Exposure of workers in tanneries, construction and beauty salons in Armenia to occupational environmental pollution. Case study

The objective of this research was to evaluate the working and health conditions of workers in three sectors of the economy of Armenia, Colombia (tanneries, construction sites, and beauty salons) exposed to chemical and physical agents. A descriptive observational study of the working conditions and health of workers in their work environments was carried out, by visiting 10 companies per sector. The evaluation of working conditions in construction sites gave High (high risk), as well as in tanneries. Beauty salons gave an evaluation of Medium (medium risk).

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar las condiciones de trabajo y salud de los trabajadores, de tres sectores de la economía de Armenia, Colombia (curtiembres, obras de construcción y salones de belleza), expuestos a agentes químicos y físicos. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de las condiciones de trabajo y salud de los trabajadores en sus entornos laborales, visitando 10 empresas por sector. La evaluación de las condiciones de trabajo en las obras de construcción dio un resultado Alto (riesgo elevado), al igual que en las curtiembres. Los salones de belleza obtuvieron una evaluación Media (riesgo medio).

Estudio del manejo del plomo en establecimientos de tipografía, reconstrucción de baterías y recicladores de chatarra en el departamento del Quindío, Colombia / Study of lead management in typography establishments, battery reconstruction and scrap cecyclers in Quindio (Colombia)

En el 2011, existían en el departamento del Quindío aproximadamente 95 establecimientos comerciales, dedicados a tipografías, reciclaje de chatarra, y reconstrucción de baterías en donde los trabajadores tenían contacto con metales pesados como el plomo (Pb) sin protección alguna. De estos 95 establecimientos, participaron en el estudio el 55% y de estas empresas se encontró que el 80.65% era economía informal, es decir, independientes, unifamiliares y sin afiliación a la Seguridad Social Integral (Salud, Pensión y Riesgos laborales). El riesgo más importante en estos trabajadores es la manipulación consciente o inconsciente del plomo. El Pb se utiliza en su forma metálica y en aleaciones, siendo de los pocos metales que es tóxico por sí mismo. El Pb no tiene una función biológica útil en el hombre, por lo que es preocupante que se hable de cifras normales de este metal en la sangre. La exposición no controlada del Pb genera graves daños a nivel sistémico del organismo, tales como: disminución de la capacidad física, fatiga, trastornos del sueño, cefalea, dolores de huesos y músculos, dolores abdominales, disminución del apetito y en casos muy graves se produce daño en riñones e incluso la muerte.

In 2011, about 95 commercial establishments existed in the department of Quindio, they worked in typography, scrap recycling, and battery reconstruction where workers had contact with heavy metals such as lead (Pb), without any protection. 55 % of these 95 establishments participated in the study, and 80,65% of them worked informally, that is to say people who were independent, single-family, and without Integral Social Security affiliation (health, pension and occupational hazards). The Major risk in these workers is conscious or unconscious manipulation of lead. The Pb is used in metallic form and alloys, being one of the few metals that are toxic by itself. The Pb has no useful biological function in humans, so it is worrying to talk about normal levels of lead in the blood. Uncontrolled exposure of Pb causes serious damage to the body in a systemical level, such as decreased physical fitness, fatigue, sleep disorders, headache, muscle and bone pain, abdominal pain, decreased appetite and, in severe cases, produces kidney damage and even death.

Liderazgo y cultura en seguridad: su influencia en los comportamientos de trabajo seguros de los trabajadores / Leadership and culture in occupational safety: its influence on safe work practices

La investigación se basó en estudios descriptivos y correlacionales, utilizando el método de estudio de casos para explorar el comportamiento de los factores predictivos de la cultura de seguridad, agrupados en 10 dimensiones, que hacen énfasis en el liderazgo en seguridad como variable interviniente en correlación con el desempeño en seguridad de los trabajadores, y medir los cambios de los comportamientos seguro de los trabajadores, cuando los supervisores y mandos medios transforman sus conductas y motivan la aparición de un cambio cultural. Se emplearon dos tipos de cuestionarios, para evaluar la cultura y prácticas que caracterizan el liderazgo en seguridad desde la visión y acción de la alta gerencia, los gerentes de nivel medio, supervisores y los profesionales que gestionan la seguridad. La investigación exigió modificar el estado de las dimensiones de la cultura y liderazgo en seguridad, con un análisis de su impacto en la efectividad del Proceso de Gestión de la Seguridad Basada en los Comportamientos.

This research was based on descriptive and correlational studies, using the case study method to explore the behavior of predictors of safety culture, grouped into 10 dimensions, that emphasize safety leadership as an intervening variable correlated with safety performance of workers, and measured changes in safe behaviors of workers, when supervisors and middle managers transform their behavior and encourage a cultural change. We used two types of questionnaires to assess the culture and practices that characterize the safety leadership and action from the perspective of senior management, middle managers, supervisors and professionals who manage industrial safety. The research required a change in the status of the dimensions of safety culture and leadership, with an analysis of their impact on the effectiveness of behavior-based process safety management.

Atomized sludges via spray-drying at low temperatures: an alternative to conventional wastewater treatment plants.

Removal of sludges from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) represents a serious worldwide environmental problem for which alternatives other than their simple incineration are investigated. In this work the treatment of raw sludge from urban WWTP by means of a minimization process through spray-drying is analyzed as well as some proposals for revaluating the resulting dry product. Analysis is supported by some experimental results obtained with a laboratory spray dryer. The experimental procedure at laboratory scale is extrapolated to an industrial plant scale. An economic analysis of the proposal in relation to other possible sludge treatments is presented, taking into account in this case the comparison between the costs of the processes of sludge thickening, stabilization and dehydratation and the costs of spray-drying (especially power consumption), minimization of the final waste and reuse options. Finally, an environmental balance of the process is presented. In contrast with the classical treatment line, this alternative allows transforming sludges, i.e., a waste, into a valuable product with several applications.

Environmental effects of using clay bricks produced with sewage sludge: leachability and toxicity studies.

Use of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants as a raw material for making clay bricks has been analyzed to be an option to dumping sludges into landfills. This alternative has been shown feasible and interesting due to the high rate of use of ceramic materials in the building sector. However, it meets with some environmental issues and some prejudices on the part of users. This work shows some leachability and toxicity tests (outgassing and offgassing) which demonstrate the environmental compatibility of these ceramic products to be used as building materials and even in deconstruction of the building once its useful life is ended.

Characterization of wood dust from furniture by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis.

Study characterized and analyzed form factor, elementary composition and particle size of wood dust, in order to understand its harmful health effects on carpenters in Quindío (Colombia). Once particle characteristics (size distributions, aerodynamic equivalent diameter (D(α)), elemental composition and shape factors) were analyzed, particles were then characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXRA). SEM analysis of particulate matter showed: 1) cone-shaped particle ranged from 2.09 to 48.79 µm D(α); 2) rectangular prism-shaped particle from 2.47 to 72.9 µm D(α); 3) cylindrically-shaped particle from 2.5 to 48.79 µm D(α); and 4) spherically-shaped particle from 2.61 to 51.93 µm D(α). EDXRA reveals presence of chemical elements from paints and varnishes such as Ca, K, Na and Cr. SEM/EDXRA contributes in a significant manner to the morphological characterization of wood dust. It is obvious that the type of particles sampled is a complex function of shapes and sizes of particles. Thus, it is important to investigate the influence of particles characteristics, morphology, shapes and D(α) that may affect the health of carpenters in Quindío.

Análisis de la incidencia de patologías respiratorias por exposición al polvo de madera en los carpinteros del quindío(Colombia) / Analysis of the incidence of respirator y pathologies caused by exposure to wood dust in carpenters of quindío (Colombia)

Es bien conocido por la comunidad científica internacional que la exposición al polvo de madera, dependiendo del tipo de madera utilizada en la fabricación del mueble, acarrea diferentes problemas a la salud del carpintero. Las madera blandas (coníferas) son irritantes, alergénicas, y con el tiempo pueden llegar a generar asma ocupacional y EPOC (Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica). El polvo de madera dura (no-coníferas) ha sido asociado con varios tipos de cáncer, incluyendo el de la cavidad nasal, pulmón y tracto gastrointestinal, y la enfermedad de Hodgkin. Las fibras alargadas acompañadas de poros corresponden a las fibras de coníferas. La mayoría de las fibras de no-coníferas son de paredes gruesas y cortas. Se sospecha que las características morfológicas de las fibras de las coníferas hacen que éstas sean más agresivas en la deposición de los tejidos blandos de la nariz y los pulmones quelas fibras de no-coníferas, aunque los efectos de estas últimas sean más letales. Sin embargo, la aparición del cáncer nasal y pulmón es más tardía que los problemas respiratorios e irritaciones provocadas por las coníferas. Un estudio de morbi-mortalidad laboral de los carpinteros de10 empresas del Quindío (Colombia) concluyó que el riesgo relativo eradel 81 por ciento, lo que nos confirma que la exposición continua al polvo demadera incide en la aparición de problemas o enfermedades respiratoriasy por ende al absentismo laboral.

It is well known by the international scientific community that exposure to wood dust, depending on the type of wood used in furniture manufacturing, affects the carpenter’s health in different ways. Softwoods (coniferous) are irritant, allergenic, and can eventually result in occupational asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Hardwood dust (non-coniferous) has been associated with several types of cancer, including the nasal cavity, lung and gastrointestinal tract, and Hodgkin's disease. Long and porous fibers are typical from conifers. Most non-coniferous fibers are short and thick-walled. It is suspected that the morphological characteristics of the fibers of conifers make them more aggressive in the deposition in the soft tissues of nose and lungs than nonconiferous fibers, although the effects of the latter are more lethal.However, the onset of nasal and lung cancer takes longer than respiratory problems and irritation caused by conifers. A study of morbidity and mortality of the carpenters working in 10 companies at Quindío (Colombia) concluded that the relative risk was 81 percent, which confirms that continuous exposure to wood dust influences the onset of problems or respiratory diseases and hence absenteeism in the workplace.

Health and working conditions in carpenter's workshops in Armenia (Colombia).

We conducted a study of the health and working conditions in 10 carpenter's workshops in the municipality of Armenia (Colombia). In these workshops, all the most exposed workers to wood dust were surveyed at the areas of sanding, brushing, immunization and painting (workers with the highest risk to get chronic respiratory disease). They were 177 workers. The use of hard and soft woods for furniture was detected. Besides, some pesticides, volatile organic solvents, synthetic epoxy resins glues and paintings, were used for finishes, which increases the risk of acquiring some neurological diseases and damage to the nervous system. Occurrence of cancer in nostrils mainly due to the use of hardwoods is an additional risk. With regard to the basic lighting conditions, it was found that half of workshops had deficiencies in special carving areas, because they were below the minimum allowable lighting limit level (500 lux). With relation to noise, all the workshops exceeded the permissible maximum limit value (85 dBA). With respect to the occurrence of occupational events, no data were found in the companies, or analysis of employee absenteeism due to the exposure to particulate matter.

Relationship between VOC and NOx emissions and chemical production of tropospheric ozone in the Aburrá Valley (Colombia).

Relationship between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and the chemical production of tropospheric ozone is studied through mathematical simulation. The study is applied to the Aburrá Valley, in the Colombian Andes, which is a practically unknown area from the point of view of ozone formation. The model used for this application is the European modelling of atmospheric constituents (EUMAC) zooming model (EZM) which consists of a mesoscale prognostic model (MEMO, mesoscale meteorological model) and a chemical reaction model (MUSE, multiscale for the atmospheric dispersion of reactive species), coupled to the chemical mechanism EMEP (European monitoring and evaluation program). The analysis is performed for a real episode that was characterized by high ozone production and that happened during the 23rd and 24th December, 1999 in Medellín (Colombia). From this real scenario, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out in order to assess the influence of VOC and NOx amounts on ozone production and to extract some conclusions for future ozone abatement policies in Andean regions. As far as ozone air quality is concerned, it is shown that in order to keep current levels the emphasis must be put to avoid increasing NOx emissions, or alternatively, to augment VOC emissions in order to have a high VOC/NOx ratio.