Análise da situação de saúde dos trabalhadores expostos ao metanol no processo de fabricação de biodiesel / Analysis of the health status of workers exposed to methanol in the biodiesel manufacturing process

O metanol é um agente químico com características neurotóxico utilizados como matéria prima para a fabricação do biodiesel. Acredita-se que os efeitos após exposição crônica sejam semelhantes àqueles da exposição aguda, porém menos severos. Estes efeitos incluem distúrbios visuais e sob o sistema nervoso central. Por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa foram identificadas as principais fontes de exposição ao metanol, população exposta e sinais e sintomas recentes num universo de 42 trabalhadores de uma usina de processamento de biodiesel no município de Quixadá, Brasil. Foram identificados oito possíveisfontes de emissão e grupo de trabalhadores potencialmente expostos ao metanol. Entre os grupos expostos, encontram-se os trabalhadores da equipe de operadores, técnicos emmanutenção, apoio operacional, auxiliares de laboratório e, ainda, o pessoal que desempenha as atividades durante o descarregamento do produto em questão. A análise da situação desaúde dos trabalhadores revelou que a maioria dos indivíduos potencialmente expostos já apresenta sintomatologias pré- existentes tais como dores de cabeça, formigamento, azia equeimação. Irritação (38,1 por cento), ansiedade (35,7 por cento), insônia (64,3 por cento) e, principalmente, dor de cabeça (64,35 por cento) são as queixas recentes mais importantes associadas aos sintomas neurotóxicos. Por outro lado, os sinais e sintomas recentes, que podem estar relacionados à exposição de metanol foram irritação nos olhos (38,1 por cento), dificuldades para respirar (23,8 por cento) ecâimbras (19 por cento).

Methanol is a chemical agent with neurotoxic characteristics used as chief component for biodiesel production. It is believed that symptoms developed from chronic exposure of methanol are similar to those of acute exposure, however less severe. The symptoms identified include visual and central nervous system disorders. The main sources and symptoms related to exposure to methanol were identified by means of a qualitative research conducted with a population of 42 workers from a biodiesel processing plant in the region of Quixadá, Brazil.Eight possible emission sources were identified among workers who were “potentially exposed” to methanol. These workers held jobs as operators, operations support, maintenancetechnicians, lab assistants and loading dock workers. A health examination analyses revealed that the majority of the “potentially exposed” workers already show pre-existing symptoms such as headaches, paraesthesia, heartburn and acid reflux. Irritability (38.1%), anxiety (35.7%), insomnia (64.3%) and predominantly, headaches(64.35%) are the recent most important complaints associated with neurotoxic symptoms. Other recent symptoms that could be associated with exposure to methanol are eye irritation (38.1%) shortness of breath (23.8%) and cramps (19%).

Cod liver oil and liquid paraffin oil induced exogenous lipoid pneumonia in albino rats

This work was carried out on 30 adult albino rats of both sexes, divided into 3 numerically equal groups, 10 animals per each. The study aimed to highlighten the pathological features of cod liver oil and liquid paraffin induced exogenous lipoid pneumonia and increase the awareness of pediatricians and physicians about it to be kept in consideration in the differential diagnosis of various lung conditions, especially if there is history of chronic constipation and chronic intake of oil based laxatives. Cod liver oil group [Group II] received 0.5 ml/kg/day oral cod liver oil and liquid paraffin group [Group III] received 0.66 ml/kg/day oral liquid paraffin in a single daily dose for 12 successive weeks. Pathological specimens were taken from both lungs and examined, by hematoxylin and eosin, wilder silver, orcein and Prussian blue stains. Results revealed extensive pulmonary parenchymal damage and disturbed lung architecture in the form of consolidation, granulomatous formation, fibrosis, lymphocytic and foam cells infiltration. Group II showed more extensive and diffuse consolidation while Group III showed more extensive fibrosis and more abundant granulomatous masses

Application of E-commerce in local home shopping and its consequences on energy consumption and air pollution reduction

Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether [MTBE] is one of the ether oxygenates which its use has been increased within the last twenty years. This compound is produced from isobutylene and methanol reaction that is used as octane index enhancer and also increases dissolved oxygen in gasoline and decreases carbon monoxide emission in four phased motors because of better combustion of gasoline. High solubility in water [52 g/L], high vapor pressure [0.54 kg/cm3], low absorption to organic carbon of soil and presence of MTBE in the list of potentially-carcinogens of U.S EPA has made its use of great concern. The culture media used in this study was Mineral Salt Medium [MSM]. The study lasted for 236 days and in three different concentrations of MTBE of 200, 5 and 0.8 mg/L. A control sample was also used to compare the results. This research studied the isolation methods of microbial consortium in the MTBE polluted soils in Tehran and Abadan petroleum refinery besides MTBE degradation. The results showed the capability of bacteria in consuming MTBE as carbon source. Final microbial isolation was performed with several microbial passages as well as keeping consortium in a certain amount of MTBE as the carbon source

Respiratory symptoms in Indian children exposed to different cooking fuels.

Smoke emission from fuels is an important source of indoor air pollution. Children spend considerable time indoors. It is therefore important to determine whether air contaminants from indoor air sources affect incidence of respiratory illness, cause symptoms and changes in pulmonary function status in them. Two hundred children in the age group of 7-15 were selected randomly. They were stratified according to the fuel used in their homes and respiratory symptoms were inquired from them according to a questionnaire recommended by the American Thoracic Society. The most symptomatic children were those whose households used kerosene (52%) and mixed fuels (46%) although different symptoms were present in varying extent in all 4 groups of children. Cough, cold, congestion or phlegm for one week or more occurred more frequently with mixed fuel use followed by kerosene. The present study thus showed that mixed fuel and kerosene fuel had worst effects on respiratory system in children whose households used these fuels.

An analysis of effect of common domestic fuels on respiratory function.

Pulmonary function studies were carried out in 3318 healthy, nonsmoking asymptomatic housewives to evaluate the role of different cooking fuels in domestic use. The women used four different types of cooking fuels: biomass fuel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene used in stoves, and a combination of two or more of these (mixed). Four parameters of ventilatory function (FVC, FEV1, PEFR and MMEF) were evaluated. A positive correlation was observed between all these parameters except PEFR with that of height, but a negative correlation was observed between the age, duration of cooking and exposure index. Mixed fuels and biomass fuels affected FVC values (F = 6.39, p = 0.0003) more adversely. Similar trend was observed for FEV1 also. Users of biomass fuel had the lowest mean value for PEFR. Small airways function represented by MMEF was the lowest in users of kerosene. In users of mixed fuels, there was a decline in FVC, FEV1 and PEFR, as the exposure increased. Thus, it is concluded that, mixed fuel has more deleterious effects on pulmonary function than other fuels.

Bronchial responsiveness of non-smoking women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke or biomass fuel combustion.

We studied bronchial responsiveness (BR) in three groups of housewives with or without history of exposure to tobacco smoke or combustion of biomass fuels. Methacholine bronchoprovocation test was used to study BR. The group I subjects (60), who served as controls, were nonsmokers and had no chronic exposure to passive smoking or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or biomass fuels. Three of these women showed a 20 per cent FEV1 fall with a cumulative methacholine dose of 72.5 mg or less. Of 60 women in group II (ETS-exposure) and 52 in group III (biomass exposure), 26 (43.3%) and 10 (19.2%) respectively showed bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR). The odds ratios for BHR in groups II and III were 14.53 and 4.52 respectively. The number of hyper-responders was significantly more and the mean PD20 less in the exposed than the non-exposed groups. The occurrence of BHR in the ETS exposed group was more (P < 0.05) than the biomass combustion group. There were more hyper-responders (both groups II and III) amongst those who had an exposure index (EI) of 50 or more compared to those with EI of less than 50. We conclude that chronic cumulative exposure to both ETS and biomass combustion produces significant BHR. Further, BHR developed more often on ETS exposure, and when the exposure was present for a longer period.

Funçäo pulmonar e reatividade brônquica inespecífica em trabalhadores do Terminal Rodoviário do Tiête - Säo Paulo, expostos a produtos da exaustäo de motores diesel / Lung function and non-specific bronchial reactivity in workers of the Terminal Rodoviário do Tietê - Säo Paulo, exposed to diesel engines` exhaust

Os efeitos respiratorios da exposiçäo ocupacional a produtos da exaustäo de motores diesel em um terminal rodoviário interestadual foram estudados em 108 trabalhadores, comparados a 102 controles näo-expostos. Todos realizaram espirometria, teste de broncoprovocaçäo com carbacol e radiografia de tórax. Os trabalhadores do TRT, comparados aos controles tiveram médias inferiores de FEF25-75 corrigido para a altura e de PFE e FEF25-75em porcentagem do previsto. Näo houve correlaçäo entre tempo de exposiçäo no Terminal e parâmetros de espirometria. Os dois grupos näo diferiram quanto à resposta inalatória ao carbacol. Os resultados indicam um efeito nocivo da exposiçäo ocupacional no TRT sobre a funçäo pulmonar. Näo foi demonstrada uma associaçäo entre exposiçäo e reatividade brônquica inespecífica.