Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"History and investigation of the chemical odors and explosion in the University Avenue sanitary sewer.","authors":"Adam Krajicek, Neil G Carlson, Caylin Crawford","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2309885","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2309885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the summer of 2022, a fire and explosion occurred in a sanitary sewer tunnel adjacent to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, propelling utility maintenance covers several meters into the air and jeopardizing the safety of the public and emergency responders. The investigation into the explosion highlighted the complex variables involved in the response to sanitary sewer events. This case study outlines current approaches and proposes recommendations for agencies to be better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to sewer-related incidents in the future. Our recommendations include the following: (1) proactive use of remote volatile organic compound (VOC) and lower explosive limit (LEL) monitoring in sanitary sewer tunnels, especially downstream of waste discharge sites; (2) incident responders should have access to instruments that measure oxygen, LEL, VOC concentration, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide; (3) better characterization of the relationship between sewer pressurization, elevation profiles, and vapor movement; (4) verification processes for oil/water separators used by industrial facilities discharging into the sanitary sewer system; (5) installation of ventilated or anchored pressure relief utility maintenance covers where allowed by code; and (6) building maintenance protocols that include regular drain flushing to keep drain traps filled. These measures are recommended to protect infrastructure and the health and safety of the public and the responders.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"162-168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140288323","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":"Toxic encephalopathy, vision loss, and memory disorder caused by acute acrylamide exposure.","authors":"Lubei Li, Jimeng Li, Lei Luo, Juanping Li, Huidan Huang, Ying Xie","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2305135","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2305135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acrylamide (ACR) is an irritant that can cause damage to the eyes, skin, and nervous and reproductive systems. This study aims to illustrate a case of central nervous system and optic nerve damage from exposure to ACR. In this case, a 49-year-old male material handler was accidentally splashed with ACR solution on both of his upper limbs. Consequently, he was admitted to the hospital with toxic encephalopathy, characterized by cerebellar ataxia and slurred speech. Magnetic resonance imaging scan, a brain computed tomography scan blood sample analyses, optic coherence tomography, electroneuromyogram, and visual evoked potentials examination were performed. After 20 days of receiving symptomatic support treatment, the patient continued to experience disturbances in consciousness. Then, he developed vision loss, memory disorders, and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy such as skin peeling, extremity weakness, and absent tendon reflexes. This case report underscores the severe consequences of acute dermal exposure to high concentrations of ACR, resulting in toxic encephalopathy, visual impairment, and memory disorders, which will contribute to a broader understanding of ACR toxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"152-161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139746697","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":"Respirable dust and crystalline silica concentrations among workers at a brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal.","authors":"John D Beard, Scott C Collingwood, James D LeCheminant, Neil E Peterson, Paul R Reynolds, Juan A Arroyo, Andrew J South, Clifton B Farnsworth, Gerardo Fong, Taylor Cisneros, Mariah Taylor, Seshananda Sanjel, James D Johnston","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2311873","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2311873","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica (SiO₂) has been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory diseases. Relatively few studies have measured respirable dust and SiO₂ concentrations among workers at brick kilns in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure personal breathing zone (PBZ) respirable dust and SiO₂ concentrations among workers at one brick kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 workers in five job categories: administration, fire master, green (unfired) brick hand molder, green brick machine molder, and top loader. PBZ air samples were collected from each worker following Methods 0600 (respirable dust) and 7500 (respirable crystalline SiO₂: cristobalite, quartz, tridymite) of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) respirable dust and quartz concentrations were also calculated. SiO₂ percentage was measured in one bulk sample each of wet clay, the release agent used by green brick hand molders, and top coat soil at the brick kiln. The geometric mean (GM) sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations were 0.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.27) and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.16) mg/m³, respectively. GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations were 15.28 (95% CI: 11.11, 21.02) and 8.60 (95% CI: 5.99, 12.34) µg/m³, respectively. Job category was significantly associated with GM sample and TWA respirable dust and quartz concentrations (all <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Top loaders had the highest GM sample and TWA respirable dust concentrations of 1.49 and 0.99 mg/m³, respectively. Top loaders also had the highest GM sample and TWA quartz concentrations of 173.08 and 114.39 µg/m³, respectively. Quartz percentages in bulk samples were 16%-27%. Interventions including using wet methods to reduce dust generation, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and education and training should be implemented to reduce brick kiln worker exposures to respirable dust and SiO₂.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"247-258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049736","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 \"dirty work\" of last responders: Occupational stigma risk and protective factors.","authors":"Ramzi Kibbi, Rima A Afifi, Hahn Pham, Daniel K Sewell, Peter P Teahen, Mark W Vander Weg","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2302481","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2302481","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Last responders constitute an occupational category that includes all those who are involved in the postmortem care of deceased persons and their families. The work of last responders is often considered \"dirty work\" and, as a result, stigmatized. Last responders are aware of this stigma, and stigma consciousness has been associated with negative health outcomes. Despite the wide acknowledgment of stigma among last responders, specific risk, or protective factors for experiencing stigma have not been investigated. This paper aims to identify determinants of stigma among last responders in the United States. The data for this study were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of last responders. The survey included a measure of stigma and multiple sociodemographic characteristics. A hurdle model was used to assess the association between the characteristics of last responders and their perceived stigma. Respondents were predominantly male (55.1%), White non-Hispanic (90.2%), and employed full-time (96%). Seventy-seven percent reported having experienced at least one form of occupation-related stigma. There was no significant association between the experience of stigma and any socio-demographic variables. The experience of stigma is nearly ubiquitous among last responders->75% of last responders in the sample experienced at least one form of stigma. Another aspect of its ubiquitous nature is the lack of evidence that stigma was experienced differentially across sex, race/ethnicity, employment type, and length of years as a last responder. Interventions are needed to decrease stigma among last responders and to support last responders in managing the consequences of the stigma they experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"145-151"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139746696","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":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2330872","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2330872","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D5-D6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140288322","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":"An antimicrobial zinc ion fiber for COVID-19 prevention in nonwoven face coverings for healthcare settings.","authors":"Meredith McQuerry, Annie Dodson","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2310675","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2310675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented increase in the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the healthcare industry, especially in the form of face coverings. Subsequently, guidelines related to breathability and wear comfort were published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an influx of various new materials entered the PPE market. This study evaluated a proprietary, novel, zinc-ion embedded fiber with the ability to deactivate bacteria and viruses, including SARS-COV-2, for its wear comfort in a nonwoven disposable mask in comparison to a commercially available surgical face mask which served as the control. Ten healthy, full-time, career, firefighters participated in this study wearing both masks in a randomized fashion. A medical task simulation (MTS) protocol was developed to replicate nursing task metabolic rates, per the compendium of physical activities, via a graded treadmill walking exercise. Participant ratings including ease of mask fit, overall mask comfort, facial comfort, breathability, and facial temperature sensation were recorded before, during, and after the 50-minute protocol in a controlled environmental chamber. The 100% nylon, zinc ion mask was rated as slightly cooler at the beginning of the trial (at 0.8 vs. 1.3), than the commercially available polypropylene mask. The polypropylene mask also reached a perceived mask facial comfort (MFC) rating of 1.6 just 35 min into the protocol whereas the zinc ion mask did not reach a rating of slight discomfort until the end of the exercise. Findings indicate the novel zinc-ion embedded mask was as comfortable, if not more so, than the commercially available nonwoven mask with more favorable ratings for longer durations. Not only do the zinc properties provide enhanced protection, but they maintain, if not improve, wearer comfort.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"239-246"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140028266","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":"Controlling <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> growth in hot water systems by reducing dissolved oxygen levels.","authors":"J David Krause","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2313580","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2313580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Legionella pneumophila</i>, the leading cause of Legionnaires' disease in the United States, is found in lakes, ponds, and streams but poses a health risk when it grows in building water systems. The growth of <i>L. pneumophila</i> in hot water systems of healthcare facilities poses a significant risk to patients, staff, and visitors. Hospitals and long-term care facilities account for 76% of reported Legionnaires' disease cases with mortality rates of 25%. Controlling <i>L. pneumophila</i> growth in hot water systems serving healthcare and hospitality buildings is currently achieved primarily by adding oxidizing chemical disinfectants. Chemical oxidants generate disinfection byproducts and can accelerate corrosion of premise plumbing materials and equipment. Alternative control methods that do not generate hazardous disinfection byproducts or accelerate corrosion are needed. <i>L. pneumophila</i> is an obligate aerobe that cannot sustain cellular respiration, amplify, or remain culturable when dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations are too low (< 0.3 mg/L). An alternative method of controlling <i>L. pneumophila</i> growth by reducing DO levels in a hot water model system using a gas transfer membrane contactor was evaluated. A hot water model system was constructed and inoculated with <i>L. pneumophila</i> at DO concentrations above 0.5 mg/L. Once the model system was colonized, DO levels were incrementally reduced. Water samples were collected each week to evaluate the effect of reducing dissolved oxygen levels when all other conditions favored <i>Legionella</i> amplification. At DO concentrations below 0.3 mg/L, <i>L. pneumophila</i> concentrations were reduced by 1-log over 7 days. Under conditions in the hot water model system, at favorable temperatures and with no residual chlorine disinfectant, <i>L. pneumophila</i> concentrations were reduced by 1-log, indicating growth inhibition by reducing DO levels as the sole control measure. In sections of the model system where DO levels were not lowered <i>L. pneumophila</i> continued to grow. Reducing dissolved oxygen levels in hot water systems of healthcare and other large buildings to control <i>L. pneumophila</i> could also lower the risk of supplemental chemical treatment methods currently in use.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"259-269"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049702","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":"Occupational exposure to chemical substances and health outcomes among hospital environmental services workers: A scoping review of international studies.","authors":"Stephanie Betancur, Ashley Leak Bryant, Jamie Conklin, AnnMarie Walton","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2311870","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2311870","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmental services (EVS) workers are essential to preventing the spread of disease in hospitals. However, their exposure to hazardous chemicals and drugs is understudied. This scoping review will synthesize literature on hazardous chemical exposures and adverse health outcomes among EVS workers to identify research gaps and trends for further investigation. The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure complete and accurate reporting. The scoping review included 25 studies on occupational exposure to chemicals among EVS workers in hospitals. Most studies focused on exposure to cleaning products, which led to dermal, respiratory, and ocular symptoms, oxidative stress, and inflammation. While personal protective equipment (PPE), training, education, and policies have the potential to enhance safety, further research is required to examine the long-term impacts of exposure and the cost-effectiveness of interventions. Future studies should utilize longitudinal approaches and self-reported data collection methods, such as diaries and interviews, to comprehensively assess exposure risks and develop effective interventions and policies. Future research is needed to understand the potential health risks faced by EVS workers from exposure to chemicals in hospitals. Longitudinal studies with objective exposure assessments and larger sample sizes should be conducted. Policies and interventions must be developed and implemented to improve safe work practices and reduce negative health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"287-309"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11172402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049735","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}

{"title":"Design of customizable personal protective equipment for 3-D printing: Performance evaluation of N95 respirators using computational fluid dynamics.","authors":"Jack Leidemann, João Paulo Dias, Moayyad Al-Nasra","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2023.2299811","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2023.2299811","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>3-D printing the structural components of facemasks and personal protective equipment (PPE) based on 3-D facial scans creates a high degree of customizability. As a result, the facemask fits more comfortably with its user's specific facial characteristics, filters contaminants more effectively with its increased sealing effect, and minimizes waste with its cleanable and reusable plastic structure compared to other baseline models. In this work, 3-D renditions of the user's face taken with smartphone laser scanning techniques were used to generate customized computer-aided design (CAD) models for the several components of an N95 respirator, which are each designed with considerations for assembly and 3-D printing constraints. Thorough analyses with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out to verify the respirator's efficiency in filtering airborne contaminants to comply with industry safety guidelines and generate data to showcase the relationships between various input and output design parameters. This involved a comparative study to identify the ideal cross-sectional geometry of exposed filter fabric, a sensitivity study to evaluate the respirator's ability to protect the user in various scenarios, and the 3-D printing of several prototypes to estimate printing time, cost of materials, and comfort level at the user's face. Results showed that the combination of different digital tools can increase efficiency in the design, performance assessment, and production of customized N95-rated respirators.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"169-188"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049734","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":"Preliminary analyses of accumulation of carcinogenic contaminants on retired firefighter ensembles.","authors":"Jake Mitchell, Jooyeon Hwang, Preston Larson, Sumit Mandal, Robert J Agnew","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2023.2296628","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2023.2296628","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to protect firefighters from hazards encountered on the fire scene, including heat and products of combustion. Decontamination practices for firefighter turnout gear have been developed to remove combustion products and other contaminants from the fabric of structural firefighting ensembles (i.e., turnout or bunker gear). Chronic exposures to residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a contributing cause of firefighter cancers. To identify and quantify residual contamination of PAH, samples were taken from two individual decommissioned structural firefighting ensembles and analyzed by layer (outer canvas shell, moisture barrier, and the thermal protective liner) for (1) textile integrity via field emission scanning electron microscopy and (2) quantity of PAH contamination by high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet/fluorescence detection. The results of these analyses show the presence of the PAH compounds pyrene (35% of the total mass of PAH), phenanthrene (21%), benzo(a)pyrene (14%), and benzo(a)anthracene (14%) which present a risk for dermal absorption. The data also revealed that PAH penetration through the layers of the firefighting ensemble was strongly inhibited by the moisture barrier layer.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"213-219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139983136","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}