Biological monitoring of exposure to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning workers.

BACKGROUND: Perchloroethylene (PCE) is the most widely used solvent in dry cleaning. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate PCE pollution and to identify the most reliable biological indicators for the assessment of workers' exposure. METHODS: The study was performed in 40 dry cleaning shops covering a total of 71 subjects. Environmental monitoring was carried out with personal diffusive samplers (Radiello) for the entire work shift; biological monitoring was performed by measuring PCE in urine and blood and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in urine on Thursday evening at end-of shift and on Friday morning pre-shift. RESULTS: The mean concentration of PCE in air was 52.32 mg/m3, about 30% of the TLV-TWA and the mean value of the PCE inpre-shift blood samples was 0.304 mg/l, slightly more than 50% of the BEI. In dry cleaning shops employing less than 3 persons PCE in air exceeded the TLV-TWA in 7.8% of cases; the size of the shops was inversely related to pollution. Statistically significant correlations were found between PCE exposure and PCE in blood end-of-shift (r = 0.67) and pre-shift (r = 0.70), and PCE in urine end-of-shift (r = 0.68); no correlation was found between exposure and PCE in urine pre-shift and urinary TCA. CONCLUSIONS: Dry cleaning shops still register conditions of exposure and pollution by PCE, although to a lesser extent than in the past. The most reliable indicators for biological monitoring are CE in end-of-shift urine and PCE in blood both at end-of-shift and pre-shift at the end of the workweek.

[Manual material handling risk assessment and ergonomic improvement in foodstuff retailing company]. / Valutazione del rischio nella movimentazione manuale di carichi e interventi ergonomici correttivi in un'azienda di distribuzione di generi alimentari.

The aim of this study is to assess and reduce the risk due to manual material handling in a company involved in the foodstuff retailing. The risk assessment was performed by NIOSH Variable Lifing Index in 13 different occupational conditions. As result the risk was present in any case, with VLI values ranging from 2.12 to 2.81. A good risk reduction has been accomplished correcting properly the most important multiplier involved in the computation of the revised NIOSH Lifting equation (lifting frequency and weight of heavier products). Even if the performed risk reduction has been significant, the residual risk is still higher than the level of acceptability.