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PubMed2000

Determination of total sulfur compounds and benzothiazole in asphalt fume samples by gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection.

As part of a collaborative project between the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Federal Highway Administration to evaluate asphalt pavers' exposures to asphalt fume and their potential health effects, a method was developed for the determination of total sulfur compounds and benzothiazole in asphalt fume samples. Asphalt fume samples were collected from asphalt mixtures with and without the addition of ground-up rubber tires. The asphalt fume samples were collected with sampling trains that consisted of a Teflon membrane filter and an XAD-2 adsorbent tube. Filter and sampling tube media were extracted with hexane and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector. Separation was achieved with a 100 percent dimethyl polysiloxane fused silica column. Typical calibration curves had linear correlation coefficients of 0.99 or better with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5 percent. Benzothiazole desorption efficiency (DE) determined using spiked sampling tubes ranged from 96.5 percent at 5.0 micrograms to 89.4 percent at 40 micrograms with RSD values from 0.9 to 4.0 percent. Benzothiazole storage recovery determined using sampling tubes spiked at 20 micrograms and refrigerated for 30 days at 4 degrees C was 89.8 percent when corrected for the DE with an RSD of 1.1 percent. The limit of detection for the method determined using spiked sampling tubes was 0.30 microgram. Quantitation for total sulfur compounds and benzothiazole was against benzothiazole standards in hexane. Because of detector selectivity, sample preparation consisted of a simple hexane extraction even when samples had a high background due to hydrocarbon overload. Detector sensitivity provided quantitation in the sub-microgram region. Because of the sample preparation step and because benzothiazole was determined during the same analysis run, this method is straightforward and analytically efficient. The method has been used to analyze asphalt fume samples collected at several asphalt paving and roof operations.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2002

Ethical dilemmas and human rights considerations arising from the evaluation of a smoking policy in a health promoting setting.

One of the key challenges in managing the Health Promoting Workplace is the development of an effective policy for the control of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). This paper explores the ethical consequences raised when the implementation of such a policy was evaluated in a large multi-campus university. In a three-stage evaluation, the first stage involved a qualitative enquiry with the Health and Safety Committee to obtain the management perspective on the working of the policy. A survey of the perception of the ETS policy and smoking behaviours with a representative sample of staff and students constituted the second stage. In the final stage the Health and Safety Committee was engaged with the findings of stages 1 and 2 to develop a response to the evaluation. The ethical implications which arise from this evaluation centre, firstly, on the underlying reasons for undertaking an evaluation. Secondly, consideration is given to the consequences of applying utilitarian principles to smoking policy for the minority who smoke and thus find their work or study patterns affected by a smoking ban. Such a ban limits their autonomy and while it may be helpful (beneficent) in terms of their longer-term physical health, it may have harmful (maleficent) effects on their psychological wellbeing and the potential for negative consequences if they choose to contravene the ban on smoking. The implications of addressing this situation are explored.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Analysis of commercial CD34 control samples for quality assurance.

The amount of CD34+ cells is important to predict the quality of stem cell transplants and ensure safe engraftment after high-dose chemotherapy. Further, daily controls of the patients' peripheral blood CD34+ cell counts are performed to optimize peripheral blood stem cell collection, especially in patients with low CD34+ cell numbers. Therefore, the use of reliable reference samples is mandatory for quality assurance, both in terms of patient safety and reproducibility of results from different laboratories. We report our first experience with CD-Chex CD34, containing stabilized placental cord blood cells in preservative medium with defined concentrations of CD34+ cells. Analysis was performed according to standard operating procedures. Three lots were tested sequentially on a day per day use. The expected CD34+ values were 28.6-, 36.7- and 28.1 microl(-1), respectively, and the mean measured values were 27.4 +/- 2.75 microl(-1) (n = 25, range 21 - 33 microl(-1), coefficient of variation [CV] 10.0%), 29.9 +/- 2.39 microl(-1) (n = 17, range 26 - 35 microl(-1), CV 8.0%), and 27.2 +/- 2.24 micro1(-1) (n = 18, range 24 - 34 microl(-1), CV 8.2%). Serial dilution (1:2 to 1:10) with normal peripheral blood or PBS w/o Ca++/Mg++ gave adequate results. We conclude that the control samples used in this setting are reliable and thus helpful to increase the accuracy in the analysis of CD34+ cells.

Antigens, CD34↗

PubMed2001

Radiochemical determination of 241Am and Pu(alpha) in environmental materials.

Americium-241 and plutonium determinations will become of greater importance over the coming decades as 137Cs and 241Pu decay. The impact of 137Cs on environmental chronology has been great, but its potency is waning as it decays and diffuses. Having 241Am and Pu as unequivocal markers for the 1963 weapon fallout maximum is important for short time scale environmental work, but a fast and reliable procedure is required for their separation. The developed method described here begins by digesting samples using a lithium borate fusion although an aqua regia leachate is also effective in many instances. Isolation of the Am and Pu is then achieved using a combination of extraction chromatography and conventional anion exchange chromatography. The whole procedure has been optimized, validated, and assessed for safety. The straightforwardness of this technique permits the analysis of large numbers of samples and makes 241Am-based techniques for high-resolution sediment accumulation rate studies attractive. In addition, the technique can be employed for the sequential measurement of Pu and Am in environmental surveillance programs, potentially reducing analytical costs and turnround times.

Americium↗

PubMed1994

Perceptions of risks of eating undercooked meat and willingness to change cooking practices.

Knowledge and awareness of food safety issues relating to improperly cooked hamburger and willingness to change hamburger cooking practices were examined from a representative sample of 1004 adult Texans. Awareness of the danger of improperly cooked hamburger, knowledge of specific foodborne pathogens and knowledge of food safety practices had no effect on willingness to change behavior, but respondents who were better-educated, female and Hispanic and respondents who used newspapers/magazines or televisions were all more likely to report willingness to change their cooking practices.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Evaluation on the biosafety of classical swine fever DNA vaccine].

The biosafety of DNA vaccine is one of the key questions which should be solved before it is used in the clinical trail. In order to evaluate the biosafety of DNA vaccine, the CSFV DNA vaccine was used in the studying target, two main aspects of the vaccine were explored in the study. Firstly, the possibility of integration of two kinds of DNA vaccine plasmids into pig genome was analyzed by PCR technology after the different vaccines were injected through the intramuscular introduction. The results showed that both plasmids DNA were detected as the form were not integrated into pig genome, it can be detected 30 copies plasmid DNA in 1 microg total genomic DNA as the sensibility of PCR, indicated the safety of the DNA vaccine. Afterward the environmental fecal and soil samples in the experimental pens were picked up. Then the antibiotic resistant bacteria were isolated and its resistant genes were analyzed by PCR and gene sequencing. The results demonstrated that the transfer and spreading of two DNA vaccine plasmids studied into environmental bacteria from receptor pigs were not found. The results showed that the CSFV DNA vaccine is safe to both pigs and the surrounding environment.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Microbiological quality and safety of quahog clams, Mercenaria mercenaria, during refrigeration and at elevated storage temperatures.

The effects of storage temperatures and times on the microbiological quality and safety of hard-shelled quahog clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) were examined. Samples were stored at four different incubation temperatures (3.3, 7.2, 10.0, and 12.8 degrees C) for a period of 3 weeks, following their harvest from summer growing waters (> or = 27 degrees C) and winter waters (< or = 4 degrees C). Clams were analyzed for two naturally occurring pathogens, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. During the summer, V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from 56% of the stored samples, with the highest concentration, 6,100/g, occurring on day 12 at 12.8 degrees C. Also, during the summer, V. vulnificus was isolated from 11% of the stored samples, with the highest concentration of 1,500/g occurring on day 15 at 7.2 degrees C. No Vibrio spp. were detected during the winter. During summer storage, aerobic mesophilic counts on plate count agar (PCA) containing 2% NaCl ranged from 10(4) to 10(8) CFU/g, and during storage of the winter samples, aerobic mesophilic PCA (with added NaCl) counts ranged from <100 to 10(4) CFU/g. Comparatively, summer storage mesophilic counts on PCA containing no added NaCl ranged from <100 to 10(5) CFU/g, and for the winter samples the range was <100 to 10(2) CFU/g. Coliform and fecal coliform counts ranged from <0.3 to 61.1/g and <0.3 to 24.4/g, respectively. There was no statistical correlation between the length of storage or the temperature of incubation and the presence of V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, coliforms, or fecal coliforms. However, storage time and incubation temperature affected the PCA counts (P < or = 0.05) in quahog clams.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

The protective influence of logger's safety equipment.

The effects of loggers' personal protectors and the safety equipment of chain saws were investigated with a postal questionnaire. The sample included 1,200 loggers. The main purpose of the inquiry was to collect data on accidents and near-accidents; special attention was paid to the role and behavior of protective devices in both accident and near-accident situations. Twenty-seven percent of power saw operators reported incidents (near-accidents) which had occurred within the last year and in which some personal protector or piece of safety equipment had prevented harmful mechanical contact. The workers estimated that the average absence from work due to these reported near-accidents would have been 15 workdays if the injury had not been prevented. Sixty percent of the near-accidents occurred during limbing operations, and 30% during falling. The protective equipment which most often prevented injuries was safety boots, which were followed by the safety helmet and leg protectors. The chain of the saw was stopped by the safety padding of the protective equipment in every other near-accident involving chain saws. The chain was blocked by padding material in every sixth situation . In 10% of the near-accidents, the chain perforated the protective equipment.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1996

Nurses' compliance with universal precautions before and after implementation of OSHA regulations.

The principal objective of this study was to investigate whether or not nurses' compliance with universal precautions procedures improved after the mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations were implemented in 1992. Two random samples of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses registered in Tennessee responded to survey questionnaires measuring universal precautions compliance and practice barriers to compliance in 1991 and 1993 (n = 306). The 1993 sample of nurses reported significantly greater compliance with universal precautions (p < 0.001) than the 1991 sample. The most noteworthy improvement between the 1991 and the 1993 groups was a significant increase in compliance for patients described as HIV/HBV-status unknown and HIV/HBV-negative (p < 0.001). Practice barriers hindering compliance with universal precautions decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in the 1991-1993 time frame. Problematic practice barriers identified in both groups were needle recapping, preference for isolation door signs, and concerns about offending patients and visitors.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Application of a simple enzymatic digestion method for diatom detection in the diagnosis of drowning in putrified corpses by diatom analysis.

The reliability and applicability of quantitative and qualitative diatom analysis by an enzymatic digestion method in the diagnosis of drowning of putrified bodies has been evaluated. The authors report the analysis of water and organ samples of 12 immersion cases using light microscopy. This study included control organ samples from the bodies of persons who died from causes other than drowning. Organ samples were treated by both chemical and enzymatic methods, the first one using concentrated nitric acid and the second proteinase K. Diatoms were present in most organ samples of the immersed corpses; no diatoms could be found in the control samples. Our experience was that the enzymatic method seemed to be more convenient in terms of rapidity, safety and environmental protection than chemical digestion. The number of diatoms recovered with both methods was similar. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of both water and organ samples of immersion cases supported the diagnosis of death by drowning in 41.6% of the putrified cases studied. The authors suggest that diatom analysis using enzymatic digestion of organs can be used as a criterion for positive diagnosis of drowning in cases involving putrified bodies.

Brain↗

PubMed2000

Food-safety educational goals for dietetics and hospitality students.

OBJECTIVE: To identify food-safety educational goals for dietetics and hospitality management students. DESIGN: Written questionnaires were used to identify educational goals and the most important food safety competencies for entry-level dietitians and foodservice managers. SUBJECTS: The sample included all directors of didactic programs in dietetics approved by the American Dietetic Association and baccalaureate-degree hospitality programs with membership in the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education. Fifty-one percent of the directors responded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. chi 2 analysis and independent t tests were used to compare educators' responses for discrete and continuous variables, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis grouped statements about food safety competence. Internal consistency of factors was measured using Cronbach alpha. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of dietetics programs and 70% of hospitality programs required or offered food safety certification. Dietetics educators reported multiple courses with food safety information, whereas hospitality educators identified 1 or 2 courses. In general, the educators rated food-safety competencies as very important or essential. Concepts related to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP), irradiation, and pasteurization were rated less highly, compared with other items. Competencies related to reasons for outbreaks of foodborne illness were rated as most important. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Food safety certification of dietitians and an increased emphasis on HAACP at the undergraduate level or during the practice component are suggested. Research is recommended to assess the level of food-safety competence expected by employers of entry-level dietitians and foodservice managers.

Certification↗

PubMed1987

Use of risk assessment methods in the certification of decontaminated buildings.

Accidental events such as fires, explosions, and leaks often result in large-scale contaminations of buildings with toxic chemicals. After decontamination, the certification for original use requires testing for residual contamination. The two basic kinds of sampling plans in use up to recently both fall short of the required performance. Their deficiencies are analyzed in terms of the scientific questions implicit in both the sampling plan and the subsequent statistical evaluation. A sampling strategy of a new kind is proposed and discussed in the same context. It is motivated by concern for the long-term safety of the building's occupants and is, therefore, based on factors important in risk assessment. Three different sampling plans are derived in the framework of this methodology, two of which have already been used in actual certification proceedings.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1995

Some Aspects of Vehicle Active Safety.

Three selected aspects of vehicle active safety are presented in this article: (a) modeling the driver and the driver-vehicle environment system, (b) the dynamic aspects of vehicle rollover, and (c) an analysis of the process of passing. Sample solutions and results show the need for further research in the field of vehicle safety in order to lower the probability of drivers, passengers, and other road users being involved in road accidents.

active safety↗

PubMed2000

Preservative-free influenza vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunogenicity of and tolerance towards the preservative-free inactivated influenza vaccine Begrivac. METHODS: In this prospective, single-centre, non-controlled study, efficacy was evaluated by the change in influenza antibody titre from baseline to 21 days following vaccination. The safety variables included post-injection reactions and adverse events. Blood samples were taken on day 21 and the antibody titre assayed by haemagglutination inhibition test. RESULTS: All three of the European efficacy requirements for influenza vaccines are satisfied by the new preservative-free vaccine described in this report. The mean geometric increase in titre and the proportion of vaccination responders were greater in patients of the adult group than in the elderly. Thus for strain A/Beijing/262/95 66% of subjects seroconverted and 28% showed a significant increase in antibody titre (total 94%), compared to a total of 45 patients (76%) in the elderly group. For strain A/Sydney/5/97 the corresponding figures were total 55 (90%) adult and 47 (80%) elderly, and for B/Beijing/184/93 46 (75%) adult and 31 (53%) elderly. Sixty four subjects (53%) reported adverse events, mainly local reactions at the injection site such as pain, erythema and induration, and systemic reactions such as headache and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of preservative in this novel vaccine preparation does not have any detectable impact on its efficacy or safety and tolerability profile.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Safety of mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine in renal transplantation: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus azathioprine (Aza) in renal transplantation, we compared their side effects using evidence-based methods. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and Chinese Biomedicine database (CBM) were searched to select randomized clinical trials that had one group using MMF and another group using Aza as an immunosuppressive drugs. Safety analysis consist of the following factors: diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, constipation, CMV infection, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia or skin malignancy. RevMan 4.11 software was used for the systematic review analysis. RESULT: Twenty trials including 6387 patients were identified. The diarrhea incidence with MMF (3 g/d) was higher than for Aza at 1 and 3 years (P < .05). Diarrhea on MMF (2 g/d) was higher than for Aza within 6 months (P < .05). CMV infection incidence on MMF (3 g/d) was higher than for Aza's at 3 years (P < .05), but MMF (2 g/d) did not show a statistical significance compared with Aza. Leukopenia incidence on MMF (3 g/d) was higher than that on Aza, whereas the incidence with MMF (2 g/d) was not significantly different from Aza. Skin malignancy incidence showed no statistical difference between MMF 3 g/d, MMF 2 g/d, or Aza. CONCLUSION: The use of MMF is associated with slight increases in gastrointestinal adverse effects, some hematologic adverse events, and CMV infections compared with Aza. Larger sample sizes of randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the safety of MMF.

Azathioprine↗

PubMed1989

Adequate protection of the public against food-transmitted diseases of microbial aetiology. Achievements and challenges, half a century after the introduction of the Prescott-Meyer-Wilson strategy of active intervention.

No dramatic change in the approach to supplying microbiologically safe foods and meals to the consumer occurred immediately upon the introduction, in the 1930's, by S.C. Prescott and K.F. Meyer in the U.S. and Sir Graham Wilson in the U.K. of the principle of taking preventive remedial measures rather than merely examining final product samples. Thus morbidity and the economic impact of food-borne disease of microbial aetiology continued to rise and new food-transmitted pathogens continued to be identified. The 1930 strategy was not implemented until 1970 when food processing specialists in the U.S. launched a similar approach under the new acronym 'HACCP' (hazard analysis: critical control points). This relies on (i) identification, by meticulous ecological studies, of hazardous practices and locations, termed 'critical points' by the new generation; (ii) elimination of such hazards by developing processing techniques designed to control contamination and colonization of foods--also given an innovative term, viz. GMP; (iii) validation of the elaborated procedures by a new stem to the Science of Public Health: risk assessment, perhaps better termed Safety Science; (iv) upon introduction of the validated GMP's monitoring limited numbers of samples--which have become fully representative because of process management--for ecologically valid marker organisms, indicating incidental going-out-of-control of manufacture or distribution. This implementation of the Prescott-Meyer-Wilson maxim has been given the name longitudinally integrated safety assurance, charmingly acronymized to LISA. Introduction of LISA eliminates all previously existing or perceived difficulties about microbiological target values ('standards') for foods. These can henceforth be empirically assessed from surveys on samples obtained from factories or catering establishments previously inspected for adherence to LISA, deficiencies having, where necessary, been rectified prior to the examination of samples. Unfortunately, a more general adoption of the LISA maxim in food technology occurred at almost the same time as people became concerned about the perceived negative health impact of processing food for safety. This culminated in widespread rejection of foods decontaminated by low dose gamma irradiation. While behaviourial scientists seriously attempt to identify the mechanisms of this anxiety and devise means of reassurance, food scientists should continue to elaborate innovative LISA procedures. In this context three promising areas of research and development are briefly discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Percutaneous coaxial needle biopsy using the spacer technique: a novel and easy modification to increase procedure safety.

We describe a novel but easy modification to percutaneous coaxial needle biopsy technique using readily available standard equipment to enable a predefined variable sampling length to be achieved. This technique involves the insertion of a carefully measured spacer between the coaxial cutting needle and guide needle. This can minimise the sampling length required to biopsy any given lesion, minimising the volume of traumatised tissue and preventing unnecessary penetration of tissues deep to smaller lesions, thus increasing procedure safety.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed1997

The cost-effectiveness of air bags by seating position.

CONTEXT: Motor vehicle crashes continue to cause significant mortality and morbidity in the United States. Installation of air bags in new passenger vehicles is a major initiative in the field of injury prevention. OBJECTIVE: To assess the net health consequences and cost-effectiveness of driver's side and front passenger air bags from a societal perspective, taking into account the increased risk to children who occupy the front passenger seat and the diminished effectiveness for older adults. DESIGN: A deterministic state transition model tracked a hypothetical cohort of new vehicles over a 20-year period for 3 strategies: (1) installation of safety belts, (2) installation of driver's side air bags in addition to safety belts, and (3) installation of front passenger air bags in addition to safety belts and driver's side air bags. Changes in health outcomes, valued in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs (in 1993 dollars), were projected following the recommendations of the Panel on Cost-effectiveness in Health and Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: US population-based and convenience sample data were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: Safety belts are cost saving, even at 50% use. The addition of driver's side air bags to safety belts results in net health benefits at an incremental cost of $24000 per QALY saved. The further addition of front passenger air bags results in an incremental net benefit at a higher incremental cost of $61000 per QALY saved. Results were sensitive to the unit cost of air bag systems, their effectiveness, baseline fatality rates, the ratio of injuries to fatalities, and the real discount rate. CONCLUSIONS: Both air bag systems save life-years at costs that are comparable to many medical and public health practices. Immediate steps can be taken to enhance the cost-effectiveness of front passenger air bags, such as moving children to the rear seat.

Adult↗