Contents. Occupational. August 4, 2006

Transcription

1 Occupational August 4, 2006 OCCUPATIONAL Quantitative risk assessment in relation to occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in the removal of old sealants from buildings 2 Plasma mutant-p53 protein and anti-p53 antibody as a marker: An experience in vinyl chloride workers in Italy 2 Assessment of occupational exposure to lead in Poland 3 Occupational risk factors and male breast cancer 3 Correlation of haemoglobin-acrylamide adducts with airborne exposure: An occupational survey 3 Identification of markers for PCB exposure in plasma from Swedish construction workers removing old elastic sealants 4 Biological monitoring of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by determination of unmetabolized compounds in urine 4 Contents Contact us: chemwatch@chemwatch.net tel fax Emergency Bambra Rd Caulfield North Victoria 3161 Australia *While Chemwatch has taken all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, it is not intended to be comprehensive or to render advice. Websites rendered are subject to change. 1

2 Quantitative risk assessment in relation to occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in the removal of old sealants from buildings This study assessed the exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) among workers involved in the removal of old sealants containing PCB and evaluated long-term health risks by quantitative risk assessment. Workers exposure via different exposure routes was estimated from air and material samples and exposure calculations. Unit risks and a reference dose based on animal tests and evaluations made by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, was used to evaluate the e health risks. The results showed estimated exposure of the workers was higher than that of the general population. It was about 10-fold higher than the reference dose and average dietary intake. The point estimates of excess cancer risk were calculated at 4.6x10-4 cancer cases per lifetime. Although the PCB exposure of the workers was higher than the dietary intake of the general population, the estimated excess cancer risk among workers was low. The authors concluded that occupational health professionals could use this quantitative risk assessment method to evaluate the health risk of groups of workers. Authors: Priha, Eero; Rantio, Tiina; Riala, Riitta; Back, Beatrice; Oksa, Panu Full Source: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health 2005, 31(Suppl. 2), 43-48(Eng) The results showed estimated exposure of the workers was higher than that of the general population. Plasma mutant-p53 protein and anti-p53 antibody as a marker: An experience in vinyl chloride workers in Italy This study examined the presence of mutant-p53 protein (p53ag) and antibodies to p53 protein (p53ab) in a population of workers exposed to vinyl chloride (VC) by investigating the presence of two cancer markers in the plasma of 151 subjects exposed to varying concentrations of VC ( ppm). The study was conducted in two parts, the first occurring in 1999, which involved the analysis of p53ab only. The analysis was repeated in 2000 and extended to include the mutant-p53ag also. Information available in this study included age, total years of employment in the VC polymerisation industry, exposure concentration, results of abdominal ultrasonogram, hepatitis status, smoking and alcohol drinking status, and clinical records. To calculate the prevalence of p53ab or mutant-p53ag, logistic regression analyses were performed to provide the cumulative VC exposure concentration. To test the significant differences between the groups, t test and [chi]2 analyses were performed. The results showed three (1.9%) of the 151 workers exposed to VC resulted seropos. for the mutantp53ag and five (3.3%) for the p53ab. All seropos. Subjects are distributed in the highest exposure classes (>1000 ppm). No seropositivity was found among controls. The relationship between seropositivity and exposure was statistically significant( [chi]2 ) for mutant-p53ag and for p53ab). The authors concluded that the results demonstrates a trend for increasing likelihood of p53 over expression with increasing exposure to the toxin and supports the use of this marker revealing its presence in subjects having a history of VC exposure greater than 1000 ppm. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that a minimum threshold should be set for the carcinogenic effects of VC. Authors: Mocci, Francesco; Nettuno, Marina Full Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006, 48(2), (Eng) 2

3 Assessment of occupational exposure to lead in Poland In this study, the current occupational exposure to lead in Poland was assessed and the competence of laboratories responsible for biological monitoring and analysis of health risks in workers exposed to lead was evaluated. According to the current data, 26,500 workers are employed in 517 factories, including 1895 persons working under condition of exposure exceeding the Polish MAC level of mg/m3. The biological monitoring analysis includes measurements of blood lead (Pb-B). The data indicate that occupational exposure to lead is still a problem in Polish industry. The proportion (76%) of the workers covered by biological monitoring analysis showed that neither the recommendations laid down in the decree of 1996 issued by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and reinforced by the Minister of Health in 2004, nor the EU directive (98/24/EC) is universally observed. Pb-B detections in employees occupationally exposed to lead are compulsory, and are stated in both of these documents. The authors concluded that the competence of the majority of analysis laboratories is not sufficient to evaluate biological monitoring analyses in workers occupationally exposed to lead. They have not yet adopted the obligatory Polish versions of European standards of the quality assurance set in PN-EN ISO/IEC Authors: Trzcinka-Ochocka, Malgorzata; Jakubowski, Marek; Razniewska, Grazyna Full Source: Medycyna Pracy 2005, 56(5), (Pol) Occupational risk factors and male breast cancer This literature review occupational risk factors associated with male breast cancer. Male breast cancer is rare compared to its female counterpart and makes up less than 1% of all breast cancer. Its etiology is less well known than that of female breast cancer. Numerous experimental and clinical studies indicate the possibility of an increased risk of male breast cancer in workers occupationally exposed to electromagnetic fields, light at night, and high temperatures. Studies have also identified that the disease is induced by occupational exposure to pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, and ionizing radiation. However, irrefutable epidemiological evidence has not yet been obtained. Authors: Martynowicz, Helena; Medras, Marek; Andrzejak, Ryszard Full Source: Medycyna Pracy 2005, 56(5), (Pol) In this study, the current occupational exposure to lead in Poland was assessed and the competence of laboratories responsible for biological monitoring and analysis of health risks in workers exposed to lead was evaluated. Correlation of haemoglobin-acrylamide adducts with airborne exposure: An occupational survey This study examined the correlation between haemoglobin-acrylamide adducts with airborne exposure. An occupational hygiene survey of exposure to acrylamide was conducted comparing acrylamide Hb adduct measurements with personal air monitoring and glove liner analysis. The air monitoring data showed that exposure to acrylamide was well controlled with all samples below the UK maximum exposure limit (MEL) of 300 Ìg/m3 with mean exposure about one tenth of the MEL. Each worker provided two blood samples 3 months apart. The results showed that exposure was reasonably constant. Mean personal airborne acrylamide levels and mean acrylamide Hb adduct levels were well correlated and using the calculated linear correlation, exposure at the MEL would be expected to give rise to an Hb adduct level of 1550pmol/g globin. Smoking status did not affect the correlation. There was also a correlation between levels of acrylamide detected on gloves 3

4 and Hb adduct levels. A combined regression model between Hb adducts, airborne acrylamide and acrylamide glove contamination was significant for both airborne acrylamide and gloves with a regression coefficient of the authors concluded that Hb adduct level was a good biomarker of acrylamide exposure which correlated to both inhaled and potentially skin absorbed acrylamide estimates. There was excellent discrimination between well-controlled occupational levels and environmental levels from diet and smoking, allowing Hb adduct measurement to be used to determine even low-level exposures. Due to the complexity of the current methodology, new techniques would be useful in making Hb adducts more widely applicable. Authors: Jones, Kate; Garfitt, Sarah; Emms, Vicky; Warren, Nick; Cocker, John; Farmer, Peter Full Source: Toxicology Letters 2006, 162(2-3), (Eng) Identification of markers for PCB exposure in plasma from Swedish construction workers removing old elastic sealants This study identified PCB-indicators of occupational exposure related to the removal of old elastic sealants by collecting blood samples from workers involved in removing elastic sealants. Samples were also taken from ageand sex-matched controls. A majority of the exposed workers were resampled after 10 months. All samples were analyzed for 19 PCBs. The results showed the levels in the exposed workers were twice as high as those in the controls and were essentially unchanged at the second sampling. Levels of many less chlorinated PCBs were much higher in the exposed workers, compared to the controls, and principal component analysis(pca) revealed that easily metabolized PCBs decreased in the exposed workers during the study. These finding indicates that elimination exceeded uptake during the study period, and that the safety information given to the workers had been effective. PCA was also used to identify exposure markers. The relatively persistent PCBs 56/60 and 66, the easily metabolized PCBs 44, 70 and 110 (with vicinal hydrogens in meta/para-positions) and the very persistent PCBs 153 and 180 were found to be good markers for occupational and background (dietary) exposure. A PCA model based on these markers was equally effective in differentiating between exposed individuals and controls, and between recent and less recent exposure, as a model based on all PCBs. Authors: Wingfors, H.; Selden, A. I.; Nilsson, C.; Haglund, P. Full Source: Occupational Hygiene 2006, 50(1), (Eng) Biological monitoring of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by determination of unmetabolized compounds in urine In this study, the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated by determination of unmetabolized compounds in urine. 24 road paving (RP) workers, exposed to bitumen fumes, and 6 road construction workers (CW), exposed to diesel exhausts, were investigated. The results showed that the median exposure concentrations to low boiling PAHs (from naphthalene to pyrene) during the work shift ranged from 0.5 to 369 ng/m3, with naphthalene as the most abundant compound. Unrine samples were collected from each worker, before, during and after a shift. Headspace-solid phase microextraction detected the following compounds: naphthalene(u- NAP), acenaphthylene (U-ACY), acenaphthene (U-ACE), fluorene(u-fle), 4 This study identified PCBindicators of occupational exposure related to the removal of old elastic sealants by collecting blood samples from workers involved in removing elastic sealants.

5 phenanthrene (U-PHE), anthracene (U-ANT), fluoranthene(u-flu), pyrene (U-PYR). Almost all samples showed the presence of urinary PAHs. Significant differences in the levels of U-PHE, U-FLU and U-PYR were found between RP and CW. RP samples the urinary excretion of most analytes increased during the work shift The authors conclude that these results suggest that urinary PAHs may be useful biomarkers of occupational exposure. Authors: Campo, Laura; Addario, Liliana; Buratti, Marina; Scibetta, Licia; Longhi, Omar; Valla, Carla; Cirla, Piero E.; Martinotti, Irene; Foa, Vito; Fustinoni, Silvia Full Source: Toxicology Letters 2006, 162(2-3), (Eng) 5