Occupational Hygiene, 15% Flashcards
What is the CRBOH?
Canadian Registered Board of Occupational Hygienists
- Registered Occupational Hygienists (ROH)
- Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologists (ROHT)
What is the ACGIH?
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
- publish TLVs
What is the ABIH?
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
What is NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety
- USA
- Paired with OSHA
- Government organization
What is the AIHA?
American Industrial Hygiene Association
What is important about Hippocrates?
Identified lead poisoning in miners and metallurgists
What is important about Pliny Secundus?
Described use of animal bladders as respiratory masks for dust & lead fumes.
What is important about Georgius Agicola?
Treatise on accidents and diseases in mining “De Re Metallica”
Recommended ventilation and use of protective masks
What is important about Paracelsis?
The dose makes the poison.
Underlying concept of toxicology.
What is important about Bernardo Ramazzini?
Father of Occupational Medicine.
Published “De Mobis Artificum” - describing occupational diseases including silicosis.
What is important about Sir Percival Pott
Identified scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps.
Behind the British Chimney Sweeps Act - the first OHS legislation.
What is important about Alice Hamilton?
Identified a direct link between illness and toxic chemical exposure.
Differentiate Carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens.
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.
What types of fumes cause the following lung diseases:
Siderosis
Stannosis
Aluminosis
Berylliosis
Fibrosis
Metal Fume Fever
Siderosis - Iron Oxide
Stannosis - Tin
Aluminosis - Aluminion
Berylliosis - Beryllium
Fibrosis - Titanium
Metal Fume Fever - Zinc, Copper, Magnesium
(short lasting flu-like symptoms)
What is tinnitus?
Ringing/hissing sound.
Associated with hearing loss, but can be caused by wax, middle ear fluid, and ruptured tympanum.
What is Meniere’s Disease?
Otitis media affecting balance.
Often includes hearing loss and tinitis.
What is Presbycusis?
Gradual age-related hearing loss.
What are decibels?
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.
What are dBA, dBB, and dBC?
dBA = human ear sound levels
dBB = medium sound pressures
dBC = high sound pressures.
FEDERAL 8-hr TWA exposure is 87 dBA
How do you calculate temperatures for thermal stress?
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
What are the four levels of biological safety lab?
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.
What are Legionnaires Dz and Pontiac Fever?
Both are respiratory Dz caused by Legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires Dz = pneumonia
Pontiac Fever = influenza-like illness
What are Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs)?
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.
Discuss PELs OELs TLVs, Skin Notation, Odour and Toxicity.
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.
Differentiate primary standard meters and secondary standard meters with regards to measuring and sampling techniques.
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.
What type of filter is used for air monitoring with asbestos work?
25 mm cellulose ester filter with cowl.
How do you address exposures to two similar toxic chemicals?
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)
What sizes of particle can enter the lower airway?
1-10 microns are possible, with 1-5 being most common.
What is the most common occupational Dz?
Dermatosis.
Often associated with:
Latex,
Nickel,
Trichlorothylene & Trichloroethane (chlorinated organic compounds)
