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Schenk L, Johanson G. Management of bias and conflict of interest among occupational exposure limit expert groups. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 123:104929. [PMID: 33872741 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.104929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Our aim was to evaluate policies and procedures for management of conflict of interest (CoI) and other sources of bias, implemented in Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) expert groups. First, we compiled procedural criteria applicable to OEL-setting, based on literature on CoI and systematic reviews. Second, we identified 58 global OEL-sources and sought the underlying expert groups and operating procedures. We identified eleven active groups, of which five have documented CoI policies. In all five, CoI management is based on declarations of interests (DoIs) and removal of experts from decisions in which they have an interest. Notable differences include publication of DoIs (three of five groups), limitation of DoI to current interests (two groups), quantitative limits for financial interests (none specified to ≥€10,000 per interest), control procedures for undisclosed CoI (one group), and procedures in case of discovery of undisclosed CoI (three groups). Methods to evaluate study quality are described by three groups, while reproducible and comprehensive strategies to identify and select data receive less attention. We conclude that procedures to manage CoI and bias are not broadly implemented, or at least not openly and transparently communicated. This lack of visible procedures is remarkable, considering OEL's impact on health and economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Schenk
- Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Philosophy and History, KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 76, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gunnar Johanson
- Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Trechera P, Moreno T, Córdoba P, Moreno N, Zhuang X, Li B, Li J, Shangguan Y, Kandler K, Dominguez AO, Kelly F, Querol X. Mineralogy, geochemistry and toxicity of size-segregated respirable deposited dust in underground coal mines. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 399:122935. [PMID: 32540702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We focus on a comparison of the geochemistry and mineralogy patterns found in coal, deposited dust (DD), respirable deposited dust (RDD) and inhalable suspended dust (PM10) from a number of underground mines located in China, with an emphasis on potential occupational health relevance. After obtaining the RDD from DD, a toxicological analysis (oxidative potential, OP) was carried out and compared with their geochemical patterns. The results demonstrate: i) a dependence of RDD/DD on the moisture content for high rank coals that does not exist for low rank coals; ii) RDD enrichment in a number of minerals and/or elements related to the parent coal, the wear on mining machinery, lime gunited walls and acid mine drainage; and iii) the geochemical patterns of RDD obtained from DD can be compared with PM10 with relatively good agreement, demonstrating that the characterization of DD and RDD can be used as a proxy to help evaluate the geochemical patterns of suspended PM10. With regards to the toxicological properties of RDD, the Fe content and other by-products of pyrite oxidation, as well as that of anatase, along with Si, Mn and Ba, and particle size (among others), were highly correlated with Ascorbic Acid and/or Glutathione OP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Trechera
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Industrial and TIC Engineering (EMIT-UPC), 08242, Manresa, Spain.
| | - Teresa Moreno
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Córdoba
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Moreno
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xinguo Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Baoqing Li
- Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yunfei Shangguan
- Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Konrad Kandler
- Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ana Oliete Dominguez
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Frank Kelly
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430074, China
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3
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Li A, Sun Y, Wang T, Wang K, Wang T, Liu W, Li K, Au WW, Wang Z, Xia ZL. Effects of Micronucleus Frequencies and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Numbers among Benzene-Exposed Workers in China. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2020; 61:355-360. [PMID: 31899575 DOI: 10.1002/em.22354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To provide a more comprehensive understanding of genotoxic effects from benzene exposure, its effects on induction of mitochondrial DNA copy number (MtDNAcn) and of micronucleus (MN) were investigated using peripheral blood from workers in China. Changes in mtDNAcn and MN were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays (CBMN), respectively, in 58 control and 174 benzene-exposed workers in Shanghai, China. Among the exposed workers, relative mtDNAcn increased and then decreased with increasing doses of benzene exposure. Significant and dose-dependent increase in MN frequencies were observed among the different exposure groups. In addition, the relative mtDNAcn were significantly associated with the MN frequencies in the low-level exposure group (P = 0.046), but not in the high dose groups. Therefore, the mechanisms for induction of MtDNAcn and MN by benzene may be similar from exposure to low doses but different from high doses. Similar increase of MN frequencies and MtDNAcn may be due to oxidative stress induced by benzene at low concentrations, while higher concentrations may start to initiate the cell death pathway. The pathway may be associated with excessive MtDNAcn which can initiate apoptosis while MN can continue to be induced. However, the differential mechanisms need to be investigated because they may represent different levels of risk for different health consequences. On the other hand, our data indicate that induction of MtDNAcn may be a sensitive genotoxic biomarker for workers with exposure to low dose of benzene. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:355-360, 2020. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Occupational Disease for Chemical Industry (Shanghai Institute of Occupational Safety & Health), Shanghai, China
| | - Tongshuai Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Kan Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Tuanwei Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Wuzhong Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Occupational Disease for Chemical Industry (Shanghai Institute of Occupational Safety & Health), Shanghai, China
| | - Keyong Li
- Shanghai Institute of Occupational Disease for Chemical Industry (Shanghai Institute of Occupational Safety & Health), Shanghai, China
| | - William W Au
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Tirgu Mures, Romania and University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Zubing Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Occupational Disease for Chemical Industry (Shanghai Institute of Occupational Safety & Health), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhao-Lin Xia
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Key Laboratory of Public Health and Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, China
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4
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Zhu V, Fleury C, Denis-Rémis C. [Occupational health in China, an emerging issue]. SOINS; LA REVUE DE RÉFÉRENCE INFIRMIÈRE 2018; 63:54-57. [PMID: 29439800 DOI: 10.1016/j.soin.2017.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In Chinese factories, the prevention of occupational illness is inadequate. Public authorities have only recently started to pay attention to the issue. Individual and collective protection measures need to be developed, employees made aware of the issues and controls improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violaine Zhu
- École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech), 60, boulevard Saint-Michel, 75272 Paris cedex 06, France
| | - Cynthia Fleury
- École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech), 60, boulevard Saint-Michel, 75272 Paris cedex 06, France; Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP, 1, place du Parvis-de-Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris, France.
| | - Cédric Denis-Rémis
- École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech), 60, boulevard Saint-Michel, 75272 Paris cedex 06, France
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5
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Zhou Z. Understanding the administrative regulation on occupational health and trend in China. J Occup Health 2017; 60:126-131. [PMID: 29311440 PMCID: PMC5886879 DOI: 10.1539/joh.17-0229-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the immense economic growth and social development, China has gained worldwide attention. With the quick growth of industrialization, several international professionals are gaining interest in occupational management system and in the role of the Chinese Government in protecting the worker's health. The Law on Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases and the Work Safety Law are the two most important laws in China, which highlight the responsibilities of the employer, employee, governmental agencies, authorized occupational health service agency, and other stakeholders. The State Council comprises two departments, namely, the State Administration on Work Safety (SAWS) and the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), which are responsible for governing the occupational health work. A series of regulations and standards have been promulgated by the Chinese Government to encourage or instruct the employers to fulfill their responsibility; however, several issues persist related to occupational health work, including administrative, technological, and sociocultural aspects. At present, the Chinese Government wants to enhance the reform in both economic and administrative structures, and the adjustments for modifying and/or improving the occupational health regulatory system are expected. Notably, the occupational health work in China must be altered for better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health/MOE Key Lab for Public Health Safety, Fudan University
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6
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Cullinan P, Muñoz X, Suojalehto H, Agius R, Jindal S, Sigsgaard T, Blomberg A, Charpin D, Annesi-Maesano I, Gulati M, Kim Y, Frank AL, Akgün M, Fishwick D, de la Hoz RE, Moitra S. Occupational lung diseases: from old and novel exposures to effective preventive strategies. THE LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2017; 5:445-455. [PMID: 28089118 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(16)30424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 10/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure is an important, global cause of respiratory disease. Unlike many other non-communicable lung diseases, the proximal causes of many occupational lung diseases are well understood and they should be amenable to control with use of established and effective approaches. Therefore, the risks arising from exposure to silica and asbestos are well known, as are the means of their prevention. Although the incidence of occupational lung disease has decreased in many countries, in parts of the world undergoing rapid economic transition and population growth-often with large informal and unregulated workforces-occupational exposures continue to impose a heavy burden of disease. The incidence of interstitial and malignant lung diseases remains unacceptably high because control measures are not implemented or exposures arise in novel ways. With the advent of innovative technologies, new threats are continually introduced to the workplace (eg, indium compounds and vicinal diketones). In developed countries, work-related asthma is the commonest occupational lung disease of short latency. Although generic control measures to reduce the risk of developing or exacerbating asthma are well recognised, there is still uncertainty, for example, with regards to the management of workers who develop asthma but remain in the same job. In this Review, we provide recommendations for research, surveillance, and other action for reducing the burden of occupational lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cullinan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK; MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, London, UK
| | - Xavier Muñoz
- Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hille Suojalehto
- Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raymond Agius
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Surinder Jindal
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Anders Blomberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, and Division of Respiratory Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Denis Charpin
- Clinique des Bronches, Allergie et Sommeil, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France; INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Epidémiologie des Maladies Respiratoires et Allergiques, iPLESP INSERM et UPMC, Paris, France
| | - Mridu Gulati
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, and Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yangho Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Arthur L Frank
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Metin Akgün
- Department of Chest Diseases, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - David Fishwick
- Centre for Workplace Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Rafael E de la Hoz
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Subhabrata Moitra
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Lund, Sweden; Department of Pneumology, Allergy and Asthma Research Centre, Kolkata, India.
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7
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Mendes M, Machado JMH, Durand A, Costa-Amaral IC, Valente D, Gonçalves ES, Arcuri ASA, Trevisan EA, Sarcinelli PDN, Larentis AL, Moura-Correa MJ, André LC. Normas ocupacionais do benzeno: uma abordagem sobre o risco e exposição nos postos de revenda de combustíveis. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE SAÚDE OCUPACIONAL 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/2317-6369000127515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo Introdução: trabalhadores estão sujeitos a riscos decorrentes da exposição ambiental e ocupacional ao benzeno, situação ainda mais crítica quando associada a fatores como desigualdade social, múltipla exposição, suscetibilidade individual, degradação ambiental e às possíveis interações entre os contaminantes ambientais. Além disso, nem sempre as regulamentações são estabelecidas e/ou atualizadas apenas a partir de achados científicos, pois são processos permeados por conflitos de interesses. Objetivo: realizar análise crítica sobre a identificação de risco e avaliação da exposição ao benzeno. Métodos: revisão bibliográfica e documental do marco normativo brasileiro e internacional sobre exposição ao benzeno, com relação aos aspectos toxicológicos, de exposição ocupacional e ambiental e de avaliação de risco. Discussão: o controle da exposição ao benzeno permeia o campo da disputa técnico-política de saúde e segurança, constituindo-se em marco regulatório resultante de consenso de entendimentos. Esses entendimentos são marcados pela disputa entre a proteção à saúde e a gestão empresarial das condições de trabalho, em detrimento das evidencias científicas. Em tal contexto, os Limites de Exposição Ocupacional podem variar significativamente entre os países e agências, apesar do reconhecimento universal de que não há limites seguros para exposição ao benzeno, por ser um composto carcinogênico.
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8
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Occupational diseases prevention and control in China: a comparison with the United States. J Public Health (Oxf) 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-015-0689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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9
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Ding Q, Schenk L, Hansson SO. Occupational diseases in the people's Republic of China between 2000 and 2010. Am J Ind Med 2013; 56:1423-32. [PMID: 23970481 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study provides a description and analysis of the development of occupational diseases in China as recorded in the official statistics during the period 2000-2010, identifies major challenges, and explores possible solutions for prevention and control. METHODS In-depth textual analysis and data analysis of China's annual national reports of occupational diseases, as well as of corresponding policy and regulation documents. RESULTS The number of recorded cases of occupational diseases increased rapidly in China between 2000 and 2010. Pneumoconiosis was the most prevalent category of occupational diseases. Chemical poisonings accounted for 13% of the cases of occupational diseases. CONCLUSIONS Difficulties in diagnosis and inefficient surveillance are major impediments to the mitigation of occupational diseases. The new definition of occupational disease has provided an opportunity to enlarge the Catalogue of Occupational Diseases. Improved coordination of the different chemical regulations meant to protect human health may also facilitate the prevention of occupational disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Ding
- Department of Philosophy and the History of Technology; KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Linda Schenk
- Department of Philosophy and the History of Technology; KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Sven Ove Hansson
- Department of Philosophy and the History of Technology; KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholm Sweden
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10
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Arnold SM, Angerer J, Boogaard PJ, Hughes MF, O'Lone RB, Robison SH, Schnatter AR. The use of biomonitoring data in exposure and human health risk assessment: benzene case study. Crit Rev Toxicol 2013; 43:119-53. [PMID: 23346981 PMCID: PMC3585443 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2012.756455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Abstract A framework of "Common Criteria" (i.e. a series of questions) has been developed to inform the use and evaluation of biomonitoring data in the context of human exposure and risk assessment. The data-rich chemical benzene was selected for use in a case study to assess whether refinement of the Common Criteria framework was necessary, and to gain additional perspective on approaches for integrating biomonitoring data into a risk-based context. The available data for benzene satisfied most of the Common Criteria and allowed for a risk-based evaluation of the benzene biomonitoring data. In general, biomarker (blood benzene, urinary benzene and urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid) central tendency (i.e. mean, median and geometric mean) concentrations for non-smokers are at or below the predicted blood or urine concentrations that would correspond to exposure at the US Environmental Protection Agency reference concentration (30 µg/m(3)), but greater than blood or urine concentrations relating to the air concentration at the 1 × 10(-5) excess cancer risk (2.9 µg/m(3)). Smokers clearly have higher levels of benzene exposure, and biomarker levels of benzene for non-smokers are generally consistent with ambient air monitoring results. While some biomarkers of benzene are specific indicators of exposure, the interpretation of benzene biomonitoring levels in a health-risk context are complicated by issues associated with short half-lives and gaps in knowledge regarding the relationship between the biomarkers and subsequent toxic effects.
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11
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Occupational exposure limits in Europe and Asia – Continued divergence or global harmonization? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2011; 61:296-309. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2011.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Revised: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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12
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Muñoz B, Albores A. Occupational toxicology in Mexico: current status and the potential use of molecular studies to evaluate chemical exposure. Toxicol Mech Methods 2011; 21:637-48. [PMID: 22003922 DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2011.599885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Occupational toxicology is of considerable concern for several world organizations including the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization and the International Commission for Occupational Health and, in Latin America, the Pan American Health Organization. The countries of this Region, including Mexico, own manufacturing, chemical, and petrochemical industries that employ thousands workers who are continually exposed to hazardous chemicals such as solvents, particles and exhaust fumes, many of which are very complex mixtures. Traditionally, physicians have used biochemical analyses to assess the damage caused by chronic chemical exposure. Presently, recent advances in molecular biology may offer tools to perform more thorough and precise evaluations on worker health damage, risk and current health status. In this review, we present a perspective of occupational toxicology in Mexico, as an example for Latin America and developing countries. Moreover, we summarize current reports about occupational disease associated with chemical exposure, and we present an array of molecular studies proposed for the analysis and diagnosis of workers related with industry and the relevance of including molecular biology testing to complement traditional occupational medical assays in order to improve occupational health. We conclude that developing countries, e.g., Mexico, should improve work environment standards by using new technical approaches that will result in more reliable and precise data to design better health policy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balam Muñoz
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, Mexico.
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13
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Armstrong TW, Liang Y, Hetherington Y, Bowes SM, Wong O, Fu H, Chen M, Schnatter AR. Retrospective occupational exposure assessment for case-control and case-series epidemiology studies based in Shanghai China. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2011; 8:561-572. [PMID: 21830875 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2011.605013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
To provide exposure information for epidemiology studies conducted in Shanghai from 2001 to 2008, we completed retrospective exposure assessments (EA) of benzene and other hazards. Interviewers administered questionnaires to subjects from Shanghai area hospitals. An initial exposure screening by EA staff members, blinded as to case-control status, stratified jobs into exposed, unexposed, or uncertain categories prior to review by a separate expert panel (EP). Resources for the EA included job/industry-specific questionnaire responses by subjects, short-term benzene area concentration measurements from a Shanghai regulatory agency database, Chinese literature for qualitative and short-term quantitative measurements, on-site investigations, summaries of technology changes, and selected task simulations with concurrent benzene concentration measurements. An EP in Shanghai completed semi-quantitative benzene exposure assignments, with categories of 0 to 4 corresponding to intensity ranges of none, <1, 1 to 10, >10 to 100, and >100 mg/m(3). For other hazards, sources included the EP's knowledge of the industries and Chinese and Western literature. For benzene, 20% of the EAs selected by a stratified random process were evaluated by two alternate methods. The study database of potential cases and controls included 18,857 jobs from the subjects' work histories. From 818 individuals initially screened as probably benzene exposed, 964 jobs underwent further review. From subjects with final diagnoses, 755 jobs qualified for inclusion in the final database for any study. For other exposures, the EA considered 17,893 jobs from 7654 subjects for possible exposures and were in the final study database. Of these, 2565 individuals had exposures of study interest from their 4909 exposed jobs. The prevalent exposures included agricultural chemicals, petroleum products, and metals. The EA involved extensive information assembly and exposure assignment by an EP and periodic reviews. The methods described went beyond those typically applied in past general population studies and may have provided improved information for the epidemiologic analyses. However, sufficient, reliable measured historical data are lacking to evaluate this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Armstrong
- TWA8HR Occupational Hygiene Consulting, Branchburg, New Jersey 08876, USA.
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14
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Liu H, Liang Y, Bowes S, Xu H, Zhou Y, Armstrong TW, Wong O, Schnatter AR, Fang J, Wang L, Nie L, Fu H, Irons R. Benzene exposure in industries using or manufacturing paint in China--a literature review, 1956-2005. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2009; 6:659-670. [PMID: 19753498 DOI: 10.1080/15459620903249646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A systematic review of the Chinese literature was conducted from 1956 to 2005. The survey included both online and manual searching, as well as expert discussions aimed at providing insight into factors affecting benzene exposure levels in paint/coatings industries. Data extracted from 204 papers included: (1) year of occurrence, (2) type of paint/coatings products, (3) type of industries where the products were used or produced, (4) job titles and work activities, (5) type of literature searched, (6) working conditions whenever data were available, and (7) exposure levels. Most benzene measurements were short-term samples for comparison with the Chinese maximum allowable concentration standard. The accuracy and precision of the sampling and analytical methods were not reported. The distribution of benzene concentrations was tested and found to fit neither normal nor lognormal distributions. Analysis of variance (comparison for more than two groups) and t-test (comparison for two groups) were conducted on Blom-transformed benzene concentration data. The overall median benzene exposure levels were 215, 82, 31, and 6 mg/m(3) during the periods 1956-1978, 1979-1989, 1990-2001, and 2002-2005, respectively. Mean benzene exposure was significantly lower for paint manufacturing than paint spraying. No significant difference was found among paint types and benzene exposure for paint application. Benzene exposure was significantly higher in workplaces judged to have poor ventilation. No significant differences were found in benzene exposure as a function of industry type. Even though substantially lower when compared with levels in the past, recent benzene exposure measurements suggested that many facilities in the paint/coatings industries in China still have benzene concentrations that are above the current China occupational exposure limit for benzene (6 mg/m(3) as a time-weighted average). Benzene concentrations from the present exercise, while not directly supporting quantitative retrospective exposure estimating, provide insight on relative benzene exposure for painting tasks in the reported industries over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Liu
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Shanghai, China
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Sim MR, Boffetta P. Occupational cancer: an emerging problem in newly industrializing countries. Asia Pac J Public Health 2009; 21:241-3. [PMID: 19546126 DOI: 10.1177/1010539509341404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Background, approaches and recent trends for setting health-based occupational exposure limits: a minireview. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008; 51:253-69. [PMID: 18502550 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2008.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2007] [Revised: 03/24/2008] [Accepted: 04/07/2008] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) are founded in occupational medicine and the predictive toxicological testing, resulting in exposure-response relationships. For compounds where a No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) can be established, health-based OELs are set by dividing the NOAEL of the critical effect by an overall uncertainty factor. Possibly, the approach may also be used for carcinogens if the mechanism is epigenetic or the genetic effect is secondary to effect from reactions with proteins such as topoisomerase inhibitors, and mitotic and meiotic spindle poisons. Additionally, the NOAEL approach may also be used for compounds with weak genotoxic effect, playing no or only a minor role in the development of tumours. No health-based OEL can be set for direct-acting genotoxic compounds where the life-time risks may be estimated from the low-dose linear non-threshold extrapolation, allowing a politically based exposure level to be set. OELs are set by several agencies in the US and Europe, but also in-house in major chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The benchmark dose approach may in the future be used where it has advantage over the NOAEL approach. Also, more attention should be devoted to sensitive groups, toxicological mechanisms and interactions as most workplace exposures are mixtures.
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Krstev S, Ji BT, Shu XO, Blair A, Zheng W, Lubin J, Vermeulen R, Hauptmann M, Rothman N, Gao YT, Mustafa D, Chow WH. Occupation and adult-onset asthma among Chinese women in a population-based cohort. Am J Ind Med 2007; 50:265-73. [PMID: 17311256 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to industrial irritants is believed to have contributed to the increasing prevalence of asthma worldwide. We examined the associations between occupation and asthma among women in a case-control study nested in the population-based Shanghai Women's Health Study cohort in China. METHODS Cases were 1,050 women who reported a physician-diagnosed asthma as adults. Controls were 4,200 women matched to the cases by year of birth and age at diagnosis. Lifetime occupational histories were obtained. Logistic regression was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) adjusting for smoking, education, family income, and concurrent chronic bronchitis. RESULTS Asthma is more prevalent in production industries for metal tools (OR = 2.4; 1.3-4.7), metal products for everyday use (OR = 1.6; 1.1-2.4), ships (OR = 2.6; 1.0-6.8), and clocks (OR = 1.9; 1.0-3.4), and in occupations as farm workers (OR = 4.0; 1.2-13.0), laboratory technicians and analyzers (OR = 2.2; 1.2-3.9), and installation and maintenance workers for weaving and knitting machineries (OR = 2.4; 1.1-5.4). Other associations less commonly reported were identified for electricians (OR = 2.1; 1.1-4.1), performers (OR = 3.2; 1.4-7.4), administrative workers in organizations and enterprises (OR = 1.8; 1.1-2.8), and postal and telecommunication workers (OR = 3.5; 1.6-7.6). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that occupational exposures contribute to the development of asthma in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srmena Krstev
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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