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Journal of Occupational and... Feb 2021The Two-Zone model is used in occupational hygiene to predict both near-field and far-field airborne contaminant concentrations. A literature review was carried out on... (Review)
Review
The Two-Zone model is used in occupational hygiene to predict both near-field and far-field airborne contaminant concentrations. A literature review was carried out on 21 scientific publications in which the Two-Zone model was used to assess occupational exposure to solvent vapors. Data on exposure scenarios, solvents, generation/emission rates, near- and far-field parameters, and model performance were collected and analyzed. Over the 24 exposure scenarios identified, 18 were evaluated under controlled conditions, 5 under normal workplace activities, and 1 was reported based on literature data. The scenarios involved a variety of tasks which consisted, mostly, of cleaning metal parts, spraying solvents onto surfaces, spilling liquids, and filling containers with volatile substances. Twenty-eight different solvents were modeled and the most commonly tested were benzene, toluene, and acetone. Emission rates were considered constant in 16 scenarios, exponentially decreasing in 6 scenarios, and intermittent in 2 scenarios. Four-hundred-and-forty-six (446) predicted-to-measured concentration ratios were calculated across the 21 studies; 441 were obtained in controlled conditions, 4 under normal workplace activities, and 1 was calculated based on the literature data. For controlled studies, the Two-Zone model predictive performance was within a factor of 0.3-3.7 times the measured concentrations with 93% of the values between 0.5 and 2. The model overestimated the measured concentrations in 63% of the evaluations. The median predicted concentration for the near-field was 1.38 vs. 1.02 for the far-field. Results suggest that the model might be a useful tool for predicting occupational exposure to vapors of solvents by providing a conservative approach. Harmonization in model testing strategies and data presentation is needed in future studies to improve the assessment of the predictability of the Two-Zone model. Moreover, this review has provided a database of exposure scenarios, input parameter values, and model predictive performances which can be useful to occupational hygienists in their future modeling activities.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Environmental Monitoring; Models, Theoretical; Occupational Exposure; Solvents
PubMed: 33412086
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2020.1861283 -
Lancet (London, England) Aug 2019
Topics: China; Early Diagnosis; Health Policy; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Pneumoconiosis
PubMed: 31402011
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31799-4 -
Clinical Oral Investigations May 2023Dental professionals are exposed to large amounts of dust particles during routine treatment and denture processing. This article provides a narrative review to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Dental professionals are exposed to large amounts of dust particles during routine treatment and denture processing. This article provides a narrative review to investigate the most prevalent dust-related respiratory diseases among dental professionals and to discuss the effects of dental dust on human respiratory health.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase for articles published between 1990 and 2022. Any articles on the occupational respiratory health effects of dental dust were included.
RESULTS
The characterization and toxicity evaluation of dental dust show a correlation between dust exposure and respiratory system injury, and the possible pathogenic mechanism of dust is to cause lung injury and abnormal repair processes. The combination use of personal protective equipment and particle removal devices can effectively reduce the adverse health effects of dust exposure.
CONCLUSIONS
Dental dust should be considered an additional occupational hazard in dental practice. However, clinical data and scientific evidence on this topic are still scarce. Further research is required to quantify dust in the dental work environment and clarify its pathogenicity and potential toxicological pathways. Nonetheless, the prevention of dust exposure should become a consensus among dental practitioners.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This review provides dental practitioners with a comprehensive understanding and preventive advice on respiratory health problems associated with dust exposure.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Exposure; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Dentists; Dust; Virulence; Professional Role; Respiratory System
PubMed: 36773127
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-04910-w -
Archives of Environmental &... 2022The increasing use of nanomaterials in academic and industrial environments has raised concerns about the potential effects of these materials on human and the...
PURPOSE
The increasing use of nanomaterials in academic and industrial environments has raised concerns about the potential effects of these materials on human and the environment. Researches have shown that occupational exposure to nanomaterials can affect employees' health. Many companies are active in the field of nanotechnology in Iran. Therefore, this study was designed and conducted to investigate the relationship between the symptoms of these companies' employees and exposure to nanomaterials.
METHODS
The study was conducted among employees of 52 nanotechnology companies in Tehran. For this study, the employees of these companies were categorized in two groups: "exposed" and "non-exposed" to nanomaterials. Data collection tools included the NanoTool method form and a nonspecific symptom questionnaire designed and validated by a team of 19 experts in various fields. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS.22 software.
RESULTS
The results showed that the frequency of cutaneous (such as roughness, itching and redness), respiratory (such as cough, sneezing, and burning throat) and ocular (such as burning, itching and redness) symptoms were higher among the exposed workers to nanomaterials. Examination of the correlation between these symptoms in the two studied groups showed that symptoms with high frequency have a significant relationship with exposure to nanomaterials.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the high prevalence of some symptoms among the employees of the studied companies and their association with exposure to nanomaterials, it seems necessary to take control measures to reduce the exposure of employees to nanomaterials and consequently reduce the Investigated symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Iran; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Occupational Exposure; Pruritus
PubMed: 33355040
DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2020.1863315 -
Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Jun 2022Silicosis not a disease of the past. It is an irreversible, fibrotic lung disease specifically caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. Over... (Review)
Review
Silicosis not a disease of the past. It is an irreversible, fibrotic lung disease specifically caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. Over 20,000 incident cases of silicosis were identified in 2017 and millions of workers continue to be exposed to RCS. Identified case numbers are however a substantial underestimation due to deficiencies in reporting systems and occupational respiratory health surveillance programmes in many countries. Insecure workers, immigrants and workers in small businesses are at particular risk of more intense RCS exposure. Much of the focus of research and prevention activities has been on the mining sector. Hazardous RCS exposure however occurs in a wide range of occupational setting which receive less attention, in particular the construction industry. Recent outbreaks of silicosis associated with the fabrication of domestic kitchen benchtops from high-silica content artificial stone have been particularly notable because of the young age of affected workers, short duration of RCS exposure and often rapid disease progression. Developments in nanotechnology and hydraulic fracking provide further examples of how rapid changes in technology and industrial processes require governments to maintain constant vigilance to identify and control potential sources of RCS exposure. Despite countries around the world dealing with similar issues related to RCS exposure, there is an absence of sustained global public health response including lack of consensus of an occupational exposure limit that would provide protection to workers. Although there are complex challenges, global elimination of silicosis must remain the goal.
Topics: Dust; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Silicon Dioxide; Silicosis
PubMed: 35302259
DOI: 10.1111/resp.14242 -
European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy :... Sep 2020
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Decontamination; Health Personnel; Humans; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 32839255
DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2019-002165 -
Archives of Environmental &... 2022Petrol contains mixture of mutagens and carcinogens which have potential health risk after prolonged occupational exposure. We have compared genotoxicity and its...
Petrol contains mixture of mutagens and carcinogens which have potential health risk after prolonged occupational exposure. We have compared genotoxicity and its amelioration in blood samples from 70 petrol pump attendants, working in congested area of the Ahmedabad city, India and similar number ( = 70) of Control samples from office workers dwelling in less polluted areas of the city. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay showed highly significant frequencies of micronucleus in Exposed than in the Controls. The sister chromatid exchanges were also significantly increased while the cell cycle proliferative index was significantly decreased in the Exposed individuals than the Controls. Addition of standardized doses of vitamin C and vitamin E in the lymphocyte cultures () significantly improved all the biomarkers. The long-term occupational petrol exposure causes genotoxic effects and use of vitamins C and E for protection should be further explored in randomized controlled studies.
Topics: Ascorbic Acid; DNA Damage; Gasoline; Humans; Lymphocytes; Occupational Exposure; Vitamin E; Vitamins
PubMed: 34002680
DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1926214 -
Toxicology and Industrial Health Mar 2022Blood lead level (BLL) is the primary biomarker for lead-exposure monitoring in occupationally exposed workers. We evaluated occupational lead-exposure (OE) impact on...
Occupational lead exposure is an independent modulator of hypertension and poor pulmonary function: A cross-sectional comparative study in lead-acid battery recycling workers.
Blood lead level (BLL) is the primary biomarker for lead-exposure monitoring in occupationally exposed workers. We evaluated occupational lead-exposure (OE) impact on cardiopulmonary functions in lead-acid battery recycling unit workers. Seventy-six OE cases and 30 control subjects were enrolled for questionnaire-based socio-demographic, dietary, tobacco usage, and medical history data. Anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and pulmonary function tests were performed. Venous blood was collected for BLL, hematological analysis, and biochemical analysis. OE caused a significant increase in BLL, SBP, DBP, and small airways obstruction in lung function tests. It also impaired platelet indices, affected renal and liver biochemical measurements, and promoted oxidative stress and DNA damage. Multilinear regression analysis suggested that BLL affected SBP (β = 0.314, = .034) and increased small airways obstruction (FEV/FVC, β = -0.37, = .05; FEV, β = -0.351, = .016). Higher BLL appears to be an independent modulator of hypertension and poor pulmonary function upon occupational lead exposure in lead-acid battery recyclers.
Topics: Blood Pressure; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Hypertension; Lead; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 35230206
DOI: 10.1177/07482337221076248 -
Reviews on Environmental Health Jun 2021This paper provides a specific deliberation on occupational hazards confronted daily by Malaysian Traffic Police. Traffic police is a high-risk occupation that involves... (Review)
Review
This paper provides a specific deliberation on occupational hazards confronted daily by Malaysian Traffic Police. Traffic police is a high-risk occupation that involves a wide range of tasks and, indirectly, faced with an equally wide variety of hazards at work namely, physical, biological, psychosocial, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Thereupon, occupational injuries, diseases, and even death are common in the field. The objective of this paper is to collate and explain the major hazards of working as Malaysian traffic police especially in Point Duty Unit, their health effects, and control measures. There are many ways in which these hazards can be minimised by ensuring that sufficient safety measures are taken such as a wireless outdoor individual exposure indicator system for the traffic police. By having this system, air monitoring among traffic police may potentially be easier and accurate. Other methods of mitigating these unfortunate events are incorporated and addressed in this paper according to the duty and needs of traffic police.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Police; Vehicle Emissions
PubMed: 33594842
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0107 -
Scandinavian Journal of Work,... Jan 2022This study tested for an association between early cancer-related biomarkers and low-to-moderate exposure to fumes from welding mild steel.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested for an association between early cancer-related biomarkers and low-to-moderate exposure to fumes from welding mild steel.
METHODS
Male, non-smoking participants from southern Sweden were recruited and examined (N=338, 171 welders and 167 controls); of these, 78 welders and 96 controls were examined on two occasions six years apart. Exposure to welding fumes was evaluated by measuring respirable dust, welding years, and cumulative exposure. DNA methylation of CpG sites within the cancer-related genes AHRR, F2RL3, and B3GNTL1 was measured by pyrosequencing and relative mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length were measured by qPCR in whole-blood samples. Multivariate models were used for longitudinal analysis.
RESULTS
Median exposure to respirable dust was 0.7 mg/m at both timepoints, adjusted for use of personal protective equipment. Compared with controls, welders showed a significant decrease over time in DNA methylation of B3GNTL1 CpG1 and CpG4 [adjusted for age, body mass index, and smoking: β=-0.66, standard error (SE)=0.28; β=-0.48, SE=0.24, respectively]. In addition, exposure to respirable dust and cumulative exposure was associated with a decrease in methylation of F2RL3 CpG2 among all welders (adjusted β=-0.67, SE=0.23 and β=-0.03, SE=0.02, respectively). No significant associations were found for AHRR, mitochondrial DNA copy number, or telomere length.
CONCLUSION
Low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes was associated with a small effect on selected early epigenetic biomarkers of cancer. The direction of the methylation pattern (lower methylation of specific CpG sites) indicates early lung cancer-related changes associated with mild steel welding.
Topics: DNA Methylation; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Occupational Exposure; Welding
PubMed: 34570895
DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.3988