A qualidade do ar é um importante indicador de saúde ambiental, sendo o seu monitoramento contínuo necessário. Apesar da relevância do tema, há muitos países em que os limites de exposição para agentes biológicos ainda não foram estabelecidos ou foram definidos de forma inadequada, podendo comprometer a qualidade ambiental. Os ambientes hospitalares, assim como as salas de necropsia podem apresentar problemas de contaminação do ar por agentes microbiológicos, necessitando de monitoramento contínuo a fim de evitar a ocorrência de doenças nos trabalhadores e na população em geral. Este estudo realizou a avaliação microbiológica do ar em hospitais públicos e IMLs da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro em salas cirúrgicas e de necropsia. A pesquisa exploratória e descritiva baseou-se em levantamento bibliográfico e investigação de campo, através de estudos de casos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas e observação direta nos locais de trabalho, onde foram realizadas as avaliações microbiológicas do ar. As variações em salas cirúrgicas para bactérias e fungos foram respectivamente de 14,99 ufc/m3 88,29 ufc/m3 e de 45,93 ufc/m3 - 742,09 ufc/m3. Já nas salas de necropsia os valores para bactérias e fungos variaram respectivamente de 18,96 ufc/m3 54,9 ufc/m3 e de 144,87 ufc/m3 - 1152,01 ufc/m3. Foram identificados tanto no ambiente cirúrgico como nas salas de necropsia a presença dos seguintes fungos: Aspergillus sp., Neurospora sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., e Trichoderma sp. Já em relação às bactérias foram identificadas as presenças de Staphilococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. e Micrococcus sp. Foram traçadas recomendações para melhoria da qualidade ambiental e do ar. Os resultados indicaram que os valores são elevados quando comparados com as recomendações das normas internacionais. Foram encontrados valores inferiores aos sugeridos pela CP n. 109 da ANVISA. A presença de microrganismos patogênicos sugere adoção de medidas de controle ambiental. O estudo apontou a necessidade urgente do estabelecimento de valores de referência para ambientes hospitalares no Brasil a fim de garantir condições seguras que não venham a comprometer a saúde dos pacientes e profissionais de saúde envolvidos. / The indoor air quality is an important environmental health indicator and yours continuous monitoring is necessary. Its depends on, among other factors, of the biological agents exposure limits fixing. Despite this topic relevance, in many countries, the biological exposure limits still dont exist or were inadequately defined. What can compromise the environmental quality. The hospital environments just as the necropsies rooms can have indoor air contamination problems caused by microbiological agents and needs to have continuous monitoring to avoid the occurrence of diseases in the workers and in the overall population. This study realized a microbiological indoor air assessment at surgical rooms of three public hospitals and autopsies rooms of two IMLs located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The study was descriptive and exploratory based on bibliographic review and camping research though study cases. Data were obtained from interviews with the health workers and cleaning team and direct observation at the selected workplaces. The fungal and bacteria variation in surgical room and autopsy room were respectively of 14,99 88,29 ufc/m3 and 45,93 ufc/m3 742,09 ufc/m3. Were detected in the surgical rooms and necropsy rooms the fungal genera: Aspergillus sp., Neurospora sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., e Trichoderma sp. and bacterial genera: Staphilococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. Were traced recommendations to improve environment and air quality. The results indicate that the limits can be considered exceed when compared with those proposed by the international organisms. Were identified some values lower than 50 ufc/m3 proposed by the CP n. 109 ANVISA. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms suggest the need of environmental control measures. That indicate the values actually used as reference in Brazil must been revised considering the environments specificities and the urge to create a specific legislation for hospital environments that guarantee security conditions and do not comes to compromise the health and well being of the patients and health professionals involved

De nombreuses études de biométrologie sont menées à l’INRS, pour évaluer l’exposition professionnelle à des substances chimiques, en France, et pour compléter les connaissances en proposant des valeurs de références destinées à protéger des salariés exposés à ces substances. Ces études consistent à mesurer simultanément l’imprégnation biologique et l’exposition atmosphérique à une substance, chez des salariés exposés à celle-ci. La relation entre ces mesures biologiques et atmosphériques est ensuite estimée à travers un modèle de régression linéaire. Lorsque que cette relation existe et que la voie d’absorption du toxique est essentiellement inhalatoire, il est ensuite possible de dériver une Valeur Limite Biologique (VLB) à partir de la Valeur Limite d’Exposition Professionnelle (VLEP-8h) du toxique. Deux aspects de ces données ont été identifiés, qui ne sont pas ou seulement partiellement prises en compte dans les modélisations statistiques courantes : la censure due aux limites de détection (LD)/quantification (LQ) des mesures biologiques et atmosphériques et la variabilité inter-individuelle. Ignorer ces deux particularités lors de la modélisation mène à une perte de puissance statistique et à de potentielles conclusions biaisées. Les travaux menés dans le cadre de cette thèse ont permis d’adapter le modèle de régression à ces deux caractéristiques, dans un cadre bayésien. L’approche proposée repose sur la modélisation des mesures atmosphériques à l’aide de modèles à effets aléatoires prenant en compte les valeurs inférieures à la LD/LQ, et sur la modélisation simultanée des mesures biologiques, supposée être linéairement dépendantes sur une échelle logarithmique, de l'exposition atmosphérique, tout en tenant compte de la variabilité inter-individuelle. Ce travail a donné lieu à une publication scientifique dans une revue à comité de lecture. L’application de cette méthodologie a été réalisée sur des jeux d’exposition professionnelle au béryllium et au chrome, après avoir été cependant adaptée aux caractéristiques toxicocinétiques de ces deux substances. Il a ainsi été possible de proposer une VLB pour le béryllium (0,06 µg/g créatinine). L’exploitation de mesures de chrome dans deux secteurs d’activités différents (exposition professionnelle aux peintures de chromates, et exposition professionnelle dans le secteur du chromage électrolytique) a permis de mettre en évidence que le chrome urinaire dépend essentiellement de l’exposition au chrome VI, le chrome non VI ayant moins d’impact. Nous n’avons pas pu montrer de relation entre la solubilité du CrVI et le chrome urinaire. Une VLB de 0,41 µg/g créatinine, de l’ordre de la Valeur Biologique de Référence (VBR) proposée par l’ANSES (0,54 µg/g créatinine), a été estimée pour l’exposition professionnelle aux peintures de chromates, et une VLB de 1,85 µg/g créatinine a été estimée pour l’exposition professionnelle dans le secteur du chromage électrolytique, qui est en cohérence avec la VLB proposée par l’ANSES dans ce secteur, à savoir 1,8 µg/g créatinine / Many biomonitoring studies are conducted at INRS, in order to assess occupational exposure to chemicals in France, and to propose reference values to protect workers exposed to these substances. These studies consist in measuring simultaneously biological and airborne exposure of workers exposed to a toxic substance. The relationship between these biological and airborne measurements is then estimated through a linear regression model. When this relationship exists and the route of absorption of the toxic is essentially inhalatory, it is possible to derive a Biological Limit Value (BLV) from the Occupational Exposure Limit Value (OEL) of the toxic substance. However, two characteristics of these data have been identified, which are not or only partially taken into account in the current statistical modelling: the left-censoring due to limits of detection (LoD)/quantification (LoQ) of biological and airborne measurements, and the between-individual variability. Ignoring both of these features in modelling leads to a loss of statistical power and potentially biased conclusions. The work carried out in this thesis allowed us to adapt the regression model to these two characteristics, in a Bayesian framework. The proposed approach is based on the modelling of airborne measurements using random effects models adapted for values below the LoD / LoQ, and on the simultaneous modelling of biological measurements, assumed to depend linearly on a logarithmic scale, on the airborne exposure, while taking into account between-subject variability. This work resulted in a scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal. This methodology has been applied on beryllium and chromium occupational exposure datasets, after adaptation to the toxicokinetic characteristics of these two substances. It has thus been possible to propose a BLV for beryllium (0.06 μg / g creatinine). The analysis of chromium measurements in two different sectors of activity (occupational exposure to chromate paints, and occupational exposure in the electroplating sector) made it possible to show that urinary chromium depends mainly on airborne exposure to VI chromium, non-VI chromium having less impact. We were not able to show a relationship between the solubility of airborne VI chromium and urinary chromium. A BLV of 0.41 μg / g creatinine, close to the Biological Guidance Value (BGV) proposed by ANSES (0.54 μg / g creatinine), was estimated for occupational exposure to chromate paints, and a BLV of 1.85 μg/g creatinine was obtained for occupational exposure in the electrolytic chromium plating sector, which is consistent with the ANSES proposed BLV in this sector, i-e 1.8 μg / g creatinine

<p>  </p> <p>Globally, communities are embracing the cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) process due to the need to address damaged buried water and sewer pipes. CIPP involves the chemical manufacture of a new plastic pipe inside an existing buried water and sewer pipe, without the need for excavation. The process is popular because it can be 80% less costly than alternative methods and construction workers can be present for hours to not days to weeks. However, as CIPP use has grown, so have the number of hazardous material (HAZMAT) incidents caused by using this practice. Evacuations of daycare centers, schools, homes, healthcare, institutional, and other buildings have been caused. In some cases, chemical exposure victims have required medical assistance and hospital admission. For decades, organizations within the CIPP industry and municipalities have encouraged chemical waste discharge into ambient air, resulting in preventable exposures. Recent work has indicated tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC) may be released during a single CIPP project into the air. Chemicals released include hazardous air pollutants (HAP), carcinogens (CAR), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDR), and other compounds with little toxicological information. While polymer composites have been manufactured for other applications for more than 50 years, little information exists about what chemicals and materials are used to manufacture CIPPs. As CIPP use has grown along with the number of bystander chemical exposures, concerns about the type, magnitude, and toxicity of chemical emissions from CIPP projects have markedly increased. To reduce the potential for human harm and environmental degradation, a better understanding of CIPP composite chemistry and manufacturing is needed. This dissertation aimed to elucidate the processes that control the composition of waste generated during plastic CIPP manufacture and ascertain how to modify the manufacturing practice to minimize impacts on composite integrity and emission toxicity. </p> <p>Chapter 1 focused on indoor VOC exposure simulation and styrene contamination/ decontamination to evaluate the risk of occupant exposure during CIPP installation. Styrene is a common monomer used in many CIPP resins and can be discharged into the air at CIPP worksites. A review of prior incidents revealed that CIPP waste (liquid, organic chemicals, etc.) could enter nearby buildings through multiple routes including windows, doors, or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning outdoor air intakes. When CIPP is manufactured inside a sanitary sewer pipe, waste can enter buildings through sewer laterals of nearby buildings and through foundation cracks. Study results showed that plumbing seal backflows in bathrooms caused by sewer repair work are hydraulically possible: the minimum pressure required to displace water in the plumbing trap was estimated to be 0.995 kPa and 8.85 kPa for a sink and toilet, separately. These pressures are much lower than those applied by the contractor during the sewer lining (up to 193.05 kPa). Based on the indoor exposure events, the dissipation potential of vapors, as well as the hydraulic calculations, indoor air chemical contamination and decontamination profiles were also examined. A mass balance model of chemical vapor dispersion was developed. Modeling results revealed that bathroom exhaust fan operation during a CIPP project can increase the indoor styrene concentration by enhancing the inflow of styrene-containing air from the sink and toilet. However, the styrene concentration decreased as air leaked across the bathroom door due to reduced suction in the plumbing. Based on incident reviews, chemical magnitudes, and modeling results it was concluded that CIPP waste discharge should be treated as hazardous material discharge, because of its threat to human health. Actions are needed to reduce waste generation and contain the waste, so it does not leave the worksite. Chapter 2 aimed to determine the manufacturing conditions that most influence chemical residual left in the thermally manufactured CIPP. Bench-scale testing of multiple styrene- and non-styrene composites revealed the manufacturing conditions (curing time, temperature, initiator loading) necessary to produce a high integrity composite while minimizing chemical residual and air emissions. Even though the VOC loading of the non-styrene resin (4 wt.%) was much less than that of styrene resin (39 wt.%), the non-styrene resin did contain HAP, EDR, CAR compounds including ethylbenzene, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, methacrylic acid, styrene, toluene, and <em>m</em>-xylene. Study results also revealed that by changing initiator loading a drastic reduction in the amount of styrene (-42 wt.%) and styrene oxide (-33 wt.%) residual left in the newly manufactured composite was achieved. Discoveries prompted a new hypothesis that this decreased residual also prompted a decreased amount of VOCs emitted into the air. The explanation is that this occurs because that a greater amount of the monomer styrene was incorporated into the resin during polymerization and not permitted to enter the air. Despite decades of polymer composite use, this study provides a new fundamental understanding of composite chemicals and techniques for reducing air pollutant emissions during plastic composite manufacture. In Chapter 3, the complexity of organic vapor chemicals found in the air during thermal heating of CIPP composites was explored and quantified. The emission rate of a popular monomer, styrene, was quantified from the materials before, during, and after composite manufacture. Scaling up bench-scale results, 1.9 to 14 US tons and 0.18 to 1.35 US tons of VOCs (0.05 to 0.36 US tons and 0.001 to 0.007 US tons of styrene) were estimated to be emitted during curing of styrene- and non-styrene CIPPs (i.e., typically 1-3 m of diameter pipes). By modifying standard air sampling methods, previously undetectable chemicals associated with CIPP manufacture were found in the styrene-laden air. These include acetophenone, benzaldehyde, phenol, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene. Results have immediate relevance to improved air monitoring for public and worker safety. Further, results can be used to examine the cumulative health and environmental risks of the CIPP pollutant mixtures. Chapter 4 focused on identifying CIPP technology/knowledge gaps and feedback from health officials from multiple state and federal agencies. Through this study, a public health workgroup was assembled to include disciplinary experts and 13 federal, state, and city health agencies and public health associations. Building on dialogue with U.S. health officials, the state of knowledge pertaining to CIPP chemical exposures, mitigation, and response actions was reviewed. Topics included 1) CIPP manufacturing process and waste; 2) sewers and buildings; 3) chemical exposure and health; 4) chemical risk assessment; 5) risk communication. This study helped establish relationships among federal, state, and city officials to improve public health response. Additionally, a primer for CIPP chemical fate and transport, as well as assisting in identifying and prioritizing public health information needs was developed. Identification and prioritization of current public health knowledge gaps and proposed practices for reducing exposures to the public and workers were reported. CIPP-related bench and research results throughout the dissertation can serve as an important basis for environmental policy and public health guidelines on the prevention and mitigation aspects of environmental and human health impacts resulting from CIPP manufacturing practices.</p>

No description available.

<p>  </p> <p>Inhalation is a primary route of environmental and occupational exposures. Inhalation toxicology studies have thoroughly demonstrated the efficacy and adverse effects of a large number of chemicals, metals, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. With the rapid development of new technologies and emergence of prominent subpopulations, some emerging exposure issues have arisen. To better protect public health, it is necessary to address these numerous emerging issues related to inhalation toxicology including 1) exposures to complex and unknown chemical emissions generated as we resolve infrastructure needs, 2) real-world exposure scenarios such as nanoparticle (NP) mixtures that may induce unique toxicity, and 3) variations in toxicity responses that occur in vulnerable and prevalent subpopulations following exposures. We designed three aims 1) to characterize differential representative composite manufacturing emissions (CMEs) and toxicity assessment of inhalation exposure to CMEs, 2) to examine the contribution of variable iron and manganese NP components in welding fumes to pulmonary toxicity, and 3) to evaluate metabolic syndrome (MetS)-induced variations in NP-Biocorona (NP-BC) composition following inhalation and modulation of pulmonary toxicity. Overall, this proposal aimed to characterize the emerging and complex exposures occurring in the real world and elucidate the mechanisms of differential pulmonary toxicity and susceptibility associated with CMEs, different metal NP components in welding fumes, and underlying diseases such as MetS. The conclusions from this project can help to improve the application of water infrastructure repairing technology and the utilization of welding and understand the mechanism of susceptibility to NP exposure among individuals with underlying diseases. Furthermore, the findings from these evaluations have supported and improved worldwide regulation, which promotes a safer utilization of novel materials, newly developed medicines, and complex chemicals.</p>