Annals of Occupational HygieneThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

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321 records returned

Direct Detection of Salmonella Cells in the Air of Livestock Stables by Real-Time PCREmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A SYBR® Green real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for specific detection and quantification of airborne Salmonella cells in livestock housings is presented. A set of specific primers was tested and validated for specific detection and quantification of Salmonella-specific invA genes of DNA extracted from bioaerosol samples. Application of the method to poultry house bioaerosol samples showed concentrations ranging from 2.2 x 101 to 3 x 106 Salmonella targets m–3 of air. Salmonella were also detected by a cultivation-based approach in some samples, but concentrations were two to three mag...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Fallschissel, K., Kampfer, P., Jackel, U. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Airborne Asbestos Concentrations Associated with Heavy Equipment Brake RemovalEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Asbestos-containing brake linings were used in heavy-duty construction equipment such as tractors, backhoes, and bulldozers prior to the 1980s. While several published studies have evaluated exposures to mechanics during brake repair work, most have focused on automobiles and light trucks, not on heavy agricultural or construction vehicles. The purpose of this study is to characterize the airborne concentration of asbestos to workers and bystanders from brake wear debris during brake removal from 12 loader/backhoes and tractors manufactured between 1960 and 1980. Asbestos content in brake lining (average 20% chrysotile by ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Madl, A. K., Gaffney, S. H., Balzer, J. L., Paustenbach, D. J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Particle Emission and Exposure during Nanoparticle Synthesis in Research LaboratoriesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Real-time size, mass and number particle concentrations, and emission rates in university laboratories producing nanoparticles by scalable flame spray pyrolysis are quantified. Measurements were conducted in four laboratories using various technological set-ups and during production of particles of a range of compositions with differing physical–chemical properties, from NaCl salt, BiPO4, CaSO4, Bi2O3, insoluble TiO2, SiO2, and WO3 to composites such as Cu/ZnO, Cu/SiO2, Cu/ZrO2, Ta2O5/SiO2, and Pt/Ba/Al2O3. Production time ranged from 0.25 to 400 min and yields from 0.33 to 183 g. Temporal and spatial analyses of the...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Demou, E., Stark, W. J., Hellweg, S. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Evaluation of Five Decontamination Methods for Filtering Facepiece RespiratorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study evaluated five decontamination methods [ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), ethylene oxide, vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), microwave oven irradiation, and bleach] using nine models of NIOSH-certified respirators (three models each of N95 FFRs, surgical N95 respirators, and P100 FFRs) to determine which methods should be considered for future research studies. Following treatment by each decontamination method, the FFRs were evaluated for changes in physical appearance, odor, and laboratory performance (filter aerosol penetration and filter airflow resistance). Additional experiments (dry heat laborato...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Viscusi, D. J., Bergman, M. S., Eimer, B. C., Shaffer, R. E. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Effects of Headspace and Oxygen Level on Off-gas Emissions from Wood Pellets in StorageEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Few papers have been published in the open literature on the emissions from biomass fuels, including wood pellets, during the storage and transportation and their potential health impacts. The purpose of this study is to provide data on the concentrations, emission factors, and emission rate factors of CO2, CO, and CH4 from wood pellets stored with different headspace to container volume ratios with different initial oxygen levels, in order to develop methods to reduce the toxic off-gas emissions and accumulation in storage spaces. Metal containers (45 l, 305 mm diameter by 610 mm long) were used to study the effect of hea...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kuang, X., Shankar, T. J., Sokhansanj, S., Lim, C. J., Bi, X. T., Melin, S. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Emission of Volatile Aldehydes and Ketones from Wood Pellets under Controlled ConditionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Different qualities of biofuel pellets were made from pine and spruce sawdust according to an industrial experimental design. The fatty/resin acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for both newly produced pellets and those after 2 and 4 weeks of storage. The aldehydes/ketones compositions were determined by high performance liquid chromatography at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. The designs were analyzed for the response variables: total fatty/resin acids and total aldehydes/ketones. The design showed a strong correlation between the pine fraction in the pellets and the fatty/resin acid content but t...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Arshadi, M., Geladi, P., Gref, R., Fjallstrom, P. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Rate and Peak Concentrations of Off-Gas Emissions in Stored Wood Pellets--Sensitivities to Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Headspace VolumeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature, moisture, and the relative size of storage headspace on emissions from wood pellets in an enclosed space. Twelve 10-l plastic containers were used to study the effects of headspace ratio (25, 50, and 75% of container volume) and temperatures (10–50°C). Another eight containers were set in uncontrolled storage relative humidity (RH) and temperature. Concentrations of CO2, CO, and CH4 were measured by gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that emissions of CO2, CO, and CH4 from stored wood pellets are more sensitive to storage temperat...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kuang, X., Shankar, T. J., Bi, X. T., Lim, C. J., Sokhansanj, S., Melin, S. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Oxygen Depletion and Formation of Toxic Gases following Sea Transportation of Logs and Wood ChipsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, the measurements show that transport of logs and wood chips in confined spaces may result in rapid and severe oxygen depletion and CO2 formation. Thus, apparently harmless cargoes may create potentially life-threatening conditions. The oxygen depletion and CO2 formation are seemingly primarily caused by microbiological activity, in contrast to the oxidative processes with higher CO formation that predominate in cargoes of wood pellets. Improved technical and organizational measures are considered necessary to prevent future accidents. Recommendations given regarding safe entry procedures and technical preven...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Svedberg, U., Petrini, C., Johanson, G. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Proposed British-Dutch Guidance on Measuring Compliance with Occupational Exposure LimitsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 10, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Ogden, T. L. Tags: EDITORIAL Source Type: journals

ReplyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Lin, Y.-W. Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITORS Source Type: journals

Permeation of Hair Dye Ingredients through GlovesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Packham, C. L. Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITORS Source Type: journals

N-Acetyl-S-(n-Propyl)-L-Cysteine in Urine from Workers Exposed to 1-Bromopropane in Foam Cushion Spray AdhesivesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study confirms that urinary AcPrCys is an important 1-BP metabolite and an effective biomarker for highly exposed foam cushion workers. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Hanley, K. W., Petersen, M. R., Cheever, K. L., Luo, L. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Airborne Fungal and Bacterial Components in PM1 Dust from Biofuel PlantsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we investigate whether airborne fungal components smaller than spore size are present in bioaerosols in working areas at biofuel plants. Furthermore, we measure the exposure to bacteria and fungal components in airborne particulate matter (PM) with a D50 of 1 µm (called PM1 dust). PM1 was sampled using Triplex cyclones at a working area at 14 Danish biofuel plants. Millipore cassettes were used to sample ‘total dust’. The PM1 particles (29 samples) were analysed for content of 11 different components and the total dust was analysed for cultivable fungi, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NA...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Madsen, A. M., Schlunssen, V., Olsen, T., Sigsgaard, T., Avci, H. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Experimental Characterization of a Plume of Passive Contaminant above a Thermal Source: Capture Efficiency of a Fume Extraction HoodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes an experimental study of the dynamic, thermal, and mass fields that develop from a hot rectangular (0.5 x 1.25 m) horizontal source. The metrology available allows the measurement of not only the local temperatures and velocities but also the concentration of a tracer gas (helium). Mathematical models have been developed enabling representation of the fields concerned; their characterization by isothermal, iso-velocity, or iso-concentration curves; calculation of the flow rate carried by the plume at a given height; calculation of the enthalpy transport; and so on. Moreover, a pollutant capture devic...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Devienne, R., Fontaine, J. R., Kicka, J., Bonthoux, F. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Development of a Sampler for Total Aerosol Deposition in the Human Respiratory TractEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Studies that seek to associate reduced human health with exposure to occupational and environmental aerosols are often hampered by limitations in the exposure assessment process. One limitation involves the measured exposure metric itself. Current methods for personal exposure assessment are designed to estimate the aspiration of aerosol into the human body. Since a large proportion of inhaled aerosol is subsequently exhaled, a portion of the aspirated aerosol will not contribute to the dose. This leads to variable exposure misclassification (for heterogenous exposures) and increased uncertainty in health effect associatio...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Koehler, K. A., Clark, P., Volckens, J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Mutagenic Aldehydes, and Particulate Matter in Norwegian a la Carte RestaurantsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Working as a cook in a Norwegian à la carte restaurant with some manual panfrying involves exposure to components in cooking fumes which may cause adverse health effects. Additional studies are necessary in order to identify relations between exposure levels and the adverse health effects of cooking fumes. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Sjaastad, A. K., Svendsen, K. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Recombinant Factor C (rFC) Assay and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Analysis of Endotoxin Variability in Four Agricultural DustsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Endotoxin exposure is a significant concern in agricultural environments due to relatively high exposure levels. The goals of this study were to determine patterns of 3-hydroxy fatty acid (3-OHFA) distribution in dusts from four types of agricultural environments (dairy, cattle feedlot, grain elevator, and corn farm) and to evaluate correlations between the results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis (total endotoxin) and biological recombinant factor C (rFC) assay (free bioactive endotoxin). An existing GC/MS-MS method (for house dust) was modified to reduce sample handling and optimized for small amo...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Saito, R., Cranmer, B. K., Tessari, J. D., Larsson, L., Mehaffy, J. M., Keefe, T. J., Reynolds, S. J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Guidance Values for Surface Monitoring of Antineoplastic Drugs in German PharmaciesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The introduction of TGVs helps to reduce occupational exposure and allows pharmacy personnel to benchmark their own contamination levels. This provides a basis for improvement in occupational safety precautions and for regular contamination controls. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Schierl, R., Bohlandt, A., Nowak, D. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Quantification and Statistical Modeling--Part II: Dermal Concentrations of Monomeric and Polymeric 1,6-Hexamethylene DiisocyanateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We report here the use of linear mixed modeling (LMM) to identify the primary determinants of dermal exposure. Dermal concentrations of HDI, uretidone, biuret, and isocyanurate were significantly higher in 15 painters who did not wear coveralls or gloves (N = 51 paint tasks) than in 32 painters who did wear coveralls and gloves (N = 192 paint tasks) during spray painting. Regardless of whether protective clothing was worn, isocyanurate was the predominant species measured in the skin [geometric mean (GM) = 33.8 ng mm–3], with a 95% detection rate. Other polyisocyanates (GM ≤ 0.17 ng mm–3) were detected in sk...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Fent, K. W., Trelles Gaines, L. G., Thomasen, J. M., Flack, S. L., Ding, K., Herring, A. H., Whittaker, S. G., Nylander-French, L. A. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Quantification and Statistical Modeling--Part I: Breathing-Zone Concentrations of Monomeric and Polymeric 1,6-Hexamethylene DiisocyanateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We report here the use of linear mixed modeling to identify the primary determinants of the measured BZCs. Both one-stage (N = 98 paint tasks) and two-stage (N = 198 paint tasks) filter sampling was used to measure concentrations of HDI, uretidone, biuret, and isocyanurate. The geometric mean (GM) level of isocyanurate (1410 µg m–3) was higher than all other analytes (i.e. GM < 7.85 µg m–3). The mixed models were unique to each analyte and included factors such as analyte-specific paint concentration, airflow in the paint booth, and sampler type. The effect of sampler type was corroborated by sid...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Fent, K. W., Gaines, L. G. T., Thomasen, J. M., Flack, S. L., Ding, K., Herring, A. H., Whittaker, S. G., Nylander-French, L. A. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Beryllium Decontamination with Different Solvents on Different StructuresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of the present work was to estimate the efficiency of moistened wipes in removing beryllium with different solutions including CitranoxTM, AlconoxTM, NaCl 5%, ResolveTM, and LedizolvTM on various types of surfaces such as unpainted metal, wood frames, painted metal, concrete, painted concrete, and PlexiglasTM from three different occupational settings. Of the three plants that were investigated, only surfaces in the aluminium smelter were decontaminated down to the clearance reference level of 0.2 µg 100 cm–2, with all the solvents used. In the machine tooling and milling department, the clearance...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Dufresne, A., Dion, C., Viau, S., Perrault, G. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Trends in Wood Dust Inhalation Exposure in the UK, 1985-2005Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Analysis of the temporal trend in UK wood dust exposure concentrations revealed declines of 8% per annum. Interviews with key long-serving employees and management suggest that factors such as technological changes in production processes, response to new legislation, and enforcement agency inspections, together with global economic trends, could be linked to the downward trends observed. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Galea, K. S., Van Tongeren, M., Sleeuwenhoek, A. J., While, D., Graham, M., Bolton, A., Kromhout, H., Cherrie, J. W. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Data Sharing, Federal Rule of Evidence 702, and the Lions in the UndergrowthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Many concerns would find it useful to have a publicly available database recording exposures to particular substances, with contextual information. The European Union's Registration, Evaluations, Authorisation, and restriction of Chemicals regulation has increased interest in this. It has been suggested that journals should require detailed publication of exposure data with papers. But there are problems for researchers, for whom the data are a valuable resource which has been obtained with effort and often ingenuity. The publication could also raise problems of confidentiality and liability, and those who have to put the ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 7, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Ogden, T. Tags: COMMENTARY Source Type: journals

An International Comparison of the Crystallinity of Calibration Materials for the Analysis of Respirable {alpha}-Quartz Using X-Ray Diffraction and a Comparison with Results from the Infrared KBr Disc MethodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It is important that analytical results, produced to demonstrate compliance with exposure limits are comparable, to ensure controls are monitored to similar standards. Correcting a measurement result of respirable -quartz for the percentage of crystalline material in the calibration dust is good analytical practice and significant changes in the values assigned to calibration materials will affect the interpretation of results by an analyst or occupational hygiene professional. The reissue of the certification for the quartz reference material NIST 1878a in 2005 and differences in comparative values obtained by other work ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Stacey, P., Kauffer, E., Moulut, J.-C., Dion, C., Beauparlant, M., Fernandez, P., Key-Schwartz, R., Friede, B., Wake, D. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Risk Assessment of the Decay of Asbestos Cement RoofsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: It is very important to train the operator conducting the study since a completely subjectivity-free method does not exist. Whatever method is used will always be affected by the subjectivity linked to the competency and the training of the operator. Moreover, each method on its own cannot assess the risk of exposure to asbestos, but reliable assessment of asbestos-containing materials requires the use of more than one method, such as visual inspections, a pull-up test, and an assessment algorithm. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Campopiano, A., Ramires, D., Zakrzewska, A. M., Ferri, R., D'annibale, A., Pizzutelli, G. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Comparing Three Methods for Evaluating Impact Wrench Vibration EmissionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The objective of this study was to evaluate these three loading methods so that tool evaluators can select appropriate loading devices in order to obtain results that can be applied to their specific workplace operations. Six experienced tool operators used five tool models to evaluate the loading mechanisms. The results of this study indicate that different loads can yield different tool comparison results. However, any of the three devices appears to be adequate for initial tool screenings. On the other hand, vibration emissions measured in the laboratory are unlikely to be fully representative of those in the workplace....
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: McDowell, T. W., Marcotte, P., Warren, C., Welcome, D. E., Dong, R. G. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Predictors of Hearing Protection Use in Construction WorkersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Full-shift equivalent noise levels on the construction sites assessed were well above the level at which HPDs are required, but usage rates were quite low. Understanding and predicting HPD use differs by methods used to assess use (survey versus activity card/dosimetry). Site, trade, and the belief that wearing HPD is not time consuming were the only predictors of HPD use common to both measures on an individual level. At the group level, perceived support for site safety and HPD use proved to be predictive of HPD use. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Edelson, J., Neitzel, R., Meischke, H., Daniell, W., Sheppard, L., Stover, B., Seixas, N. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Exposure to Inhalable Dust, Endotoxins, {beta}(1->3)-Glucans, and Airborne Microorganisms in Horse StablesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Dust, endotoxin, and β(1->3)-glucan exposure are considerable in horse stables. Bacterial and fungal exposure levels were moderate. Endotoxin exposures were above the Dutch proposed standard limits, suggesting workers in horse stables to be at risk of adverse health effects. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Samadi, S., Wouters, I. M., Houben, R., Jamshidifard, A.-R., Van Eerdenburg, F., Heederik, D. J. J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Field and Wind Tunnel Comparison of Four Aerosol Samplers Using Agricultural DustsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Occupational lung disease is a significant problem among agricultural workers exposed to organic dusts. Measurements of exposure in agricultural environments in the USA have traditionally been conducted using 37-mm closed-face cassettes (CFCs) and respirable Cyclones. Inhalable aerosol samplers offer significant improvement for dose estimation studies to reduce respiratory disease. The goals of this study were to determine correction factors between the inhalable samplers (IOM and Button) and the CFC and Cyclone for dusts sampled in livestock buildings and to determine whether these factors vary among livestock types. Dete...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Reynolds, S. J., Nakatsu, J., Tillery, M., Keefe, T., Mehaffy, J., Thorne, P. S., Donham, K., Nonnenmann, M., Golla, V., O'shaughnessy, P. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Dermal Exposure of Pesticide Applicators as a Measure of Coverall Performance Under Field ConditionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, the field performance of two coverall designs used by pesticide applicators was determined. Two coverall types were selected based on data from previously conducted comfort testing under field conditions in southern Europe. Dermal exposure was measured during 22 applications conducted with 11 operators using similar hand-held spray guns in greenhouse pepper crops in the Ierapetra region of Crete, Greece. One of the coverall designs studied was made from a cotton/polyester material treated with a water-repellent Resist Spills® finish, which was compared in the field study to a coverall of similar design, ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Machera, K., Tsakirakis, A., Charistou, A., Anastasiadou, P., Glass, C. R. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Comparing Urinary Biomarkers of Airborne and Dermal Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Asphalt-Exposed WorkersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When working with hot mix asphalt, road pavers are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through the inhalation of vapors and particulate matter (PM) and through dermal contact with PM and contaminated surfaces. Several PAHs with four to six rings are potent carcinogens which reside in these particulate emissions. Since urinary biomarkers of large PAHs are rarely detectable in asphalt workers, attention has focused upon urinary levels of the more volatile and abundant two-ring and three-ring PAHs as potential biomarkers of PAH exposure. Here, we compare levels of particulate polycyclic aromatic compounds (P-PA...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Sobus, J. R., McClean, M. D., Herrick, R. F., Waidyanatha, S., Nylander-French, L. A., Kupper, L. L., Rappaport, S. M. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Investigation of PAH Biomarkers in the Urine of Workers Exposed to Hot AsphaltEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Airborne emissions from hot asphalt contain mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including several carcinogens. We investigated urinary biomarkers of three PAHs, namely naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), and pyrene (Pyr) in 20 road-paving workers exposed to hot asphalt and in 6 road milling workers who were not using hot asphalt (reference group). Our analysis included baseline urine samples as well as postshift, bedtime, and morning samples collected over three consecutive days. We measured unmetabolized Nap (U-Nap) and Phe (U-Phe) as well as the monohydroxylated metabolites of Nap (OH-Nap), Phe (OH-Ph...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 6, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Sobus, J. R., Mcclean, M. D., Herrick, R. F., Waidyanatha, S., Onyemauwa, F., Kupper, L. L., Rappaport, S. M. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

NIOSH Definition of Closed-System Drug-Transfer DevicesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Nygren, O., Olofsson, E., Johannson, L. Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Source Type: journals

Vibrotactile Perception and Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Hand-Arm VibrationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study clarifies whether the established frequency weighting procedure for evaluating exposure to hand-transmitted vibration can effectively evaluate the temporary changes in vibrotactile perception thresholds due to pre-exposure to vibration. In addition, this study investigates the relationship between changes of the vibrotactile perception thresholds and the normalized energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration. The fingers of 10 healthy subjects, five male and five female, were exposed to vibration under 16 conditions with a combination of different frequencies, intensities, and exposure times. The vibration...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Burstrom, L., Lundstrom, R., Hagberg, M., Nilsson, T. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

The Evaluation of CBRN Canisters for Use by Firefighters during OverhaulEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study evaluated the performance of three chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) canisters (MSA, 3M, and Scott) and one multi-gas canister similar in appearance to CBRN canisters but without CBRN certification (3M FR-64040). Challenge concentrations typical of overhaul exposures were generated by combusting common household materials. Twelve tests were conducted, using random canister selection, where challenge air and air filtered by the canisters were tested. All tests examined penetration of CO; NO2; SO2; respirable dust; aldehydes, including formaldehyde, acrolein, and glutaraldehyde; and hydrogen c...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Currie, J., Caseman, D., Anthony, T. R. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Sampling Strategies for Occupational Exposure Assessment under Generalized Linear ModelEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: On the basis of the tabulated outcomes, the sample size requirement is much more dominant than the number of repeated measurements for a group exposure comparison. Thus, in this case, recruiting more workers with fewer repeated measurements may be more economical than the opposite approach. For testing the presence of a long-term exposure trend, the sample size required decreases substantially with the number of repeated measurements. Also, equally spaced sampling times would be optimal because the effect of between-worker variance is algebraically cancelled out in sample size calculations. (Source: Annals of ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Chen, C.-C., Chuang, C.-L., Wu, K.-Y., Chan, C.-C. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

A Survey of Occupational Exposure to 4,4'-methylene-bis (2-chloroaniline) (MbOCA) in the UKEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The survey found that the measures used to control exposure to MbOCA could be improved. Although air levels of MbOCA were generally low, there was evidence of spread of surface contamination and poor maintenance of controls such as local exhaust ventilation. A BMGV based on the 90th percentile of data from workplaces with good control would be less than the 90% value of 8.6 µmol mol–1 creatinine found in this study and suggests that the current BMGV of 15 µmol mol–1 creatinine is no longer acting as a stimulus to reduce exposure. The metabolites of isocyanates found in urine samples in ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Cocker, J., Cain, J. R., Baldwin, P., McNally, K., Jones, K. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Role of Associated Mineral Fibres in Chrysotile Asbestos Health Effects: The Case of BalangeroiteEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Considering the profound differences between the structure of balangeroite and amphiboles, previous results and observations on the poor ecopersistence of balangeroite, and the present data, we conclude that balangeroite traces may contribute to the overall toxicity of the airborne fibres in Balangero, but may not be compared to tremolite nor considered the sole responsible for the excess of mesothelioma found in Balangero. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Turci, F., Tomatis, M., Compagnoni, R., Fubini, B. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Exposure to Hazardous Substances in a Standard Molecular Biology Laboratory Environment: Evaluation of Exposures in IARC LaboratoriesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Working in a molecular biology laboratory environment implies regular exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several recent studies have shown that laboratory workers may have an elevated risk of certain cancers. Data on the nature and frequency of exposures in such settings are scanty. The frequency of use of 163 agents by staff working in molecular biology laboratories was evaluated over a period of 4 years by self-administered questionnaire. Of the agents listed, ethanol was used by the largest proportion of staff (70%), followed by ethidium bromide (55%). Individual patterns of use showed three patterns, nam...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Chapot, B., Secretan, B., Robert, A., Hainaut, P. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Ultrafine Particle Characteristics in Seven Industrial PlantsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, the particle characteristics were measured in seven Swedish industrial plants, with a special focus on the ultrafine particle fraction. Number concentration, size distribution, surface area concentration, and mass concentration were measured at 10 different job activities, including fettling, laser cutting, welding, smelting, core making, moulding, concreting, grinding, sieving powders, and washing machine goods. A thorough particle characterization is necessary in workplaces since it is not clear yet which choice of ultrafine particle metric is the best to measure in relation to health effects. Job activiti...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Elihn, K., Berg, P. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Evaluation of COSHH Essentials: Methylene Chloride, Isopropanol, and Acetone Exposures in a Small Printing PlantEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The current study evaluated the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essentials model for short-term task-based exposures and full-shift exposures using measured concentrations of three volatile organic chemicals at a small printing plant. A total of 188 exposure measurements of isopropanol and 187 measurements of acetone were collected and each measurement took ~60 min. Historically, collected time-weighted average concentrations (seven results) were evaluated for methylene chloride. The COSHH Essentials model recommended general ventilation control for both isopropanol and acetone. There was good agreement b...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Lee, E. G., Harper, M., Bowen, R. B., Slaven, J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

How Safe is Control Banding? Integrated Evaluation by Comparing OELs with Measurement Data and Using Monte Carlo SimulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The present study aims to explore the protection level that can be achieved by the German control banding (CB) tool Einfaches Massnahmenkonzept Gefahrstoffe, ‘Easy-to-use workplace control scheme for hazardous substances’. The rationale of our integrated approach is based on the Bewertungsindex (BWI), which is the quotient of the exposure level and the occupational exposure limit (OEL), with BWI <1 indicating compliance. The frequency distributions of the BWI were calculated in order to reflect statistically the variability of workplace conditions. The corresponding statistical values of the frequency distri...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 2, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Tischer, M., Bredendiek-KAmper, S., Poppek, U., Packroff, R. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Methods for Measuring Performance of Vehicle Cab Air Cleaning Systems Against Aerosols and VapoursEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Vehicle cabs equipped with an effective air cleaning and pressurization system, fitted to agricultural and off-road machineries, isolate drivers from the polluted environment, in which they are likely to work. These cabs provide protection against particulate and gaseous pollutants generated by these types of work activities. Two laboratory methods have been applied to determining the performance characteristics of two cabs of different design, namely, optical counting-based measurement of a potassium chloride (KCl) aerosol and fluorescein aerosol-based tracing. Results of cab confinement efficiency measurements agreed clo...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Bemer, D., Subra, I., Regnier, R. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Flow and Performance of an Air-curtain Biological Safety CabinetEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Using laser-assisted smoke flow visualization and tracer gas concentration detection techniques, this study examines aerodynamic flow properties and the characteristics of escape from containment, inward dispersion, and cross-cabinet contamination of a biological safety cabinet installed with an air curtain across the front aperture. The experimental method partially simulates the NSF/ANSI 49 standards with the difference that the biological tracer recommended by these standards is replaced by a mixture of 10% SF6 in N2. The air curtain is set up across the cabinet aperture plane by means of a narrow planar jet issued from...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Huang, R. F., Chou, C. I. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Bayesian Modeling of Exposure and Airflow Using Two-Zone ModelsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Mathematical modeling is being increasingly used as a means for assessing occupational exposures. However, predicting exposure in real settings is constrained by lack of quantitative knowledge of exposure determinants. Validation of models in occupational settings is, therefore, a challenge. Not only do the model parameters need to be known, the models also need to predict the output with some degree of accuracy. In this paper, a Bayesian statistical framework is used for estimating model parameters and exposure concentrations for a two-zone model. The model predicts concentrations in a zone near the source and far away fr...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Zhang, Y., Banerjee, S., Yang, R., Lungu, C., Ramachandran, G. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Quantitative Determination of Airborne Respirable Non-Fibrous {alpha}-Silicon Carbide by X-ray Powder DiffractometryEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: This method has been used to determine airborne non-fibrous SiC in a comprehensive ongoing project in the Norwegian SiC industry for further epidemiological studies. The method is fully applicable for compliance work. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Bye, E., Foreland, S., Lundgren, L., Kruse, K., Ronning, R. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Comparative Evaluation of Overexposure Potential Indices used in Solvent SubstitutionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Overall, these results favour using the simple and more easily available VHR when comparing pure substances. In the case of mixtures, the effect of nonideality may be important in certain cases. As a precaution, since no integrated tool is available presently to easily calculate OPI values corrected for nonideality, substitution should be recommended only as long as the non-corrected VHR value for an alternative solvent is at least 5-fold less than that of the solvent to replace. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Debia, M., Begin, D., Gerin, M. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Acute Health Effects on Planters of Conifer Seedlings Treated with InsecticidesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: No clear, acute adverse health effects could be found in planters after exposure to conifer seedlings treated with imidacloprid (Merit Forest) or cypermethrin (Forester), as compared with planting untreated seedlings. The metabolite, 3-PBA, was found in low levels in urine and was increased after exposure to cypermethrin. However, no clear relationships could be found between exposure and reported symptoms or between elevated 3-PBA levels and reported symptoms. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Elfman, L., Hogstedt, C., Engvall, K., Lampa, E., Lindh, C. H. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Historical Analysis of Airborne Beryllium Concentrations at a Copper Beryllium Machining Facility (1964-2000)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Copper beryllium alloys are the most commonly used form of beryllium; however, there have been few studies assessing occupational exposure in facilities that worked exclusively with this alloy versus those where pure metal or beryllium oxide may also have been present. In this paper, we evaluated the airborne beryllium concentrations at a machining plant using historical industrial hygiene samples collected between 1964 and 2000. With the exception of a few projects conducted in the 1960s, it is believed that >95% of the operations used copper beryllium alloy exclusively. Long-term (>120 min) and short-term (<120 ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: McAtee, B. L., Donovan, E. P., Gaffney, S. H., Frede, W., Knutsen, J. S., Paustenbach, D. J. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals

Occupational Exposure to Beryllium in French Enterprises: A Survey of Airborne Exposure and Surface LevelsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
An assessment survey of occupational exposure to beryllium (Be) was conducted in France between late 2004 and the end of 2006. Exposure estimates were based on the analytical results of samples collected from workplace air and from work surfaces in 95 facilities belonging to 37 sectors of activity. The results of this study indicated airborne Be concentrations in excess of the occupational exposure limit value of 2 µg m–3 recommended in France. Metallurgy and electronic component manufacturing represented the activities and occupations where workers had the highest arithmetic mean exposures to Be. Surface conta...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 3, 2009 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Vincent, R., Catani, J., Creau, Y., Frocaut, A.-M., Good, A., Goutet, P., Hou, A., Leray, F., Andre-Lesage, M.-A., Soyez, A. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: journals