Journal of chemical health & safety最新文献

Production and use of engineered nanomaterials have grown substantially in recent years, leading to an increased potential for occupational exposure to these materials. Health and safety data remain largely unknown or incomplete for most engineered nanomaterials. The management of possible risks associated with engineered nanomaterials in the workplace is of paramount importance for workers, employers, and occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals and is a complex and developing field of research. A key component of risk management is the effective communication of known and potential risks in the workplace. Many proposals and recommendations have been made for signage to warn of the location and use of engineered nanomaterials within occupational settings. Such signage could raise awareness and serve as a reminder of the potential unknown health and safety risks presented by engineered nanomaterials. We have designed a simple visual pictogram intended to indicate the presence of engineered nanomaterials in the workplace. Herein, we present our pictogram in contrast with those concomitantly identified in various scientific guidelines and literature, provide details on a pilot-scale evaluation of this signage administered before a recent institution-level adaptation, and provide recommendations for those interested in implementing this signage in other workplaces. Strengthening risk communication by adapting this visual warning pictogram could help draw attention to potential risks, improve workplace hygiene, and ideally, decrease occupational exposure for those working with engineered nanomaterials.

The toxic metal mercury (Hg) has been mined, processed, and used throughout the Fergana Valley region of post-Soviet Central Asia for millennia. Although most historical Hg mining activities have ceased throughout the Fergana Valley region, Hg is still mined, processed, and exported globally from the Khaidarkan kombinat in southwestern Kyrgyzstan. Despite the rich history of Hg mining and use throughout the Fergana Valley region, the legacy effects of these activities on environmental Hg contamination remain undescribed. Mercury concentrations were analyzed in topsoil, terrestrial vegetation, earthworms, riverine sediments, and fish collected from sites with varied histories of Hg mining within the Fergana Valley region. Environmental and biological Hg concentrations were greatest at contemporary mining sites where Hg has been mined after 1940, intermediate at ancient mining sites where all historical Hg mining activities ceased before 1300 AD, and lowest at reference sites without known Hg mining history. For all environmental media and biota, Hg concentrations were 1–2 orders of magnitude greater at contemporary mining sites than at reference sites. Elevated Hg concentrations at contemporary mining sites are attributed to the recency and intensity of Hg mining and showcase the detrimental effects of Hg mining on diverse environmental media and biota. Elevated Hg concentrations at ancient mining sites are attributed to a combination of (1) legacy Hg contamination in soils and sediments introduced by historical mining and processing activities over 700 years ago and (2) the presence of naturally Hg-rich geologic belts upon which ancient mines were constructed.

Our university has been conducting safety and health risk assessments in accordance with the Basic Health and Safety Policy established in 2005. In this context, a risk assessment of chemical substances has been in place. The implementation of chemical substance risk assessment became mandatory by Japanese law in FY 2016. At our university, the series of safety risk assessments has totaled approximately 6,500 cases. Of these, the most common damage predicted was “Fire” at around 16%, followed by “Burn” at about 13%, and “Chemical burn” at approximately 11%. Of the risk assessments in which “Fire” was the predicted damage, “Chemical substance” was the most frequently identified hazard. Specifically, around 40% of “Chemical substance” was “Flammable liquid”, about 30% was “Spontaneously combustible substance and water-prohibiting substance”, and approximately 9% was “Other hazardous material”. It should be noted that there was a negative association between the percentage of risk assessments performed and the percentage of actual accidents that occurred. That is, what is strongly recognized as a hazard in risk assessment tends to have fewer occurrences as an actual accident cause. As a rule, the identified hazard in the risk assessment and the main cause of the actual accident were consistent, and the risk assessment based on the assumption of several predictable types of damage from a single hazard could have been directly attributed to the prevention of actual accidents.

Aromatic amines (AAs) are an important class of organic compounds that find their application in various industries, such as dye production, rubber manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis. Despite the various applications, they significantly harm human health and the environment. This article provides an overview of the toxicity, hazards, and safe handling of some primary aromatic amines (PAAs), focusing on representative examples, such as aniline, toluidine, nitroaniline, chloroaniline, and naphthylamine. The carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of PAAs are a matter of concern that impacts the health of workers who are occupationally exposed to such chemicals. Nonoccupational exposure to tobacco smoke and household products also causes health issues in elderly patients who remain indoors. Water and soil contamination by these pollutants adversely affects aquatic organisms and groundwater quality. Thus, proper handling and disposal protocols must be followed to minimize their impact on human health and the environment. Additionally, this review discusses the discrepancies between the European Union (EU) and Japan’s hazard categorization for aniline as a specific example. The information presented in this review emphasizes the importance of understanding toxicity, hazards, and safe handling practices associated with PAAs to ensure their responsible use and mitigate potential risks.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are synthetic compounds widely used as consumer items such as cosmetics and therapeutic drugs across the globe. The inappropriate disposal of PPCPs in the environment has raised serious concerns regarding their potential adverse impacts on human and animal health. Hence, the present study aims to delve into the environmental contamination of numerous PPCPs and their detrimental impacts on biota and climate change. Mining of data published in the relevant literature has revealed that active ingredients of PPCPs and their metabolites generally invade the ecosystem via multiple sources. Varying concentrations of these contaminants are reported in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater treatment plants. The majority of PPCPs pose acute and chronic toxicity to living organisms. They adversely affect the structure and function of the algal community along with the feeding, mating, metabolic activities, and reproductive behavior of invertebrates, fishes, and higher vertebrates, including humans. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations as a response to PPCP contamination is another health concern. In addition, targeting mitochondrial respiratory proteins and cytochrome enzymes by PPCPs might contribute to the onset of multiple physiological ailments. Studies have deciphered the connection between PPCP contamination and methanogenesis, which could potentially impact climate change. Several degradation methods have been used for the removal of PPCPs. However, none of them completely remove the PPCPs from samples. Therefore, developing more advanced eco-friendly approaches is warranted for better treatment of PPCPs in water media. In addition, further investigations are required for the risk assessment of several PPCPs that have not yet been investigated.

With the help of (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) diethylenetriamine (TMSPETA), hafnium(IV) oxide (HfO₂), an inorganic nanofiller, was modified. The resulting TMSPETA/HfO₂ was then encased in graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and placed within a pure epoxy resin (EP). The protective behavior of mild steel coated with epoxy in the presence of various concentrations of GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ was studied using electrochemical methods in seawater environment. It was found that the addition of 0.6 wt % of GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ to the epoxy resin produced maximum resistance. Hence, the optimum concentration of 0.6 wt % was utilized for further investigation. The PHRR and THR values for the GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ significantly decreased by 73% and 57%, respectively, as compared to pure EP, showing that the material is more flame retardant. The results of salt spray tests showed that the inclusion of GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ in the epoxy matrix enhanced the corrosion protection performance and reduced water absorption. EIS measurements showed that the epoxy-GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ had increased coating resistance of 6.42E9 Ω·cm² even after 320 h of exposure to seawater. According to SECM investigations, the coated steel with EP-GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ nanocomposite has the lowest ferrous ion dissipation (1.0 I/nA). FE-SEM/EDX investigation revealed that silanized GCN was enhanced in the degradation products, resulting in a durable inert nanolayered covering. The newly created EP-GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ coating was incredibly water-resistant, with a WCA of 165°. The TMSPETA-HfO₂ wrapped in GCN has demonstrated strong adhesion and hardness in the epoxy substrate as well as good mechanical properties. An increased adhesive strength (19.1 MPa) was achieved for mild steel coated with EP-GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ prior to being immersed in seawater. As a result, the coating has greater adhesive strength and can hold up even after a prolonged immersion. In light of this, the EP-GCN/TMSPETA-HfO₂ nanocomposite may be used as a coating component in the automotive industry.