Exposure to tobacco dust in primary tobacco-processing workers

Numerous workers are engaged in processing of tobacco in Iran and therefore, their exposures to tobacco dust are likely to be high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the workers' exposure to tobacco dust. Total dusts were collected within the workers' breathing zone using a Personal Air Sampler [PAS] and respirable dusts were measured using a real time monitor [Micro Dust Pro] with a particle size adapter in different parts of the factory. To weigh the filters a microbalance accurate to 5 decimal places was used. The mean total tobacco dust concentrations for personal exposure near breathing zone in this study was 9.32 mgm-3 that was lower than TLV recommended by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists [ACGIH]. In contrast the mean respirable dust concentrations was 3.28 mgm-3 which is higher than Threshold Limit Value [TLV]. Dust control methods such as good maintenance of existent dust emission control systems, insulation of dust sources and designing suitable local exhaust ventilation should be applied to maintain workers' health

Risk assessment of hexamethylene diisocyanate and hexamethylene diamine in the polyurethane factories

To determine the risk assessment of diisocyanate for workers and HDI concentration in the indoor air. For air monitoring 100 air samples were obtained using National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] 5522 and for biological monitoring 50 urine samples were collected from the workers and analyzed with using William's biological analysis method. The results showed high maximum concentration of hexamethylene diisocyanate [more than 88micro g/m[3]] when compared to the NIOSH standard and high concentration of hexamethylene diamine in the worker's urine. Multiple regression models were obtained to predict of HDI risk in the polyurethane factories

[Assessment of bus drivers' exposure to respirable particles [PM10] in Sari]

High concentrations of respirable particles may cause high incidence of respiratory diseases and mortality in public populations and in particular in public transportation workers. Epidemiological exposure studies showed that respirable particles that emitted from traffic sources have more potential effects on more incidence of hospitalization or mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. In this study personal exposures of bus drivers to respirable particles [PM10] and factors that caused high personal exposure were studied in Sari city. In this study, a calibrated real time monitor [MicroDust Pro] with a personal sampling pump with 2 lit/min flow rate were used to measure Sari's bus drivers personal exposure to PM10 concentrations on 3 main routs. This study was carried out during a one calendar year and all possible effective factors on personal exposure were recorded in a questionnaire. The mean personal exposures to PM10 concentrations among bus drivers were varied in different months. Exposure to PM10 concentrations were higher in autumn and winter and increased to 300 micro gm[-3] in some days. Personal exposures to these particles were increased in the evening and on high traffic flow routs. Other factors such as rainy weather and temperature, number of passengers, bus' model year, picking up and dropping off the passengers were the most effectiveg factors on driver's personal exposures. Bus drivers' exposure to respirable particles PM10 in Sari was varied in different time. It was due to entrance of outdoor particulate air pollutants into the bus during the picking up and getting off the passengers and resuspension of settled fine particles