Annals Of Work Exposures and Health最新文献

Introduction: Tris (chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) is an organophosphate flame retardant (PFR) added to flexible polyurethane foam to adhere to national or sectorial flammability requirements. During the manufacturing of flexible polyurethane foam, workers can be potentially exposed to TCPP dermally or through inhalation.

Objective: We aimed to determine the exposure to TCPP in European polyurethane foam workers and perform a risk assessment based on a newly determined derived no effect level (DNEL).

Methods: In this study, 28 workers from 5 European flexible polyurethane foam production factories participated. Levels of the urinary metabolites of TCPP: bis(1-chloro-isopropyl) hydroxy-isopropyl phosphate (BCIPHIPP) and bis(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (BCIPP) were measured using LC-MS/MS and risk assessment was performed by calculating estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of TCPP and comparing these with the DNEL.

Results: BCIPHIPP was detected in 100% of samples, with a median of 5.56 ng/mL (maximum 420 ng/mL). BCIPP had an overall detection frequency of 31%, but in workers from one individual factory it was detected in 93% (n = 13) of samples, with a median of 9.41 ng/mL (maximum 58.6 ng/mL). A DNEL of 3.0 mg/kg bw/day for TCPP was determined for an occupationally exposed population by evaluating a recently published chronic in vivo study on TCPP carcinogenicity. EDIs were all more than 2 orders of magnitude below the DNEL.

Conclusions: Although BCIPHIPP levels detected in this study were higher than in the general population, the performed risk assessment indicated that the included workers are not expected to be at risk for carcinogenic effects following TCPP exposure at the measured levels and that the applied safety measures are sufficiently protecting the workers under these conditions.

Objectives: The aim was to estimate the prevalence and risk of respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to epoxy resin systems in the wind turbine industry.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 180 epoxy-exposed production workers from two Danish wind turbine blade factories and 41 non-exposed office workers. Respiratory symptoms were defined as having two or more symptoms (i.e. wheezing in chest, waking up with chest tightness, shortness of breath, attack of coughing, or asthma attack) within the last 12 mo. Epoxy exposure was defined as exposure status (epoxy-exposed production worker or non-exposed office worker) and years of epoxy-exposure (years of employment as production worker). Epoxy skin sensitization status was obtained through a patch-test. The association between epoxy-exposure and respiratory symptoms was estimated using modified Poisson regression (prevalence ratio (PR)) adjusting for smoking and age.

Results: A total of 13.3% of the epoxy-exposed production workers and 4.9% of non-exposed office workers reported two or more respiratory symptoms (PRadj=1.8, 95% CI 0.4-9.5). For years of exposure, PRadj values were 1.2 (<1 yr), 1.0 (≥1-<5 yr), and 2.6 (≥5 yr). Higher PRadj were found among men. Epoxy-sensitized production workers had a PRadj of 0.4, while non-sensitized workers had a PRadj of 1.9, compared to non-exposed office workers.

Conclusion: Epoxy-exposed production workers showed a tendency to report respiratory symptoms more often than non-exposed office workers. However, we found no clear association between exposure duration and symptoms. Further studies are highly warranted to evaluate the potential association between epoxy exposure and respiratory symptoms.

Pressure to increase rates of recycling in Great Britain is expected to increase to meet circular economy and net zero drivers. There are concerns about worker exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during the processing and recycling of waste upholstered domestic seating (WUDS). The aim of this study was to understand worker exposures to POPs, specifically the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other airborne substances hazardous to health, when WUDS go through the recycling process. Five WUDS processing sites were visited by a health and safety executive occupational hygienist, who collected worker and static air samples, bulk dust and bulk material samples, and assessed control measures in use. All exposures to inhalable dust and PBDEs were significantly below occupational exposure limits, while exposures to airborne bacteria and fungi were elevated at most sites. Exposures to endotoxins were above the recommended health-based nonbinding occupational exposure limits at 4 sites. Across all sites, recommended control measures were only partially met, indicating that exposures to airborne dust and biological agents could be reduced that these sites.

Background: Smelter workers and chimney sweepers may be exposed to heavy metals via particulate matter through airways and skin uptake. We hypothesized that these workers have higher blood concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury compared to an office-worker group. Furthermore, we hypothesized that their concentrations increased cross-week despite the use of properly fitted respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Our aim was to uncover workers' general heavy metal concentrations and cross-week changes to provide further insight into industrial occupational exposure.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 2 repeated measures. We quantified whole blood arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury 4 d apart. Participants answered a standardized questionnaire and log scheme on work exposure. Samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and we used Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and multiple linear regression to assess heavy metal differences across the 4-d workweek and occupational groups.

Results: Out of 226 participants (99 smelter workers, 80 chimney sweepers, and 47 office workers), 185 participants provided blood samples. The final dataset included 151 participants. Overall, heavy metal concentrations were below Mayo Clinic's cutoff concentrations. Multiple linear regression analysis with confounders did not show higher concentrations of heavy metals in the exposed occupations compared to office workers. Instead, we found statistically significant lower chromium in smelter workers. Sensitivity power analysis showed that our nonsignificant findings in the other metals were underpowered. Wilcoxon's signed rank test did not show cross-week increase.

Conclusions: In our population of chimney sweepers and smelter workers with high percentage use of RPE, occupational exposure to heavy metals does not seem to increase workers blood heavy metals; lifestyle factors seem more important. Further studies with higher number of participants are warranted to ensure our findings.

Safe Work Australia is currently considering reducing the occupational exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica to a health-based level near the detection limits of current sampling and analytical methods. Some stakeholders have argued that the limit should consider measurement uncertainty. Given the large day to day variability in exposure measurements and that occupational exposure limits (based on limited data) are not fine lines, we argue that this is unnecessary and risks failing to adequately protect worker health.

Background: Respirable dust and quartz are important occupational hazards, yet the effects of meteorological conditions on these concentrations remain poorly understood and predominantly theoretical.

Objective: Using respirable dust and quartz data from the Industrial Minerals Association Europe Dust Monitoring Programme (IMA-DMP) and outdoor meteorological data from the ERA5-LAND hourly land data, we aimed first to determine whether meteorological conditions had an impact on the sampling strategy for these exposures and, second, to describe the association between outdoor meteorological conditions and respirable dust and quartz concentrations.

Methods: We linked the exposure data for 153 sites across Europe and outdoor meteorological data by date and IMA site location. We used descriptive statistics to compare the meteorological conditions (temperature, precipitation, and wind speed) on measurement and non-measurement days. A linear mixed-effects model was used to investigate the relationship between meteorological variables and respirable dust and quartz concentrations. The model includes adjustments for period-specific time trends, minerals produced, job site, and job function.

Results: Meteorological conditions on measurement and non-measurement days were similar. We estimate a 2.3% and 5.9% increase in dust and quartz concentrations for every 10 °C increase in temperature. A 10-fold increase in precipitation is estimated to reduce dust and quartz concentrations by -2.6% and -3.1%, respectively. A 10-fold increase in wind speed is estimated to reduce quartz concentrations by -9.0%, and this association was not statistically significant for dust. Temperature had the strongest effect on personal concentrations, followed by wind speed. Associations were generally stronger for respirable quartz than respirable dust.

Conclusions: Within the IMA-DMP, meteorological conditions did not affect the measurement strategy for dust and quartz and had a small effect on concentrations measured at 153 sites across Europe. Thus, non-random, biased sampling schemes would result in a slight (<10%) overestimation or underestimation of long-term respirable dust and quartz concentration depending on the meteorological conditions, justifying the collection of meteorological data during sampling.

Sodium fluoroacetate, better known as 1080, is a vertebrate toxin used for predator elimination in New Zealand. Sodium fluoroacetate itself is non-toxic but is readily converted by the body into highly toxic fluorocitrate, a metabolic poison known to impair mitochondrial function through inhibition of the enzyme aconitase, a key step in the citric acid cycle. The New Zealand workplace exposure standard of 0.05 mg/m3 is unlikely to protect workers from chronic exposure health risks. The chronic protective airborne exposure limit presented herein was derived from a NOAEL of 0.075 mg/kg/day via application of an uncertainty factor of 3,000. A UF of 3,000 was chosen based on 3 for toxicodynamic differences between species; 10 for intraspecies variation; 10 for extrapolation from a short-term duration study; and 10 for database limitations. The resulting reference dose of 0.025 µg/kg/day was converted to an inhalable 8-h equivalent TWA assuming a conservative 60 kg person and a ventilation rate during medium metabolic activity of 6 L/min. This gave a workplace exposure limit for sodium fluoroacetate of 0.52 µg/m3, which should be protective of chronic health risk resulting from quantal myocardial and testicular toxicity. A corresponding BEI of 0.15 µg/L was derived using methodology previously described by Beasley et al. (2009).

Background: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance indicators are important to ensure effective management and contribute to organizational decision-making processes regarding health risk mitigation strategies. Recently, the resurgence of "black lung" and silicosis have increased awareness of work-related health impacts on workers and industry. Occupational health impacts are often under-reported compared to occupational safety impacts. Where they are addressed, the emphasis is typically on lagging indicators such as illness and disease rates. The inadequacy of lagging indicators such as workplace compensation statistics in revealing the full extent of worker illness and disease is widely acknowledged. A framework of leading indicators could provide workplaces with tools that can measure occupational health outcomes more effectively, allowing for early intervention and risk mitigation.

Method: This study aims to identify reliable leading health indicators that can support workplaces to identify and manage risk factors that impact worker health, using a mixed-method review approach. Initially, a literature review to identify and rate the quality of key occupational health indicators was conducted, followed by a qualitative survey to collect stakeholder feedback. Indicators were stratified for quality and type (leading or lagging), in the categories of leadership, strategy, organization, employees, and partnership. The survey results were collated to reflect categories and sub-categories of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management system areas.

Results: Of the 153 leading health performance indicators that were identified through the literature, 28 (18%) were evaluated as high quality, 80 (52%) as medium quality, and 45 (29%) as low quality. A total of 106 lagging indicators were extracted, 42 rated as high quality (40%), 39 (37%) as medium quality, and 25 (24%) as low quality. Results of the data review indicated that occupational health performance indicators centred on risk control systems (n = 7; 25%) and communication (n = 4; 14%) were rated as higher quality leading indicators. High-quality performance indicators pertaining to employees (competence, awareness, and involvement) were lacking (n = 2; 7%). A framework of leading indicators that can be used by companies to evaluate and ensure health risks are controlled is proposed.

Conclusion: To effectively address occupational health risks, including injuries and illnesses that develop over time due to hazardous exposures, it is essential to integrate OHS metrics as a core component of health and safety management systems. This research established a baseline framework to assist the industry in establishing key occupational health performance objectives enabling them to achieve their duty of care to protect the health of workers.

Introduction: Research training and research collaboration have been identified as a means of improving the standing and impact of occupational health and hygiene (OHH) professionals, especially in rapidly industrializing countries. The 2 key measures of research achievement relate to publication in high-impact (Q1) peer-reviewed journals and awarding of competitive research grants. However, there appears to be little formal research training guidance in the OHH field. In order to address the OHH training need, 2 introductory modules addressing publications and grants were developed by the University of Adelaide and the University of Indonesia and trialled in Indonesia.

Methods: The Carpe Diem course design approach, with team-based storyboarding, was used. The training was delivered in hybrid mode to postgraduate and PhD students and early career researchers. The modules provided a focus on the value and context of OHH research and key elements scrutinized by editors, reviewers, and selection panels. Characterization of research "players," gamification and storytelling were used to enhance interest amongst the relatively young audience.

Results: Feedback from participants was positive, including design, interest, and meeting expectations. In an online survey, respondents stated that they would attend a similar training activity, and 96% would recommend this training to others.

Discussion and conclusions: This research training activity is the first to focus on OHH research, and was successfully piloted in a country where industry and occupational hygiene are rapidly growing. Young researchers appreciated the novel learning design. Research training in developing countries may assist in making untapped exposure data available, expanding and enriching the OHH literature.

Objectives: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), particularly nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2), are widely used across industries in Singapore, raising concerns about potential worker exposure. This study aimed to quantify occupational exposures and emissions at workplaces handling nano-TiO2, assessing work practices, usage patterns and workplace controls.

Methods: Occupational exposure to nano-TiO2 was assessed across 7 workplaces (laboratories, manufacturing, downstream application, and recycling). Methods for characterizing personal exposure included personal gravimetric sampling (NIOSH 0600), elemental analysis (NIOSH 7300), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while real-time particle number concentration (PNC) monitoring was done to understand the particle distribution in the workplace environment during the tasks performed. Workplace observations included measurement of dimensions of the work area, existing control measures (engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment), nature of nano-TiO2 handling practices, forms, quantities, particle size, and state changes of the nano-TiO2 used.

Results: Personal exposure samples were collected from 30 workers across workplaces. These include: 7 in laboratory, 10 in manufacturing, 6 in spraying, and 7 in shredding/recycling. Of these, 3 samples, collected during bulk loading and spraying activities, exceeded the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for ultrafine nano-TiO2 (0.3 mg/m3). Electron microscopy analysis of the samples exceeding the NIOSH REL for ultrafine nano-TiO2 during spraying revealed that the nano-TiO2 particles were predominantly in the size range of 80 to 147 nm. Respirable dust concentration and PNC were positively correlated for higher-risk activities, with peak PNC observed at the workplaces where spraying applications were performed.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating nano-TiO2 workplace exposure in Singapore. Exposure levels were generally low, likely due to prevalence of small-scale and research-based applications but varied significantly across workplaces for activities such as spraying, bulk loading and manufacturing. Singapore's current regulatory approach (TR 73) establishes exposure limits but lacks specific guidance on control measures. A more holistic regulatory framework is needed, providing tailored recommendations for diverse workplace exposure scenarios.