Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"\"The Action Level^®\".","authors":"J Thomas Pierce","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2470037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2470037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143472498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A study of worker isoflurane exposure levels in Australian veterinary workplaces.","authors":"Louisa Johnson, Kelly Johnstone","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439808","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2024.2439808","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isoflurane is commonly used in veterinary clinics to anesthetize patients and has known acute and chronic health effects. Exposure to isoflurane should be kept as low as reasonably achievable, to minimize the risk of potential health impacts on workers. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of recommended hazard controls for the management of isoflurane exposure to veterinary staff performing regular anesthesia procedures in equine and small animal settings. Isoflurane exposures were assessed via personal passive sampling using a gas and vapor monitor. It was found that when commonly recommended controls are utilized, including active scavenging systems, leak testing circuitry before use, using a cuffed endotracheal tube, avoiding chamber or mask inductions, and recovering the patient on pure oxygen before disconnection from anesthetic circuitry, worker exposures were below the lowest international Occupational Exposure Standard (OEL) of 2 ppm, in both an equine and small animal setting, with exposures in the equine clinic results having an estimated arithmetic mean of 0.52 ppm (<i>GSD</i> = 1.52) and exposures in the small animal clinics results having an estimated arithmetic mean of 0.34 ppm (<i>GSD</i> = 2.06). Results indicate that additional hazard controls could reduce exposures further and include limiting the total minutes of exposure to isoflurane, delivering the lowest effective isoflurane % to the patient, minimizing the number of times vaporizers are refilled during a work shift, and ensuring that surgery room ventilation is maximized.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143416753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Before shots are fired: The occupational health and safety professional's role in addressing active shooter and violent threats in the workplace.","authors":"John Comiskey","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2459713","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2459713","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article examines active shooters and mass shootings and their implications for occupational health and safety professionals as they relate to industrial hygiene and public health. The article explores the overlapping workplace threat landscape and the roles of homeland security and industrial hygiene enterprises in preventing, mitigating, responding to, and helping people recover from workplace violence, including active shooters, as a natural extension of the purview of those enterprises in addressing all hazards. The article concludes by setting forth a means for improving workplace violence prevention and response through industrial hygiene concepts and through the contributions of industrial hygiene professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143399394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial assessment and performance evaluation of eyewash stations in the laboratory setting.","authors":"Derek A Newcomer, Ishveen Chopra, Ibne Karim M Ali, Shantanu Roy, Jennifer R Cope, Judi Todd Darnell","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2024.2443208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eyewash stations are an essential component of laboratory safety programs, providing first aid in case of ocular exposure to hazardous materials. However, the presence of microbial contamination in these devices poses a potential risk of ocular infection to laboratory employees. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the microbial quality and performance of 40 eyewash stations fixed in 10 buildings in a laboratory setting. Water quality parameters, including temperature, pH, turbidity, and the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp., were measured at various time points (first draw, after 2 min of flushing, and 15 min flushing) from samples collected from each of the 40 eyewash stations. Performance and operational data were also measured according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Z358.1-2014 standard. Our results showed variable compliance with this standard across measures of physical condition, performance, access, and maintenance. Out of the 147 water samples collected (130 eyewash samples, 17 building reference samples), 28 samples were suspected to contain <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. or other free-living amoeba based on initial testing. Further analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. in 5 out of 28 samples. The results of this study provide insights into the potential risk of ocular infections associated with using eyewash stations and provide the basis for the recommendations on maintenance protocols to minimize the risk of microbial contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143365113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A cough simulator constructed from off-the-shelf and 3D-printed components.","authors":"Lee Portnoff, Taekhee Lee","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2427090","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2427090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of low-cost research equipment is crucial for enhancing accessibility in scientific research, particularly in the field of respiratory disease transmission. This study presents a novel, customizable cough simulator designed for ad-hoc studies that require precise control over ejection velocity and aerosol size. Constructed from off-the-shelf parts and 3D-printed components, this programmable, piston-driven simulator offers an affordable solution for researchers. Its performance has been validated, demonstrating suitability for evaluating fluid flow and monitoring ejected particles that correspond to the velocities of mouth breathing and coughing. Potential applications for this device include assessments of aerosol ventilation, disinfection, and the efficacy of personal protective equipment, all of which contribute to advancing scientific understanding and public health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"79-86"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142780370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward rapid silica analysis of CPDM samples: Deposition of recovered dust and analysis by FTIR.","authors":"August Greth, Emily Sarver","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2421008","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2421008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ongoing resurgence of severe Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the US has been linked to overexposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS, which is predominantly present as quartz and regulated as such). Capabilities that enable more frequent RCS monitoring are highly sought. Recent developments include field-based quartz analysis of traditional filter samples-collected on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters-using portable Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). However, most respirable dust samples in US coal mines are collected with a continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM) that enables real-time tracking of total respirable dust mass concentration. FTIR cannot directly analyze the collected dust sample due to the materials and construction of the sampling substrate. To address this issue, a simple three-step method was envisioned wherein the dust could be recovered into a suspension, redeposited onto a PVC filter using a syringe filter apparatus, and then analyzed by FTIR. The current study was conducted to develop the redeposition and analysis steps. It specifically considers the issues of the PVC filter size and deposition pattern yielded by typical filtration apparatuses and the FTIR scanning locations to establish a model that predicts quartz mass from the spectral data. Of the options tested here, the following combination was found to be optimal: 25-mm PVC filter with dust deposition using an inline syringe filter holder (which yields a \"wheel and spoke\" pattern), and FTIR analysis at four center-offset locations (90° apart, 8-mm from the center) from which the spectral data were averaged. Under these conditions, the predicted quartz mass on filters with respirable dust deposited from one of two geologic source materials (i.e., representing real coal mine silica sources) was observed to have a standard error of 0.011 mg (11 µg) for samples with an expected quartz mass of less than 0.150 mg (which equated to a total sample mass of less than about 1.5 mg). For samples with higher expected quartz masses, standard error increased, suggesting that dust deposition becomes less uniform with increasing total sample mass.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"87-100"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142829117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"The Action Level^®\".","authors":"J Thomas Pierce","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2466376","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2466376","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D6-D7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143414552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) among engineered stone fabricators in Chicago-A pilot study.","authors":"Alissa DeVaughn, Leonard H T Go, Robert A Cohen, Yuan Shao","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2421488","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2421488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engineered stone countertops, popularly known as quartz or artificial stone countertops, have gained significant attraction due to their durability and aesthetic appeal. However, due to their high crystalline silica content, the fabrication of these countertops poses severe health risks to workers, as evidenced by numerous global cases of silicosis. The study aimed to assess occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) among fabricators in Chicago and characterize the elemental composition and physical properties of engineered stone dust. Eight professional fabricators from two local stone workshops were recruited for the study. The exposure levels to RCS were assessed using the NIOSH 7500 method. Bulk dust samples were collected on-site, and the elemental composition of the dust was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and reported in stoichiometric oxide units. A set of real-time air monitors was used to measure particle size distribution, particulate matter (PM) concentrations, and ambient conditions in the workplace. A questionnaire was administered, and worker activities were recorded during the visits. Workers were found to be overexposed to respirable quartz in their workplaces, with time-weighted averaged (TWA) concentrations ranging from 11 to 203 µg/m³, with a median concentration of 90 µg/m³. Seven samples (78%) exceeded the 50 µg/m³ TWA-8 hr occupational exposure limit for RCS. Engineered stone dust samples contain much higher silica content compared to natural stone dust (30%), with silica percentages ranging from 56% to 95%. Over 90% of the particles (90.3-98.7%) emitted from activities involving small hand tools were of size less than 2.5 µm. The use of respiratory protection was not observed during the visits. The study offers firsthand insights into the engineered stone fabrication industry. The findings reveal a combination of risk factors: elevated RCS concentrations, very high silica content in engineered stone, and a high prevalence of fine particles. These factors collectively pose significant health risks to workers that are unequaled in comparison to most other industries. The findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory measures to better protect workers' health in the engineered stone fabrication sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"101-109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142716436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Removal efficiency of antineoplastic drug cyclophosphamide by hypochlorous acid.","authors":"Yusuke Iwasaki, Makoto Hiraide, Haruna Taguchi, Ryuya Iehisa, Hiroshi Akiyama, Kenichi Suzuki, Hisanori Shimizu, Masakazu Yamaguchi","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2423752","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2423752","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypochlorous acid (HClO), one of the major reactive oxygen species, is obtained by electrolyzing a sodium chloride solution. HClO is a safe and effective disinfectant and decomposing agent widely used as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of HClO generated by electrolyzing sodium chloride as a decontaminant. Cyclophosphamide (CPA), an antineoplastic drug, was selected as the model drug, and various solvents (HClO, NaClO, etc.) were compared to identify the solvents that could react with and efficiently decompose CPA. To identify a solvent that efficiently decomposes CPA, the CPA concentration was measured using liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. When either NaClO or HClO was used, the CPA concentration decreased, and a peak corresponding to 3-chloro CPA, identified by mass spectrometry, was detected. Furthermore, to investigate the reversibility of the reaction between CPA and ClO^-, ClO^- was removed from the reaction solution using solid-phase extraction, resulting in the previously decreased CPA concentration returning to nearly its original level. Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs poses a significant risk to worker health. This study's results suggest that CPA can be replaced by 3-chloro CPA when HClO is used as the wiping solvent like NaClO, thereby reducing occupational exposure from wiping. Future studies should investigate the wiping and degradation efficiencies of other anti-cancer agents. Occupational exposure to anti-cancer drugs can be significantly reduced by integrating various mitigation measures, thereby contributing to a safer work environment for healthcare professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"123-131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142829113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterizing dynamic atmosphere generation system performance for analytical method development.","authors":"Amos Doepke, Robert P Streicher, Peter B Shaw, Ronnee N Andrews, Dawn R Farwick, Emily G Westbrook, Jennifer L Roberts, Paula F O'Connor, Angela L Stastny, Pramod S Kulkarni","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2423749","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2423749","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A significant portion of the work of developing and validating methods for volatile organic compound (VOC) sampling in workplace atmospheres involves the use of laboratory-generated atmospheres. The sample variability was evaluated from the dynamic atmosphere generation system used for VOC atmosphere generation and sampling. Characterization of the bias and variability of samples was done for a variety of atmospheres containing neat n-heptane and mixtures of VOCs sampled on activated coconut shell charcoal. Estimates of sampling variability ranged from 2% for neat n-heptane to 12% for a component in the 10 VOC mix. Sample variability increased for lower concentration samples and for mixtures of VOCs compared to single component atmospheres. This study can serve as a baseline for future atmosphere sampling experiments evaluating performance at lower concentrations and mixed VOC environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"110-122"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11842196/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142780320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}