International archives of occupational and environmental health
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jul 2005
Comparative StudyEffects of wearing N95 and surgical facemasks on heart rate, thermal stress and subjective sensations.
The study was aimed at investigating the effects of wearing N95 and surgical facemasks with and without nano-functional treatments on thermophysiological responses and the subjective perception of discomfort. ⋯ We discuss how N95 and surgical facemasks induce significantly different temperature and humidity in the microclimates of the facemasks, which have profound influences on heart rate and thermal stress and subjective perception of discomfort.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jun 2005
Urinary sevoflurane and hexafluoro-isopropanol as biomarkers of low-level occupational exposure to sevoflurane.
Sevoflurane is an inhalation halogenated anaesthetic widely used in day and paediatric surgery. We were interested in evaluating biological markers of exposure to sevoflurane, which should improve the health surveillance of occupationally exposed personnel. ⋯ On the basis of our data, urinary unmodified, sevoflurane seems to be a more sensitive and reliable biomarker of short-term exposure to sevoflurane with respect to total urinary metabolite HFIP, which appears to be influenced by physiological and/or genetic individual traits, and seems to provide an estimate of integrated exposure.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · May 2005
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and back injury in ambulance officers.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is frequently performed by allied health professionals, and, if undertaken in compromised positions, it may induce injury to the rescuer's spine. Back pain as an occupational symptom in manual workers has received considerable attention in the medical literature, but there is no report on the effect of CPR on back discomfort. This article reports a survey that explored the difficulties encountered by ambulance officers during the CPR procedure. ⋯ Results of this survey suggest that there is a need to review the support given to ambulance officers to ensure safe administration of CPR, particularly during ambulance transport.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Feb 2005
Comparative StudyCytogenetic tests performed on operating room personnel (the use of anaesthetic gases).
Personnel exposure to anaesthetic gases in the health sector, whether in the operating room, recovery room, or in the context of outpatient clinics, may entail a health risk. The goal of this research was to study the cytogenetic effects of chronic exposure to small doses of pollutants in operating theatres. ⋯ The results of our study indicate that exposure to anaesthetic gases induced changes in human chromosomes.
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This study, the first to document the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among a living South African coal mining cohort, describes dose-response relationships between coal workers' pneumoconiosis and respirable dust exposure, and relationships between pneumoconiosis and both lung function deterioration and respiratory symptoms. ⋯ The overall prevalence of pneumoconiosis, although significantly associated with CDE, was low. The presence of pneumoconiosis is associated with meaningful health effects, including deterioration in lung function. Intervention measures that control exposure are indicated, to reduce these functional effects.