Quantitative risk assessment of occupational exposure to PCDD/Fs in the waste incineration industry / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To analyze the level of PCDD/Fs exposure of occupational workers in the waste incineration industry and explore the risk of occupational exposure. Methods: In September 2021, literature on environmental PCDD/Fs exposure in waste incineration plants published from the establishment of the database to February 10, 2021 was retrieved from CNKI database. A total of 1365 literatures were retrieved, and 7 met the criteria for inclusion. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inhalation risk model was used to assess and analyze carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PCDD/Fs exposure among occupational workers in the waste incineration industry. Results: A total of 86 sampling sites were included in incineration plants in 7 regions. The study of Wuhan area showed that the concentration of working environment near the waste incinerator in the same factory was the highest, followed by the rest and office area in the factory. The concentration of PCDD/Fs in waste incinerators was the highest in Southwest China (4880.00-24880.00 pg TEQ/m(3)), and the lowest in Shenzhen (0.02-0.44 pg TEQ/m(3)). According to the cancer risk assessment, with the increase of exposure years, the risk of cancer increased. The highest risk of cancer was found in the waste incineration plants in Southwest China. When the exposure period was 1 year, the risk was moderate (22.40×10(-6)-114.20×10(-6)). When the exposure time was more than 5 years, the risk of cancer was high. In Jinan, workers working near the incinerator had a moderate risk of cancer after five years of exposure. In Zhejiang, workers were at medium risk of cancer after exposure for more than 20 years. Workers in Wuhan, Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta were still at low risk of cancer after 40 years of occupational exposure. HQ>1 of workers working near the waste incinerators in Jinan, Zhejiang Province and Southwest China, and the qualitative evaluation results showed that the non-carcinogenic risk was unacceptable. Conclusion: There are great differences in PCDD/Fs of occupational exposure in waste incineration industry, and the occupational exposure exceeding the occupational exposure limit has higher carcinogenic and non carcinogenic risks.

Semi-quantitative risk assessment of the contamination of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters from Jinshan District, Shanghai / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus(VP)in oysters in Jinshan District, Shanghai and make assessment on the risks that may cause, providing the basis for prevention and control of foodborne disease. Methods Raw oyster samples with shells were randomly collected from markets, supermarkets and restaurants in Jinshan District from July to October in 2017. The content of VP in oysters was tested in accordance with the national standard methods. The semi-quantitative risk assessment for VP in oysters was made by Risk Ranger combining with the monitoring results of diet and health status of residents in Jinshan District of Shanghai in 2012-2013. Results The overall positive rate of VP in the 40 oyster samples was 80.0%(32/40). The positive rate of VP in oyster samples from farmer's markets was the highest, 85.7%(12/14), followed by those from restaurants and supermarkets. The relative risk for VP in raw oysters was 63. The probability of illness caused by VP in oysters per day per consumer of interest was 6.85×10-4, and the total predicted patients annual incidence rate in this population was 1 247.8/105. Conclusion The contamination of VP in seafood oysters in Jinshan District is serious. Eating raw oysters is at high risk; consumers are advised to reduce or avoid eating raw oysters, and processing food before eating is an effective method to decrease VP infection. Strengthening surveillance and management is imperative in this regard.

Application of three semi-quantitative risk assessment methods in electroplating enterprises / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To apply the semi-quantitative risk assessment model in the Technical Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazardous Factors in the Workplace to assess the occupational health risk of electroplating enterprises and explore its applicable conditions and characteristics.@*Methods@#Three electroplating enterprises were selected as the research objects. Occupational hygiene survey and hazard factor detection were conducted on the spot. Three semi-quantitative risk assessment methods were used to assess the risk, and the evaluation results were compared.@*Results@#The consistency between the contact index method and the comprehensive index method was strong. The weighted Kappa value was 0.946 and the P value was less than 0.001, but the consistency between the contact ratio method, the contact index method and the comprehensive index method was poor. The weighted Kappa value was 0.345 and 0.391, and the P value was 0.009 and 0.004, respectively. When the contact concentration is less than 50% OELs, the evaluation results of the contact ratio method are lower than those of the exponential method and the comprehensive exponential method. The consistency of the three methods was the highest when the contact concentration (>50%) and (<OELs). When the contact concentration >OELs, the results of the contact ratio method are higher than those of the index method and the comprehensive index method.@*Conclusion@#Contact ratio method is suitable for occupational health risk assessment under the condition of incomplete occupational health information and for enterprise managers to identify key control points of health risk through self-assessment; Contact index method is suitable for hazard risk assessment of occupational hazards without sampling test conditions or OELs, and pre-assessment of occupational hazards of construction projects without access to analogical test data. The index method is suitable for occupational health risk assessment with available testing data and complete occupational health information.

Enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos: Análisis del riesgo microbiológico / Risk analysis of foodborne diseases: Microbial risk assessment

The basic goals of risk assessment include the following: to identify potentially hazardous situations and apply appropriate methods to estimate the likelihood that a hazard occurs. In The uncertainty in that estimate, to provide alternative solutions to reduce the risk, estimate the effectiveness of those solutions, provide information to base a risk management decision, and estimate the uncertainty associated with the analysis. Risk analysis provides the rational framework for assembling and then analysing the evidence relating to risk and presenting the results in a form that is easy to understand and then act upon fairly and effectively. Progress made is no excuse for arrogance. The present review is definitely not designed as the last word on risk analysis for foodborne diseases. Rather, this review has been designed to continue an evolving and necessary process and to provide a reference point that indicates the state of development in 2010.

Las metas básicas del análisis de riesgo incluyen las siguientes: identificar las situaciones potencialmente peligrosas, aplicar los métodos apropiados para estimar la probabilidad que un peligro ocurra, y en la incertidumbre en esa estimación, proporcionar las soluciones alternativas para reducir el riesgo, estimar la eficacia de esas soluciones, proporcionar la información sobre las que se base una decisión de la gestión de riesgos, y estimar la incertidumbre asociada a la evaluación. El análisis de riesgos constituye un sistema de referencia coherente para reunir y analizar indicios sobre los factores de riesgo, y también para presentar los resultados de modo inteligible y obrar después eficazmente. Pero los progresos realizados no pueden excusar la arrogancia. La presente revisión no pretende sentar cátedra sobre el análisis de riesgo microbiano, más bien está pensado como una etapa más de un proceso necesario y permanente, como un jalón que describe el estado de cosas en 2010.

Modelo de contaminación cruzada por Escherichia coli verocitotoxigénica durante la elaboración de hamburguesas caseras y evaluación cuantitativa de riesgos / Quantitative risk model for verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli cross-contamination during hamburger preparation

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue generar un modelo probabilístico para evaluar cuantitativamente el riesgo de contaminación cruzada de E. coli verocitotoxigénica (VTEC) durante el proceso de elaboración de hamburguesas caseras y su impacto en la salud pública. El modelo tuvo en cuenta un grupo de prácticas culinarias corrientes y a cada una de ellas se le asignó la probabilidad asociada de transferencia de VTEC entre los alimentos y los utensilios de cocina. Las distribuciones de probabilidad que mejor describieron cada paso del proceso fueron incorporadas en el programa @Risk® y se realizaron las simulaciones empleando el análisis Monte Carlo. La manipulación de alimentos crudos (en este caso, la carne picada) antes de la preparación de alimentos que no demandan cocción (como las guarniciones de vegetales frescos que suelen acompañarlas) (Odds ratio, OR = 6,57), así como el hábito del lavado de manos (OR = 12,02) y de las tablas que se utilizan durante la elaboración de estos platos (OR = 5,02), fueron los principales factores de riesgo de contaminación cruzada del patógeno entre la carne y las verduras. La información aportada por este modelo debería considerarse durante el diseño de estrategias de comunicación del riesgo del síndrome urémico hemolítico para acentuar la importancia que estos factores pueden tener en la transmisión de la enfermedad.

The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative risk model for verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) cross-contamination during hamburger preparation at home. Published scientific information about the disease was considered for the elaboration of the model, which included a number of routines performed during food preparation in kitchens. The associated probabilities of bacterial transference between food items and kitchen utensils which best described each stage of the process were incorporated into the model by using @Risk® software. Handling raw meat before preparing ready-to-eat foods (Odds ratio, OR, 6.57), as well as hand (OR = 12.02) and cutting board (OR = 5.02) washing habits were the major risk factors of VTEC cross-contamination from meat to vegetables. The information provided by this model should be considered when designing public information campaigns on hemolytic uremic syndrome risk directed to food handlers, in order to stress the importance of the above mentioned factors in disease transmission.

Hábitos de consumo de hamburguesas y riesgo de exposición a Escherichia coli verotoxigénica (VTEC): modelo de simulación / Hamburger consumption patterns and exposure assessment for verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC): simulation model

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar cuantitativamente el riesgo para la salud pública debido a la infección por VTEC derivado del consumo de hamburguesas. Mediante un modelo de simulación, se analizaron procesos de distribución, almacenamiento y venta, así como hábitos de consumo. La prevalencia y concentración de VTEC fue incluida en el modelo sobre la base de información científica publicada acerca de la enfermedad. Las distribuciones de probabilidad que mejor describieron cada paso del proceso fueron incorporadas en el programa @RiskR, y se realizaron múltiples simulaciones empleando el análisis Monte Carlo. El riesgo estimado de padecer la infección por VTEC en los adultos fue de 4,45 x 10-4; mientras que en los niños, los riesgos de adquirir la infección, de padecer Síndrome Urémico Hemolítico (SUH) y de mortalidad fueron de 2,6 x 10-4, 1,38 x 10-5 y 4,54 x 10-7, respectivamente. El riesgo de adquirir la infección y sus secuelas estuvo correlacionado con la concentración bacteriana en la carne (r = 0,664). El consumo de hamburguesas de elaboración propia (r = -0,203) estuvo asociado con el riesgo de enfermar dadas las características del almacenamiento (r = -0,567), que forman parte de los hábitos de consumo de la población. La información generada debería considerarse durante el diseño de estrategias de gestión y comunicación del riesgo del SUH, con énfasis en la importancia que estos factores tienen en la trasmisión de la enfermedad.

A quantitative risk assessment was developed for verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) associated with hamburger consumption. The assessment (simulation model) considers the distribution, storage and consumption patterns of hamburgers. The prevalence and concentration of VTEC were modelled at various stages along the agri-food beef production system using input derived from Argentinean data, whenever possible. The model predicted an infection risk of 4.45 x 10-4 per meal for adults. The risk values obtained for children were 2.6 x 10-4, 1.38 x 10-5 and 4.54 x10-7 for infection, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and mortality, respectively. The risk of infection and HUS was positively correlated with bacterial concentration in meat (r = 0.664). There was a negative association between homemade hamburgers (r = -0.116) and the risk of illness; however this association has been considered due to differences between retail and domiciliary storage systems (r = -0.567) and not because of the intrinsic characteristics of the product. The most sensitive points of the production system were identified through the risk assessment, therefore, these can be utilized as a basis to apply different risk management policies in public health.

Estudio de la performance del modelo Covello-Merkhofer en la medición del riesgo en planes de vacunación antiaftosa / Performance study of the Covello-Merkhofer model in the treatment of risk in anti-footprint vaccination plans

La cíclica y masiva movilización de terneros puede determinar la recurrencia y persistencia de fiebre aftosa. Por ello, en Sudamérica se promueven esquemas de vacunación en función de la dinámica ganadera. Para evaluar mejor estos esquemas se desarrolló y aplicó un modelo estadístico de cuantificación de riesgos para asistir en la evaluación de planes de vacunación sistemática contra la fiebre aftosa de bovinos. El modelo utiliza información sobre la epidemiología de la fiebre aftosa; de la dinámica poblacional y de vacunación recolectada en un período llamado Ventana de Observación/Estimación y la proyecta hacia una fecha futura ubicada en un período llamado Ventana de Predicción en donde se obtuvo un predictor de la probabilidad de contacto entre terneros no vacunados y bovinos residualmente infectados por el virus de la fiebre aftosa. El modelo utiliza estimación de parámetros obtenidos de la opinión experta; de evidencias empíricas; o de la conjugación de ambos mediante estimadores bayesianos de las distribuciones Beta y Dirichlet. El modelo se aplicó a datos de Argentina mediante simulación de Monte Carlo, permitiendo identificar diferencias significativas al 5% entre los efectos de tres alternativas de vacunación comparadas mediante el método de Bonferroni.(AU)

The recurrence and persistence of fmd could be the consequence of cyclic and massive transportation of calves. For this reason, vaccination schemes related to livestock dynamic are promoted in South America. To improve the evaluation of vaccination schemes a quantitative stochastic risk assessment model was developed and applied in order to aid in the evaluation of strategies of systematic vaccination of cattle against fmd. The model uses information about fmd epidemiology and about population and vaccination dynamics. The information is collected during a period of time called Observation/Estimation Window and projected to a later time called Prediction Window where a predictor of the probability of contact between non-vaccinated calves with residually fmd infected cattle is obtained. Estimates of the parameters of the model are obtained from: expert opinion; empirical evidence or the conjugation of both by means of Bayesian estimators of the Beta and Dirichlet distributions. Applied to data of Argentina, through Monte Carlo simulation, the model allowed the identification of significant statistical differences among the effects of three different vaccination alternatives compared by Bonferroni test.(AU)

Development of a Baseline Checklist for CTD Risk Assessment / 대한산업의학회지

Today, CTDs (Cumulative Trauma Disorders) are one of major hazards in the US and European Industries disrupting work schedules, productivity and increasing workers compensation costs. The increase in injuries and their associated costs has led companies to form committees and implement programs to address this problem. Therefore, it is important that quantitative analysis tools help identify and assess industrial tasks that pose risk to workers. However, the process of quantifying risk in upper limb tasks is still in its infancy stage and calls for better measurement techniques are not going unheard. As the first work of quantification, baseline CTD checklist for risk assessment was developed in this study. It was mainly based on previous literature regarding CTDs. The checklist was unique in that its expected user was industrial hygienist who did not have much ergonomic background and in that it was targeted to Korean workers in various types of industries. As the first application of the checklist, some jobs in two industries (VDT, heavy Industry) were evaluated, and compared with the medical data. Eighteen out of thirty items in the checklist was univariately significant (p<0.05) on the results of medical examinations. The correlation between medical data and total risk score from the checklist was 0.62. The feasibility of its use by an industrial hygienist was also checked by comparing with the results by an ergonomist. Their correlation (on the basis of Kendall's tau-b) in terms of total risk score was 0.74. The checklist in this study shows reasonably good performance for the first trial. Further research will have to include continuous refinement and validation for many more industries and many more jobs.