Este trabalho consiste em um estudo sobre monitoramento ambiental de áreas limpas. Os parâmetros comparados foram partículas não viáveis de 0,5 e 5,0 µm, contaminação do ambiente (UFC do ar) e de superfícies (Rodac®). Procedeu-se ao estudo em áreas de manipulação crítica (Classe A). Nestas áreas, a amostragem foi feita em situações de repouso e dinâmica, antes e após sanitização, e em etapas de certificação e rotina. Os dados de literatura indicam que os parâmetros não são particularmente dependentes do lay out ou classificação das áreas, mas sim do seu uso e do comportamento dos operadores. As conclusões foram positivas quanto a correlação entre diferentes locais de amostragem, para partículas não viáveis de 0,5 e 5,0 µm, e ausência deste tipo de correlação em posições em fluxo laminar. Também, os valores de correlação foram quase sempre decrescentes com a maior limpeza do ambiente. Os microrganismos mais frequentemente isolados, nas áreas A2., A3 e A4 foram Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp e Corynebacterium sp. / This paper represents a study about environmental monitoring data for cleanrooms. The parameters that were compared are: total airborne particles of 0.,5 and 5.0 µm, airbome colony forming units (CFU\'s) and CFU\'s on surfaees (Rodac®). Most attention was paid to areas where critical handling is performed (class A areas). In these areas sampling was performed \"at rest\" and \"dynamic\" conditions, before and after sanitization and during certification and routine steps. These data indicates that the parameters are not particularly dependent upon the lay out or classification of areas, but rather on the use of the areas, and how the operators behave in them. Evaluating the data, the conclusion was about a correlation among different sampling places, for total airborne particles of 0.,5 and 5.0 µm, and absence of this kind of correlation in laminar flows positions. Also, correlation values were always increasing with the cleanless of the environment. The microorganisms most frequently isolated in areas A2, A3 and A4 were Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp and Corynebacterium sp.

Os procedimentos utilizados para reprocessamento e reuso de artigos médicos de uso único não estão normalizados nem avaliados quanto a segurança. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: (i) determinar o tempo de esterilização e aeração de cânulas de perfusão em ambiente industrial; (ii) avaliar os níveis de resíduos de óxido de etileno, concentração de endotoxinas e resistência a tração de cânulas de perfusão após reprocessamento e reuso em ambiente hospitalar. No ambiente industrial as cânulas foram submetidas á esterilização com 450mg/L de 10% de óxido de etileno e 90% de CO2 por um período de 2 horas a uma temperatura de 45 a 55° C, umidade entre 30 e 90% aeração com 26 trocas de ar por hora com temperatura de 35°C. No ambiente hospitalar a cânula aramada TF 36460 foi utilizada em procedimento cirúrgico com circulação extracorpórea; lavada com água potável, desinfecção com detergente enzimático, enxague com água potável, embalada em papel grau cirúrgico e reprocessada por óxido de etileno com concentração de 500mg/L de 12% de óxido de etileno e 88% de Freon com tempo de exposição de 240 minutos, temperatura de 53°C, umidade entre 40-60% e aeração em temperatura ambiente. No ambiente industrial o tempo necessário para redução de 12 ciclos logarítmicos (SAL 10-6), foi de 120 minutos, no ambiente hospitalar foi de 240 minutos. O tempo de aeração variou de 19 a 28 horas na área industrial; e no ambiente hospitalar foi de 28 horas. No segundo reuso a cânula apresentou residual de óxido de etileno de 83,09 ppm; acima do limite especificado (≤_25ppm). Os testes de resistência a tração e determinação da concentração de endotoxinas foram realizados até o quarto reuso não apresentando resultados fora dos limites especificados. O procedimento de reuso nas condições atuais realizado em ambiente hospitalar foi reprovado, pois não atendeu aos requisitos de residual de óxido de etileno descritos na portaria Brasileira Interministerial n° 482. / The procedures used during reprocessing of disposables have not been normalized, nor assessed for safety. The objective of this study is to assess sterility, residual rate of ethylene oxide, pyrogenicity and resistance to traction results observed in perfusion cannulas after the sterilization process in industrial environments and after reprocessing and reuse in the hospital environment. In the industrial environment, the cannulas were submitted to sterilization with 450mg/L of EtO and 90% of CO2 during a period of 2 hours and at a temperature of 45-55°C, humidity ranging from 30 to 90% and aeration of 26 air changes per hour at a temperature of 35°C. For the hospital environment, we selected the TF 36460 wired cannula, and after using it on a surgical procedure with extracorporeal circulation, it was washed with clean water, disinfected with enzymatic detergent, rinsed with clean water, wrapped in surgical paper and reprocessed in 500mg/L ethylene oxide of 12% EtO and 88% Freon and exposed for 240 minutes at a temperature of 53°C, humidity ranging from 40 to 60% and aeration at room temperature. In the industrial environment, the time needed for decreasing 12 logarithm cycles (10-6) was 120 minutes, while in the hospital environment it was 240 minutes. The aeration time ranged between 19 and 28 hours in the industrial area, while in the hospital environment it took 28 hours. In the second reuse the cannula presented residual of ethylene oxide of 83,09 ppm; above of the specified limit (≤25_ppm). The physical test and endotoxins concentration had been carried through until for reuse not presented results out of specified. The currently procedure of reuse in the hospital is disapproved therefore does not take care of the limits of ethylene oxide residues, recommended by Interministerial Brazilian regulation 482.

Os procedimentos utilizados para reprocessamento e reuso de artigos médicos de uso único não estão normalizados nem avaliados quanto a segurança. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: (i) determinar o tempo de esterilização e aeração de cânulas de perfusão em ambiente industrial; (ii) avaliar os níveis de resíduos de óxido de etileno, concentração de endotoxinas e resistência a tração de cânulas de perfusão após reprocessamento e reuso em ambiente hospitalar. No ambiente industrial as cânulas foram submetidas á esterilização com 450mg/L de 10% de óxido de etileno e 90% de CO2 por um período de 2 horas a uma temperatura de 45 a 55° C, umidade entre 30 e 90% aeração com 26 trocas de ar por hora com temperatura de 35°C. No ambiente hospitalar a cânula aramada TF 36460 foi utilizada em procedimento cirúrgico com circulação extracorpórea; lavada com água potável, desinfecção com detergente enzimático, enxague com água potável, embalada em papel grau cirúrgico e reprocessada por óxido de etileno com concentração de 500mg/L de 12% de óxido de etileno e 88% de Freon com tempo de exposição de 240 minutos, temperatura de 53°C, umidade entre 40-60% e aeração em temperatura ambiente. No ambiente industrial o tempo necessário para redução de 12 ciclos logarítmicos (SAL 10-6), foi de 120 minutos, no ambiente hospitalar foi de 240 minutos. O tempo de aeração variou de 19 a 28 horas na área industrial; e no ambiente hospitalar foi de 28 horas. No segundo reuso a cânula apresentou residual de óxido de etileno de 83,09 ppm; acima do limite especificado (≤_25ppm). Os testes de resistência a tração e determinação da concentração de endotoxinas foram realizados até o quarto reuso não apresentando resultados fora dos limites especificados. O procedimento de reuso nas condições atuais realizado em ambiente hospitalar foi reprovado, pois não atendeu aos requisitos de residual de óxido de etileno descritos na portaria Brasileira Interministerial n° 482. / The procedures used during reprocessing of disposables have not been normalized, nor assessed for safety. The objective of this study is to assess sterility, residual rate of ethylene oxide, pyrogenicity and resistance to traction results observed in perfusion cannulas after the sterilization process in industrial environments and after reprocessing and reuse in the hospital environment. In the industrial environment, the cannulas were submitted to sterilization with 450mg/L of EtO and 90% of CO2 during a period of 2 hours and at a temperature of 45-55°C, humidity ranging from 30 to 90% and aeration of 26 air changes per hour at a temperature of 35°C. For the hospital environment, we selected the TF 36460 wired cannula, and after using it on a surgical procedure with extracorporeal circulation, it was washed with clean water, disinfected with enzymatic detergent, rinsed with clean water, wrapped in surgical paper and reprocessed in 500mg/L ethylene oxide of 12% EtO and 88% Freon and exposed for 240 minutes at a temperature of 53°C, humidity ranging from 40 to 60% and aeration at room temperature. In the industrial environment, the time needed for decreasing 12 logarithm cycles (10-6) was 120 minutes, while in the hospital environment it was 240 minutes. The aeration time ranged between 19 and 28 hours in the industrial area, while in the hospital environment it took 28 hours. In the second reuse the cannula presented residual of ethylene oxide of 83,09 ppm; above of the specified limit (≤25_ppm). The physical test and endotoxins concentration had been carried through until for reuse not presented results out of specified. The currently procedure of reuse in the hospital is disapproved therefore does not take care of the limits of ethylene oxide residues, recommended by Interministerial Brazilian regulation 482.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH / Bibliography: leaves 69-74. / by Ringo Michael Wood. / M.C.P.

Este trabalho consiste em um estudo sobre monitoramento ambiental de áreas limpas. Os parâmetros comparados foram partículas não viáveis de 0,5 e 5,0 µm, contaminação do ambiente (UFC do ar) e de superfícies (Rodac®). Procedeu-se ao estudo em áreas de manipulação crítica (Classe A). Nestas áreas, a amostragem foi feita em situações de repouso e dinâmica, antes e após sanitização, e em etapas de certificação e rotina. Os dados de literatura indicam que os parâmetros não são particularmente dependentes do lay out ou classificação das áreas, mas sim do seu uso e do comportamento dos operadores. As conclusões foram positivas quanto a correlação entre diferentes locais de amostragem, para partículas não viáveis de 0,5 e 5,0 µm, e ausência deste tipo de correlação em posições em fluxo laminar. Também, os valores de correlação foram quase sempre decrescentes com a maior limpeza do ambiente. Os microrganismos mais frequentemente isolados, nas áreas A2., A3 e A4 foram Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp e Corynebacterium sp. / This paper represents a study about environmental monitoring data for cleanrooms. The parameters that were compared are: total airborne particles of 0.,5 and 5.0 µm, airbome colony forming units (CFU\'s) and CFU\'s on surfaees (Rodac®). Most attention was paid to areas where critical handling is performed (class A areas). In these areas sampling was performed \"at rest\" and \"dynamic\" conditions, before and after sanitization and during certification and routine steps. These data indicates that the parameters are not particularly dependent upon the lay out or classification of areas, but rather on the use of the areas, and how the operators behave in them. Evaluating the data, the conclusion was about a correlation among different sampling places, for total airborne particles of 0.,5 and 5.0 µm, and absence of this kind of correlation in laminar flows positions. Also, correlation values were always increasing with the cleanless of the environment. The microorganisms most frequently isolated in areas A2, A3 and A4 were Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus sp and Corynebacterium sp.

No description available.

Using matched pairs of schools having a diagnosis of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and those not identified, and not having the potential of being identified as having the diagnosis, this study examined the relationship between factors assumed or determined to have an impact on a school's ability to carry out its mission as they related to the SBS diagnosis. The factors studied were student average daily attendance (ADA); students' mean standardized test scores in math and reading on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Tests of Achievement and Proficiency; the need for students to take prophylactic medications; the rate of staff turnover; the percentages of short term suspensions (less than 10 days), long term suspensions (more than 10 days), and the percentage of recommendations for expulsion; as well as the impact of the public identification of a school as having a diagnosis of SBS on student ADA, mean standardized test scores in math and reading and staff turnover. A factorial ANOVA model (2 by 4) for repeated measures revealed no statistical significance for main or interaction effects on any of the six hypotheses addressed.

Agriculture is a hazardous industry worldwide, and certain groups of agricultural workers are at increased risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes. Agricultural workforces are becoming increasingly transitional, as established and experienced workers exit the industry and new workers take their place. Limited occupational health surveillance exists among certain transitional agricultural workforces. In the US, beginning farmers, i.e., agricultural workers with 10 years or less experience operating a farm, may differ from established farmers in terms of their demographics, length of experience within the agricultural industry, and occupational exposures and health outcomes. Separately, South Indian tea harvesting workers are exposed to occupational physical demands that are risk factors for musculoskeletal health outcomes. However, few studies have examined associations between occupational demands and musculoskeletal pain among these workers. Furthermore, no studies have identified additional occupational health issues within the tea harvesting process. To address the lack of available knowledge on beginning farmers and tea harvesting workers, the goals of this mixed method study were to estimate the associations between musculoskeletal symptoms and occupational physical demands and occupational psychosocial stress among beginning farmers in the US and tea harvesting workers in South India. An additional goal was to identify occupational health issues within the tea harvesting process and to determine how tea harvesting workers conceptualize and prioritize these issues. An online survey was conducted among beginning farmers across the U.S. Participants answered questions about their demographics, personal health and farm characteristics, occupational physical demands, occupational psychosocial stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms of the low back, neck/shoulder, and elbow/wrist/hand. An interviewer-based survey was conducted among South Indian tea harvesting workers. Participants answered questions about their demographics, personal health, occupational physical demands, occupational psychosocial stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck/upper back, lower back, upper extremity region, and lower extremity region. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups among South Indian tea harvesting workers and semi-structured interviews and structured interviews among South Indian tea harvesting workers and supervisors. Results from the cross sectional online survey concluded that musculoskeletal symptoms were common among beginning farmers. In addition, occupational physical demands were associated with musculoskeletal pain, particularly low back pain was associated with working in awkward and cramped positions, bending or twisting the back, and carrying, lifting, or moving heavy material by hand. Results from the cross sectional interviewer-based survey concluded that musculoskeletal symptoms were also common among South Indian tea harvesting workers. Musculoskeletal pain was associated with exposure to forceful exertions, awkward posture, and repetition. Finally, results from the qualitative study identified additional occupational health issues within tea harvesting, including the presence of animals and pelvic organ prolapse. The study further identified important influential stakeholders within the tea harvesting process. Findings from these three studies may be used to inform future health interventions among these transitional workforces.

Globally, gastrointestinal (GI) infections by enteric pathogens are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five (≤5). While GI pathogen exposure in households has been rigorously examined, there is little data about young children’s exposure in public domains. Public areas in low-income settings are often used for waste disposal practices beyond human feces disposal, including trash dumping in open drainage canals and unused lots. If young children play in public domains unattended, they might be exposed to interrelated and highly concentrated microbial, chemical, and physical hazards. This study performed structured observations at 36 public areas in a transitioning internally displaced persons community in Haiti, to document how often young children play in public areas and to quantify behaviors that might lead to illness and injury. Children ≤5 yrs played at all public sites, including toddlers (92%/sites) and infants (44%/sites). Children touched and mouthed trash (metal, glass, plastic), food and other objects from the ground, ate soil (geophagia), drank surface water; as well as touched latrines, animals, animal feces, and open drainage canals. Hand-to-mouth contact was frequent and significantly different among developmental stages (infants: 18/hr, toddlers: 11/hr, and young children: 9/hr), providing evidence that children could ingest trace amounts of GI pathogens and other contaminants on hands. These findings demonstrate that water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions need to consider the unique risks posed by public domains that contribute to GI infection in young children. Furthermore, this highlights the need for waste related interventions to address the broader set of civil conditions that create unsafe, toxic, and contaminated public environments where young children play.

Noise is a pervasive workplace hazard that varies spatially and temporally. Hazard mapping is a useful way to communicate intensity and distribution of noise sources in the workplace. These maps can be created using a stationary network of sensors, although the cost of noise measurement instruments has prohibited their use in such a network. The objectives for this work were to (1) develop an inexpensive noise sensor (<$100) that measures A-weighted sound pressure levels within ±2 dBA of a Type 2 sound level meter (SLM, ~$1,800); and (2) evaluate 50 noise sensors before field deployment as part of an inexpensive sensor network. The inexpensive noise sensor consists of an electret condenser microphone, an amplifier circuit, and a microcontroller with a small form factor (28mm by 47 mm by 9 mm) than can be operated as a stand-alone unit. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate 50 of the new sensors at 5 test levels. The testing levels were (1) ambient noise in a quiet office, (2) a pink noise test signal from 65 to 85 dBA in 10 dBA increments, and, (3) 94 dBA using a SLM calibrator. The difference between the output of the sensor and SLM were computed for each level and overall. Ninety-four percent of the noise sensors (n=46) were within ± 2 dBA of the SLM for noise levels from 65 dBA to 94 dBA. As noise level increased, bias decreased, ranging from 18.3% in the quiet office to 0.48% at 94 dBA. Overall bias of the sensors was 0.83% across the 75 dBA to 94 dBA range. These sensors are available for a variety of uses and can be customized for many applications, including incorporation into a stationary sensor network for continuously monitoring noise in manufacturing environments.