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Jain S, Barthwal V. Health impact assessment of auto rickshaw and cab drivers due to exposure to vehicular pollution in Delhi: an integrated approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:5124-5133. [PMID: 34415524 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16058-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Vehicular emission is an important contributor to air pollution in the urban environment and impacts the health of commuters as well as drivers. The in-vehicle concentration of pollutants is known to be higher than the ambient environment and varies with the mode of transport. Thus, this study attempts to assess the health impacts of air pollution exposure on auto rickshaws and cab drivers. The study was conducted in Delhi using a triangular approach involving a health perception survey, lung function test and in-vehicle monitoring of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) concentration to assess the health impacts of air pollution on auto rickshaw and cab drivers. A total of 150 respondents (75 from each occupation) were surveyed, and spirometry was performed for 40 respondents (20 from each occupation). Binary logistic regression showed auto rickshaw drivers were exposed to significantly higher in-vehicle PM concentrations in summers and winters and, thus, had a significantly higher risk of developing respiratory, ophthalmic and dermatological health symptoms (p< 0.05 and relative risk >1). Pulmonary function test showed obstructive lung impairment was reported only among auto rickshaw drivers (6%) and restrictive lung impairment was also more prevalent among auto rickshaw drivers (48%) than cab drivers (33%), suggesting a greater vulnerability of auto rickshaw drivers to respiratory health issues. Lung function impairment was associated with age (p= 0.002). The health and well-being of individuals is a matter of global concern, also highlighted in sustainable development goal no. 3. However, it was observed that neither auto rickshaw drivers nor cab drivers used formal/standard protective measures mainly due to unawareness or unaffordability. The study suggests increasing awareness and formulating guidelines to highlight the use of proper protective measures by these vulnerable groups and specific policy measures to protect outdoor workers like auto rickshaw drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Jain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, -517 506, India.
| | - Vaishnavi Barthwal
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, -517 506, India
- Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies (earlier TERI University, Delhi, 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110 070, India
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Deering K, Spiegel E, Quaisser C, Nowak D, Rakete S, Garí M, Bose-O'Reilly S. Exposure assessment of toxic metals and organochlorine pesticides among employees of a natural history museum. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 184:109271. [PMID: 32143026 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chemical compounds such as arsenic, mercury and organochlorine pesticides have been extensively used as preventive and curative conservation treatments for cultural and biological collections to protect them from pest and mold infestations. Most of the aforementioned compounds have been classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic and represent a health risk for members of staff exposed to contaminated objects. The present study addresses the internal exposure of 28 museum employees in Museum für Naturkunde Berlin by measuring arsenic species and mercury in urine as well as hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4'-DDT) and its main metabolite, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4'-DDE), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in blood serum. This study was carried out in order to assess the internal exposure of Natural History Museum staff members to toxic metals and organochlorine pesticides. During a working week, two blood samples and five urine samples were taken from each participant, involving 8 women and 20 men. Information about work activity and exposure related factors such as dust development through work, use of personal protective equipment, as well as a nutrition diary were obtained through a questionnaire. Information on fish and seafood intakes as well as amalgam fillings was also available. The results of the study showed that the museum staff members had quantified concentrations of arsenic (median of 6.4 μg/l; maximum of 339 μg/l), mercury (median of 0.20 μg/l; max of 2.6 μg/l), β-HCH (median of 0.12 μg/l; max of 0.39 μg/l) and 4,4'-DDT (median of 0.050 μg/l; max of 0.82 μg/l). Despite that all the concentrations were below the established reference values, multivariate regression models were able to show that museum staff members are currently exposed to the aforementioned compounds while handling museum objects. To validate our findings, further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Deering
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Elise Spiegel
- Care for Art, Maximilianstr. 31, D-80539, Munich, Germany.
| | - Christiane Quaisser
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Invalidenstr. 43, D-10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Dennis Nowak
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Stefan Rakete
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Mercè Garí
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Institute of Computational Biology, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Stephan Bose-O'Reilly
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT (University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology), Eduard Wallnoefer Zentrum 1, A-6060, Hall I.T., Austria; University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO-Clinics), University of Regensburg, Clinic St. Hedwig, Steinmetzstr. 1-3, 93049, Regensburg, Germany.
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Rosati MV, Tomei F, Loreti B, Casale T, Cianfrone G, Altissimi G, Tomei G, Bernardini A, Di Marzio A, Sacco C, Scala B, Ricci S, Sancini A. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in workers exposed to urban stressors. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2018; 73:176-185. [PMID: 28418790 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2017.1306477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to compare the distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) with the pure-tone audiometry and to analyze the changes in participants exposed to noise. The results show a prevalence of participants with impaired DPOAEs higher than the prevalence of participants with impaired audiometries in the total sample, in men, and in outdoor workers and a prevalence of impaired DPOAEs and of impaired audiometries in men higher than in women and in outdoor workers higher than in indoor workers. The comparison of mean values between outdoor and indoor workers shows a significant difference only on some frequencies, in the DP-gram. The results suggest a higher effectiveness of DPOAEs compared with the pure-tone audiometry in identifying the presence of any damage in individuals exposed to noise at an early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Valeria Rosati
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Francesco Tomei
- b Spin-off of University of Rome "Sapienza" "Sipro" , Rome , Italy
| | - Beatrice Loreti
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Teodorico Casale
- b Spin-off of University of Rome "Sapienza" "Sipro" , Rome , Italy
| | - Giancarlo Cianfrone
- c Department of Sensory Organs , U.O.C. Audiology, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Giancarlo Altissimi
- c Department of Sensory Organs , U.O.C. Audiology, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Gianfranco Tomei
- d Department of Psychiatric and Psychological Science , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Andrea Bernardini
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Marzio
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Carmina Sacco
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Barbara Scala
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Serafino Ricci
- a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine , University of Rome "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
- e Department of Anatomy, Histology , Legal Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Angela Sancini
- b Spin-off of University of Rome "Sapienza" "Sipro" , Rome , Italy
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Burger J, Gochfeld M. Health Risks to Ecological Workers on Contaminated Sites - the Department of Energy as a Case Study. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE & HEALTH EDUCATION 2016; 6:427. [PMID: 27668128 PMCID: PMC5035110 DOI: 10.4172/2161-0711.1000427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At most contaminated sites the risk to workers focuses on those 'hazardous waste workers' directly exposed to chemicals or radionuclides, and to the elaborate approaches implemented to protecting their health and safety. Ecological workers generally are not considered. OBJECTIVES To explore the risks to the health and safety of ecological workers on sites with potential chemical and radiological exposures before, during or after remediation of contamination. To use the U.S. Department of Energy as a case study, and to develop concepts that apply generally to sites contaminated with hazardous or nuclear wastes. METHODS Develop categories of ecological workers, describe their usual jobs, and provide information on the kinds of risks they face. Ecological activities include continued surveillance and monitoring work on any sites with residual contamination, subject to institutional controls and engineered barriers following closure as well as the restoration. RESULTS The categories of ecological workers and their tasks include 1) Ecological characterization, mapping and monitoring, 2) biodiversity studies, 2) Contaminant fate and transport, 3) On-going industrial activities 4) Remediation activities (environmental management), 5) Environmental restoration, 6) Post-cleanup surveillance and monitoring, and 7) Post-closure future site activities. There are a set of functional activities that can occur with different frequencies and intensities, including visual inspection, collecting biological samples, collecting media physical samples, collecting biological debris, restoration planting, and maintaining ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS Ecological workers face different exposures and risks than other environmental cleanup workers. Many of their tasks mimic shift work with long hours leading to fatigue, and they are exposed to biological as well as chemical/radiological hazards. DOE and other entities need to examine the risks to ecological workers on site with an eye to risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854; Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Michael Gochfeld
- Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
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Analytical approaches for arsenic determination in air: A critical review. Anal Chim Acta 2015; 898:1-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Ciarrocca M, Rosati MV, Tomei F, Pacchiarotti A, Corbosiero P, Di Pastena C, Scala B, Capozzella A, Tomei G, Caciari T, Sacco C, Sancini A. Correlation between cadmium and blood counts in workers exposed to urban stressor. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2015; 70:70-76. [PMID: 24965319 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2013.778807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the exposures to cadmium (Cd) in urban workers and the association between Cd exposure and values of blood counts. Urinary Cd, blood Cd, and blood counts were obtained from 355 outdoor workers; a subgroup of 99 subjects were monitored to evaluate personal exposure to airborne Cd. The mean value of personal exposure to Cd was 1.5 ng/m3 for traffic assistants and 1.2 ng/m3 for drivers. Urinary and blood Cd were correlated to the airborne Cd (respectively r=3 and r=4). The multiple linear regression models showed the associations among white blood cell, the percentage of neutrophils (NEU%), the percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%), and the concentrations of blood Cd (respectively R2=27, R2=37, R2=581). The subjects with blood Cd values higher than 1.2 μg/L showed an increase of LYM% mean values and a decrease of NEU% mean values with respect to the group with blood Cd values lower than 1.1 μg/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ciarrocca
- a Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics , University of Rome "Sapienza," Rome , Italy
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Casale T, Rosati MV, Ciarrocca M, Samperi I, Andreozzi G, Schifano MP, Capozzella A, Pimpinella B, Tomei G, Caciari T, Tomei F. Assessment of liver function in two groups of outdoor workers exposed to arsenic. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2013; 87:745-52. [DOI: 10.1007/s00420-013-0914-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Ciarrocca M, Capozzella A, Tomei F, Tomei G, Caciari T. Exposure to cadmium in male urban and rural workers and effects on FSH, LH and testosterone. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 90:2077-84. [PMID: 23290941 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.10.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between exposure to cadmium and circulating reproductive hormone levels in urban and rural male workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Urinary cadmium, blood cadmium, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone were obtained from 86 non-smoking traffic policemen and 86 subjects working as roadmen in a rural area. All subjects were monitored to evaluate airborne exposure to cadmium. RESULTS The mean value of exposure to cadmium was 1.3 ng m(-3) in traffic policemen, while the mean value was less than 0.5 ng m(-3) in roadmen. The mean concentrations of urinary cadmium (1.4 vs. 0.9 μg g(-1) creatinine; p=0.001), blood cadmium (1.1 vs. 0.7 μg l(-1); p=0.000), FSH (2.6 vs. 3.2 μlU ml(-1); p=0.02) and LH (2.6 vs. 3.1 μlU ml(-1); p=0.03) were significantly different between traffic policemen and roadmen. No differences were found in the mean values of testosterone between the two groups. Multiple linear regression models showed associations between (a) urinary cadmium, airborne cadmium, working life, job category and consumption of water from water supply (b) blood cadmium, airborne cadmium and job category (c) the values of FSH and age, working life, job category, urinary cadmium and blood cadmium (d) the values of LH and both the age and working life. CONCLUSION The above results must be confirmed by further studies, but they indicate the influence of exposure to the cadmium present in urban air on the circulating FSH, even at low doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Ciarrocca
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Kar S, Maity JP, Samal AC, Santra SC, Jean JS, Bundschuh J. WITHDRAWN: Deposition and uptake of metals in urban canopy: Atmospheric arsenic sequestration. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2013:S0304-3894(12)01216-2. [PMID: 23340404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.12.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/27/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kar
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal-741235, India; Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan-70101, Taiwan.
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