Health Risks For Workers Research Articles

Biological and Chemical Atmospheric Emissions of the Biogas Industry

Actions of French governments on waste, resource and energy management force to focus on waste treatment and recovery process. Among these processes, anaerobic digestor offers significant advantages compared to other forms of waste treatment. It permits an organic waste treatment and a double valorization. The organic waste treatment enables the production of a digestate and a combustible gas fraction called biogas. The digestate, is an improved fertilizer, and can be enhanced by spreading or composting. Biogas can be valorized to produce heat or electricity. From this activity sector, energy production is expected to increase from 1,478 GWh in 2005 to 13,701 GWh in 2020 (Club Biogas ATEE, 2011). Anaerobic digestion is widely studied to understand its mechanisms at microbial level and to improve biogas production and process stability. However, health risk for workers in these facilities and for surrounding residents is very poorly documented. Gaseous and particulate emissions are also incompletely defined. Information on odor concentrations and biogas chemical /biological composition has been investigated. Nevertheless, no data on emissions from inputs storage locations or digestate was currently available. The EMAMET project aims to improve our understanding concerning the biogas production sector. Sources of gaseous and bioaerosol emissions will be researched and characterized on the whole production chain. The chemical composition of gaseous emissions will be completed by odor concentration determination. Biological emissions will be determined by molecular methods. From this information, specific biological and/or chemical indicators of this activity will be defined. In addition, 2D and 3D emission modeling will used to determine the influence zone of the biogas production implantation. To confirm this influence area a research of biological and microbial indicators around a pilot site will be realized. These data can help to assess health and environmental risks for workers and surrounding populations. This information is necessary to develop relevant sensors for control and monitoring of such emerging energetic processes.

Health Risk Assessment for the Exposure of Workers to BTEX at the Gasoline Stations

The study was conducted to assess the health risks of workers due to exposure to toxic gases including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde at gasoline retail stations. In this study, data on the concentrations of the toxic gases were collected from the previously published studies in the qualified scientific journals. The health risk assessment was followed by the process of the United States Environment Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The results show that the concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde were in the range of 12.40 - 357.5, 12.47 - 574.17, 2.05 - 156.5, 4.57 - 218, 2.36 - 77.04, 3.64 - 153.93 and 1.27- 27.83 µg/m3 , respectively. Life time cancer risk for gasoline station workers due to exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde was calculated in the ranges of 2.13x10-5 - 6.14x10-4 , 4.96x10-7 - 3.79x10-5 , 4.81x10-6 - 2.03x10-4 , and 7.99x10-7 - 1.75x10-5 , respectively. For non-carcinogenic compounds, the hazard index due to benzene, toluene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene were respectively in the range of 0.13 - 3.81, 7.97x10-4 - 0.04, 0.01 - 0.70 and 0.01 - 0.25. The findings revealed that there is high risk of cancer and non-cancer for the workers working at the gasolines stations if they are not taking good preventive measures. The calculation showed that the limit levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde should be reduced to 5.82x10-4 , 15.64, 4.13x10- 3 , 0.31, 7.57x10-4 and 1.59x10-3 mg/m3 , respectively to meet the safety levels for the workers at the gasoline stations. 
 Keywords: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, life-time cancer risk, health

Estresse e estratégias de coping em trabalhadores da saúde de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial

O presente artigo tem como objetivo verificar as estratégias de coping utilizadas pelos trabalhadores da saúde frente a demanda de acolhimento de usuários em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial. Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo com uma amostra de 14 profissionais de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial, situado no município do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) em 2019, que responderam questões sociodemográficas e ocupacionais e a Escala de Coping Ocupacional. No tratamento dos dados trabalhou-se com a análise estatística descritiva. Nos resultados é possível observar que a amostra foi composta majoritariamente pelo sexo feminino, solteiros e faixa etária entre 25 e 34, vínculo empregatício terceirizado e apenas uma fonte de renda. Dentre os fatores e respectivas estratégias de coping utilizadas frequentemente e sempre, identificou-se majoritariamente o controle mediante ações voltadas para a resolução de problemas e suporte social, seguidos do fator manejo de sintomas., principalmente fora do ambiente ocupacional, mediante pratica de exercícios físicos, lazer e mudança de hábitos alimentares. Sobre as estratégias de esquiva, pouco expressivas na amostra, identificou-se que os trabalhadores recorrem a regulação da emoção no intuito de minimizar o estresse ocupacional. Conclui-se que a prevalência das estratégias centradas no controle e no manejo dos sintomas evidenciam estresse ocupacional e riscos para a saúde dos trabalhadores.

Characterization and Health Risks of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs in the Soil Around a Typical Secondary Copper Smelter

The concentrations of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs in the soil samples around a typical secondary copper smelter were determined simultaneously, and then the impact of the smelter on the surrounding environment and the health risks of workers in the study area were analyzed and evaluated. PCDD/F, PCB, and PCN concentrations were in the range of 17.2-370, 1.20-14.2, and 70.9-950 pg·g-1 in the soil around the smelter, respectively. High concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCNs were observed at the sample sites close to the secondary copper smelter (<300 m), and their concentrations exponentially decreased with an increase in distance from the smelter. The results of the source analysis showed that the secondary copper smelter had a significant impact on the PCDD/Fs and PCNs content and congener profiles of the soil within 300 m of its surroundings. In addition, the PCDD/Fs pollution in the surrounding soil may also have been affected by the historical use of pentachlorophenol or sodium pentachlorophenol in addition to the secondary copper smelter. The health risk assessment results showed that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of workers exposed to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs in the surrounding soil were within acceptable levels, and that oral ingestion was the main exposure route. Although the health risk assessment only considered the exposure of workers to these pollutants in an outdoor environment during working hours, the carcinogenic risk values of the two soil samples had reached 0.47×10-6 and 0.15×10-6 (threshold value 10-6), so they should attract our attention. PCDD/Fs had the highest contribution rate (96%) to the total carcinogenic risk (PCDD/Fs+PCBs+PCNs), and they were the dioxins that need to be the primary concern and control in the study area.

Методические подходы к оценке персонального профессионального риска здоровью, обусловленного болезнями, связанными с работой, на протяжении всего периода трудовой деятельности

An increase in retirement age means that employment period is prolonged; it calls for preserving people’s working capacities for a longer period of time including those with long-term working experience. It is especially vital when it comes to adverse working conditions that might cause high health risks for workers due to work-related diseases. We suggested methodical approaches to determining individual occupational health risks; these approaches took into account occupationally induced negative responses to impacts exerted by work-related factors; pathogenetic mechanisms of health disorders occurrence; gravity of health disorders; workers’ age and working experience. To implement these approaches, we applied a set of procedures that included hygienic and epidemiologic analysis, clinical and laboratory examination of workers, mathematic modeling and prediction. We tested these approaches via assessing occupational health risks for workers employed at oil-extracting enterprises and it allowed us to determine parameters of dependence between changes in arterial hypertension predictors under exposure to occupational noise and changes in age and working experience (b0=0.1427; b1=0.007; b2=-0.372). The obtained parameters can be used in assessing risks of arterial hypertension occurrence due to exposure to occupational noise for workers employed in oil extraction. Individual occupational risk caused by arterial hypertension in people exposed to occupational noise was higher than its permissible level (1∙10-3) for 13% workers (33 people) aged from 41 to 52 and working experience from 19.8 to 33 years; the risk detected in our research amounted up to 2.4∙10-2. Maximum individual risks of work-related arterial hypertension that are predicted to occur at an age close to 59 years amount up to 4.3∙10-2 and they will be higher than permissible levels for 56.6% работников; at an age close to 65 years, up to 4.7∙10-2, and they will be higher than permissible levels for 64.8% workers.

Methodical approaches to assessing individual occupaitonl health risk caused by work-related diseases during the whole employment period

An increase in retirement age means that employment period is prolonged; it calls for preserving people’s working capacities for a longer period of time including those with long-term working experience. It is especially vital when it comes to adverse working conditions that might cause high health risks for workers due to work-related diseases. We suggested methodical approaches to determining individual occupational health risks; these approaches took into account occupationally induced negative responses to impacts exerted by work-related factors; pathogenetic mechanisms of health disorders occurrence; gravity of health disorders; workers’ age and working experience. To implement these approaches, we applied a set of procedures that included hygienic and epidemiologic analysis, clinical and laboratory examination of workers, mathematic modeling and prediction. We tested these approaches via assessing occupational health risks for workers employed at oil-extracting enterprises and it allowed us to determine parameters of dependence between changes in arterial hypertension predictors under exposure to occupational noise and changes in age and working experience (b0=0.1427; b1=0.007; b2=-0.372). The obtained parameters can be used in assessing risks of arterial hypertension occurrence due to exposure to occupational noise for workers employed in oil extraction. Individual occupational risk caused by arterial hypertension in people exposed to occupational noise was higher than its permissible level (1∙10-3) for 13% workers (33 people) aged from 41 to 52 and working experience from 19.8 to 33 years; the risk detected in our research amounted up to 2.4∙10-2. Maximum individual risks of work-related arterial hypertension that are predicted to occur at an age close to 59 years amount up to 4.3∙10-2 and they will be higher than permissible levels for 56.6% работников; at an age close to 65 years, up to 4.7∙10-2, and they will be higher than permissible levels for 64.8% workers.

Features of Occupational Health Risks in the Russian Arctic (on the Example of Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug).

Working in the Arctic increases the risk of occupational diseases, which is especially important in the context of acute shortage of manpower in the region. The purpose of the study was to comparatively evaluate the working conditions and occupational pathology in Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (ChAO) of Russia. We analyzed the results of socio-hygienic monitoring “Working Conditions and Occupational Morbidity” in 2008–2018. Despite similar climatic and socio-economic conditions, significant differences exist in the health risks of the working populations of the two regions. In NAO two-thirds of workers were employed at facilities with satisfactory sanitary and epidemiological well-being, while in ChAO only 13% of workers had such conditions. In NAO, almost all occupational diseases (93.2%) were due to exposure to noise among civil aviation workers. In ChAO, health problems mainly occurred among miners (81.5%). The most common of these were noise effects on the inner ear (35.2%), chronic bronchitis (23.1%), and mono- and polyneuropathies (12.5%). In 2008–2018, the occupational pathology risk in ChAO was higher than in NAO: RR = 2.79; CI 2.09–3.71. Thus, specificity of technological processes and forms of labor organization create significant differences in health risks for workers. It is necessary to use modern mining equipment to decrease the occupational morbidity in ChAO. In NAO, this effect can be achieved by updating the fleet of civil aviation.

Biomatrix of health risk assessment of benzene-exposed workers at Thai gasoline stations.

ObjectiveThis study assessed the health risk of benzene exposure among Thai gasoline station workers through biomarker detection and experience of adverse symptoms.MethodsTrans, trans‐muconic acid (tt‐MA) metabolites of benzene were analyzed from spot urine sampled among gasoline station workers after shift work using HPLC‐UV. Air benzene monitoring was done with an active sampler connected to a charcoal sorbent tube, and analyzed by GC‐FID. The health risk was calculated by using the biomatrix of the likelihood of benzene exposure and the severity of adverse symptoms.ResultsThe tt‐MA concentration, among 235 workers, ranged from less than 10–2159 µg/g Cr, which corresponded to the air benzene concentration range of <0.1 to 65.8 ppb. In total, 32.3% of workers had a higher than acceptable risk level and there was a significant association between gasoline station work zones and the likelihood of benzene exposure as well as the health risk of workers. The health risk levels estimated from the biomarker monitoring were consistent with the risk matrix of air benzene monitoring.ConclusionThis tt‐MA biomarker monitoring and biomatrix of health risk assessment is suggested as useful for health surveillance of gasoline station workers exposed to benzene.

The role of hazardous factors of chemical and physical nature in welders’ occupational risks management

The article is devoted to a review of the available scientific approaches to assess the role of hazardous factors of physical and chemical nature, which are very important for the management of occupational risks of workers in dust-hazardous industries using the example of welders. General approaches and models for assessing the risk to public health in general are presented quite fully, the mechanisms of the effect of dust particles on the development of occupational pathologies in welders, including toxic and carcinogenic ones, have been studied in depth, a number of articles are devoted to the study of the effect of a thermal (physical) factor of a chronic nature. The above studies are of a scattered nature, the combined effect of physical and chemical factors are not taken into account, based on the S. Arrhenius equation, which is especially important in the closed spaces of the working area. There is no comprehensive methodology for assessing health risks for workers in dust-hazardous industries and welders. The development of the above-mentioned comprehensive methodology for assessing health risk of workers in dust-hazardous industries based on taking into account hazardous factors of physical and chemical nature is very promising in the near future.

Occupational risk to the health of dairy products manufacturing workers

Introduction. The preservation of the health of workers employed in harmful working conditions is one of the essential strategic tasks of the Russian Federation’s policy in the field of protecting public health. Milk processing workers are exposed to many adverse factors in the work environment and the work process that negatively affect their health. However, in previous studies, assessing and managing occupational risk to their health is not adequately addressed. Purpose of the study. Hygienic assessment of working conditions and occupational health risks for workers in the production of dairy products. Material and methods. Authors give the quantitative and qualitative assessment of occupational health risk based on our own hygienic studies results and an in-depth medical examination. Results. During the work, dairy production workers were established to be exposed to a set of factors of the occupational environment (adverse microclimate, noise, vibration, insufficient lighting) and the labor process’s hardness. It forms harmful working conditions of the first and third degrees (classes 3.1 - 3.3), which corresponds to categories of occupational risk from small (moderate) to high (intolerable). The direct moderate (r = 0.53) reliable correlation relationship between the prevalence of chronic pathology in general and female workers’ work experience was revealed. A very high degree of causal relationship between the work, diseases of the ear and mastoid process (RR = 4.3; EF = 76.7%; CI = 1.6-10,93) and a high degree of relation connection of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (RR = 2.22; EF = 55.1%; CI = 1,21-4,08). It indicates their occupational conditionality. It is necessary to develop and implement many organizational, health-improving, and treatment-and-prophylactic measures to prevent the occurrence of work-related health disorders and minimize risk factors for their development. Conclusion. Many harmful factors in occu[ational conditions that create the risk of developing a professionally caused disease characterize modern dairy production. It requires urgent measures to reduce the risk.

ЕРГОНОМІЧНИЙ АНАЛІЗ РУЧНОГО ІНСТРУМЕНТУ ДЛЯ УМОВ АВТОСЕРВІСУ. РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ. ЧАСТИНА 2

It was determined that injuries and the occurrence of occupational diseases of the limbs (fingers, hand, elbow, forearm, shoulder, etc.) of the musculoskeletal system of workers of car service enterprises when performing production activities for the maintenance and repair of cars, in which a hand tool is used, is a quite common phenomenon that currently constitutes a task of research of current importance. Object of the study – ergonomic risks arising while working with hand tools. Purpose of the study – to assess the ergonomic risks of the limb’s injuries and of the occurrence of occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system of the worker while using hand tools at car repair entities. Method of the study – to use the «TILE» («Task, Individual, Load, and Environment») principle for study of the upper limbs of the human body biomechanics. This principle indicates the need for a physiological assessment of manual labor (weight, rhythm, pace, intensity, etc.) and for a verification of the adequacy of manual labor conditions and the working environment and of their impact on employee health. To calculate the ergonomic risk of injury and the occurrence of occupational diseases, the «RULA» («Rapid Upper Limb Assessment») method was used, with the assistance of which the conformity of the ergonomics of hand tools to the working conditions has been assessed. Results of the study – discovered that use of the ergonomic tools can reduce the ergonomic risks of limb’s injury and occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system of the worker, as well as increase productivity by up to 30%. Recommendations for rational sizes and shapes of various hand tools are given. The results of the study can be used for further development of the assessment of ergonomic health risks of workers in industrial enterprises. Keywords: technological processes of a car service, risk management of workers’ injuries, ergonomic risks, hand tools, labor productivity.

Assessment of the health risk of workers in the extractive industries when exposed to noise above 80 Dba

Introduction. Currently, it is important to develop preventive measures aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of employees, including those developed taking into account the results of occupational risk. The aim of study is to calculate the individual health risk of workers in the mining and oil-producing industries caused by exposure to industrial noise, taking into account the severity of the disease. Materials and methods. Mathematical models reflecting the "exposure-response" relationship were used to assess the probability of responses from the impact of factors of the production environment and the labor process, as well as to determine the probability of deviation of predictor indicators. The individual health risk of employees was calculated by multiplying the probability of a response to its severity. For probable occupational diseases, the risk was calculated taking into account the probability of developing the disease in employees with a deviation of tread indicators. Results. The values of individual risk to the health of mining workers due to the development of sensorineural hearing loss ranged from 1.18∙10-2 to 1.46∙10-1. The risk to the health of oil industry workers caused by the occurrence of production-related arterial hypertension exceeds the permissible level of 13% of people from the observation group and ranges from 1∙10-3 to 24∙10-3. Conclusions. The analysis of changes in the value of occupational risk in employees over time, conducted on the basis of mathematical models, allows you to predict the long-term consequences associated with the impact of production factors. The results of this analysis can be used in the development of preventive measures at both the group and individual levels.

Occupational health risk for workers in iron ore mining

Introduction. The current negative trends in the decline of the working-age population, as well as changes in the pension legislation, raise the issue of preserving the labor potential and health of the population more sharply than ever. The aim of study is to assess the occupational health risk of employees in iron ore mining with the subsequent development of management measures. Materials and methods. Jobs of priority professions were selected: creeper, sinker, GROZ, scraper winch and drilling rig drivers. The assessment of working conditions and occupational risk was carried out in accordance with guidelines R 2.2.2006-05 and R 2.2.1766-03 on the basis of materials provided by the company, as well as its own measurement results using available predictive models for assessing occupational health risk of employees. Results. The results of the study indicate that there is a high (intolerable) occupational health risk in all professions, category of evidence 1A. Aerosols, industrial noise, vibration, and heavy labor remain the leading health risk factors. The average length of professional pathology development, depending on the nosological form, was in the range of 20-30 years. Conclusions. Based on the results of the work, recommendations were given for managing occupational health risks.

Peculiarities in assessing occupational health risks for workers who are in contact with aerosols containing fine-dispersed dust particles

In Russia there is a system for standardizing and control over aerosols with predominantly fibrogenic effects and dust particles with different structure. But at the same time there are no hygienic standards for fine-dispersed dust contents in working area air and it makes hygienic assessment of working conditions more complicated and impedes use of risk assessment methodology. Our research goal was to substantiate a concentration of aerosols containing fine-dispersed dust particles (РМ10 и РМ2.5) in working are air that were harmless for workers’ health. It was done via applying a procedure for determining dust burden and using it when calculating health risks for workers. We assessed dust content in working area air with focus on fine-dispersed dust particles РМ10 и РМ2.5 with a dust measuring device «OMPN-10.0». Chemical structure of dust particles was determined with atomic absorption procedure. Results were estimated according to HS 2.2.5.3532-18. Dust burden was calculated according to State standard GOST R 54578-2011. We established dependence between duration of working experience under exposure to fine-dispersed dust that was harmless for health and a value of excess in dust contents over the suggested concentration and work shift duration. To assess health risk for workers caused by exposure to fine-dispersed dust particles taking their chemical structure into account, we determined reference concentrations for working area air; 0.1 mg/m3 for РМ10, and 0.055 mg/m3 for РМ2.5. Use of calculated concentrations allowed suggesting models for calculating harmless duration of working experience under exposure to dusts in concentrations higher than recommended ones. The results enable substantiating organizational activities aimed at workers’ health preservation.

Особенности оценки профессионального риска здоровью работников, контактирующих с аэрозолями мелкодисперсных пылевых частиц м

In Russia there is a system for standardizing and control over aerosols with predominantly fibrogenic effects and dust particles with different structure. But at the same time there are no hygienic standards for fine-dispersed dust contents in working area air and it makes hygienic assessment of working conditions more complicated and impedes use of risk assessment methodology. Our research goal was to substantiate a concentration of aerosols containing fine-dispersed dust particles (РМ10 и РМ2.5) in working are air that were harmless for workers’ health. It was done via applying a procedure for determining dust burden and using it when calculating health risks for workers. We assessed dust content in working area air with focus on fine-dispersed dust particles РМ10 и РМ2.5 with a dust measuring device «OMPN-10.0». Chemical structure of dust particles was determined with atomic absorption procedure. Results were estimated according to HS 2.2.5.3532-18. Dust burden was calculated according to State standard GOST R 54578-2011. We established dependence between duration of working experience under exposure to fine-dispersed dust that was harmless for health and a value of excess in dust contents over the suggested concentration and work shift duration. To assess health risk for workers caused by exposure to fine-dispersed dust particles taking their chemical structure into account, we determined reference concentrations for working area air; 0.1 mg/m3 for РМ10, and 0.055 mg/m3 for РМ2.5. Use of calculated concentrations allowed suggesting models for calculating harmless duration of working experience under exposure to dusts in concentrations higher than recommended ones. The results enable substantiating organizational activities aimed at workers’ health preservation.

Investigation of health risk assessment and odor pollution of volatile organic compounds from industrial activities in the Yangtze River Delta region, China

To investigate composition characteristics and assess occupational health risks and odor pollution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial activities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, China, one-year field measurements of VOCs were conducted simultaneously at an iron and steel industrial park (ISP), one chemical industrial park (CMP) and one petrochemical industrial park (PCP) from September, 2018 to August, 2019. The concentrations of VOCs were 80.2 ± 67.9 ppbv, 28.1 ± 27.2 ppbv and 144 ± 378 ppbv for ISP, CMP and PCP, respectively. Aromatics, alkanes and alkenes were the major components of VOCs at ISP, CMP and PCP, respectively. Moreover, the toluene to benzene ratios were 0.330 ± 0.302, 4.31 ± 6.48 and 1.84 ± 3.34, which generally showed the characteristics of combustion source for ISP, industrial activities for CMP and petrochemical industry for PCP, respectively. The hazard index values were 0.752 ± 0.438, 0.108 ± 0.248 and 0.090 ± 0.260 at ISP, CMP and PCP, which were generally lower than threshold limit value, suggesting a low noncarcinogenic risk for workers. Meanwhile, the 95th percentile LCR values of VOCs were 8.76 × 10−5, 1.15 × 10−5 and 1.00 × 10−5 at ISP, CMP and PCP, respectively, which were also under acceptable risk level, indicating a low carcinogenic risk. Benzene and 1,3-butadiene were main harmful substances for both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of VOCs. The odor levels of VOCs were 2.12 ± 4.21, 12.5 ± 28.7 and 1.01 ± 7.84 at ISP, CMP and PCP, respectively. Aromatics for ISP and sulfide compounds for CMP and PCP were primary pollutants for odor pollution. This work could improve the understanding of risk levels and odor characteristics of VOCs and benefit policy development on alleviating odor complaints and health risks for workers in YRD region, China.

Mathematical methods for morphological description of particles of the solid component of welding aerosols

The article discusses methods for the mathematical description of morphometric parameters of solid particles of a welding aerosol based on data about their flat images obtained by scanning electron microscopy using the image analysis method. The proposed methods for describing morphometric characteristics make it possible to estimate the volumetric parameters of particles, which allows to determine their dispersion factor. The dispersion factor is the value of the inverse stability of a substance, that is, it characterizes their chemical and physical activity, which is important when developing a technology for capturing these particles, developing personal protective equipment against their effects and for assessing the health risks of workers whose work is associated with direct contact with these particles in the air of the working area.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment and sensitivity analysis for workers exposed to pathogenic bacterial bioaerosols under various aeration modes in two wastewater treatment plants

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could emit a large amount of bioaerosols containing pathogenic bacteria. Assessing the health risks of exposure to these bioaerosols by using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is important to protect workers in WWTPs. However, the relative impacts of the stochastic input variables on the health risks determined in QMRA remain vague. Hence, this study performed a Monte Carlo simulation-based QMRA case study for workers exposing to S. aureus or E. coli bioaerosols and a sensitivity analysis in two WWTPs with various aeration modes. Results showed that when workers equipped without personal protective equipment (PPE) were exposed to S. aureus or E. coli bioaerosol in the two WWTPs, the annual probability of infection considerably exceeded the U.S. EPA benchmark (≤10E-4 pppy), and the disease burden did not satisfy the WHO benchmark (≤10E-6 DALYs pppy) (except exposure to E. coli bioaerosol for disease health risk burden). Nevertheless, the use of PPE effectively reduced the annual infection health risk to an acceptable level and converted the disease health risk burden to a highly acceptable level. Referring to the sensitivity analysis, the contribution of mechanical aeration modes to the variability of the health risks was absolutely dominated in the WWTPs. On the aeration mode that showed high exposure concentration, the three input exposure parameters (exposure time, aerosol ingestion rate, and breathing rate) had a great impact on health risks. The health risks were also prone to being highly influenced by the various choices of the dose–response model and related parameters. Current research systematically delivered new data and a novel perspective on the sensitivity analysis of QMRA. Then, management decisions could be executed by authorities on the basis of the results of this sensitivity analysis to reduce related occupational health risks of workers in WWTPs.

Hygienic assessment of the tension of the labor process and emotional state of the teaching staff of a medical university

The medical condition of the higher-education teaching personnel of the university is reflected in the quality of the educational process in the educational institution and, as a consequence, in the formation of professional competencies of future graduates. It is known that workers in the fields of education and health care more than others are subject to stress, physical inactivity and, as a result, professional (emotional) burnout. The present study is devoted to the study of the state of health, activity, mood, professional (emotional) burnout of the teaching staff of a medical university, assessment of the intensity of their work process, professional risk. The study of well-being, activity, mood, professional (emotional) burnout was carried out using a questionnaire survey using well-known methods. The assessment of the intensity of the labor process was carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for the assessment of occupational health risks for workers. The assessment of occupational risk categories was carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for Assessing Occupational Risk for Workers' Health, as well as using a matrix of consequences and probabilities according to GOST Risk Management. Risk assessment technologies. It was found that the working conditions of the teaching staff of a medical university are tense 2 degrees. Evaluation of the functional emotional state showed that the teaching staff of a medical university has moderate emotional burnout, against the background of a high level of psychoemotional exhaustion. Indicators of well-being and mood have high (favorable) levels, while the activity indicator, on the contrary, has a low (unfavorable) value, presumably against the background of increasing employee fatigue. The occupational health risk of employees is medium (significant), the risk class according to the severity of the possible consequences of identified hazardous events is medium (T3), the probability of the consequences of a hazardous event is high (B4), the risk class is medium (C12).

Working conditions and occupational health risks for workers employed at bakeries

Introduction. Workers employed at bakeries are exposed to hazardous occupational factors at their workplaces; however, issues related to occupational health disorders occurring in them have not been given sufficient attention.Material and methods. We accomplished complex hygienic research on working conditions and the health of workers employed at a bakery using a procedure for occupational health risk calculation.Results. Workers employed at a bakery are exposed to a set of adverse factors (heating microclimate, flour dust, in-plant noise, poor luminance in work areas, hard labor process) that make their working conditions hazardous (belonging to 3.1 – 3.3 hazard degree). It means their occupational risks rank from insignificant (moderate) to high (intolerable). Heating microclimate and physical overloads were determined as priority risk factors. We revealed a positive average correlation (r=0.56) between chronic somatic pathology prevalence in general and work experience. We also detected direct authentic correlations between work experience under hazardous working conditions and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissues (r=0.34); upper respiratory tracts (r=0.31); circulatory system (r=0.26) (р&amp;lt;0.01, р&amp;lt;0.001, р&amp;lt;0.001, accordingly). We established a strong cause-and-effect relation between occupation and diseases of the eye and its adnexa (RR=2.2; EF =54.59; CI=1.66-2.92) and diseases of the circulatory system (RR=2.29; EF =56.38; CI=1.77-2.97); there was also an average cause-and-effect relation with diseases of the respiratory organs, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, as well connective tissue, as the genitourinary system and it means these pathologies are occupational. We substantiated a system of activities aimed at managing occupational health risks for workers employed at bakeries.Conclusion. Workplaces at contemporary bakeries involve exposure to a set of adverse occupational factors that cause occupational health risks for workers. It requires immediate measures aimed at reducing such risks.