scholarly journals Practical learnings from an epidemiology study on TDI-related occupational asthma: Part I—Cumulative exposure is not a good indicator of risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 876-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M Plehiers ◽  
Anne H Chappelle ◽  
Mark W Spence
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Toluene Diisocyanate ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Asthma Incidence ◽  
Anonymized Data ◽  
Epidemiology Studies

The anonymized data of an epidemiology study on incidence of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-related occupational asthma in three US-based TDI production facilities have been reanalyzed to identify where to best focus exposure reduction efforts in industrial practice to reduce the risk of sensitization to TDI. Since the induction of sensitization has sometimes been attributed to cumulative exposure, this relationship was examined first. Gross cumulative exposure values (i.e. not taking into account whether respiratory protection was used or not) and net cumulative exposure values (i.e. accounting for the use of respiratory protection) per participant were calculated based on the duration of their study participation and the average time-weighted average value of the exposure group to which they belonged. These two sets of cumulative exposure data were compared with asthma incidence using logistic regression. Incidence was zero among workers who rarely come into contact with open plant systems (e.g. during maintenance or spills). Notwithstanding, no statistically significant relationship between asthma incidence and either gross or net cumulative exposure could be determined. This is shown to be consistent with the results of several other epidemiology studies on TDI-related occupational asthma. In conclusion, cumulative exposure values are not a good indicator of the risk of developing TDI-related occupational asthma.

scholarly journals Practical learnings from an epidemiology study on TDI-related occupational asthma: Part II—Exposure without respiratory protection to TWA-8 values indicative of peak events is a good indicator of risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 885-891
Author(s):  
Patrick M Plehiers ◽  
Anne H Chappelle ◽  
Mark W Spence
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Toluene Diisocyanate ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Epidemiology Study ◽  
Direct Reading ◽  
Asthma Incidence ◽  
Anonymized Data

The anonymized data of an epidemiology study on the incidence of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-related occupational asthma in three US-based TDI production facilities have been reanalyzed to identify where to best focus exposure reduction efforts in industrial practice in order to reduce the risk of sensitization to TDI. In Part I, it was demonstrated that cumulative exposure is not a good indicator of the risk of developing TDI-related occupational asthma. In this Part II, an alternative model was developed based on net exposure parameters (i.e. samples taken when no respiratory protection was used). A statistically significant relationship was determined between asthma incidence and the frequency of exposure to TDI levels indicative of peak events that are expressed as time-weighted average-8 (TWA-8) values greater than 3 ppb during which no respiratory protection was used. This relationship suggests a threshold to induction of TDI-related asthma. The findings also highlight the importance of a comprehensive program for controlling workplace atmosphere in the plant by technical measures (e.g. selection of equipment, cleaning procedures) and controlling exposure by organizational measures and situational awareness (e.g. training, use of in-the-field direct reading indicators) during high potential exposure scenarios (e.g. line breaking, spills) to encourage or enforce the appropriate use of respiratory protection.

Increased oxidative stress and plasma Hsp70 levels among gasoline filling station attendants

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Xia ◽  
Kangcheng Chen ◽  
Yingnan Lv ◽  
Damin Huang ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Exposed Group ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gasoline Station ◽  
Filling Station ◽  
Exposed Workers

Objectives: Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic derivative of manganese (Mn) and is used as an antiknock agent and octane enhancer in gasoline. In this article, we tested the oxidative stress and heat stress protein (Hsp) 70 levels of gasoline station attendants to explore potential plasma biomarkers. Furthermore, the dose–response relationship was also identified. Methods: A total of 144 workers, including 96 petrol fillers and 48 cashiers, participated in the study. Ambient concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and Mn were monitored at nine filling stations. During the measuring process, the individual cumulative exposure index was calculated. Plasma oxidative stress and Hsp70 levels were also analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The BTEX time-weighted average in office areas was significantly lower than in refuelling areas ( p < 0.05). In refuelling areas, the content of Mn ranged from 6.44 μg/m3 to 127.34 μg/m3, which was much higher than that in office areas (3.16–7.22 μg/m3; p < 0.05). Exposed workers had significantly different plasma oxidative stress indicators compared with the control group, respectively: superoxide dismutase (SOD), 39.18 ± 6.05 U/mL versus 52.84 ± 3.87 U/mL; glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), 186.07 ± 15.63 U versus 194.38 ± 10.42 U; and malondialdehyde (MDA), 1.68 ± 0.52 nmol/L versus 1.43 ± 0.64 nmol/L (in all comparisons, p < 0.05). Plasma Hsp70 level in the exposed group (2.77 ± 0.64 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.32 ± 0.87 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Furthermore, Hsp70 levels were inversely correlated with the activities of SOD ( r = −0.305) and GSH-Px ( r = −0.302) in the exposed group ( p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation ( r = 0.653) was found between plasma Hsp70 levels and plasma MDA levels ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure to MMT-containing gasoline may result in increasing reactive oxygen stress among filling station attendants. Plasma Hsp70 levels could be used as a sensitive responsive biomarker for exposed workers.

Serum ferritin and transferrin levels are not serologic markers of toluene diisocyanate–induced occupational asthma

2010 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 762-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Sastre ◽  
Beatriz Sastre ◽  
Mar Fernández-Nieto ◽  
Ignacio Pérez-Camo ◽  
José Javier Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serum Ferritin ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Toluene Diisocyanate ◽  
Serologic Markers

scholarly journals Considerations of the Scale of Radiocarbon Offsets in the East Mediterranean, and Considering a Case for the Latest (Most Recent) Likely Date for the Santorini Eruption

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 449-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sturt W Manning ◽  
Bernd Kromer
Keyword(s):  
Time Horizon ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
17Th Century ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
East Mediterranean ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
East Mediterranean Region

The debate over the dating of the Santorini (Thera) volcanic eruption has seen sustained efforts to criticize or challenge the radiocarbon dating of this time horizon. We consider some of the relevant areas of possible movement in the14C dating—and, in particular, any plausible mechanisms to support as late (most recent) a date as possible. First, we report and analyze data investigating the scale of apparent possible14C offsets (growing season related) in the Aegean-Anatolia-east Mediterranean region (excluding the southern Levant and especially pre-modern, pre-dam Egypt, which is a distinct case), and find no evidence for more than very small possible offsets from several cases. This topic is thus not an explanation for current differences in dating in the Aegean and at best provides only a few years of latitude. Second, we consider some aspects of the accuracy and precision of14C dating with respect to the Santorini case. While the existing data appear robust, we nonetheless speculate that examination of the frequency distribution of the14C data on short-lived samples from the volcanic destruction level at Akrotiri on Santorini (Thera) may indicate that the average value of the overall data sets is not necessarily the most appropriate14C age to use for dating this time horizon. We note the recent paper of Soter (2011), which suggests that in such a volcanic context some (small) age increment may be possible from diffuse CO2emissions (the effect is hypothetical at this stage and hasnotbeen observed in the field), and that "if short-lived samples from the same stratigraphic horizon yield a wide range of14C ages, the lower values may be the least altered by old CO2." In this context, it might be argued that a substantive “low” grouping of14C ages observable within the overall14C data sets on short-lived samples from the Thera volcanic destruction level centered about 3326–3328 BP is perhaps more representative of the contemporary atmospheric14C age (without any volcanic CO2contamination). This is a subjective argument (since, in statistical terms, the existing studies using the weighted average remain valid) that looks to support as late a date as reasonable from the14C data. The impact of employing this revised14C age is discussed. In general, a late 17th century BC date range is found (to remain) to be most likelyeven ifsuch a late-dating strategy is followed—a late 17th century BC date range is thus a robust finding from the14C evidence even allowing for various possible variation factors. However, the possibility of a mid-16th century BC date (within ∼1593–1530 cal BC) is increased when compared against previous analyses if the Santorini data are considered in isolation.

The HLA DRB1*1501-DQB1*0602-DPB1*0501 Haplotype Is a Risk Factor for Toluene Diisocyanate-Induced Occupational Asthma

2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Hee Choi ◽  
Kyung-Wha Lee ◽  
Cheol-Woo Kim ◽  
Choon-Sik Park ◽  
Hyun-Young Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Toluene Diisocyanate

CHANGES IN THE TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL LEVEL OF STEAM CULTIVATORS IN THE XXI CENTURY

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (143) ◽  
pp. 174-183
Author(s):  
Andrey Yu. Nesmiyan ◽  
◽  
Anastasiya S. Kaymakova ◽  
Yuliya S. Tsench ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Weighted Average ◽  
Specific Weight ◽  
Research Purpose ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Technological Level ◽  
Short Test ◽  
Specific Material ◽  
The Cost

Most modern agricultural machines and tools consist of components, the main parameters, design features of which were justified in the first half of the twentieth century. Slowly and evolutionarily, these technical means are developing. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in identifying general trends in the technical and technological level of steam cultivators in the first quarter of the XXI century. (Materials and Methods) For the study there was analyzed the data of the short test reports of the selected machines. The production of steam cultivators in the Russian Federation is gradually increasing. (Results and discussion) For ten years of the beginning of the XXI century, only 27 machines were provided for testing, and from 2014 to 2017 – more than 40, while for "old" cultivators, the weighted average value of the tractor traction class was 2.8, for new ones it is about of four. For the study period (on average 10 years) the quality of soil cultivation in terms of such parameters as deviation from the specified depth of cultivation, crumbling and combing of the field surface has not changed much. The productivity of cultivator units increased by 7-21 percents, which is explained not only by an increase in the power of tractors, but also by an increase in the utilization rate of charge time on average from 0.72 to 0.77. The specific weight of the "new" cultivators was on average 22 kilogram-meters less than that of the "old" analogues, which can be explained by the evolution of their designs. (Conclusions) Increasing the class of tractors by one "level" the specific material consumption of the cultivators aggregated with them increases by about 58 kilogram-meters for both "old" and " new " cultivators. With an increase in the width of the tools from 4 to 16 meters, their weight will increase by 8 times, which affects the cost and operational and environmental characteristics of wide-reach cultivators.

scholarly journals Quantitive Evalution of Involvement of Countries of the World in the International Open Access Movement

2018 ◽  
pp. 216-221
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Quantitative Evaluation ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Average Value ◽  
The World

The article presents the developed method for the quantitative evaluation of involvement of countries of the world in the international open access movement. It consists in the identification of eight country open access indicators initially connected with the open access initiatives and instruments, their weighing, normalization and aggregation in the form of a weighted average value. In a second more strict approximation the number of indicators has been reduced up to six for the account of discarding the data duplicated in ROAR and Open DOAR. Budapest initiative and Berlin declaration were considered as the ОА-initiatives, and data from the international registers DOAJ, SHERPA/RoMEO, ROAR MAP and the Webometrics ОА-repositories ranking was considered as the instruments. The calculation is done on the basis of the developed method for 133 countries.

scholarly journals High-resolution Data Based Groundwater Recharge Estimations of Aynalem Well Field

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Abdelwassie Hussien ◽  
Tesfamichael Gebreyohannes ◽  
Miruts Hagos ◽  
Gebremedhin Berhane ◽  
Kassa Amare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Level Fluctuation ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Well Field ◽  
Groundwater Level Fluctuation

Due to the ever-increasing demand for water in Aynalem catchment and its surrounding, there has been an increased pressure on the Aynalem well field putting the sustainability of water supply from the aquifer under continuous threat. Thus, it is vital to understand the water balance of the catchment to ensure sustainable utilization of the groundwater resource. This in turn requires proper quantification of the components of water balance among which recharge estimation is the most important. This paper estimates the groundwater recharge of the Aynalem catchment using high-resolution hydro-meteorological data. Daily precipitation and temperature measurement data for years 2001-2018; groundwater level fluctuation records collected at every 30 minutes; and soil and land use maps were used to make recharge estimations. In the groundwater level fluctuation, three boreholes were monitored, but only two were utilized for the analysis because the third was under operation and does not represent the natural hydrologic condition. Thornthwaite soil moisture balance and groundwater level fluctuation methods were applied to determine the groundwater recharge of the Aynalem catchment. Accordingly, the annual rate of groundwater recharge estimated based on the soil-water balance ranges between 7mm/year and 138.5 mm/year with the weighted average value of 89.04 mm/year. The weighted average value is considered to represent the catchment value because the diverse soil and land use/cover types respond differently to allow the precipitation to recharge the groundwater. On the other hand, the groundwater recharge estimated using the groundwater level fluctuation method showed yearly groundwater recharge of 91 to 93 mm/year. The similarity in the groundwater recharge result obtained from both methods strengthens the acceptability of the estimate. It also points out that the previously reported estimate is much lower (36 to 66 mm/year).

scholarly journals Temporal distribution of size and weight of fattened Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus l.) from Tunisian farms: (2005-2010)

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. HATTOUR ◽  
W. KOCHED
Keyword(s):  
Fork Length ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Length Frequency ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
The Mean

The present study analysis size and weight-frequency composition of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus) fattened in Tunisian farms for the period 2005-2010 and compare these morphometric parameters with those from wild bluefin tuna landed on 2001 at Sfax port (Tunisia). A total of 6,757 wild and fattened bluefin tuna were measured as straight-line fork length and 49,962 were weighted. Average value of K for wild BFT was 1.59 and respectively 2.43, 2.32, 2.15, 1.61, 1.79 and 1.90 for Fattened BFT after 5-6 months from 2005 to 2010. Length frequency of fattened bluefin showed clearly a substantial increase in juvenile rate. The percentage which was 21.4% in 2005 reached 31.3% in 2009. For weight distribution, 73.3% of the fish caught in 2001 are below the annual mean (75.7 kg), while means 71 to 72% of fattened fish were under annual mean weight. Year 2009 is exceptional because only 57% of fattened fish were under the mean weight. This demonstrates that the fish caught are becoming increasingly small. Mean weight for fattening period (77 to 124 kg) are obviously higher than those of the wild fish (75,7kg).This study showed an increment in the amount of specimen under first sexual maturity which will not have the chance to spawn.

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