Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health最新文献

Due to the high prevalence of noise and vibration exposure in most industries, this study aimed to investigate the effects of simultaneous exposure to noise and vibration on sex hormone levels and fertility capacity in rats, as well as the protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of cinnamon. In this experimental study, 64 adult male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups, control, noise (N), cinnamon (C), noise + cinnamon (NC), vibration (V), vibration + cinnamon (VC), noise + vibration (NV) and groups Noise + Vibration + Cinnamon (NVC). Groups C, NC, VC and NVC received a 75 mg/kg dose of cinnamon extract by gavage. The rats of groups N and NC, V and VC and NV and NVC were each exposed to noise at 100 dB (700-5700 Hz), vibration acceleration of 1 m/s² rms (frequency range of 4-8 Hz), and simultaneously exposed to vibration and noise for 8 hours continuously every night (23:00-7:00) for 50 consecutive nights. Next, a blood sample was taken from the lateral tail vein and the levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured with ELISA kits. Each male rat was caged with 3 female rats for one week. The pregnant rats were kept until all of the rat pups were born. Then the fertility capacity, the total number of births, the live births and the birth weight of the rat pups were analyzed with the software SPSS. In the N and NV groups, compared to the control group, a significant decrease in LH and testosterone levels, the number of births and the birth weight was observed (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in testosterone levels, number of births and birth weight was observed in Group V compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, significant increases in LH, FSH and testosterone levels and in birth weight were observed in group C compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Significant increases in FSH and testosterone levels, birth weight, and the number of births were noted in the NVC group compared to the NV group (p < 0.05). Based on the results of this study, cinnamon extract could alleviate the destructive effects of noise and vibration (both individually and in combination) on levels of sex hormones (LH, FSH, and testosterone), the number of births, and birth weight.

This case report describes a 61-year-old male who sought treatment for sudden symptoms of dry cough, chest pain and severe dyspnea. On admission, the patient had hypoxemia and predominantly medullary infiltrate that we could observe on his imaging exams. After hospital discharge, he presented two similar episodes, with clinical and radiological improvement with oxygen therapy alone. He denied exposure to birds, mold or chemical agents. However, the patient noticed the onset of symptoms soon after drinking chimarrão. Given the compatible clinical, radiological and laboratory history, the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was performed. The patient was instructed by the medical team not to consume the drink anymore, remaining asymptomatic for more than two years.

No published noise exposure assessment of occupational health and safety (OHS) consultants exists. An assessment was performed to quantify the noise level of OHS consultants while they were on site at a client's facility. OHS consultants wore a dosimeter set to A-weighting, slow response, 60 s log interval and a criterion level of 85dBA with a 3 dB exchange rate. Both the projected time-weighted average (TWA) and projected dose were recorded. Of the 32 noise assessments collected, three had projected TWAs that exceeded the occupational exposure limit of 85 dBA. Nearly 75% of the projected TWA measurements were equal or greater than the Action Level of 80 dBA. According to best practices, occupational noise levels greater than 80 dBA present a risk for noise-induced hearing loss and, therefore, a hearing loss prevention program should be implemented.

This work is a cross-sectional comparative study conducted on 528 residents in the slum and non-slum areas of Pokhara, Nepal. Of the total number of respondents, 90.2% in the slums and 63.3% in the non-slums indicated the existence of a main source of noise, and 80.7% in the slums and 66.0% in the non-slums replied that they had been highly annoyed by noise. The indoor noise levels measured for 24 h were higher in slums than in non-slums, ranging from 59 to 78 dBA and from 51 to 69 dBA, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed a significantly poorer status of slum dwellers in four health domains. Logistic regression analysis identified that living in a slum was a significant predictor (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.35-4.09) of a low level of health. Meanwhile, a high level of noise annoyance was a good determinant (OR, 6.71; 95% CI, 3.13-14.36) of low quality of life among slum dwellers revealing a distinguishing negative effect of the high level of noise annoyance in the slum areas.

Rising worldwide demand and consumption of fossil fuels have elevated wealth creation, improved undesirable impacts on climatic change from emission of greenhouse gases, and endangered communal health. In developing nations, biomass wastes, which include but are not limited to agricultural residues, are generated in huge quantities yearly. During the disposal of biomass, incomplete combustion causes people to get exposed to elevated indoor concentrations on health-damaging pollutants including particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Inefficient usage or disposed biomass wastes may cause toxic impacts on higher levels of pollution, the consequent degeneration of public health and ecological contamination. It is possible to convert these wastes into energy-efficient briquettes through densification. In this research work, the combustion characteristics were identified from biomass briquettes which were produced from Onion Peels (OP), Tamarind Shells (TS) and Cassava Starch. OP-TS were mixed sequentially and conversely with different proportions. From the total weight of biomass, 10% of cassava starch was added and briquettes were produced under 200 kN pressure from the compressed hydraulic system within the dwell time of 60 seconds. The proximate characteristics such as the presence of water content, amount of fixed carbon, ash and volatile matter were determined by using the standard procedures of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The ultimate parameter, which is inclusive of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) were diagnosed in all produced biomass briquettes and calorific values were identified for all the produced biomass briquettes as well. OP-TS have better fuel properties in comparison with pine, cotton stalk (CS), wood sawdust (WS), municipal solid waste (MSW) and cotton straw biomass briquettes (CSB). Therefore, the produced biomass briquettes could bring substantial environmental and socio-economic benefits to rural communities and are potentially worthy fuels derived from agricultural wastes.

During the pandemic, healthcare workers are at the top of the risky groups regarding mental stress. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of type D personality traits with anxiety, depression, and fear of the SARS-CoV-2 related illness and SARS-CoV-2 virus in healthcare workers during the pandemic period. One hundred ninety-four healthcare workers (53 physicians, 19 dentists, 76 nurses, and 46 auxiliary health personnel) were included in the present study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Type D Personality Scale, Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to the participants. The anxiety, depression, and fear of illness and virus scores were higher in healthcare workers with Type D personality than those without type D personality (respectively; p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001). The Fears about Contamination and Illness, Fears about Social Distancing, Behaviors Related to Virus and Illness Fears, and Impact of Illness and Virus Fears subscale scores and FIVE total scale scores were significantly higher in female healthcare workers than male ones (p = 0.001, for all). Our study results show that Type D personality traits in healthcare workers are associated with higher anxiety, depression, and fear of disease and virus.

Studies conducted after the SARS outbreak (2003) reported that healthcare professionals experienced high levels of psychological distress. These psychological problems need to be addressed during and after the epidemic. This study was planned to be carried out in healthcare professionals to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and burnout. Data were collected online from 538 healthcare professionals working in different cities and units using the Personal Information Form consisting of questions about demographic characteristics, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale. It was determined that the fear of COVID-19 high and burnout levels of the participants were above the scale. There was a significant difference between the burnout level of individuals, the level of fear of COVID-19, the individual's profession and the unit they work in. It is important to implement psychosocial interventions in order to take the necessary precautions to ensure that healthcare workers are less affected by the negative effects of fear and burnout during the epidemic process. The role of professional teams, including psychiatric nurses, is of great importance in determining and resolving the negative effects of the pandemic on healthcare professionals.

The aim of this research was to assess and prioritize risk levels of health, safety, and environmental (HSE) hazards in solid waste management facilities of Tehran, Iran. The risk of HSE hazards was assessed using Fine-Kinney and environmental failure mode and effects analysis (EFMEA) methods and then the high-risk hazards were prioritized for implementing corrective actions by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) considering six criteria of (1) probability of occurrence, (2) severity of consequences, (3) simultaneous HSE effects, and (4-6) feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of corrective actions. A total number of 485 HSE hazards were identified, of which 78% were health and safety hazards and 22% were environmental hazards. The proportions of the transfer and transport, material recovery and composting facilities and landfill sites in the identified hazards were 21%, 38%, and 41%, respectively. Based on the AHP method, the leading hazards in the transfer and transport, material recovery and composting facilities, and landfill sites were exposure to bioaerosol in carwash facilities, exposure to bioaerosols and odor/volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in manual waste separation, and leachate spills in the former landfill site, respectively. This study showed that the hybrid method was an appropriate and reliable tool to prioritize HSE hazards.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of exposure to and contamination by smoke within a population of firefighter instructors. We performed a prospective observational study from September 17 to September 26, 2018, using environmental samples and urinary biomarker analysis. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) were never exceeded, except for carbon monoxide for the fire attack training chamber and formaldehyde and carbon monoxide for the fire box. As regards to urinary biomarkers, we observed that 1OHP and 1-naphtol did accumulate. The pre-post analysis showed an acute exposure exceeding the BRVs of benzene, 1-hydroxypyrene and naphtol, except for 3-benzo[a]pyrene which was undetectable in half of the cases. Even if values were reassuring, an effort could be made to improve the working conditions and reduce contamination by rethinking the respiratory protection and improving PPE quality.

In this study, the high versus low analysis method was applied to evaluate the association of maternal nitrate intake and risk of heart defect, limb deficiency, cleft lip, and preterm birth. Also, linear and non-linear dose-response associations between maternal intake of nitrate and risk of heart defects were investigated. In high versus low intake, the risk of heart defects in infants is directly associated with the level of nitrate exposure, but no significant relationship was found between the cleft lip, limb deficiency, and preterm birth. The linear dose-response meta-analysis was associated with risk of heart defects (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.05, P = 0.400, I²= 0%, P heterogeneity= 0.602, n = 3) and nonlinear dose-response meta-analysis showed that maternal intake of nitrate higher than ∼4 mg/day is positively associated with heart defects risk (P non-linearity= 0.012).