Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

A limited number of published studies have evaluated concentrations of airborne fibers in outdoor air, with even fewer assessing typical air concentrations in the ambient air near fiberglass wool manufacturing facilities. Building upon the assessment by Switala et al. (1994), area samples for airborne fiber concentrations (diameters of less than 3 µm, lengths greater than 5 µm, and aspect ratios equal to or greater than 5 to 1) were collected at fixed locations along the fence lines of three fiberglass wool manufacturing facilities in the United States. Samples were analyzed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7400, via phase contrast microscopy (PCM) using "B" counting rules. A total of 134 samples were collected across the three plants. Overall, 73% of the samples collected were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) method for estimation of values below the LOQ, the geometric mean fiber concentration for all plants combined was 0.0028 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc), with the 95^th percentile upper confidence level at 0.0049 f/cc. Of those samples with detectable concentrations of airborne fibers (n = 36), when further analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, only one sample had a detectable glass fiber concentration at 0.0045 f/cc, which was noted as the detection limit for the method. This glass fiber concentration is within the range anticipated for ambient fibrous glass near production facilities, suggesting consistency with measurements made by Switala et al. (1994), despite changes in production methods (i.e., use of different binders) since 1994 and the use of updated methods for treatment of values below the LOQ in the current assessment.

A very small proportion of all chemicals in commerce have occupational exposure limits (OELs) based on quantitative risk assessments which require estimates of exposure-response relationships (XRs). For only 18 of the 94 chemicals declared by NIOSH to be carcinogens were human XRs reported in or calculable from published reports. For the 18 carcinogens, 96 such XRs could be derived (corresponding to chemicals with multiple associated cancer end-points and/or multiple source studies). Twenty-four of 96 XR estimates came directly from reported statistical models (on continuous cumulative exposure), 45 were derived from summary study-population attributes, and 27 came from categorical analyses. Using the 96 XRs, OEL conferring one-per-thousand excess lifetime risk were calculated. OSHA's OEL, permissible exposure limits (PEL) were then compared to OEL derived from the 96 XRs. For 88 of the 96 calculated OELs (for which a corresponding PEL exists) all but 10 fell below the current PEL. Thirty-four OEL estimates were 10- to 100-fold below the PEL and 21 were greater than 100-fold below the PEL. This same pattern was observed using the different methods for deriving XRs. These findings can guide priorities in setting standards and the method is not limited to carcinogens.

Graphene is a class of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials composed of single or multiple layers of carbon atoms. To date, there are limited clinical data and no epidemiological research available to assess graphene toxicity in humans. Despite the growing amount of animal toxicity data, there are currently no occupational exposure limits (OELs) for any type of graphene nanomaterial published by international authoritative organizations to ensure their safe handling within workplaces. In the absence of consensus OELs for graphene, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) occupational exposure banding process was used to assign an occupational exposure band (OEB). The NIOSH banding process is organized into a three-tiered system and is a resource for occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals to guide risk management and exposure control decisions when OELs are not available. To the authors' knowledge, there are no Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) H-codes/statements available for graphene to conduct a Tier 1 analysis. Even though data were available from authoritative sources for three of nine health endpoints, the data were insufficient to support banding in a Tier 2 assessment. Therefore, a Tier 3 assessment using the NIOSH banding process was applied to the graphene family of nanomaterials (GFN) as a case study based on the specific physicochemical and toxicological properties with uncertainty factor adjustments. The band assignment was replicated by three individuals with advanced toxicology and industrial hygiene knowledge to ensure a consistent outcome. The results found that three of the six endpoints banded were "E," representing an air concentration ≤0.01 mg/m³, while the other three ranged from "A" to "C." This indicates that the graphene materials evaluated may have potential effects at low exposure concentrations (≤0.01 mg/m³). These findings suggest an OEB may be a suitable option for OSH professionals attempting to mitigate risk for GFN in the absence of an OEL and may provide a reasonable initial estimate for recommended workplace exposure and control measures.

Interdigital Pilonidal Sinus (IPNS), also known as barber's disease, is a rare occupational disease that affects hairdressers and barbers. It develops when customers' hair penetrates the webspace between the fingers, causing a foreign body reaction. This cross-sectional study, conducted across all five governorates in Bahrain, aimed to investigate the prevalence of IPNS among hairdressers and barbers in Bahrain. A total of 479 participants (253 male and 226 female) from 384 hairdressing salons and barbershops were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Participants' age, hand dominance, nationality, smoking status, work experience, hygiene habits, and medical comorbidities were assessed through an interview-administered questionnaire. No cases of IPNS were identified in the study group; however, two male participants reported having Pilonidal Sinus (PNS) in the sacrococcygeal region. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when rigorous hygiene practices were likely adopted due to government-enforced regulations. The absence of IPNS observed in the study group could be attributed to enhanced hygiene practices. It is also plausible that the association between IPNS and barbering was more of an exaggerated assumption adopted over time, rather than a causal relationship. Despite the limitations of the cross-sectional design, this study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of IPNS among hairdressers and barbers in Bahrain and underscores the importance of good hygiene practices in preventing infections. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to explore potential risk factors for IPNS in hair professionals.

Given the global burden of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs), it is expected that they face an elevated risk of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and associated risk factors in HCWs followed for a median time of 18 months by conducting a retrospective cohort study. All HCWs with confirmed COVID-19 during the period from January 2021 to December 2022 were included in the study. HCWs were regularly assessed after COVID-19 diagnosis, so post-COVID-19 syndrome data could be collected. During the study period, 463 HCWs were included in the study, 227 (49.0%) of which experienced post-COVID-19 syndrome. The most common persistent symptoms were fatigue (n = 147 [32.5%]), memory disorders (n = 98 [21.5%]), dyspnea (n = 73 [16.0%]), anxiety/depression (n = 69 [15.0%]), and cough (n = 43 [9.4%]). Female sex and obesity were statistically associated with the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. A high prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome in HCWs was found. Female sex and obesity appear to be risk factors associated with a higher prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Special attention should be given to these patients with risk factors during follow-up in the COVID-19 recovery period.

Filtering face piece (FFP) masks according to EN 149 Respiratory protective devices - Filtering half masks to protect against particles - Requirements, testing, marking are essential components of personal protective equipment against biological agents from an occupational health and hospital hygiene perspective. Therefore, shortages due to increased demand or supply bottlenecks can lead to staff threats due to the risk of infection. To determine whether FFP masks could be made reusable in a hospital setting, a thermal reprocessing concept (steam at 105 °C with a holding phase of 10 min) was evaluated in a bed reprocessing chamber. The results indicate that it is logistically possible to establish a reprocessing concept. Of 267 reprocessed masks, 48 were rejected by inspection because of defect strapping, trapped hair, misfolding, and missing lot number or deformation, and 22 masks were rejected by bacteriological examination because of contamination > 10 CFU of total bacteria per 25 cm² or the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Two selected mask models maintained the expected mask performance equivalent to the FFP2 standard after reprocessing. Thermal reprocessing resulted in a virucidal effect. The results show that reprocessing of FFP masks in hospitals is possible. However, the success of reprocessing depends on the type of mask used. This study identified a suitable mask type for which the reported method is bactericidal and virucidal without impairing mask performance. The reported method required the use of a stationary hospital bed reprocessing chamber (sanitizing washer), so it cannot be used everywhere. Other methods and procedures should be tested to be independent of a bed reprocessing chamber and therefore may be more mobile and flexible.

Flushing uncovered toilets in hospitals has been shown to produce toilet plume aerosols (TPA) in a wide size ranging from nanometers to micrometers. Studies have shown that TPA can carry infectious pathogens and hazardous drugs used in cancer treatment. To mitigate the risk of exposure, some researchers have recommended covering the toilet during flushing, and guidelines from the Oncology Nursing Society have specifically recommended covering the toilet when flushing excreta from patients receiving chemotherapy. Because existing literature primarily focused on controlled laboratory settings or small case studies, there has been a need for a real-world, multi-center study in clinical settings to measure TPA by flushing both covered and un-covered toilets. To address this gap, the authors initiated a multicenter study to measure TPA in clinical settings and to assess the effectiveness of a commercially available, portable, and reusable toilet cover. The study enrolled 15 hospital centers (145 toilets) in nine U.S. states which included seven National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers. The particle number concentrations were measured using a TSI optical particle counter (TSI 9306) with six size bins (0.3 to 25.0 µm) positioned 22 inches above the floor. The results showed that the ambient particle number concentrations in the HEPA-filtered floor bathrooms (376 ± 857#/L) are significantly lower than the non-HEPA-filtered ones (7,432 ± 9,207#/L). The mean particle number concentrations generated by flushing are 3,951 ± 8,606#/L with a median of 1,916#/L, ranging from 136#/L to 71,959#/L. Results with cover demonstrated a reduction in the total number of particles of 101 ± 11% regardless of the HEPA filter usage (p = 0.0002 in the Mann-Whitney U test). Mixed-effects modeling revealed that the overall level of particle reduction is substantial regardless of state (nine total), floor levels, flush volumes, and inpatient versus outpatient. This study provides evidence supporting the use of the tested portable toilet cover as an intervention to reduce healthcare workers', patients', and visitors' exposure to toilet plume aerosols in clinical settings.