Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry.","authors":"Barbara M Alexander, Pamela S Graydon, Mirle Pena, H Amy Feng, Bryan R Beamer","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439810","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Landscapers are exposed to noise, carbon monoxide (CO), respirable dust, and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) generated from the tools they use. Although engineering controls are available to reduce these exposures, no previous study has evaluated chronic exposures to landscapers in different work settings and compared exposures from landscaping tools with and without engineering controls. This field study of workers in the landscaping services industry documented the occupational exposures of 80 participants at 11 varied worksites to noise, CO, respirable dust, and RCS using personal breathing zone sampling. Results were analyzed using SAS/STAT 14.1. Analysis of variance was used for normally distributed data; otherwise, nonparametric methods were used. Most workers were overexposed to noise, with 94 of the 119 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) noise exposures at or above the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit (REL) of 85 dBA. There were no statistically significant differences among different locations or occupations. No 8-hr TWA exposures to CO above the NIOSH REL were measured. Overexposures to RCS were measured at all locations where hardscaping (installing or maintaining non-living aspects of the landscape) was taking place. This is the first known field study of this type to include hardscapers. The use of engineering controls such as dust capture or wet methods would reduce RCS exposures, but respiratory protection may still be needed. Task-based analysis of noise and CO exposure revealed that the loudest landscaping tools used in this study were hardscaping table saws, gas chainsaws, gas leaf blowers, chipper/shredders, gas string trimmers, and fuel mowers. Workers were exposed to significantly more noise and CO when using fuel-powered versions compared to battery-powered versions of leaf blowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"189-202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11956801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142921935","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":"Understanding and perceiving heat stress risk control: Critical insights from agriculture workers.","authors":"Ryan T Cannady, Aaron Yoder, Jeffrey Miller, Kaitlyn Crosby, Kristina W Kintziger","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439812","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Software-driven wearable technologies are emerging as a control for heat-related illnesses. Such devices collect biometric data and estimate risk noninvasively. However, little is known about workplace implementation strategies and stakeholder acceptance of the devices. As part of a mixed-methods pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of wearable technologies, the authors invited six agricultural workers with no device experience to participate in a semi-structured focus group, after wearing two devices (e.g., MākuSafe, Des Moines, IA, United States; SlateSafety, V2, Atlanta, GA, United States) for a standard work week. The focus group was separated into two parts: the first assessed the overall understanding of heat stress, and the second captured workers' perceptions of the wearable technologies. For each topic, the authors extracted relevant themes that describe farm workers' general understanding of heat hazards and worker interaction with wearable technology used in heat-related risk. These themes provide relevant answers to the questions outlined in the semi-structured questionnaire that can guide future research into the use of these devices in occupational settings. Wearable technologies continue to be used to control heat-related illnesses. Therefore, it is critically important to gather key strategies for employer implementation and user-interface considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":"22 3","pages":"203-213"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567373","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":"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":"228-237"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","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":"Evaluating the ingress of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) specifically naphthalene through firefighter hoods and base layers.","authors":"M Christina Kander, Andrea F Wilkinson, I-Chen Chen, Stephen Bertke, Richard M Kesler, Denise L Smith, Gavin P Horn, Kenneth W Fent","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439801","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2439801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Structural firefighters are exposed to an array of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a result of incomplete combustion of both synthetic and natural materials. PAHs are found in both the particulate and vapor phases in the firefighting environment and are significantly associated with acute and chronic diseases, including cancer. Using a fireground exposure simulator (FES) and standing mannequins dressed in four different firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) conditions, each with varying levels of protective hood interface and particulate-blocking features, the efficacy of the hoods was assessed against the ingress of PAHs (specifically, naphthalene). The authors also explored the effectiveness of a 100% cotton turtleneck at further attenuating the amount of naphthalene reaching the surface of the mannequin's neck. Air samples were collected at the breathing zone, abdomen, and thigh heights from the 6 ft-2 in mannequins used in this study. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH (55% of the total PAH concentrations) in the FES and existed primarily in the vapor phase (92% vapor in the breathing zone). Additionally, bulk base layer and under the base layer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter samples (used as skin surrogates) were collected from the neck region of the mannequins and analyzed for PAHs. A larger percentage of naphthalene was collected on the filter under the traditional knit hoods than on the cotton base layer, suggesting a small protective effect of the base layer against solid-phase naphthalene. Previous studies investigating naphthalene by employing air sampling under PPE have found a larger protective effect of base layers against the ingress of naphthalene vapor. PAHs that exist primarily as particulate in the fire environment were largely not detected on the base layers or PTFE filters under the gear. Further research is needed that involves more sensitive methods and non-static human subjects.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":"22 3","pages":"169-177"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567359","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 unraveling of a Nobel Prize: How Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize: A front for eugenics.","authors":"Edward J Calabrese, Dima Yazji Shamoun","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2440558","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2440558","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper asserts that the Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology that Hermann J. Muller received in 1946 was a front to enhance the legitimacy, acceptance, and application of eugenics, a strategy to guide the direction and rate of human evolutionary change. Seven of the nine people nominating (1932-1946) Muller were proponents of eugenics with Muller being among the most visible of the scientific leaders. Muller's nominators never cited his Nobel Prize research in scientific literature, lacked expertise in radiation-induced mutations, and were not qualified to evaluate Muller's research. Muller's claim of induced \"gene\" mutations with extremely high radiation dose rates remained highly uncertain, undercutting legitimate Nobel Prize consideration. Despite their diverse range of educational, research, and political backgrounds, they nominated Muller based on the convergence of their respective eugenic ideologies. The Chair of the Nobel Prize committee not only was a committed eugenicist but also nominated Muller the previous year and had invited these nominators under the belief they would support his prolonged advocacy for Muller. While the underlying intent of the nominations was to associate extremely high scientific achievement with eugenics, the Prize was ironically awarded immediately after World War II, and eugenics would be profoundly stigmatized due to its association with horrific actions against humanity by the Nazis. However, Muller's Nobel Prize became a fear-based lightning rod for the environmental revolution, inspiring the book <i>Silent Spring</i> (1962), and providing the central framework for cancer risk assessment by regulatory agencies worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":"22 3","pages":"149-168"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567362","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":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2470037","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2470037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"D11-D12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","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":"An alternative to the HSE/NPL Mark II Phase Contrast Test Slide for airborne asbestos fiber analysis laboratories.","authors":"Geoff Pickford, Joanna Szymanska","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2464587","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2464587","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>More than 55 years ago, an analytical method employing phase contrast optical microscopy was developed for the quantitative estimation of airborne asbestos fiber concentration, and it was found that the detection limit of these microscopes was dependent upon microscope design, microscope set-up, and observer performance. In the early 1980s, the HSE/NPL Mark II Phase Contrast Test Slide was developed which facilitated standardizing detection limits of microscopes and observers in laboratories around the world. This paper describes the development and testing of an alternative test slide, known as the Pickford Phase Contrast Test Slide, which employs state-of-the-art nano-fabrication technology. Each Pickford Test Slide is certified by the Environmental Analysis Laboratory of the Southern Cross University stating that it is equivalent in performance to that of the HSE/NPL Mark II test slide, which aligns with the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive HSG248 Asbestos: The Analysts' Guide (2021) requirement. Users report that the Pickford Test Slide is much easier to use than the HSE/NPL Slide. Since the early 1980s, the certification of phase contrast microscope test slides has been based on subjective visibility testing, which is less than ideal because of variations between certifiers, reference standards, and microscopes. Hence, a unique objective visibility test was developed with the aim of replacing subjective testing, and also of conducting routine testing of the test slide phase objects following nano-fabrication. Routine testing has been useful because each Pickford Test Slide is tested and documented so that intricate nano-fabrication chip processes can be controlled over years of production. However, thousands of comparisons of both forms of testing have shown that it is very unlikely that objective visibility testing will ever replace subjective testing because valid and relevant objective testing depends upon standardizing several dozen microscope camera set-up parameters that vary from one camera to another. Further, because the ultimate use of a test slide has always been based on human visibility, validation may not be achievable.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143523725","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}