Characterization of exposure to air pollutants for workers in and around fires.

Firefighters can be occupationally exposed to a wide range of airborne pollutants during fire-extinguishing operations. The overall study aim was to characterize occupational exposure to smoke for several groups of workers responding to fires, with specific aims to determine the correlations between exposure markers and to biologically assess their systemic exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urine. Personal exposure measurements of equivalent black carbon (eBC), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrogen dioxide (NO), PAHs, lung deposited surface area (LDSA), and particle number concentration (PNC) of ultrafine particles were performed on firefighters, observers, and post-fire workers during firefighting exercises.

Contact sensitization and self-reported eczema in Swedish painters with occupational exposure to isothiazolinones.

Background: Due to an increasing occupational usage of isothiazolinone (IT)-containing preservatives, and their potential to cause skin sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis, that is, chronic disease, there is a need for more knowledge on how highly exposed workers are affected.

Objectives: The overall objective was to explore dermatological symptoms of potentially long-lasting or chronic character in Swedish painters.

Methods: Building painters from western and southern Sweden were initially invited to perform a questionnaire on occurrence of skin symptoms.

Indoor air levels of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) in public buildings with creosote impregnated constructions - A pilot case study using passive samplers.

Creosote has been used in Sweden as a wood preservative in buildings since the 19th century. These buildings can function as workplaces, homes, and cultural buildings to which the public has access. Creosote contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which are well known carcinogens.

Skin permeation studies of chromium species - Evaluation of a reconstructed human epidermis model.

A reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) model, the EpiDerm, was investigated and compared to human skin ex vivo regarding tissue penetration and distribution of two chromium species, relevant in both occupational and general exposure in the population. Imaging mass spectrometry was used in analysis of the sectioned tissue. The RHE model gave similar results compared to human skin ex vivo for skin penetration of Cr.

Investigation into Propolis Components Responsible for Inducing Skin Allergy: Air Oxidation of Caffeic Acid and Its Esters Contribute to Hapten Formation.

Propolis is a resin-like material produced by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees and is used in beehive construction. Propolis is a common additive in various biocosmetics and health-related products, despite the fact that it is a well-known cause of contact allergy. Caffeic acid and its esters have been the primary suspects behind the sensitization potency of propolis-induced contact allergy.