Occupational & Environmental Health Flashcards
OSHA
founded in 1970
housed under the department of labor
regulatory arm
close down facilities, survey individuals, voluntary participation programs with company and partner with company to work out potential problems, educational programs
issues citations = penalties
requires employers to keep records and report injuries, illnesses & maintain data
petitions courts to restrain situations where there is imminent danger
NIOSH
founded in 1970
for research
OSHA must have research studies done to make change and this is a group that can be unbiased about these outcomes and conducting these studies
develop criteria for acceptable exposure levels
maintains registry of toxic effects and chemical substances
tests protective equipment
EPA
Founded in 1970
Joint effort between White House and Congress
Mission: protect human health and safeguard natural environment – air, water, & land
Involved in environmental science, research, education & assessment efforts
Sets national standards for environmental programs; can issue sanctions; works with industry on voluntary pollution prevention programs and energy conservation efforts
Biological Rhythms
Can change due to shift work (zietgebers)
GI, ↑CVDx, preterm births, LBW babies, sleep deprivation
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
High-frequency, sensorineural deficit
- begins at higher frequencies >3000- 6000 Hz
- develops gradually 2° to chronic exposure
excessive sound levels
Second most common form of sensorineural loss after presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)
Excessively loud sound → metabolic exhaustion of ear hair cells
- glycogen reservoirs depleted - O2 for respiration depleted - free radical & reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced
dB and Exposure Times
Wear ear protective device when involved in loud activity
110dB - Regular exposure of >1 minute risks permanent damage
100 dB – No more that 15 minutes of unprotected exposure recommended
85 dB – Prolonged exposure above 84 dB can cause gradual hearing loss
In dB, 60 dB is a normal conversation, but 95 is a motorcycle, which is too loud for our ears
Raynaud’s Disease
This idiopathic disorder is characterized by color changes in the skin that may occur spontaneously and are typically induced by exposure to cold or by emotional stress
In a classic episode, the skin initially exhibits pallor because of arterial spasm and ischemia (white stage). This is followed by cyanosis due to suffusion of blood in capillaries and venules (blue stage), which is then replaced by erythema (red stage) as warming and reactive vasodilatation occur.
Raynaud’s Phenomena
in which cutaneous vasoreactivity identical to that described above occurs in association with an underlying disorder
Organophosphate Poisoning
Pesticides
irreversibly bind to AChE, therefore the ACh does not break down at neural synapses eventually causes over stimulation then paralysis
Secondary Effects:
- at end-organ synapses (muscarinic effects)
- in the CNS, at skeletal myoneural junctions (nicotinic effects)
- at autonomic ganglia
Organophosphate Poisoning: Muscarinic vs. Nicotinic Findings
Muscarinic findings may include the following: Diaphoresis, diarrhea, urination, miosis, bradycardia, bronchorrhea, bronchospasm, emesis, lacrimation and salivation (DUMBELS)
Nicotinic findings may include the following: muscle fasciculations, fatigue, paralysis, resp. mus. weakness, ↓ respiratory effort, tachycardia, ↑ BP
Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex
Irritant dermatitis with small red bumps
Type IV delayed hypersensitivity (T-cell)
Type I immediate hypersensitivity (IgE)
Forms of Toxins/Hazards
Solids- plastics
Particulate matter
* dust- fine solid particles of larger solid
* fume- solid particles condensed from
gases from heated metals or plastics
* fibers- asbestos
gases- gaseous state at room temperature
* vapor-gas from evaporation of liquid/gasoline
* mist-when a liquid is aerosolized forming fine
droplets
Systems Involved
Pulmonary – asthma, silicosis, CWP, asbestosis, & hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Cardiovascular – carbon monoxide exposure
Musculoskeletal – LBP, CTDs
CNS - mercury
GI – liver → methylene chloride,CCl4
Reproductive – methylmercury, lead
UG - kidney→ cadmium, lead, mercury
Hematologic – benzene, arsenic, radiation
3 Phases of Organophosphate Poisoning
- Cholinergic Phase – Medical Emergency
- ↑ nasal, oral, lacrimal, bronchial secretions; bronchoconstriction, sweating, vomiting, GI distress & ↑ motility, cramping; blurred vision 2° to miosis
- fasciculations →to flaccid paralysis ACh accumulation nicotinic sites at neuromuscular junctions - Intermediate Syndrome
- muscle weakness
- affects respiratory muscles →diaphragm
- SOB → resp. insufficiency & DEATH
- Delayed Polyneuropathy Phase
- not associated with increased mortality
- symmetrical muscle weakness in the periphery
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
Bluish discoloration (cyanosis) of the skin of fingers and hands.
Whitening (blanching) of fingertips after cold or damp exposure (known as Raynaud’s phenomenon).
Numbness, with or without tingling happens, before, during or after blanching
Sense of touch and pain perception reduced, sometimes forever.
Decreased grip strength, and inability to sustain muscle power
Concrete breakers, concrete pokers; sanders, grinders, disc cutters; hammer drills; chipping hammers; chainsaws, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, powered mowers; scabblers or needle guns
