Exposi����o ocupacional a merc��rio: associa����o com a atividade da paraoxonase humana e vitaminas A e E

Mestrado em Seguran��a e Higiene no Trabalho

A import��ncia das otoemiss��es ac��sticas num programa de conserva����o de audi����o em trabalhadores expostos ao ru��do

Mestrado em Seguran��a e Higiene no Trabalho

Assessment of workers��� exposure to Aflatoxin B1 in a Portuguese waste industry

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is considered by different International Agencies as a genotoxic and potent hepatocarcinogen. However, despite the fact that the fungi producing this compound are detected in some work environments, AFB1 is rarely monitored in occupational settings. The aim of the present investigation was to assess exposure to AFB1 of workers from one Portuguese waste company located in the outskirt of Lisbon. Occupational exposure assessment to AFB1 was done with a biomarker of internal dose that measures AFB1 in the serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Forty-one workers from the waste company were enrolled in this study (26 from sorting; 9 from composting; 6 from incineration). A control group (n = 30) was also considered in order to know the AFB1 background levels for the Portuguese population. All the workers showed detectable levels of AFB1 with values ranging from 2.5ng ml���1 to 25.9ng ml���1 with a median value of 9.9��5.4ng ml���1. All of the controls showed values below the method���s detection limit. Results obtained showed much higher (8-fold higher) values when compared with other Portuguese settings already studied, such as poultry and swine production. Besides this mycotoxin, other mycotoxins are probably present in this occupational setting and this aspect should be taken into consideration for the risk assessment process due to possible synergistic reactions. The data obtained suggests that exposure to AFB1 occurs in a waste management setting and claims attention for the need of appliance of preventive and protective safety measures.

Sinistralidade laboral no setor da ind��stria extrativa no tri��ngulo do m��rmore

Mestrado em Seguran��a e Higiene no Trabalho

Perce����o dos riscos ocupacionais em laborat��rios de ortoprotesia na regi��o de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

Mestrado em Gest��o e Avalia����o de Tecnologias em Sa��de

Potential pathogenic fungi assessment through molecular biology in cork industry

Portugal has been the world leader in the cork sector in terms of exports, employing ten thousands of workers. In this working activity, the permanent contact with cork may lead to the exposure to fungi, raising concerns as potential occupational hazards in cork industry. The application of molecular tools is crucial in this setting, since fungal species with faster growth rates may hide other species with clinical relevance, such as species belonging to P. glabrum and A. fumigatus complexes. A study was developed aiming at assessing fungal contamination due to Aspergillus fumigatus complex and Penicillium glabrum complex by molecular methods in three cork industries in the outskirt of Lisbon city.

Avalia����o da exposi����o a fungos e part��culas em explora����es av��colas e suin��colas: estudo

O projeto ���Avalia����o da Exposi����o a Fungos e Part��culas em Explora����es Av��colas e Suin��colas��� contemplou um elevado n��mero de colheitas ambientais e biol��gicas e respectivo processamento laboratorial, sendo apenas poss��vel a sua concretiza����o gra��as ao financiamento disponibilizado pela Autoridade para as Condi����es de Trabalho. Foi realizado um estudo transversal para avaliar a contamina����o causada por fungos e part��culas em 7 explora����es av��colas e 7 explora����es suin��colas. No que concerne �� monitoriza����o biol��gica, foram medidos os par��metros espirom��tricos, utilizando o espir��metro MK8 Microlab, avaliada a exist��ncia de sintomas cl��nicos associados com a asma e outras doen��as al��rgicas, atrav��s de question��rio adaptado European Community Respiratory Health Survey e, ainda, avaliada a sensibiliza����o aos agentes f��ngicos (IgE). Foram ainda adicionados dois objetivos ao estudo, designadamente: aferir a exist��ncia de tr��s esp��cies/estirpes potencialmente patog��nicas/toxinog��nicas com recurso �� biologia molecular e avaliar a exposi����o dos trabalhadores �� micotoxina aflatoxina B1 por recurso a indicador biol��gico de exposi����o. Foram colhidas 27 amostras de ar de 25 litros nas explora����es av��colas e 56 de 50 litros nas explora����es suin��colas atrav��s do m��todo de impacto. As colheitas de ar e a medi����o da concentra����o das part��culas foram realizadas no interior e no exterior dos pavilh��es, sendo este ��ltimo considerado como local de refer��ncia. Simultaneamente, a temperatura e a humidade relativa tamb��m foram registadas. As colheitas das superf��cies foram realizadas atrav��s da t��cnica de zaragatoa, tendo sido utilizado um quadrado de metal inoxid��vel de 10 cm de lado, de acordo com a International Standard ISO 18593 ��� 2004. As zaragatoas obtidas (20 das explora����es av��colas e 48 das explora����es suin��colas) foram inoculadas em malte de extract agar (2%) com cloranfenicol (0,05 g/L). Al��m das colheitas de ar e de superf��cies, foram tamb��m obtidas colheitas da cama das explora����es av��colas (7 novas e 14 usadas) e da cobertura do pavimento das explora����es suin��colas (3 novas e 4 usadas) e embaladas em sacos esterilizados. Cada amostra foi dilu��da e inoculada em placas contendo malte extract agar. Todas as amostras foram incubadas a 27,5��C durante 5 a 7 dias e obtidos resultados quantitativos (UFC/m3; UFC/m2; UFC/g) e qualitativos com a identifica����o das esp��cies f��ngicas. Para a aplica����o dos m��todos de biologia molecular foram realizadas colheitas de ar de 300 litros utilizando o m��todo de impinger com a velocidade de recolha de 300 L/min. A identifica����o molecular de tr��s esp��cies potencialmente patog��nicas e/ou toxinog��nicas (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus e Stachybotrys chartarum) foram obtidas por PCR em tempo real (PCR TR) utilizando o Rotor-Gene 6000 qPCR Detection System. As medi����es de part��culas foram realizadas por recurso a equipamento de leitura direta (modelo Lighthouse, 2016 IAQ). Este recurso permitiu medir a concentra����o (mg/m3) de part��culas em 5 dimens��es distintas (PM 0.5; PM 1.0; PM 2.5; PM 5.0; PM10). Nas explora����es av��colas, 28 esp��cies/g��neros de fungos foram isolados no ar, tendo Aspergillus versicolor sido a esp��cie mais frequente (20.9%), seguida por Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (17.0%) e Penicillium sp. (14.1%). Entre o g��nero Aspergillus, Aspergillus flavus apresentou o maior n��mero de esporos (>2000 UFC/m3). Em rela����o ��s superf��cies, A. versicolor foi detetada em maior n��mero (>3 �� 10���2 UFC/m2). Na cama nova, Penicillium foi o g��nero mais frequente (59,9%), seguido por Alternaria (17,8%), Cladosporium (7,1%) e Aspergillus (5,7%). Na cama usada, Penicillium sp. foi o mais frequente (42,3%), seguido por Scopulariopsis sp. (38,3%), Trichosporon sp. (8,8%) e Aspergillus sp. (5,5%). Em rela����o �� contamina����o por part��culas, as part��culas com maior dimens��o foram detectadas em maiores concentra����es, designadamente as PM5.0 (part��culas com a dimens��o de 5.0 bm ou menos) e PM10 (part��culas com a dimens��o de 10 bm ou menos). Neste setting a preval��ncia da altera����o ventilat��ria obstrutiva foi superior nos indiv��duos com maior tempo de exposi����o (31,7%) independentemente de serem fumadores (17,1%) ou n��o fumadores (14,6%). Relativamente �� avalia����o do IgE espec��fico, foi apenas realizado em trabalhadores das explora����es av��colas (14 mulheres e 33 homens), n��o tendo sido encontrada associa����o positiva (p<0.05%) entre a contamina����o f��ngica e a sensibiliza����o a antig��nios f��ngicos. No caso das explora����es suin��colas, Aspergillus versicolor foi a esp��cie mais frequente (20,9%), seguida por Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (17,0%) e Penicillium sp. (14,1%). No g��nero Aspergillus, A. versicolor apresentou o maior isolamento no ar (>2000 UFC/m3) e a maior preval��ncia (41,9%), seguida por A. flavus e A. fumigatus (8,1%). Em rela����o ��s superf��cies analisadas, A. versicolor foi detetada em maior n��mero (>3 ��10���2 UFC/m2). No caso da cobertura do pavimento das explora����es suin��colas, o g��nero Thicoderma foi o mais frequente na cobertura nova (28,0%) seguida por A. versicolor e Acremonium sp. (14,0%). O g��nero Mucor foi o mais frequente na cobertura usada (25,1%), seguido por Trichoderma sp. (18,3%) e Acremonium sp. (11,2%). Relativamente ��s part��culas, foram evidenciados tamb��m valores mais elevados na dimens��o PM5 e, predominantes nas PM10. Neste contexto, apenas 4 participantes (22,2%) apresentaram uma altera����o ventilat��ria obstrutiva. Destes, as obstru����es mais graves encontraram-se nos que tamb��m apresentavam maior tempo de exposi����o. A preval��ncia de asma na amostra de trabalhadores em estudo, pertencentes aos 2 contextos em estudo, foi de 8,75%, tendo-se verificado tamb��m uma preval��ncia elevada de sintomatologia respirat��ria em profissionais n��o asm��ticos. Em rela����o �� utiliza����o complementar dos m��todos convencionais e moleculares, �� recomend��vel que a avalia����o da contamina����o f��ngica nestes settings, e, consequentemente, a exposi����o profissional a fungos, seja suportada pelas duas metodologias e, ainda, que ocorre exposi����o ocupacional �� micotoxina aflatoxina B1 em ambos os contextos profissionais. Face aos resultados obtidos, �� importante salientar que os settings alvo de estudo carecem de uma interven����o integrada em Sa��de Ocupacional no ��mbito da vigil��ncia ambiental e da vigil��ncia da sa��de, com o objetivo de diminuir a exposi����o aos dois factores de risco estudados (fungos e part��culas).

Self-reported hearing performance in workers exposed to solvents

OBJECTIVE: To compare hearing performance relating to the peripheral and central auditory system between solvent-exposed and non-exposed workers. METHODS: Forty-eight workers exposed to a mixture of solvents and 48 non-exposed control subjects of matched age, gender and educational level were selected to participate in the study. The evaluation procedures included: pure-tone audiometry (500 - 8,000 Hz), to investigate the peripheral auditory system; the Random Gap Detection test, to assess the central auditory system; and the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap, to investigate subjects' self-reported hearing performance in daily-life activities. A Student t test and analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were computed to determine possible significant differences between solvent-exposed and non-exposed subjects for the hearing level, Random Gap Detection test and Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap. Pearson correlations among the three measures were also calculated. RESULTS: Solvent-exposed subjects exhibited significantly poorer hearing thresholds for the right ear than non-exposed subjects. Also, solvent-exposed subjects exhibited poorer results for the Random Gap Detection test and self-reported poorer listening performance than non-exposed subjects. Results of the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap were significantly correlated with the binaural average of subject pure-tone thresholds and Random Gap Detection test performance. CONCLUSIONS: Solvent exposure is associated with poorer hearing performance in daily life activities that relate to the function of the peripheral and central auditory system.

Effects of irregular-shift work and physical activity on cardiovascular risk factors in truck drivers

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the putative effect of type of shift and its interaction with leisure-time physical activity on cardiovascular risk factors in truck drivers.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 57 male truck drivers working at a transportation company, of whom 31 worked irregular shifts and 26 worked on the day-shift. Participants recorded their physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire along with measurements of blood pressure, body mass index and waist-hip ratio. Participants also provided a fasting blood sample for analysis of lipid-related outcomes. Data were analyzed using a factorial model which was covariate-controlled for age, smoking, work demand, control at work and social support.RESULTS: Most of the irregular-shift and day-shift workers worked more than 8 hours per day (67.7% and 73.1%, respectively). The mean duration of experience working the irregular schedule was 15.7 years. Day-shift workers had never engaged in irregular-shift work and had been working as a truck driver for 10.8 years on average. The irregular-shift drivers had lower work demand but less control compared to day-shift drivers (p < 0.05). Moderately-active irregular-shift workers had higher systolic and diastolic arterial pressures (143.7 and 93.2 mmHg, respectively) than moderately-active day-shift workers (116 and 73.3 mmHg, respectively) (p < 0.05) as well as higher total cholesterol concentrations (232.1 and 145 mg/dl, respectively) (p = 0.01). Irrespective of their physical activity, irregular-shift drivers had higher total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations (211.8 and 135.7 mg/dl, respectively) than day-shift workers (161.9 and 96.7 mg/dl, respectively (ANCOVA, p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Truck drivers are exposed to cardiovascular risk factors due to the characteristics of the job, such as high work demand, long working hours and time in this profession, regardless of shift type or leisure-time physical activity.

Characterizing the fungal and bacterial microflora and concentrations in fitness centres

Fitness centres are special places where conditions for microbiological proliferation should be considered. Moisture due to human perspiration and water condensation as a result of human physical activities are prevalent in this type of buildings. Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with respiratory disorders and people who work out in polluted environments would be susceptible to contaminants. This work studied the indoor air contamination in three gymnasiums in Lisbon. The sampling was performed at two periods: at the opening (morning) and closing (night) of the three gymnasiums. The airborne bacterial and fungal populations were sampled by impaction directly onto Tryptic Soy Agar (for bacteria) and Malt Extract Agar (for fungi) plates, using a Merck MAS-100 air sampler. Higher bacterial concentrations were found at night as compared to the morning but the same behaviour was not found for fungal concentrations. Gram-negative catalase positive cocci were the dominant bacteria in indoor air samples of the studied gymnasiums. In this study, 21 genera/species of fungal colonies were identified. Chrysosporium sp., Chrysonilia sp., Neoscytalidium hialinum, Sepedonium sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most prevalent species identified in the morning, while Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Chrysosporium sp., Acremonium sp. and Chrysonilia sp. were more prevalent at night. A well-designed sanitation and maintenance program for gymnasiums is needed to ensure healthier space for indoor physical activity.

Audiometric profile of civilian pilots according to noise exposure

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the audiometric profile of civilian pilots according to the noise exposure level. METHODS This observational cross-sectional study evaluated 3,130 male civilian pilots aged between 17 and 59 years. These pilots were subjected to audiometric examinations for obtaining or revalidating the functional capacity certificate in 2011. The degree of hearing loss was classified as normal, suspected noise-induced hearing loss, and no suspected hearing loss with other associated complications. Pure-tone air-conduction audiometry was performed using supra-aural headphones and acoustic stimulus of the pure-tone type, containing tone thresholds of frequencies between 250 Hz and 6,000 Hz. The independent variables were professional categories, length of service, hours of flight, and right or left ear. The dependent variable was pilots with suspected noise-induced hearing loss. The noise exposure level was considered low/medium or high, and the latter involved periods > 5,000 flight hours and > 10 years of flight service. RESULTS A total of 29.3% pilots had suspected noise-induced hearing loss, which was bilateral in 12.8% and predominant in the left ear (23.7%). The number of pilots with suspected hearing loss increased as the noise exposure level increased. CONCLUSIONS Hearing loss in civilian pilots may be associated with noise exposure during the period of service and hours of flight.

Contributo para o estudo da rela����o entre o ��ndice de capacidade para o trabalho, o envelhecimento e a ergonomia

Disserta����o apresentada na Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gest��o Industrial

Lifestyle factors, direct and indirect costs for a Brazilian airline company

OBJECTIVE To analyze lifestyle risk factors related to direct healthcare costs and the indirect costs due to sick leave among workers of an airline company in Brazil. METHODS In this longitudinal 12-month study of 2,201 employees of a Brazilian airline company, the costs of sick leave and healthcare were the primary outcomes of interest. Information on the independent variables, such as gender, age, educational level, type of work, stress, and lifestyle-related factors (body mass index, physical activity, and smoking), was collected using a questionnaire on enrolment in the study. Data on sick leave days were available from the company register, and data on healthcare costs were obtained from insurance records. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between direct and indirect healthcare costs with sociodemographic, work, and lifestyle-related factors. RESULTS Over the 12-month study period, the average direct healthcare expenditure per worker was US$505.00 and the average indirect cost because of sick leave was US$249.00 per worker. Direct costs were more than twice the indirect costs and both were higher in women. Body mass index was a determinant of direct costs and smoking was a determinant of indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS Obesity and smoking among workers in a Brazilian airline company were associated with increased health costs. Therefore, promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, and anti-tobacco campaigns are important targets for health promotion in this study population.

Aspectos a considerar para a avalia����o de riscos no caso da aplica����o do ��leo descofrante

Mestrado em Higiene e Seguran��a no Trabalho.

Contributo da an��lise ergon��mica do trabalho na avalia����o do risco de les��es m��sculoesquel��ticas ligadas ao trabalho

Mestrado em Seguran��a e Higiene no Trabalho