Effect of occupational exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters in workers at oil and gas companies

Petroleum refineries are largest chemical industries that are responsible for emission of several pollutants into the atmosphere. Benzene and its metabolites are regarded as the most hazardous compounds that are emitted by petroleum refineries. These contribute to toxic oxidants, which cause many serious health risks to petroleum refineries workers. This study was aimed to analyze the effects of chemical exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters among workers at Zawia oil refinery and Mellituh oil and gas refinery companies. A total of 200 workers participated in this study which consisting of two equal groups (each group: n = 100). The first group consists of petroleum refineries workers and the second group consists of non-oil work civil servants serving were recruited as exposed and control subjects, respectively. The results of blood picture, liver enzymes and kidney functions were compared between the groups. Mean white blood cells counts, platelet counts, and hematocrit count were significantly higher, while the mean red blood cells count was insignificantly changed in petroleum refineries workers. While the mean hemoglobin and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration levels were significantly lower, whereas the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were insignificantly changed in petrol refineries workers. Liver enzymes and renal functions were significantly higher in petrol refineries workers. The present findings indicate that occupational exposure to benzene causes significant alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters and workers are at high risk of developing blood, hepatic or renal related disorders. Protection and frequent medical attention should be given to petroleum refineries workers.

Effects of exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation on changing platelets: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND@#Numerous studies have concentrated on high-dose radiation exposed accidentally or through therapy, and few involve low-dose occupational exposure, to investigate the correlation between low-dose ionizing radiation and changing hematological parameters among medical workers.@*METHODS@#Using a prospective cohort study design, we collected health examination reports and personal dose monitoring data from medical workers and used Poisson regression and restricted cubic spline models to assess the correlation between changing hematological parameters and cumulative radiation dose and determine the dose-response relationship.@*RESULTS@#We observed that changing platelet of 1265 medical workers followed up was statistically different among the cumulative dose groups (P = 0.010). Although the linear trend tested was not statistically significant (P@*CONCLUSION@#We concluded that although the exposure dose was below the limit, medical workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for a short period of time might have increased first and then decreased platelets, and there was a dose-response relationship between the cumulative radiation dose and platelets changing.

Monitoring and intervention of occupation exposure in 75 medical staffs / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyze the factors associated with the occurrence of occupation exposure in 75 medical workers,and to explore the effective intervention countermeasures.Methods The occurrence situation of the whole staff occupation exposure from January 2012 to December 2013 was retrospectively analyzed.Results In 75 medical personnel of occupation expo-sure,the nursing staff had the highest occurrence rate of occupation exposure,accounting for 81.33%,followed by doctors,account-ing for 13.33%;The major departments with the occupation exposure occurrence were the oncology,hematology and nephrology, accouting for 17.33%,followed by the general surgery(14.67%)and neurology(13.33%);the main links of occupation exposure were the used items settling after operating,accounting for 37.67%,followed by withdrawal of infusion needle,accounting for 37. 33%;the main instruments of occupation exposure were the injection needle(37.67%),followed by the infusion needdle(37.33%);top three of the occupation exposure source were unidentified source,negative pathogen and hepatitis B(48%,36%,12%);75 cases of occupation exposure did not develop infection after the timely wound treatment,preventive medication and regular follow-up. Conclusion Perfecting the occupation exposure management system,establishing and perfecting the occupation safety protection system,strengthening the training,increasing the overall occupation safety awareness,improving the nursing manpower shortage and standardizing the operation process are the effective measures and means for reducing the medical staff occupation exposure.

Needle-Stick Injuries among 379 Nurses:Analysis and Surveillance / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate rate,cause,psychology and prevention of needle-stick injuries among nursing staff.METHODS A retrospective questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 426 clinical nurses in a hospital.RESULTS Totally 379 nurses(88.97%) suffered from needle-stick injuries with an average of 4.75 times per person annually.The nurses with needle-stick more than 10 times accounted for 6.10%.The main reasons of needle-stick included pulling needles,adding medication,separating needle and so on.CONCLUSIONS Nurse should consolidate them self-protective consciousness.Therefore,it is a very important task of occupational prevention to improve the education of concept of universal precautions,prevent needle stab and reduce the occurrence of blood born diseases.

Transfusion-transmitted Infections Markers in Hospitatized Patients / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of serum markers of transfusion-transmitted infections in hospital,and analyze the clinical values in the control of nosocomical infection. METHODS The serum markers of transfusion-transmitted infections from 21 605 hospitalized cases,such as HBsAg,anti-HCV,anti-HIV,and RPR were detected. RESULTS The positive rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV was 9.78% and 1.70%,respectively.The positive anti-HIV was detected in 13 cases by the primary screening test for HIV,and the 13 cases were reconfirmed by the reconfirmation laboratory of CDC in Hunan Province.The positive RPR was in 4 cases,the same as of TPHA.There were 2 582 positive cases of the four indexes(HBsAg,anti-HCV,anti-HIV and RPR),the total positively detectable rate was 11.95%,which was obviously higher than 7.6% of normals(P