benzene-exposed employees across 76 enterprises in Jiangsu Province. Findings suggest that in the linear multilevel model assessment, the cancer risk levels based on t, t-MA and S-PMA were higher in the printing and recording media reproduction industry, automobile manufacturing industry, general equipment manufacturing industry and the furniture manufacturing industry (median 2.842 × 10-4, 2.819 × 10-4, 2.809 × 10-4, and 2.678 × 10-4), which align more consistently with the actual benzene exposure circumstances of each industry's study participants, with overall risk levels calculated by the linear multistage model exceeding those of the EPA inhalation risk assessment model and the MOM model. This implies that the linear multistage model of internal exposure, based on the reciprocal of benzene biomarkers S-PMA and t, t-MA for airborne benzene exposure, presents enhanced sensitivity and suitability for the current occupational health risk assessment of workers. Without doubt, biomarker-based benzene exposure risk assessment emerges as the optimal choice.

Evaluation of the risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs in healthcare sector: part II - the application of the FMECA method to compare manual vs automated preparation.

Healthcare workers handling antineoplastic drugs (ADs) in preparation units run the risk of occupational exposure to contaminated surfaces and associated mutagenic, teratogenic, and oncogenic effects of those drugs. To minimise this risk, automated compounding systems, mainly robots, have been replacing manual preparation of intravenous drugs for the last 20 years now, and their number is on the rise. To evaluate contamination risk and the quality of the working environment for healthcare workers preparing ADs, we applied the Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) method to compare the acceptable risk level (ARL), based on the risk priority number (RPN) calculated from five identified failure modes, with the measured risk level (MRL). The model has shown higher risk of exposure with powdered ADs and containers not protected by external plastic shrink film, but we found no clear difference in contamination risk between manual and automated preparation. This approach could be useful to assess and prevent the risk of occupational exposure for healthcare workers coming from residual cytotoxic contamination both for current handling procedures and the newly designed ones. At the same time, contamination monitoring data can be used to keep track of the quality of working conditions by comparing the observed risk profiles with the proposed ARL. Our study has shown that automated preparation may have an upper hand in terms of safety but still leaves room for improvement, at least in our four hospitals.

Proposal and practicality of an alternative blue-light hazard risk assessment method for high-intensity white-light sources at workplaces.

Objectives. It is prescribed to determine blue-light hazard (BLH) weighted radiances, LB, for an assessment of spotlights with an angular subtense α≥11mrad. The BLH weighted irradiance, EB, can be used alternatively for smaller sources. Appropriate instruments are not common among persons commissioned with risk assessment (RA), and especially LB measurements may be challenging. Therefore, a practical BLH RA approach is proposed that is based on illuminance, Ev, pre-calculated blackbody BLH efficacies of luminous radiation, KB,vPlanck, and solid angle considerations. Methods. The practicality of this method was examined and compared against other RA approaches. Results. To ensure comparability of the applied instruments, measurements were performed close to a radiance standard, showing deviations within the lamp's expanded uncertainties (<4%), whereas the deviations were ±15% for longer distances. Focusing on a complex light-emitting diode (LED) spotlight, all detected values could be converted to LB by means of the RA methods within ±20%. Two field tests with several spotlights yielded maximum permissible exposure durations (MPED) obtained from the different RA approaches that agreed among each other within uncertainties largely below ±30%. Conclusion. The general practicality of the proposed Ev method can be concluded for a workplace BLH RA of white-light sources.

Prevalence of occupational moral injury and post-traumatic embitterment disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Occupational moral injury and post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) describe the psychological distress caused by exposure to injustice at work. This meta-analysis aims to determine the prevalence of occupational moral injury and PTED and establish whether prevalence estimates differ depending on occupation. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Google Scholar, PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Sage Journals Online were searched in June 2020 and updated in November 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Observational studies that measured prevalence or average scores of moral injury, or PTED in any occupational group and any geographical location. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers screened and coded eligible studies. Study design, participant demographics, sampling method, location, measurement tool and prevalence or average scores were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Checklist for Prevalence Studies tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models. Results that could not be combined were summarised qualitatively in a narrative synthesis using the Guidance for Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: In total, 88 studies across armed forces and veterans, healthcare, first responders, educators, journalists, child protection service employees, the unemployed, public-sector employees and mixed occupations were included. Studies included in each separate meta-analysis based on the measure used ranged from 2 to 30. The pooled prevalence of clinically relevant moral injury in healthcare professionals was 45%, and exposure to any potentially morally injurious event (PMIE) across occupations was 67%. Exposure to transgressions by others and betrayal was significantly lower in the armed forces than civilian occupations. Pooled prevalence of PTED across occupations was 26%. CONCLUSION: Exposure to PMIEs, moral injury symptoms and PTED are prevalent at work and exposure to transgressions by others and betrayal are more likely in civilian occupations than the armed forces. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020191766.

Development of handling energy factors for use of dustiness data in exposure assessment modelling.

Several exposure assessment models use dustiness as an input parameter for scaling or estimating exposure during powder handling. Use of different dustiness methods will result in considerable differences in the dustiness values as they are based on different emission generation principles. EN17199:2019 offers 4 different dustiness test methods considering different dust release scenarios (e.g. powder pouring, mixing and gentle agitation, and vibration). Conceptually, the dustiness value by a given method can be multiplied with a scenario-specific modifier, called a handling energy factor (Hi), that allows conversion of a dustiness value to a release constant. Therefore, a Hi, scaling the effective mechanical energy in the process to the energy supplied in the specific dustiness test, needs to be applied. To improve the accuracy in predictive exposure modelling, we derived experimental Hi to be used in exposure algorithms considering both the mass- and number-based dust release fraction determined by the EN17199-3 continuous drop (CD) and the EN17199-4 small rotating drum (SRD) test methods. Three materials were used to evaluate the relationship between dustiness and dust levels during pouring powder from different heights in a controlled environment. The results showed increasing scatter and difference between the Hi derived for the 2 test methods with increasing pouring height. Nearly all the Hi values obtained for both SRD and CD were <1 indicating that the dustiness tests involved more energy input than the simulated pouring activity and consequently de-agglomeration and dust generation were higher. This effect was most pronounced in CD method showing that SRD mechanistically resembles more closely the powder pouring.

Assessment of PAH exposure and health risks among South Korean firefighters based on urinary PAH metabolites.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) comprise a group of compounds resulting from the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Firefighters engaged in fire suppression are highly exposed to PAHs. This study centered on evaluating the exposure levels and health risks of PAHs in South Korean firefighters involved in firefighting activities. The concentrations of 10 PAH metabolites in the urine of firefighters were measured immediately after, and two weeks post their engagement in extinguishing a large tire factory fire. The levels of OH-PAHs in urine samples immediately after fire suppression were elevated by a factor of 1.01-1.84 compared to urine samples from non-exposed period. The median concentration of total PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs) was higher in urine samples immediately after fire suppression (5910 ng/g creatinine) than in urine samples from non-exposed periods (5020 ng/g creatinine). However, the ∑OH-PAH levels in firefighters' urine were related to personal habits such as smoking. The concentrations of all individual OH-PAHs in the urine samples of nonsmokers exhibited a substantial increase, ranging from 1.37 to 2.3 times, clearly demonstrating that firefighting activities were a substantial source of PAH exposure. The calculated values associated with the health risks stemming from exposure to PAHs, including carcinogenic risk, total estimated daily intake (TEDI), and hazard quotients/index (HQs/HI), all fell within acceptable limits, indicating negligible risk. However, the HQ/HI values and TEDI for individual and total PAH exposures, except those for naphthalene, were 1.36-2.00 times higher in firefighters' samples taken after firefighting operations compared to those during regular duty. This underscores the need for more comprehensive investigations to comprehend the singular impact of firefighting activities due to the diverse sources of PAH emissions in the environment.

Assessment of waste workers occupational risk to microbial agents and cytotoxic effects of mixed contaminants present in the air of waste truck cabin and ventilation filters.

Workers in the waste-processing industry are potentially exposed to high concentrations of biological contaminants, leading to respiratory and digestive problems and skin irritations. However, few data on the exposure of waste collection truck (WCT) drivers are available. The goal was to document the microbial risk of the waste collection truck (WCT) workers while in the vehicle cab. Long-period sampling using the truck air filters (CAF) and short time ambient air sampling in the cab were used. The potential release of microbial particles from CAFs was also investigated since it could contribute to the microbial load of the cabin air. A combination of analytical methods also helped assess the complex mixture of the biological agents. Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi, E. coli, Enterobacter spp. and Legionella spp. were detected in the CAF of trucks collecting three types of waste. The highest levels of bacteria and fungi were found in the CAF from organic WCT. The highest endotoxin concentrations in CAF were 300 EU/cm2. Most of the CAF showed cytotoxic effects on both lung cells and hepatocytes. Only one mycotoxin was detected in a CAF. The maximal concentrations in the ambient WCT air varied according to the type of waste collected. The highest proportion (84%) of the air samples without cytotoxic effects on the lungs cells was for the recyclable material WCTs. The results revealed the potential microbial risk to workers from a complex mixture of bio-contaminants in the cabs of vehicles collecting all types of waste. The sustained cytotoxic effect indicates the potential adverse health-related impact of mixed contaminants (biological and non-biological) for the workers. Overall, this study highlights the benefits of using complementary sampling strategy and combined analytical methods for a the assessment of the microbial risk in work environments and the need to implement protective measures for the workers.Implications: Exposure to microbial agents is a well-known occupational hazard in the waste management sector. No previous study had evaluated the cytotoxicity of ambient air and ventilation filters to document worker exposure to a combination of contaminants during waste collection. This research confirms the usefulness of ventilation filters for long-term characterization of exposure to infectious agents, azole-resistant fungi, coliform bacteria and mycotoxin. Overall, this study highlights the importance of using several sampling and analysis methods for a comprehensive assessment of microbial risk in work environments, as well as the need to implement appropriate protective measures for collection workers.

Complementary sampling strategy and combined analytical methods are helpful in risk assessment.Air filter analysis (long-term sampling) assesses the presence of airborne biological contaminants over a long period.The type of waste collected influences the microbiological hazard of the workers.Waste collection workers are potentially exposed to infectious and mycotoxin-producing fungi.Cytotoxic assays revealed that waste collection workers are potentially.

Assessment of dosimetric approaches in evaluating radiation exposure for interventional cardiologists in Sri Lanka.

Interventional cardiologists face significant radiation exposure during interventional cardiology procedures. Therefore, this study focuses on assessing radiation exposure among interventional cardiologists during their procedures. Specifically, it aims to determine the effectiveness of both single and double dosimeter methods in estimating annual occupational radiation doses. This research holds pioneering significance as it represents the very first study undertaken in Sri Lanka. Thirteen interventional cardiologists performed 486 interventional cardiology procedures over three months in three different healthcare institutes. Active Hp(10) dosimeters were placed to measure radiation exposure. Effective doses were calculated using single and double dosimetric algorithms. Annual occupational doses were assessed on an operator basis. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess algorithmic differences and dose variations using the Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression. The highest annual occupational dose for each dosimetric algorithm received as 2.00 ± 0.24 mSv, 2.29 ± 0.48 mSv, 3.35 ± 0.71 mSv, and 2.64 ± 0.42 mSv, respectively, and remained below the recommended safety limit of 20 mSv/year. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no significant differences in the effective doses among double dosimetric algorithms, as well as between single and double dosimetric algorithms (p > 0.05). Linear regression showed strong correlations among various algorithms, demonstrating consistency. The findings of this study hold significant effects on interventional cardiology practice in Sri Lanka, enhancing radiation safety and monitoring.

An assessment of the immune status of some stone quarry workers in Ondo state, Nigeria.

Stone quarry activities in Nigeria are mostly unregulated such that the workers in these quarries are continuously exposed to the inhalation of silica dust. It has been observed that silica dust particles negatively impact the health of stone quarry workers which usually manifest as respiratory difficulties, asthma-like illnesses and other adventitious events of the lungs. The study was designed to evaluate the probable immunological impact of silica dust inhalation from stone crushing by workers. Blood samples were collected from consenting workers and analyzed for total white blood cells and their subsets. Absolute CD4 cells numbers were also determined. The results indicated that neutrophils and eosinophils numbers increased significantly (P < .05) and CD4 counts declined significantly (P < .001). Alteration in these proportions is a pointer to the injurious impact of silica dust on the immune system of these workers. The findings in this study should spur actions in the education of these workers on the need for the use of proper personal protection equipment and the establishment of a scheme to periodically carry out a health assessment check to identity those at most risk of developing chronic illnesses.

Assessment of buccal mucosa genotoxicity in insecticide-exposed urban fumigators in Cali, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate cytogenetic damage in the buccal mucosa of non-exposed subjects (N = 33) and insecticide-exposed fumigators (N = 31) in the urban area of Cali, Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Through a questionnaire sociodemographic data, anthropometric measurements, state of health, and lifestyle were collected. Buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay was using for evaluate cytogenetic damage. RESULTS: The study showed that all fumigators used adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and had low alcohol consumption. The authors did not find significant differences in BMCyt biomarkers between the groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed a 13% increase in micronucleus (MN) frequency for every year of increasing age (OR = 1.13, p = 0.029), and higher MN with the decrease in daily fruit consumption (OR = 4.71, p = 0.084), without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The results between groups could be related to healthy habits and PPE use among the subjects. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):128-37.

An assessment of worker exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica in workshops fabricating engineered stone.

There is a significant silicosis risk for workers fabricating engineered stone (ES) products containing crystalline silica. The aims of this study by SafeWork NSW were to: (i) assess current worker exposure to respirable dust (RD) and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) following a 5-y awareness and compliance program of inspections in ES workshops and (ii) to identify improvements in work practices from the available evidence base to further reduce exposures. One hundred and twenty-three personal full shift samples taken on as many workers and 34 static samples across 27 workshops fabricating ES were included in the final assessment. The exposure assessment was conducted using Casella Higgins-Dewell cyclones (Casella TSI) placed in the breathing zone of workers attached to SKC Air Check XR 5000 or SKC Chek TOUCH sampling pumps. Sample filters were sent to an ISO (2017) 17025:2017 accredited laboratory for gravimetric analysis for RD and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to determine the amount of deposited RCS i.e. alpha-quartz and cristobalite. All workshops used wet methods of fabrication. The geometric mean (GM) of the pooled result for respirable dust (RD) was 0.09 mg/m3 TWA-8 h and 0.034 mg/m3 TWA-8 h for RCS. The highest exposed workers with a GM RCS of 0.062 mg/m3 TWA-8 h were those using pneumatic hand tools for cutting or grinding combined with polishing tasks. Workers operating semiautomated routers and edge polishers had the lowest GM RCS exposures of 0.022 mg/m3 TWA-8 h and 0.018 mg/m3 TWA-8 h respectively. Although ES workers remain exposed to RCS above the workplace exposure limit (WEL) of 0.05 mg/m 3 TWA-8 h, these results point to a very substantial reduction in exposures compared to poorly controlled dry methods of fabrication. Therefore, the wearing of respiratory protection by workers remains necessary until further control measures are more widely adopted across the entire industry e.g. reduction in the crystalline silica content of ES.

Occupational risk assessment of glutaraldehyde through personal air monitoring in a hospital setting.

Glutaraldehyde is a high-efficiency disinfectant that has been included in the protocols of some hospitals for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2, together with sodium hypochlorite and quaternary ammonium disinfectants. However, exposure has been poorly studied in workplace settings, despite the association between glutaraldehyde and respiratory diseases and skin conditions in exposed workers. This study evaluated the magnitude of exposure associated with the use of glutaraldehyde in healthcare workers across various work areas of a first level of Hospital-Based Care in Colombia. Workers were classified into similar exposure groups (SEGs) based on work areas and tasks performed, and airborne concentrations of glutaraldehyde were measured in different work areas of each SEG through direct monitoring. The 95th percentile of glutaraldehyde concentrations in all SEGs studied exceeded the TLV-C immediately after use. Cleaning workers and nurses had the highest exposures to glutaraldehyde. Results indicate that workers were overexposed and highlight the need to implement controls to reduce exposure. The high-exposure levels also raise the need to consider glutaraldehyde substitution and adequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Application of Multiple Occupational Health Risk Assessment Models for Metal Fumes in Welding Process.

Welding fumes have an important role to create the adverse health effects. So, the aim of this study was to use of multiple occupational health risk assessment models for metal fumes in welding process. This cross-sectional study was conducted among welding workers. Sampling of heavy metals such as Sn, Zn, Al, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, and As was provided based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 7300 and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Risk assessment was managed by four methods including Malaysia's method, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Essentials (COSHH model), Chinese OHRA standard (GBZ/T 298-2017), and EPA method. Also, Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine the uncertainties by using the Crystal Ball tool. To compare the models, the risk levels of each model were converted into the risk ratio and the SPSS 22.0 software was used to the statistical analysis. The consistency of the two occupational health risk assessment models was examined by Cohen's Kappa. Risk ration was the highest level for Cr (VI) fumes in all models. Also, carcinogenic risk was unacceptable for all examined fumes. Moreover, non-carcinogenic risk was the highest (HI > 1) for As fumes. Mont Carlo simulations suggested that exposure time (ET) had a significant effect on the risk. Also, there was a good consistency between Malaysia method/GBZ/T 298-2017 and COSHH model/GBZ/T 298-2017. Therefore, it is recommended that the engineering and administrative controls should be provided to reduce exposure.

Development of a job-exposure matrix-like exposure assessment method for the US general population based on Occupational Information Network (O*NET) job tasks.

BACKGROUND: Job-exposure matrices (JEMs) are often used for exposure assessment in occupational exposure and epidemiology studies. However, general population JEMs are difficult to find and access for workers in the United States of America. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to use publicly available information to develop a JEM-like exposure assessment method to determine exposure to a wide range of occupational agents in a wide range of occupations for US general population studies. METHODS: We used information from the US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network database (O*NET) for 19,636 job tasks and 974 civilian occupations. We used automated keyword searches to identify 1,804 job tasks that involved exposure to 50 occupational agents. We had 2 reviewers determine whether each identified job task actually involved exposure to the 50 occupational agents. We had a third reviewer, a certified industrial hygienist, assess any job task and exposure for which the first 2 reviewers disagreed. For each U.S. Census 2010 occupation code, we used this information to derive 3 exposure variables for each occupational agent: ever exposure, number of job tasks of exposure, and frequency of exposure. RESULTS: Our keyword searches identified a median of 10 (interquartile range [IQR]: 43.75) job tasks for each occupational agent, and the maximum was 308. We determined job tasks actually involved exposure to 45 occupational agents, including solvents, air pollution, pesticides, radiation, metals, etc. We derived the 3 exposure variables for these 45 occupational agents for 516 U.S. Census 2010 occupation codes. The median percentage for ever exposure to individual occupational agents was 1.16% (IQR: 1.74%), and the maximum was 11.43%. CONCLUSIONS: Our JEM-like exposure assessment method based on O*NET information can be used to determine exposure to a wide range of occupational agents in a wide range of occupations for the US general population.

Aerosol and surface contamination assessment of a novel ventilated infectious aerosol containment device.

Healthcare personnels (HCPs) are at risk of respiratory infectious diseases during patient care activities. HCPs rely primarily on personal protective equipment to prevent pathogen exposures, but there is a need to develop alternative, or complementary control strategies, including engineering controls. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the 3 designs (denoted D1A, D1B, and D2) of the University of Utah Containment Ventilation for Exposure Reduction (U-COVER), a protective barrier enclosure device to contain respirable aerosols when placed over a simulated patient. The 2 primary performance metrics were the percent reduction in: (i) the concentration of respirable aerosols in the simulated breathing zone of an HCP, and (ii) surface contamination outside the device, which were tested using salt aerosols and fluorescein aerosols, respectively. Briefly, salt or fluorescein aerosols were generated as though expelled by a prone patient under 3 conditions: (i) no device (control), (ii) with the device but without exhaust ventilation, and (iii) with the device with exhaust ventilation. Device D2 was also tested under simulated use conditions, in which cardboard "arms" were placed inside the device ports. All 3 device designs showed the ability to reduce particle concentrations in the simulated HCP breathing zone and on surfaces by >99% with exhaust ventilation compared to the control condition. Without exhaust ventilation, device performance was lower and highly variable. Under simulated use conditions, device D2 reduced particle concentrations in the simulated HCP breathing zone by ≥91% and on surfaces by >99% relative to control for all combinations of "arms" tested. The U-COVER device demonstrates excellent aerosol containment and warrants further testing with dynamic simulated or actual use conditions.