Occupational exposure of physical therapists to electric and magnetic fields and the efficacy of Faraday cages

Objective. Measure physical therapists' exposure to the electric and magnetic fields produced by 17 shortwave diathermy devices in physical therapy clinics in the city of Presidente Prudente, S��o Paulo State, Brazil. Compare the observed values with the exposure levels recommended by the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Observe the efficacy of Faraday cages as a means of protecting physical therapists from exposure to oscillating electric and magnetic fields.Methods. Electric and magnetic field measurements were taken at four points during actual physical therapy sessions: in proximity to the operator's pelvis and head, the devices' electrical cables, and the electrodes. The measuring equipment was a Wandel & Goltermann EMR-200.Results. The values obtained in proximity to the electrodes and cables were 10 to 30 times higher than ICNIRP's recommended occupational reference levels. In the shortwave diathermy treatment rooms with Faraday cages, the fields were even higher than in treatment rooms not so equipped-principally the magnetic field, where the values were more than 100 times higher than the ICNIRP exposure limit.Conclusions. The electric and magnetic field intensities obtained in this study are generally above the exposure levels recommend in ICNIRP standards. It was also observed that the Faraday cage offers physical therapists no protection, and instead, increases their level of exposure.

Rapid determination of desorption efficiency, and analysis of solvent mixtures for occupational exposure studies

An analytical procedure has been developed for simultaneous determination of solvent mixture vapors to enable evaluation of occupational exposure. To determine the desorption efficiency the volatile components of the solvent mixtures were generated from a glass tube filled with glass wool. This device is easy to prepare and use. These vapors were then collected in activated charcoal tubes and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The method was tested with a mixture of 22 solvents, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, esters, and ketones, oil at low concentrations. All the components were defected. When a 99: 1 mixture of carbon disulfide-dimethylformamide was used for desorption the efficiency was > 75% for most of the solvents.

Occupational exposure to paint solvents and particulate material in car repair shops

Aims: We evaluated solvents and total particulates exposures in auto body repair shops together with a search of painter's related complaints. Methods: 26 painters exposures were evaluated by pumped personal sampling; solvents were retained in charcoal sorbent tubes and the particulates in PVC filters. Painter's personal habits and their work characteristics were obtained through a questionnaire, applied in a private interview. For the symptoms the Q16 questionnaire was used, added of questions about complaints during the painting. Results: High exposures were detected during spray painting. For solvents, the TLV-STEL adjusted for the mixtures was surpassed in six evaluations. However, as repaint is a short-term operation, it makes the average concentrations weighed for the work shift lower than the TLV-TWA adjusted for the mixtures. Total particulate concentrations had surpassed the TLV-TWA in four of the evaluations. Symptoms frequency in the Q16 questionnaire was higher for painters than for the controls (Mann-Whitney test U=193; p=0.008), and they showed positive correlations with the age (Spearman r=0.354, t=1.85, p=0.076), the number of years in the profession (Spearman r=0.433, t=2.35, p=0.027) and the alcoholic beverage consumption (Spearman r=0.457, t=2.516, p=0.019). Conclusions: The painting work done at car repair shops can result in high solvent and particulate exposures, although they are short-term operations. Their acute and chronic effects for the painters do not have been clearly evidenced in the present study, continuing deserving multidisciplinary attention.

Occupational exposure to contaminated biological material: perceptions and feelings experienced among dental students

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient��fico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Does occupational exposure to anesthetic gases lead to increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines?

There is great concern about the possible harmful effects of exposure to volatile anesthetics. The current study aimed at evaluating, for the first time, the effects of occupational exposure to anesthetic gases on physicians who work in operating rooms, by determining several inflammatory cytokines. Plasma inflammatory cytokines (IL-1��, -6, -8, -10, -12, TNF-��) were investigated in 30 individuals who were allocated into two groups of 15: the exposed group, consisting of operating room medical personnel exposed to a mixture of anesthetic gases for 3��years, and a control group composed of medical personnel not exposed to anesthetic gases. The concentrations of volatile anesthetics were measured in the operating room by means of an infrared portable analyzer Our findings suggest an increase of the pro-inflammatory IL-8 (p��<��0.05) in medical personnel exposed to high concentrations of anesthetic gases, even for a relatively short period.

Attributable fraction of work accidents related to occupational noise exposure in a Southeastern city of Brazil

Noise is the most frequent type of occupational exposure and can lead to both auditory and extra-auditory dysfunction as well as increasing the risk of work accidents. The purpose of this study was to estimate the attributable fraction of work accidents related to occupational noise exposure in a medium-sized city in Southeast Brazil. In this hospital-based case-control study, including 600 cases and 822 controls, the odds ratio of work accidents (controlled for several covariables) was obtained classifying occupational noise exposure into four levels and determining the prevalence at each level. Based on these data, the calculated attributable fraction was 0.3041 (95%CI: 0.2341-0.3676), i.e., 30% of work accidents in the study area were statistically associated with occupational noise exposure. The authors discuss the causes of this association and the implications for the prevention of work accidents.

Fraction of work-related accidents attributable to occupational noise in the city of Botucatu, S��o Paulo, Brazil

Background: Noise is the most common agent of occupational exposure. It may induce both auditory and extraauditory dysfunction and increase the risk of work accidents. The purpose of this study was to estimate the fraction of accidents attributable to noise occupational exposure in a mid-size city located in southeastern Brazil. Materials and Methods: In this population case-control study, which included 108 cases and 324 controls, the incidence rate ratio of work accidents controlled for several covariables was obtained by classifying occupational noise exposure into three levels, as well as determining the prevalence in each level. Results: Based on these data, the attributable fraction was estimated as 0.6391 (95 CI = 0.2341-0.3676), i.e., 63 of the work accidents that took place in the study site were statistically associated with occupational noise exposure. Discussion: The causes of this association as well as its implications in the prevention of work accidents are discussed.

Toxic mechanism of cadmium exposure on cardiac tissue

The presence of toxic substances in the workplace environment requires systematic evaluation of exposure and health status in exposed subjects. Cadmium is a highly toxic element found in water. Although free mediated cellular damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS), had been theorized as contributing to the cadmium mechanism of toxicity, and recent investigations have established that free radicals may be important contributors to cardiac dysfunction, there is little information on the effect of cadmium exposure on markers of oxidative stress in cardiac tissue. Cadmium exposure (Cd2+ - 100 mg/1-from CdCl2) in drinking water, during 15 days, significantly increased lipoperoxide and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. No alterations were observed in catalase activity in heart of rats with cadmium exposure. We also observed decreased glycogen and glucose concentration and increased total lipid content in cardiac tissue of rats with cadmium exposure. The decreased activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase reflected decreased metabolic protein degradation, and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity was related with increases in capacity of glycolysis. Since the metabolic pathways were altered by cadmium exposure, we can conclude that Cd2+ exposure induced ROS and initiate some series of events that occur in the heart and resulted in metabolic pathways alterations.

Seguran��a na aplica����o de agrot��xicos ��em cultura de batata em regi��es montahosas

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Urinary Mutagenicity in Chemical Laboratory Workers Exposed to Solvents

Solvents represent an important group of environmental pollutants to which people are exposed daily in the workplace. The physico chemical properties of solvents may result in disturbances to cellular structures, including damage to DNA. However, the effects of mixtures of solvents are not well known. Mutations caused by environmental agents are related to cancer development and other degenerative diseases. The work in a research laboratory that uses several types of solvents is equally predisposed to these hazards. In this study, we evaluated the mutagenicity of urine from 29 subjects exposed occupationally to solvents in a chemistry research laboratory and 29 subjects without occupational exposure (controls). Urine samples were collected in polyethylene containers at the end of the work shift. For the concentration and extraction of urine samples the XAD-2 resin was used with acetone as an eluting agent. Several strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA98, TA97a, TA1535, YG1024) should be used to assess mutagenic susceptibilities among workers exposed to organic solvents. Different doses of extract (1.5; 3.0; 6.0 and 12.0 m/ equivalents of urine per plate) were tested on S. typhimurium strains TA100 and YG 1024, with and without metabolic activation. The mutagenic activity, measured in Salmonella typhimurium YGI1024 with S9 mix, was significantly greater in urine from workers than from controls (p <= 0.05). These results indicate the relevance of using biomarkers to assess the risk of occupational exposure to organic solvents.

O princ��pio da precau����o e a sa��de no trabalho

O princ��pio da precau����o (PP) �� uma diretriz em sa��de que vem ganhando relevo nos ��ltimos 20 anos. Seu prop��sito �� orientar medidas nas situa����es em que o conhecimento cient��fico est�� ainda incompleto, denotando a incerteza. As condi����es de economia de mercado estimulam o uso de produtos e processos inovadores, dependentes do desenvolvimento cient��fico e das novas descobertas em curso. Suas implica����es para a sa��de nem sempre est��o inteiramente avaliadas, expondo a popula����o trabalhadora ��s incertezas. O exame da literatura mostra que o uso do PP, embora sob consenso dos ��rg��os reguladores em diferentes pa��ses, ainda �� objeto de intenso debate na comunidade cient��fica. em coer��ncia com os prop��sitos b��sicos, a prote����o do meio ambiente conta com milhares de cita����es do seu emprego, em contraste com as poucas recomenda����es de uso para as exposi����es ocupacionais. Entre estas, o PP vem sendo entendido como pouco adequado ao ��mbito dos especialistas e mais indicado �� prote����o de popula����es vulner��veis. Investiga����es hist��ricas mostram que a no����o de precau����o foi quase sempre usada em sentido inverso, fazendo-se uso da d��vida para conter as poss��veis melhorias de prote����o no trabalho. Conclui-se que o uso do PP depende do pressuposto da incerteza cient��fica, caracterizada pela no����o de risco, em detrimento do determinismo da causa, condi����o ainda n��o superada nas rela����es de trabalho.

O significado do acidente de trabalho com material biol��gico para os profissionais de enfermagem

O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender o significado dos acidentes de trabalho com exposi����o a material biol��gico na perspectiva dos profissionais de enfermagem. de car��ter explorat��rio com abordagem qualitativa pela an��lise de conte��do de Bardin. No per��odo de 2001 a 2006 ocorreram 87 acidentes com material biol��gico, sendo que destes, oito eram soropositivos para hepatite B e C e S��ndrome da Imunodefici��ncia Adquirida/V��rus da Imunodefici��ncia Humana. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se entrevista com perguntas norteadoras. Ao indagar esses profissionais sobre o significado dos acidentes, emergiram quatro categorias: situa����o de risco; percep����o de perigo; fatalidade e sentimentos. Embora n��o seja estrat��gia de esclarecimento, mas �� fato que organiza����o de trabalho e a����es educativas tem impacto consider��vel para diminuir esse tipo de acidente, diminuindo preju��zos na vida dos acidentados.

Acidente com material perfurocortante entre profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital universit��rio

Os riscos ocupacionais a que os profissionais da equipe de enfermagem est��o sujeitos no desempenho de suas fun����es s��o consider��veis. Assim estabeleceu-se como objetivo deste estudo analisar os acidentes perfurocortantes no per��odo de 2002 a 2006, envolvendo a equipe de enfermagem de um hospital universit��rio, para compreender o contexto em que ocorrem. A utiliza����o destas informa����es pode ser ferramenta de preven����o. Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo quantitativo e qualitativo. Na an��lise quantitativa foi utilizada estat��stica descritiva e na qualitativa o discurso do sujeito coletivo. Por meio das fichas de notifica����o do N��cleo de Vigil��ncia Epidemiol��gica do Hospital, foi poss��vel identificar acidentes do g��nero no per��odo pesquisado. Entrevistas foram direcionadas ��s v��timas de acidentes que tiveram como paciente-fonte portador de S��ndrome da Imunodefici��ncia Adquirida/ V��rus da Imunodefici��ncia Humana, hepatite B e C. Os achados demonstraram que ainda persiste um grau significativo do desconhecimento ou banaliza����o dos acidentes entre profissionais da sa��de.

An��lise epidemiol��gica dos acidentes com material biol��gico registrados no Centro de Refer��ncia em Sa��de do Trabalhador - Londrina-PR

OBJETIVO: Analisar a distribui����o dos acidentes de trabalho com exposi����o a material biol��gico das fichas de notifica����o registradas no Centro de Refer��ncia de Sa��de do Trabalhador de Londrina, tra��ando um perfil dos profissionais acidentados. M��TODOS: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado atrav��s de um levantamento nas 253 fichas de notifica����o de acidentes com material biol��gico que foram encaminhadas das institui����es de sa��de da ��rea de abrang��ncia ao Centro de Refer��ncia em Sa��de do Trabalhador do munic��pio de Londrina-PR, no per��odo de janeiro a dezembro de 2006. Os dados foram processados e tabulados eletronicamente, utilizando-se o programa Epi Info, de dom��nio p��blico. RESULTADOS: Das 253 fichas de notifica����o de acidentes com material biol��gico analisadas, verificou-se que 92,5% foram causados por objetos perfuro-cortantes e 39,5% ocorreram em auxiliares de enfermagem. Constatou-se tamb��m que 73,5% eram do sexo feminino, 24,1% ocorreram em Unidades B��sicas de Sa��de, 74,3% encontravam-se com situa����o vacinal para Hepatite B atualizada e 49,8% ocorreram na rede p��blica de sa��de. CONCLUS��O: Com o levantamento do perfil dos profissionais acidentados com exposi����o a material biol��gico, o CEREST Londrina identificou que a profiss��o mais atingida foram os auxiliares de enfermagem, as mulheres, e que grande parte dos acidentes ocorreram nas UBSs com material perfuro-cortante. Mostrou-se que coletores de lixo passaram a fazer parte das profiss��es envolvidas nos acidentes.