17 research outputs found
The Health of Compost Workers
No full textIntroduction
Composting, otherwise known as green waste recycling, is a growing industrial sector. Whilst the environmental benefits of recycling activities are well-established, there is currently only a limited understanding of the potential adverse health effects of exposure to occupational hazards such as bioaerosols. It is thought that bioaerosol exposure may induce or exacerbate respiratory illness, but little is known about which components are responsible or which workers are most vulnerable.
Methods
A cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the UK industrial composting workforce was undertaken. Exposure studies were conducted at one indoor and one outdoor site to examine total microbial and fungal counts, as well as thermophilic bacteria and fungi present during agitative composting activities. A health questionnaire was subsequently administered to a volunteer sample of compost workers across six companies, who were also tested by skin prick test and blood for sensitisation to bioaerosol components and common aeroallergens. The questionnaire was evaluated using a principal component analysis (PCA).
Results
Exposure measurements confirmed the sites were ones in which workers had bioaerosol exposure consistent with that observed previously in the industry. Workers reported symptoms including rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough, wheeze and shortness of breath. Workers with more than 10 years in the industry had a higher prevalence of ocular irritation. No differences were seen according to site type (indoor/outdoor), Aspergillus sensitisation status, or whether workers were mono or polysensitised by IgE to any of the aeroallergens tested in the study. The PCA condensed the questionnaire from 46 to 37 items.
Conclusion
The higher prevalence of ocular symptoms in those workers having been in the industry for more than 10 years is of concern for which the implications merit further study. These include the progression to clinical disease affecting the lower airways and wider systemic disease. Findings from this study do not suggest that those workers sensitised to Aspergillus fumigatus or other aeroallergens reported more symptoms, but further inferences are limited by the cross-sectional design
Thin Cu film resistivity using four probe techniques: Effect of film thickness and geometrical shapes
No full textCirculating total 25(OH)D and calculated free 25(OH)D in professional academy footballers at a northerly latitude in the UK
No full textThere is limited data on the vitamin D status of UK-based professional academy footballers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to report total 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D and free 1,25(OH)2D at the end of the winter (March) and summer periods (October) in a cohort (n = 27) of professional academy footballers in northern England. Blood samples were collected to measure total 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D binding protein, albumin and calcium. Free 25(OH)D and 1, 25(OH)2D were calculated. Dietary vitamin D intake and retrospective summer sunlight exposure were also collected. At the end of winter, 2/27 (7.4%) players were vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D 30 nmol/l < 50 nmol/l). By the end of summer, none were deficient but 3/14 (21.4%) were still insufficient. Median total 25(OH)D(82.2 nmol/l [IQR: 50.3–90.2] vs. 54.2 nmol/l [IQR: 36.8–71.9]; P = .02), free 25(OH)D (25.8 pmol/l [IQR: 15.1–33.1] vs. 13.2 pmol/l [IQR: 9.0–14.9]; P = .005) and free 1, 25(OH)2D (389 fmol/l [IQR: 209–594] vs. 212 fmol/l [IQR: 108–278]; P = .034) were significantly higher at the end of summer than the end of winter. At the end of winter, free 25(OH)D was lower (P = .003) in those vitamin D insufficient (8.8 pmol/l [IQR: 5.5–11.8]) vs. sufficient (13.7 pmol/l [IQR: 12.0 17.0]). There was a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency at the end of the winter. Free 25(OH)D was also lower at the winter timepoint and in players that were insufficient vs. sufficient
Decoration of Pd and Pt nanoparticles on a carbon nitride (C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) surface for nitro-compounds reduction and hydrogen evolution reaction
No full textHerein, we propose the synthesis of Pd and Pt monometallic nanoparticles on a carbon nitride (C3N4) surface for the reduction of nitro compounds as well as for electrocatalysis.</p
Occupational stress in the ED: A systematic literature review
No full textIntroduction Occupational stress is a major modern health and safety challenges. While the ED is known to be a high-pressure environment, the specific organisational stressors which affect ED staff have not been established. Methods We conducted a systematic review of literature examining the sources of organisational stress in the ED, their link to adverse health outcomes and interventions designed to address them. A narrative review of contextual factors that may contribute to occupational stress was also performed. All articles written in English, French or Spanish were eligible for conclusion. Study quality was graded using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results Twenty-five full-text articles were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review. Most were of moderate quality, with two low-quality and two highquality studies, respectively. While high demand and low job control were commonly featured, other studies demonstrated the role of insufficient support at work, effort-reward imbalance and organisational injustice in the development of adverse health and occupational outcomes. We found only one intervention in a peerreviewed journal evaluating a stress reduction programme in ED staff. Conclusions Our review provides a guide to developing interventions that target the origins of stress in the ED. It suggests that those which reduce demand and increase workers' control over their job, improve managerial support, establish better working relationships and make workers' feel more valued for their efforts could be beneficial. We have detailed examples of successful interventions from other fields which may be applicable to this setting
Ag<sub>2</sub>S/Ag Heterostructure: A Promising Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
No full text
