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- Edman, Katja, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure assessment to alpha- and beta-pinene, delta(3)-carene and wood dust in industrial production of wood pellets
- 2003
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Ingår i: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 47:3, s. 219-226
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main aim of the study was to measure the exposure to monoterpenes (alpha- and beta-pinene and Delta(3)-carene) and wood dust during industrial production of wood pellets and briquettes. Additional aims were to compare the results from wood dust sampled on a filter with real time measurements using a direct reading instrument and to identify peak exposures to dust. Twenty-four men working at six companies involved in industrial production of wood pellets and briquettes participated in the study. Monoterpenes were measured by diffusive sampling and wood dust was measured as total dust. A data logger (DataRAM) was used for continuous monitoring of dust concentration for 18 of the participants. The sampling time was approximately 8 h. The personal exposure to monoterpenes ranged from 0.64 to 28 mg/m(3) and a statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.0002) difference in levels of monoterpenes for workers at different companies was seen. In the companies the personal exposure to wood dust varied between 0.16 and 19 mg/m(3) and for 10 participants the levels exceeded the present Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m(3). The levels of wood dust during the morning shift were significantly (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.04) higher compared with the afternoon shift. Continuous registration of dust concentration showed peak values for several working operations, especially cleaning of truck engines with compressed air. For 24 workers in six companies involved in industrial production of wood pellets the personal exposure to monoterpenes was low and to wood dust high compared with the present Swedish OEL and previous studies in Swedish wood industries. Since the DataRAM can identify critical working tasks with high wood dust exposure a reduction in exposure levels could probably be achieved by changes in working routines and by the use of protective equipment
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| 3. |
- Hagström, Katja, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to wood dust, resin acids and volatile organic compounds during production of wood pellets
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. - Philadelphia, PA : Taylor and Francis. - 1545-9624 .- 1545-9632. ; 5:5, s. 296-304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main aim of this study was to investigate exposure to airborne substances that are potentially harmful to health during the production of wood pellets, including wood dust, monoterpenes, and resin acids, and as an indicator of diesel exhaust nitrogen dioxide. In addition, area measurements were taken to assess background exposure levels of these substances, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide. Measurements were taken at four wood pellet production plants from May 2004 to April 2005. Forty-four workers participated in the study, and a total of 68 personal measurements were taken to determine personal exposure to wood dust (inhalable and total dust), resin acids, monoterpenes, and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, 42 measurements of nitrogen dioxide and 71 measurements of total dust, resin acids, monoterpenes, VOCs, and carbon monoxide were taken to quantify their indoor area concentrations. Personal exposure levels to wood dust were high, and a third of the measured levels of inhalable dust exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 2 mg/m3. Parallel measurements of inhalable and total dust indicated that the former were, on average, 3.2 times higher than the latter. The data indicate that workers at the plants are exposed to significant amounts of the resin acid 7-oxodehydroabietic acid in the air, an observation that has not been recorded previously at wood processing and handling plants. The study also found evidence of exposure to dehydroabietic acid, and exposure levels for resin acids approached 74% of the British OEL for colophony, set at 50 microg/m3. Personal exposure levels to monoterpenes and nitrogen dioxide were low. Area sampling measurements indicated that aldehydes and terpenes were the most abundant VOCs, suggesting that measuring personal exposure to aldehydes might be of interest. Carbon monoxide levels were under the detection limit in all area measurements. High wood dust exposure levels are likely to have implications for worker health; therefore, it is important to reduce exposure to wood dust in this industry.
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| 5. |
- 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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| 6. |
- Vihlborg, Per, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Serum Metabolites in Hand-Arm Vibration Exposed Workers
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 62:7, s. 460-465
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate whether low molecular organic biomarkers could be identified in blood samples from vibration exposed workers using a metabolomics.Methods: The study population consisted of 38 metalworkers. All participants underwent a standardized medical examination. Blood samples were collected before and after work shift and analyzed with gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Multivariate modeling (orthogonal partial least-squares analysis with discriminant analysis [OPLS-DA]) were used to verify differences in metabolic profiles.Results: Twenty-two study participants reported vascular symptoms judged as vibration-related. The metabolic profile from participants with vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) was distinctly separated from participants without VWF, both before and after vibration exposure.Conclusion: Metabolites that differed between the groups were identified both before and after exposure. Some of these metabolites might be indicators of health effects from exposure to vibrations. This is the first time that a metabolomic approach has been used in workers exposed to vibrations.
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| 8. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes : adverse health effects among personnel in habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1545-9624 .- 1545-9632. ; 16:1, s. 78-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Personnel in swimming pool facilities typically experience ocular, nasal, and respiratory symptoms due to water chlorination and consequent exposure to disinfection by-products in the air. The aim of the study was to investigate exposure to trichloramine and trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) from the perspective of adverse health effects on the personnel at Swedish habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pools. The study included ten habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pool facilities in nine Swedish cities. The study population comprised 24 exposed swimming pool workers and 50 unexposed office workers. Personal and stationary measurements of trichloramine and trihalomethanes in air were performed at all the facilities. Questionnaires were distributed to exposed workers and referents. Spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured. Personal and stationary measurements yielded trichloramine levels of 1-76 µg/m3 (average: 19 µg/m3) and 1-140 µg/m3 (average: 23 µg/m3), respectively. A slightly higher, but not significant, prevalence of reported eye- and throat-related symptoms occurred among the exposed workers than among the referents. A significantly increased risk of at least one ocular symptom was attributed to trichloramine exposure above the median (20 µg/m3). Lung function (FVC and FEV1) was in the normal range according to the Swedish reference materials, and no significant change in lung function before and after shift could be established between the groups. Average FENO values were in the normal range in both groups, but the difference in the values between the exposed workers and referents showed a significant increase after shift. Hourly registered PEF values during the day of the investigation did not show any unusual individual variability. In conclusion, the increased risk of developing at least one ocular symptom at personal trichloramine concentrations over 20 µg/m3 combined with an increase in the difference in FENO during the work shift of the exposed workers should not be neglected as an increased risk of respiratory inflammation in the habilitation and rehabilitation swimming pool environment.
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| 9. |
- Westerlund, Jessica, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational Exposure to Trichloramine and Trihalomethanes in Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools : Evaluation of Personal and Stationary Monitoring
- 2015
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Ingår i: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press. - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 59:8, s. 1074-1084
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Chlorination is a method commonly used to keep indoor swimming pool water free from pathogens. However, chlorination of swimming pools produces several potentially hazardous by-products as the chlorine reacts with nitrogen containing organic matter. Up till now, exposure assessments in indoor swimming pools have relied on stationary measurements at the poolside, used as a proxy for personal exposure. However, measurements at fixed locations are known to differ from personal exposure.Methods: Eight public swimming pool facilities in four Swedish cities were included in this survey. Personal and stationary sampling was performed during day or evening shift. Samplers were placed at different fixed positions around the pool facilities, at similar to 1.5 m above the floor level and 0-1 m from the poolside. In total, 52 personal and 110 stationary samples of trichloramine and 51 personal and 109 stationary samples of trihalomethanes, were collected.Results: The average concentration of trichloramine for personal sampling was 71 mu g m(-3), ranging from 1 to 240 mu g m(-3) and for stationary samples 179 mu g m(-3), ranging from 1 to 640 mu g m(-3). The air concentrations of chloroform were well below the occupational exposure limit (OEL). For the linear regression analysis and prediction of personal exposure to trichloramine from stationary sampling, only data from personal that spent > 50% of their workday in the pool area were included. The linear regression analysis showed a correlation coefficient (r (2)) of 0.693 and a significant regression coefficient beta of 0.621; (95% CI = 0.329-0.912, P = 0.001).Conclusion: The trichloramine exposure levels determined in this study were well below the recommended air concentration level of 500 mu g m(-3); a WHO reference value based on stationary sampling. Our regression data suggest a relation between personal exposure and area sampling of 1:2, implying an OEL of 250 mu g m(-3) based on personal sampling.
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