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Air filtration to remove viruses is considered for use in the swine industry to reduce epidemic episodes in Canada. The capture efficiencies of commercially available air filters against biological particles (bioaerosols) such as viruses needs to be determined in standardized and controlled conditions such as the ones required by the ASHRAE Standard 52.2. Artificially nebulized viruses may not accurately represent the bioaerosols present in swine buildings as associated viruses are likely to be transported on dust particles. The present study seeks to develop an infectious phages - carrying dust characterized by a similar particle size distribution of bioaerosols in swine buildings. A test duct was used to challenge MERV-16 and antimicrobial filters against the aerosolized infectious phages – dust mixtures (artificial viral aerosols). ISO 12103-1 A3 medium test dust, phages, and sucrose were lyophilized to form dried infectious phages – dust preparations. Observations of TEM imaging and results from Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI) samplings support MS2 phages were aggregated with dust particles. MS2 genomes were detectable on particles sized from 0.017 to 10 µm. The reduction efficiency of the MERV-16 filter challenged against the artificial viral aerosols was 99.4% for infectious MS2 phages (culture), 99.4% for total MS2 phages (qPCR), and 96.4% for dust. The antimicrobial filters had efficacies of 97.9% (culture), 83.4% (qPCR), and 48.5% (dust). The present study supports the possibility of making an infectious phages - bearing dust for use in environmentally controlled experiments evaluating reduction efficiency of air filters against viruses. Copyright © 2020 American Association for Aerosol Research

Purpose Occupational exposure to inorganic dust and fumes in the year preceding disease has been associated with increased pneumococcal pneumonia risk, but the impact of prior cumulative exposure has not been characterized. Methods We studied 3184 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease with pneumonia. The case index date was the day the infection was diagnosed. We selected six controls for each case from the Swedish population registry; each control was assigned the index date of their corresponding case. We linked job histories to a job-exposure matrix to calculate a cumulative exposure index, intensity-years, by multiplying the duration (maximum 5 years) of each exposure with the level of exposure (0 for unexposed, 1 for low and 4 for high). We used conditional logistic analyses to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of invasive pneumococcal disease with pneumonia adjusted for comorbidities, educational level, income and other occupational exposures. Results Taking other occupational exposures into account, greater than 5 intensity-years of exposure to silica dust or to fumes was each associated with increased odds for invasive pneumococcal disease with pneumonia (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.49–4.32) and (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.41–3.55), respectively. Five intensity-years or less of exposure to silica dust or fumes manifested lower odds (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20–1.76) and (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.94–1.16), respectively. Conclusion This study adds evidence that the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia increases with increasing cumulative exposure to dust and fumes, indicating the importance of cumulative exposure.

The article’s abstract is not available.

The state of the atmosphere near the location of JSC «Kirovogradgranit» reflects the increase in theman-caused load, which determines the process of its degradation. The work evaluates the influence of«Kirovogradgranit» CJSC on the state of the atmosphere during the processes of overflushing in a careerwithin the Dobrovelichkovsky district of the Kirovograd region. The purpose of the study is to assessthe impact of pollutants entering the atmosphere during the processes of overflushing in the company’scareer for its work on the full (design) power. The object of the study is quantitative and qualitative compositionof emissions into the atmosphere, which are formed during processes overeating on an exampleJSC «Kirovogradgranit». The scientific contribution is to improve the current calculation methodologythe volume of evacuation during the mildew and overeating and in checking the calculations. Initial dataprovided by the laboratory of JSC Kirovogradgranit Pomichnyansky quarry on sources of emissions andcomposition emissions into the atmosphere, which are formed during processes overflushing at the plantfor the period from 2012 to 2016. Normative-technical documentation provided by the EnvironmentalProtection Department of JSC «Kirovogradgranit». Quantitative and qualitative assessments of theamount of emissions into the atmosphere that are generated during the processes overeating performedaccording to valid methods. According to the results, we can conclude about suitability or non-suitabilitytechnological equipment, which is operated on the industrial site, it corresponds to the current sanitary andhygienic norms and requirements or not. Data analysis shows that a significant reduction in the volumesof inorganic dust containing SiO2 70–20%, from the sources of basic production can be provided under the condition of application of irrigation of the rock mass during crushing, as well as in the provision of dust suppression and the transport of mines by dump trucks from the quarry to the crushing and sorting production.

Zhytomyr Region does not belong to the territory of excessive anthropogenic pressure. However, over the past 4 years, the index of industrial production has increased on the average by110,3 % annually, with the fastest growth observed in the mining and processing sector. The background pollution within the limits of Zhytomyr does not cause concern. But the fact that such enterprises are concentrated in the eastern part of Zhytomyr makes the consideration of this issue through the prism of the citywide background level non-informative. It has been proved that the coarse and fine dust containing heavy metals is the most dangerous compound among those that enter the environment in the gaseous state. The territory of the eastern industrial hub is covered with fertile dark gray podzolics and podzolic chernozems, which gives this area a special value. At the same time, the studies have demonstrated that the area is under excessive anthropogenic pressure. The samples of dust mass taken from this territory have made it possible to determine the high toxicity of the dust as well as the hazard of excessive flow of heavy metals into the soils, vegetation, natural waters, etc. The shift of histograms for the distribution of dust contamination depends on the frequency and direction of the prevailing winds. The highest concentrations of dust in the air has been observed in the 400–500 m zone in all directions under investigation. In most cases the standard exceedance by more than 2 MAC has been observed within 1 km area. In some places the exceedance by more than 1 MAChas been noticed at a distance larger than 2 km. The minimum frequency of critical point excess has been observed in the direction of the southwest wind. The strongest dust dispersion away from the source of emissions has been noticed in the case of the most intensive and repetitive northwest wind.

Background: Cigarette smoking and occupational exposures each have been reported to increase the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease previously considered of unknown origin. We investigated the risk of IPF mortality associated with combined smoking and occupational exposures. Methods: A registry study of Swedish construction workers (N = 389,132), linked baseline smoking and occupational data with registry data on cause of death and hospital care diagnoses. Occupation was classified by the likelihood of exposure to vapors, gases, dusts, or fumes using a job-exposure matrix. Those likely exposed to asbestos or silica were excluded from the analysis. Age-adjusted relative risks [RRs] were calculated using Poisson regression. Follow-up observation began at age 40 and ended at age 89. Results: Heavy smokers at baseline who were exposed to inorganic dusts during their working life had an increased risk of IPF mortality (RR 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–2.60), while there was no statistically increased risk in the other exposure groups. There were dose–response relationships between smoking at baseline and IPF mortality among both unexposed and dust exposed workers, with similar risk for dust exposed and unexposed, except among baseline heavy smokers, where workers exposed to inorganic dust manifested the highest risk (RR 4.22; 95% CI 2.69–6.60). Excluding workers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema did not affect the results substantively. Conclusion: A clear dose–response relationship was seen between smoking at baseline and IPF, supporting a causal relationship. Occupational exposure to inorganic dusts, excluding silica and asbestos, was associated with increased risk of IPF in baseline heavy current smokers.

У даній роботі показана необхідність зменшення викидів пилу неорганічного, який містить двоокис кремнію у %: 70-20 шамот, цемент, на напівмобільному дробильно-сортувальному комплексі. The importance of inorganic dust (20-70 wt% silicon dioxide) emissions reducing at semi- mobile crushing and sorting complex is show in this work.

Background: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and occupational dust exposure, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of COPD caused by occupational factors. Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were used to search for original epidemiological literature related to theme. Both random and fixed effects models were used to calculate pooled odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Review Manager was used to perform data analysis. Results: Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis in accordance with the inclusion criteria. There was a significantly obvious correlation between occupational dust exposure and COPD of the population-based studies assessed in this article. The risk of developing COPD for workers exposed to dust was 1.51 times higher than for controls (I2 = 40%, 95% confidence interval: 1.27-1.79). The presence of publication bias was not found. Conclusion: The study provided evidence supporting the association between occupational dust exposure and the risk of developing COPD.

The work is devoted to the assessment of the negative impact of pollutant emissions on the air in the extraction and processing of sand and gravel. The maximum one-time and total emissions created by unorganized sources of one of the actually functioning enterprises are determined. The results of the calculation of the dispersion of the main pollutant (inorganic dust) are given. It is shown that the emissions of inorganic dust on the area of the enterprise exceed the values of the maximum permissible concentration and become lower than the MPC only outside the sanitary protection zone This demonstrates the need to comply with and control hygienic standards of ambient air quality near such enterprises.

Caplan’s syndrome is seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic silica inhalation. We present a patient with RA who presented with multiple pulmonary nodules. Biopsy of the nodules revealed silica crystals under polarized light. He continued treatment for RA and his pulmonary nodules remained stable. However, he subsequently developed renal failure with nephrotic range proteinuria. We discuss silica and the associated autoimmunity in patients with chronic occupational exposure. Background Caplan’s syndrome also known as rheumatoid pneumoconiosis is a disease entity that is seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exposed to chronic silica and inorganic dust [1,2]. Classically, they form peripheral well-defined pulmonary nodules with characteristic silica retained in the necrobiotic center. In addition, epidemiological data has shown some association with silica and autoimmunity [3]. We present a case of silica and asbestosis exposure in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed rheumatoid pneumoconiosis and subsequent renal failure. We highlight this rare disease, progression as well as other associated complications.

The results of investigations of the peculiarities of the heavy metals accumulation in soil and phytomass of wildlife vegetation from the territory exposed to the influence of the Eastern industrial zone in Zhytomyr are presented. The activity of the enterprises of the Eastern industrial zone leads to the inorganic dust entering the atmosphere, which includes toxic compounds and heavy metals that are transferred at considerable distances, settle and are accumulated in the components of the surrounding ecosystems. It has been determined that significant concentrations of Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe are accumulated in non-localized dust, which determines the elevated levels of these metals in the vegetation of ecosystems as well. The grass cover has accumulated more elements — dust components — in the south-eastern and southern areas, 2–4 times less — in the eastern and north-eastern areas. The accumulation peculiarities of two groups of metals in plant samples of the territory influenced by the enterprises zone of the Eastern industrial zone in Zhytomyr differ in the ability of air migration, depending on the dust fraction they belong to. The activity of the enterprises located in this zone causes the inorganic dust entering into the atmosphere, which includes toxic compounds and heavy metals. It has been found out that further from the Eastern industrial zone Mn, Zn and Fe are accumulated most in the above-ground phytomass. This is due to the high concentration of these elements in the fine dust fraction.

Introduction: Our article offers a deeper insight into an important occupational disease — coal workers' pneumoconiosis, with all its diagnosis difficulties, treatment steps, and strategies. Case presentation: A 33-year-old male patient, smoker, with 16 years of outside exposure to coal dust, presents shortness of breath and cough, which existed 4 months prior to presentation and progressed in time. The first chest X-ray has raised differential diagnosis difficulties with miliary tuberculosis, despite the patient’s exposure history. All the investigation procedures performed afterwards (clinical examination, fibrobronchoscopy with microlavage and cytological examination, chest computed tomography, and routine laboratory investigations) were not enough to provide a certain and final diagnosis. Exploratory thoracotomy with lung biopsy was needed, and its findings started to sustain the professional disease diagnosis that had already taken shape. To exclude a disease which can evolve hand in hand, but also as a therapeutic application, we decided that a whole lung lavage was needed. Conclusion: Although whole lung lavage could not be accomplished completely, the performed right middle lobe bronchoalveolar lavage had a huge impact, not only on the patient’s symptomatology, but also on the paraclinical results.

Background Between 15 and 20% of prevalent cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been attributed to occupational exposures to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes. Dust at construction sites is still a challenge, but no overview exists of COPD among construction workers. Aims To assess the occurrence of COPD among construction workers. Methods We performed a systematic search in PubMed and Embase between 1 January 1990 and 31 August 2016 in order to identify epidemiological studies with a risk estimate for either COPD morbidity/mortality or a spirometry-based definition of airway obstruction among workers in the construction industry. The authors independently assessed studies to determine their eligibility and performed a quality assessment of the included papers. Results Twelve studies were included. Nine studies found a statistically significant association between COPD and work in the construction industry, although only among never-smokers in one study and only for the period after 2000 in another study. One study found that the annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s was significantly higher among construction workers compared with bus drivers. Conclusions This review suggests that COPD occurs more often among construction workers than among workers who are not exposed to construction dust. It is not possible to draw any conclusions on specific subgroups as most studies analysed construction workers as one united group. In addition, no potential exposure–effect relationship could be identified.

Bootstrap analysis is commonly used to capture the uncertainties of a bilinear receptor model such as the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. This approach can estimate the factor-related uncertainties and partially assess the rotational ambiguity of the model. The selection of the environmentally plausible solutions, though, can be challenging, and a systematic approach to identify and sort the factors is needed. For this, comparison of the factors between each bootstrap run and the initial PMF output, as well as with externally determined markers, is crucial. As a result, certain solutions that exhibit suboptimal factor separation should be discarded. The retained solutions would then be used to test the robustness of the PMF output. Meanwhile, analysis of filter samples with the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer and the application of PMF and bootstrap analysis on the bulk water-soluble organic aerosol mass spectra have provided insight into the source identification and their uncertainties. Here, we investigated a full yearly cycle of the sources of organic aerosol (OA) at three sites in Estonia: Tallinn (urban), Tartu (suburban) and Kohtla-Järve (KJ; industrial). We identified six OA sources and an inorganic dust factor. The primary OA types included biomass burning, dominant in winter in Tartu and accounting for 73 % ± 21 % of the total OA, primary biological OA which was abundant in Tartu and Tallinn in spring (21 % ± 8 % and 11 % ± 5 %, respectively), and two other primary OA types lower in mass. A sulfur-containing OA was related to road dust and tire abrasion which exhibited a rather stable yearly cycle, and an oil OA was connected to the oil shale industries in KJ prevailing at this site that comprises 36 % ± 14 % of the total OA in spring. The secondary OA sources were separated based on their seasonal behavior: a winter oxygenated OA dominated in winter (36 % ± 14 % for KJ, 25 % ± 9 % for Tallinn and 13 % ± 5 % for Tartu) and was correlated with benzoic and phthalic acid, implying an anthropogenic origin. A summer oxygenated OA was the main source of OA in summer at all sites (26 % ± 5 % in KJ, 41 % ± 7 % in Tallinn and 35 % ± 7 % in Tartu) and exhibited high correlations with oxidation products of a-pinene-like pinic acid and 3-methyl-1, 2, 3-butanetricarboxylic acid (MBTCA), suggesting a biogenic origin., Acknowledgements. This work was funded by the Estonian–Swiss cooperation program “Enforcement of the surveillance network of the Estonian air quality: Determination of origin of fine particles in Estonia”. María Cruz Minguillón acknowledges the Ramón y Ca-jal Fellowship awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. The Labex OSUG@2020 (ANR-10-LABX-56) provided the funding for part of the analytical equipment at Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement (IGE; France). We also acknowledge the contribution of the COST Action CA16109 COLOSSAL.

Emissions of inorganic dust belong to the group of unorganized emissions that are generated from large areas. Air pollution in the area of coal industry enterprises depends on climatic and mining and geological conditions. The solution of the current mining technical problem of improving the efficiency and safety of mining operations in the development of mineral deposits, which is of great economic and social importance, is inextricably linked with the improvement of methods for fixing dusty surfaces on the objects of the mining complex. Methods of dust suppression are considered and analyzed. Industrial tests of special preventive drugs were carried out and the necessary expenditures of funds and methods of their effective use were determined.

The work analyses the emissions analysis for gypsum binder production. The major air pollutant is the suspended solids composed of a mixture of particles in air, which can be either solid or liquid and be a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances. Studies have shown that excessive concentrations of inorganic dust (gypsum dust) generated by the open gypsum warehouse storage and thus the contribution of emission sources into total concentration of inorganic dust (dust plaster) average vary from 66,28% to 87,67%. The highest excessive concentrations of inorganic dust are registered at the border of regulated areas: up to 20% SiO2 (plaster dust) (from 5,9 to 16,0 shares of maximum allowable concentration (MAC)).

This article provides time standards and calculation methods for the purpose of studying air pollution from industrial facilities. Calculations of technological equipment and the efficiency of the dust and gas treatment plant. The results of inventory, regulation of emissions of pollutants entering the atmosphere are considered. Questions on the study of equipment for cleaning dust - gas, methods for improving and improving the efficiency of the equipment are highlighted. The methods for determining the composition and quantity of pollutants in the off - gas flows are given: theoretical (balance), computational and analytical (experimental), and reporting and static. The procedure for conducting an inventory of sources of emissions on the territory of the enterprise, the number and composition of emissions of pollutants. Analyses of harmful substances entering the atmosphere from the production of asphalt concrete, measures to improve the efficiency of dust and gas treatment plants were performed. The process of asphalt mixing and production capacity of the enterprise are studied Samarkand asphalt concrete production.

Introduction The development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has previously been linked to occupational exposure. The aim of this register-based study was to assess the risk for being diagnosed with COPD in subjects with occupational exposure to organic and inorganic dust. Methods The study population included 20 069 men and 23 572 women from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort. Information of occupation was derived from 1985 or 1990 censuses. New cases of COPD were identified for the period 1990–2010. COPD cases were defined as either a self-reported COPD diagnosis by a physician or a prescription for anticholinergic drugs. A quantitative job-exposure matrix provided information on organic dust (wood dust, paper dust, textile dust, oil mist, cooking fumes, other organic dust) and inorganic dust (respirable crystalline silica dust, iron dust, other inorganic dust and fibres). Analyses were adjusted for age and smoking. Results Exposure to any organic dust was associated with an increased risk of COPD in men (HR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.56), and in women (HR 1.21, CI: 1.00 to 1.46). Among organic dusts, men exposed to paper dust had a HR of 1.39 (CI: 1.01 to 1.92). In women, paper dust (HR 1.56, CI: 1.08 to 2.26) and other organic dust (HR 1.48, CI: 1.12 to 1.96) were associated with an increased risk. Exposure to any inorganic dust was associated with an increased risk in men (HR 1.39, CI: 1.15 to 1.67) and among these, risks for respirable crystalline silica dust (HR 1.46, CI: 1.13 to 1.90) and other inorganic dust and fibres (HR 1.56, CI: 1.18 to 2.05) were increased. Analysis of women exposed to inorganic dusts were not possible due to too few subjects. Conclusion This study confirms an increased incidence of COPD in Swedish workers exposed to organic and inorganic dusts. Health care personnel should consider not only smoking but also occupational exposure when informing COPD-patients of potential risk exposures.

Objectives Dust is generally sampled on a filter using air pumps, but passive sampling could be a cost-effective alternative. One promising passive sampler is the University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler). The aim of this study is to characterize and compare the UNC sampler’s performance with PM10 and PM2.5 impactors in a working environment. Methods Area sampling was carried out at different mining locations using UNC samplers in parallel with PM2.5 and PM10 impactors. Two different collection surfaces, polycarbonate (PC) and carbon tabs (CT), were employed for the UNC sampling. Sampling was carried out for 4–25 hours. Results The UNC samplers underestimated the concentrations compared to PM10 and PM2.5 impactor data. At the location with the highest aerosol concentration, the time-averaged mean of PC showed 24% and CT 35% of the impactor result for PM2.5. For PM10, it was 39% with PC and 58% with CT. Sample blank values differed between PC and CT. For PM2.5, PC blank values were ~7 times higher than those of CT, but only 1.8 times higher for PM10. The blank variations were larger for PC than for CT. Conclusions Particle mass concentrations appear to be underestimated by the UNC sampler compared to impactors, more so for PM2.5 than for PM10. CT may be preferred as a collection surface because the blank values were lower and less variable than for PC. Future validations in the working environment should include respirable dust sampling.

Marker substances for the coal mining industry were identified as an information and technical reference book to the best available technologies for coal mining and processing. Inorganic dust when emitted into the atmosphere is defined as a marker substance for the coal industry. Inorganic dust emissions belong to the group of fugitive emissions which are carried out from large areas. For the solving of the mentioned problem on the territory of Mine no.12 in Kiselevsk city, it was proposed to use the Anti-dust and the Bischofit products.

Introduction: Today we all are talking for “Swatch Bharat”, but street workers are the real fighters who are working for this. Street working environment exposes to lot of organic and inorganic dust and chronic inhalation of dust during street sweeping which may increases respiratory health symptoms among them. This study was planned to study the effect of work on health of street workers primarily respiration function. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among muster station of Ahmedabad Municipal corporation area during a period of April 2013 to November 2014. For the study total 762 Safai Kamdar (street sweepers) and 41 administrative staff were included after taking consent. The participants were examined for hypertension, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), lab investigations like hemoglobin and blood glucose. Results: Mean age of Street Sweeper was 39.2 + 10.02 years and admin staff was 38.2 + 6.92 years. Street Sweeper were found to be significantly underweight as compared to admin staff. Hypertension in administrative group (51.1%) was higher but not significant than Street Sweeper (45.03%). only 12.3 % of Safai Kamdar were using any kind of personal protective equipment (PPE). 52.1% of Street Sweeper had low PEFR was as compared to 20% of Administrative group. Conclusion: Street sweeping had a significant impact on health of street sweepers. They should be made aware about use of PPE.

Ferruginous bodies (FBs) are iron-coated entities that form in the body around inorganic fibers or other particulates that can serve as indicators of exposure to inorganic dust. Studies of FB have been conducted consistently in the lungs of adults but have not been explored in children during the past 20 years. The objective of this work was to quantify the FB, classify them as to morphological type and conduct a mineralogical analysis using the energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXA) with samples obtained from 72 autopsies performed on children. Three grams of lung tissue were digested in commercial bleach, and all the FB found were quantified. The FB from the positive cases was analyzed by EDXA. Results show that 17% of cases presented FB with a median concentration of 5.7 ferruginous bodies per gram of dry weight (FB/g). Larger quantities of FB were recovered from the lungs of rural residents, at concentrations of 11.33 FB/g. Ten cases of children under 5 years of age also presented 5.7 FB/g, but none of these groups showed significant differences when compared to populations of children residing in Mexico City or to children over 5 years of age (p 0.05). Type-1 FB was the predominant morphological form present. All FB were aluminosilicates. It can be concluded that Mexican children retain FB at low concentrations. All the cores of the FB analyzed in this study were aluminosilicates. Only one contained kaolinite, while the other 10 consisted of some kind of feldspar or clay-like mineral and may thus reflect intramural exposure in children.

We developed the standard digital images (SDIs) to be used in the classification and recognition of pneumoconiosis. From July 3, 2006 through August 31, 2007, 531 retired male workers exposed to inorganic dust were examined by digital (DR) and analog radiography (AR) on the same day, after being approved by our institutional review board and obtaining informed consent from all participants. All images were twice classified according to the International Labour Office (ILO) 2000 guidelines with reference to ILO standard analog radiographs (SARs) by four chest radiologists. After consensus reading on 349 digital images matched with the first selected analog images, 120 digital images were selected as the SDIs that considered the distribution of pneumoconiosis findings. Images with profusion category 0/1, 1, 2, and 3 were 12, 50, 40, and 15, respectively, and a large opacity were in 43 images (A = 20, B = 22, C = 1). Among pleural abnormality, costophrenic angle obliteration, pleural plaque and thickening were in 11 (9.2%), 31 (25.8%), and 9 (7.5%) images, respectively. Twenty-one of 29 symbols were present except cp, ef, ho, id, me, pa, ra, and rp. A set of 120 SDIs had more various pneumoconiosis findings than ILO SARs that were developed from adequate methods. It can be used as digital reference images for the recognition and classification of pneumoconiosis.

There are epidemiological studies indicating that exposure to metal fumes is a risk factor for infectious pneumonia. Whether occupational exposure to other agents, such as inorganic dust or chemicals, also increases the risk for infectious pneumonia is not clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether occupational exposure to respiratory pollutants and irritants increases the risk for infectious pneumonia.Prospective cohort study. Setting Swedish male construction workers. Participants 320,143 male construction workers exposed to inorganic dust (asbestos, man-made mineral fibres, dust from cement, concrete and quartz), wood dust, metal fumes and chemicals (organic solvents, diisocyanates and epoxi resins) or unexposed. Main outcome measures The cohort was followed from 1971 to 2003 and the main outcome measures were mortality to infectious pneumonia, lobar pneumonia or pneumococcal pneumonia. RRs were obtained by the person-years method and from Poisson regression models, adjusting for baseline values of age and smoking habits.Among men aged 20-64 years there was increased mortality from infectious pneumonias among construction workers exposed to metal fumes (RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.95), inorganic dust (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.87) and chemicals (RR 1.91, 95% CI 1.37 to 3.22). The mortality was also increased from both lobar pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia. Among men aged 65-84 years the occupational exposure to inorganic dust and chemicals was associated with slightly increased mortality from infectious pneumonia. Among groups with mutually exclusive exposures there was increased mortality from infectious pneumonias among construction workers exposed to inorganic dust, but not among those exposed to wood dust or chemicals. There were no cases among workers exposed only to metal fumes.Our findings indicate that exposure to inorganic dust increases the mortality from infectious pneumonias, especially lobar pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanism is unclear, but the effect may be mediated through induced airways inflammation.

The study was conducted among 92 male workers, divided into two groups depending on workplace and level of inorganic dust containing free crystalline SiO2 in the work environment, and 43 healthy workers without exposure to dust aerosols. The measured inhalable and respirable dust concentrations, as well as the concentration of free crystalline silica (FCS) in the respirable fraction were different for the two groups, but the percentage of free crystalline silica in the respirable fraction was almost identical. Significantly higher neopterin levels were found in workers exposed to dust, compared to the control group: 12.72 nmol/L and 6.32 nmol/L respectively (p

Photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermo-luminescence (TL) analyses were conducted to detect irradiated kiwifruits. Samples were irradiated with Co-60 gamma-rays at 0-2 kGy. The freeze-dried kiwifruit peel showed 309 photon counts (PCs) for nonirradiated samples that accounted for less than the lower threshold value (700 counts/60 s, negative) and above 9306 PCs for 1 and 2 kGy-irradiated samples, which was higher than the upper threshold value (5000 counts/60 s, positive). However, PSL signals of irradiated samples remarkably decreased after 6 weeks of storage. The TL measurement using minerals isolated from the whole kiwifruit surface revealed a glow curve (TL 1) with a low intensity at 200-300 degrees C in nonirradiated samples but with a higher intensity at around 180 degrees C in irradiated samples at 1 kGy or more. The TL ratios, integrated areas of TL 1/TL 2 that was measured after 1 kGy re-irradiation for the TL 1-tested minerals, were less than 0.1 in nonirradiated samples and higher than 0.1 in irradiated ones and could verify TL 1 results. The inorganic dust minerals used were mainly composed of feldspar and quartz.

The polymineral dust extracted from the camomile herb was exposed to gamma radiation. The glow curves from these polyminerals show a large, single thermoluminiscence (TL) peak, centred at about 440 K. Because the large structure of the glow curves, it seems that the TL signal could be produced by a trap distribution instead of a single level of traps. The kinetic parameters of the glow curves have been accurately analysed using the computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) method applied at different steps during a fading experiment at room temperature (RT). Deconvolution has been performed using a continuous distribution of trapping levels, uniformly distributed, including one additional peak in the high temperature region. This peak has been modelled with second-order kinetics of trap motion.

Metallic corrosion is a serious problem in the application of a hygroscopic inorganic dust-depressor. The basic characteristics of a hygroscopic inorganic dust-depressor and its corrosivity, corrosion mechanism, as well as the principle of corrosion inhibition were analyzed. The static mass-loss test was carried out to investigate the corrosion behavior and the effect of the dust-depressor. The static corrosion rates of steel specimens were measured in six different corrosion inhibitor solutions of the dust-depressor, and the suitable corrosion inhibitors for the dust-depressor to reduce the corrosivity were found out.

The thermoluminescence properties of the inorganic dust extracted from the Chile Guajillo (paprika) Mexicano, were studied in order to verify the possibility of using the TL technique to discriminate between irradiated and non irradiated peppers. The inorganic dust was found to consist of quartz 60%, albite (NaAlSi 3 O 8 ) 30%, and ortose (KAlSi 3 O 8 ) 10%. Its thermoluminescence dose response covers the wide dose range of 1 Gy – 10 kGy , which was attributed mainly to feldspars. Its high sensitivity and its stability over 10 irradiation-readout cycles allow the application of a single grain–single aliquot regeneration dosimetry in Chile Guajillo (paprika). Evaluations based on trapping parameters show that thermal fading at room temperature for glow-peaks above 180 ∘ C, is not a problem in the dosimetry of paprika.

OBJECTIVE: Applying a systematic review to identify studies eligible for meta-analysis of the association between occupational exposure to inorganic dust and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and conducting a meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Searches of PubMed and Embase for the time period 1970-2010 yielded 257 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on people exposed to inorganic dust at the workplace with data on lung function. These studies were independently abstracted and evaluated by two authors; any disagreement was resolved by a third reviewer. Of 55 publications accepted for meta-analysis, 27 investigated the effects of occupational exposure to biopersistent granular dust (bg-dust). METHODS: A random effects meta-analysis allowed us to provide an estimate of the average exposure effect on spirometric parameters presented in forest plots. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by using I(2) statistics, with I(2)>25% indicating significant heterogeneity. Publication bias was investigated by visual inspection of funnel plots. The influence of individual studies was assessed by dropping the respective study before pooling study-specific estimates. RESULTS: The mean FEV1 of workers exposed to bg-dust was 160 ml lower or 5.7% less than predicted compared to workers with no/low exposure. The risk of an obstructive airway disease-defined as FEV1/FVC < 70%-increased by 7% per 1 mg· m(-3) respirable bg-dust. CONCLUSION: Occupational inhalative exposure to bg-dust was associated with a statistically significant decreased FEV1 and FEV1/FVC revealing airway obstruction consistent with COPD. &nbsp