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In recent years, the environmental impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident. Extreme meteorological events are influenced by climate change, which also alter the magnitude and pattern of precipitations and winds. Climate change can have a particularly negative impact on respiratory health, which can lead to the emergence of asthma and allergic respiratory illnesses. Pollen is one of the main components of the atmospheric bioaerosol and is able to induce allergic symptoms in certain subjects. Climate change affects the onset, length, and severity of the pollen season, with effects on pollen allergy. Higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) can lead to enhanced photosynthesis and a higher pollen production in plants. Pollen grains can also interact with air pollutants and be affected by thunderstorms and other extreme events, exacerbating the insurgence of respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The consequences of climate change might also favor the spreading of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a manuscript on the prevention of risk from biological agents through hand hygiene. It cites the works of 1800's doctor Semmelweis who created the theory based on hand hygiene to control the infection. It says that effective behavioral practices should be adopted to address at all operators for the reduction of workers' exposition form biological events.

The article focuses on the importance of protein microarray in the study of occupational allergy such as the Laboratory Animal Allergy (LAA).

Indoor air quality depends on many internal or external factors mutually interacting in a dynamic and complex system, which also includes indoor workplaces, where subjects are exposed to many pollutants, including biocontaminants such as pollen and fungal spores. In this context, the occupants interact actively with their environment through actions, modifying indoor environmental conditions to achieve their own thermal comfort. Actions such as opening/closing doors and windows and turning on/off air conditioning could have effects on workers' health. The present study explored the contribution of human occupants to pollen and fungal spore levels in indoor workplaces, combining aerobiological, microclimate, and worker monitoring during summer and winter campaigns. We evaluated the overall time spent by the workers in the office, the workers' actions regarding non-working days and working days, and non-working hours and working hours, during two campaigns of pollen and fungal spore monitoring. Our results showed that the biocontaminant values depend on many mutually interacting factors; hence, the role of all of the factors involved should be investigated. In this regard, aerobiological monitoring should be a valid tool for the management of occupational allergies, providing additional information to improve occupational health protection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Il rischio biologico e allergologico è da tempo oggetto di studi e ricerche soprattutto in ambito sanitario. Negli ultimi anni l'interesse per tali rischi si è esteso anche ai lavoratori che operano in ambienti non solo sanitari quali gli operatori dell'emergenza comprendenti i vigili del fuoco intervenendo con mezzi di protezione adeguati. Tali operatori, vista l'estrema diversificazione degli ambienti nei quali sono chiamati a intervenire, sono a rischio di esposizione non solo ai prodotti derivanti dalla combustione e quindi ad agenti irritanti e/o inquinanti ma anche ad agenti di natura biologica e allergologica quali HIV, HBV, HCV, TBC, microrganismi e allergeni derivanti da morsi, graffi, punture e contatti con animali. Tale studio ha contribuito a estendere le conoscenze sul rischio biologico e allergologico nei vigili del fuoco aggiungendosi al materiale scientifico/divulgato già realizzato e attualmente in fase di realizzazione e stesura nell'ambito di tali rischi. Ci si propone di approfondire le conoscenze sul rischio biologico e allergologico riguardante non soltanto i vigili del fuoco ma anche altri operatori dell'emergenza appartenenti al 118, alle Forze dell'Ordine, alla Protezione Civile, alla Polizia di Stato, al Corpo Forestale dello Stato, soccorritori volontari, attraverso l'utilizzo di metodiche innovative sperimentali quali il microarray proteico. Tale approccio ha infatti la finalità di continuare il percorso informativo/formativo già da tempo intrapreso nei confronti di tali operatori adeguatamente informati, formati, addestrati e equipaggiati con mezzi di protezione adeguati con la costante attenzione all'evoluzione delle metodologie sperimentali, attraverso il coinvolgimento e l'integrazione di figure professionali tra loro diverse in grado di apportare contributi preziosi finalizzati a una gestione sempre più adeguata del rischio biologico e allergologico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, we consider the importance of hand hygiene as the chief measure of prevention and protection in the occupational context. In particular, we remember the physician who lived in the middle of the 19th century, Ignazio Semmelweis, genius but not understood creator of the theory for infection control, based on hand hygiene. Subsequent studies have clearly demonstrated the validity of Semmelweis' research, through scientific publications and the establishment of international guidelines, such as by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is important to remember the initial work and then, sharpen this tool, resulting in the adoption of simple, but effective behavioural practices, that should be spread by several means and tools of information, education and communication, addressed at all involved, for the reduction of exposure to the occupational biological risk.

Purpose of the Research: The aim of this present study is examine the airway inflammation using the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), to detect differences in FeNO measurements in comparison with spirometry and evaluate the use of this technique in health surveillance programs, also in order to determine the suitability to the specific task., What Was Done: Between November 2009 and February 2010 we recruited 74 volunteers, all professional divers from the Italian National Fire Services Department. A clinical-medical history questionnaire was administered, with guidance; then the study protocol was applied. Spirometry was conducted to measure respiratory function, and FeNO was assayed., What Was Found: Neither age nor body mass index (BMI) influenced FeNO, but there were significant differences related to smoking, particularly among ex-smokers (p < 0.05). A FeNO value higher than the threshold of 35 ppb was related to the spirometry results and questionnaire answers., What Was Concluded: This non-invasive method is useful in checking for respiratory disease; divers with high FeNO should be scheduled for further clinical-instrumental investigation and laboratory tests to make sure they have no diving contraindications.

Influenza virus A(H5N1), since its first appearance in Hong Kong in 1997 killing six people, has continuously recorder by 2003 both new cases and deaths between these. Although the media and social attention received in the years between 2006 and 2008, mainly in Italy is not currently present, the same is not true for the avian flu that still exists in some countries. At the regulatory level, at the beginning of 2006 the Ministry of Health indicated the measures to be taken in the national preparedness and response to a pandemic flu, and the national Legislative Decree 25 January 2010, n. 9 makes implementing the EU Directive 2005/94/CE on Community measures to combat avian flu. Moreover, an article published in June 2010 show a new route of transmission of avian viruses by birds. The topic on avian flu, especially aimed at the protection of workers potentially exposed, has been long the subject of studies, and in particular for operators belonging to the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco (C.N.VV.F.). In particular, in the context of the measures taken to address any outbreak of avian flu, were carried out one manual addressed to operators by C.N.VV.F. and to so-called managers/operators of the emergency public service workers represented by the operators of the C.N.VVF. and of Police, Civil Protection, and Voluntary Organisations of rescue enclosed in Civil Protection Service. It is necessary to reiterate the importance of continued and growing of the preparation and information for workers, brought to the operators themselves useful about the adoption of preventive and protective measures by the workers belonging to groups at risk of potential exposure to avian influenza viruses.

Since 1989, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers the Laboratory Animal Allergy - LAA a risk for workers and in 1998 the LAA has been recognized as occupational risk in the USA. Rat and mouse are the most source of allergens, not so much for the higher power of allergy respect to the other animals, but because represent the more utilized species in the research. Most of the allergens are members of the lipocalin superfamily, small extracellular proteins represented by at least 50 proteins that mainly bind or carry small hydrophobic molecules. The recent and innovative molecular techniques, as the microarray, have allow the characterization of numerous allergens. The protein microarray gives the possibility to study of IgE profile for each individual, simultaneos analysis of a wide number of parameters concerning the allergy, giving new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for the allergies. In the study of occupational allergy--as LAA--the protein microarray could improve: the identification and characterization of new allergens; the individuation of susceptible workers; the study of immunological responses in exposed workers; the strategies of prevention and protection; the environmental and housing conditions. The participation, formation and information of the workers could improve the behavioural and occupational practices, the use of personal and collective protective devices in order to reduce the exposure to LAA in occupational context.

Background: Sandfly fever virus serotype Toscana is endemic in Mediterranean countries and is a widespread public health problem as it may be associated with acute neurological diseases such as aseptic meningitis., Aim: To assess whether Toscana virus infection is associated with occupational exposure., Methods: During the summer of 2001, a total of 678 blood samples were taken from healthy subjects residing in Tuscany (349 agricultural and forestry workers and 329 control subjects living in the same areas). Information on age, type of job and lifestyle was collected in a questionnaire, and sera were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Toscana virus-specific antibodies., Results: Seropositivity to antibodies to Toscana virus was 30% in the control group and 23% in the agricultural and forestry workers (P<0.05). Questionnaire responses suggested that, although the agricultural and forestry workers had a potentially greater continuous exposure to sandfly fever virus (outdoor activities, rural residence and at-risk lifestyle), these risk factors did not add significant information about greater susceptibility to disease., Conclusion: Our findings indicate a need for better understanding of the best preventive measures to avoid the risk related to sandfly bites, especially for people who live or work in areas at risk.