Thomas Tenkate

Occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation: a health risk assessment.

This review applies health risk assessment methodology to the subject of occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Ultraviolet radiation is produced by many sources, and for most people the sun is their main source of exposure. In the occupational environment, there are also many artificial sources, of which welding arcs are the predominant and most intense. Adverse health effects include photokeratitis, erythema, pterygium, some types of cataract, non-melanocytic skin cancer, and malignant melanoma. Outdoor workers and workers who are exposed to certain artificial sources (particularly welding arcs), frequently are exposed to UVR levels that are above the current exposure limits. Such workers may also be at an additional risk of developing nonmelanocytic skin cancer along with other chronic conditions, including malignant melanoma. A range of control measures is available but nevertheless, many workers (particularly those exposed to solar UVR) do not make full use of these measures. Therefore, the implementation of health education campaigns and other initiatives that encourage use are needed. Overall, although exposure to UVR presents a substantial risk for certain occupations, the current exposure standards and currently available control measures (if used) are considered to provide adequate protection for most workers.

OPTICAL RADIATION HAZARDS OF WELDING ARCS

Welding, a widely used industrial process, is one of the most intense artificial sources of optical radiation. Each type of welding process emits a different spectrum and intensity of optical radiation. For most processes, ultraviolet and visible radiation are the main components of the emission. Such factors as arc current, shielding gas, and base metal influence the emission spectrum. Adverse effects are confined to the skin and eyes, with welders suffering from a higher proportion of optical radiation associated eye conditions than do non-welders. Erythema is a common skin condition among welders, but conditions like skin cancer are rare. An evaluation of optical radiation from welding consists of determining an effective irradiance and a maximum permissible exposure duration, which can be very short (from seconds to minutes). Control measures include the use of screens to localize the hazards, and the use of personal protective equipment, such as protective clothing, safety spectacles, and welding helmets. Recent studies indicate that optical radiation can infiltrate into helmets and workers may be exposed to excessive levels. Overall, further investigation into adverse health effects and safety equipment design is warranted.

Interventions to decrease skin cancer risk in outdoor workers: update to a 2007 systematic review

BackgroundOutdoor workers are at high risk of harmful ultraviolet radiation exposure and are identified as an at risk group for the development of skin cancer. This systematic evidence based review provides an update to a previous review published in 2007 about interventions for the prevention of skin cancer in outdoor workers.ResultsThis review includes interventions published between 2007-2012 and presents findings about sun protection behaviours and/or objective measures of skin cancer risk. Six papers met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Large studies with extended follow-up times demonstrated the efficacy of educational and multi-component interventions to increase sun protection, with some higher use of personal protective equipment such as sunscreen. However, there is less evidence for the effectiveness of policy or specific intervention components.ConclusionsFurther research aimed at improving overall attitudes towards sun protection in outdoor workers is needed to provide an overarching framework.

Occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation: the duality dilemma.

Human exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a component of everyday life and a significant hazard for outdoor workers. In addition, a large range of artificial sources also has the potential to provide extreme occupational UV exposure. Even though the human health risks of overexposure to UV are well documented, to date relatively little is known quantitatively about UV exposure. For example, the evidence indicates that workers who are exposed to particular sources (for example, welding arcs) are exposed to extreme UV exposures, despite the use of current control measures. In contrast, increasing evidence points to significant health impacts resulting from underexposure to UV, particularly with the production (or more correctly lack of production) of vitamin D in the skin. The latter poses a serious issue for the work-force, with specific risks for workers lacking adequate sun exposure-underground miners, long-haul flight crews, shift workers, and perhaps indoor workers. Using a risk-management approach, this paper provides a comprehensive review of occupational UV sources, health impact of occupational UV exposure, occupational exposure standards, and levels of exposure in various settings, and discusses the appropriate control measures. In addition, the duality aspect of health impacts from overexposure and underexposure to UV and the associated occupational health implications are specifically explored.

Environmental Health Risk Assessment of Dioxin Exposure through Foods in a Dioxin Hot Spot—Bien Hoa City, Vietnam

This study used the Australian Environmental Health Risk Assessment Framework to assess the human health risk of dioxin exposure through foods for local residents in two wards of Bien Hoa City, Vietnam. These wards are known hot-spots for dioxin and a range of stakeholders from central government to local levels were involved in this process. Publications on dioxin characteristics and toxicity were reviewed and dioxin concentrations in local soil, mud, foods, milk and blood samples were used as data for this risk assessment. A food frequency survey of 400 randomly selected households in these wards was conducted to provide data for exposure assessment. Results showed that local residents who had consumed locally cultivated foods, especially fresh water fish and bottom-feeding fish, free-ranging chicken, duck, and beef were at a very high risk, with their daily dioxin intake far exceeding the tolerable daily intake recommended by the WHO. Based on the results of this assessment, a multifaceted risk management program was developed and has been recognized as the first public health program ever to have been implemented in Vietnam to reduce the risks of dioxin exposure at dioxin hot-spots.

What Encourages Sun Protection among Outdoor Workers from Four Industries

What Encourages Sun Protection among Outdoor Workers from Four Industries?: Monika JANDA, et al. School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia—

Ecological sustainability: what role for public health education?

This article explores the notion of ecological sustainability in the context of public health education and the contribution Universities can make in creating environments that include ecologically sustainable practices. It considers the important role of environmental health in building a sustainable future for the population as a central plank of public health. It presents the evidence for the need for comprehensive approaches to ecological sustainability within the University and offers suggestions about how this can take place. It concludes by arguing that to date there is a substantial gap between the rhetoric and the reality in the University context.

Angles of Entry of Ultraviolet Radiation into Welding Helmets

To investigate the angles of entry of ultraviolet (UV) radiation into welding helmets, a UV detector was placed in the eye socket of a head form that was then fitted with a range of welding helmets. The head form was exposed to a collimated beam of UV radiation from various orientations, and the amount of infiltration was measured. Radiation was found to be reflected from the filter plate and into the detector (eye) after entering through (1) an opening between the edge of the shield and the side of the face, and (2) an opening between the top edge of the shield and the top of the head. These results have significance for UV exposure when welding is performed in highly reflective and enclosed situations, and for the design of welding helmets.

Dioxin risk reduction programme at the most severe dioxin hot spot in Vietnam: Residual knowledge, attitude and practices five years post intervention

ABSTRACT Bien Hoa Airbase was one of the bulk storage and supply facilities for defoliants during the Vietnam War. Environmental and biological samples taken around the airbase have elevated levels of dioxin. In 2007, a pre-intervention knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey of local residents living in Trung Dung and Tan Phong wards was undertaken regarding appropriate strategies to reduce dioxin exposure. A risk reduction programme was implemented in 2008 and post-intervention KAP surveys were undertaken in 2009 and 2013 to evaluate the longer term impacts. Quantitative assessment was undertaken via a KAP survey in 2013 among 600 local residents randomly selected from the two intervention wards and one control ward (Buu Long). Eight in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were also undertaken for qualitative assessment. Most programme activities had ceased and dioxin risk communication activities had not been integrated into local routine health education programmes; however, main results generally remained and were better than that in Buu Long. In total, 48.2% of households undertook measures to prevent exposure, higher than those in pre- and post-intervention surveys (25.8% and 39.7%) and the control ward (7.7%). Migration and the sensitive nature of dioxin issues were the main challenges for the programmes sustainability.

Corrigendum to “Environmental health risk assessment of dioxin in foods at the two most severe dioxin hot spots in Vietnam” [Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health 218 (2015) 471–478]

The authors regret that the last sentence in the current Acknowledgement section, i.e. “The analytical data in this study was partly provided by the research from the Vietnam National Science and Technology Research Pro-gram (Grant number KHCN-33.01/11-15; research and overcoming long-term consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin on the environment and the human health in Vietnam)” was incorrect. The correct sentence should be appeared in the acknowledgement is: “The laboratory analytical data of study was funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 104.04-2014.40”. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.