Historical Asbestos Measurements in Denmark—A National Database

Objectives: Due to the long lag-time for health outcomes, historical asbestos exposure measurements are valuable to support assessments of associated occupational health effects, and also to assess time trends and effects of preventive measures. Methods: Different sources of stored data were collated, assessed and refined to create a harmonized database on historical asbestos fibre concentrations measured in specific work tasks and different industries. The final database contains 9236 asbestos measurements from Danish workplaces collected from 1971 to 1997. Results: The geometric mean of asbestos concentrations in different occupations and tasks ranged from 0.003 to 35 fibres cm−3. Highest concentrations were registered during handling of asbestos products in the construction services during the period 1981–1997. Although all the measured asbestos exposures without the use of respiratory equipment by the worker in the period of 1971–1997 exceeded the current 8-h time-weighted average exposure limit of 0.1 fibres cm−3, the majority of samples collected in the earlier period of 1971 to 1980 did not exceed the exposure limit of 2 fibres cm−3, which was in place at the time. All exposure data obtained from 1980 and onwards were found to be one seventh of the mean fibre concentrations in the previous measurement period. The impact of time shows a clear exponentially decreasing trend-line. Conclusions: Despite limitations in coverage of different occupations and tasks associated with the inventoried historical asbestos measurements, the data are helpful to identify specific work scenarios within an industry, where relatively high asbestos exposure levels may still occur or have occurred from 1971 to 1997.

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Occupational Exposure Risk for Swine Workers in Confined Housing Facilities

Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health ◽

10.13031/jash.12990 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 37-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alvin C. Alvarado ◽

Bernardo Z. Predicala

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Sulfide ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Respirable Dust ◽

Exposure Risk ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Exposure Limit ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Swine Workers ◽

Time Weighted Average

Abstract. Extended exposure of swine barn workers to noise and airborne contaminants has been reported to be associated with various health problems. In this study, the actual exposure of workers to respirable dust, gases (ammonia and hydrogen sulfide), and noise in swine production operations was monitored in order to determine the contribution of specific activities in the barn to potential adverse health impacts to swine workers. Selected workers in a swine barn facility were outfitted with a personal monitoring system that included a respirable dust sampler, ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas monitors, and a noise dosimeter as they performed their regular duties during their workday. From a total of 50 monitoring days spanning winter and summer months, results showed that the occupational exposure of swine workers to respirable dust, NH3, H2S, and noise while performing their daily assigned tasks was generally below the respective time-weighted average exposure limits for each hazard. However, a number of tasks showed high likelihood for elevated occupational exposure risk. Respirable dust concentrations exceeded the time-weighted average limit of 3 mg m-3 while feeding and weighing pigs. These activities also exceeded the short-term exposure limit (35 ppm) for NH3. Dangerous levels of H2S were generated when draining manure from manure collection pits in the production rooms. Noise levels exceeded the recommended 15 min exposure limit (100 dBA) when weighing and loading pigs for market. The occupational exposure risks for workers to barn contaminants can be reduced through measures that control the generation of contaminants at their source, by removing generated contaminants from the work environment, as well as by outfitting the workers with protective devices that prevent personal exposure to contaminants. Keywords: Ammonia, Barn worker, Dust, Hydrogen sulfide, Noise, Occupational exposure, Risk, Swine.

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The impact of relative hypotension on acute kidney injury progression after cardiac surgery: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Annals of Intensive Care ◽

10.1186/s13613-021-00969-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuki Kotani ◽

Takuo Yoshida ◽

Junji Kumasawa ◽

Jun Kamei ◽

Akihisa Taguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Kidney Injury ◽

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Venous Pressure ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Blood Pressure Target ◽

Hemodynamic Parameters ◽

Percentage Difference ◽

Time Weighted Average ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Cardiac surgery is performed worldwide, and acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery is a risk factor for mortality. However, the optimal blood pressure target to prevent AKI after cardiac surgery remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether relative hypotension and other hemodynamic parameters after cardiac surgery are associated with subsequent AKI progression. Methods We retrospectively enrolled adult patients admitted to 14 intensive care units after elective cardiac surgery between January and December 2018. We defined mean perfusion pressure (MPP) as the difference between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP). The main exposure variables were time-weighted-average MPP-deficit (i.e., the percentage difference between preoperative and postoperative MPP) and time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% within the first 24 h. We defined other pressure-related hemodynamic parameters during the initial 24 h as exploratory exposure variables. The primary outcome was AKI progression, defined as one or more AKI stages using Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes’ creatinine and urine output criteria between 24 and 72 h. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the association between the exposure variables and AKI progression. Results Among the 746 patients enrolled, the median time-weighted-average MPP-deficit was 20% [interquartile range (IQR): 10–27%], and the median duration with MPP-deficit > 20% was 12 h (IQR: 3–20 h). One-hundred-and-twenty patients (16.1%) experienced AKI progression. In the multivariable analyses, time-weighted-average MPP-deficit or time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% was not associated with AKI progression [odds ratio (OR): 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.99–1.03]. Likewise, time spent with MPP-deficit > 20% was not associated with AKI progression (OR: 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.04). Among exploratory exposure variables, time-weighted-average CVP, time-weighted-average MPP, and time spent with MPP < 60 mmHg were associated with AKI progression (OR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.20; OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.94–0.99; OR: 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06, respectively). Conclusions Although higher CVP and lower MPP were associated with AKI progression, relative hypotension was not associated with AKI progression in patients after cardiac surgery. However, these findings were based on exploratory investigation, and further studies for validating them are required. Trial Registration UMIN-CTR, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm, UMIN000037074.

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Assessing spill risks and impact from Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS): Are standard toxicity data enough?

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2017.1.1965 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 (1) ◽

pp. 1965-1982

Author(s):

Marta Vannoni ◽

John Aldridge ◽

Denise Doran ◽

Mark Kirby ◽

Thomas McGowan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Benzalkonium Chloride ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Scenario Planning ◽

Subsequent Increase ◽

Test Species ◽

Model Predictions ◽

Test Organisms ◽

Time Weighted Average ◽

The Impact ◽

Noxious Substances

ABSTRACT 2017-262 Over recent decades there has been an increase in the shipping of chemicals at sea with a subsequent increase in the risk of incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). Typically, during HNS spills and during scenario planning the impact upon marine organisms is estimated using spill model predictions of time-weighted average (TWA) or peak concentration compared to a predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) derived from laboratory based constant exposure toxicity studies. This paper evaluates two marine transported chemicals, aniline and benzalkonium chloride, and compares their toxicity during standard (constant) and brief (spill-profiled) exposures. Toxicity was evaluated for the copepod Tisbe battagliai, the red algae Ceramium tenuicorne and the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and aniline exhibited toxicity in similar concentration range with EC50s typically 1–2 mg l−1 range during constant exposures. When brief or spill-profiled exposures were considered, contrasting effects for the two test chemicals were shown across the range of test species. Exposure to BAC resulted in significant effects to T. battagliai (the most sensitive species to this chemical) after 1-hour exposure to a concentration of 5 mg l−1 but for aniline recovery of the test organisms still occurred in exposures of a few hours at concentrations up to 300 mg l−1. Thus, a spill of a chemical with a specific mode of toxicity results in greater effects following relatively brief exposures, and exposed organisms show little or no recovery. In such cases impacts might be expected to be more extensive and persistent. In conclusion, for chemicals with specific modes of toxic action brief exposures, and possibly limited spill profile studies may be useful to support chemical spill risk assessment. Considerations of concentration exposure profiles during spills may also be relevant to take account of when considering oil spill impact plans and predictions.

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Use of Methanol as a Coolant During Machining of Aluminum in a Shipbuilding Environment: A Failure to Assess and Manage Risk

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.955-959.1061 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 955-959 ◽

pp. 1061-1064 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thomas Neil McManus ◽

Assed N. Haddad

Keyword(s):

Weighted Average ◽

Threshold Limit Value ◽

Breathing Zone ◽

Short Term ◽

Limit Value ◽

Diffusion Tubes ◽

Exposure Limit ◽

Long Duration ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Time Weighted Average

Minimization of harm during the conduct of work is one of the most important tenets of industrial hygiene. Organizations make changes to solve perceived problems. What appears to be expedient for solving a problem can create serious risks totally unrecognized by the proponent. This investigation reports on such a situation involving the use of methanol as a lubricant during machining of aluminium panels using a router. Spot samples for methanol were measured using colorimetric detector tubes and samples of long duration by colorimetric diffusion tubes utilizing similar chemistry. Both were positioned in the breathing zone. Most of the spot samples exceeded the 8-hour TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Value-Time-Weighted Average) of 200 ppm and the TLV-STEL (Short-Term Exposure Limit) of 250 ppm. The two long duration samples also exceeded the TLV-TWA. A change in the operation prevented collection of additional long duration samples. By these measures, workers were overexposed to methanol during this activity. An additional serious consequence from use of methanol in this manner was risk of fire. This situation illustrates the complexity of decisions affecting workplace operations. What appears to be expedient for solving a problem may be totally inappropriate.

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Impact of the ARSET Program on Use of Remote-Sensing Data

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ◽

10.3390/ijgi8060261 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ana I. Prados ◽

Annelise Carleton-Hug ◽

Pawan Gupta ◽

Amita Mehta ◽

Brock Blevins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Data Use ◽

Remote Sensing Data ◽

Specific Work ◽

Future Directions ◽

Sensing Data ◽

Work Tasks ◽

Training Activities ◽

The Impact ◽

Access Data

We show that training activities conducted through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Applied Remote-Sensing Training (ARSET) program led to a significant increase in remote-sensing data use for decision-making. Our findings are based on survey data collected from 1041 ARSET participants from 117 countries who attended ARSET trainings between 2013 and 2016. To assess the impact of the ARSET program, we analyzed changes in three metrics. Results show that 83% of all respondents increased their knowledge of remote-sensing data products at least moderately, 79% increased their ability to access data, and 73% increased their ability to make decisions. We also examined how respondents are using remote-sensing data across 40 specific work tasks ranging from research to decision support applications. More than 50% of respondents reported an increase in data use for all except two of the tasks. ARSET will use these findings, together with participant data on future training needs, to set future directions for the program.

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Plasma cutting and exposure to PM2.5 metal aerosol in metalworking, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2020

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-106883 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-106883

Author(s):

Denis Vinnikov ◽

Zhangir Tulekov

Keyword(s):

Geometric Mean ◽

Real Life ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Personal Exposure ◽

Main Process ◽

Plasma Cutting ◽

Breathing Zone ◽

Aerosol Mass ◽

Total Variability ◽

Time Weighted Average

ObjectivesLittle is known regarding the metal working subprocesses that determine exposures in the workplace primarily because their segregation from the main process is rather difficult in real-life occupational settings. The present study aimed to identify the subprocesses in a metalworks plant with high personal exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) metal aerosol in order to plan future risk reduction interventions.MethodsA total of eighty 8-hour PM2.5 metal aerosol samples from the breathing zone of four workers in each of four major operations (plasma cutting, machine operating, assembling and welding) were collected in a metalwork plant in Almaty in January to June 2020. Minimal, maximal, time-weighted average PM2.5 metal aerosol mass concentrations were recorded with TSI SidePak AM520 personal aerosol and analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) after normalisation.ResultsThe overall sampling time was 640 hours. Maximal 1 min and geometric mean PM2.5 concentrations were 8.551 and 1.7268 mg/m3 in plasma cutting; 4.844 and 0.9343 mg/m3 in machine operating; 2.993 and 0.6898 mg/m3 in assembling; and 2.848 and 0.4903 mg/m3 in welding. Using a Tukey-Kramer test after a one-way ANOVA, plasma cutting concentrations were significantly higher compared with all other operations (F-ratio 29.6, p<0.001). The fold-range containing 95% of the total variability (R0.95) from all samples was 12.5.ConclusionsThe highest PM2.5 concentrations were found in plasma cutting, potentially elevating the risk of systemic inflammatory effects.

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Occupational asbestos exposure after the ban: a job exposure matrix developed in Italy

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 936-941

Author(s):

Alberto Scarselli ◽

Alessandro Marinaccio ◽

Marisa Corfiati ◽

Davide Di Marzio ◽

Sergio Iavicoli

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Asbestos Exposure ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Occupational Group ◽

Geometric Standard Deviation ◽

National Database ◽

Job Exposure Matrix ◽

Airborne Measurements ◽

Asbestos Abatement

Abstract Background Asbestos is a well-known carcinogen for humans. The aim of this study is to develop a tool to estimate occupational asbestos exposure in Italy after the ban using information collected in a national dataset. Methods Data were collected from firm registries of workers exposed to asbestos in the period 1996–2016. Descriptive statistics (arithmetic mean, standard deviation, geometric mean and geometric standard deviation) were calculated for the main exposure-related variables (activity sector, occupational group and exposure period). An estimate of workers potentially exposed to asbestos was also performed. Results A total of 19 704 airborne measurements of asbestos exposure was selected from the national database of occupational exposures in the sectors of asbestos abatement. Overall, a geometric mean of 7.93 f l−1 was found, and chrysotile was the asbestos type that had more exposures (41%). A total of 46 422 workers was estimated to be potentially at asbestos exposure risk. Exposure data were summarized by calendar period, activity sector and occupational group. Conclusions The construction of a job exposure matrix for different occupation/industry combinations may allow the assessment of occupational exposure to asbestos in several removal and disposal activities, and the estimate of the risks associated with asbestos-related diseases in epidemiological studies.

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To Weight or Not to Weight, That Is the Question: The Design of a Composite Indicator of Landscape Fragmentation

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11073208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 3208

Author(s):

Andrea De Montis ◽

Vittorio Serra ◽

Giovanna Calia ◽

Daniele Trogu ◽

Antonio Ledda

Keyword(s):

Principal Component Analysis ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Composite Index ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Principal Component ◽

Expert Judgment ◽

Landscape Fragmentation ◽

Composite Indicator ◽

Per Se ◽

Higher Sensitivity

Composite indicators (CIs), i.e., combinations of many indicators in a unique synthetizing measure, are useful for disentangling multisector phenomena. Prominent questions concern indicators’ weighting, which implies time-consuming activities and should be properly justified. Landscape fragmentation (LF), the subdivision of habitats in smaller and more isolated patches, has been studied through the composite index of landscape fragmentation (CILF). It was originally proposed by us as an unweighted combination of three LF indicators for the study of the phenomenon in Sardinia, Italy. In this paper, we aim at presenting a weighted release of the CILF and at developing the Hamletian question of whether weighting is worthwhile or not. We focus on the sensitivity of the composite to different algorithms combining three weighting patterns (equalization, extraction by principal component analysis, and expert judgment) and three indicators aggregation rules (weighted average mean, weighted geometric mean, and weighted generalized geometric mean). The exercise provides the reader with meaningful results. Higher sensitivity values signal that the effort of weighting leads to more informative composites. Otherwise, high robustness does not mean that weighting was not worthwhile. Weighting per se can be beneficial for more acceptable and viable decisional processes.

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T3 Are Burns a Chronic Condition: Examining Physical and Mental Functioning up to 20 Years After Injury

Journal of Burn Care & Research ◽

10.1093/jbcr/irab032.002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S2-S3

Author(s):

Callie Abouzeid ◽

Audrey E Wolfe ◽

Gretchen J Carrougher ◽

Nicole S Gibran ◽

Radha K Holavanahalli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

National Database ◽

Time Points ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Burn Survivors ◽

Population Demographic ◽

The Impact ◽

Over Time

Abstract Introduction Burn survivors often face many long-term physical and psychological symptoms associated with their injury. To date, however, few studies have examined the impact of burn injuries on quality of life beyond 2 years post-injury. The purpose of this study is to examine the physical and mental well-being of burn survivors up to 20 years after injury. Methods Data from the Burn Model System National Database (1997–2020) were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures were collected at discharge with a recall of preinjury status, and then at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after injury. Outcomes examined were the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the Short Form-12. Trajectories were developed using linear mixed methods model with repeated measures of PCS and MCS scores over time and controlling for demographic and clinical variables. The model fitted score trajectory was generated with 95% confidence intervals to demonstrate score changes over time and associations with covariates. Results The study population included 420 adult burn survivors with a mean age of 42.4 years. The population was mainly male (66%) and white (76.4%) with a mean burn size of 21.5% and length of hospital stay of 31.3 days. Higher PCS scores were associated with follow-up time points closer to injury, shorter hospital stay, and younger age. Similarly, higher MCS scores were associated with earlier follow-up time points, shorter hospital stay, female gender, and non-perineal burns. MCS trajectories are demonstrated in the Figure. Conclusions Burn survivors’ physical and mental health worsened over time. Such a trend is different from previous reported results for mental health in the general population. Demographic and clinical predictors of recovery over time are identified.

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Cable Tensile Forces Associated to Winch Design in Tethered Harvesting Operations: A Case Study from the Pacific North West

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070827 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 827

Author(s):

Omar Mologni ◽

Eric D. T. Nance ◽

C. Kevin Lyons ◽

Luca Marchi ◽

Stefano Grigolato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endurance Limit ◽

Tensile Force ◽

Force Analysis ◽

North West ◽

The Pacific ◽

Work Tasks ◽

Tensile Forces ◽

System Activation ◽

The Impact

Cable tensile forces in winch-assist harvesting have been investigated in order to assess the safety concerns of the technology. However, the literature is lacking, particularly in regards to the impact of winch design. In this study, a Summit Winch Assist tethering a feller-director on ground slopes up to 77% was monitored for four days. The cable tensile forces were simultaneously recorded at the harvesting and anchor machine at a frequency of 100 Hz. Cameras and GNSS devices enabled a time study of the operations and the recording of machine positions. Winch functionality and design were disclosed by the manufacturer and used for the interpretation of the results. The cable tensile forces reached 296 kN at the harvesting machine and 260 kN at the anchor machine. The slow negotiation of obstacles while moving downhill recorded the highest peaks, mainly due to threshold settings of the winch in the brake system activation. Lower but significant peaks were also recorded during stationary work tasks. The peaks, however, were limited to a few events and never exceeded the endurance limit of the cable. Overall, the study confirmed recent findings in cable tensile force analysis of active winch-assist operations and provided evidence of the underlaying mechanisms that contribute to cable tensile forces.

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