Occupational health risk assessment methods in China: A scoping review

Acetylene hydrochlorination and ethylene oxychlorination are the two most common methods of producing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which has been linked to liver impairment, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) in occupational settings. However, whether and how these impairments could be effectively improved from workplace root causes has yet to be discovered. This study aimed to evaluate whether improvements in protective measures in groups Y (408 subjects) and Z (349 subjects) could have an influential impact on the alleviation of liver impairment by comparing risk assessment levels under several semi-quantitative models and results from liver ultrasound detection and liver function tests before and after the improvement. Importantly, significant differences in constituent ratio involved in parameters among age, length of employment, weekly exposure time, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and sleeping quality were found between Y and Z before improvement took place in 2020 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), and population distribution by gender between Y and Z was in a large homogeneity with differences in age and length of employment. CSTE involves ore breaking, acetylene generation, steam stripping, outward processing, and welding maintenance, was disqualified in 2020 compared to OEL, and was said to have declined to meet OEL requirements by 2021. Further, a negative correction of fresh air requirement and ventilation air changing rate with ambient concentration toward hazards in Y was stronger in 2021 than in 2020. Significant differences in risk levels in Y between 2020 and 2021 were found as ore breaking, acetylene generation, steam stripping, outward processing, VCM polymerization, welding, and repairing, decreasing to relatively lower risk levels in 2021 from the original ones in 2020 only under the semi-quantitative comprehensive index model. Abnormal rates toward other hepatic symptoms decreased in the majority of positions after the improvement, as referred to by alterations such as ALT, AST, and GGT. Overall, the effect of improvements on protective measures effectively reduced positions' risk assessment levels through ventilation enhancement and airtight strengthening, which further affected abnormal rates toward other hepatic symptoms, and alterations such as ALT, AST, and GGT were much more significant in Y than effect in Z.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvements in protective measures in factories with acetylene hydrochlorination and ethylene oxychlorination techniques declined risk assessment levels and affected liver health status

Dong

Wang

et al. 2022

“…The COSHH Essential model, (EPA model) and semi-quantitative risk assessment model (Singapore model and China semi-quantitative risk assessment model) were used to assess occupational health risk of benzene in this study. Each occupational health risk assessment model has its own advantages and disadvantages ( 6 , 7 , 17 ). The COSHH Essential model is mainly used for small and medium-sized enterprises.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several occupational health risk assessment (OHRA) models have been developed to assess health risks from occupational hazards and provide control measures. OHRA not only estimates the likelihood and extent of hazard occurrence through qualitative or quantitative assessments, but also takes appropriate measures to minimize occupational risks ( 6 ). Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Singaporean, Australian, Romanian, International Council of Mines and Metals (ICMM) and UK Basic Model for The Control of Hazardous Substances to Health (COSHH) are considered to be the six most common OHRA models, with the Singapore model having good overall compatibility ( 7 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prediction of occupational health risks of benzene in the printing industry through multiple occupational health risk assessment models

Shi¹,

Su²,

Wen³

et al. 2022

BackgroundBenzene poisoning is a common occupational poisoning event in the printing industries. Up to now there is still a lack of research data on risk assessment of benzene operations in enclosed workshops. It is crucial to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.MethodsThe information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of benzene.ResultsThe exposed groups all worked more than 8 h per day, and the cleaning, pasting, and packaging groups used general ventilation rather than local ventilation. 28.6% of the printing group and 16.7% of the pasting group had benzene concentrations that exceeded the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over 20% of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models.ConclusionThe Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. The printing and pasting groups may have a higher risk for benzene exposure. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.

“…The occurrence of NH occupational poisoning associated with various factors, including long exposure duration, enclosed working environment, poor ventilation or low efficiency of the air circulation system, and insufficient protective measures (4,11). The Occupational Health Risk Assessment (OHRA) model has been proposed as a tool to predict and control the health risks of occupational hazards, which predicts the possibility and extent of hazards by qualitative, quantitative and semiquantitative methods, and proposes corresponding preventive and control measures (12). Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Singaporean, Australian, Romanian, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and UK Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential models are considered as the six most common OHRA models (13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models in the prediction of occupational health risks of n-Hexane in the air-conditioned closed workshop

Zhu¹,

Su²,

Wen³

et al. 2022

Backgroundn-Hexane (NH) poisoning is a common occupational poisoning in the hardware and electronics industries. However, there is few research data on risk assessment of positions using NH in enclosed workshops. It is very important to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.MethodsThe information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, and data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of NH.ResultsThe working hours of the exposure groups, printing groups and packing groups all exceeded 9 h per day, less than 30% of each similar exposure groups (SEG) was equipped with the local exhaust ventilation, and 11.1% of the cleaning group and 8.3% of the printing group had NH concentrations in the air that exceeded the Chinese occupational exposure limit (OEL). In the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, each SEG was evaluated at high risk. In the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models, all of the work groups of exposure groups, 91.7% of the work groups of printing groups, 77.8% of the work groups of printing groups, and 57.1% of the work groups of printing groups were evaluated at unacceptable risk. More than 40.0% of the work groups of printing groups and cleaning groups and over 20.0% of the work groups of exposure groups and packing groups were evaluated at high risk in the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models.ConclusionsThe Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. Some work groups that use NH in air-conditioned enclosed workshops in China, especially the cleaning groups, are still in a high-risk state. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.