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Objectives: In physical rehabilitation, is diffused the skin irradiation with near infrared laser at a fluence below 140 J/cm2, achieving a bio-stimulating effect that is due to the absorption of radiation in mitochondria rather than the simple heating of tissues., Methods: In order to deliver radiation without thermal damage of the skin, are used radiation pulses which duration does not allow heat accumulation and propagation far from the irradiated target; this requires laser sources with average power below 10 W implying a safety classification as "potentially dangerous for eye and skin", or "class 4" according to the applicable international standards. In this paper, 6 laser therapy devices, of 5 different manufactures and models have been analyzed from the point of view of actual radiation output and user safety. In each case, one or more of the characteristic declared by the manufacturer in the user manual have been found different from the actual measured value., Results: The actual accessible energy levels have been found to be complying with risk class 3B. The impact of the new version of the Standard IEC 60825-1 (2014), is also discussed, considering in particular the possible classification in the new class 1C, and the maximum permissible levels for pulsed lasers., Conclusions: An extension of the measurement protocols is proposed in order to assure effective and safe use of laser in physical therapy., Competing Interests: The authors of this article have no conflict of interests to disclose., (Copyright© by Aracne Editrice, Roma, Italy.)

The recent postponement until 31 October 2013 of the deadline for transposition of the EU Directive 2004/40/EC, concerning the minimum health requirementsfor the exposure of workers to the risks arising from electromagnetic fields between 0 and 300 GHz, keeps on suspending the Italian law which was aimed to implement the EU regulations on the occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields, including those generated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) units. Waiting for the revision of the exposure limits proposed by the EU Directive taking into account results from new studies and evolution of knowledge, the time-weighted values of static magnetic field proposed by the Italian Ministry of Health (D.M 02/08/91) still survive as limits for worker's exposure. The comparison between the proposed thresholds and the time required to position patients allows to calculate how long the MRI staff can stay at different values of static magnetic field, i.e. the maximum workload of each worker. In order to evaluate more accurately how many time the members of MRI staff are near the magnet bore and the real value of worker's exposure to the static magnetic field during the handling of patients, a teslameter Metrolab THM1176-PDA was used. Personal exposure measurements on the radiologists and the radiographers who worked on a 3 T GE Healthcare Discovery 750 MR were carried out during the positioning of self-sufficient and collaborative patients. The sensor was worn at the chest level on the side that was nearest to the magnet bore. Results show wide variations occurring between individual working procedures concerning the handling of patients, especially during the initial position phase. The mean values of the time spent by radiographers inside the magnet room (B > 0.5 mT) to place the patient and to take him outside at the end of the exam were respectively 220 and 127 seconds. The mean value of the time spent by radiologists was 162 seconds when they had to insert a peripheral vein access (arm) and inject contrast medium. The time fraction spent in magnetic flux density above 200 mT was near 31% for radiographers and about 7% for radiologists. The maximum of the static magnetic field recorded was 1550 mT for radiographers and 409 mT for radiologists. The measuring system has proven to be useful in evaluating the compliance with time weighted exposure limit stated by Italian law and also to find the maximum magnetic flux density to which the staff is actually exposed. This is the quantity of significance in evaluating workers' exposure following international guidelines.

EC Directive 2006/25/EC, recently receipted by Italy, requires the evaluation of workers exposition to optical artificial radiation, both coherent (LASER) and incoherent. Evaluation criteria based upon International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines require for incoeherent sources an evaluation depending on radiation spectrum. Starting from measurements techniques and results, some situations requiring a focusing in evaluation are outlined. Waiting for needed clarifications from prevention authorities, some considerations useful in performing an evaluation without measurements are shown. UV-visible sources require a knowledge of spectrum, measured or certified by the manufacturer. The exposition to optical radiation generated by heated material can be evaluated by integrated measures knowing black body radiation spectrum.

The potential effects of electromagnetic fields is a problem that interest the public opinion, as the modern society expose all people to electromagnetic non ionizing radiations. The problem has a particular and important meaning facing the return to normal life and work conditions of a cardiopatic subject bearing a pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Electromagnetic interferences can produce temporary or permanent malfunctions in these devices. Checking for the absence of electromagnetic interferences is necessary considering that correct functioning of these medical devices is essential for the life of the bearer. Precautions normally adopted by these subjects are generally adequate to ensure protection from interferences present in life environment; for occupational environment, there is often lack of adequate information, also due to late involving of the doctor specialist in occupational health. This work intends to study in depth a specific job, a carpentry-workshop with welding activities, starting with a case of a PM bearer who asked a doctor specialist in occupational health to evaluate the problems involved in his return to work. Electric and magnetic fields produced by equipments present in the workshop were measured and compared to data supplied by the literature to evaluate the possibility of interactions in the normally functioning of implanted electronic devices. On the basis of our experience, we have found some criterions for specific risk assessement to adopt for the definition of operative protocols for return to work of PM or ICD carriers, also considering the lack of specific procedures and indications for the doctor specialist in occupational health. The collected information and data from the literature suggest that welding can be a risk for a subject with PM; as observed in experimental conditions, electromagnetic radiations can alter particular sensitive devices and those with uncorrected settings.

Occupational exposure of subjects working on break-rock engins for production of porfido cube, in hand-harm system, has been here evaluated. The breaking mechanism of the rock and its biophysic effects has been studied. The results show a significant exposure of hands, mainly due to the break-rock engine called "by control falling".

24 workers (10 involved in the preparation and 14 in administration) exposed to cyclophosphamide (CP) and ifosfamide (IF) in two Italian hospitals were monitored. The extent of exposure was assessed by the analysis of air samples, wipe samples, pads and gloves. Urinary excretion at the beginning and at the end of the work shift was also measured by liquid-liquid extraction and analysis by HPLC-MS/MS. 3 out of 24 air samples resulted to be positive for CP or IF. In wipe samples, CP concentrations ranging from < 0.001 to 82.4 micrograms/dm2 in Hospital A (32 samples) and from 0.2 to 383.3 micrograms/dm2 in Hospital B (17 samples), were found. IF concentrations varied from < 0.001 to 90.9 micrograms/dm2 in Hospital A and from 0.01 to 141.5 micrograms/dm2 in Hospital B. Pads (from 11 to 13 for each operator) were contaminated with CP and IF especially on arms, legs and chest. The use of a plastic-backed liner on the working tray in the laminar flow hoods was demonstrated to compromise the containment properties of the hood. Urine samples were positive for CP in 50% of the workers (range: 0.1-2.1 micrograms/L), whereas IF was detected in 2 subjects only (range: 0.1-0.8 microgram/L). The results from this investigation demonstrated that vertical laminar airflow hoods, when incorrectly used, might represent a source of contamination and that higher risk may depend on lack of educational programmes and observance of preventive guidelines.