 Those hazards which may cause measurable changes in the body or its functions

 Physical  Chemical  Biological  Ergonomic  Psychosocial  Other(surfaces, flammables, heights, tips)

H.R.Sarreshtahdar, MD Occupational Medicine Specialist

Chemical hazards ◦ Chemicals are the most common and significant health hazards ◦ Chemicals can be hazardous for numerous reasons and can combine with other chemicals to make new hazards

 Ability of the substance to harm the body  The dose makes the poison  Toxicity Depends on : Amount + Duration

 Entail a risk due to: ◦ Its toxicological properties ◦ Its temperature ◦ Its radioactivity ◦ Displacement of atmospheric oxygen ◦ Increase the risk of fire, explosion, …

 Carcinogenic  Irritant  Corrosive  Sensitizing  Reproductive toxin  Genotoxic  Asphyxiants

IARC  Group 1 (carcinogenic) ◦ Benzene, PAH, asbestos, silica  Group 2A (probably carcinogenic) ◦ Acrylonytrile, vinyl chloride  Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic) ◦ Acrylamide, lead, chloroform  Group 3 (not classifiable)  Group 4 (probably non-carcinogenic)

 Causes a REVERSIBLE inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact ◦ Formaldehyde, most solvents

Causes visible Destruction of or IRREVISBLE alterations in living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact ◦ Phenol, acids and bases

 Causes a substantial portion of exposed people to develop an Allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical  Nickel,

 Neuro-toxic  Cardio-toxic  Hepato-toxic  Nephro-toxic  Hemato-toxic  Reproductive toxin  Oculo-toxic  Oto-toxic  Pulmonary toxin  Vasculo-toxic  Dermato-toxic  Immuno-toxic

 Aerosols: ◦ Dust ◦ Fumes ◦ Smoke ◦ Fiber  Gases and vapors  Fluids

 Independent  Additive  Antagonistic  Potentiating  Synergistic

 Inhalation

 Skin/eye contacts

 Ingestion

Inhalable Particle Mass Thoracic Particle Mass Respirable Particle Mass

 Physical state  Chemical structure  Duration of exposure  Frequency  Route  Intensity  Environmental (temp/humidity/pressure)  Individual factors ◦ race/genetics/immune/nutrition/activity/stress/ background disease

 Environmental monitoring  Biological monitoring

 Prepared by the chemical manufacturer or importer and describe: ◦ Physical hazards, such as fire and explosion ◦ Health hazards, such as signs of exposure ◦ Routes of exposure ◦ Precautions for safe handling and use ◦ Emergency and first-aid procedures ◦ Control measures

 Must provide information about the: ◦ Physical and chemical characteristics ◦ Health effects ◦ Exposure limits ◦ Carcinogenicity (cancer-causing)

 Information of the potential health hazards of chemicals is derived from... 1) Toxicological studies (in vivo, in vitro) 2) Case reports 3) Epidemiological studies

 Acute oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity  Provides information on acute health hazards likely to arise from acute exposure to the substance by the given route, and on the magnitude of acute toxicity of the substance  usually these tests are made with rodents, dermal test quite often with rabbits  LD50/LC50 values (dose level which is caused death to 50% of animals)

Dose-response relationship: lead decreased erythrocyte delta-ALAD activity increased zinc protoporphyrin anemia CNS effects decreased peripheral nerve conductivity Nervous paralysis, lead colics Adapted from Elinder C-G et al., Biologisk monitoring av metaller hos människa. Arbetsmiljöfonden, Uppsala, 1991

 Metals  Solvents  Pesticides  Gases  Other chemicals

 Lead  Nickel  Chrome  Mercury  Cadmium

 Aliphatic (methan, ethylene, … )  Aromatic (benzene, styrene, toluene, … )  Alcohols  Petroleum distillates  Ethers  Esters

 Organophosphates  Carbamates  Organochlorines  Pyrethrum, pyrethroid

 Asphyxiants Simple (CO2, methan, … ) Chemical (CO, H2S, HCN)  Toxic gases (arsine, phosphine, phosgen, … )