Evaluation of medical students' knowledge and their adherence to safety measures regarding solar ultraviolet exposure

Ultraviolet radiation, a type of electromagnetic radiation, can be released by both artificial and natural sources, including the sun. It is imperative to adopt the appropriate safety measures when close to an ultraviolet radiation source, as unprotected UV radiation exposure has been associated with a higher risk of developing various illnesses, such as skin tumors. This study aims to evaluate undergraduate medical students' knowledge of potential hazards from UV radiation exposure and their practice of safety measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Beyda City, Libya. One hundred and nine medical students were involved in this study. The questionnaire examined participants' knowledge of and behavior toward potential risks associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Notably, 77.1% of them were female, and 22.9% were male. The majority of the respondents were more than 22 years old. Above half, 59.6% showed moderate knowledge about UV exposure consequences; most of the students, 91%, knew the side effects of UV on health, followed by 86%, who indicated that UV can cause premature aging and cancer. In contrast, less than a third knew that UV has a negative impact on the immune system, and about two-thirds (73.9%) didn't realize that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day. Although medical students showed a moderate level of knowledge regarding UV radiation, there was a lack of active sun safety measures

Evaluación del nivel de seguridad en la comunidad de Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén debido a la manipulación de productos químicos peligrosos / Evaluation of the level of security in the community of Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén due to the handling of dangerous chemicals

Introducción: El manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos en la comunidad no se realiza de manera segura y responsable. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de seguridad de la comunidad en el manejo de los productos químicos peligros. Métodos: Investigación exploratoria-descriptiva realizada en el consejo popular Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén perteneciente al municipio Marianao, comprendida entre los años 2013-2015. Se contó con una población de 1142 practicantes sistemáticos en el manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos. La muestra fue de 177 personas, se obtuvo de forma no probabilista y seleccionada de forma intencional. Se confeccionó una lista de verificación para aplicar el método de evaluación del nivel de seguridad con objetivos específicos y contenidos de cada escalón de defensa, para la comunidad seleccionada: Escalón 0: diseño de la defensa en profundidad; Escalón 1: Prevención de Sucesos Anormales; Escalón 2: Liquidación de sucesos anormales y Escalón 3: Mitigación de accidentes. Resultados: Los conjuntos definidos como aspectos de seguridad dominantes se calificaron de inaceptable-crítico o inaceptable-extremo en esta localidad; lo que implica la toma de medidas urgentes por los bajos valores del nivel de seguridad existente. Discusión: En el grupo de estudio se identificaron dificultades en la evaluación del riesgo en el contexto comunitario que muestran, luego del análisis de sensibilidad exhaustivo, que las acciones a emprender para revertir la situación inicial no requieren en su mayoría de recursos materiales, con un costo significativo para llegar al estado deseado; sin embargo, este estado puede alcanzarse con la aplicación de un grupo de medidas de orden organizativo y de gestión(AU)

Introduction: the management of hazardous chemicals in the community is not carry on a safe and responsible ways. Objective: to assess the safety level of the selected community in the management of chemicals hazards. Methods: exploratory-descriptive research conducted in the popular council Pogolotti-Finlay-Belen in the municipality of Marianao, between the years 2013-2015. There was a population of 1142 systematic practitioners in the handling of hazardous chemicals. The sample was 177 people; was obtained non-probabilistically and was intentionally selected. An exhaustive checklist was prepared for applying the safety level assessment method (ENS), with specific objectives and contents of each defense echelon: Echelon 0: Design of the Defense in Depth; Echelon 1: Prevention of Abnormal Events; Echelon 2: Control of Abnormal Events and Echelon 3: Accidents mitigation. Results: The sets defined as safety dominant aspects are classified as Unacceptable-Critical (I-C) or Unacceptable-Extreme (I-E) in this neighborhood; what implies the taking of urgent measures by the low values of the existing safety level. Conclusions: In the group of study, difficulties were identified in the evaluation of the risk in the community context that show, after the analysis of exhaustive sensitivity, that the actions to be taken to revert the initial situation, do not require of material resources with a significant cost to reach the desired state; however, this state can be achieved through the application of a group of organizational and management measures(AU)

Application of the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework to Risk Assessment for Predicting Carcinogenicity of Chemicals

As industry develops in modern society, many chemicals are being used. The safety of chemicals is an important issue because humans are constantly exposed to chemicals throughout their daily life. Through a risk assessment, the hazardous human effects of chemicals can be identified. Recently, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework has been used to predict the adverse effects of chemicals. As a conceptual framework for organizing existing biological knowledge, the AOP consists of a molecular initiating event, key events, and an adverse outcome. These independent elements represent biological responses and are connected by key event relationships. This AOP framework provides intuitive hazard identification that can be helpful for carcinogenic risk assessment of chemicals. In this review, we introduce the application of the AOP framework to risk assessment for predicting carcinogenicity of chemicals and illustrate the utility of this approach for cancer prevention.

What must be done to prevent another humidifier disinfectant disaster?

The humidifier disinfectant disaster (HDD) was not a simple poisoning accident by biocides, but a singular disaster in history created by chemicals in household products. This disaster was a result of the failure of a system for the management of chemical and product safety. Since the management authority for chemical usage safety is different from those for chemical safety in products, many blind areas for chemical safety management in products still remain. The ‘Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (ARECS)’ or the new ‘Biocidal Product Act’ must not only address the blind areas in the management system for chemical and product safety, but also prevent a second HDD. To prevent another HDD, an integrated registration, evaluation, and management system for chemicals and consumer products must be incorporated into the ‘ARECS’ as an essential part for chemical safety in consumer products.

Risk assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in the workplace

OBJECTIVES: A hazard assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used workplace chemical, was conducted in order to protect the occupational health of workers. A literature review, consisting of both domestic and international references, examined the chemical management system, working environment, level of exposure, and possible associated risks. This information may be utilized in the future to determine appropriate exposure levels in working environments. METHODS: Hazard assessment was performed using chemical hazard information obtained from international agencies, such as Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-generated Screening Information Data Set and International Program on Chemical Safety. Information was obtained from surveys conducted by the Minister of Employment and Labor (“Survey on the work environment”) and by the Ministry of Environment (“Survey on the circulation amount of chemicals”). Risk was determined according to exposure in workplaces and chemical hazard. RESULTS: In 229 workplaces over the country, 831 tons of DEHP have been used as plasticizers, insecticides, and ink solvent. Calculated 50% lethal dose values ranged from 14.2 to 50 g/kg, as determined via acute toxicity testing in rodents. Chronic carcinogenicity tests revealed cases of lung and liver degeneration, shrinkage of the testes, and liver cancer. The no-observed-adverse-effect level and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level were determined to be 28.9 g/kg and 146.6 g/kg, respectively. The working environment assessment revealed the maximum exposure level to be 0.990 mg/m³, as compared to the threshold exposure level of 5 mg/m³. The relative risk of chronic toxicity and reproductive toxicity were 0.264 and 0.330, respectively, while the risk of carcinogenicity was 1.3, which is higher than the accepted safety value of one. CONCLUSIONS: DEHP was identified as a carcinogen, and may be dangerous even at concentrations lower than the occupational exposure limit. Therefore, we suggest management of working environments, with exposure levels below 5 mg/m³ and all workers utilizing local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protection when handling DEHP.

Investigação do acidente da Boate Kiss em Santa Maria: Rio Grande do Sul: Brasil / Nightclub Kiss Accident Analysis in Santa Maria: RS a case study focusing on the investigation of the accident as an opportunity to return the learned experience

Introdução: O acidente ocorrido em Santa Maria-RS encontra-se dentre os mais propalados pela mídia inclusive com repercussão internacional. A investigação criminal, levada a cabo pela delegacia de polícia e também a feita pelos técnicos do conselho regional de engenharia, resultou em um conhecimento dos fatos imediatos, ou seja, um olhar da relação causa e efeito, nitidamente estabelecida sem buscar as razões de origem das causas. Em outros termos, aqui buscamos contextualiza o evento acidentário dentro dos fatores culturais, políticos, regulatórios e econômicos. Ao não colocar luzes sob tais aspectos correlacionados, o retorno da experiência, o aprendizado e a própria gestão de riscos, ficaram circunscritos à esfera proximal do acidente. Questões sobre o uso e comercialização de materiais pirotécnicos, o emprego de materiais de revestimentos em boates e clubes noturnos, a promoção de eventos com grande afluxo de pessoas para locais fechados, não são aprofundados nos referidos relatórios. Também não se discutiu, de forma ampla, questões sobre a atuação de órgãos públicos na concessão de funcionamento de boates, sobre o papel dos especialistas em prevenção de risco, sobre o papel dos agentes públicos em grandes desastres e acidentes ampliados, especialmente os relacionados ao acidente químico que neste caso matou, em minutos, duzentos e quarenta e dois jovens, todos levados a óbitos pela ação do gás cianídrico.

Introduction: The accident in Santa Maria - RS is one of the most publicized by the media having international repercussions. The criminal investigation conducted by the police and also by the technicians of the Regional Engineering Board, resulted in an understanding of immediate facts, i.e., the causes and effects which clearly established without seeking for the roots of the problem. In other words, here we seek to contextualize the accident within the cultural, political, regulatory and economic aspects. If we did not analyze the correlated aspects, the feedback, learning and risk management itself would be restricted to the accident proximal sphere. Questions about the use and sale of fireworks, the use of lining materials in clubs and nightclubs, the organization of events with large amounts of people indoors, are not detailed in the reports. It was also not broadly discussed questions about the role of governmental agencies in providing operating licenses for nightclubs, the role of risk prevention experts and the role of public officials in major disasters and major accidents, especially those related to chemical substances, that, in this case, killed two hundred forty two young people in a few minutes, all of whom died due to the action of the cyanide gas. Objectives: In face of these and other shortcomings, this paper proposes a method of coping with these issues

Analysis of the utilization of existing test data for phase-in substance registration under the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 2000 phase-in substances are subject to registration according to the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (KREACH), and the expected testing cost is 2.06 trillion Korean won assuming all the test data required for registration are acquired. The extent to which these enormous test costs can be reduced depends on the availability of existing data that can be used to meet the requirements of the K-REACH we examined the current availability of test data that can be used for chemical substance registration. METHODS: We analyzed the possibility of utilizing the existing test data obtained from 16 reference databases for 369 of 518 kinds of phase-in substances subject to registration that were reported in last October 2014. RESULTS: The physical and chemical properties were available for 57.1% of substances, whereas data regarding human hazards and environmental hazards were available at considerably lower rates, 8.5% and 11.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Physical and chemical properties were available for a fairly high proportion, whereas human hazards and environmental hazards were reported for considerably fewer substances.

Compliance to safety measures towered radiation hazards among the heath team

Radiation is a threat to health in work place and in general environment. Workers in radiation therapy department are exposed to variety type of occupational hazards. Health and safety measures compliance may decrease the health sequences of hazards to exposure. the research aimed to find out compliance to safety measures toward radiation hazards among the health team. the study were conducted at two radiation therapy settings affiliated to the largest cancer hospitals at Cairo governorate, National Cancer Institute and El demerdash hospital in Ain Shams university. A purposive sample [108] health team members in two settings were selected. [1] self administered questionnaire, [2] health team compliance observation checklist. finding revealed that, most of studied sample age were 35-45 years and had secondary education, most of them were had unsatisfactory knowledge and most of them were not compliance to health and safety measures compliance were more in safety practice. the study concluded there were lack of knowledge about radiation therapy, radiation hazards, and radiation safety measures specially technician, nurses, and clerk and low level of compliance to health and safety measures. the study recommended establish plans for periodical safety training courses for health team member in radiation setting to help in improving their practice and update their knowledge

Comparison of microcalorimetric fingerprint profiles of Lonicerae japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos / 药学学报

To compare the microcalorimetric fingerprint profiles of Lonicerae japonicae Flos (Lj.F) and Lonicerae Flos (L.F), microcalormietry was applied to find the heat change regularity of Bacillus shigae (B. shigae) metabolism affected by Lj.F and L.F (we choose Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz in this paper) with different concentrations. The thermogenic curves and thermodynamics parameters were investigated as evaluation index, and then the date of experiment was studied by similarity analysis. All the results indicated that the Lj.F and Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz (L.m.H-M) significantly impacted the microbial growth and had good similarity in its inhibitory activities. The combination approach of chemical analysis with bioassay was developed and employed to ensure the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines.

Avaliação das consequências da 'Lei dos Agrotóxicos' nas intoxicações e nas classificações toxicológica e de potencial de periculosidade ambiental no período de 1990 a 2000 / Evaluation of the "Pesticide Law" consequences on intoxications and on toxicological and environmental potential hazard classifications from 1990 to 2000

Objetivo: A Lei 7802/89 (Lei dos Agrotóxicos) foi considerada importante avanço para enfrentar problemas ambientais e de saúde provocados por agrotóxicos. Este estudo buscou avaliar o impacto da Lei e respectiva regulamentação na classificação toxicológica, na classificação de potencial de periculosidade ambiental dos agrotóxicos e nas intoxicações registradas. Métodos: Analisou-se a correlação entre vendas de agrotóxicos e registros de intoxicações no Brasil, de 1985 a 1999, utilizando Coeficiente de Correlação Linear de Pearson e Análise de Regressão. Os testes Qui-Quadrado de Tendência em Dados Ordenáveis e Coeficiente de Kappa foram utilizados para comparar o conjunto de substâncias que estava registrado em 1990 com o que estava registrado em 2000, segundo a classificação de periculosidade da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Analisaram-se as culturas/produtos de destinação permitidas, a classificação toxicológica e a de periculosidade ambiental dos produtos registrados após a Lei. Resultados: A correlação entre vendas e intoxicações foi positiva (r=0,82 ; p<0,0001). Obteve-se equação intox = 0,00236 x vendas (US$ 1,000.00) que permite estimar intoxicações registradas segundo vendas de agrotóxicos (R2=0,95; F=253,48; p<0,0001). Não houve diferenças significativas na classificação toxicológica e ambiental dos conjuntos de substâncias registradas antes-depois da Lei. Os registros posteriores à Lei continuaram privilegiando culturas de maior expressão econômica e agrotóxicos derivados de substâncias registradas antes da Lei. Produtos mais tóxicos foram registrados para finalidade que contava com outros menos tóxicos. Conclusões: Após dez anos não se consolidaram avanços esperados com a Lei. Recomendou-se: aplicar legislação com maior eficácia, priorizar registros de menor impacto, restringir produtos de maior periculosidade

Objective. The 1989 Brazilian's pesticide legislation (Law n° 7802/89) was considered an important improvement to control environmental and health problems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the law and it's regulations to the toxicological and environmental classifications of pesticides by hazard and to the notified poisonings. Methods. Pearson Correlation and Regression Analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between pesticide sales and notified intoxications in Brazil, from 1985 to 1999. Kappa Coefficient and Ridit Analysis (Relative Identified Distribution Analysis) were used to compare the WHO (World Health Organization) classification of pesticides by hazard of the group of chemicals that was registered in 1990 and the group registered in 2000. The toxicological and environmental classifications and the allowed destinations of the pesticides that were registered after the law were also analyzed. Results. The correlation among sales of pesticides and poisonings was positive (r=0,82 ; p<0,0001). The equation obtained make possible to estimate poisonings notifications using values of pesticides sales (R =0,95; F=253,48; p<0,0001): intox = 0,00236 x sales (US$ 1,000.00) . No significant toxicological and environmental classifications differences were identified between the groups of pesticides that were registered in 1990 and 2000. The most economical expressive crops received the majority of the registers. More toxic pesticides were registered to destinations that had less toxic ones. Conclusions. After ten years of Law it was not possible to consolidate the expected improvements. Recommendations included: enforcement of the law, priority to less risky pesticides, restriction to more toxic ones