Juha Laitinen

The aim of this study was to measure ash removal and maintenance workers’ exposure to metals, and assess the suitability of different methods to evaluate metal exposure during these work tasks. Whole-body samples and hand-washing method were used in workers’ dermal exposure assessment, and biomonitoring methods of metals in total exposure assessment. The greatest levels of Al, Pb, Cd, Cu, S, and Zn on workers’ hands were measured in recycled fuel-fired power plants. The median concentrations of lead on workers’ whole-body samples were 4.5 ng/cm2, 17.0 ng/cm2, 11.3 ng/cm2, and 58.4 ng/cm2 in pellet-, peat-, wood- and recycled fuel-fired power plants, respectively. In recycled fuel-fired power plants, workers’ excretions of Al, Pb, and Mn exceeded the reference values of non-exposed population in 33%, 100%, and 50% of samples, respectively. The dermal exposure results clearly showed that power plant ash can significantly contaminate workers’ hands and bodies. The fact that the workers...

VTT Tiedotteita - Research Notes 2531 Tässä oppaassa annetaan ohjeita asuntopalokohteissa työskentelevien ja vierailevien ihmisten kemikaalialtistumisen vähentämiseksi. Ohjeistus perustuu VTT:n ja Työterveyslaitoksen toteuttamaan Palokohteiden savu-, noki- ja kemikaalijäämät ja niiden vaikutukset työturvallisuuteen -tutkimushankkeeseen, jossa selvitettiin asuntopalopaikoilla esiintyviä terveydelle haitallisia yhdisteitä sekä palosaneeraajien, palontutkijoiden, vahinkotarkastajien ja kiinteistön edustajien altistumista niille. Oppaassa kuvataan tulipaloissa syntyviä yhdisteitä, palopaikoilla työskentelevien mahdollisia altistumisreittejä näille kemikaaleille sekä niiden terveydellisiä haittavaikutuksia. Kemikaalialtistumista voidaan vähentää oppaassa esitettävin teknisin keinoin ja henkilösuojaimin. Palokohteissa työskenteleville annetaan suojautumissuositukset, jotka määräytyvät palovahinkojen laajuuden ja työtehtävien laadun mukaan. Tässä oppaassa annetaan ohjeita asuntopalokohteis...

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). The geometric mean of mesophilic fungi, thermotolerant fungi and thermophilic actinomycetes were determined from the material. Samples of inhalable dust and endotoxins were collected with IOM samplers and respirable dust with 10M foam samplers when the peat was rotated in a cylinder. The number of particles was detected with an optical particle counter. An LAL assay was used for analysing endotoxins from the filter samples. There were differences in the hygiene quality and dustiness between peat materials (p < 0.01). The geometric mean of fungi was smallest in material A. Warming-up i...

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. Air sampling was used to estimate workers' exposure to endotoxins at 18 workplaces near enclosed and open machines. Concentrations of triazine in MWF and formaldehyde in the air were measured. Some recirculating local exhaust ventilation systems were also tested. The endotoxin and bacteria concentrations in the biocide test of MWF rapidly increased when the biocide levels decreased below 500 ppm. Airborne concentrations of endotoxins were substantially lower near enclosed machines than near open ones. Concentrations of airborne formaldehyde were below the Finnish occupational exposure limit at the existing levels of triazine in MWF. Concentrations of triazine in MWF correlated well with those of formaldehyde in the air near the machines (correlation coefficient r=.69). The results showed that the triazine levels in MWF should continuously be kept high enough (>500 ppm) to prevent workers' exposure to endotoxins and bacteria. Overdosing with triazine, however, should be avoided, so that the levels of airborne formaldehyde remain low. Triazine levels in MWF can be followed by the method described in this article. Workers' exposure to contaminants of MWF can be reduced substantially by enclosing the machines and equipping them with local exhausts.

It is well known that fire fighters are potentially exposed to various carcinogenic agents at a fire scene. An almost unheeded issue, however, is fire fighters' exposure to carcinogenic agents in smoke diving simulators. Biomonitoring (urinary muconic acid, 1-naphthol and 1-pyrenol), dermal (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and occupational hygiene measurements (cyanides, hydrogen cyanide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde) were used to determine how the burning material, the type of simulator and protective clothing used affect fire fighting trainers' exposure. The highest excretion of 1-pyrenol (sampled 6h after end of exposure, in average 4.3-9.2nmol/L) and emissions of benzene (1.0-2.5mg/m(3)) and hydrogen cyanide (0.2-0.9mg/m(3)) were measured during the burning of conifer plywood and chipboard, and the lowest when pure pine and spruce wood (1.5nmol/L, 0.6mg/m(3), and 0.05mg/m(3)) was burned. However the safest burning material seemed to be propane (1.0nmol/L, 0.2mg/m(3), and not measured). The type of simulator used affected trainers' exposure very clearly. The highest dermal whole body exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in the fire house simulator (in average 1200ng/cm(2)). Clearly lower exposure levels were measured in container training sessions (760ng/cm(2)), where the average dermal exposure level was 35% lower than in the fire house. The exposure levels (30ng/cm(2)) in the gas simulator in turn, were only 4% of the levels in container training sessions. The amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons decreased by 80% on trainers' hands when they used under gloves (in average 8.7ng/cm(2)) compared to those (48.4ng/cm(2)) who did not. There was not difference in protection efficiency against polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons between tested fire suits (Brage and Bristol).

The aim of this study was to evaluate workers' exposure to microbes and bacterial endotoxins during the use of metal-working fluids (MWF). 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. The endotoxin concentrations in the air ranged from 0.04 to 600 ng/m(3) when the endotoxin levels in MWF were 0.03-25,000 ng/ml. A high correlation was found between the endotoxin levels and the bacterial counts from MWF, as well as between the total culturable bacteria and the gram-negative bacteria concentrations in the air. Comamonas testosteroni and C. acidovorans were the most common strains in the samples but also colonies of Ochrobactrum anthropi, Pantoea agglomerans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were isolated from the workplaces. Fungi like Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium species were identified in the air but only rarely in the MWF. Positive IgG antibodies were found in the sera of 22 of the 25 MWF workers examined. Antibodies against S. maltophilia, P. agglomerans and C. acidovorans were the most common, appearing in 72%, 64% and 64%, respectively, of the cases. The MWF workers showed significantly higher IgG antibody responses to bacterial antigens than did the controls. The results clearly proved that in occupational hygiene measurements, endotoxins serve as excellent indicators of exposure to the microbial contaminants of MWF. IgG antibodies against antigens identified from workplace samples could be a practical tool for occupational health physicians.

ABSTRACT During the heat-assisted application (160–190°C) of polyfluoro polymer-based ski waxes, the aerosol given off amounted to 4.26±2.80mg m−3 (±SD, N =5) in personal air samples and 3.97±209 mg m−3 (±SD, N =5) in stationary samples The major part (85%) of the aerosol was respirable. Inorganic fluoride was found only in trace amounts while the mass chromatographic analysis confirmed the presence of fluorine-containing aliphatic chains. It seems that the exposure to fluorocompounds is high enough to contribute to respiratory symptoms experienced by waxers. The work should be carried out under well ventilated fume cupboards or the waxers should wear respiratory protection during the active application of the waxes.

The causal relationship between inhalation exposure to methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and the risk of occupational asthma is well known, but the role of dermal exposure and dermal uptake of MDI in this process is still unclear. The aims of this study were to measure dermal exposure to and the dermal uptake of MDI among workers (n=24) who regularly handle MDI-urethanes. Dermal exposure was measured by the tape-strip technique from four sites on the dominant hand and arm. The workers with the highest exposure (n=5) were biomonitored immediately after their work shift, in the evening and the next morning, using urinary 4,4´methylenedianiline (MDA) as a marker. Dermal uptake was evaluated by comparing workers' MDA excretions both when they were equipped with respiratory protective devices (RPDs) and when they did not use them. The measured amounts of MDI on their hands varied from below 0.1 to 17 μg/10 cm(2) during the test. MDI concentrations were in the range of 0.08 to 27 μ...