1,721,080 research outputs found
1618c Effectiveness of secondary prevention for occupational dermatitis: the experience in trieste hospitals
No full textIn vitro percutaneous absorption of chromium powder and the effect of skin cleanser
No full textOccupational chromium dermatitis occurs frequently among cement and metal workers, workers dealing with leather tanning and employees in the ceramic industry. The present study, using an in-vitro system, evaluated percutaneous absorption of chromium powder and the effect of rapid skin decontamination with a common detergent. Experiments were performed using the Franz diffusion cell method with human skin. Physiological solution was used as receiving phase and a suspension of chromium powder in synthetic sweat was used as donor phase. The tests were performed without or with decontamination using the cleanser 30 minutes after the start of exposure. The amount of chromium permeated through the skin was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy and Electro Thermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Speciation analysis and measurements of chromium skin content were also performed. We calculated a permeation flux of 0.843 +/- 0.25 ng cm(-2) h(-1) and a lag time of 1.1 +/- 0.7 h. The cleaning procedure significantly increased chromium skin content, whereas skin passage was not increased. These results showed that chromium powder can pass through the skin and that skin decontamination did not decrease skin absorption. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent skin contamination when using toxic agents
Nano-Scaled Particles and Fibres Occupational Exposure Assessment: An Integrated Approach from Air Sampling to Skin and Surface Contamination
No full textWorkers may be exposed to nanoparticles (NPs) by inhalation, cutaneous contact and gastroenteric pathways, but today there is no standardized method for either assessing or monitoring the occupational exposure. Moreover, there is no all-in-one assessment strategy, so it is preferable to consider different perspectives. Every assessment should be preceded by a preliminary analysis of the workplace in order to gather useful data on the potential exposure sources, which will help in outlining the assessment strategy. The purpose of air monitoring should be to characterize NP emissions and assess, as a minimum, the mass, particle number concentration, granulometric distribution, specific surface and chemical composition. There are several techniques which may assess these characteristics: the most used in real occupational contexts are mobility particle sizers, particle counters (optical, condensation, etc.), surface area monitors, while personal samplers are promising tools which still have been used almost only in research or controlled contexts. Skin and surfaces may be sampled according to the nature of substances and the circumstances of exposure. Sampling methods can be divided in three main categories: interception (e.g. carbon tabs), removal (e.g. adhesive tape stripping, wiping), in situ methods (e.g. UV fluorescence). Chemical analysis methods (e.g. spectroscopy) and electron microscopy techniques may enhance available data. Considering the available information, we suggest a stepwise approach for risk assessment composed of three steps, starting from a quick and relatively cheap screening method to assess exposure, followed by 2 gradually more accurate but costly approaches to perform whether a significant exposure is detected
Sensitization to Nickel (Sulphate 5%) in North-Eastern Italy, 1997-2023: Prevalence, Trend Over Time and an Evaluation of the Occupational Risk
No full textBackground: Prevalence of nickel sensitization is heterogeneous worldwide, and in Europe, it is higher in Southern compared to Northern European countries, a likely reflection of delayed and less stringent application of the EU directive 94/27/CE. This multicentre study aimed at investigating prevalence and factors associated with positive patch test reactions to nickel in North-eastern Italy during 1997-2023.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to estimate the yearly prevalence of positive patch test reactions to nickel sulphate 5% among 31 948 consecutive outpatients patch tested with the Triveneto series for suspected allergic contact dermatitis during 1997-2023 in four centres of Triveneto (North-Eastern Italy). Reading was performed at 48 h and 72 h/96 h. Multiple logistic regression separated by sex of patients was employed to investigate factors (birth year, atopic dermatitis, occupational dermatitis, body area affected and occupation) potentially associated with nickel sensitization, expressing the results as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).
Results: Prevalence of nickel sensitization was 26.05% during 1997-2004 and 26.40% across 1997-2023 (excluding Trento-Bolzano-Rovigo), reducing over time in all centers combined. Prevalence of positive reactions significantly increased over the years during 1997-2004 among males yet reduced across the entire study period (1997-2023) among females Results (Logistic regression analysis). Regardless of the study period, nickel sensitization was significantly lower in males and followed an inverse U-shape with respect to birth year among females, increasing from 35.70% in those born during 1955-1964 to 46.24% in females born during 1965-1974, reducing to 41.36% in those born during 1975-1984. With regard to occupation, a significantly higher prevalence of positive patch test reactions to nickel was observed among sellers, whereas it was lower in retirees and housewives.
Conclusions: Although decreasing over time, the prevalence of positive patch test reactions in this study is confirmed to be higher than that in Northern European countries. The latter pattern probably reflects delayed and less stringent application of the European directive. The U-trend of positive patch test reactions by birth year in female patients points to nickel exposure and sensitization in females aged 20-50 years before the enforcement of the European directive. Higher prevalence of positive patch test reactions in sellers could reflect prolonged exposure in coin handling occupations, whereas lower prevalence in retirees and housewives may be a result of reduced immune reactivity with increasing age
COVID-19 in City Council Civil Servants, 1 March 2020–31 January 2023: Risk of Infection, Reinfection, Vaccine Effectiveness and the Impact of Heterologous Triple Vaccination
Full text linkThe risk of COVID-19 increases in any occupation entailing intense social interactions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 among civil servants of Trieste city council (northeastern Italy) over the entire pandemic. Methods. The crude incidence rate of COVID-19 was estimated from 1 March 2020 to 31 January 2023 by explanatory factors, expressing the estimate as COVID-19 events x 10,000 person-days (P-d) at risk. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to examine the risk of primary COVID-19 infection and reinfections, reporting adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: The cohort of Trieste city council was mainly composed of administrative clerks (48.5%), nursery teachers (33%), technicians (9.9%) and local police officers (8.5%). Between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2023, 1444 (62.4%) employees tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at least once and 18.1% (=262/1444) at least twice. By the end of this study, 55% (N = 1272) of employees had received at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 19.7% (N = 457) remained unvaccinated. At multiple Cox regression analysis, the adjusted risk of primary COVID-19 events during the entire study period increased in employees aged 40–49 years (aHR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01; 2.71), females (aHR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.12; 1.45), local police officers (aHR = 1.82; 95%CI: 1.50; 2.22) and nursery teachers (aHR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.13; 1.43). However, whilst the risk of primary infections in police officers increased already during the Alpha transmission period (aHR = 6.82; 95%CI: 4.48; 10.40), progressively reducing across subsequent variants, for nursery teachers, it increased during the Delta wave (aHR = 2.42; 1.70; 3.44), reducing with Omicron (aHR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.07; 1.40). Compared to unvaccinated colleagues, during the entire study period the risk of primary infections was significantly lower in employees immunized with three (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.36; 0.47) or four (aHR = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.23; 0.40) doses of COVID-19 vaccine, for a vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 58% and 70%, respectively. The protective effect of vaccination against primary infections was confirmed in the sub-group analysis by main pandemic waves, for a VE of 75% for one dose against 99% for two doses during the Alpha transmission period, slightly reducing to 59% and 70% in Delta time, respectively. During the Omicron wave, the risk of primary SARS-CoV-2 infections diminished significantly with three (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.36; 0.49) or four vaccine doses (aHR = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.05; 0.16), for a VE of 58% and 91%, respectively. Moreover, the risk of primary SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during the entire study period reduced with one (aHR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.27; 0.82), two (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.30; 0.58), three (aHR = 0.32; 95%CI: 0.24; 0.44) or four vaccine doses (aHR = 0.14; 95%CI: 0.05; 0.46), for a VE of 53%, 58%, 68% and 86% against reinfections, respectively. No significant difference in VE was associated with heterologous versus homologous triple vaccination, both against primary infections or reinfections. Conclusions. Primary SARS-CoV-2 infections were more likely among nursery teachers and local police officers. The risk of both primary infections and reinfections reduced with higher number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of the pandemic wave. Since city council civil servants were swab tested on demand or for contact tracing, the estimation of COVID-19 risk and VE largely missed aymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the one hand, the present study confirmed the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections; on the other hand, it highlighted not only the importance of continuous booster doses to keep up the humoral immunity over time but also the importance of updated vaccine formulations to prevent and control the spread of a highly mutable virus. Moreover, the protective effect of the first two doses against reinfections confirmed the efficacy of hybrid immunity during Omicron time
Laboratory animal allergy reduction from 2001 to 2016: an intervention study
No full textExposure to laboratory animals (LA) can cause allergic sensitization and symptoms as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, anaphylaxis and dermatitis. In 2000, a program was instituted at Trieste Universities to decrease LA allergy among scientists and technicians working with animals. The aim of our study was to investigate LA allergy in workers exposed to LA from 2001 to 2016, and to verify the effects of a preventive program. Four hundred sixty seven people underwent pre-employment screening for a job with laboratory animals at Universities of Trieste consisting in a medical examination, a full respiratory and allergy anamnesis, using a standardized questionnaire, skin prick test with common and occupational allergens, and spirometry. Every year, each worker repeated the medical examination and underwent again tests and questionnaire. Each worker can ask for a medical examination and skin prick test, in case of unset of symptoms. Logistic multivariate analysis and generalized equation estimation were use, to verify factors associated to LA allergy. Sensitization to LA decreased in years, going from 25.6% in 2001–2004 to 8.2% in 2013–2016 (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the role of atopy by prick test (OR=6; IC95% 2.2–16.6), of common allergic symptoms (OR=2.9; IC95% 1.4–6.39) and of calendar periods. No association was found between LA allergy, years, and hours of exposure. Our study demonstrated a significant reduction of LA allergy after the application of a preventive program
Nuovi criteri internazionali per la valutazione del rischio vascolare e la stadiazione clinica della sindrome da vibrazioni mano-braccio
No full textRecentemente sono state proposte metodologie supplementari per la valutazione dell’esposizione a vibrazioni trasmesse al sistema mano-braccio e revisioni della stadiazione clinica dei sintomi vascolari e neurosensitivi della sindrome da vibrazioni mano-braccio. In particolare, (i) nel Technical Report ISO/TR 18570:2017 viene proposto un metodo supplementare per la predizione del rischio vascolare (fenomeno di Raynaud secondario) da vibrazioni mano- braccio, ad integrazione della metodologia definita nello standard ISO 5349-1:2001; (ii) le esperienze accumulate in campo clinico e di laboratorio da parte di un panel internazionale di clinici del lavoro, appartenenti a istituzioni europee e nord-americane e attivi nei settori accademici e assistenziali per la diagnostica della sindrome da vibrazioni mano-braccio, hanno suggerito l’opportunità di procedere ad una revisione della stadiazione dei sintomi vascolari e neurosensitivi da vibrazioni mano-braccio precedentemente classificati nelle scale dello Stockholm Workshop 1986. In questo lavoro vengono riportati i nuovi criteri internazionali per la valutazione del rischio vascolare da vibrazioni mano-braccio e la stadiazione clinica della sindrome da vibrazioni mano-braccio
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