Personal noise exposure assessment of Kuwaiti printing industry workers

Alabdulhadi, Abdullah; Devey, Peter; Boggess, May; Guest, Maya

doi:10.1080/10803548.2019.1677327

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent studies in printeries have found evidence that concentrations of toluene and styrene below the OEL, when combined with noise below recommended limits, can have ototoxic effects (Chang et al 2006;Juárez-Pérez et al 2014). We note that noise exposures above the recommended 85 dB(A) were previously observed in the study printeries (Alabdulhadi et al 2018), indicating that these workers may be at risk of hearing loss.…”

Section: Ototoxic Vocsmentioning

confidence: 46%

Inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds in the printing industry

Alabdulhadi

Ramadan

Devey

et al. 2019

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study reports on the occupational inhalation exposure to VOCs of workers in the Kuwaiti printing industry. Using the evacuated canister methodology, we targeted 72 VOCs in three printeries and compared the concentrations to previous reports and relevant occupational exposure levels (OELs). We found that recent efforts in the printing industry to reduce VOC usage had been successful, as concentrations of key hazardous VOCs were substantially lower than anticipated. On the other hand, nearly all target VOCs were found. Non-production areas were sampled along with the offset printing areas, another strength of this study, and revealed exposures to hazardous VOCs among administers and digital printer and CTP operators. Exposure to ototoxic VOCs amounted to 1-3% of the OEL, consisting mostly of ethylbenzene, which was likely in use in two of the study printeries. Exposure to carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic VOCs was 15-20% of the OEL at four locations across the three printeries, consisting mostly of vinyl chloride and benzyl chloride. Vinyl chloride VOC was partially sourced from outdoors, but was also likely used inside the study printeries. Interestingly, concentrations of vinyl chloride were similar in most sampling locations to that of CFC-114, a CFC banned by the Montreal Protocol and not commonly used as a refrigerant. This unexpected finding suggests further study is warranted to identify the use of these VOCs in printeries. Exposure to hazardous VOCs up to nearly 50% of the OEL, consisting largely of bromoform and vinyl chloride. Bromoform was found in all the study printeries, sourced partially from outdoor air. The higher concentrations found inside the study printeries likely resulted from the use of the desalinated water for washing. This finding raises of emissions from sources other than blanket washes, and inks, etc. adding to the total VOC load in printery indoor air. Implications: Results from this study indicate that efforts to reduce worker exposure to VOCs particularly dangerous to human health in recent years have been successful, but there is still much to be done to protect workers. Exposures to ototoxic and carcinogenic VOCs were identified, among both production and non-production workers. Unexpected findings included the apparent use in printing activities of the carcinogen vinyl chloride and CFC-114, banned under the Montreal Protocol. Observed lapses in safety procedures included failure to utilize ventilation systems and closing doors between work areas, indicating management and worker education should remain a priority.

show abstract

Section: Ototoxic Vocsmentioning

confidence: 46%

Inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds in the printing industry

Alabdulhadi

Ramadan

Devey

et al. 2019

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The results were well below both the Brazilian exposure limits [ 31 ] and the levels recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) [ 38 ]. For an illustration of solvent and noise exposure scenarios in printing companies, see Alabdulhadi et al [ 39 , 40 ]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporary and Permanent Auditory Effects Associated with Occupational Coexposure to Low Levels of Noise and Solvents

Bohn

Morata

Roggia

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to assess temporary and permanent auditory effects associated with occupational coexposure to low levels of noise and solvents. Cross-sectional study with 25 printing industry workers simultaneously exposed to low noise (<80 dBA TWA) and low levels of solvents. The control group consisted of 29 industry workers without the selected exposures. Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent auditory tests. Auditory fatigue was measured by comparing the acoustic reflex threshold before and after the workday. Workers coexposed to solvents and noise showed significantly worse results in auditory tests in comparison with the participants in the control group. Auditory brainstem response results showed differences in III–V interpeak intervals (p = 0.046 in right ear; p = 0.039 in left ear). Mean dichotic digits scores (exposed = 89.5 ± 13.33; controls = 96.40 ± 4.46) were only different in the left ear (p = 0.054). The comparison of pre and postacoustic reflex testing indicated mean differences (p = 0.032) between the exposed (4.58 ± 6.8) and controls (0 ± 4.62) groups. This study provides evidence of a possible temporary effect (hearing fatigue) at the level of the acoustic reflex of the stapedius muscle. The permanent effects were identified mainly at the level of the high brainstem and in the auditory ability of binaural integration.

show abstract

“…Based on statistics from the Center for Environmental and Occupational Health of the Iranian Health Ministry, more than two million workers are exposed to noises above permitted limits (6). The standard limit of exposure to noise has been determined 85 decibels (dB) (7). Expo-sure to noise higher than the recommended threshold can result in unwanted complications and effects, including temporary and permanent hearing loss.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritization of Noise Control Solutions in an Oil Refinery Using the Noise Control Priority Index

Mousavi

Naeini

Haghighat³

et al. 2021

Jundishapur J Health Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: It is essential to decide on where to allocate available resources and identify priorities in noise control. Objectives: This study was performed to prioritize noise control solutions in various units of an oil refinery using the noise control priority index (NCPI). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an oil refinery in 2019. The standard of ISO 91612 was applied in the first stage to assess workplaces and determine the values of the noise pressure level (SPL). The activity of stations and the duration of workers’ presence in these stations were determined via interviews with the supervisors and senior personnel of each unit. The NCPI value in various units was determined using three variables, including the number of exposed people, exposure duration, and the weighting factor related to the sound pressure level (SPL). Finally, units were prioritized based on the final NCPI value. Results: Totally, 10 units were assessed based on the ISO9612 standard. The results revealed that 8.09% of the assessed stations were in the safe zone, 62.24% in the warning zone, and 29.66% in the hazard zone. The highest noise emission was related to the NTA unit (98 dB), and the lowest noise emission was observed in the spherical reservoir unit (84 dB). The NTA unit with 12 workers had the highest noise control priority index (1.25) among the units. Conclusions: The NCPI index makes it possible to appropriately prioritize noise control solutions in various industrial units and also implement technical and noise control plans in the oil and gas industries.

show abstract

Personal noise exposure assessment of Kuwaiti printing industry workers

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

Inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds in the printing industry

Inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds in the printing industry

Temporary and Permanent Auditory Effects Associated with Occupational Coexposure to Low Levels of Noise and Solvents

Prioritization of Noise Control Solutions in an Oil Refinery Using the Noise Control Priority Index

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About