ABSTRACT
This article summarizes the outcome of the discussions at the international workshop on nano reference values (NRVs), which was organized by the Dutch trade unions and employers' organizations and hosted by the Social Economic Council in The Hague in September 2011. It reflects the discussions of 80 international participants representing small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), large companies, trade unions, governmental authorities, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from many European countries, USA, India, and Brazil. Issues that were discussed concerned the usefulness and acceptability of precaution-based NRVs as a substitute for health-based occupational exposure limits (OELs) and derived no-effect levels (DNELs) for manufactured nanoparticles (NPs). Topics concerned the metrics for measuring NPs, the combined exposure to manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) and process-generated NPs, the use of the precautionary principle, the lack of information about the presence of nanomaterials, and the appropriateness of soft regulation for exposure control. The workshop concluded that the NRV, as an 8-h time-weighted average, is a comprehensible and useful instrument for risk management of professional use of MNMs with a dispersible character. The question remains whether NRVs, as advised for risk management by the Dutch employers' organization and trade unions, should be under soft regulation or that a more binding regulation is preferable.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Occupational/standards , Industry/standards , Nanoparticles/standards , Occupational Exposure/standards , Risk Management/methods , Air Pollutants, Occupational/chemistry , Air Pollutants, Occupational/toxicity , Brazil , Europe , Guideline Adherence , Humans , India , International Cooperation , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Nanoparticles/toxicity , No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , Particle Size , Reference Values , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The predisposing environmental factors and clinical picture of lead poisoning, are not well known. AIM: To describe the clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning in individuals under industry exposure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty of 38 workers of a printing press were studied. Their medical and labor histories were recorded. Lead in air in the working area and the dose received by the workers was measured. RESULTS: The environmental lead in the linotype room was 25% over the accepted values. Twelve of the 20 workers were poisoned and three were highly exposed. Poisoned workers were working in areas with high environmental lead concentrations, were in direct contact with the metal, had plasma lead concentrations over 70 micrograms/dl and an average exposure time of over 17 years. Their clinical picture was not specific and related to plasma and environmental lead concentrations, length of exposure and type of contact. CONCLUSIONS: Lead poisoning must be suspected among workers exposed to high environmental concentrations and its treatment consists in withdrawing poisoned subjects from polluted areas.
Subject(s)
Lead Poisoning/diagnosis , Occupational Diseases/diagnosis , Adult , Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/standards , Humans , Incidence , Lead Poisoning/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/blood , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
influencias en el medio ambiente circundante de los residuos de polvos y fibras de las industrias algodoneras en la provincia del Chaco, en las campañas algodoneras de los años 1991, 1992 y 1993. Contenido: Desmotadoras. Hilanderías. Tejedurías. Plantas de elaboración de algodón hidrófilo. Plantas de elaboración de aceite de semillas de algodón. Métodos de control y fiscalización. Protección de la salud del trabajador. Límites establecidos para las condiciones en los ambientes laborales. Límites de contaminantes atmosféricos. Metodología de análisis de riesgos. Planillas de evaluación de riesgos. Datos complementarios
Subject(s)
Humans , Argentina , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , Gossypium/adverse effects , Workplace/standards , Risk Assessment/analysis , Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis , Environmental Pollution/prevention & control , Occupational Risks/legislation & jurisprudence , Occupational Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Byssinosis/prevention & control , Occupational Exposure/legislation & jurisprudence , Occupational Exposure/standards , Textile Industry/education , Textile Industry/methods , Workplace/legislation & jurisprudence , Occupational Medicine/education , Environmental Pollutants/standards , Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/standards , Environmental Pollution/analysis , Environmental Pollution/statistics & numerical data , Occupational Risks/statistics & numerical data , Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data , Industrial Safety , Cottonseed Oil/standardsABSTRACT
influencias en el medio ambiente circundante de los residuos de polvos y fibras de las industrias algodoneras en la provincia del Chaco, en las campañas algodoneras de los años 1991, 1992 y 1993. Contenido: Desmotadoras. Hilanderías. Tejedurías. Plantas de elaboración de algodón hidrófilo. Plantas de elaboración de aceite de semillas de algodón. Métodos de control y fiscalización. Protección de la salud del trabajador. Límites establecidos para las condiciones en los ambientes laborales. Límites de contaminantes atmosféricos. Metodología de análisis de riesgos. Planillas de evaluación de riesgos. Datos complementarios