Exam 3 Flashcards
Identify, define, and compare/contrast the categories of biological health hazards.
Bacteria: Microscopic, Single-cell, Rigid walls, No nuclear membrane, Health effects from infection or endotoxin, Antibiotics—effective treatment for infection
Viruses: Microscopic, Genetic material with a protein/lipid coat, Must enter a host’s cells to reproduce, Linked to carcinogenesis, No effective treatment for infection, Vaccination/prevention is key
Fungi: Micro- and macroscopic, Saprophytes (break down dead organic material), Non-motile, Cause problems through Infection, Allergy, and Mycotoxin
Protozoa: Microscopic, Single-cell, Motile
Allergens: Parts of plants, animals, fungi, Inflammatory processes, Inhalation or skin contact routes of entry
Describe the health effects and diseases resulting from exposure to various biological health hazards.
Zoonotic Disease:
- Anthrax: Bacillus anthracis spores, “wool sorter’s disease” (skin), hemorrhagic mediastinitis inhalation, but also skin and GI
- Psittacosis: avian origin (starlings, parrots, pigeons), Chlamydia psittaci, Fever, pneumonia, cough acute
- Rabies: viral infection, Central Nervous System effects, 100% fatal
Hypersensitivity Disease:
- Farmer’s lung: Grain mold, Silage
- Bagassosis: Sugar cane
What occupational settings in which the different biological health hazards are found and identify which hazards might be present in them.
Agriculture:
- Endotoxin of gram neg. bacteria: Cotton milling, Livestock waste, Causes respiratory distress, shock, death
- Allergens: pollens, mold spores, animal dander, cotton bract
- Fungal toxins (mycotoxins): Aspergillus in silage, compost, hay, grain, aflatoxins cause liver damage and cancers, other toxins cause neurologic problems
Laboratories:
- Exposures of blood and body fluids, Exposures to tissues Human pathogens: HBV, HIV, HCV
- Exposure to lab animals’ zoonotic diseases: Rabies, Herpes B Virus
Medical professions:
- physician, nurse, phlebotomist, lab tech: HIV, HBV, HCV, TB, etc.
Exposure to sewage:
- wastewater workers, plumbers, public works, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria, Typhoid fever, Giardia
Housekeeping:
- cleaning restrooms, handling human waste
What is the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens regulation cover and what are the basic requirements?
- Concern for HIV, HBV, HCV, and others
- Covers employees with occupational exposure to human blood, body fluids, and tissue
- Requires training and vaccination for HBV
- Requires Universal Precautions
- Requires post-exposure testing
Given the description of a laboratory, be able to assign a BSL level and describe what safety practices would be required.
BSL 1: Labs use only those organisms not pathogenic to humans under normal circumstances. Requirements: open bench work, handwashing
BSL 2: Clinical, diagnostic, and others where moderate-risk organisms are present, provided the route of entry isn’t inhalation. Requirements: Practices to avoid puncture on mucous member contact, PPE, Containment of effluent from handwashing facilities
BSL 3: Clinical, diagnostic, or research labs where serious-risk or potentially lethal organisms are used. Route of transmission - inhalation. Requirements: Biosafety cabinets, Containment of ventilation emissions, limited access to the lab.
BSL 4: Work with dangerous exotic agents which pose a high risk of death and for which there is no effective vaccine or treatment. Route of entry - inhalation. Requirements: Complete worker isolation, Full body PPE, Contained ventilation system, Contained wastewater system
What are the physical properties of sound and the definition of noise?
Sound waves, Frequency, Sound Pressure
Noise: Undesirable Sound
Define the various health effects associated with noise exposure.
Temporary Threshold Shift: Hearing loss suffered as the result of noise exposure, all of which is recovered during an interval of non-exposure.
Permanent Threshold Shift: Hearing loss suffered as the result of noise exposure and is not capable of being recovered.
Standard Threshold Shift (STS): An average change from baseline, in one or both ears, of 10 dB in the ability to hear the frequencies 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz
Noise-induced hearing loss: Impacts the ability to hear the frequencies 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz, first. After significant exposure, all frequencies are impacted.
Tinnitus: A perception of sound, where there is none. May be perceived as a ringing, buzzing, or roaring.
Acoustic Trauma: Permanent loss caused by a single, catastrophic noise event
Calculate a Standard Threshold Shift
Average = (Δ 2000 + Δ 3000 + Δ 4000)/3; if Average > 10 dB, then STS
What are the ACGIH and OSHA noise permissible exposure and action limits?
OSHA:
Duration Per Day Sound Level
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1.5 102
1 105
0.5 110
< 0.25 115
ACGIH:
Duration Per Day Sound Level
24 80
16 82
8 85
4 88
2 91
1 94
0.5 97
0.25 100
What are the additional risk factors that increase the risk of noise exposure?
Exposure to Ototoxic Chemicals, Frequency Spectrum of Sound (Higher frequencies = Higher risk), Duration of Exposure, Distance from Source, Position of Ear to Source
What are the basic categories of noise control solutions?
Two basic sources of noise are the surface motion of a vibrating solid or turbulence in the air.
Controls are aimed at these: Solid Vibration Control, Air Turbulence Control, Distance Attenuation
Describe the health effects associated with vibration
Vibration Syndrome: Vibration Syndrome is a group of symptoms related to the use of vibrating tools and includes -some or all of the following: muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, pain in the arms and shoulders, and vibration-induced white finger.
Vibration-Induced White Finger: Also known as “Dead Finger” or “Dead Hand” is the result of impaired circulation, caused by the prolonged use of vibrating tools.
Definitions of ionizing radiation, Ionization, and Radioactive
Ionizing Radiation = That particulate or electromagnetic radiation that causes ionization.
Ionization = An energy transfer process that changes the normal electrical balance in an atom.
Radioactive = An atom that undergoes a spontaneous change in a nucleonic configuration in order to attain stability.
Define, compare/contrast the categories of ionizing radiation.
Particulate
- Alpha: emitted from the nucleus during disintegration, two protons, two neutrons, positive charge, internal
- Beta: ejected from the nucleus during disintegration, “electron-like”, usually negative charge, sometimes positive, Internal and external
- Neutron: fissionable isotopes, bombards atoms, splitting some, capture (hydrogen/nitrogen in humans)
Electromagnetic
- Gamma: from the nucleus upon disintegration, penetration
- X-radiation: From electron shell, human made and natural
What are the factors that influence the severity of exposure to ionizing radiation?
Dose, Rate, Quality (linear energy transfer), Conditions, Route of entry
