Seroprevalence survey of arboviruses in workers from Tuscany, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Arthropod-borne viruses (Arbovirus) play an important role among emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and in the spreading of infections in new geographic areas. Although some arboviral infections may be asymptomatic or mild flu-like illnesses, many occur as severe forms of meningitis and meningoencephalitis. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether arboviral infections may be associated with occupational risk, in a population of agricultural and forestry workers potentially at high risk for arthropods bite and sting. METHODS: A seroprevalence survey for arboviruses belonging to the genera Flaviviruses (West Nile, Tick-borne encephalitis and Usutu viruses) and Phlebovirus (Toscana virus) was carried out in Grosseto province (Tuscany, Italy). One hundred and one serum samples of occupationally exposed workers and 100 serum samples of not exposed workers were analyzed using commercial and home-made serological assays. Serological data were obtained in 2012 and analyzed according to demographic characteristics, recollection of insect-bites, and time spent in outdoor activities. RESULTS: A total seropositivity of 10% (21/201) was observed for Toscana virus. No difference in seroprevalence for Toscana virus was observed among the exposed (10/101) versus the not exposed (11/100) workers. No seropositivity for West Nile, Usutu and Tick-borne encephalitis viruses was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Although circulation of Toscana virus is recognized in the study area, our results did not reveal a higher risk for workers exposed to arthropods bite and sting. Health surveillance programs remain useful to monitor the potential emergence of arboviruses.

Exposure to styrene in fiberglass-reinforced plastic manufacture: still a problem.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work is to define occupational exposure to styrene in fiberglass manufacture; the phase of stretching styrene resins needs some manual handling and leads workers to be exposed to styrene. METHODS: We surveyed 20 workers in two companies manufacturing fiberglass, checking environmental levels and urinary concentrations of mandelic acid (MA), and phenylglioxylic acid (PGA). Workers completed a questionnaire collecting their medical history. RESULTS: Environmental monitoring showed some styrene concentrations higher than the threshold limit value-time-weighted average. Biological monitoring confirmed these findings and four workers had levels of urinary PGA and MA concentrations higher than the Biological Exposure Indices of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. CONCLUSIONS: This picture confirms that, even though the risk is known and the manufacturing cycle is well-defined, workers nevertheless risk exposure. More research is needed to optimize the work processes and the protection systems to lower this risk.