Judy Murphy Industrial Hygienist MT Occupational Safety & Health Bureau

The anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental factors in the workplace that may cause sickness or impaired health.

Chemical hazards Mists, vapors, gases, or solids in the form of dusts or fumes Physical hazards Non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, noise, vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure

Ergonomic hazards Requiring a body to adjust to an awkward or repetitive action Biological hazards Any living organism or its properties that can cause an adverse response in humans

Inhalation Ingestion Absorption

The contaminant The amount of the contaminant present The length of time a person is exposed to the contaminant The vulnerability of the person

Examples: Perchloroethylene Formaldehyde Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) Hydrogen sulfide Methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI) Welding fumes Pesticides

Chemical asphyxiants - render the body incapable of utilizing an adequate supply of oxygen Carbon monoxide interferes with the transport of oxygen to the tissues. Hydrogen cyanide alters cellular use of oxygen in energy production.

Perchloroethylene How can it enter the body? What are 5 health effects? What kind of personal protective equipment should be worn?

Percholoroethylene Sampling media Flow rate Sampling train

Examples Silica Asbestos Fiberglass

A progressive, disabling and often fatal lung disease May take decades to develop, or only a few months or a few years Alveolar phagocytosis; enzymes released damage tissue

Silica Sampling media Flow rate Sampling train

Dust mites Fungi Bacteria & viruses Animal dander Pollens

Mushrooms Soy sauce Yeast Bread Cheese Wine Beer

Optimum water activity Above 0.90 in substrate, for most species Optimum temperature range 56°F to 86°F, for most species Light Inhibits growth of some molds Stimulates spore production in many species

Enzymes secreted to digest external food sources, which are then absorbed Must have adequate moisture available

Carbon dioxide, water, ethanol Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs) Mycotoxins and antibiotics

VOCs with distinctive offensive odors May cause illnesses Different compounds emitted on different media Type and quantity change with phases of growth

Produced to inhibit or kill competitors May cause serious short term and long term health effects Over 200 recognized mycotoxins Toxins production varies with the species, conditions and substrate

Sinus congestion Sneezing Coughing, Eye irritation Asthma Bronchitis Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Infectious diseases, e.g. ringworm

Mucous membrane irritation Cold and flu symptoms Sore throat Headache Fatigue Diarrhea Skin rashes Dizziness Nausea Immunosuppression Birth defects Tremors Hemorrhaging Cytotoxicity Hepatotoxicity Nephrotoxicity Cancer

Produced by Stachybotrys, Trichoderma and other molds High doses or chronic low doses are lethal Abortogenic in animals Believed to alter the immune system function

Grows on material with high cellulose content and low nitrogen content Optimum water activity is 0.94 Areas with relative humidity above 55% and subject to temperature fluctuations are ideal for toxin production Changing humidity may induce heavy sporulation Spores are covered with slime; not easily airborne

Chronic exposure effects: cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local hair loss, generalized malaise Toxins suppress the immune system, affecting lymphoid tissue and bone marrow

Animals injected with Stachybotrys exhibited necrosis and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus, spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymph node, liver and kidney Toxin is reported to be a liver and kidney carcinogen

Bulk samples Surface samples - tape Surface samples - swab Air samples using impaction onto agar Air samples using spore trap methods

Airborne mold spores Sampling media Flow rate Sampling train