While access to electricity affects health positively, combustion of coal in power plants causes ... more While access to electricity affects health positively, combustion of coal in power plants causes well-documented adverse health effects. We review respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and neurologic health outcomes associated with exposure to coal-fired power plant emissions. We also discuss population-level health effects of coal combustion and its role in climate change. Our review of scientific studies suggests that those we present here can be used to inform energy policy.
The mercury sphygmomanometer was introduced over 100 years ago. Mercury, however, is a potent hum... more The mercury sphygmomanometer was introduced over 100 years ago. Mercury, however, is a potent human neurotoxin. An international effort has developed to eliminate health-care sources of mercury--the thermometer and sphygmomanometer--and replace them with less toxic alternatives. There is concern regarding the accuracy of these alternative devices. We conducted a literature review of articles published between 1995 and 2009 evaluating the accuracy of mercury, aneroid, and oscillometric blood pressure devices. Mercury sphygmomanometers fared the best although they do not always perform as expected, failing calibration tests between 1 and 28 per cent of the time. Up to 61 per cent of aneroid sphygmomanometers failed. Recently calibrated aneroid devices performed well. Oscillometric devices were less studied and their performance was variable. All three devices showed variable performance. They should be validated before purchase and calibrated on a regular basis.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2008
To objectively evaluate workers' ... more To objectively evaluate workers' sensory symptoms and vestibular function after exposure to a strong, new generation 9.4-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. Six MRI employees underwent standardized electronystagmographic evaluation, postural testing, and caloric function at baseline evaluation, 30 minutes postexposure to 9.4 T static field and at a 3-month follow-up. All participants noted sensory symptoms after exposure. No overall deterioration in vestibular function was noted following 30-minute exposure or at a 3-month follow-up. A higher occurrence of tonic vestibular asymmetry, hyperreactive caloric responses, and spontaneous nystagmus was noted compared with that of the normal population. Workers exposed to the new, stronger MRIs experience sensory symptoms but it is unclear as yet whether long-term vestibular damage occurs. The higher rates of vestibular changes noted could argue for improved worker surveillance and exposure control.
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2005
The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety expe... more The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety experience among day laborers at one street-corner hiring site in Chicago. The authors' goals were to pilot street-corner surveillance methods, including those that would facilitate access to the workers, and to obtain information on the day laborers' occupational safety experience, including the types of jobs and tasks performed, the hazardous conditions encountered, and the frequency of occupational injuries. The authors held interviews at one street corner in Chicago; 21 day laborers participated. All were male, and 90% were Latino. Construction jobs were common. Roofing and demolition were 2 of the most hazardous jobs. Of the respondents, 52% had been injured in the previous year. This exploratory study was a successful first step in occupational injury research among street-corner day laborers and suggests that these workers are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions without safety training or equipment.
While access to electricity affects health positively, combustion of coal in power plants causes ... more While access to electricity affects health positively, combustion of coal in power plants causes well-documented adverse health effects. We review respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, and neurologic health outcomes associated with exposure to coal-fired power plant emissions. We also discuss population-level health effects of coal combustion and its role in climate change. Our review of scientific studies suggests that those we present here can be used to inform energy policy.
The mercury sphygmomanometer was introduced over 100 years ago. Mercury, however, is a potent hum... more The mercury sphygmomanometer was introduced over 100 years ago. Mercury, however, is a potent human neurotoxin. An international effort has developed to eliminate health-care sources of mercury--the thermometer and sphygmomanometer--and replace them with less toxic alternatives. There is concern regarding the accuracy of these alternative devices. We conducted a literature review of articles published between 1995 and 2009 evaluating the accuracy of mercury, aneroid, and oscillometric blood pressure devices. Mercury sphygmomanometers fared the best although they do not always perform as expected, failing calibration tests between 1 and 28 per cent of the time. Up to 61 per cent of aneroid sphygmomanometers failed. Recently calibrated aneroid devices performed well. Oscillometric devices were less studied and their performance was variable. All three devices showed variable performance. They should be validated before purchase and calibrated on a regular basis.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2008
To objectively evaluate workers' ... more To objectively evaluate workers' sensory symptoms and vestibular function after exposure to a strong, new generation 9.4-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. Six MRI employees underwent standardized electronystagmographic evaluation, postural testing, and caloric function at baseline evaluation, 30 minutes postexposure to 9.4 T static field and at a 3-month follow-up. All participants noted sensory symptoms after exposure. No overall deterioration in vestibular function was noted following 30-minute exposure or at a 3-month follow-up. A higher occurrence of tonic vestibular asymmetry, hyperreactive caloric responses, and spontaneous nystagmus was noted compared with that of the normal population. Workers exposed to the new, stronger MRIs experience sensory symptoms but it is unclear as yet whether long-term vestibular damage occurs. The higher rates of vestibular changes noted could argue for improved worker surveillance and exposure control.
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2005
The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety expe... more The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety experience among day laborers at one street-corner hiring site in Chicago. The authors' goals were to pilot street-corner surveillance methods, including those that would facilitate access to the workers, and to obtain information on the day laborers' occupational safety experience, including the types of jobs and tasks performed, the hazardous conditions encountered, and the frequency of occupational injuries. The authors held interviews at one street corner in Chicago; 21 day laborers participated. All were male, and 90% were Latino. Construction jobs were common. Roofing and demolition were 2 of the most hazardous jobs. Of the respondents, 52% had been injured in the previous year. This exploratory study was a successful first step in occupational injury research among street-corner day laborers and suggests that these workers are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions without safety training or equipment.
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Papers by Susan Buchanan