Performance of Asbestos Enclosure Ventilation: Laboratory Evaluation of Complex Configuration.

The aim of the study was to find out good practices for effective air distribution inside a complex shaped asbestos enclosure and for control of pressure differences between the enclosure and the surroundings. In addition, sufficient pressure difference for asbestos containment was tested. The effect of air distribution was studied in laboratory conditions by constructing an L-shaped asbestos enclosure and connecting it to a negative pressure unit.

Control of Dust Dispersion From an Enclosed Renovation Site Into Adjacent Areas by Using Local Exhaust Ventilation.

Objective: In real-world applications, implementation of an enclosure and negative pressurization is not always adequate to prevent the dispersion of dust from renovation sites. This study aimed to quantify the effect of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) in controlling the dust concentration within an enclosed renovation site to reduce the dust dispersion into adjacent areas.

Methods: The concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust were measured in 16 cases during renovation projects.

Exposure to Quartz in Finnish Workplaces Declined during the First Six Years after the Signing of the NEPSI Agreement, but Evened out between 2013 and 2017.

To reduce the incidence of occupational diseases related to exposure to respirable silica at work, the main industries in the EU associated with respirable silica agreed on measures to improve working conditions through the application of good practices. These practices were included in “The Agreement on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing it” (NEPSI agreement), signed in April 2006. In Finland, we have previously seen a decline in exposure to respirable quartz in relevant industries upon the treaty coming into effect, during the years 2006⁻2013.

Evaluation of Real-World Implementation of Partitioning and Negative Pressurization for Preventing the Dispersion of Dust From Renovation Sites.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of partitioning and the negative pressure method in limiting the dispersion of dust to areas adjacent to renovation sites.

Methods: The pressure difference between the worksites and adjacent areas and PM10 concentrations in the both zones were measured in 12 renovation sites, and the factors affecting the prevention of dispersion of dust were assessed.

Results: Poor implementation of partitioning and negative pressurization found in half of the renovation sites lead difficulties in achieving a proper negative pressure, causing dispersion of dust into adjacent areas.

Pulmonary inflammation in foundry workers.

Objective: To assess whether cumulative dust exposure in foundry work is associated with airway inflammation measured by the analysis of fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentration, or by inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate or serum.

Methods: We examined 476 dust-exposed and nonexposed foundry workers, and assessed the individual cumulative exposure to dusts and respirable quartz. Bronchial and alveolar NO production and inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate and in serum samples were also analyzed.

Application of good practices as described by the NEPSI agreement coincides with a strong decline in the exposure to respiratory crystalline silica in Finnish workplaces.

To protect the health of those occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica, the main industries in European Union associated with exposure to respirable silica, agreed on appropriate measures for the improvement of working conditions through the application of good practices, as part of 'The Agreement on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing it' (NEPSI agreement), signed in April 2006. The present paper examines trends in exposure to respirable crystalline silica in Finland prior to and following the implementation of the NEPSI agreement and includes a working example of the NEPSI approach in the concrete industry. Data derived from workplace exposure assessments during the years 1994-2013 are presented, including 2556 air samples collected mostly indoors, from either the breathing zone of workers or from stationary points usually at a height of 1.

Exposure to flame retardants in electronics recycling sites.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) contains various hazardous substances such as flame retardants (FRs). Inhalation exposures to many FRs simultaneously among WEEE recycling site workers have been little studied previously. The breathing zone airborne concentrations of five brominated FR compounds tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), hexabromocyclododecane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane, hexabromobenzene, and one chlorinated FR (Dechlorane Plus®) were measured at four electronics recycling sites in two consecutive years.

The suitability of the IOM foam sampler for bioaerosol sampling in Occupational Environments.

Concurrent samples were collected with Andersen and IOM foam samplers to determine whether if the IOM foam sampler can be applied to collect culturable microorganisms. Two different kinds of aerosols were studied: peat dust in a power plant and mist from coolant fluid aerosolized during grinding of blades and rollers in a paper mill. In the power plant, the concentrations of fungi were 2-3 times higher in the IOM samples than in the Andersen samples.

Laboratory and field testing of sampling methods for inhalable and respirable dust.

The performance of four sampling devices for inhalable dust and three devices for respirable dust was tested with different kinds of dusts in the laboratory and in the field. The IOM sampler was chosen as the reference method for inhalable dust, and the IOM sampler provided with the porous plastic foam media was used as the reference method for respirable dust. The other tested instruments were the Button sampler, the optical Grimm aerosol monitor, and the Dekati two-stage cascade impactor with cutoff sizes of 10 and 4 mu m.

Exposure to refractory ceramic fibres in the metal industry.

Refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) are used in thermal isolation in the metal industry where high temperatures are regularly employed. Asbestos materials were earlier commonly used for these purposes. In this work, two Finnish steel plants, three foundries and a repair shop were studied for the ceramic fibre exposure of their workers under normal production and during the replacement of oven insulation.

Experimental PVC material challenge in subjects with occupational PVC exposure.

Background: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials have been linked to asthma in several epidemiologic studies, but the possible causal factors remain unknown.

Participants: We challenged 10 subjects experimentally to degraded PVC products under controlled conditions. All of the subjects had previously experienced respiratory symptoms suspected to be caused by this kind of exposure in their work place.

Variety in dustiness and hygiene quality of peat bedding.

Respiratory exposure to organic dust induces chronic pulmonary diseases both in farmers and horses. The aim of this study was to examine the variation of dustiness and hygiene quality of peat moss bedding. Materials studied were weakly decomposed sphagnum peat (A), weakly decomposed sphagnum peat warmed up in storage (> 30 degrees C) (B) and two more decomposed few-flowered sedge peats (C and D).

Dermal exposure to chromium in electroplating.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to measure the dermal and respiratory exposure levels of hexavalent chromium during electroplating work.

Methods: Potential dermal exposure of the body was measured with patch samples and actual exposure of hands with hand-wash samples. For comparison, personal air samples were also collected.

Dermal exposure to chromium in the grinding of stainless and acid-proof steel.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to measure the dermal exposure levels of chromium dust during grinding of stainless and acid-proof steel parts.

Methods: The potential dermal exposure of the body was measured with a patch sampling method and the actual exposure of hands with a hand-wash method. Simultaneously, personal air samples were also collected.

The bedding of laboratory animals as a source of airborne contaminants.

In work environments with laboratory animals, the bedding of animals binds the excreta as well as other compounds originating from the animals and their environment. These may be generated into the ambient air when the personnel handle bedding in different procedures. This study compares the dustiness of different types of six clean and four soiled beddings from rat or mouse cages.

Control of workers' exposure to airborne endotoxins and formaldehyde during the use of metalworking fluids.

The study evaluated the effects of triazine use and machine enclosure on workers' exposure to bacteria, endotoxins, and formaldehyde in the use of metalworking fluids (MWF). Concentrations of triazine and bacterial contaminants were monitored in bulk samples of MWF from two machines in one workplace. One of the machines was used normally; triazine was added to the other when needed.

Laboratory and field testing of particle size-selective sampling methods for mineral dusts.

The performances of eight sampling devices were tested with mineral dusts in the laboratory and in a talc production plant. The IOM sampler was chosen as the reference method for inhalable dust, and the IOM samplers provided with the porous plastic foam media were used as the reference methods for both the thoracic and respirable aerosols. The other size-selective instruments tested included the Respicon virtual impactor, the optical GRIMM aerosol monitor, and a two-stage cascade impactor with cut points of 10 and 4 microm.

Airborne contaminants in conventional laboratory rabbit rooms.

Besides the well known allergens, several other risk factors may exist for health in a laboratory animal unit. The exposure to these factors may be significant in animal units with poor general or local ventilation systems. Moreover, means to prevent the distribution of airborne contaminants may be limited in animal units housing rabbits or other bigger laboratory animals.

Endotoxins and IgG antibodies as indicators of occupational exposure to the microbial contaminants of metal-working fluids.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate workers' exposure to microbes and bacterial endotoxins during the use of metal-working fluids (MWF).

Methods: Air and bulk sampling with biomonitoring of workers' serum IgG antibodies were used to estimate the exposure to biological agents at 18 workplaces. The types of emulsified MWF used were synthetic fluid, mineral oil or rape seed oil, in grinding, turning and drilling work.

Respiratory symptoms and dermatoses among grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades.

The objectives of the study were to determine whether grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades have more respiratory symptoms and dermatoses than referents and to obtain information on the relation between respiratory symptoms and combined exposure to cobalt and wood dust. Two groups of workers exposed to cobalt (108 workers in the manufacture or maintenance of tools and 116 saw filers in the mechanical wood-processing industry) and two reference groups (106 rolling mill and 103 sawmill workers) were interviewed. The prevalence of ODTS-like symptoms (work-related cough, dyspnoea, or fever or chills) was higher for the saw filers than the sawmill referents.

Urinary cobalt as a measure of exposure in the wet sharpening of hard metal and stellite blades.

The measurement of urinary cobalt as an estimator of exposure to airborne cobalt was evaluated during the wet sharpening of hard metal and stellite blades. The following possible confounding factors were also studied: smoking habits, personal hygiene, cobalt absorption through the skin, beer drinking, and vitamin B12 consumption. The study was conducted in 16 different workplaces manufacturing or maintaining blades and in laboratory experiments.

A fatal case of hard-metal disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this report is to present a case of hard-metal disease in which the symptoms and findings were minimal early in the disease, but further exposure rapidly led to a fatal outcome.

History: A 22-year-old nonsmoking white male, employed for over four years in hard-metal tool grinding, started experiencing a dry cough and shortness of breath during exercise. Preliminary investigations did not reveal any cause for these symptoms, and the patient continued to work.

Exposure to airborne metals in the manufacture and maintenance of hard metal and stellite blades.

This study evaluated the exposure of Finnish workers to airborne metals. It was conducted in 16 workplaces; 8 tool manufacturing companies (3 of which specialize in the maintenance of hard metal blades) and 8 blade repair shops in the mechanical wood-processing industry. The main emphasis of the study was on exposure in servicing (resharpening), especially involving wet-tip grinding processes.