Comparison of 3 methods characterizing H2S exposure in water and wastewater management work.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of self-assessed exposure (SAE) data collection for characterization of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) risks in water and wastewater management, challenging the adequacy of traditional random or campaign sampling strategies. We compared 3 datasets derived from distinct strategies: expert data with activity metadata (A), SAE without metadata (B), and SAE with logbook metadata (C). The findings reveal that standard practices of random sampling (dataset A) fail to capture the sporadic nature of H2S exposure.

Risk Characteristics of Hydrogen Sulphide Exposure in Wastewater Collection and Treatment Related Occupations.

Objectives: Water and wastewater workers can be exposed to hydrogen sulphide (H2S), with an unpredictable exposure pattern, dominated by sharp peaks. These peaks can often be high above the ceiling value (CV) at 10 ppm.

Methods: We have analyzed self-administrated H2S exposure data among 60 wastewater workers in the Municipality of Trondheim, Norway, from 2015 till 2021.

Acute respiratory distress after exposure to chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant.

A hospital cleaner developed acute respiratory distress after working with a chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant. The content of chlorine dioxide in the product is below the limit that would require the product to be labelled as hazardous to health, but we show with a simple estimation that the relevant threshold limit values for chlorine dioxide in the working atmosphere may be exceeded under normal use of the product. This may have implications for risk assessment of the use of such chlorine dioxide-based disinfectants and may warrant stricter regulations for labelling these products.

Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Exposure Hazard Assessment: An Algorithm for Generating Exposure Index Based on Direct Instrument Readings.

Objectives: Increased use of small affordable alarm sensors with logging or network capabilities has improved the ability to monitor exposure. The large datasets generated from these monitors calls for development of a computer algorithm to assess these data.

Methods: We examined 88 time series of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from wastewater works previously used for developing the exposure index.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy resin systems in industrial painters.

A group of industrial painters employed in 6 companies of the Norwegian oil industry was followed to assess the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by exposure to epoxy resin systems. The study lasted from 1 September 1997 to 31 August 2001 and included 2236 workers, contributing 5113 person years. Commercially available patch test series were supplemented with a special study series based on known or suspected sensitizers present at the workplaces.

Relationships between indoor environments and nasal inflammation in nursing personnel.

In this study, the authors sought to address the relationships between measured indoor environmental factors and nasal patency (i.e., minimum cross-sectional area) and volume and markers of nasal inflammation in nasal lavage fluid.