Institute Of Occupational Medicine Research Articles

Laboratory study of the effectiveness of substituting traditional wheat flour with low dust flour and use of different sieve designs as controls to reduce exposure to inhalable flour dust in commercial bakeries.

Exposure to flour dust remains one of the leading causes of occupational asthma in Great Britain (GB). The average annual incidence rate per 100,000 bakers and flour confectioners in GB was 47.8 for the 3 yr period 2017 to 2019 compared with 0.53 for all occupations. There are many processes in commercial bakeries that can cause exposure to flour dust. Exposures are typically controlled by using local exhaust ventilation or respiratory protective equipment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential to reduce exposure to inhalable flour dust in commercial bakeries by modification of the process by use of a conical sieve in place of a round sieve; and substitution of traditional wheat flour (TWF) with 'low dust' flours LD1 and LD2 for dusting surfaces. Two simulated commercial bakery tasks were performed in a laboratory whilst dust exposures were measured in the breathing zone of the operator using an Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler, button sampler and a real-time direct reading monitor. Analysis of variance tests were used to assess whether differences in mean exposures were statistically significant with the different control approaches. A qualitative visual exposure assessment was also undertaken using Tyndall illumination. Substituting TWF with LD1 and LD2 reduced exposure to inhalable flour dust by 86% and 53% respectively when sieving and by 78% and 67% respectively when filling a hopper. There was no statistically significant difference between dust emissions for all 3 flours when using the conical sieve instead of the round sieve for flour dusting tasks. This laboratory study has shown that substituting TWF with low-dust flour may reduce inhalable dust exposures when dusting surfaces in bakeries.

Life histories of the founders of Kharkiv school of hygiene

This article describes the life history of the founders of Kharkiv school of hygiene Arkadiy Ivanovich Yakobiy (1827–1907) and Ezro Musiyovych Kahan (1887–1948). It is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Department of Hygiene and Ecology No.1 of Kharkiv National Medical University (KhNMU) and the 100th anniversary of Research Institute of Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Both of these talented individuals left their places of birth, secondary and higher education at some point, due to certain unfavorable consequences of regional life, and arrived in prosperous Kharkiv. Having a wide range of knowledge, both worked in a wide aspect of science and practice that relate to the general well-being of various categories of the population, including environmental, household, epidemic, production, family and other statuses of human life. Both came to the conclusion that identifying and overcoming risk factors for health deterioration is a very promising direction for achieving global well-being of humanity. Based on this, both became the founders of the Kharkiv School of Hygiene. Yakobiy A.I. founded the first department of hygiene at Kharkiv University оn February 1, 1873, and headed it for the following 12 years. Kahan E.M. headed specialized institute for workers' health problems (the first on the territory of the USSR), namely the Institute of Occupational Medicine, іn May 1923, and managed it until 1931. During the term of their work at Kharkiv hygienic institutions, these professors provided a methodological basis for the multi-decade development of the corresponding scientific, pedagogical and practical field of state health care. Keywords: historical aspects, scientific research, health care, lifestyle, professor Yakobiy A.I., professor Kahan E.M.

146 Keynote: Jim Vincent and Inhalable Dust

Abstract Jim Vincent was truly a modern-day Renaissance man. An accomplished jazz and classical pianist and composer, who performed with some of Europe's top improvisers, making appearances at major jazz festivals and in BBC broadcast concerts. However, his legacy lies elsewhere. He graduated in physics at the University of Durham with first-class honours in 1962, proceeding to a PhD in 1966. After jobs in academia and industry, in 1979 he became Head of Physics at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in Edinburgh. He took over a research team that had been working on sampling of dusts for studies of the risks of lung disease in coal miners and other workers. Jim’s team defined the sampling criteria for the aerosol that can be inhaled into the nose or mouth, in collaboration with other European scientists and, in 1986, published the description and experimental characterisation of the IOM Inhalable Dust sampler. This sampler has been recommended for measuring dust exposure in workplaces around the world. Its design, which the IOM patented, has remained essentially unchanged for almost 40 years. Jim’s academic and professional achievements spanned an enormous breadth, but his legacy is his contribution to the way we sample hazardous aerosols.

Characteristics of thermally modified hardwood dust in determining workers’ occupational exposure

Thermal modification of wood changes its mechanical properties, generally reducing its strength, such that it is more easily chipped during processing than untreated hardwood. This study presents specific parameters used in the determination of mass concentration of thermally modified (TM) hardwood by gravimetric and photometric methods. An optical device, the Split 2, was used in the active mode, of which the holder of the inhalable dust IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) filter was the input part. Side-by-side determination of the respirable and inhalable mass concentration was made using the Higgins-Dewell respirable dust cyclone and an inhalable dust IOM sampler. Side-by-side determination of inhalable and total dust mass concentration was made using an IOM and open-faced (OF) filter holder to establish an IOM / OF sampling ratio. A correction factor of 1.16 was calculated for applying the photometric method as the ratio of mass concentration determined by gravimetric and photometric methods. Minimal concentrations of respirable and inhalable wood dust (geometric mean: cr = 0.058 mg/m3; cinh = 0.882 mg/m3) and a 12.76% share of respirable dust in the inhalable concentration cr / cinh, had a significant influence on the efficiency of the photometric method. The mass concentration obtained by IOM and OF samplers did not significantly differ (p = 0.36).

Potential exposure and risk assessment of agricultural workers to the insecticide chlorantraniliprole in rice paddies.

Exposure of agricultural workers in rice paddies to the insecticide chlorantraniliprole and its subsequent potential health risks were investigated during two scenarios (mixing/loading and hand-held spraying). The exposure factors, such as the outer dosimeter, inner dosimeter, gauze, and nitrile gloves, were calculated using whole-body dosimetry to measure dermal exposure. The inhalation exposure was determined using a fiberglass filter which is set with an Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler. A recovery test was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical method. The exposure amounts of various matrices were calculated from extraction volume and concentration of the target compound. The dermal exposure to chlorantraniliprole was 0.6mg [0.001% of the total active ingredient (a.i.)] for mixing and loading, and 28.6mg (0.066% of the total a.i.) for application. The inhalation exposure to chlorantraniliprole was 7.2μg (1.3%, 1.2 × 10-5 % of the total applied a.i.) for mixing and loading, and 1.9μg (0.006%, 4.4 × 10-6 % of the total applied a.i.) for application. The most exposed part of the body was the hand (90.4%) during mixing and loading, whereas the primary sites during application were the thighs (32.8%) and shins (22.6%). For mixing and loading, the amount of actual dermal exposure was 5.5μg day-1 and that of actual inhalation exposure was 21.9μg day-1 . By contrast, in the application, the amounts of actual dermal and actual inhalation exposures were 34 178.7 and 5.9μg day-1 , respectively. The risk assessment results demonstrated that the risk of chlorantraniliprole exposure in rice paddies was low during application than during mixing and loading. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Science With Purpose: 50 Years of the Institute of Occupational Medicine.

The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) was founded in 1969 by the then UK National Coal Board to complete its nation-wide epidemiological study of lung disease in coal miners, the Pneumoconiosis Field Research. The results quantified risks in the industry and were influential across the world in setting preventive standards. The research, based on epidemiology, was multidisciplinary from the start, and the IOM's broad scientific expertise was applied across many other industries with an increasing focus on environmental measurement and ergonomics. In 1990, as the coal industry declined, IOM became a self-funding research charity with a strong commercial arm. It has expanded its research, often with European collaborators and funding from governments, and has achieved wide recognition. This has most recently been applied during the pandemic in areas of hospital ventilation, personal protection, and viral exposure research, illustrating IOM's ability to respond to new environmental or occupational challenges.

Use of Low-Cost Particle Counters for Cotton Dust Exposure Assessment in Textile Mills in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

ObjectiveThere is a lack of consensus on methods for cotton dust measurement in the textile industry, and techniques vary between countries—relying mostly on cumbersome, traditional approaches. We undertook comparisons of standard, gravimetric methods with low-cost optical particle counters for personal and area dust measurements in textile mills in Pakistan.MethodsWe included male textile workers from the weaving sections of seven cotton mills in Karachi. We used the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler with a Casella Apex 2 standard pump and the Purple Air (PA-II-SD) for measuring personal exposures to inhalable airborne particles (n = 31). We used the Dylos DC1700 particle counter, in addition to the two above, for area-level measurements (n = 29).ResultsThere were no significant correlations between the IOM and PA for personal dust measurements using the original (r = −0.15, P = 0.4) or log-transformed data (r = −0.32, P = 0.07). Similarly, there were no significant correlations when comparing the IOM with either of the particle counters (PA and Dylos) for area dust measurements, using the original (r = −0.07, P = 0.7; r = 0.10, P = 0.6) or log-transformed data (r = −0.09, P = 0.6; r = 0.07, P = 0.7).ConclusionOur findings show a lack of correlation between the gravimetric method and the use of particle counters in both personal and area measurements of cotton dust, precluding their use for measuring occupational exposures to airborne dust in textile mills. There continues to be a need to develop low-cost instruments to help textile industries in low- and middle-income countries to perform cotton dust exposure assessment.

The influence of smoking on the formation of occupational lung diseases in workers who come into contact with industrial aerosols

The formation of a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important tasks of disease prevention. Among the factors that negatively affect the health of the population, smoking is of great importance. The influence of smoking on the formation of occupational diseases in workers in harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions has not been sufficiently studied. Based on the knowledge of the pathogenesis of common diseases, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability that smoking can provoke the development of occupational pathology of the respiratory organs, malignant neoplasms, vascular pathology.The aim of the work was to study the clinical manifestations of chronic bronchitis, characterizing the state of the bronchopulmonary system, in smokers and non-smokers who had long-term contact with industrial dust, as well as to analyze the literature data on the impact of smoking on the development of occupational lung diseases in workers exposed to asbestos dust.Materials and methods of research. In the clinic “Research Institute of Occupational Medicine named after Academician N.F. Izmerov”, 55 workers were examined under the influence of industrial aerosols of fibrogenic action. The group of smokers consisted of 45 people: 25 people were coal miners, 20 people were foundry workers. The group of non-smokers consisted of 10 people: 6 coal miners and 4 foundry workers. The severity of the course of professional and non-professional chronic bronchitis in patients was assessed taking into account the clinical manifestations and frequency of exacerbations of the disease, as well as taking into account the severity of respiratory disorders and gas exchange disorders.Results and discussion. In the group of smoking patients, 93,3% had occupational chronic bronchitis, 6.7% had no such pathology. In the group of non-smoking patients with and without occupational chronic bronchitis, there were equally – 50,0%. In the group of smoking patients, 55,5 of the examined patients had respiratory insufficiency of the II degree; 15,5% were diagnosed with respiratory insufficiency of the III degree; cases without respiratory function impairment (DN0 art.) were only 8,8%. In the group of non-smoking patients, grade II DN was more than three times less frequent, amounting to 20,0%, while 40,0% had grade 0 DN and 40,0% had grade I DN; grade III DN was never diagnosed in this group of patients.Conclusion. Smoking, as an independent factor, can play a significant, and in some cases, obviously, a determining role in the development and progression of chronic bronchitis in people exposed to industrial aerosols.The health risks associated with tobacco should be taken into account as an integral part of the assessment of the risks of developing occupational diseases.

Features of diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems in workers of metallurgical production in modern conditions

Manufacturing industries, including metallurgy, are the backbone of the country’s economy. A number of technological operations involve the impact of physical overload, heating microclimate, static load, and often entails the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems. The clinical picture of such patients is dominated by pain in various parts of the spinal column, in some cases, combined localization. The analysis of the results of the examination of the connection of diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems with the profession, carried out by employees of a large metallurgical enterprise of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB), using the archival material of the FBUN clinic «Ufa Research Institute of Occupational Medicine and Human Ecology» was carried out. The group of the main professions of the enterprise includes: wire drawing machine, wire rewinder, caliper, pyrometrist, laboratory assistant for physical and mechanical tests, automatic machine for cold landing machines, mechanic-repairman, sorter-delivery of metal. During the analyzed period, in 117 cases, the workers of the enterprise confirmed the professional etiology of the disease. The nosological structure in 60 % of cases of the first established occupational diseases is represented by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. A significant part of diseases of occupational etiology was detected in persons aged 50 to 59 years. Workers of the studied professional groups are at the highest risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous systems of professional etiology, which is due to the specific conditions of their professional activity. Establishing a connection between the disease and the profession is characterized by late detection, at the stage of pronounced clinical symptoms with the formation of persistent disability.

APPLICATION OF PHOTOMETRY IN DETERMINING THE DUST MASS CONCENTRATION OF HARDWOODS

Given the carcinogenicity of hardwood dust, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the photometric method for different types of woodworking machines and its application in determining the mass concentration of inhalable dust for raw and dry hardwoods. In addition to the optical part of the device, the input part of the measuring device contains the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable dust filter holder. This correlation of gravimetric and photometric methods in determining the dust mass concentration showed that photometry underestimates the mass concentration measured gravimetrically. The results of this study recommend the application of a correction factor 2 for a timber band saw and a correction factor 3 for circular saws in determining the mass concentration of hardwood dust by the photometric method. It was showed that photometry can be used if the correction factor of the optical device has been previously tested for specific wood processing place.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Badania, herstoria i praca kobiet — od PRL do dziś. Szkic do historii socjologii pracy kobiet

The article intends to sketch history of sociology of women’s work, and focuses on transition between the Polish People’s Republic and contemporary Poland. It describes main patterns of development of study on women at work, with its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, than marginalization of this subject, and its revival in transition period. The analysis is supported by the first results of Łódź multidisciplinary research project aiming to describe history of women’s work and research on it conducted by the University of Łódź and the Institute of Occupational Medicine. It also includes new research conducted by historians, and its multidisciplinary character is supported by some non-academic participants of the project, including museums and local herstory movement. Łódź has been chosen for its long tradition of feminization of workforce, and great bulk of research on working women, both in the past and during transition period, including new phenomena of unemployment, then feminization of poverty and precarious character of today’s work affecting also women.

Occupational Exposure to Flour Dust. Exposure Assessment and Effectiveness of Control Measures.

The adverse effects associated with exposure to flour dust have been known since the 1700s. The aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure to flour dust in Italian facilities, identify the activities characterized by the highest exposure, and provide information to reduce workers’ exposure. The study was performed in different facilities such as flourmills (n = 2), confectioneries (n = 2), bakeries (n = 24), and pizzerias (n = 2). Inhalable flour dust was assessed by personal and area samplings (n = 250) using IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) samplers. The results showed personal occupational exposure to flour dust over the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene (ACGIH) and the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limit (SCOEL) occupational limits (mean 1.987 mg/m3; range 0.093–14.055 mg/m3). The levels were significantly higher for dough makers in comparison to the dough formers and packaging area subjects. In four bakeries the industrial hygiene surveys were re-performed after some control measures, such as installation of a sleeve to the end of pipeline, a lid on the mixer tub or local exhaust ventilation system, were installed. The exposure levels were significantly lower than those measured before the introduction of control measures. The exposure level reduction was observed not only in the dough making area but also in all bakeries locals.

Doxorubicine and doxorubicine hydrochloride – inhalable fraction. Documentation of proposed values of occupational exposure limits (OELs)

Doxorubicin (CAS: 23214-92-8) and its hydrochloride (CAS: 25136 40 9) are organic chemicals soluble in water. It is a cytostatic drug from the group of anthracycline antibiotics, used in antimitotic antitumor chemotherapy, primarily by intravenous, intravesical, and also in the case of lung cancer in the form of an aerosol for inhalation. In Poland, according to data from the Central Data Register on Exposure to Chemicals, Mixtures Thereof, Factors or Technological Processes with Carcinogenic or Mutagenic Effect, conducted at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, the number of people exposed to doxorubicin and its hydrochloride in 2016 totaled 587. Administration of doxorubicin or its hydrochloride to patients at therapeutic doses may lead to myelosuppression, cardiomyopathy and myocardial fibrosis as well as neurotoxicity. Adverse effects of doxorubicin administration included cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, hoarseness, hemoptysis, and bronchospasm. Systemic toxicity was defined as mild and transient and included sore throat, anorexia, dysgeusia, fatigue, nausea, tongue pain, tachycardia. Doxorubicin manufacturers state in their safety data sheets that inhalation of dust or aerosol is hazardous to health, may cause discomfort and nuisance, nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, stomatitis, hair loss, and cardiotoxicity. Animal carcinogenicity studies have shown that doxorubicin was carcinogenic to rats after intravenous and subcutaneous administration, mainly causing mammary gland tumors. Doxorubicin has been shown to have genotoxic effects on somatic and embryonic mouse cells. Doxorubicin is toxic for reproduction. It may damage fertility and the unborn child. In Poland and in other countries, the highest permissible concentrations of doxorubicin and its hydrochloride in the work environment have not yet been determined. Occupational exposure limits are recommended by its manufacturers: FormuMax Scientific, Inc. and Pfizer at 0.0005 mg/m3. It was proposed to set up the MAC value for doxorubicin and its hydrochloride at the equivalent concentration level up to 0.1% of the lowest inhalational therapeutic dose found in the literature Dw = 0.04 mg/kg, i.e., 0.0003 mg/m3 – inhalable fraction. There are no substantive grounds to determine the STEL value. It is recommended to label the substance with the notation “skin” – the absorption of the substance through the skin may be just as important as when inhaled. The letters “Ft” should also be used – toxic for reproduction, Carc. 1B – carcinogen category 1B and Muta. 1B – germ cell mutagen category 1B. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Particle size and metal composition of gouging and lancing fumes

Metal gouging and lancing liberate particles of an unknown size and composition. Fumes are formed when vaporized materials condense in air, creating fine and ultrafine particles which can agglomerate. Particle sizes may be <1 µm in diameter. Inhalation of this mixture of metal fumes can lead to adverse health effects. This study characterized fumes by particle size fractions and metal composition. As particles may be in the submicron range, the nano-size fraction was included. Randomized, side-by-side area samples of fumes liberated during gouging and lancing were collected. Samplers included the conductive plastic Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers (inhalable fraction), GK2.69 stainless steel thoracic cyclones (thoracic fraction), aluminum respirable cyclones (respirable fraction), Nanoparticle Respiratory Deposition (NRD) samplers (nano-size fraction), and open-face filter cassettes (particle size distribution—PSD). Samplers were mounted at a height of between 1.3 m and 1.7 m, in the worst-case scenario area (down-wind). Forty-six samples were collected during gouging and 26 during lancing. Mass concentrations per fraction ranges (excluding nano-size) were found to be 1.27–17.27 mg/m3 (inhalable), 1.83–13.96 mg/m3 (thoracic) and 0.88–15.82 mg/m3 (respirable) for gouging; and 2.34–5.60 mg/m3 (inhalable), 2.82–4.01 mg/m3 (thoracic), and 1.89–3.24 mg/m3 (respirable) for lancing. PSD analysis confirmed the presence of nano-size particles with a mean size of 171.76 (±56.27) nm during gouging and 32.33 (±7.17) nm during lancing. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis of samples indicated the presence of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and tin (Sn) in the respective particle size fractions (including nano-size) of both processes. Negative health effects associated with metal inhalation are well known, while nanoparticles’ unique properties enable them to cause further detrimental health effects. The nano-size fraction should be included in personal exposure assessments and control measures.

Evaluation of a 25-mm disposable sampler relative to the inhalable aerosol convention

An ideal inhalable aerosol sampler for occupational exposure monitoring would have a sampling efficiency that perfectly matches the inhalable particulate matter (IPM) criterion. Two common aerosol samplers in use worldwide are the closed-face cassette (CFC) and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler. However, the CFC is known to under-sample, with near zero sampling efficiency for particles >30 µm, whereas the IOM, considered by many to be the “gold standard” in inhalable samplers, has been shown to over-sample particles >60 µm. A new sampler in development incorporates characteristics of both the CFC and the IOM. Like the CFC, it would be disposable, have a simple design, and is intended to be oriented at a 45° downward angle. Like the IOM, the new sampler has a 15-mm inlet diameter and incorporates a 25-mm filter cassette with a protruding lip. The IOM is oriented at 0° to the horizontal, so it is hypothesized that orienting the new sampler at ∼45° downward angle will reduce oversampling of larger particles. In comparison, the CFC’s inlet diameter is 4 mm; increasing the size of the inlet should allow the new sampler to have an increased efficiency relative to the CFC for all particles. A unique characteristic of the new sampler is the incorporation of a one-piece capsule-style filter that mimics the IOM’s cassette but is made of disposable material. Seven different sizes of alumina particles (mean aerodynamic diameters from 4.9–62.4 µm) were tested (total = 124 samples collected). For each test, six samplers were placed on a manikin located inside a wind tunnel operated at 0.2 m/sec. Results indicated that the new sampler improved on the CFC for smaller particles, providing a larger range for which it matches the IPM criterion, up to 44.3 µm. However, the efficiency was significantly lower in comparison to the IPM criterion for particle sizes above 60 µm. Overall, the new sampler showed promise, but additional modifications may help improve sampling efficiency for larger particles.

Correlation of sociodemographic variables and interpersonal sources of stress at work among miners

Background/Aim. Some professions are somewhat more exposed to stress and have been the subject of research for a long time, and research of occupational stress among employees at workplaces with a special health risk is of a special significance. That is the case with miners. The aim of the study was an assessment of the relation between the sociodemographic variables and interpersonal sources of stress at work among miners. Methods. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study and covered 170 respondents, classified into two groups: a study group comprised of miners (n = 142) and a control group (n = 28) comprised of administrative workers. The research was conducted at the Occupational Medicine Service of the Health Center Zvecan and at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Nis. The questionnaire on the basic sociodemographic indicators of respondents, the Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Related Stressors Questionnaire (IRS), the Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAI), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the Questionnaire on the stressors were used in this research. Results. Statistically, the miners consumed alcohol significantly more than the respondents from the control group (68.30% vs. 25.00%; p &lt; 0.001). Relative to age, there was a statistically significant difference in the subscales: demands (p = 0.037), control (p = 0.010), relations (p = 0.009) and change (p = 0.008). The control score values increased with age. The relations values were highest among the oldest respondents. The values of change decreased with age. Relative to exposed years of service (ERS), there was a statistically significant difference in the subscale relations; the miners with ERS longer than 15 years had a statistically significantly higher relations score (p = 0.003). The values of subscales control (p &lt; 0.001), manager support (p = 0.010), relations (p &lt; 0.001) and work role (p &lt; 0.001) were statistically significantly lower among the miners compared to the control group. The values of subscales peer support (p = 0.002) and change (p &lt; 0.001) were statistically significantly higher among the miners compared to the control group. Conclusion. The results indicate the correlation of sociodemographic variables with interpersonal sources of stress at work among the miners. The following prevention measures are proposed: adequate professional orientation, professional selection, professional adaptation, organizational measures, progressive development of knowledge and skills, development of good interpersonal relationships, strengthening the family-organization-company relation, relaxation techniques at the workplace, stress control, application of physiological techniques, application of cognitive techniques.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Whole body dosimetry and risk assessment of agricultural operator exposure to the fungicide kresoxim-methyl in apple orchards

This study examined dermal and inhalation exposure of agricultural operators to kresoxim-methyl during pesticide mixing/loading and speed sprayer application (10 replicates, each of 3000 L of spray suspension) in an apple orchard and performed risk assessment. For the whole body dosimetry (WBD) exposure protocol, outer clothing, inner clothing, gauze, and nitrile gloves were examined to measure dermal exposure. In contrast, an IOM (institute of occupational medicine) sampler with a glass fiber filter was used to measure inhalation exposure. Analytical method accuracy in the exposure matrices was evaluated by a field recovery study. The dermal and inhalation exposure amounts for mixing/loading were 9.7 mg [0.002% of the total mixed/loaded active ingredient (a.i.)] and 1.2 µg (1.7 × 10−6% of the total mixed/loaded a.i.), respectively. The body parts more exposed were the forearms (35.5%), chest & stomach (30.2%), and hands (17.9%). During application, the dermal and inhalation exposure amounts were 66.5 mg (0.009% of the total applied a.i) and 34.8 µg (4.6 × 10−5% of the total applied a.i.), respectively. The shins (18.5%) and chest & stomach (16.0%) were exposed to higher proportion of pesticide, followed by the thighs (15.8%) and back (14.7%). Comparing the exposure pattern as assessed by the WBD method in the present study with the patch method as in our previous study, the ADE (actual dermal exposure) as measured by the WBD method was 25 times less than that measured by the patch method. The daily exposure amounts of ADE and AIE (actual inhalation exposure) for mixing/loading were 711.8 µg/day and 4.3 µg/day, respectively, whereas the amounts of ADE and AIE for application were 1825.8 µg/day and 116.1 µg/day. In risk assessment of the mixing/loading and application scenarios, the AOEL (acceptable operator exposure level) of kresoxim-methyl was used as the reference dose to show that the RI (risk index) was much lower than 1, indicating that agricultural operators are at low risk of exposure to kresoxim-methyl.

Wood dust – aspiration fraction Documentation of proposed values of occupational exposure limits (OELs)

Wood dust – aspiration fraction Documentation of proposed values of occupational exposure limits (OELs)