Exposure to Methyl Methacrylate and Its Subjective Symptoms Among Dental Technicians,Tehran, Iran

Exposure to methyl methacrylate (MMA), total dust and health symptoms were investigated in 20 dental laboratories located in Tehran, Iran. Time-weighted average (TWA) of MMA and peak concentrations were determined, using XAD-2 tubes followed by GC-ID analysis. Total dusts were evaluated gravimetrically. Health symptoms were asked using a questionnaire. TWA for technicians with direct and indirect exposure to MMA were 327.28 ± 79.42 and 282.9 ± 41.84 mg/m³ , respectively. Peak concentration of MMA for those technicians were 337.0 ± 36.81 and 328.88 ± 45.40 mg/m³, respectively.

There were no significant differences between TWA of MMA and peak concentration in different weekly workdays; however, within-day variations were observed (P < .05).

TWA of MMA and peak concentration correlation with the laboratory volume were 0.61-0.65. Dust exposure of technicians was 2.35 ± 2.70 mg/m³. Cough and skin dryness were the common health symptoms. Smoking and asbestos exposure history were factors influencing cough prevalence (p < .05).

It is concluded that the current Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is not low enough to protect technicians against the adverse effects caused by MMA.     

Application of a Screening Method in Assessing Occupational Safety and Health of Computer Workstations

Employers and workers need concrete guidance to plan and implement changes in the ergonomics of computer workstations. The Näppärä method is a screening tool for identifying problems requiring further assessment and corrective actions. The aim of this study was to assess the work of occupational safety and health (OSH) government inspectors who used Näppärä as part of their OSH enforcement inspections (430 assessments) related to computer work. The modifications in workstation ergonomics involved mainly adjustments to the screen, mouse, keyboard, forearm supports, and chair. One output of the assessment is an index indicating the percentage of compliance items. This method can be considered as exposure assessment and ergonomics intervention used as a benchmark for the level of ergonomics. Future research can examine whether the effectiveness of participatory ergonomics interventions should be investigated with Näppärä.     

Hand anthropometric study in northern Colombia

The main purpose of this study is to gather information about the dimensions of the northern Colombian (Caribbean region) population, focusing on the dimensions of the hand and comparing them with measurements from other regions. Thirty-two hand dimensions were chosen and 120 males and 86 females were measured. Results indicated that there were differences between the dimensions of the hand for men and women, showing that men are larger. Also, there was a comparison made between some measurements of other studies in different regions of Colombia, the USA, Chile, Jordan, Korea and Japan. The results indicated important physiological differences between regions in Colombia and across countries. It was therefore concluded that differences in anthropometric measurements must be included in the design and procurement of machinery and apparatus in order to avoid productivity loss, occupational injuries or illness.     

我国地质矿产部门工业卫生现状

对地质矿产部门１９９１年初至１９９２年底开展的工业卫生普查工作资料进行分析，简述了职业危害人群分布、现场监测、职业病的现状及危害原因，提出了防护措施和改进意见。     

改进环境和职业健康安全管理整合体系适应GB/T24001-2004标准

建立与实施环境和职业健康安全管理整合体系有利于企业降低管理成本、提高管理效益。环境管理体系标准的改版加强了其与其他管理体系之间的协调性和兼容性,有利于进一步推动整合体系的建立与实施。在深入研究GB/T24001-2004版标准在结构框架、术语、要素名称及内容等方面变化情况的基础上,在环境和职业健康安全方针、目标、指标和方案的策划、资源,特别是基础设施的保障、合规性评价的完善、纠正措施和预防措施的实施以及一体化内部审核的开展等方面提出了建议对策,以供企业借鉴。改进环境和职业健康安全管理整合体系,以适应体系标准的发展变化,不断提高企业的现代安全健康管理水平是企业可持续发展的重要因素。     

Individual-Oriented and Neighborhood Protecting Health Actions: The Critical Role of Environmental Education Seeking Behavior

A relationship between individual health-oriented actions and neighborhood civic activities is proposed, as is a relationship between these behaviors and a personality that seeks information from multiple sources. The proposed relationship was tested with a sample of 367 residents of New Jersey, USA. Respondents who had their eyes examined and screening tests for chronic diseases, and engaged in other individually oriented health-protecting behaviors were also more likely to have engaged in neighborhood civic activities, such as calling on elected officials and participating in neighborhood functions. As expected, specific personality attributes were associated with both sets of health-protecting activities, including outreach to multiple sources for information and help, a strong sense of efficacy, and trust of authority and neighbors. The relationship between personality and health-protecting behaviors was confounded by age and formal education. However, the relationship with personality measures persisted after controlling for age and education. The shortcomings of the research are reviewed, and implications of these observations for building a broader theory that links environmental education to civic engagement and individual health-protecting behaviors are discussed.     

石化企业员工心理健康状况调查分析

目的了解石化企业员工的心理健康状况,采取相应的心理健康干预措施,提高企业员工的心理健康水平。方法采用症状自评量表（SCL-90）,抽取1472名石化企业员工进行测试。人机对话,电脑评定。对结果进行了统计分析并与国内群体常模进行了比较。结果石化企业员工症状自评量袁评定心理健康状况好1048人,占71．20％;心理健康状况良好334人,占22．69％;心理健康状况一般90人,占6．11％。症状自评量表的各项因子均分与全国常模比较：阳性项目、躯体化和恐怖因子均分高于全国常模;强迫症状、人际关系和忧郁因子均分低于全国常模;焦虑、敌对、偏执和精神病性因子均分与全国常模无差异。     

短期OTC 处理对鹅绒委陵菜健康影响的研究初报

利用开顶箱（Open Top Chambers, OTC）模拟增温的方法,研究了短期变暖对鹅绒委陵 菜健康的影响。结果表明,短期变暖后降低了鹅绒委陵菜的萌蘖株死亡、增加了单位长度匍匐茎 的萌蘖株数目和其死亡率,同时叶片数目、高度和健康率比对照增加,匍匐茎长度和匍匐茎上萌 蘖株数目比对照减少,同时所有表征指标中只有萌蘖死亡率和叶片高度比对照有显著变化 （p ＜ 0.05）。