scholarly journals Fungal Contamination in the Working Environ-Ment of Waste Sorting Facilities: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
K. Perná ◽  
Z. Wittlingerová ◽  
M. Zimová
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Airborne Fungi ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Fungal Contamination ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
High Concentrations

AbstractIn recent years, many studies have pointed to a relationship between the working activity in waste sorting facilities and the occurrence of health problems (respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, skin and eye irritations). Employees in these facilities are simultaneously exposed to many biological, chemical and physical factors. Due to the repeated detection of high concentrations of airborne fungi (reaching up to 1.8 x 106 CFU m–3) in the working environment involving potentially allergenic, infectious and toxigenic fungal species, it can be assumed that fungi may play an important role in the development of health problems. In terms of minimizing health risks, it is necessary to take several preventive and protective measures to reduce contamination of the working environment by biological agents. The basic recommendation is the consistent use of protective equipment as well as the observance of personal hygiene by the employees. Other necessary measures are the frequent air exchange inside the facility, educating the employees about health risks associated with waste sorting and establishment of regular medical check-ups.

Hygienic characteristics of the cosmetologists' lifestyle

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 958-963
Author(s):  
Natalia I. Latyshevskaya ◽  
Tatyana L. Yatsyshena ◽  
Elena L. Shestopalova ◽  
Irina Yu. Krainova
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Modern trends in the deterioration of health and the growth of non-communicable diseases among the adult working-age population, including medical workers, actualize the importance of a healthy lifestyle for maintaining health and professional longevity. There were almost no studies related to cosmetologists' experienced group as representatives of aesthetic medicine. There is no scientific evidence on behavioral risks of this group. It justifies the relevance of this study. The study aims to analyze the essential components of the cosmetologists' lifestyle depending on age and the argumentation of priority behavioral health risk factors for preventive and recreational work justification. Sixty women (practicing cosmetologists in Volgograd at the age of 28-39 years (group A) and 40-53 (group B)) took part in the study. Lifestyle assessment included a modified questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 5 blocks (block 1 - nutrition; 2 - physical activity, including hardening and active rest; 3 - daily regimen; 4 - personal hygiene; 5 - bad habits). It allows the analysis of the adherence to a healthy lifestyle based on the provision of quantitative data. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Excel package. The authors identified the essential and statistically significant differences in the cosmetologists' lifestyle depending on age. The respondents of group B demonstrated hygienically rational indicators in all blocks of the lifestyle more often. They had a more formed adherence to a healthy lifestyle: 504 answers in the category "insignificant risk" of respondents in group B versus 354 in group A. Distribution of answers in the "high risk" category: 119 responses in group B and 185 in group A. The lifestyle of 46.7% of the respondents in group B refers to a healthy lifestyle. 3.3% of the group B respondents have an anxious lifestyle, 50% have health risks. 10% of Group A respondents' lifestyle refers to a healthy lifestyle. 13.3% of Group A respondents' lifestyle refers to an anxious lifestyle; 76.7% of this group have health risks. There was almost no complex hygienic research profession of medical cosmetologists. Cosmetologists of the older age group (40-53 years old) are more conscious of maintaining a hygienically rational lifestyle. The most significant defects among cosmetologists aged 28-39 years are low physical activity, nutritional defects, insufficient duration of night rest, and excessive use of information and communication technologies for rest, accompanied by manifestations of neurotization and signs of pronounced fatigue. The obtained results argue the need to develop and implement informational and educational measures to prevent risk behavior patterns, taking into account the age of cosmetologists and the priority of the identified behavioral risk factors.

Main approaches to prevention of health disorders in workers in contact with physical factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 827-829
Author(s):  
Andrey V. Melentyev
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Machine Building ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Noise And Vibration ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Building Enterprises

Introduction. One of the leading causes of occupational health loss, especially in mining and machine-building enterprises, is the combined impact of industrial noise and vibration. The wide prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is one of the most important medical and social problems, due to persistent disability and high mortality, bringing prevention of health disorders to the first place as the basis for preserving labor longevity. The aim of study is to identify the main approaches aimed at preventing health problems in workers who come into contact with vibration and noise at mining and machine-building enterprises. Materials and methods. A survey and survey of 296 industrial workers was conducted. Group 1 (160 people) included men who were exposed to noise and vibration factors above the maximum permissible levels, group 2 consisted of 136 men who did not have direct contact with noise and vibration generating equipment. When conducting an in-depth laboratory and instrumental examination in a hospital setting, all workers additionally calculated the level of cardiovascular risk on the SCORE scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the software package "Statistica 6.0". Results. It is determined that the priority adverse factors of the working environment in production are noise and vibration. It has been shown that individuals who come into contact with these factors are more likely to detect violations of lipid metabolism and endothelial function, have a higher average heart rate and systolic blood pressure, and have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions. Taking into account the obtained results of the proposed diagnostic approaches aimed at the prevention of health disorders among workers of industrial enterprises. If employees are found to have an increased cardiovascular risk, it is necessary to conduct a more in-depth examination and timely medical and preventive measures.

Working conditions and the formation of health risks among workers of the petrochemical industry engaged in the production of methanol and its derivatives

2019 ◽  
pp. 266-271
Author(s):  
Nina M. Meshchakova ◽  
Marina P. Dyakovich ◽  
Salim F. Shayakhmetov
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Medical Examination ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Labor Intensity ◽  
Industrial Noise ◽  
Harmful Substances ◽  
The Impact

Introduction.Methanol and its derivatives occupy one of the leading places among the main organic synthesis intermediates in terms of their importance and scale of production. According to experts, by 2027 the global demand for methanol can reach 135 million tons, the annual growth will be about 5.5%. However, there is little information regarding the assessment of working conditions and occupational risks for workers in modern methanol production and its derivatives.The aim of the studyis hygienic assessment of working conditions and the formation of health risks in workers of modern production of methanol and methylamines.Materials and methods.The assessment of the main adverse factors of production is given. When studying the state of health, objective indicators (the results of an in-depth medical examination) and subjective (the results of a quantitative assessment of the risks of the main pathological syndromes associated with health) are considered.Results.According to long-term observations, the concentration of harmful substances in the air of the working area, indicators of labor severity, parameters of physical factors met hygienic requirements, with the exception of industrial noise exceeding the maximum permissible level, as well as labor intensity of 1 degree. The General assessment of working conditions corresponds to the category of harmful 2 degrees (3.2). According to the results of the medical examination and quantitative assessment of the risks of health disorders in workers, the most significant were functional disorders and diseases of the circulatory system. The levels of somatic pathology on the part of the main body systems were significantly higher in apparatchiks compared to the engineering and technical personnel (ETP).Conclusions:In the production of methyl alcohol and methylamines, the main hygienic importance is the impact on workers of the complex of harmful substances of 1-IV hazard classes in low concentrations, increased levels of industrial noise, labor intensity of 1 degree. According to the subjective assessment of health and medical examination, the greatest prevalence of health risks in workers was observed from the circulatory system, and the levels of the revealed somatic pathology were statistically significantly higher in apparatchiks compared with the ETP.

scholarly journals First Speleomycological Study on the Occurrence of Psychrophilic and Psychrotolerant Aeromycota in the Brestovská Cave (Western Tatras Mts., Slovakia) and First Reports for Some Species at Underground Sites

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Rafał Ogórek ◽  
Mateusz Speruda ◽  
Justyna Borzęcka ◽  
Agata Piecuch ◽  
Magdalena Cal
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Biological Material ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Airborne Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Cold Adapted ◽  
First Report

Most underground ecosystems are heterotrophic, fungi in these objects are dispersed in the air in the form of spores, and they may be potentially hazardous to mammals. Research in underground sites has focused on mesophilic airborne fungi and only a few concerned cold-adapted species. Therefore, the goal of our research was the first report of psychrophilic and psychrotolerant aeromycota in the Brestovská Cave using culture-based techniques with genetic and phenotypic identification. Plates with PDA medium containing sampled biological material were incubated at 8 ± 0.5 °C. The density of mycobiota inside the cave ranged from 37.4 to 71 CFU 1 m−3 of air and 63.3 CFU 1 m−3 of air outside the cave. Thus, the level of fungal spores did not exceed the standards for the mycological quality of the air. A total of 18 species were isolated during the study, and some species may be potentially dangerous to people with weakened immune system. All fungal species were present inside the cave and only seven of them were outside. Cladosporium cladosporioides dominated in the external air samples and Mortierella parvispora was cultured most frequently from internal air samples. To our knowledge, this is the first discovery of the fungal species such as Coniothyrium pyrinum, Cystobasidium laryngis, Filobasidium wieringae, Leucosporidium drummii, M. parvispora, Mrakia blollopis, Nakazawaea holstii, and Vishniacozyma victoriae in the air inside the underground sites. Moreover, C. pyrinum, C. laryngis, L. drummii, M. blollopis, and N. holstii have never been detected in any component of the underground ecosystems. There are possible reasons explaining the detection of those species, but global warming is the most likely.

Trace elements in skin-contact clothes and migration to artificial sweat: Risk assessment of human dermal exposure

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 726-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquim Rovira ◽  
Martí Nadal ◽  
Marta Schuhmacher ◽  
José L Domingo
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Dermal Exposure ◽  
Environmental Scanning ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Artificial Sweat ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
And Migration

The concentrations of a considerable number of trace elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V and Zn) were determined in various skin-contact clothes (T-shirts, blouses, socks, baby pajamas and bodies) from the Catalan (Spain) market. In addition, migration experiments with artificial acidic sweat were conducted in order to establish the migration rates of these elements. High levels of Zn (186–5749 mg/kg) were found in zinc pyrithione labeled T-shirts, while high concentrations of Sb and Cr were found in polyester and black polyamide fabrics, respectively. An environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) confirmed the presence of Ag and Ti particles and aggregates in several clothing items. The use of the ESEM complemented the results of the elemental analysis and migration experiments. Dermal exposure to trace elements was subsequently calculated, and the human health risks were assessed. Antimony showed the highest mean hazard quotient (HQ = 0.4) for male and female adults wearing polyester clothes; for one of the examined items (polyester T-shirt) the HQ was even above the safety limit (HQ > 1). Exposure to Sb from polyester textile could mean potential health risks in subpopulation groups who frequently wear these clothes, and for long time periods. The migration experiments with artificial sweat showed to be essential for establishing the exposure to trace elements through cloth with direct contact with skin.

scholarly journals Selecting informative biomarkers for early diagnosis of occupational neurological diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (9) ◽  
pp. 953-958
Author(s):  
Inna V. Lapko
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Total Testosterone ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Lumbosacral Radiculopathy ◽  
Vibration Disease ◽  
Neurohumoral Regulation ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. At present, the patterns of changes in the levels of biomarkers and the relationship of changes in their values with the pathogenesis of diseases caused by the impact of adverse factors of labour activity are not sufficiently studied. The most unresolved issues are the choice of informative laboratory indicators and diagnostic test systems in investigating the impact of physical factors on the working environment (vibration and physical overload) neurohumoral regulation: pituitary-adrenal pituitary-thyroid, pituitary-gonadal system and hormonal indicators of carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of the study was to determine diagnostic hormonal markers and integral indices to identify early changes in the neurohumoral status in the body of workers under the influence of working environment factors. Materials and methods. 330 workers of mining and machine-building enterprises were examined. Of these, 128 people with vibration disease, 45 people - with lumbosacral radiculopathy, combined pathology (vibration disease and lumbosacral radiculopathy) was detected in 60 persons. The preclinical stage (initial signs of diseases) was noted in 97 workers. Laboratory studies included hormones and integral indices of the pituitary-adrenal, pituitary-thyroid, pituitary-gonadal system, carbohydrate metabolism. To select the diagnostic significance of laboratory biomarkers, diagnostic sensitivity, prenosological value, pathognomonicity, direction, severity, and selectivity of changes in biomarker levels were evaluated. Results. The combined effect of vibration and physical overload on the body of workers was found to have a unidirectional and systemic impact on the levels of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal, pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-gonadal systems, increases insulin resistance. The severity of changes in neurohumoral regulation indicators depends on the nature and severity of the occupational neurological disease. The highest diagnostic sensitivity (Df = 72-74%) in vibration disease and its combination with lumbosacral radiculopathy was obtained for pituitary-gonadal hormones and indicators of insulin resistance. The lowest values of Dh are typical for the hormones of the pituitary-thyroid system (no more than 14%). To identify early changes in neurohumoral regulation in the body under the influence of vibration and physical exertion, it is most informative to determine the concentration of total testosterone, luteinizing hormone and insulin, as well as the integral pituitary-adrenal index, insulin resistance indices. To identify hidden disorders of the pituitary-thyroid system, the definition of the essential thyroid index can be used. Discussion. The results obtained allowed us to assess the nature of changes in the levels of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal, pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-gonadal systems and carbohydrate metabolism and to propose informative laboratory biomarkers reflecting early changes in neurohumoral regulation under the influence of physical factors of the working environment. Conclusions. To identify early changes in neurohumoral regulation in the body of workers under the influence of vibration and physical exertion, the most informative is the determination of the concentration of total testosterone, luteinizing hormone and insulin, the integral pituitary-adrenal index, and insulin resistance indices. To identify hidden disorders of the pituitary-thyroid system, the definition of the integral thyroid index can be used.

scholarly journals Mycotoxins and health risks

1986 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-156
Author(s):  
P. G. Thiel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Fungal Contamination ◽  
Experimental Animals

Fungal contamination of agricultural products can prove to be harmful to humans and domestic animals as these fungi produce a variety of mycotoxins which can eventually occur in food. Acute intoxications with mycotoxins occur regularly in farm animals but, fortunately, are infrequently observed in humans. However, the chronic exposure of humans to mycotoxins occurs regularly. Such exposures are potentially teratogenic and carcmogenic and can suppress the immune system. It is presently impossible to establish safe levels of exposure for most mycotoxins due to scanty epidemiological data and insufficient observations on experimental animals. With respect to aflatoxin all available data point to a real health risk. Risk analysis based on epidemiological observations shows that the liver-cancer risk for individuals in South Africa is potentially increased by continued exposure to the present legally permitted level of aflatoxin in food.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISKS MINING WORKERS AND IMPROVEMENT OF ACTIVITIES BY THEIR REDUCTION AT ORE MINING ENTERPRISES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Chebotarev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Ore Minerals ◽  
Research Show

Abstract. The article presents an assessment of the risk of health problems for employees of enter-prises for the extraction of ore minerals. The results of many years of hygienic research show that working conditions in mines and quarries have been and remain harmful. It has been established that at the enterprises of underground ore mining, the share of jobs with harmful working conditions is 78.3%. The levels of occupational morbidity for the last 10 years and its structure are given. A set of measures to normalize working conditions is presented.

Occupational physical risk factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the traditional lacquerware toy makers of South India

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Pradeep Kumar Hanumegowda ◽  
Sakthivel Gnanasekaran ◽  
Shankar Subramaniam ◽  
Adarsh Honnappa
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
South India ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Study Results

BACKGROUND: The majority of handicraft workers in India falls under the informal sector, which plays a prominent role in the employment generation. Artisans in handicraft sectors encounter various hazards and risks causing occupational diseases. OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the study is to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors among the artisans involved in making traditional lacquerware toys in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, South India. METHODS: The subjects considered in this study are 177 artisans who work in mechanized lathes at Channapatna of Karnataka and Etikoppaka of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The information regarding the reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) symptoms from 7 days to 12 months are collected through modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and by direct observations. Moreover, the intervention of WMSD in their day-to-day life and the overall comfort of their body are also determined. The questionnaire survey is conducted through face-to-face interviews and by direct field study. RESULTS: From the statistical analysis, it is found that about 76.83%of the study population (77.4%male and 74.28%female) has self-reported WMSDs. The prevalence of WMSD is most common in the age group of 30–40 years. Physical factors like workplace adaptability, stress at work, body postures, health status, body mass index, active and enough breaks during work and body condition at the end of work have a significant association with WMSD. CONCLUSION: In this study, many of the work-related and lifestyle/health-related factors show a significant association with WMSD in artisans. The sub-standard working environment and the nature of work expose artisans to many occupational risks in their day-to-day life. To mitigate the occupational risks and musculoskeletal disorders, the workspace needs to be resigned ergonomically.

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