A long-term study examining the antibacterial effectiveness of Agion silver zeolite technology on door handles within a college campus.

Laboratory studies have shown that small concentrations of silver are effective at inhibiting the growth micro-organisms through the disruption of important cell structures and processes. The additional ability to incorporate silver into surfaces has increased the usage of silver in the medical field and expanded its use into the consumer market. To understand the impact of increased silver-containing antimicrobial use, it is important to determine whether silver-based consumer goods are effective at reducing bacterial populations. Our study examined the antibacterial effectiveness of Agion silver zeolite technology applied to 25 silver- and control-coated door handles across a college campus. Door handles were sampled for 6 week periods in both the fall and spring semester, and bacteria were cultured and enumerated on tryptic soy agar (TSA), MacConkey agar (MAC) and mannitol salt agar (MSA). A significant difference was observed between the bacterial populations isolated from silver- and control-coated door handles after 3 years. However, bacteria were consistently isolated from silver-coated door handles suggesting that the silver zeolite was only effective against a portion of the bacterial populations, and further studies are necessary to determine the identities of the isolated bacteria and the prevalence of silver resistance.

Study of some hepatic effects (induction and toxicity) caused by occupational exposure to styrene in the polyester industry.

This study describes an occupational health survey carried out in the polyester industry in order to investigate the hepatic effects caused by exposure to styrene. Fifty-seven workers underwent a medical examination. They were submitted to blood and urine sampling for the determination of the degree of exposure, by the analysis of urinary mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids (styrene metabolites), and the intensity of induction and/or hepatic effects, by the analysis of urinary glucaric acid and plasma enzyme activities (gamma glutamyl transferase, ornithine carbamoyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase). The results showed that styrene does not give rise to measurable autoinduction. With regard to the hepatic tests, exposure to styrene caused an increase in the plasma enzyme activities, a phenomenon illustrating a possible damaging effect on liver cells. This effect appears with exposure below 100 ppm (time-weighted average).

Monitoring of styrene exposure in the polyester industry.

Obtaining reliable results of exposure to styrene in field studies requires an appropriate methodology not only for analytical methods but also for the main strategy of conducting the surveys. This paper briefly describes how and why analytical methods for styrene in air, for its main metabolites in urine (mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids) and for critical biological function tests were either chosen from the literature or adapted or developed to fit our criteria of convenience and reliability. In a second step of the preparation of field studies, experimental exposures to styrene were carried out on volunteers so that the best indicators of exposure could be determined and data could be obtained on the elimination kinetics of the urinary metabolites and the quantitative relationships between exposure and the urinary concentrations of mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids. Finally field investigations, including air and biological monitoring, complete industrial hygiene surveys and medical examinations, have been organized and are being carried out in the Swiss polyester industry. Preliminary results concerning biological monitoring are given.

[Air pollution in an industrial environment and occupational diseases]. / Pollution de l'air en milieu industriel et maladies professionnelles

Most of the occupational diseases are related to air pollution at the work place. The distribution of gases and vapours and their human absorption are briefly described. The deposition of particles is a function of their physical properties, of the pattern of the respiratory airways and of pulmonary ventilation parameters. Several defence mechanisms also play a role. Illustrative examples are given of occupational diseases caused by solvents, carbon monoxide, metals, dusts (silicosis, asbestosis, pneumoconiosis due to dust of hard metals), allergens and carcinogens. The importance of prevention is emphasized.

[Various aspects of occupational medicine]. / Aspects de la médecine du travail.

Miscellaneous remarks about present and future state of occupational medicine and industrial hygiene in Switzerland. Historical recall, present structures, need of a multidisciplinary approach. Problems set by long-term effects, misleading security given by statistics, difficulty of interpreting subnormal biological values. Requirements, needs and limits of the legislation. Considerations about the medical services in factories and the debatable state of the occupational physician. Necessity of a training. Primordial role of the institutes, answerable for formation, teaching, research, experts and advisers for all who practice occupational health and industrial hygiene.

[Pathology of shift work. Study of 4 state-owned factories]. / Pathologie du travail posté.

Out of 131 workers whose 2/3 are shifted, 6 have to stop shift-work due to diseases probably bound to the irregular schedule: the frequency of sleeplessness and absenteism was increased, and a loss of weight was noticed. The "psychological" troubles (irritability, tiredness) are more frequent among the shift-workers.

[Sampling problems in a survey of blood lead levels in city children]. / Problèmes d'échantillonnage lors d'une enquête sur la plombémie d'enfants citadins

A study on lead pollution was carried out on a sample of ca. 300 city children. This paper presents the errors producing bias in the sample. It is emphasized that, in Switzerland, the difference between the Swiss and the migrant population (the latter being mainly Italian and Spanish) must be taken into account.

[Risks incurred by dental technicians working on metallic prostheses]. / Risques encourus par les techniciens-dentistes lors de l'usinage de prothèses métalliques

A short description of working conditions is given. Out of 25 radiographs, 5 show possible pneumoconiosis due to hard metal and one is abnormal. The hazards due to the presence of beryllium in numerous alloys is emphasized as well as the necessity of technical and medical supervision in dental laboratories.

[Difficulties in the prevention of noise in an occupational milieu]. / Réflexions sur les difficultés de la prévention contre le bruit en milieu professionnel.

Emphasis is given to the lack of basic engineering knowledge in devising and building "noiseless" tools or machines, as well as in understanding sources and mechanisms of noise production. Teaching and training are not sufficiently developed in this field. Moreover, users of such devices are all too often unaware of the long-term effects of noise and of the appropriate methods of prevention. In this respect, occupational physicians, hygienists, nurses, safety engineers and others can play a very important role. In a second part, the technical difficulties in assessing properly the noise hazard and the efficiency of the protection techniques are underlined. Noise source, noise propagation and the "target" worker are the three levels of control in order to decreasing priority. Finally a few psycho-physiological problems are discussed, among others the attitude of the public towards noise in general. The need of changing this attitude and creating a real understanding and motivation is stressed. Everybody has a responsibility of his own in this respect.