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- Pettersson, Hans, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Introducing a new design of digital tool to increase vibration risk assessments : challenges with education-based interventions
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1080-3548 .- 2376-9130. ; 28:3, s. 1705-1710
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether introducing a digital risk assessment tool, the Swedish National Vibration Database, would increase the number of risk assessments on hand–arm and whole-body vibration. Employer and safety representatives from companies where vibration exposure is common were invited.Methods: Of the 2953 invited companies, 1916 were selected for educational intervention and the remaining 1037 companies served as a control group with no intervention. For the educational intervention, participating companies were further divided into two groups (group A, n = 26; group B, n = 47) that both received information regarding risk assessment, but group B was also informed about the digital tool. Both groups answered a questionnaire on risk assessment before the intervention and at the follow-up, 6 months later; the control group received the same questionnaire but no education (group C, n = 22).Results: Of the invited companies, only 2% chose to participate and 7% at follow-up. Seventy-eight percent of the participants had made some kind of risk assessment of vibration at follow-up.Conclusion: Due to the low participation rate among invited companies, this study is not able to draw any conclusions on whether the digital tool can be used to increase the number of risk assessments.
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| 2. |
- Ragnebro, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Chloroform exposure in air and water in Swedish indoor swimming pools : urine as a biomarker of occupational exposure
- 2023
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Ingår i: Annals of Work Exposures and Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 2398-7308 .- 2398-7316. ; 67:7, s. 876-885
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Disinfection by-products are produced in water disinfected with chlorine-based products. One such group is trihalomethanes, and chloroform is the most abundant trihalomethane in swimming pool areas. Chloroform can be absorbed by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption, and is classified as possibly carcinogenic.AIM: To investigate if chloroform concentrations in air and water affect the chloroform concentration in urine samples of exposed swimming pool workers. METHODS: Workers from 5 adventure indoor swimming pools carried personal chloroform air samplers and provided up to 4 urine samples during one workday. Chloroform concentrations were analyzed with a linear mixed model analysis to investigate a possible correlation between air and urine concentrations.RESULTS: The geometric mean chloroform concentration was 11 μg/m3 in air and 0.009 µg/g creatinine in urine among individuals with ≤2 h at work, 0.023 µg/g creatinine among those with >2-5 working hours, and 0.026 µg/g creatinine in the group with >5-10 working hours. A risk of higher levels of chloroform in urine was associated with longer hours at work (≤2 h versus >5-10 h, odds ratio [OR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-3.34), personal chloroform concentrations in air (≤17.00 µg/m3 versus >28.00 µg/m3, OR 9.23, 95% CI 3.68-23.13) and working at least half the working day near the swimming pools (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.33-7.55). Executing work tasks in the swimming pool water was not associated with higher chloroform concentrations in urine compared to only working on land (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.27-2.45).CONCLUSION: There is an accumulation of chloroform concentrations in urine during a workday and a correlation between personal air and urine concentrations of chloroform among workers in Swedish indoor swimming pools.
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| 3. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-
(författare)
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Exposure to trichloramine, trihalomethanes and endotoxins : adverse respiratory and ocular effects among Swedish indoor swimming pool workers
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Indoor swimming pool facilities often use chlorine for pool water disinfection. Chlorine can also contribute to the formation of unwanted disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Trichloramine and trihalomethanes (THMs) are DBPs formed in swimming pool water and swimming pool air causing occupational exposure. Trichloramine can cause ocular and airway irritation, while some THMs are potentially carcinogenic. Bacterial endotoxins may also cause adverse respiratory effects among swimming pool workers. The overall aim of the study was to measure levels of trichloramine, THMs and endotoxins in the air at conventional, habilitation and rehabilitation, and adventure swimming pool facilities, and to investigate adverse ocular and respiratory effects among indoor swimming pool workers.Trichloramine and THM levels in air were comparable to previous studies. Endotoxin levels in air were low compared to the reference value. Trichloramine concentrations in personal samples were approximately half as high as those measured in stationary samples - an important consideration for a future Swedish occupational exposure limit. The adventure facilities had the highest trichloramine levels while the conventional facilities had the highest THM levels. The adventure workers also reported more ocular and respiratory symptoms compared to referents (office workers) and had a lower FEV1/FVC ratio indicating airway obstruction. Workers both in conventional, and in habilitation and rehabilitation facilities exhibited a difference in FeNO levels compared to referents, implying airway inflammation.The occupational exposure and adverse health effects found in indoor swimming pool environments emphasizes the importance of a personal based Swedish occupational exposure limit for trichloramine in air.
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| 4. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational Exposure to Trichloramine and Endotoxins : Adverse Health Effects Among Personnel in Adventure and Rehabilitation Swimming Pool Facilities
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 64:5, s. 361-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To study occupational exposure to trichloramine and endotoxins in air at adventure and rehabilitation swimming pool facilities from an adverse health effects perspective.METHODS: Air concentrations of trichloramine and endotoxins were measured in five adventure and 10 rehabilitation facilities. Respiratory and ocular symptoms were self-reported, and spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) were measured.RESULTS: Compared to rehabilitation facilities, the mean trichloramine concentrations in the adventure facilities were higher, both personal (80 μg/m3 (n = 41) vs 19 μg/m3 (n = 21)) and stationary (183 μg/m3 (n = 51) vs 23 μg/m3 (n = 32)), with higher frequency of ocular and respiratory symptoms. Low stationary endotoxin levels (<0.64 to 25 EU/m3) were found, compared to the reference value (90 EU/m3).CONCLUSIONS: Higher trichloramine concentrations in air and more ocular and respiratory symptoms in adventure facilities call for adequate occupational exposure limits.
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| 7. |
- Löfstedt, Håkan, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees at Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 58:12, s. 1190-1195
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This study investigated trichloramine exposure and prevalence of respiratory and ocular symptoms among Swedish indoor swimming pool workers.Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to pool workers and referents. Lung function and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured before and after work. Exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes was measured over work shifts.Results: The mean personal trichloramine exposure was 36g/m(3). Significantly more exposed workers reported ocular and nasal symptoms. There were significant differences between groups in FeNO change following work, with exposed showing increased FeNO, which grew when analyses included only nonsmokers.Conclusions: The findings indicate that indoor swimming pool environments may have irritating effects on mucous membranes. FeNO data also indicate an inflammatory effect on central airways, but the clinical relevance is unclear. Low trichloramine levels found in this study were not associated with health effects.
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