Exposure and acute exposure-effects before and after modification of a contaminated humidification system in a synthetic-fibre plant

Pal, Teake; Monchy, J. de; Groothoff, Johan; Post, D.P.A. van der

doi:10.1007/s004200000131

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…They also noted that oil mist exposure was not changed during remediation, arguing against a direct impact from oil mists. (27) This follow-up investigation examined some of the same plants and workers evaluated earlier by Kremer, (23−25) suggesting that microbial exposure may have also been responsible for some of the effects reported in these earlier investigations.…”

Section: Synthetic Oil Mistsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Review of Respiratory Morbidity from Occupational Exposure to Oil Mists

Bukowski

2003

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has recommended that the threshold limit value (TLV) for mineral oil mists be dramatically lowered, based on epidemiological evidence of respiratory health effects among machinists exposed to various metalworking fluid mists. A review of the literature regarding respiratory health effects from either metalworking or non-metalworking fluids suggest that machinists may have experienced slightly higher prevalence of common respiratory symptoms and mild and reversible cross-shift changes in some measures of pulmonary function. However, the inconsistency and potential for both random and systematic error in this body of literature argue against drawing definitive conclusions. There is also no substantive evidence that any of these effects led to permanent disease or impairment. The most likely causal agents for respiratory effects in these workers are microbial contaminants in water-based metalworking fluids, not straight mineral oils. This is consistent with the epidemic outbreaks of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, bronchitis, and asthma reported at some work sites using water-based metalworking fluids. This highlights the importance of frequent cleaning and fluid changes for metalworking fluid reservoirs, as part of a systematic approach to managing metalworking fluid aerosol exposures. A dramatic drop in the TLV for mineral oil mists would not resolve this problem.

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Section: Synthetic Oil Mistsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Review of Respiratory Morbidity from Occupational Exposure to Oil Mists

Bukowski

2003

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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“…Humidifier fever differs from EAA in that the affected person may have specific IgG antibodies to the micro-organisms growing in water reservoirs as a sign of exposure. Regular maintenance of humidifiers and air conditioners is the best approach to prevent humidifier fever (Pal et al 2000).…”

Section: Asthma and Asthma-like Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sick Building Syndrome and Other Building-Related Illnesses

Nag

2018

Design Science and Innovation

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Outbreaks of building-related illnesses, collectively termed as sick building syndrome (SBS) among building occupants reported in the recent decades, draw remarkable resemblance to early events of epidemic hysteria. Tarantism, the dancing mania of peasant women (animal-like squealing, obscene shouting, laughing, or weeping) during the fifteenth to seventeenth century, St. John's or St. Vitus' dances in Northern Europe, the hysterical fits of women due to smells from hemp steeped in water (Ramazzini 1713), industrial outbreak among workers in a cotton mill in the eighteenth century England (Gentleman's Magazine 1787), are historically recorded events. Many other early psychogenic illnesses reported from schools, hospitals, prisons, and in warfare, exemplify the results of various reasons, like prominent social concerns and exposure to physical, biological, or chemical agents (Bartholomew and Wessely 2002; Sirois 2013). The SBS manifests as the complex spectrum of ill health symptoms, such as mucous membrane irritation (rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sore throat, eye irritation), asthma symptoms (chest tightness, wheezing), neurotoxic effects (a headache, fatigue, irritability), gastrointestinal disturbance, skin dryness, sensitivity to odours. These symptoms may appear among occupants in office buildings, schools, public buildings, hospitals, and recreational facilities. The rapid spread of symptoms often leads to the virtual closure of the facility, and resolution of the illness also takes place within a short time after leaving the facility (Laumbach 2008; Takeda et al. 2009). Building-related illnesses have been viewed as ubiquitous in modern high-rise buildings. These are designed to be airtight on energy-saving considerationwindows remain sealed, deprived of natural ventilation and daylighting, and HVAC system re-circulates the air in the building, with the minimal replacement of fresh air. Concerns about human health due to deteriorating indoor environmental quality are steadily increasing with a public outcry among the building occupants and also

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“…Despite growing evidence, some studies have cast doubt on the need for surface dis-infection, showing health benefits through improved handwashing, barrier protection, natural intervention, or cleaning without disinfection. 96,[181][182][183][184][185][186][187][188] A 3-year hospital study by Sharbaugh 189 showed that an infection control program that included daily patient surveillance, isolation of infected patients, and education of staff significantly reduced the nosocomial infection rate. Many reports, however, have questioned the efficacy of infection control programs that discount environmental surface disinfection by demonstrating the link between environmental disinfection and reduced infection.…”

Section: Disinfectants Provide An Incremental Public Health Benefitmentioning

confidence: 99%