Occupational Hygiene, 15%

Question 1

What is the CRBOH?

Answer 1

Canadian Registered Board of Occupational Hygienists

• Registered Occupational Hygienists (ROH)
• Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologists (ROHT)

Question 2

What is the ACGIH?

Answer 2

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

• publish TLVs

Question 3

What is the ABIH?

Answer 3

American Board of Industrial Hygiene

• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)

Question 4

What is NIOSH

Answer 4

National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety

• USA
• Paired with OSHA
• Government organization

Question 5

What is the AIHA?

Answer 5

American Industrial Hygiene Association

Question 6

What is important about Hippocrates?

Answer 6

Identified lead poisoning in miners and metallurgists

Question 7

What is important about Pliny Secundus?

Answer 7

Described use of animal bladders as respiratory masks for dust & lead fumes.

Question 8

What is important about Georgius Agicola?

Answer 8

Treatise on accidents and diseases in mining “De Re Metallica”

Recommended ventilation and use of protective masks

Question 9

What is important about Paracelsis?

Answer 9

The dose makes the poison.
Underlying concept of toxicology.

Question 10

What is important about Bernardo Ramazzini?

Answer 10

Father of Occupational Medicine.

Published “De Mobis Artificum” - describing occupational diseases including silicosis.

Question 11

What is important about Sir Percival Pott

Answer 11

Identified scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps.

Behind the British Chimney Sweeps Act - the first OHS legislation.

Question 12

What is important about Alice Hamilton?

Answer 12

Identified a direct link between illness and toxic chemical exposure.

Question 13

Differentiate Carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens.

Answer 13

Mutagens - substances that affect genetic material (cancers, birth defects)

Carcinogens - substances that cause malignant tumors (a type of mutagen)

Teratogens - cause physical defects in an embryo or fetus.

Question 14

What types of fumes cause the following lung diseases:

Siderosis
Stannosis
Aluminosis
Berylliosis
Fibrosis
Metal Fume Fever

Answer 14

Siderosis - Iron Oxide

Stannosis - Tin

Aluminosis - Aluminion

Berylliosis - Beryllium

Fibrosis - Titanium

Metal Fume Fever - Zinc, Copper, Magnesium
(short lasting flu-like symptoms)

Question 15

What is tinnitus?

Answer 15

Ringing/hissing sound.

Associated with hearing loss, but can be caused by wax, middle ear fluid, and ruptured tympanum.

Question 16

What is Meniere’s Disease?

Answer 16

Otitis media affecting balance.

Often includes hearing loss and tinitis.

Question 17

What is Presbycusis?

Answer 17

Gradual age-related hearing loss.

Question 18

What are decibels?

Answer 18

Measurement of sound pressure (not frequency).

LOGARITHMIC SCALE, pressure doubles every 3 dB.

Inverse-square law, double distance = 1/4 dose. Therefore doubling the distance decreases dB by 6.

Question 19

What are dBA, dBB, and dBC?

Answer 19

dBA = human ear sound levels

dBB = medium sound pressures

dBC = high sound pressures.

FEDERAL 8-hr TWA exposure is 87 dBA

Question 20

How do you calculate temperatures for thermal stress?

Answer 20

When exposed to radiant heat (sunlight or heat source):
0.7 NWB + 0.2 GT + 0.1 DB

When no radiant heat:
0.7 NWB + 0.3 GT

NWB = Natural Wet-Bulb Temperature
DB = Dry-Bulb Temperature
GT = Globe Temperature

Question 21

What are the four levels of biological safety lab?

Answer 21

1 - low risk, unlikely to cause disease in healthy people.

2, May cause serious disease.

3, Highly transmissible and can be fatal. Treatment or preventative measures available.

4, High risk, life threatening, not treatable.

Question 22

What are Legionnaires Dz and Pontiac Fever?

Answer 22

Both are respiratory Dz caused by Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires Dz = pneumonia
Pontiac Fever = influenza-like illness

Question 23

What are Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs)?

Answer 23

BEIs are measurable warning levels that can be used to determine a workers exposure.

For example, measuring the carboxyhemoglobin in a workers blood or cabon monoxide in a workers breath following exposure to carbon monoxide.

Question 24

Discuss PELs OELs TLVs, Skin Notation, Odour and Toxicity.

Answer 24

Permissible Exposure Levels, Occupational Exposure Limits, and Threshold Limit Values are different terms for essentially the same thing.

“Skin” notation is found in 1/4 of the TLV list because the substance can be absorbed through the skin.

Some TLVs are based on irritation or odour instead of toxicity.

Question 25

Differentiate primary standard meters and secondary standard meters with regards to measuring and sampling techniques.

Answer 25

Measuring and sampling equipment needs to be calibrated.

Primary standard meters are most accurate for calibrations.

Secondary standard meters are less accurate but often more mobile or durable, making them more practical for use in some circumstances.

Question 26

What type of filter is used for air monitoring with asbestos work?

Answer 26

25 mm cellulose ester filter with cowl.

Question 27

How do you address exposures to two similar toxic chemicals?

Answer 27

If TLV = 10 and Exposure TWA = 10, then limit reached. 10/10 = 1.

Divide each chemical exposure by the TLV, and add the results. If 1+, then limit reached.

Example:
Chemical x TLV=10, TWA=4.
Chemical x TLV=20, TWA=12.
4/10 = 0.4
12/20 = 0.6
0.6 + 0.4 = 1 (combined TLV)

Question 28

What sizes of particle can enter the lower airway?

Answer 28

1-10 microns are possible, with 1-5 being most common.

Question 29

What is the most common occupational Dz?

Answer 29

Dermatosis.

Often associated with:
Latex,
Nickel,
Trichlorothylene & Trichloroethane (chlorinated organic compounds)