Nanotechnologies are expected to be one of the main drivers of the technological evolution of the early part of the XXI Century. Due to the unique properties and behaviour of matter at the nanoscale and its enabling characteristics, nanotechnologies have the potential to profoundly transform all the most important industrial sectors and everyday life.
All over the world, both developed and emerging countries are devoting increasing resources to promote nanoscience and nanotechnologies in an effort aimed at gaining a leading position in the field and reaping the benefits promised. However, the belief is also becoming widely shared that the hopes pinned on this emerging technology will fully materialise only if its development will take place responsibly.
HSE inspectors have noted that, although Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) was often available for controlling exposure to welding fume, it frequently remained unused, due, partly to claims by welders that the LEV was responsible for removing shielding gas and thereby compromising the quality of the weld. However, there appeared to be few data to substantiate the welders’ claims. HSE commissioned this research project to establish whether efficient welding fume capture could be achieved using LEV whilst, at the same time, maintaining weld metal integrity.
A la veille de la réunion de Nairobi (16 février) du Programme des Nations-Unies pour l’Environnement sur les dangers du mercure, France Nature Environnement publie les résultats français de la campagne internationale Zero Mercury. Cette campagne est coordonnée en Europe par le Bureau Européen de l’Environnement (BEE) et au niveau mondial par le Zero Mercury Working Group, un réseau constitué par 75 ONG à travers le monde.
Interdit en France en 1998 pour les thermomètres médicaux, le mercure est toujours utilisé dans la production du chlore et pour les amalgames dentaires. Toxique pour l’homme et la nature, ce métal lourd continue à contaminer notre environnement.
This Opinion deals with the recent developments in the risk assessment of nanomaterials for both man and the environment. The in-depth characterisation of a manufactured nanomaterial on the basis of its physical-chemical characteristics is essential. Due to the
size and material specific temporal evolution of some nanomaterials, potentially hazardous nanomaterials need to be characterised both ‘as manufactured’ and in the various possible forms ‘as delivered’ in biological systems, or to a human in a specific application, or to a particular ecosystem of concern. The characterisation ‘as manufactured’ provides information for the material safety data sheet of the product
itself. The characterisation ‘as used’ in biological systems is needed as properties of nanomaterials may change considerably, notably the size distribution due to
agglomeration/aggregation of the particles. An issue of specific importance is the properties of the nanomaterial as it is actually used in products and to which consumers
may be exposed. For the risk assessment the latter characterisation is of highest relevance.
Les ministères chargés de l’écologie, du travail et de la santé ont saisi l’Agence française de sécurité sanitaire de l’environnement et du travail (Afsset) en février 2005 sur les risques pour la santé des fibres courtes et des fibres fines d’amiante non prises en compte par la réglementation actuelle.
L’expertise de l’Afsset conclut que les fibres fines ont un effet cancérogène significatif. Pour les fibres courtes, rien ne permet d’écarter un effet cancérogène, même si les données sanitaires actuelles présentent de nombreuses limites d’interprétation.
The aim of this study is to provide a statistical analysis of an exposure dataset provided by Castings Technology International (CTI). The purpose of the analysis is to provide a ‘snapshot’ of current exposure levels to ferrous foundry particulate (FFP) and other chemicals across a range of casting and fabrication related jobs.
"Interactive Guide to Working Safely with Beryllium and Beryllium-containing Materials," a guide that won a 2008 National Occupational Research Agenda Partnering Award for Worker Health and Safety, is now available on the Brush Wellman Inc. Web site. Brush Wellman, the world's largest producer of beryllium and beryllium-containing materials, developed the guide in January 2008 with Axcept Media, LLC, but until now it was available only in disk form.
Concerns have been raised about whether workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles are at increased risk of adverse health effects. The current body of evidence about the possible health risks of occupational exposure to engineered nanoparticles is quite small. While there is increasing evidence to indicate that exposure to some engineered nanoparticles can cause adverse health effects in laboratory animals, no health studies of workers exposed to the few engineered nanoparticles tested in animals have been published. The purpose of this document from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to provide interim guidance about whether specific medical screening, including performing medical tests on asymptomatic workers, is appropriate for these workers.
Size-fractionated aerosol particles were collected in a hospital emergency department to test for airborne influenza virus. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we confirmed the presence of airborne influenza virus and found that 53% of detectable influenza virus particles were within the respirable aerosol fraction. Our results provide evidence that influenza virus may spread through the airborne route.
The Foundation for Occupational Health & Safety recently created the Sustainable TLV®/BEI® Fund to ensure the continued development of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs®) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs®). FOHS President Dean Lillquist, Ph.D., CIH, and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) board chair Larry Gibbs, MEd, MPH, CIH, discussed the new fund Dec. 11, 2008, one week after the FOHS announced it. This Q&A is the result.
In response to new exposure standards to lower miners' exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and others have conducted research into control technologies to reduce DPM emissions. The mining industry—and specifically dieselized mines—also continue to work toward finding feasible controls to implement in their mines. Although emissions of and exposure to DPM can sometimes be controlled through the use of newer diesel engines, better engine maintenance, use of alternative fuels, or ventilation upgrades, some mines may need to use diesel particulate filters. However, this has created concern about potential exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) resulting from their use.
Des problèmes de santé persistants ont été observés depuis 2006 parmi le personnel d’un Centre de recherche en cancérologie et le personnel d’autres laboratoires situés au même étage de l’Institut de biologie du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Nantes. Une enquête rétrospective a été menée avec un questionnaire auto-administré chez le personnel concerné.
Parmi les 183 répondants, 71 % ont déclaré avoir ressenti des symptômes irritatifs (ORL, oculaires ou cutanés), généraux, digestifs ou respiratoires sur leur lieu de travail en 2006 ou 2007. La prévalence des symptômes augmentait de 22 % au 1er semestre 2006 à 52 % après octobre 2007. Deux pics de signalements ont été observés en janvier 2007 (à la suite de la fermeture de pièces de culture cellulaire) et en octobre 2007 (à la suite d’un pic d’odeurs). La fréquence des symptômes était significativement plus importante chez les femmes, chez les ingénieurs ou techniciens, chez les personnes utilisant des désinfectants et chez les personnes ayant une perception négative de l’hygrométrie, de la température ou du renouvellement d’air à leur poste de travail. En dehors d’une zone desservie par une des cinq centrales de traitement de l’air, la fréquence des symptômes était homogène chez le personnel travaillant dans le reste des locaux.
Les études environnementales ont confirmé la mauvaise qualité de la ventilation, de la température et de l'hygrométrie sans concentrations excessives de composés organiques volatils. Selon l’avis d’experts toxicologues consultés, une hypothèse toxique apparaît peu plausible. Ces évènements sont décrits dans la littérature sous le terme de syndrome des bâtiments malsains.
Organic dusts of vegetable, animal or microbial origin are major causes of occupational diseases of the respiratory tract. There is inconclusive evidence concerning the risk of cancer from organic dusts, and only limited knowledge or inhalatory exposure to some organic dusts and cancer, e.g., bacteria and moulds. The food industry and agriculture have
significant occupational organic dust exposure.