Hepatitis B and C among Berlin dental personnel: incidence, risk factors, and effectiveness of barrier prevention measures.
(25/452)
A study of 215 Berlin dentists and 108 dental assistants recruited at the 1997 Berlin Dental Society meeting assessed their occupational risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HBV vaccine coverage, and barrier prevention methods used. Among dentists, 7% (95% CI 4-11) and 0.5% (95% CI 0-3) had serological evidence of previous HBV and HCV infection, respectively. Similar figures for dental assistants were 1% (95% CI 0-5) and 0% (95% CI 0-4). Only 74% of dentists and 63% of dental assistants reported HBV vaccination. Approximately half always used gloves, eye glasses, or face masks. HBV unvaccinated dentists whose patients had HBV risk factors had a greater risk of HBV infection; those who always wore face masks were at lower risk (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.02-0.98). These data indicate that among Berlin dentists, the HCV risk was lower than that of HBV and that face masks may have lowered the risk of HBV. The use of eye glasses or gloves did not appear to lower the risk of HBV acquisition in this population. (+info)
Self-reported skin problems among physical processors in the chemical industry in Great Britain.
(26/452)
Contact dermatitis is common in the chemical industry. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of self-reported skin problems in employees involved in the drying, blending, milling, grinding and filling/bagging end of chemical manufacture in small- to medium-sized contract manufacturing/processing chemical companies in Great Britain. There were several secondary aims. Twenty-three per cent of the employees interviewed reported having had a skin problem in the previous 12 months. Of those reporting problems, 46% were always/nearly always involved in blending and 56% were always/nearly always involved in filling and bagging. These same processes were also more commonly associated with continuous or recurring skin problems. Seventy-five per cent reported a problem involving the upper limbs; most had more than one body area affected. Forty-three per cent had consulted a doctor (67% their general practitioner) and 9% took time off work as a result of their skin condition. Skin problems seemed to peak (34% employees) in those who had spent between 1 and 2 years in their current job. Solvents, known skin irritants, were the most frequent, single category of chemicals encountered in the study. Over 92% had been told how to avoid skin problems; 85% reported that they always/almost always wore protective clothing. Despite these measures, a significant number had reported having had a skin problem related to their work in the previous 12 months. Particular attention to control measures based on risk assessment is recommended for these physical processors in the chemical industry. Further research is also recommended into the whole area of personal protective clothing and the individual worker's perception of risks to health in the workplace. (+info)
Use of protective equipment by in-line skaters: an observational study.
(27/452)
OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of protective equipment use (that is, helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads) in a representative sample of in-line skaters. SETTING: Fifteen municipalities throughout the province of British Columbia. METHOD: A province-wide observational survey was conducted in the summer of 1999. Skaters were observed at four types of sites (commuter, recreational, neighbourhood, general community) in 15 municipalities to provide a representative sample of in-line skaters. RESULTS: The observed use of protective equipment by the 877 in-line skaters was relatively low: wrist guards 25%, helmets 13%, elbow pads 14%, and knee pads 10%. CONCLUSION: Despite the availability of relatively inexpensive protective equipment, few in-line skaters take advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves from injury. Policies and programs that serve to increase the use of protective equipment by in-line skaters are needed to help reduce the frequency of skating related injuries. (+info)
Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from nares of nurses and their gowns.
(28/452)
The isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aures (MRSA) strains from the bilateral nares of nurses and their gowns are described. MRSA strains could be isolated from eigth of fifty bilateral nares of nurses and two of their gowns. Ten MRSA strains were typed using coagulase typing, and divided into two types, coagulase II and III. In this study, we found a new group (producing toxic shock syndrome toxin -1, coagulase III and staphylococcal enterotoxin C) in Japanese MRSA. Furthermore, we confirmed that MRSA strains originating from bilateral nares of three nurses were identical and two strains isolated from the left naris of one nurse and her gown were also identical by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. (+info)
Potential dermal and inhalation exposure to chlorpyrifos in Australian pesticide workers.
(29/452)
Chlorpyrifos inhalation, dermal exposure and working practices of 28 pesticide applicators in Western Australia were assessed during a series of single property applications of a 0.5% (n=2) or 1% (n=26) concentration of active ingredient in water solution. Deposition on new cotton gloves worn beneath applicators' usual protective gloves was 2.4 (range 0.12-86.1) mg h(-1). Median deposition of chlorpyrifos onto a new cotton overall worn over other clothing (24 sections removed, corrected for body proportions) was 11.1 (range 0.2-41.9) mg h(-1). Deposition onto seven patches taped to the applicators' skin was 0.04 (range 0.01-4.7) mg h(-1). Inhalation concentration was 5.7 (range 0.7-219) microg m(-3) time weighted average. In one group of 17 applicators' applying to existing properties, breathing zone air concentration correlated (P<0.05) with ambient air temperature (15-38 degrees C). The questionnaire results (29 respondents) indicated applicators' practices led to increased exposure, in particular concerning poor usage and condition of protective equipment and a high frequency of splashes and spills onto the body. Prevention of deposition on clothing, in particular on the lower body is suggested, as well as improved working practices. (+info)
Thermal protective uniforms and hoods: impact of design modifications and water content on burn prevention in New York City firefighters: laboratory and field results.
(30/452)
OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) the effectiveness of hoods in reducing head burns, (2) the impact of clothes worn under the protective outer uniform (modern = long sleeve shirt and long pants; modified modern = short sleeve T-shirt and short pants) on burns, and (3) whether water content (dry, damp or saturated) affects the level of thermal protection. SETTING: Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). METHODS: Laboratory tests (fully dressed manikin) evaluated the different uniform and water conditions when exposed to an average 24 cal/cm2 heat flux, approximately 2,250 degrees F air temperature. FDNY field results compared (1) head burns during winters wearing the hood to winters without hood and (2) upper and lower extremity burns during summers wearing traditional, modern, and modified modern uniforms. RESULTS: Laboratory tests showed that thermal protection was: (1) dramatically improved by the hood with protection increasing as water content increased and (2) not significantly different between modern and modified modern uniforms, regardless of water content. FDNY field results confirmed these tests showing (1) significant decreases in neck burns (by 54%), ear burns (by 60%), and head burn totals (by 46%) wearing the hood and (2) no significant differences in upper or lower extremity burns wearing modern compared with modified modern uniforms. CONCLUSIONS: Based on combined laboratory and field results, we strongly recommend the use of modern thermal protective hoods and the modified modern uniform. (+info)
Acute health effects of organophosphorus pesticides on Tanzanian small-scale coffee growers.
(31/452)
Acute health effects of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides on coffee farmworkers in 1991-1992 in Tanzania are reported to provide a basis for concern over farmworkers being overexposed during application. Workers exposed to OP pesticides (N=133) were drawn from a population of about 240,000 coffee farmers. They were interviewed on symptoms and personal protection, and their erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was determined during both spraying and nonspraying period. AChE activities during spraying and nonspraying period were comparable (mean 32.0, SD 7.8 vs. 33.0, SD 8.7 U/g HgB, P=0.26). The prevalence of cough, headache, abdominal pain, excessive sweating, nausea, excessive salivation, diarrhea, and vomiting did not differ significantly between spraying and nonspraying periods. There was no suggestion of decreased AChE in exposed subjects who complained of OP-related symptoms compared to symptomless exposed subjects. Use of gloves, long boots, head cover, face cover, and coverall was not significantly associated with AChE activity. No marked AChE depression was found during spraying season, which may explain the lack of association between symptoms and AChE. The fact that only moderately toxic OP pesticides were used may indicate that toxicity was not sufficiently high to cause depression. Experience, however, suggests that occupational poisoning remains a potential serious danger in coffee cultivation in Tanzania. (+info)
Proposal for an approach with default values for the protection offered by PPE, under European new or existing substance regulations.
(32/452)
Introduction of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the process of quantitative exposure and risk assessment should be addressed carefully. PPE which have been designed and manufactured according to CE-criteria and have proved to pass relevant test criteria, can be classified as "proper functioning". However, test criteria for PPE are not equal to levels of protection which can be achieved in the workplace, because actual workplace exposure scenarios, fit, maintenance and storage may differ substantially from the test conditions. The proper use of PPE is related to issues which form a part of a PPE-programme. Such a programme should be implemented in a company to ensure selection of proper PPE and information, training and instruction of employees how to wear PPE properly. Assigned protection factors (APFs) for different designs of respiratory protective devices (RPD) have been introduced to quantify effectiveness of RPD in the workplace. Similar APFs are proposed for dermal protection (gloves and clothing). In general biological monitoring studies show lower reduction of internal exposure than estimated by reduction of external exposure. Therefore, conservative estimates of protection by PPE, i.e. the lowest APFs, are proposed for risk assessment purposes if "proper use of proper functioning" PPE as part of a PPE-programme cannot be demonstrated. (+info)