The effects of exposure to solvents on serum bile acids were investigated by comparing a group of apprentice vehicle spray painters (exposed group) with one of apprentice electricians. Apprentice spray painters from the study were subdivided into high- and low-solvent-exposure groups. Concentrations of individual serum bile acids (SBA) were measured and compared with conventional liver function tests (LFTs). Total, free, glycine- and taurine-conjugated SBA were consistently found to be present at higher levels in the spray painters than in the electricians, even at the beginning of the apprenticeship. Total SBA tended to increase in spray painters with increasing years of exposure during the apprenticeship, but this was significant at only one time point. No rises were observed over the sampling period in electricians. The mean values of individual and total SBA concentrations were all found to be higher in the high-exposure group than in the low-exposure group, with some differences reaching statistical significance. None of the routine liver biochemistry parameters was different between spray painters and electricians. gamma-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) was the only enzyme found to be significantly different between the high- and low-exposure groups, but all values were within the normal range. This study suggests that occupational exposure even to low levels of solvent mixtures results in increases in SBA. The increased SBA may be indicative of a subclinical liver dysfunction. Alternatively, they may reflect solvent exposure only, with the raised levels having no pathologic implication or consequence.
Upper Zakum field is a mega offshore field, in which ADNOC Offshore is investing a lot of resources to bring development target to reality. In order to achieve the company's strategic milestones, over 300 minor and major projects are being implemented utilizing a tremendous number of major and minor resources. This excessive volume of data is communicated daily from each division independently with different templates/format, which isn't reflecting the complete image of operations and development progress status. Therefore, to achieve those strategic milestones, an effective planning process across multiple functions within different organizations and at various locations, along with an efficient tracking system was established. Operation Planning & Support teams developed Upper Zakum 5 years business plan alongside the Integrated Master Activity Plan (IMAP) to identify the required scope ensuring safe guidance of the company towards achieving its targets while sustaining the integrity. IMAP leverages the communication level among all stakeholders, particularly during the planning phase, to enhance the effectiveness and realism of plans, in addition to, providing flexibility in reviewing the plan from different perspectives through the ability to produce various layouts aligned with specific requirements. IMAP website has been established to enhance communication and ensure that all stakeholders have adequate information that supports maintaining consistency in the workplace and preventing any ambiguity. The website provides an efficient and prompt access to review planned activities for a particular project as well as forecasted activities on a particular asset location. IMAP website has ensured the effective distribution of up to date information on each asset location such as objectives, responsible team, resources allocation, material delivery time, execution timeline, and planned shutdown windows. This collaborative approach leads to early discovering of major resources clashes and abolishes them during the planning phase, ensuring the best utilization of resources and completing the required scope within the time boundary; as well as, enhancing the predictions of production, water injection and improve the accuracy of budget outlook; in addition to data-driven realistic decision-making.
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