Analysis Of Occupational Exposure Research Articles

Occupational Risk Factors by Sectors: An Observational Study of 20,000 Workers.

We aimed to assess the prevalence of exposure by sector and the sectors of activity most exposed to each exposure, using routine occupational health data, and to quantify the risk of being exposed. Occupational risk factors were assessed by workers followed by the Occupational Health Service of Cher, using self-reported questionnaires. The sectors of activity were grouped into seven sectors, and the risks were grouped into six occupational exposure groups. Comparisons were made using the Chi-squared test and Cramer's V, and the odds ratios were calculated by using logistic regression. We included 19,891 workers. The construction sector had the highest prevalence (p < 0.05 vs. all other sectors) of exposure to physical (76%) and biomechanical factors (82%), as well as chemical risks (75%). Human health and social work was the sector with the highest prevalence of exposure to biological factors (69%), psychosocial factors (90%), and atypical working hours (61%). With workers from administrative and support sectors as the reference, construction workers had more chance of declaring exposure to physical factors (OR = 3.28, 95%CI = 2.89 to 3.72), biomechanical factors (1.82, 1.58 to 2.09), and chemical agents (3.83, 3.38 to 4.33). Workers from the human health and social sectors had more chance of being exposed to biological agents (13.4, 11.9 to 15.2), atypical working hours (1.93, 1.75 to 2.14), and psychosocial factors (2.74, 2.38 to 3.16). Psychosocial risk factors were commonly reported in all sectors. Workers in the construction, human health, and social sectors seem to report more exposures than those in other sectors. The analysis of occupational exposures is a necessary basis to build an efficient preventive strategy for occupational health.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE IN RADIATION APPLICATIONS IN INDIA: TRENDS AND DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS.

Occupational exposure data in radiation applications provide a good insight on the radiation risks to workers from occupational hazards, the safe practices adopted and in deriving methods to prevent possible radiation exposures. The analysis of occupational exposure may be used to provide regulatory guidance and more focused attention to improve the safety systems, thus improving the personnel and environment safety. In this study, occupational exposure from radiation applications during 2004-18 amounting to a total number of 1951486 occupational dose data are collected and analysed using the statistical software package, SPSS. As recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, four critical parameters viz., annual collective effective dose, average annual effective dose, individual dose distribution ratio and the annual collective dose distribution ratio for each practice are estimated. Using the trend observed for these parameters, it is predicted that occupational exposure in diagnostic radiology in the year 2023 would increase by 80% in total number of monitored with 76% increase in average collective dose and no significant change in average annual effective dose. In the same manner, nuclear medicine would see 28% of increase in radiation workers with the increase of 24% in collective dose with no significant change in average annual effective dose. Further, the reasons and area of regulatory focus for the different practices are discussed.

NATIONAL DOSE REGISTRY AND TRENDS OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO IONISING RADIATION IN CHINA (2009-2018).

The registry and analysis of occupational exposure is significant for radiation protection against ionising radiation. This paper presents the current status of the 'Chinese Registry of Radiation Workers (CRRW)' and trends as well as the distribution of occupational exposure to ionising radiation in China from 2009 to 2018. A database with total 6.6 million monitoring records from 820000 workers in 85000 radiation units for medical uses, industrial uses and miscellaneous uses is established by the CRRW. The Mann-Kendall test shows statistically significant decreasing trends of average annual effective dose for the total, medical uses and industrial uses (p<0.01), by 0.035, 0.042 and 0.020mSv/y, respectively. The average annual effective dose for the monitored workers is 0.403mSv for the 10-y period. More than 96.1% of the monitored workers receive annual doses less than the limit for public exposure (1mSv) in 2018. The annual average effective dose in medical uses is significantly higher than industrial uses and miscellaneous uses (p<0.05/3=0.017). In 2018, the annual collective dose of 107.41man·Sv is received by 378428 monitored workers, with medical uses as the dominant contributor. These observations could be a result of improvements in radiation protection practices in China. However, it is still necessary to take rigorous and continuous surveillance and radiation protection measures, to keep individual dose as low as reasonably achievable, especially for those found to receive relatively higher doses in medical uses.

Case study on vibration health risk and comfort levels in loading crane trucks

According to a survey published by the Brazilian National Transportation Confederation, recently, the Brazilian truck fleet has been increasing about 84.3%, accounting to, in 2016, a total value of 2 684 227 vehicles. Despite this growth, the quality of the road network did not increase proportionally to the necessary infrastructure for agricultural production flow. This work aims to infer, by the analysis of occupational exposure, the vibration levels acting on truck drivers, analyzing the vibrational degree for health risk and comfort levels. The whole-body vibration (WBV) in trucks of different models and capacities, at some speeds and pavement types, are evaluated using a portable vibration analyzer with triaxial accelerometers. The daily exposure to vibration A(8) is evaluated and compared with the occupational exposure limits defined by a National Regulation Standard, with measurement procedures defined by an Occupational Hygiene Standard, and level requirements defined by an International ISO Standard. It is concluded that the degree of comfort is higher for heavier vehicles with large wheelbase. Relative to the health risk conditions, the study arrives at the same conclusion; the degree of risk increases as the vehicle' speed and pavement's longitudinal irregularity increase. Regarding human exposure to vibration, the vehicles in their actual working situations presented a vibration scenario where the exposure limits are exceeded, resulting in unhealthy working conditions.

Coarse, fine and ultrafine particles arising during welding - Analysis of occupational exposure

Analysis of occupational exposure to welding fumes is based on determination of inhalable and respirable fractions of dust and its chemical components. Such measurement does not reflect the actual exposure because it does not include significant parameters related to particle sizes, especially the ultrafine. The study was aimed at investigating exposure to welding fumes containing metals and fine and ultrafine particles. The studies were carried out at two metal industry plants during stainless steel and mild steel welding. Stationary samples of welding fumes were collected for evaluation of morphology and structure of fluids, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Individual samples were collected from welders inhalable breathing zones to determine the concentration of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr+6 and Cr+3) and their compounds in inhalable and respirable fractions, using flame absorption atomic spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques. The results indicate that stainless steel welders were capable of producing fumes containing carcinogenic and neurotoxic metals with concentrations exceeding Limit Values (LV).

Analysis of occupational exposures among emergency department medical and nursing staff in a Victorian teaching hospital

Analysis of occupational exposures among emergency department medical and nursing staff in a Victorian teaching hospital

Pooled Bayesian meta-analysis of two Polish studies on radiation-induced cancers.

The robust Bayesian regression method was applied to perform meta-analysis of two independent studies on influence of low ionising radiation doses on the occurrence of fatal cancers. The re-analysed data come from occupational exposure analysis of nuclear workers in Świerk (Poland) and from ecological study of cancer risk from natural background radiation in Poland. Such two different types of data were analysed, and three popular models were tested: constant, linear and quadratic dose-response dependencies. The Bayesian model selection algorithm was used for all models. The Bayesian statistics clearly indicates that the popular linear no-threshold (LNT) assumption is not valid for presented cancer risks in the range of low doses of ionising radiation. The subject of LNT hypothesis use in radiation risk prediction and assessment is also discussed.

Study and analysis of occupational exposure leading to blood borne infection among Health care workers

Background: Occupational exposure carries significant risk of transmission of blood borne infection to Health care worker. In developing country like India awareness about using universal precautions and post exposure prophylaxis with documentation of exposure is poor. Objective: To study and analyze “occupational exposure” among HCW that lead to blood born infections. Methodology: This retrospective study analyzes the self reported cases of exposure in Sir T.Hospital, Bhavnagar, in year 2012-2014 of 70 health care worker. Data regarding frequency, category and mode of exposure along with clinical practice that lead to exposure is noted and tabulated. Results: Majority of category of exposure is nursing students (29%) and most common clinical practices that lead to exposure is during blood withdrawal(45%). Conclusion: Most importantly if all exposed cases documented and source for HIV positivity can be traceable; PEP can be initiated timely and helpful in reducing incidence of HIV. So need for such type of study and creating awareness in all organization

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Urinary Metabolite N-Acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)cysteine

On exposure to the potential carcinogen 1,3-butadiene, the major urinary metabolite in humans is N-acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)cysteine. A novel, stereoselective synthesis of this cysteine–butadiene metabolite has been developed that is suitable for the production of either diastereomer for use in occupational exposure analysis. L-Cysteine and 4-bromo-1-butene are coupled via an SN2 reaction to give the core structure. A Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation using the dihydroquinidine (DHQD) ligand provided the terminal 1,2-diol with the 3-hydroxyl group in the R configuration. Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental resource.

Accidents exposant au sang et soignants en hémodialyse : données épidémiologiques et prévention en France

Health care workers (HCW) in haemodialysis units are confronted with a significant risk of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. The prevalence of bloodborne viruses is high among haemodialysis patients. The data presented here relates to the extraction of 121 occupational exposures notified to occupational health departments by haemodialysis HCW, documented between January 1995 and December 1999 in a network of 54 volunteer hospitals in Northern France. The exposures notified in haemodialysis wards were needlestick injuries in 85 cases (70.2%), splashes to the eyes or non-intact skin in 30 cases (24.8%) and cuts in 6 cases (5.0%). Connection and disconnection of dialysis catheters to fistulae, blood sampling procedures and injections alone were involved in approximately 3 notified exposures out of 4 (46.3, 14.9 and 11.6% respectively for a total of 72.8%). The principal mechanisms for exposure were the handling of blood-soiled needles and instruments or involved the handling of sharps containers. Haemodialysis fistula needles were involved in only 12 (13.2%) of notified percutaneous injuries. Nearly 2/3 (63%) of 91 notified percutaneous injuries could have been avoided by the observance of universal/standard precautions alone and the use of safety devices whiche were available at the time. The collection and analysis of occupational exposures can serve as basis for an assessment of practices, devices and safety equipment to increase HCW safety in haemodialysis wards.

Factorial discriminant analysis of occupational exposure in metallurgy using INAA of hair samples

A multivariate statistical technique-factoral discriminant analysis (FDA)-has been used to evaluate the occupational esposure of a group of metallurgy workers using the elemental composition of their scalp hair, as compared with a control group. The initial variables were the concentrations of ten minor and trace elements Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sb, Se, V, and Zn determined in hair samples by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). A good discrimination between exposed and control subjects has been achieved after the normalization of the data (by log-transforming the initial variables) and considering sex-matched groups. To measure the accuracy of the classification and the predictive ability a cross-validation procedure was used.

Monitoring and analysis of occupational exposure to chain saw exhausts.

The extent of inhalation exposure to loggers from two-stroke chain saws was measured and evaluated under various conditions. Carbon monoxide, measured by personal air monitoring and determination of carboxyhemoglobin levels of the loggers, was used as an indicator of exhaust exposure. Video recordings were made to analyze the influence of varying working conditions and the individual handling of the chain saw on the amount of pollutants inhaled. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists biological exposure index (BEI) for carboxyhemoglobin (3.5%) was exceeded during logging in heavy timber stands. When workers were paid on a piecework basis, carboxyhemoglobinemia increased to its maximum level in the first 2-3 hours of the shift and then declined. After 8 hours carboxyhemoglobin levels were 20-30% lower compared with the maximum. Increased exhaust inhalation with short-term exposures to carbon monoxide up to 400 ppm was observed in the following conditions: (1) felling operations, (2) other operations performed in a leaning of squatting position, (3) limbing in thick tops of coniferous trees, (4) working at low wind velocity, and (5) working in thick forest stands. Maximum allowable blood concentrations for carboxyhemoglobin are exceeded in chain saw operators in logging operations. Blood sampling at the end of the workday is not always suitable for determining the highest carboxyhemoglobin levels in loggers during the shift. The exposure of chain saw operators to exhaust increases under certain conditions.

Occupational exposures to PAHs measured with UV derivative spectroscopy corrected for advective and gaseous losses

PAHs (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) are a group of ubiquitous substances occuring in occupational environments due to combustion of hydrocarbons and coal, vehicle emissions, etc. Some PAHs are known to be carcinogenic in animal tests, and most legislation requires the air concentration of several of them should be kept at minimum values, implying a model of [open quotes]no safe threshold[close quotes]. An adequate analysis of occupational exposures to PAHs in air should satisfy a number of requisites. The sample must be obtained with a personal portable pump, and should cover a substantial or representative part of the working period. Vapor-phase components and particulates both should be samples, and carcinogenice PAHs would be estimated with greater precision. The collection and analytical techniques would require only average trained personnel with the shortest time elapsed between sample collection and producing the results. For several reasons, these simultaneous objectives are sometimes difficult to attain. If the cleanup and evaporation could be obviated, about 7-10 ng could be delivered to the detector chamber with the corresponding increase in detection accuracy. This study extends the use of a newly developed technique of UV-diode array computer enhanced derivative spectroscopy to the analysis of PAHs in particulate samples obtainedmore » in the usual way with personal monitors. This method provides a reliable and conservative estimate of total PAH exposure and lower errors in detection of relatively heavy PAHs. 13 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less

Italian Experience of Statistical Analysis of Occupational Exposures

Italian Experience of Statistical Analysis of Occupational Exposures

Italian Experience of Statistical Analysis of Occupational Exposures

Italian Experience of Statistical Analysis of Occupational Exposures