Urinary benzyl alcohol and hippuric acid in workers exposed to benzyl alcohol during paint-stripping work.

Objective: We aimed to develop a reliable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for detecting urinary benzyl alcohol (BeOH) concentrations and assess the suitability of urinary BeOH as a biomarker for occupational BeOH exposure.

Methods: Thirteen male participants exposed to BeOH during paint-stripping work provided preshift and postshift urine samples, and their personal exposure concentrations were measured. Meanwhile, a control group of 10 nonexposed workers contributed urine samples.

ALDH2 deficiency increases susceptibility to binge alcohol-induced gut leakiness, endotoxemia, and acute liver injury in mice through the gut-liver axis.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is the major enzyme responsible for metabolizing toxic acetaldehyde to acetate and acts as a protective or defensive protein against various disease states associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD), including alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). We hypothesized that Aldh2-knockout (KO) mice are more susceptible to binge alcohol-mediated liver injury than wild-type (WT) mice through increased oxidative stress, gut leakiness and endotoxemia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the protective role of ALDH2 in binge alcohol-induced gut permeability, endotoxemia, and acute inflammatory liver injury by exposing Aldh2-KO or WT mice to a single oral dose of binge alcohol 3.

Exposure assessment of nanotitanium oxide powder handling using real-time size-selective particle number concentration measurements and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry -The possibility of exposure to nonagglomerated nanomaterials during the handling of nanomaterial fine powders.

In this study, airborne particles were collected using filters, and the particle number concentrations were measured in two nanotitanium dioxide (nanoTiO)-manufacturing plants. Real-time particle size measurements were performed using both optical and scanning mobility particle sizer and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The respirable particles collected using filters were used to analyze Ti concentrations in the workplace air of two factories engaged in nanoTiO powder bagging processes.

Aldh2 Attenuates Stem Cell Factor/Kit-Dependent Signaling and Activation in Mast Cells.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) metabolizes endogenous and exogenous aldehydes and protects cells against oxidative injury. Inactivating genetic polymorphisms in humans are common and associate with alcohol flush reactions. However, whether mast cell Aldh2 activity impacts normal mast cell responses is unknown.

Direct methyl esterification with 2,2-dimethoxypropane for the simultaneous determination of urinary metabolites of toluene, xylene, styrene, and ethylbenzene by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and accurate gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for simultaneous determination of four urinary metabolites from four organic solvents, that is, hippuric acid (HA) from toluene, methylhippuric acid (MHA) from xylene, and mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) from styrene or ethylbenzene for biological monitoring.

Methods: The four metabolites were directly methyl-esterified with 2,2-dimethoxypropane and analyzed using GC-MS. The proposed method was validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidance.

Evaluation of personal exposure of workers to indium concentrations in total dust and its respirable fraction at three Japanese indium plants.

This study aimed to evaluate personal exposures of 27 workers to indium compounds as "total" dust and its "respirable" fraction in their breathing zones at 3 Japanese indium plants. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) indium concentrations of personal exposure to dust collected in sampling periods of 6 h or longer were determined by ICP-MS. The arithmetic means of exposure concentrations were 0.

Further examination of log P-based procedures to estimate biological occupational exposure limits.

Objectives: To test the reliability of the procedures (described in a previous article) for estimation of biological occupational exposure limits (BOELs).

Methods: Data on four organic solvents (styrene, ethyl benzene, isopropyl alcohol and tetrachloroethylene) were obtained from recent publications and added to previously cited data for 10 organic solvents. Regression analysis was used for statistical evaluation.

Quantitative assessment of occupational exposure to total indium dust in Japanese indium plants.

This study quantitatively assessed personal exposure of 86 workers to indium compounds as total dust at 11 Japanese indium plants. The personal exposures to indium concentrations in the breathing zone during an 8 h work-shift were determined by ICP-MS. The arithmetic mean indium concentration of all the workers was 0.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part VI.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part V.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Control banding assessment of workers' exposure to indium and its compounds in 13 Japanese indium plants.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess workers' exposure to indium and its compounds in 55 indium-handling operations among 13 Japanese plants. The surveyed plants were selected from indium-manufacturing plants whose annual indium production exceeded 500 kg.

Methods: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essentials control banding toolkit, which contains simple scales for hazard levels, quantities in daily use, and "dustiness" characteristics, was used to assess generic risks of indium-handling operations.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part IV.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Development of a method for monitoring personal exposure to benzyl violet 4B and direct blue 15 in workplace air.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to develop a method for monitoring personal exposure to benzyl violet 4B (BV) and direct blue 15 (DB) in workplace air for risk assessment.

Methods: We evaluated the utility of the proposed method by examining the following: recovery; method limit of quantification; reproducibility; and storage stability of the samples.

Results: An air sampling cassette containing a glass fiber filter was chosen as the sampler.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part III.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part II.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals: Part I.

This Document, "Guidelines for personal exposure monitoring of chemicals" ("this Guideline"), has been prepared by "The Committee for Personal Exposure Monitoring" ("the Committee") of the Expert Division of Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics, Japan Society for Occupational Health. Considering the background of the growing importance of personal exposure monitoring in risk assessment and the need to prepare for the introduction of monitoring using personal samplers from an administrative perspective in recent years, the Committee was organized in November 2012. The Committee has prepared this Guideline as a "practical guideline" for personal exposure monitoring, so as to offer proposals and recommendations to the members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health and to society in general.

Assessment of workplace air concentrations of formaldehyde during and before working hours in medical facilities.

Workplace air concentrations of formaldehyde (FA) in medical facilities where FA and FA-treated organs were stored and handled were measured before and during working hours and assessed by the official method specified by Work Environment Measurement Law. Sixty-percent of the total facilities examined were judged as inappropriately controlled work environment. The concentrations of FA before working hours by spot sampling were found to exceed 0.

Improved method for measurement of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in rat lung.

Background: Previously, we have developed and reported the method of measuring multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in the lung from rats exposed to MWCNT intratracheally. The present research was performed to improve the analytical method of MWCNT to measure multiple samples in a short period of time. For the xanalysis of MWCNTs from tissues, the existence of carbon black may interfere.

Chemical exposure levels in printing and coating workers with cholangiocarcinoma (third report).

Objective: This study aimed to identify the chemicals used by five printing workers and one coating worker who developed cholangiocarcinoma and estimate the workers' levels of chemical exposure.

Methods: We obtained information on chemicals from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, and estimated working environment concentrations of the chemicals in printing and coating rooms and exposure concentrations during the ink and dirt removal processes. We also calculated shift time-weighted averages of exposure concentrations.

A cross-sectional analysis of dioxins and health effects in municipal and private waste incinerator workers in Japan.

This cross-sectional study was intended to examine health effects of 678 male workers employed during an 8-yr period from 2000 to 2007 at 36 municipal and private waste incineration plants in Japan. Blood samples were obtained for analysis of concentrations of dioxins including coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (coplanar PCBs) and evaluation of health effects. Health effects including diabetes were surveyed via a physician's interview or clinical data from blood samples.

Isomer pattern and elimination of dioxins in workers exposed at a municipal waste incineration plant.

The aim of this study was to clarify patterns of serum concentrations of dioxins in the employees of a waste incineration plant and to estimate elimination rates and half-lives of serum dioxin isomers, and the maximum serum concentrations of dioxin isomers at the time of plant shutdown. Sixteen subjects participating 3 times or more in annual health examinations during an 8-yr period from 2000 to 2007 were recruited for this study. Serum concentrations of dioxins expressed as TEQ/g lipid decreased gradually after plant shutdown with the highest decrease observed in polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) followed by polychlorinated deibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and then coplanar PCBs.

Chemical exposure levels in printing workers with cholangiocarcinoma (second report).

Objective: In several Japanese printing plants, printing workers have suffered from cholangiocarcinoma. 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) is considered to be a causative agent, and whether or not other chemicals also contribute to the development of this disease has not been conclusively determined. This study aimed to identify the chemicals used by seven printing workers who developed cholangiocarcinoma, as well as to estimate the levels of chemical exposure among them.

Chemical exposure levels in printing workers with cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to identify chemicals used by printing workers with cholangiocarcinoma, as well as the levels of exposure to the chemicals.

Methods: Information necessary to identify chemicals used by printing workers with cholangiocarcinoma and to estimate chemical exposure concentrations was obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. Working environment concentrations of the chemicals in the printing rooms were estimated using a well-mixed model, and exposure concentrations during the ink removal operation were estimated using a near-field and far-field model.

A longitudinal study on Raynaud's phenomenon in workers using an impact wrench.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon among workers using an impact wrench for a long time.

Methods: The subjects were 704 workers regularly using an impact wrench and taking special medical examinations for vibration syndrome from 1981 to 2008. Raynaud's phenomenon was observed in 39 subjects during the observation period.

Comparison of sensitivity of Escherichia coli WP2 tester strains with and without tolC outer membrane transport protein mutation in detecting chemical mutagens.

We compared the sensitivity of new Escherichia coli tester strains having the TolC outer membrane transport protein mutation (tolC strain), viz., WP2tolC, WP2tolC/pKM101, WP2uvrA, tolC and WP2uvrA, tolC/pKMO101, with E. coli strains not carrying this mutation (non-tolC strain), i.