Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompani... more Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompanied by the gradual release of large amounts of energy. The DOW Index is one of the methods of evaluating fire and explosion in the process industries. The present study used the fuzzy logic method to improve the results of the fire and explosion risk analysis method and reduce their uncertainty (error in achieving the correct result). Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, having analyzed the gas separation process, the DOW index was applied to study high-risk equipment. Then, to optimize the behavior of the parameters affecting the DOW index, each weight parameter was assigned to between 0 and 1, and the membership functions of each degree of risk were determined based on the fuzzy rules classification system. The five selected linguistic variables based on membership functions were used to assess the risk level. Results: Considering butane, the level of fire and explosion risk was 231.3, which was less risky than the fuzzy logic result of 248.6. Methane risk was calculated according to the fire and explosion index of 262.1 while using fuzzy logic that was 265.6. The lowest risk difference was observed between the two methods for ethane (258.9 conventional method and 259.1 fuzzy method results). The risk level calculated by DOW for propane was 243.6, and the risk level was 255.1 while using fuzzy logic. Conclusion: Although both methods yielded a high degree of risk, fuzzy logic results indicated higher numerical values comparing to the conventional DOW method. Compared to the conventional DOW method, fuzzy logic results are closer to reality with higher confidence levels.
Background and Objective: Acrylonitrile is a potential carcinogen for humans and exposure to its ... more Background and Objective: Acrylonitrile is a potential carcinogen for humans and exposure to its vapors can have a variety of adverse effects on employees in the petrochemical industry. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the level of exposure and assess the quantitative health risk of exposure to acrylonitrile vapors in the exposed personnel of a petrochemical complex. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in a petrochemical complex, a total of 45 inhaled air (3 samples per person) was sampled. Samples were collected using absorbent tubes containing activated charcoal from SKC. The samples were prepared and analyzed according to the 1601 NIOSH method using the VARIAN CP-3800 gas chromatography. Finally, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method was used to determine the level of employee exposure and the health or non-cancer risk index (HQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25. In order to investigate the differences between different sections in terms of exposure and health risk, Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was used at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The results of the present study showed that the average concentration of acrylonitrile vapors in the studied petrochemical complex is 71.1±122.8 micrograms per cubic meter (0.033±0.056 ppm) on average. The non-carcinogenic risk was also calculated to be 4.04±6.93. It was found that 47.6% of the subjects were within the permissible non-carcinogenic range (HQ <1) and 53.3% of the subjects were within the allowable range (HQ> 1). Conclusion: Considering that the health risk of exposure to acrylonitrile vapors in the studied petrochemical complex was more than the recommended range (2 ppm or 4.34 mg/m 3), taking engineering and management measures to control and reduce the risk levels to an acceptable level, including modification of local and general ventilation systems, as one of the main reasons for the respiratory exposure of the workers, is essential for the improvement of the situation.
BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is an important event that affects the safety of healthcare employ... more BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is an important event that affects the safety of healthcare employees, and diagnosing it in hospitals is an immediate occupational concern. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate general health and the prevalence of occupational violence and to predict its consequences among nurses and paramedics as the main body in medical settings. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 in a selected hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 208 healthcare workers participated in the study. To study general health, exposure to workplace violence, job burnout, and productivity, the general health questionnaire (GHQ), the workplace violence questionnaire, the Maslach burnout questionnaire, and the workforce productivity questionnaire were provided to healthcare workers, respectively. Then, a multiple linear regression model was used to predict violence and its consequences. RESULTS: The results revealed that 34.1% of the participants ha...
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics
PURPOSE This study aimed to carcinogenic and health risk assessment of respiratory exposure to ac... more PURPOSE This study aimed to carcinogenic and health risk assessment of respiratory exposure to acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, and styrene in the petrochemical industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene (ABS) copolymers. Respiratory exposure with acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene and styrene was measured using methods No. 1604, 1024, and 1501 of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, respectively. The US Environmental Protection Agency method was used to assess carcinogenic and health risks. RESULTS The average occupational exposure to acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, and styrene was 560.82 μg. m-3 for 1,3-butadiene, 122.8 μg. m-3 for acrylonitrile and 1.92 μg. m-3 for styrene. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 ×10-3 for 1,3-butadiene, 2.1 ×10-3 for acrylonitrile, and 6.6 for styrene. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (HQ) among all participants for 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and styrene was 4.04 ± 6.93, 10.82 ± 14.76, and 0.19 ± 0.11, respectively. CONCLUSION The values of carcinogenic and health risks in the majority of the subjects were within the unacceptable risk levels due to exposure to 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and styrene vapors. Hence, corrective actions are required to protect the workers from non-cancer and cancer risks.
زمینه و اهداف: استایرن از جمله مواد شیمیایی آلی فرار میباشد که مواجهه تنفسی با بخارات آن باعث ای... more زمینه و اهداف: استایرن از جمله مواد شیمیایی آلی فرار میباشد که مواجهه تنفسی با بخارات آن باعث ایجاد عوارض سلامتی مانند اختلالات تنفسی میشود. لذا هدف این مطالعه بررسی اختلال عملکرد ریوی کارگران یک صنعت تزریق پلاستیک با بخارات استایرن است. مواد و روشها: مطالعه حاضر بهصورت کوهورت-گذشته نگر، در یک صنعت تزریق پلاستیک انجام گرفت. پنجاه نفر از کارکنان خطوط تولید به عنوان گروه مواجهه و 20 نفر از کارکنان اداری به عنوان گروه مواجهه نیافته انتخاب شدند. ابتدا غلظت محیطی استایرن اندازهگیری شد. سپس پارامترهای ریوی کارکنان شامل حجم بازدمی اجباری در ثانیه اول (FEV1)، ظرفیت حیاتی اجباری و پرفشار (FVC)، کسر ظرفیت حیاتی خروجی در ثانیه اول بازدم (FEV1/FVC) و حداکثر جریان بازدمی (PEF) در دو نوبت "ابتدای نوبتکاری" و "بعد از خاتمه کار" بدست آمد. علائم تنفسی این کارکنان با استفاده از پرسشنامه انجمن متخصصین قفسه صدری آمریکا (ATS)، بررسی شد. کلیه مفاد بیانیه هلسینکی در این مطالعه رعایت شد. یافتهها: نتایج بهدستآمده اختلاف معناداری را در برخی از پارامترهای ظرفیت ریوی ...
Introduction: Errors are a byproduct of human information processing or cognitive functioning. Al... more Introduction: Errors are a byproduct of human information processing or cognitive functioning. Although everyone is disposed to an error while performing various activities, individual differences in cognitive abilities can lead to various types and rates of errors committed in similar situations. Human errors are one of the most important challenges in work environments, including health care systems, wherein such errors are abundantly occurring. Errors in the delivery of correct medications due to the resemblance in appearance and name are thus one of the cognitive errors that come about in health care systems. The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence and approaches recently practiced to reduce medication errors caused by the use of look-alike-sound-alike (LASA) medications. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on August 30, 2018, through searches in the databases of PubMed and Embase, all available years, using the Preferred Reporting Items for...
Iran Occupational Health http://ioh.iums.ac.ir Iran Occupational Health. 2020 (4 Apr);17:1. Origi... more Iran Occupational Health http://ioh.iums.ac.ir Iran Occupational Health. 2020 (4 Apr);17:1. Original Article Lighting and color temperature assessment in the office workplaces and relationship to visual fatigue Rostam Golmohammadi, (*Corresponding author), Professor, Department of Occupational Health, School of Health and Center for Health Sciences Research, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. [email protected] Zahra Pirmoradi, MSc, Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Majid Motamedzadeh Torghabeh, Professor, Department of Ergonomics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Javad Fardmal, Professor, Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Background: Styrene is one of the chemicals used in industries, especially the petrochemical indu... more Background: Styrene is one of the chemicals used in industries, especially the petrochemical industry, which affects health. Singaporean methods and the WHO use different parameters to assess the carcinogenic risk of the substance. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the level of carcinogenic risk due to exposure to styrene using the Singapore Department of Occupational Health with the risk levels provided using the WHO to achieve high-reliability results. Methods: In this study, 150 air samples were collected from the respiratory area of 50 employees by NIOSH1501 method, after identification of styrene emission units and preparation of identical exposure groups. The samples were analyzed by Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, the risk of styrene's health effects on petrochemical staff was calculated using the method of the Singapore Department of Occupational Health, and the results were compared with the risk levels of styrene presented by WHO. Results: The carcinogen...
The exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can contribute to pigmentation, erythemas, early agin... more The exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can contribute to pigmentation, erythemas, early aging, and skin cancer. The purpose of this paper was to fabricate the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers associated with the ultraviolet protection property using various concentrations of MWCNT and TiO 2 nanoparticles. The nanofibers were fabricated by the electrospinning technique. The electrospinning nanofibers were characterized by SEM microscopy and FTIR spectrophotometer. The UV protection property of membranes was studied by UV transmittance measurement and UV protection factor (UPF) calculation. The FTIR study of nanofibers showed the successful fabrication of PAN/MWCNT, PAN/TiO 2 , and PAN/MWCNT/TiO 2 nanocomposites. According to SEM images, nanoparticle concentration influences the nanofiber diameter. The results showed that the load of nanoparticles increases UV protection compared to pure PAN nanofibers, in which the MWCNT-coated webs have better performance than TiO 2 coated samples. However, the PAN/MWCNT/TiO 2 composites provide the best protection and are classified as excellent protection at all concentrations.
Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompani... more Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompanied by the gradual release of large amounts of energy. The DOW Index is one of the methods of evaluating fire and explosion in the process industries. The present study used the fuzzy logic method to improve the results of the fire and explosion risk analysis method and reduce their uncertainty (error in achieving the correct result). Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, having analyzed the gas separation process, the DOW index was applied to study high-risk equipment. Then, to optimize the behavior of the parameters affecting the DOW index, each weight parameter was assigned to between 0 and 1, and the membership functions of each degree of risk were determined based on the fuzzy rules classification system. The five selected linguistic variables based on membership functions were used to assess the risk level. Results: Considering butane, the level of fire and explosion risk w...
Background & Aims of the Study: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are among the mos... more Background & Aims of the Study: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are among the most common types of occupational diseases and damages, especially in repair and maintenance occupations. There are various methods for the prediction of the risk factors affecting the prevalence of WRMSDs. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of three ergonomic risk assessment tools, namely the Novel Ergonomic Postural Assessment (NERPA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), for screening the musculoskeletal disorders in the employees of repair and maintenance occupation in a power plant equipment industry in Alborz province, Iran, in 2017. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on all employees in the repair and maintenance department of a power plant equipment industry, including 295 subjects in six occupational groups. The General Nordic Questionnaire was used to determine the levels of musculoskeletal disorders. The REBA, RULA, and NERPA methods were employed in order to predict the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Finally, the data related to the real values of musculoskeletal disorders and risk values predicted by the three mentioned methods were analyzed through Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and kappa agreement coefficient at the significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software (version 25). Results: Mean age of the participants was reported as 37.52±3.61 years. Correlation values between the levels of musculoskeletal disorders and risk levels predicted in the RULA, NERPA, and REBA were observed to be 0.764, 0.723, and 0.689, respectively (P<0.05). Correlation coefficient values of the risk levels predicted in the RULA method with NERPA and REBA were 0.767 and 0.620, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on comparing the correlation level of prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders with predicted risk levels in the three studied methods, the results indicated that the best method for predicting the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in different examined tasks was the RULA method. However, none of the methods had adequate comprehensiveness for the assessment of all four risk levels.
Background Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) ... more Background Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06×10−1mg.(kg−day)−1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3×10−4 and 7.26×10−1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5×10−2mg.(kg−day)−1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8×10−6) and non-cancer (2.3×10−3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.
1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess c... more 1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess cancer and non-cancer risk following occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer in Iran. Occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene was measured according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1024 method. Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment were performed according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency method. The average occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene during work shifts among all participants was 560.82 ± 811.36 µg m−3. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 × 10−3; 82.2% of all exposed workers were within the definite carcinogenic risk level. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (hazard quotient (HQ)) among all participants was 10.82 ± 14.76. The highest LCR and HQ were observed in the safety and fire-figh...
Background: Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the industries and is the amplest metal... more Background: Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the industries and is the amplest metal element on the Earth’s crust. This metal disrupts the physiological processes of the body due to its accumulation in various tissues. The present study aimed to determining the association of lead exposure with blood pressure and blood components of the lead mine employees in Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 187 workers were investigated; they worked in the lead mines of Isfahan from January to April 2016. The staff was divided into two groups: one was exposed to lead and the other was the control group. The participants' general information was collected in worksheets, including age, work experience, work shift, body mass index, blood pressure, and smoking status. Sampling was carried out by active sampling using the NIOSH 7300 method. Blood samples were taken from all participants and their hematological parameters were evaluated, including red blood ce...
Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompani... more Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompanied by the gradual release of large amounts of energy. The DOW Index is one of the methods of evaluating fire and explosion in the process industries. The present study used the fuzzy logic method to improve the results of the fire and explosion risk analysis method and reduce their uncertainty (error in achieving the correct result). Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, having analyzed the gas separation process, the DOW index was applied to study high-risk equipment. Then, to optimize the behavior of the parameters affecting the DOW index, each weight parameter was assigned to between 0 and 1, and the membership functions of each degree of risk were determined based on the fuzzy rules classification system. The five selected linguistic variables based on membership functions were used to assess the risk level. Results: Considering butane, the level of fire and explosion risk was 231.3, which was less risky than the fuzzy logic result of 248.6. Methane risk was calculated according to the fire and explosion index of 262.1 while using fuzzy logic that was 265.6. The lowest risk difference was observed between the two methods for ethane (258.9 conventional method and 259.1 fuzzy method results). The risk level calculated by DOW for propane was 243.6, and the risk level was 255.1 while using fuzzy logic. Conclusion: Although both methods yielded a high degree of risk, fuzzy logic results indicated higher numerical values comparing to the conventional DOW method. Compared to the conventional DOW method, fuzzy logic results are closer to reality with higher confidence levels.
Background and Objective: Acrylonitrile is a potential carcinogen for humans and exposure to its ... more Background and Objective: Acrylonitrile is a potential carcinogen for humans and exposure to its vapors can have a variety of adverse effects on employees in the petrochemical industry. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the level of exposure and assess the quantitative health risk of exposure to acrylonitrile vapors in the exposed personnel of a petrochemical complex. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in a petrochemical complex, a total of 45 inhaled air (3 samples per person) was sampled. Samples were collected using absorbent tubes containing activated charcoal from SKC. The samples were prepared and analyzed according to the 1601 NIOSH method using the VARIAN CP-3800 gas chromatography. Finally, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method was used to determine the level of employee exposure and the health or non-cancer risk index (HQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25. In order to investigate the differences between different sections in terms of exposure and health risk, Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was used at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The results of the present study showed that the average concentration of acrylonitrile vapors in the studied petrochemical complex is 71.1±122.8 micrograms per cubic meter (0.033±0.056 ppm) on average. The non-carcinogenic risk was also calculated to be 4.04±6.93. It was found that 47.6% of the subjects were within the permissible non-carcinogenic range (HQ <1) and 53.3% of the subjects were within the allowable range (HQ> 1). Conclusion: Considering that the health risk of exposure to acrylonitrile vapors in the studied petrochemical complex was more than the recommended range (2 ppm or 4.34 mg/m 3), taking engineering and management measures to control and reduce the risk levels to an acceptable level, including modification of local and general ventilation systems, as one of the main reasons for the respiratory exposure of the workers, is essential for the improvement of the situation.
BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is an important event that affects the safety of healthcare employ... more BACKGROUND: Workplace violence is an important event that affects the safety of healthcare employees, and diagnosing it in hospitals is an immediate occupational concern. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate general health and the prevalence of occupational violence and to predict its consequences among nurses and paramedics as the main body in medical settings. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 in a selected hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 208 healthcare workers participated in the study. To study general health, exposure to workplace violence, job burnout, and productivity, the general health questionnaire (GHQ), the workplace violence questionnaire, the Maslach burnout questionnaire, and the workforce productivity questionnaire were provided to healthcare workers, respectively. Then, a multiple linear regression model was used to predict violence and its consequences. RESULTS: The results revealed that 34.1% of the participants ha...
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics
PURPOSE This study aimed to carcinogenic and health risk assessment of respiratory exposure to ac... more PURPOSE This study aimed to carcinogenic and health risk assessment of respiratory exposure to acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, and styrene in the petrochemical industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene (ABS) copolymers. Respiratory exposure with acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene and styrene was measured using methods No. 1604, 1024, and 1501 of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, respectively. The US Environmental Protection Agency method was used to assess carcinogenic and health risks. RESULTS The average occupational exposure to acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, and styrene was 560.82 μg. m-3 for 1,3-butadiene, 122.8 μg. m-3 for acrylonitrile and 1.92 μg. m-3 for styrene. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 ×10-3 for 1,3-butadiene, 2.1 ×10-3 for acrylonitrile, and 6.6 for styrene. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (HQ) among all participants for 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and styrene was 4.04 ± 6.93, 10.82 ± 14.76, and 0.19 ± 0.11, respectively. CONCLUSION The values of carcinogenic and health risks in the majority of the subjects were within the unacceptable risk levels due to exposure to 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and styrene vapors. Hence, corrective actions are required to protect the workers from non-cancer and cancer risks.
زمینه و اهداف: استایرن از جمله مواد شیمیایی آلی فرار میباشد که مواجهه تنفسی با بخارات آن باعث ای... more زمینه و اهداف: استایرن از جمله مواد شیمیایی آلی فرار میباشد که مواجهه تنفسی با بخارات آن باعث ایجاد عوارض سلامتی مانند اختلالات تنفسی میشود. لذا هدف این مطالعه بررسی اختلال عملکرد ریوی کارگران یک صنعت تزریق پلاستیک با بخارات استایرن است. مواد و روشها: مطالعه حاضر بهصورت کوهورت-گذشته نگر، در یک صنعت تزریق پلاستیک انجام گرفت. پنجاه نفر از کارکنان خطوط تولید به عنوان گروه مواجهه و 20 نفر از کارکنان اداری به عنوان گروه مواجهه نیافته انتخاب شدند. ابتدا غلظت محیطی استایرن اندازهگیری شد. سپس پارامترهای ریوی کارکنان شامل حجم بازدمی اجباری در ثانیه اول (FEV1)، ظرفیت حیاتی اجباری و پرفشار (FVC)، کسر ظرفیت حیاتی خروجی در ثانیه اول بازدم (FEV1/FVC) و حداکثر جریان بازدمی (PEF) در دو نوبت "ابتدای نوبتکاری" و "بعد از خاتمه کار" بدست آمد. علائم تنفسی این کارکنان با استفاده از پرسشنامه انجمن متخصصین قفسه صدری آمریکا (ATS)، بررسی شد. کلیه مفاد بیانیه هلسینکی در این مطالعه رعایت شد. یافتهها: نتایج بهدستآمده اختلاف معناداری را در برخی از پارامترهای ظرفیت ریوی ...
Introduction: Errors are a byproduct of human information processing or cognitive functioning. Al... more Introduction: Errors are a byproduct of human information processing or cognitive functioning. Although everyone is disposed to an error while performing various activities, individual differences in cognitive abilities can lead to various types and rates of errors committed in similar situations. Human errors are one of the most important challenges in work environments, including health care systems, wherein such errors are abundantly occurring. Errors in the delivery of correct medications due to the resemblance in appearance and name are thus one of the cognitive errors that come about in health care systems. The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence and approaches recently practiced to reduce medication errors caused by the use of look-alike-sound-alike (LASA) medications. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on August 30, 2018, through searches in the databases of PubMed and Embase, all available years, using the Preferred Reporting Items for...
Iran Occupational Health http://ioh.iums.ac.ir Iran Occupational Health. 2020 (4 Apr);17:1. Origi... more Iran Occupational Health http://ioh.iums.ac.ir Iran Occupational Health. 2020 (4 Apr);17:1. Original Article Lighting and color temperature assessment in the office workplaces and relationship to visual fatigue Rostam Golmohammadi, (*Corresponding author), Professor, Department of Occupational Health, School of Health and Center for Health Sciences Research, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. [email protected] Zahra Pirmoradi, MSc, Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Majid Motamedzadeh Torghabeh, Professor, Department of Ergonomics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Javad Fardmal, Professor, Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Background: Styrene is one of the chemicals used in industries, especially the petrochemical indu... more Background: Styrene is one of the chemicals used in industries, especially the petrochemical industry, which affects health. Singaporean methods and the WHO use different parameters to assess the carcinogenic risk of the substance. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the level of carcinogenic risk due to exposure to styrene using the Singapore Department of Occupational Health with the risk levels provided using the WHO to achieve high-reliability results. Methods: In this study, 150 air samples were collected from the respiratory area of 50 employees by NIOSH1501 method, after identification of styrene emission units and preparation of identical exposure groups. The samples were analyzed by Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, the risk of styrene's health effects on petrochemical staff was calculated using the method of the Singapore Department of Occupational Health, and the results were compared with the risk levels of styrene presented by WHO. Results: The carcinogen...
The exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can contribute to pigmentation, erythemas, early agin... more The exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can contribute to pigmentation, erythemas, early aging, and skin cancer. The purpose of this paper was to fabricate the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers associated with the ultraviolet protection property using various concentrations of MWCNT and TiO 2 nanoparticles. The nanofibers were fabricated by the electrospinning technique. The electrospinning nanofibers were characterized by SEM microscopy and FTIR spectrophotometer. The UV protection property of membranes was studied by UV transmittance measurement and UV protection factor (UPF) calculation. The FTIR study of nanofibers showed the successful fabrication of PAN/MWCNT, PAN/TiO 2 , and PAN/MWCNT/TiO 2 nanocomposites. According to SEM images, nanoparticle concentration influences the nanofiber diameter. The results showed that the load of nanoparticles increases UV protection compared to pure PAN nanofibers, in which the MWCNT-coated webs have better performance than TiO 2 coated samples. However, the PAN/MWCNT/TiO 2 composites provide the best protection and are classified as excellent protection at all concentrations.
Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompani... more Background: The occurrence of fire and explosion accidents in the process industries is accompanied by the gradual release of large amounts of energy. The DOW Index is one of the methods of evaluating fire and explosion in the process industries. The present study used the fuzzy logic method to improve the results of the fire and explosion risk analysis method and reduce their uncertainty (error in achieving the correct result). Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, having analyzed the gas separation process, the DOW index was applied to study high-risk equipment. Then, to optimize the behavior of the parameters affecting the DOW index, each weight parameter was assigned to between 0 and 1, and the membership functions of each degree of risk were determined based on the fuzzy rules classification system. The five selected linguistic variables based on membership functions were used to assess the risk level. Results: Considering butane, the level of fire and explosion risk w...
Background & Aims of the Study: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are among the mos... more Background & Aims of the Study: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are among the most common types of occupational diseases and damages, especially in repair and maintenance occupations. There are various methods for the prediction of the risk factors affecting the prevalence of WRMSDs. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of three ergonomic risk assessment tools, namely the Novel Ergonomic Postural Assessment (NERPA), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), for screening the musculoskeletal disorders in the employees of repair and maintenance occupation in a power plant equipment industry in Alborz province, Iran, in 2017. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on all employees in the repair and maintenance department of a power plant equipment industry, including 295 subjects in six occupational groups. The General Nordic Questionnaire was used to determine the levels of musculoskeletal disorders. The REBA, RULA, and NERPA methods were employed in order to predict the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Finally, the data related to the real values of musculoskeletal disorders and risk values predicted by the three mentioned methods were analyzed through Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and kappa agreement coefficient at the significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software (version 25). Results: Mean age of the participants was reported as 37.52±3.61 years. Correlation values between the levels of musculoskeletal disorders and risk levels predicted in the RULA, NERPA, and REBA were observed to be 0.764, 0.723, and 0.689, respectively (P<0.05). Correlation coefficient values of the risk levels predicted in the RULA method with NERPA and REBA were 0.767 and 0.620, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on comparing the correlation level of prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders with predicted risk levels in the three studied methods, the results indicated that the best method for predicting the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in different examined tasks was the RULA method. However, none of the methods had adequate comprehensiveness for the assessment of all four risk levels.
Background Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) ... more Background Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06×10−1mg.(kg−day)−1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3×10−4 and 7.26×10−1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5×10−2mg.(kg−day)−1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8×10−6) and non-cancer (2.3×10−3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.
1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess c... more 1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess cancer and non-cancer risk following occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer in Iran. Occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene was measured according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1024 method. Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment were performed according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency method. The average occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene during work shifts among all participants was 560.82 ± 811.36 µg m−3. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 × 10−3; 82.2% of all exposed workers were within the definite carcinogenic risk level. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (hazard quotient (HQ)) among all participants was 10.82 ± 14.76. The highest LCR and HQ were observed in the safety and fire-figh...
Background: Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the industries and is the amplest metal... more Background: Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the industries and is the amplest metal element on the Earth’s crust. This metal disrupts the physiological processes of the body due to its accumulation in various tissues. The present study aimed to determining the association of lead exposure with blood pressure and blood components of the lead mine employees in Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 187 workers were investigated; they worked in the lead mines of Isfahan from January to April 2016. The staff was divided into two groups: one was exposed to lead and the other was the control group. The participants' general information was collected in worksheets, including age, work experience, work shift, body mass index, blood pressure, and smoking status. Sampling was carried out by active sampling using the NIOSH 7300 method. Blood samples were taken from all participants and their hematological parameters were evaluated, including red blood ce...
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