INTRODUÇÃO: Cabeleireiros estão expostos a um grande número de produtos químicos no ambiente de trabalho. Um destes produtos é o formaldeído, que causa irritação das vias respiratórias, sensibilidade imunológica imediata, mutagênese e carcinogênese. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a exposição de cabeleireiros ao formaldeído e estudar os efeitos agudos e prolongados da exposição sobre os sintomas e a função pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Estudamos prospectivamente 41 cabeleireiros antes, após a exposição imediata ao formaldeído durante procedimento de alisamento capilar e após 6 meses. Foram coletados dados sobre sintomas e realizada espirometria no ambiente de trabalho. As concentrações de formaldeído no ar e de ácido fórmico na urina foram determinadas. RESULTADOS: A média da idade foi de 39 ± 11 anos, 70,7% eram mulheres e 70,7% eram não tabagistas. Cada procedimento durou de 30 a 90 minutos, 81% foram realizados com equipamentos de proteção. A concentração de formaldeído no ambiente de trabalho variou de 0,1 ppm a 5,0 ppm (md=0,4 ppm). A concentração de ácido fórmico na urina aumentou após a exposição (1,31 ± 0,91 mg/L versus 1,96 ± 0,90 mg/L; p<0,001). Observou-se uma associação entre a concentração de formaldeído no ambiente de trabalho e os níveis de ácido fórmico na urina após a exposição (rs=0,33; p=0,03). Sintomas pré-exposição estiveram presentes em 29% e após exposição ao formaldeído em 71% dos cabeleireiros. Lacrimejamento, irritação ocular e nasal, coriza, irritação na garganta, tosse seca, espirros simples, dispneia e cefaleia aumentaram imediatamente após a exposição (p<0,05). Não houve alteração dos valores da espirometria após a exposição (p>0,05). No período de seguimento, os cabeleireiros utilizaram produtos contendo formaldeído 48 vezes (3-192), com tempo de exposição de 45 horas (4,5-225). Após 6 meses da primeira avaliação, houve um aumento adicional na frequência e intensidade da maioria dos sintomas. Mais da metade da amostra referiu apresentar lesões de mucosa nasal. Houve associação entre o tempo de exposição ao formaldeído no seguimento e o aumento da intensidade da irritação nasal (rs=0,309; p=0,050). Não houve mudança nos parâmetros da espirometria no seguimento (p>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A exposição aguda e crônica ao formaldeído causou efeitos adversos à saúde dos cabeleireiros, porém sem impacto sobre a função pulmonar. A exclusão do formaldeído do ambiente de trabalho pode melhorar a saúde desses trabalhadores. / BACKGROUND: Hairdressers are exposed to a large number of chemicals in the workplace. One of these products is formaldehyde, which causes respiratory irritation, immediate immunological sensitivity, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the exposure of hairdressers to formaldehyde and to study the short and long term exposure on symptoms and lung function. METHODS: We studied 41 hairdressers before, immediately after exposure to formaldehyde in the procedure of hair straightening and after 6 months. Data on symptoms were collected and spirometry was performed in the workplace. Concentrations of formaldehyde in the workplace and formic acid in the urine were determined. RESULTS: The mean age was 39 ± 11 years, 70.7% were women and 70.7% were nonsmokers. The procedures lasted between 30 and 90 minutes, 81% were performed with protective equipment. The formaldehyde concentration in the working environment ranged from 0.1 ppm to 5.0 ppm (md=0.4 ppm). The concentration of formic acid in the urine increased after exposure (1.31 ± 0.91 mg/L versus 1.96 ± 0.90 mg/L, p<0.001). There was an association between the formaldehyde concentration in workplace and the levels of formic acid in urine after exposure (rs=0.33, p=0.03). Symptoms were present in 29% of the hairdressers before and in 71% and after exposure to formaldehyde. Lacrimation, nasal and eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, sneezing, dyspnea and headache increased after exposure (p<0.05). There was no change in spirometric values after exposure (p>0.05). During followup the hairdressers used products containing formaldehyde 48 times (3-192) with an estimated exposure time of 45 hours (4.5-225). After 6 months of the first assessment there was a further increase in frequency and intensity of most symptoms. More than half of the sample reported lesions of the nasal mucosa. An association between length of exposure to formaldehyde in the follow-up and increased intensity of nasal irritation was observed (rs=0.309, p=0.050). There was no change in spirometry after 6 months (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short and long term occupational exposure of hairdressers to formaldehyde was associated with adverse health effects, with no impact on lung function. The exclusion of the substance of the work environment can improve worker health.

Exposure to dust and latex allergens has been well established as a cause of health problems but there have been few studies that have examined the extent of problems in latex glove manufactures, especially in Thailand. Therefore, the overall aim of the study was to determine whether exposure to dust and latex allergens was associated with health problems in Thai latex glove manufacturing workers.The study was conducted in 3 latex glove factories in southern Thailand that employed 1,481 workers (931 Thai and 550 foreign workers). Full shift personal air sampling of workers in 10 different departments was carried out using the IOM Multidust™ sampling Head equipped with 25 mm 1.0 mm Polytetrafluoroethyene filters at a flow rate of 2 L/min. A commercial ELISA kit was employed to quantify levels of the Hev b 6.02 latex allergen in air sample extracts. Information on demographics and, occupational history, exposures and health related problems attributed to work was collected by questionnaires completed by Thai workers. Lung function testing using a spirometer was also conducted among Thai workers. Univariate linear mixed-model analysis was used to determine differences in the dust and specific latex allergen concentrations between factories, departments, shifts and days. Multivariate linear mixed model analysis was used to determine exposure determinants to estimate exposure concentrations of inhalable dust and specific latex allergen. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine association between exposure to inhalable dust and specific latex allergens.292 air samples were collected. The geometric mean (GM) and a range of inhalable dust was 0.88 (0.01 – 12.34) mg/m3. The highest dust levels were found in the Stripping 3.01, (0.73 – 12.34) mg/m3 and lowest in the Office 0.11, (0.06 – 0.92 mg/m3) departments. Hev b 6.02 levels were 9.35 (4.08 – 345.53) ng/m3 and the highest and lowest levels were also found in the Stripping [19.76, (4.72 – 192.90) ng/m3] and Office [5.60, (4.37 – 14.64) ng/m3] departments. Factory and Department were important determinants of both inhalable dust and Hev b 6.02levels. 660 (157 men, 503 women) out of 931 workers completed a self-reported questionnaire. The prevalence of health problems attributed to work was highest for skin problems (25.0%) followed by Rhinitis (23.9%), conjunctivitis (22.5%) and cough (16.2%). Cumulative exposure to dust was associated with conjunctivitis attributed to work (OR and 95%CI = 1.02, [1.00 - 1.03]) after adjusted for confounders. A negative association was found between rhinitis and exposure to average dust level (OR and 95%CI =0.69 [0.48 - 0.99]). No other associations were found between either exposure to dust and self-reported ill-health. There were also no association between exposure to Hev b 6.02 and ill-health although skin problems were associated with the highest Hev b 6.02 level (OR and 95% CI = 1.72 [1.02 - 2.91]). Lung function testing was conducted in 474 Thai workers; 41 had airway restriction, 3 airway obstruction and 1 with a combined problem. Cumulative exposure to dust was associated with airway restriction after adjustment for confounders (OR and 95% CI = 1.02 (1.00 - 1.04).

L’utilisation des pesticides peut être à l’origine de graves nuisances pour la santé humaine,comme l’ont montré les études en milieu professionnel agricole.L’objectif de cette thèse était d’étudier les manifestations, principalement respiratoires etsurvenant à court terme, dans la population générale exposée aux pesticides utilisés enagriculture.Les résultats de deux études épidémiologiques, Phytoriv, menée en Gironde et Phytoniger, plusexploratoire, sont présentés, toutes deux menées au sein de population d’adultes et d’enfantsvivant en milieu rural.L’étude Phytoriv a mis en évidence la présence de concentrations faibles mais plus élevées depesticides dans l’air ambiant à proximité de zones viticoles traitées et a permis de recueillir surune période de une à trois semaines les symptômes ressentis par les riverains de manièrejournalière. L’absence d’effet majeur de l’exposition sur la santé respiratoire chez les riverainsobservée dans cette étude demande à être confirmée, en améliorant notamment l’estimationtemporelle et spatiale de l’exposition.L’étude Phytoniger a permis de démontrer la faisabilité d’une étude de santé environnementaledans un pays en développement. L’utilisation de pesticides non autorisés et potentiellementdangereux, pour des usages agricoles mais également domestiques, est importante au Niger etpose la question de leur impact sur la santé des populations. Certains symptômes respiratoiresétaient plus fréquemment observés en zone agricole humide, où les usages de pesticides, maiségalement les feux de démoustication, sont plus importants qu’en zone sahélienne agropastorale.Enfin, dans les deux études Phytoriv et Phytoniger, des risques plus élevés de symptômesrespiratoires étaient observés, notamment chez les enfants, en lien avec l’utilisation domestiquede pesticides.A l’avenir, une caractérisation plus précise des sources, niveaux et déterminants d’exposition dela population générale permettrait d’améliorer les connaissances sur le lien avec la survenue desymptômes et pathologies respiratoires et d’identifier les axes d’intervention les plus pertinents. / Pesticides are widely used in agriculture worldwide. However, it is now recognised thatoccupational pesticide exposure, especially in agriculture, can pose serious health concerns. Weaimed to study short term respiratory symptoms in general populations exposed to pesticidesused in agriculture.Here we present results of two epidemiological studies, Phytoriv, performed in Bordeaux area,France, and Phytoniger, performed in a Sahelian African country, both among rural adult andchildren populations.Higher pesticide levels in ambient air were observed in the surrounding of vineyards in Phytoriv.However, no major effect was observed on resident’s respiratory health. This need to beconfirmed by studies with improved temporal and spatial exposure assessment.Phytoniger allowed us to show the feasibility of environmental health studies in a developingcountry. Unauthorized and hazardous pesticides are widely used in Niger, for agricultural as wellas for residential purposes, and concerns are growing on their potential health effects. Some ofthe short term respiratory symptoms were more frequent in the agricultural wetland area,compared to the Sahelian agro-pastoral area. Pesticides are more susceptible to be used in thefirst area, but it is also more subject to mosquito control fires.Finally in both surveys, higher risks of respiratory symptoms have been observed for peopleliving in houses treated with indoor pesticides, and especially in children.All these results warrants further studies to improve assessment of sources, exposure levels anddeterminants of pesticide exposure in the general population, in order to improve knowledge onits respiratory and short term health effects. Thus, relevant public health interventions could beperformed.

Kardiovaskulär sjukdom är den dominerande folksjukdomen i världen och därför genomgår många personer en kranskärlsröntgen i diagnostiskt syfte. Att utredas för en sjukdom kan leda till både fysiska och psykiska reaktioner hos personer. Både i Hälso- och sjukvårdslagen och i Patientlagen finns ett starkt krav på självbestämmande. För att patienten ska ha möjlighet att utöva självbestämmande och vara delaktig i vården är inflytande och information från vårdpersonal avgörande. Att arbeta personcentrerat ökar personens förmåga att ta till sig information och den ökade delaktigheten kan göra dessa individer mer förberedda både inför sin undersökning och även inför en framtida diagnos. Syftet var att undersöka fysiska och psykiska hälsoeffekter av information och utbildning hos patienter i samband med en planerad kranskärlsröntgen. Metoden var en allmän litteraturöversikt med systematisk metod. Sökord kombinerades och artikelsökningar utfördes i databaserna CINAHL och PubMed samt via manuella sökningar. Femton kvantitativa studier inkluderades i litteraturöversikten. De kvalitetsbedömdes och sammanställdes i en artikelmatris. Artiklarna analyserades via integrerad analys där likheter och skillnader identifierades. I resultatet framträdde två huvudkategorier: fysiska och psykiska hälsoeffekter. De fysiska hälsoeffekterna fick underkategorierna effekt på patientens vitala parametrar och förändringar i procedurrelaterad smärta. Underkategorierna till de psykiska hälsoeffekterna var effekt på patientens oro/ångest, stress och depression, tolerans och trygghet under kranskärlsröntgen, patientens tillfredsställelse med utbildningen och informationen samt påverkan på patientens följsamhet och livsstil. Slutsatsen var att utbildning och information i olika former medförde positiva hälsoeffekter såsom minskad procedurrelaterad smärta samt ökad tillfredsställelse och trygghet. Även bättre följsamhet till instruktioner och en mer positiv attityd till livsstilsförändringar noterades. När det gällde oro och ångest samt effekt på vitalparametrar sågs olika resultat. Majoriteten av studierna uppvisade minskad oro och ångest av information och utbildning, några visade ingen skillnad och en studie uppvisade förvärrad oro och ångest i samband med kranskärlsröntgen. Gällande effekten på vitalparametrar framkom varierande resultat med minskad eller ingen effekt av utbildningsinterventionerna. / Cardiovascular disease is the predominant public disease in the world. Therefore, many people undergo a coronary angiography for risk assessment. To be screened for a diagnosis can lead cause both physical and psychological stress reactions for the person being screened. Both the Health Care Act and the Patient Act have a strong requirement for bodily autonomy. To facilitate for the patient having bodily autonomy and being involved in care, influence and information from the health care staff are crucial. Person-centered care increases the person's ability to assimilate information and shared decision-making can make these individuals more prepared both for their examination and for a future diagnosis. The aim was to investigate the physical and psychological health effects of information and education to patients scheduled for a coronary angiography. The method was a general literature review with a systematic method. Keywords were combined and article searches were performed in the CINAHL and PubMed databases as well as via manual searches. Fifteen quantitative studies were included in the literature review. They were quality assessed and compiled in an article matrix. The articles were analyzed via integrated analysis where similarities and differences were identified. In the result, two main categories emerged: physical and psychological health effects. The physical health effects had the subcategories effect on the patient's vital parameters and changes in procedure-related pain. The subcategories of the psychological health effects were the effect on the patient's anxiety, stress and depression, tolerance and comfort during the coronary angiography, the patient's satisfaction with the education and information and the impact on the patient's adherence and lifestyle. The conclusion was that the literature review showed a positive effect of education and information in various forms in connection with the coronary angiography, such as reduced procedure-related pain, increased satisfaction and comfort. Better adherence to instructions and a more positive attitude towards lifestyle changes were also noted. Different results were identified with regards to anxiety and the effect on vital parameters. The majority of the studies showed reduced anxiety while a few studies showed no difference and one study indicated increased anxiety. The effect on vital parameters varied between reduced effect or no effect of the education interventions.

Children are extra sensitive to negative health effects due to development of their immune system and internal organs. Nowadays asthma is the most common chronical disease and affects more than 150 000 children and young adults in Sweden. Inadequate cleaning cause dust which can contain mould, pollen, bacteria and virus. The aim of this study was to investigate if cleaning is sufficient in schools, even if it doesn´t follow general advice from The Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten). Contact was taken with two different municipalities in Sweden and inspection reports was reviewed. Thirteen cleaning workers answered a digital survey about cleanability at their workplace. Results shows that cleaning was inadequate in both schools and cleaning frequency is equally important as cleanability to fulfil legal requirements according to the Environmental Code. If cleaning workers aren´t able to do their jobs properly, due to bad interior, dust will settle on surfaces which leads to poor indoor environment for pupils and teachers.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Den äldre populationen i världen ökar i stor omfattning och globalt sett har medellivslängden ökat. I takt med att befolkningen ökar sker det effekter på folkhälsan i stort som är korrelerat med ålder. Det innebär att fler äldre personer drabbas av demens, psykisk ohälsa samt andra kroniska sjukdomar. Muskelförlust, även kallat sarkopeni, betraktas vanligtvis som en konsekvens av själva ålderdomen. Skelettmusklerna är inte bara viktiga för den fysiska prestationsförmågan utan också en bidragande faktor för att bibehålla en bra hälsa hela livet. Den explosiva styrkan som har förmågan att utveckla hög kraft snabbt, är viktigt för äldres dagliga vanor som att gå, resa sig från en stol och gå i trappor. Fysisk aktivitet är ett effektivt verktyg för att förbättra hälsan och funktionalitet hos en fysiskt svag befolkning. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad som motiverar redan fysisk aktiva äldre 65+ att styrketräna samt hur styrketräning påverkar äldres upplevda sociala hälsa och livskvalitet. Metod: I denna studie användes en kvalitativ metod där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes. Intervjuerna utgick från en intervjuguide som därefter transkriberades. Totalt 18 redan fysiskt aktiva seniorer med erfarenhet av styrketräning deltog i studien, elva män och sju kvinnor. Resultat: Resultatet visade på fyra återkommande teman: social samhörighet, hälsovinster, aktiv hela livet och motstånd till att styrketräna. Hälsovinsterna av styrketräning ansågs lika viktigt både med den sociala och fysiska aktiviteten. Deltagarna hade varit aktiva hela livet och därför var det enkelt att fortsätta styrketräna. Resultatet visade även att motståndet till att styrketräna beror på att det finns en rädsla, okunskap och att en del är drabbade av skador som hindrar dem från att styrketräna. Slutsats: Från intervjuerna är det tydligt att de flesta av deltagarna började träna i tidig ålder och att de hade gjort det i en större del av sina liv. Att träna hade därför blivit en självklarhet och en stor del av livet. En slutsats från detta är att om en person börjar träna i tidig ålder finns det större sannolikhet att personen fortsätter träna även i senare ålder. / Background: The elderly population of the world is increasing significantly and globally, life expectancy is on the rise. As the population grows, it has an impact on public health that is correlated with age. This means that more elderly individuals are affected by conditions such as dementia, mental illness and other chronic diseases. Muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia, is usually considered a consequence of aging. Skeletal muscles are not only important for physical performance but also a contributing factor to maintaining good health throughout life. Explosive strength, which is the ability to generate high force quickly, is important for the daily activities of the elderly, such as walking, rising from a chair and climbing stairs. Physical activity is an effective tool for improving the health and functionality of a physically weak population. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate what motivates physically active older adults aged 65 + to engage in strength training and how strength training affects their perceived social health and quality of life. Method: In this study, a qualitative method was used in the form of semi-structured interviews with a pre-structured interview guide. The interviews were based on an interview guide that was subsequently transcribed. A total of 18 physically active seniors with experience in strength training participated in the study, eleven men and seven women. Results: The result showed four recurring themes: social belonging, health benefits, active throughout life and resistance to strength training. The health benefits of strength training were equally important with both the social and physical activity. The participants have been active their whole life and therefore it was easy to continue strength training. The result also showed the resistance to strength training depends on fear, ignorance and some suffer from injuries.  Conclusion:  Based on the interviews, it is evident that the majority of the participants began exercising at a young age and continued to do so for a significant portion of their lives. Exercising became a natural part of their routine and a significant aspect of their lives. One possible conclusion is that if a person starts exercising at a young age, there is a higher likelihood that they will continue to exercise in later stages of life.

No description available.

Over the course of our lives we are exposed to airborne particulate matter in the workplace, home, and environment that results in the deposition of millions of particles in the lung. These exposures may result in disease if they are significant enough. The potential for harmful exposure depends in part on the dust's biodurability and the bioavailability of harmful constituents derived from the particles. A mixed flow reactor was used to evaluate two applications of geochemical methods to characterize the behavior of inhaled particles in the body. Dissolution rates of a well-characterized sample of powdered talc were measured in solvents that mimic fluids found in the human lung. These studies showed that variation of solvent chemistry, including the addition of organic chelators and proteins at intercellular fluid concentrations, does not markedly affect the measured dissolution rate of talc at 37 degrees Celcius and the data further indicate that the dissolution mechanism for talc in aqueous solutions is independent of pH over a range of pH from 2 to 8. The dissolution rate, determined by measuring the silicon release rate per unit surface area of talc is 1.4 (+/- 1.0) x 10-11 mol Si/(m2 -sec). A geometric shrinking particle model using this dissolution rate predicts an estimated lifetime (upper limit) of approximately 8 years for a 1 micron talc particle under pulmonary conditions. Talc dissolves considerably faster than quartz, but slower than chrysotile and olivine in the body. These data can be used to place constraints on the role of particle dissolution in the disease models associated with airborne respirable particulate matter. Secondly, the bioavailability of As and Cr was determined from a sample of coal fly ash from an eastern U.S. power plant. The time-release profiles of As and Cr were determined for these materials in physiologically-based solvents and incorporated into a toxicokinetic model to predict the exposure potential to As and Cr from occupational exposures to the coal fly ash. Predicted occupational exposure contributions from the ash relative to total environmental exposures were insignificant. The exposure predicted from the geochemical approach was compared with results observed in a cohort occupationally exposed to coal fly ash and found to be within one order of magnitude of the response of the occupational cohort. These results support the application of geochemical techniques to evaluate exposures to complex respirable materials. / Ph. D.

The maintenance or replacement of deteriorated pipes and culverts is a constant and significant concern for municipalities and transportation agencies in the United States (Donaldson and Wallingford, 2010). Trenchless technologies and especially the Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) method have become increasingly common ways to preserve infrastructures owing to their feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and fewer social impacts (Jung and Sinha, 2007). Therefore, there is a growing need to understand the direct and indirect effects of pipeline rehabilitation activities on the environment. Nearly all past CIPP studies have focused on its mechanical properties, and its environmental impacts are poorly investigated and documented (Allouche et al. 2012). Sewer pipelines and storm-water culverts are administered by municipalities and transportation agencies who bear the responsibility for rehabilitation and renewal of these infrastructures. In consequence, they rarely allow sampling and research projects in the field due to liability issues. This is a main obstacle to conducting comprehensive, precise, and unbiased research on CIPP environmental impacts and to date, the degree of relevant health effects and related environmental impacts have remained unknown. Numerous building indoor air contamination incidents indicate that work is needed to understand the magnitude of styrene emission from CIPP sanitary sewer repairs. The main goal of this study was to better comprehend Volatile Organic Compounds emission at three CIPP sanitary sewer installation sites in one U.S. city. Results showed that CIPP chemical emissions may be a health risk to workers and nearby building inhabitants. Additional testing and investigations regarding chemical emissions from CIPP should be commissioned to fill in the environmental and public health knowledge gaps. The acute and chronic chemical exposure risks of CIPP chemical steam constituents and styrene to sensitive populations should be further examined. Other goals of this study were to estimate the magnitude of solid waste generated as well as the amount of certain criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases emitted from onsite heavy equipment for both CIPP and open-cut sites in a U.S city. The results indicated that the amount of open-cut related solid waste, criteria air pollutants, and greenhouse gases were greater than those during CIPP activities. Additional work is needed to quantify pollutant emissions from CIPP and open-cut activities and consider emissions from a cradle-to-grave standpoint.