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Introduction: Exposure of healthcare workers to hazardous drugs can lead to adverse health effects supporting the importance of a continuous monitoring program, for example, by taking surface wipe samples. The objective was to describe the results of repeated monitoring of contamination with hazardous drugs on multiple surfaces in a hospital pharmacy and at two wards using standardized preparation techniques and cleaning procedures., Methods: Twelve surfaces in the hospital pharmacy and at two wards were sampled and analyzed for contamination with the hazardous drugs cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, methotrexate, and paclitaxel. The drugs were prepared with a closed-system drug transfer device (CSTD). Sampling of the drugs was performed in four trials during eight months. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of the drugs., Results: During the four trials, contamination with five of the six hazardous drugs was found on half of the surfaces in the pharmacy and in a ward. Seventeen out of 288 possible outcomes were positive (6%), with the biological safety cabinet grate ( n  = 6) and scanner ( n  = 5) most frequently contaminated. The highest level of contamination was observed on the pass-thru window (cyclophosphamide: 2.90 ng/cm 2 ) and the touch screen of the Diana device (5-fluorouracil: 2.38 ng/cm 2 ). Both levels were below the action level of 10 ng/cm 2 ., Conclusions: The long-term use of a CSTD in combination with appropriate cleaning has proven effective in achieving low levels of surface contamination with hazardous drugs., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: Meat processing is among the most extensive industries globally. However, data on the effects of occupational exposure on the pulmonary health of slaughterhouse workers is limited. Ascertaining the impact of the slaughterhouse atmosphere on the breathing habits of laborers exposed to it and the inflammatory markers associated with it was the aim of the current investigation., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 82 non-smoker subjects of 41 male workers working in one of the major slaughterhouses in Cairo, Egypt, matched to 41 controls of administrative personnel. An elaborate questionnaire encompassing medical and occupational history was administered to each participant in the research. General and local systemic examinations and ventilatory function tests were carried out, and serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured., Results: Respiratory symptoms were more prevalent with a statistically significant decline in ventilatory function parameters (FVC%, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, FEF 25%, FEF 50%, FEF 75%, and PEF%) among the exposed group compared to those of control. In addition, there was a significantly higher serum level of inflammatory markers (IL-6 and hsCRP) among the exposed group compared to the control group, with a negative correlation with ventilatory functions. Moreover, there was a positive association between levels of serum IL-6 and hsCRP and the age and duration of employment of workers., Conclusion: There was a notable increase in the prevalence of respiratory disorders and inflammatory markers among slaughterhouse workers. Additionally, there was a substantial decrease in ventilatory function parameters, which could be attributed to the bioaerosols they encountered in the workplace., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Benzene is associated with diverse occupational and public health hazards. It exhibits an ability to rapidly permeate the skin and contaminate water and food sources, leading to dermal and ingestion exposures. Despite numerous studies examining the associations between benzene and various indicators of harm, the findings have yielded inconsistent results. Furthermore, relying solely on air concentration as a measure of benzene exposure is limited, as it fails to account for internal exposure dose and individual susceptibility. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review in order to present current knowledge on benzene biomarkers and their significance in evaluating exposure levels and associated health hazards. The search methodology adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and involved the application of specific inclusion and exclusion criteria across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two researchers independently extracted and evaluated the relevant data based on predetermined criteria. Following the screening process, a total of 80 articles were considered eligible out of the initially retrieved 1053 articles after undergoing screening and assessment for inclusion. As the level of exposure decreased, specific biomarkers demonstrated a gradual increase in limitations, including heightened background concentrations and vulnerability to confounding factors. The advancement of sampling and analysis techniques will yield new biomarkers. Additionally, when conducting practical work, it is crucial to employ a comprehensive utilization of diverse biomarkers while excluding individual metabolic variations and combined exposure factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Abstract: Nuclear industry workers exposed to uranium aerosols may risk kidney damage and radiation-induced cancer. This warrants the need for well-established dose and risk assessments, which can be greatly improved by using material-specific absorption parameters in the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the slow dissolution rate ( s s , d -1 ), a parameter that is difficult to quantify with in vitro dissolution studies, especially for more insoluble uranium compounds. A long-term follow-up of urinary excretion after the cessation of chronic inhalation exposure can provide a better estimate of the slow-rate dissolution. In this study, two workers, previously working for >20 y at a nuclear fuel fabrication plant, provided urine samples regularly for up to 6 y. One individual had worked at the pelletizing workshop with the known presence of uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) and triuranium octoxide (U 3 O 8 ). The second individual worked at the conversion workshop where multiple compounds, including uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ), uranium dioxide (UO 2 ), ammonium uranyl carbonate, and AUC [UO 2 CO 3 ·2(NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 ], are present. Data on uranium concentration in urine during working years were also available for both workers. The daily excretion of uranium by urine was characterized by applying non-linear least square regression fitting to the urinary data. Material-specific parameters, such as the activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD), the respiratory tract absorption parameters, rapid fraction ( f r ,), rapid dissolution rate ( s r , d -1 ), and slow dissolution rate ( s s , d -1 ) and alimentary tract transfer factor ( f A ) acquired from previous work along with default absorption types, were applied to urine data, and the goodness of fit was evaluated. Thereafter intake estimates and dose calculations were performed. For the ex-pelletizing worker, a one-compartment model with a clearance half-time of 662 ± 100 d ( s s = 0.0010 d -1 ) best represented the urinary data. For the ex-conversion worker, a two-compartment model with a major [93% of the initial urinary excretion (A 0 )] fast compartment with a clearance half-time of 1.3 ± 0.4 d ( s r = 0.5 d -1 ) and a minor (7% of A 0 ) slow compartment with a half-time of 394 ± 241 d ( s s = 0.002 d -1 ) provided the best fit. The results from the data-fitting of urinary data to biokinetic models for the ex-conversion worker demonstrated that in vitro derived experimental parameters (AMAD = 20 μm, f r = 0.32, s r = 27 d -1 , s s = 0.0008 d -1 , f A = 0.005) from our previous work best represented the urinary data. This resulted in an estimated intake rate of 0.66 Bq d -1 . The results from the data-fitting of urinary data to biokinetic models for the ex-pelletizing worker indicated that the experimental parameters (AMAD = 10 μm and 20 μm, f r = 0.008, s r = 12 d -1 , f A = 0.00019) from our previous dissolution studies with the slow rate parameter step-wise optimized to urine-data ( s s = 0.0008 d -1 ) gave the best fit. This resulted in an estimated intake rate of 5 Bq d -1 . Experimental parameters derived from in vitro dissolution studies provided the best fit for the subject retired from work at the conversion workshop, where inhalation exposure to a mix of soluble (e.g., AUC, UF 6 ) and relatively insoluble aerosol (e.g., UO 2 ) can be assumed. For the subject retired from work at the pelletizing workshop, which involved exposure to relatively insoluble aerosols (UO 2 and U 3 O 8 ), a considerably higher s s than obtained in dissolution studies provided a better representation of the urinary data and was comparable to reported s s values for UO 2 and U 3 O 8 in other studies. This implies that in vitro dissolution studies of insoluble material can be uncertain. When evaluating the results from the retrospective fitting of urine data, it is evident that the urine samples acquired after cessation of exposure provide less fluctuation. Long-term follow-up of uranium excretion after cessation of exposure is a good alternative for determining absorption parameters and can be considered the most viable way for determining the slow rate for more insoluble material., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Health Physics Society.)

High concentrations of PM 2.5 with enriched levels of metallic constituents could significantly affect the health and comfort of metro employees. To avoid overestimating the exposure risks, we investigated the bioaccessibility of toxic metals (TMs) bound in PM 2.5 from the Nanchang metro using Gamble's solution method, and qualitatively analyzed the impact of valence state and various sources on the bioaccessibility of TMs bound to PM 2.5 . The results showed that the bioaccessibility of the studied TMs ranged from 2.1% to 88.1%, with As, Ba, Co and Pb being the most bioaccessible and V, Fe and Cr being the less bioaccessible. The bioaccessibility of TMs in our subway PM 2.5 samples varied based on their valence and species, showing higher valence states associated with increased bioaccessibility. Vehicle traffic, secondary aerosols and wheel/rail sources were found to be significantly and positively associated with the bioaccessibility of several TMs, implying a severe potential risk from these three sources. Although both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with total TMs were found to be high, only As and Cr(VI) posed a considerable carcinogenic risk to metro workers based on the bioaccessible fractions and were therefore priority pollutants. In addition, potential carcinogenic risk was found to be more severe in platform than that in ticket counter. The results indicate that considerable efforts are required to control and manage PM 2.5 and the associated TMs in the Nanchang subway, particularly from traffic, wheel/rail and secondary sources, to protect the health of metro staff and the public., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Workplace exposure is an important source of ill health. The use of wearable sensors and sensing technologies may help improve and maintain worker health, safety, and wellbeing. Input from workers should inform the integration of these sensors into workplaces. We developed an online survey to understand the acceptability of wearable sensor technologies for occupational health and safety (OSH) management. The survey was disseminated to members of OSH-related organizations, mainly in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. There were 158 respondents, with over half (n = 91, 58%) reporting current use of wearable sensors, including physical hazards (n = 57, 36%), air quality (n = 53, 34%), and location tracking (n = 36, 23%), although this prevalence likely also captures traditional monitoring equipment. There were no clear distinctions in wearable sensor use between the reported demographic and occupational characteristics, with the exception that hygienists were more likely than non-hygienists (e.g. safety professionals) to use wearable sensors (66% versus 34%). Overall, there was an interest in how sensors can help OSH professionals understand patterns of exposure and improve exposure management practices. Some wariness was expressed primarily around environmental and physical constraints, the quality of the data, and privacy concerns. This survey identified a need to better identify occupational situations that would benefit from wearable sensors and to evaluate existing devices that could be used for occupational hygiene. Further, this work underscores the importance of clearly defining "sensor" according to the occupational setting and context., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.)

Introduction: Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposures in tanzanite gem mining have been linked to tuberculosis and silicosis among miners. We conducted a plot study to assess RCS exposures and to introduce safer mining practices in one small-scale underground tanzanite mine., Materials and Methods: Personal and area air samples for RCS were collected during tanzanite mining operations before and after improved work practices employed to reduce exposures and analyzed using X-ray diffraction. Area samples were collected at the rest area, located approximately 300 m underground and 100 m from other work activities. Improved practices included the use of wet drilling methods and drilling with new bits., Results: A total of 33 personal and 4 area air samples were collected. Pre-intervention, mean exposures for all operations, drilling operations, non-drilling activities, and area samples were 122 mg/m3, 247 mg/m3, 34.3 mg/m3, and 1.95 mg/m3, respectively which exceeded the U.S. OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) by 2,440 times for all operations, by 4,946 times for drilling operations, by 686 times for non-drilling activities and 39 times for area samples collected at an underground rest area. The post-intervention results showed a 99% reduction of RCS exposures for wet drilling operations, 98.5% reduction for non-drilling activities, and 36% reduction for area samples. Despite improvements, post-intervention RCS exposures during drilling had a mean of 2.08 mg/m3 or more than 41 times the OSHA PEL., Conclusions: We successfully piloted a program to work with small-scale tanzanite miners to reduce RCS exposures and raise awareness about the occupational health risks of RCS, though additional measures are recommended to further reduce RCS exposures. Similar programs should be taken to scale throughout underground mining sites in Tanzania and other countries., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is carcinogenic and potentially hazardous for those working in close proximity to diesel-powered machines. This study characterizes workplace exposure to DEE and its associated particulate matter (PM) during outdoor construction activities. We sampled at 4 construction sites in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. We used portable constant-flow pumps and quartz-fiber filters to quantify personal exposure to elemental carbon (EC), and used real-time instruments to collect activity-based information about particle number and size distribution, as well as black carbon (BC) concentration. Full-shift measurements of EC concentration ranged from < 0.3 to 6.4 µg/m3. Geometric mean (GM) EC exposure was highest for ground workers (3.4 µg/m3 EC; geometric standard deviation, GSD = 1.3), followed by drilling rig operators (2.6 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.4). Exposure for non-drilling-rig machine operators (1.2 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 2.9) did not differ significantly from background (0.9 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.7). The maximum 15-min moving average concentration of BC was 17 µg/m3, and the highest recorded peak concentration was 44 µg/m3. In numbers, the particle size distributions were dominated by ultrafine particles ascribed to DEE and occasional welding activities at the sites. The average total particle number concentrations (PNCs) measured in near-field and far-field positions across all worksites were 10,600 (GSD = 3.0) and 6,000 (GSD = 2.8)/cm3, respectively. Sites with active drilling rigs saw significantly higher average total PNCs at their near-field stations (13,600, 32,000, and 9,700/cm3; GSD = 2.4, 3.4, and 2.4) than sites without (4,700/cm3; GSD = 1.6). Overall, the DEE exposures at these outdoor construction sites were below current occupational exposure limits for EC (10 µg/m3 in Denmark; 50 µg/m3 in the European Union), but extended durations of exposure to the observed DEE levels may still be a health risk., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.)

Background: In studies of occupational health, longitudinal environmental exposure, and biomonitoring data are often subject to right skewing and left censoring, in which measurements fall below the limit of detection (LOD). To address right-skewed data, it is common practice to log-transform the data and model the geometric mean, assuming a log-normal distribution. However, if the transformed data do not follow a known distribution, modeling the mean of exposure may result in bias and reduce efficiency. In addition, when examining longitudinal data, it is possible that certain covariates may vary over time., Objective: To develop predictive quantile regression models to resolve the issues of left censoring and time-dependent covariates and to quantitatively evaluate if previous and current covariates can predict current and/or future exposure levels., Methods: To address these gaps, we suggested incorporating different substitution approaches into quantile regression and utilizing a method for selecting a working type of time dependency for covariates., Results: In a simulation study, we demonstrated that, under different types of time-dependent covariates, the approach of multiple random value imputation outperformed the other approaches. We also applied our methods to a carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposure study. The dependent variables are the left-censored mass of elemental carbon at both the respirable and inhalable aerosol size fractions. In this study, we identified some potential time-dependent covariates with respect to worker-level determinants and job tasks., Conclusion: Time dependency for covariates is rarely accounted for when analyzing longitudinal environmental exposure and biomonitoring data with values less than the LOD through predictive modeling. Mistreating the time-dependency as time-independency will lead to an efficiency loss of regression parameter estimation. Therefore, we addressed time-varying covariates in longitudinal exposure and biomonitoring data with left-censored measurements and illustrated an entire conditional distribution through different quantiles., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Occupational Hygiene Society 2024.)

Construction framers who cut and install steel studs as part of their daily tasks are exposed to hazardous noise levels during their work shift in large part due to the power saws they use to cut steel studs. This investigation characterized the sound pressure levels of power saws used to cut steel studs on active construction sites. Further, the length of time it took to cut various studs on a construction site was investigated to understand worker exposure times to saw noise. In general, power saws used on the study sites to cut steel studs had a mean A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq) of 107.2 dB and a C-weighted peak sound pressure level (LCpeak) of 120.1 dB. Three of the saws-the chopsaw, the cut-off saw, and the grinder-had similar noise levels, whereas the cordless circular saw had higher noise levels. It took an average of 13.2 s to cut each stud, and workers in the study used power saws to cut steel studs for an average of 371.5 s per day. This average exposure time at the average recorded sound pressure levels (SPLs) suggests these saws can increase the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss, according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.)

Internationally, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) occupational exposure limits (OELs) are being reassessed and, in some jurisdictions, lowered, putting pressure on the capabilities of the analytical techniques used to achieve robust analyses and reliable detection limits. In preparation of a lower OEL, options for lowering the limit of detection (LoD) for RCS analysis have been assessed. Using a Direct-on-Filter X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis under reduced scan speeds in combination with low-noise RCS sampling filters, an LoD of 0.25 µg/filter and a limit of quantification (LoQ) of 0.82 µg/filter can be achieved. Both limits would translate in an LoD of 0.24 µg/m3 and LoQ of 0.78 µg/m3 when sampling respirable dust for 8 h at 2.2 L/min, providing a technical solution to monitor exposures at the proposed OEL of 0.025 mg/m3 (25 µg /m3) and below, with general sampling conditions as typically applied in Australia. This is the first report showing that the OEL of 0.025 mg/m3 (25 µg /m3) is measurable by one of the standardized, direct-on-filter XRD methods., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

A series of experiments in stationary and moving passenger rail cars were conducted to measure removal rates of particles in the size ranges of SARS-CoV-2 viral aerosols and the air changes per hour provided by existing and modified air handling systems. Such methods for exposure assessments are customarily based on mechanistic models derived from physical laws of particle movement that are deterministic and do not account for measurement errors inherent in data collection. The resulting analysis compromises on reliably learning about mechanistic factors such as ventilation rates, aerosol generation rates, and filtration efficiencies from field measurements. This manuscript develops a Bayesian state-space modeling framework that synthesizes information from the mechanistic system as well as the field data. We derive a stochastic model from finite difference approximations of differential equations explaining particle concentrations. Our inferential framework trains the mechanistic system using the field measurements from the chamber experiments and delivers reliable estimates of the underlying physical process with fully model-based uncertainty quantification. Our application falls within the realm of the Bayesian "melding" of mechanistic and statistical models and is of significant relevance to environmental hygienists and public health researchers working on assessing the performance of aerosol removal rates for rail car fleets., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Exposure to occupational metallic mixtures has a potential impact on olfactory function. However, research evidence is limited on the potential impact of exposure to metallic mixtures and olfactory dysfunction. Furthermore, the coal dust generated contains multiple various metals during coal mining, and no study yet has focus on the olfactory dysfunction of coal miners., Objectives: In this study, we evaluate the association between urinary metallic mixtures and olfactory function in coal miners, while also exploring the potential applicability of plasma olfactory marker protein (OMP) as a biomarker for assessing olfaction., Methods: From July to October 2023, coal workers from seven different coal mining enterprises were recruited for the survey when they come for the employee health checkup. Ultimately, 376 participants were met the inclusion criteria and, respectively, determined with the concentrations of urine (16 metals) and plasma (OMP). Meanwhile, applying UPSIT to access their olfactory function. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model were used to estimate the association of individual metals with olfactory function. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and Quantile g-computation (QG-C) regression were employed to assess the overall association between metal mixtures and olfactory function and identify the major contributing elements., Results: In a single-metal model, two metals in urine were found to be significantly associated with olfactory function. RCS analysis further revealed that the association between Iron (Fe) and olfactory function was linear, while Lead (Pb) exhibited a non-linear. The BKMR model demonstrated a significant positive association between metal mixture concentration and olfactory function. Combined QG-C regression analysis suggested that metals Cr, Fe, Se, Sb, and Pb could impact the performance of the olfactory test (UPSIT), with Pb being identified as the most influential contributor. The correlation between plasma OMP protein levels and urinary metal concentrations was weak., Conclusion: Multiple metals are associated with olfactory function in the coal miners. A significant positive association was observed between metal mixture concentrations and olfactory function, with Pb being the most important contributor. In this study, plasma OMP has not been demonstrated to serve as a biomarker for olfactory function., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Jiao, Hu, Hu, Shi, Wang, Qi, Li, Li, Shen, Yang, Ha, Yang, Li and Huang.)

Occupational radiation exposure to the eye lens of medical staff during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) should be kept low so as not to exceed annual dose limits. Dose should be low to avoid tissue reactions and minimizing stochastic effects. It is known that the head and neck of the staff are exposed to more scattered radiation in an over-couch tube system than in a C-arm system (under-couch tube). However, this is only true when radiation-shielding curtains are not used. This study aimed to compare the protection radiation to the occupationally exposed worker between a lead curtain mounted on a C-arm system and an ERCP-specific lead curtain mounted on an over-couch tube system. A phantom study simulating a typical setting for ERCP procedures was conducted, and the scattered radiation dose at four staff positions were measured. It was found that scattered radiation doses were higher in the C-arm with a lead curtain than in the over-couch tube with an ERCP-specific lead curtain at all positions measured in this study. It was concluded that the over-couch tube system with an ERCP-specific lead curtain would reduce the staff eye dose by less than one-third compared to the C-arm system with a lead curtain. For the C-arm system, it is necessary to consider more effective radiation protection measures for the upper body of the staff, such as a ceiling-suspended lead screen or another novel shielding that do not interfere with procedures., (© 2024 Society for Radiological Protection. Published on behalf of SRP by IOP Publishing Limited. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the occupational disease hazards in stone processing enterprises in Weihai City to provide scientific basis for occupational disease prevention. Methods: From January 2021 to December 2022, 107 stone processing enterprises in Weihai City were selected to collect the detection status of occupational hazard factors in the workplace through on-site investigation and on-site monitoring of occupational hazard factors. The diagnostic reports on occupational diseases and suspected occupational diseases of 780 workers were collected through the Occupational Diseases and Hazard Factors Monitoring Information System of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the occupational health monitoring files of the occupational health examination institutions and the information data of the occupational disease diagnosis institutions. The differences between the measurement data were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method. Results: 107 stone processing enterprises were mainly focused on granite processing, and the average free silica content in granite was 32.92% (12.78%-47.84%). The over-standard rate of silica dust was 0.31% (6/1920), and the over-standard rate of noise was 86.20% (1324/1536). Among them, the noise intensity of cutting position was the highest[120.5 dB (A) ]. The over-standard rates of noise in cutting, water grinding, dry grinding (polishing) and material preparation (forklift transportation) were 98.05%, 89.55%, 70.00% and 42.62%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P <0.05). Among 780 workers, 31 cases (3.97%) of suspected silicosis were detected, and 13 cases (1.67%) were diagnosed with silicosis. 51 cases (6.54%) of suspected occupational noise deafness were detected, and 11 cases (1.41%) were diagnosed with occupational noise deafness. Conclusion: Silicon dust and noise in some positions of stone processing enterprises in Weihai City exceed the standard, and supervision should be strengthened, prevention and control measures should be implemented to protect the occupational health of workers.

Purpose: Patients who were administered radiopharmaceuticals can be a source of radiation exposure to sonographers. This study aimed to identify factors associated with radiation exposure to breast sonographers from patients administered radiopharmaceuticals for bone scanning., Methods: The exposure dose of six sonographers was measured during breast sonography in 59 patients administered 99m Tc-HMDP. We predicted the following factors to be related to exposure dose: time interval between administration and sonography, sonography examination time, estimated radioactivity at sonography, sonographer's years of experience, and patients' clinical data (age, renal function and surgical procedure). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between radiation dose and the aforementioned factors., Results: The mean±standard deviation of the exposure dose for the sonographers was 9.3±3.8 µSv. The time interval between administering the radiopharmaceutical agent and sonography, the sonography examination time and estimated radioactivity at sonography were found to be factors related to the exposure of the sonographer. The exposure dose increased as a function of the shorter time interval, longer examination time and higher estimated radioactivity at sonography., Conclusion: The time interval between drug administration and sonography, sonography examination time and estimated radioactivity at sonography contributed to the increased dose to breast sonographers. Although we considered that the exposure dose of sonographers would not possibly exceed the dose limit in the present study, we suggested that radiological technologists need to educate the physicians requesting sonography, and the sonographers about the radiation exposure in nuclear medicine.

The advent of fluoroscopically guided cardiology procedures has greatly improved patient outcomes but has also increased occupational radiation exposure for healthcare professionals, leading to adverse health effects such as radiation-induced cataracts, alopecia, and cancer. This emphasizes the need for effective radiation safety training. Traditional training methods, often based on passive learning, fail to simulate the dynamic catheterization laboratory environment adequately. Virtual Reality (VR) offers a promising alternative by providing immersive, interactive experiences that mimic real-world scenarios without the risks of actual radiation exposure. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of VR-based radiation safety training compared to traditional methods. We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 48 healthcare professionals in a catheterization lab setting. Participants underwent a 1-hour self-directed VR training session using Virtual Medical Coaching's RadSafe VR software, which simulates real-world clinical scenarios. Pre- and post-intervention radiation dose levels were measured using personal dosimeters at the eye, chest, and pelvis. Knowledge and skills were assessed through tests, and feedback was gathered through surveys and interviews. Statistical analysis revealed significant reductions in radiation exposure across all professional groups after VR training. For cardiologists, the eye dose dropped by 21.88% (from 2.88 mSv to 2.25 mSv), the chest dose decreased by 21.65% (from 4.11 mSv to 3.22 mSv), and the pelvis dose went down by 21.84% (from 2.06 mSv to 1.61 mSv). Perioperative nurses experienced similar reductions, with eye doses decreasing by 14.74% (from 1.56 mSv to 1.33 mSv), chest doses by 26.92% (from 2.6 mSv to 1.9 mSv), and pelvis doses by 26.92% (from 1.3 mSv to 0.95 mSv). Radiographers saw their eye doses reduced by 18.95% (from 0.95 mSv to 0.77 mSv), chest doses by 42.11% (from 1.9 mSv to 1.1 mSv), and pelvis doses by 27.63% (from 0.76 mSv to 0.55 mSv).Participants reported enhanced engagement, improved understanding of radiation safety, and a preference for VR over traditional methods. A cost analysis also demonstrated the economic advantages of VR training, with significant savings in staff time and rental costs compared to traditional methods. Our findings suggest that VR is a highly effective and cost-efficient training tool for radiation safety in healthcare, offering significant benefits over traditional training approaches., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

For pregnant workers in nuclear medicine, radiation doses can pose a risk to their foetus. However, foetal radiation doses cannot be measured directly. In this study, a method of estimating foetal radiation doses was developed through simulations and measurements of phantoms of pregnant women in the three trimesters. The uterus and abdominal surface doses for monoenergetic photons (137Cs) and medical diagnostic X-rays were measured, and uterine dose conversion coefficients (UDCCs) were calculated. The accuracy of the UDCC estimates were validated for measurements from thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) chips and TLD badges on the abdomen or chest. The foetal effective dose could be estimated using TLD chips and TLD badges on the abdomen or chest, or through literature estimation method. The proposed method can be used to easily and accurately estimate foetal effective doses from chest-worn TLD badges, ensuring accurate estimation in the early stage of pregnancy when a worker may not yet be wearing an abdominal badge. A flowchart for applying the UDCC method to approximate a foetal dose is also provided to ensure that total doses remain below the maximum of 1 mSv recommended in the International Commission on Radiological Protection 103 guidelines., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The contaminated liquid mixture containing mucosalivary fluid and blood would be aerosolized during medical procedures, resulting in higher-risk exposures. The novelty of this research is integrating laser visualization and numerical characterization to assess the propagation and evaporation of contaminated droplets, and the interactive effects of humidity and temperature on exposure risks will be numerically evaluated in surgery environments. The numerical model evidenced by experiments can predict the mass balance of ejection droplets, the minimum required fallow time (FT) between appointments, and the disinfection region of greatest concern. Around 98.4 % of the ejection droplet mass will be removed after the cessation of ultrasonic scaling, while the initial droplet size smaller than 72.6μm will dehydrate and become airborne. The FT recommendation of 30 min is not over-cautious, and the extended FT (range of 28-37 min) should be instituted for low temperature (20.5 °C) and high humidity levels (60 %RH). The variation of the temperature and humidity in the range for human thermal comfort has little influence on the area of the disinfection region (0.15m 2 ) and the cut-off size (72.6μm) of droplet deposition and suspension. This research can provide scientific evidence for the guidelines of environmental conditions in surgery rooms., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose potential hazards to human health and contribute significantly to odor pollution. This study examined VOC emissions from a representative recycled rubber industry, evaluating the occupational health risks for frontline workers in various workshops. Variables such as gender and workshop-specific concentration variations were considered using Monte Carlo simulation methods. Employees in the five production workshops and office areas face noncarcinogenic health risks with hazard indices (HIs) greater than 1, with the rubber compounding phase presenting the highest risk. Acetaldehyde is identified as the primary noncarcinogenic health risk substance, with hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding 1 in all workshops. Carcinogenic health risks vary by area, with the highest risks found in compounding and refining workshops. Formaldehyde poses the greatest risk in rubber grinding workshops and offices, with cumulative weights exceeding unacceptable levels of M80.58 % and W77.56 % in grinding and M94.98 % and W92.24 % in the office. Male workers face 4-7 % greater noncarcinogenic VOC health risks than females and 5-14 % greater carcinogenic risks from individual VOCs, increasing their susceptibility to health risks caused by VOCs. Additionally, our analysis of odor identification and intensity classification revealed that 53 VOCs are capable of causing odor pollution, with several substances reaching odor levels of 2 or higher. The predominant perceived odors, as reflected in the odor wheel, include categories such as "solvent/aromatic" and "sweet/fruit," with aldehydes being the primary odor-causing substances. In summary, emissions of VOCs from rubber industrial processes not only pose substantial health risks to workers but also contribute significantly to odor pollution. Consequently, enterprises must prioritize optimizing workplace conditions to ensure the occupational health and well-being of their employees., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Prostate cancer is a common cancer among males in the US, but little is known about its risk factors, including trace elements. The primary aim of this study was to examine prostate cancer and its association with arsenic and selenium in toenails. We conducted a small, nested case-control study of men residing in Iowa within the Agricultural Health Study cohort, where we also collected toenail samples to test for arsenic and other trace elements. Toenail samples were sent for neutron activation analysis aimed at long-lived trace elements, including arsenic. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for trace element exposures and prostate cancer. A total of 66 prostate cancer cases and 173 healthy controls returned questionnaires, over 99% of which included toenail samples. An increased risk was seen for the highest levels of arsenic (OR = 3.4 confidence interval (CI) of 1.3-8.6 and OR = 2.2, 95% CI of 0.9-5.6) and the highest level of selenium (2.0, 95% CI of 1.0-4.0). These data also show detectable levels of over 50% for 14 of 22 elements detected in the toenails. The association seen here with arsenic and prostate cancer further supports ecological studies finding an association with community levels of arsenic and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

The aim of the study was to investigate radiation protection adherence among radiology personnel and associated factors. In light of the increasing integration of ionizing radiation in medical diagnostics and treatment-specifically in areas such as computed tomography, fluoroscopy, and therapeutic radiology-it is vital for radiology personnel to consistently uphold rigorous radiation protection standards. This cross-sectional study employed a self-administered questionnaire to collect demographic data and assess various aspects of radiation protection adherence among radiology personnel. The gathered data were entered into SPSS 16 for statistical analysis. Among the 119 participants, 72 (60.5%) worked in the radiology department, and 88 (77.9%) were married. Significant associations were observed between adherence levels and marital status, age groups, years of experience, and department type. Study findings showed a significant association between several demographic factors and radiation protection adherence. Furthermore, our results highlight the value of implementing radiation protection courses to enhance adherence among personnel., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Radiopharmacy staff members are subject to extremity radiation doses, particularly to the fingertips. Dosemeters, such as, thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) are currently used for monitoring fingertip doses. This study aimed to use real-time dosemeters to monitor radiopharmacy extremity doses to identify specific procedural steps associated with higher fingertip doses and, subsequently, reduce dose through promotion of optimised radiation protection practises. Five radiopharmacy operators were monitored using an ED3 active extremity dosemeter with a detector attached to each tip of the index fingers. Dose rate and accumulated dose data were matched to the handled radioactivity data, of 99m Tc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals only, with the dose per activity ( μ Sv MBq -1 ) calculated for each step. Once baseline dose data was established, an educational session identified technique adjustments toward improved radiation protection. A subsequent monitored session was undertaken with the dose data compared to quantify changes in operator doses. Radiopharmacy steps which significantly contributed to extremity doses were identified. The average accumulated dose per activity across all procedural steps for the 99m Tc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals for all operators before the educational session was 0.042 ± 0.045 μ Sv MBq -1 and 0.042 ± 0.041 μ Sv MBq -1 ( n = 89) for non-dominant and dominant index fingertips, respectively, and 0.030 ± 0.044 μ Sv MBq -1 and 0.031 ± 0.032 μ Sv MBq -1 ( n = 97), respectively, afterwards. Overall, there was an average 40.7% reduction in the total extremity dose received after the educational session. Real-time electronic extremity dosemeters for monitoring radiopharmacy extremity dose presented as a useful tool for incorporation into radiation protection education and training, towards optimised radiopharmacy technique., (© 2024 Society for Radiological Protection. Published on behalf of SRP by IOP Publishing Limited. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

The radiation exposure of the hands of nuclear medicine laboratory technicians is largely due to the dispensing of radiopharmaceuticals into syringes. To reduce this exposure, a multiradionuclide automatic dispensing system (ADS) for syringes of radiopharmaceuticals was introduced. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of this ADS on hand dose compared with manual dispensing. Methods: The total hand dose per month for all personnel (12 technicians) was measured with ring dosimeters at the base of the index finger for 13 mo: 7 mo with manual syringe dispensing (radiopharmaceuticals containing 99m Tc, 18 F, 177 Lu, 68 Ga, 90 Y, and 223 Ra) and 6 mo with ADS (automatic: radiopharmaceuticals containing 18 F and 177 Lu; manual: radiopharmaceuticals containing 99m Tc, 68 Ga, 90 Y, and 223 Ra). Results: The mean total hand dose per month was reduced from 52.8 ± 10.2 mSv with manual dispensing to 21.9 ± 2.7 mSv with ADS ( P < 0.001), which is an absolute decrease of 59%. Meanwhile, the total handled activity increased from 369 to 505 GBq ( P < 0.001). 18 F-containing radiopharmaceuticals were the most commonly dispensed, at 182 GBq per month. The increase in total handled activity was largely due to an increase in 177 Lu (from 25 to 123 GBq), partially because of the introduction of [ 177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T. When correcting for this increase in handled activity, the hand dose was reduced by 69%. Conclusion: The introduction of a multiradionuclide syringe ADS decreased the hand dose to personnel by 69% when corrected for the increase in handled activity. Expanding the number of radiopharmaceuticals being dispensed by the system could potentially further decrease personnel hand dose., (© 2024 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Human dermal exposure to chlorinated paraffins (CPs) has not been well documented. Therefore, hand wipes were collected from four occupational populations to analyze short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) in order to estimate dermal uptake and oral ingestion via hand-to-mouth contact. The total CP levels (∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs) in wipes ranged from 71.4 to 2310 µg/m 2 in security guards, 37.6 to 333 µg/m 2 in taxi drivers, 20.8 to 559 µg/m 2 in office workers, and 20.9 to 932 µg/m 2 in undergraduates, respectively. Security guards exhibited the highest levels of ∑SCCPs among four populations (p < 0.01). In undergraduates engaged in outdoor activities, C 13 emerged as the most dominant SCCPs homologue group, followed by C 12 , C 11 , and C 10 . The levels of ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs in males in light haze pollution were significantly higher than that in heavy haze pollution (p < 0.05). The median estimated dermal absorption dose of SCCPs and MCCPs via hand was 22.2 and 104 ng (kg of bw) -1 day -1 , respectively, approximately 1.5 times the oral ingestion [12.3 and 74.4 ng (kg of bw) -1 day -1 ], suggesting that hand contact is a significant exposure source to humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The increasing prevalence of coal mine dust-related lung diseases in coal miners calls for urgent and meticulous scrutiny of airborne respirable coal mine dust (RCMD), specifically focusing on particles at the nano-level. This necessity is driven by expanding research, including the insights revealed in this paper, that establish the presence and significantly increased toxicity of nano-sized coal dust particles in contrast to their larger counterparts. This study presents an incontrovertible visual proof of these tiny particulates in samples collected from underground mines, utilizing advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The intricate elemental composition of nano-sized coal dust identified through EDS analysis reveals the presence of elements such as silica and iron, which are known to contribute to lung pathologies when inhaled over prolonged periods. The outcomes of the statistical analyses reveal significant relationships between particle size and elemental composition, highlighting that smaller particles tend to have higher carbon content, while larger particles exhibit increased concentrations of elements like silica and aluminum. These analyses underscore the complex interactions within nano-sized coal dust, providing critical insights into their behavior, transport, and health impacts. The nano-sized coal dust could invade the alveoli, carrying these toxic elements from where they are impossible to exhale. The revelation of nano-sized coal dust's existence and the associated health hazards necessitate their incorporation into the regulatory framework governing the coal mining industry. This study lays the groundwork for heightened protective measures for miners, urging the invention of state-of-the-art sampling instruments, comprehensive physicochemical profiling of RCMD nanoparticles, and the pursuit of groundbreaking remedies to neutralize their toxic impact. These findings advocate for a paradigm shift in how the coal mining industry views and handles particulate matter, proposing a re-evaluation of occupational health standards and a call to action for protecting coal miners worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite increasing awareness, silica dust-induced silicosis still contributes to the huge disease burden in China. Worryingly, recent silica dust exposure levels and silicosis risk in Chinese noncoal mines remain unclear., Objective: We aimed to determine recent silica dust exposure levels and assess the risk of silicosis in Chinese noncoal mines., Methods: Between May and December 2020, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on 3 noncoal mines and 1 public hospital to establish, using multivariable Cox regression analyses, prediction formulas of the silicosis cumulative hazard ratio (H) and incidence (I) and a cross-sectional study on 155 noncoal mines in 10 Chinese provinces to determine the prevalence of silica dust exposure (PDE), free silica content, and total dust and respirable dust concentrations. The qualitative risk of silicosis was assessed using the International Mining and Metals Commission's risk-rating table and the occupational hazard risk index; the quantitative risk was assessed using prediction formulas., Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significant differences in the silicosis probability between silica dust-exposed male and female miners (log-rank test χ21=7.52, P=.01). A total of 126 noncoal mines, with 29,835 miners and 4623 dust samples, were included; 13,037 (43.7%) miners were exposed to silica dust, of which 12,952 (99.3%) were male. The median PDE, free silica content, total dust concentration, and respirable dust concentration were 61.6%, 27.6%, 1.30 mg/m3, and 0.58 mg/m3, respectively, indicating that miners in nonmetal, nonferrous metal, small, and open-pit mines suffer high-level exposure to silica dust. Comprehensive qualitative risk assessment showed noncoal miners had a medium risk of silicosis, and the risks caused by total silica dust and respirable silica dust exposure were high and medium, respectively. When predicting H and I over the next 10, 20, and 30 years, we assumed that the miner gender was male. Under exposure to current total silica dust concentrations, median I10, I20, and I30 would be 6.8%, 25.1%, and 49.9%, respectively. Under exposure to current respirable silica dust concentrations, median I10, I20, and I30 would be 6.8%, 27.7%, and 57.4%, respectively. These findings showed that miners in nonmetal, nonferrous metal, small, and open-pit mines have a higher I and higher qualitative silicosis risk., Conclusions: Chinese noncoal miners, especially those in nonmetal, nonferrous metal, small, and open-pit mines, still suffer high-level exposure to silica dust and a medium-level risk of silicosis. Data of both total silica dust and respirable silica dust are vital for occupational health risk assessment in order to devise effective control measures to reduce noncoal mine silica dust levels, improve miners' working environment, and reduce the risk of silicosis., (©Kai Liu, Xin Sun, Wei-Jiang Hu, Liang-Ying Mei, Heng-Dong Zhang, Shi-Biao Su, Kang Ning, Yun-Feng Nie, Le-Ping Qiu, Ying Xia, Lei Han, Qiang Zhi, Chun-Bo Shi, Geng Wang, Wei Wen, Jian-Qiong Gao, Bing Yu, Xin Wang, Yi-Wen Dong, Ning Kang, Feng Han, Hong-Ying Bian, Yong-Qing Chen, Meng Ye. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 02.09.2024.)

In response to the International Commission on Radiological Protection, which lowered the lens equivalent dose limit, Japan lowered the lens dose limit from 150 mSv y -1 to 100 mSv/5 years and 50 mSv y -1 , with this new rule taking effect on 1 April 2021. DOSIRIS ® is a dosimeter that can accurately measure lens dose. Herein, we investigated lens dose in interventional cardiology physicians 1 year before and after the reduction of the lens dose limit using a neck dosimeter and lens dosimeter measurements. With an increase in the number of cases, both personal dose equivalent at 0.07 mm depth [Hp(0.07), neck dosimeter] and personal dose equivalent at 3 mm depth [Hp(3), lens dosimeter] increased for most of the physicians. The Hp(3) of the lens considering the shielding effect of the Pb glasses using lens dosimeter exceeded 20 mSv y -1 for two of the 14 physicians. Protection from radiation dose will become even more important in the future, as these two physicians may experience radiation dose exceeding 100 mSv/5 years. The average dose per procedure increased, but not significantly. There was a strong correlation between the neck dosimeter and lens dosimeter scores, although there was no significant change before and after the lens dose limit was lowered. This correlation was particularly strong for physicians who primarily treated patients. As such, it is possible to infer accurate lens doses from neck doses in physicians who primarily perform diagnostics. However, it is desirable to use a dosimeter that can directly measure Hp(3) because of the high lens dose., (© 2024 Society for Radiological Protection. Published on behalf of SRP by IOP Publishing Limited. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Biomonitoring has been widely used in assessing exposures in both occupational and public health complementing chemical risk assessments because it measures the concentrations of chemical substances in human body fluids (e.g., urine and blood). Biomonitoring considers all routes and sources of exposure. An occupational biomonitoring guidance document has been elaborated (OECD Occupational Biomonitoring Guidance) within the OECD framework and specifically, the Working Parties on Exposure and Hazard Assessment by scientific experts from 40 institutes and organizations representing 15 countries. The guidance provides practical information for assessing chemical exposures in occupational settings including the three common routes of exposure: inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion due to hand to mouth contact. The elaborated stepwise approach for conducting biomonitoring is tailored for occupational health professionals, scientists, risk assessors, and regulators. It includes methods for selecting appropriate biomarkers, devising sampling strategies, and assessing laboratories for validated analytical methods for the biomarker of interest, and ensuring timely feedback of results. Furthermore, it describes procedures for setting up efficient biomonitoring programs based on the Similar Exposure Group (SEG) approaches. Derived health-based human exposure biomarker assessment values called Occupational Biomonitoring Levels (OBLs) are proposed for use in occupational exposure and risk assessment. It also helps with the interpretation of biomonitoring results routinely collected and procedures for communicating biomonitoring results at individual, collective, and workplace levels. Ethical considerations associated with biomonitoring are also discussed. The ultimate goal of this biomonitoring approach is to promote harmonized application and interpretation of biomarkers as well as evidence-based occupational risk management measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Crystalline silica is a Group I lung carcinogen primarily known as a causative agent for silicosis. A study was performed to quantify respirable dust, and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in the rice mills of northeast India. Seventy-two respirable dust samples were collected from the worker's breathing zone from four rice mills at three locations: feeding, sieving, and polishing sections for two paddy varieties: Ranjit and Sali. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), method #7602, was used to determine RCS. The results show that geometric mean TWA dust and RCS emissions in the rice mills varied from 3.97 to 455.00 mg/m 3 and 0.02 to 5.38 mg/m 3 , respectively. RCS exposures were higher during milling of the Sali variety paddy (GM: 0.76 mg/m 3 ) than the Ranjit variety paddy (GM: 0.25 mg/m 3 ). Respirable dust and RCS emissions were considerably higher in the feeding and sieving sections than in the polishing section. Respirable dust and RCS exposure varied significantly ( p  < 0.001) with paddy variety. Respirable dust and RCS were highly correlated for different rice mills; however, the proportion of RCS in the dust was higher in the Sali variety paddy than in the Ranjit variety paddy. RCS exposure to the workers at the feeding and sieving sections was observed to be higher than the occupational exposure limits (OELs) published by Safe Work Australia, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and Factories Amendment Act, 1987, Government of India.

Objectives . This study aimed to assess noise levels in various units in hospitals and explore the correlation between healthcare employees' daily noise exposure level ( L ex,8h ) and their stress and symptoms. Methods . A healthcare facility was selected to study noise pollution. Personal noise dosimeters were used during 8-h working shifts. Data were collected from 126 employees using the 36-item 'A stress scale' and a socio-demographic information form. Results . The results of noise measurements exceeded World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency recommended limits at all sites. The lowest L ex,8h (52 dB) was detected in the endocrinology clinic, while the highest (91 dB) was recorded in the podology unit. According to the stress scale scores, the lowest mean psychological symptom score (PsSS), physiological symptom score (PhSS) and total scale score (TSS) were observed in diagnostic units with 35 ± 14, 41 ± 14 and 76 ± 27, respectively, while the highest mean PsSS, PhSS and TSS were observed in the polyclinics with 44 ± 6, 64 ± 10 and 107 ± 10, respectively. The PsSS of employees exposed to noise ( L ex,8h ) above 75 dB was found to be higher than for other employees. Conclusion . L ex,8h above 75 dB can increase psychological symptoms in healthcare employees.

Purpose: Welders are more likely to develop neurobehavioral disorders because of their exposure to neurotoxic metals such as manganese. This study aimed to measure the neurobehavioral performance of welders occupationally exposed to manganese at welding enterprises and its relationship with the workplace environment., Methods: It is a comparative cross-sectional study carried out on 130 welders working at 50 welding enterprises in Menoufia governorate, Egypt, compared to 130 non-occupationally exposed controls., Results: It was found that the environments of the studied welding enterprises had levels of respirable dust, manganese, and total welding fumes that exceeded internationally permissible limits. In addition, the mean blood manganese levels were significantly higher among welders (4.16 ± 0.61) than the controls (1.72 ± 0.41). Welders had a significantly higher prevalence of neurological manifestations and lower performance of neurobehavioral tests. Lower neurobehavioral performance among welders was significantly correlated with increased work duration and blood levels in some tests., Conclusion: To lessen the fumes in the breathing zone of workers, it is therefore strongly recommended to regularly wear high-quality personal protective equipment, especially masks, and to ensure proper ventilation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Abstract: Radioembolization using 90 Y is a growing procedure in nuclear medicine for treating hepatocellular carcinoma. Current guidelines suggest postponing liver transplantation or surgical resection for a period of 14 to 30 d after radioembolization to minimize surgeons' exposure to ionizing radiation. In light of a radiation protection incident, we reevaluated the minimum delay required between radioembolization and subsequent liver transplantation. A patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma underwent a liver transplantation 44 h after undergoing radioembolization using 90 Y (860 MBq SIR-Spheres). No specific radioprotection measures were followed during surgery and pathological analysis. We subsequently (1) evaluated the healthcare professionals' exposure to ionizing radiation by conducting dose rate measurements from removed liver tissue and (2) extrapolated the recommended interval to be observed between radioembolization and surgery/transplantation to ensure compliance with the radiation dose limits for worker safety. The surgeons involved in the transplantation procedure experienced the highest radiation exposure, with whole-body doses of 2.4 mSv and extremity doses of 24 mSv. The recommended delay between radioembolization and liver transplantation was 8 d when using SIR-Spheres and 15 d when injecting TheraSphere. This delay can be reduced further when considering the specific 90 Y activity administered during radioembolization. This dosimetric study suggests the feasibility of shortening the delay for liver transplantation/surgery after radioembolization from the 8th or 15th day after using SIR-Spheres or TheraSphere, respectively. This delay can be decreased further when adjusted to the administrated activity while upholding radiation protection standards for healthcare professionals., (Copyright © 2024 Health Physics Society.)

Objective: Adverse respiratory outcomes in post-9/11 veterans with elevated urinary metal measures and enrolled in the VA's Toxic Embedded Fragment registry were compared to those without elevated urinary metals., Methods: Veterans completed questionnaires, underwent pulmonary physiology tests (pulmonary function and oscillometry), and provided urine samples for analysis of 13 metals. Respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and physiology measures were compared in veterans with ≥1 urine metal elevation to those without metal elevations, adjusted for covariates, including smoking., Results: Among 402 study participants, 24% had elevated urine metals, often just exceeding upper limits of reference values. Compared to veterans without elevated metals, those with elevated metals had had higher FEV 1 values but similar frequencies of respiratory symptoms and diagnoses and abnormalities on pulmonary physiology tests., Conclusions: Mild systemic metal elevations in post-9/11 veterans are not associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Introduction: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers. We evaluated biochemical and haematological effects of three PFAS, serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), ADV, and cC 6 O 4 in workers of a fluoropolymer company., Methods: Using data (2013-2022), we fitted random intercept regression models adjusted for several covariates and reciprocal adjustment between the three PFAS., Results: We analysed data of 814 workers (698 men, 116 women), 607 from the chemical plant, 207 from the research centre, for a total of 4912 blood samples (2065 with all three PFAS measured). Median levels of PFOA and ADV were 21.3 and 120 μg/L. Most (65.5%) cC 6 O 4 measurements were below the limits of quantification (which varied over time from 5 to 0.1 μg/L). For PFOA, we observed positive associations with total cholesterol (+1.1% increase per ln(PFOA) increase) and apolipoprotein B (+1.4%) and negative associations with alkaline phosphatase (-1.5%); suggestive associations were also found with RBC (-0.4%), IgA (-1.5%), IgM (-1.4%). ADV was positively associated with total and LDL cholesterol (+1.0% and +1.6% per ln(ADV) increase), apolipoprotein B (+1.0%), GGT (+2.1%), IgM (+1.4%), and WBC (+1.5%) and negatively associated with direct bilirubin (-2.3%) and alpha-2-globulins (-0.7%); suggestive associations were found for indirect bilirubin (-2.0%), oestradiol (-2.1%), ad CRP (+6.0%). For samples with detectable cC 6 O 4 levels we observed higher values of ALP (+2.3%), proteins (+0.5%), IgG (+0.7%) and platelets (+1.6%) and suggestively increased total bilirubin (+3.9%), RBC (+0.6%), and oestradiol (+5.8%). Some associations (total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, WBC, total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase showed reverse time trends in parallel with the strong decrease of serum PFOA and ADV over the study period., Discussion: We found associations of serum PFOA and ADV with lipid metabolism, liver function, and immunoglobulins. The reverse time trends of some endpoints in parallel with decrease of serum PFOA and ADV reinforce causal interpretation of results. cC 6 O 4 showed a different pattern of associations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

This study delves into the investigation of cosmic-ray radiation exposure levels for workers and their impact on the signal correlation subsystems at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory sites. The analysis presents a detailed examination of secondary cosmic ray spectra and flux at the ALMA sites, encompassing the operational period from 2010 to the present day, with a particular focus on the consequences of extreme solar flares. In terms of radiation exposure for ALMA employees, the annual exposure at the highest site (AOS) reaches approximately 4.8 mSv. This value exceeds the exposure level of a typical nuclear fuel cycle worker or those working at high-altitude Antarctica stations. The exposure is approximately 2.7 times lower at the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF). Furthermore, the additional ambient dose equivalent resulting from solar events, while low for events similar to those observed since the 1950s, can reach up to approximately 1 mSv when considering more ancient solar events based on environmental archives. Our analysis includes radiation effects measurements in the Baseline Correlator at the AOS and, more generally, underscores the significance of employing accurate modeling and simulation techniques to assess the effects of galactic cosmic rays and extreme solar events on the integrated circuits utilized or planned in the ALMA correlation subsystem., (© 2024 by Radiation Research Society. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.)

Pesticides pivotal in controlling pests, can represent a threat for human health. Regulatory agencies constantly monitor their harmful effects, regulating their use. Several studies support a positive association between long-term exposure to pesticides and chronic pathologies, such as cancer. Geno-toxicological biomonitoring has proven to be valuable to assess genetic risks associated with exposure to pesticides, representing a promising tool to improve preventive measures and identify workers at higher risk. In this study, a differential gene expression analysis of 70 candidate genes deregulated upon pesticide exposure, was performed in 10 GEO human gene expression DataSets. It was found that six genes (PMAIP1, GCLM, CD36, SQSTM1, ABCC3, NR4A2) had significant AUC predictive values. Also, CD36 was upregulated in non-transformed cell samples and healthy workers, but downregulated in cancer cells. Further validation in larger groups of workers will corroborate the importance of the identified candidates as biomarkers of exposure/effect., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Looking at the development status of Nigeria and other developing nations, most low-income and rural households often use coal as a source of energy which necessitates its trade very close to the communities. Moreover, the effects of exposure to coal mining activities are rarely explored or yet to be studied, not to mention the numerous street coal vendors in Nigeria. This study investigated the oxidative stress levels in serum and urine through the biomarker 8-OHdG and DNA damage via single cell gel electrophoresis (alkaline comet assay). Blood and urine levels of 8-OHdG from 130 coal vendors and 130 population-based controls were determined by ELISA. Alkaline comet assay was also performed on white blood cells for DNA damage. The average values of 8-OHdG in serum and urine of coal vendors were 22.82 and 16.03 ng/ml respectively, which were significantly greater than those detected in controls (p < 0.001; 15.46 and 10.40 ng/ml of 8-OHdG in serum and urine respectively). The average tail length, % DNA in tail and olive tail moment were 25.06 μm, 18.71% and 4.42 respectively for coal vendors. However, for controls, the average values were 4.72 μm, 3.63% and 1.50 for tail length, % DNA in tail and olive tail moment respectively which were much lower than coal vendors (p < 0.001). Therefore, prolonged exposure to coal dusts could lead to higher serum and urinary 8-OHdG and significant DNA damage in coal vendors observed in tail length, % DNA in tail, and olive tail moment by single cell gel electrophoresis. It is therefore established that coal vendors exhibit a huge risk from oxidative stress and assessment of 8-OHdG with single cell gel electrophoresis has proven to be a feasible tool as biomarkers of DNA damage., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Occupational noise exposure continues to be a prevalent hazard in many industries. While the proliferation of noise dosimeters and wearable devices has made it easier to assess a worker's exposure to noise, many employees exposed to hazardous (i.e., >85 dBA) levels of noise may go their entire career without ever having their personal noise levels measured. In contrast to other occupational exposures, noise is easily perceived by the individual exposed, allowing them to develop subjective judgments regarding its characteristics. To determine whether such self-reported exposures to occupational noise are associated with hearing loss, this analysis used audiometric data and self-reported occupational exposure to loud noise from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which has collected such data from 1999 to May 2020. Linear and logistic regressions models found a statistically significant association between self-reported noise exposure and worsened hearing at the 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz hearing frequency as well as an elevated odds ratio for the development of hearing loss greater than 25 dB at the 2, 3, and 4 kHz audiometric frequencies. The results of this analysis suggest that in the absence of exposure measurements, workers are likely able to detect exposure to hazardous levels of noise. In these instances, additional measurements should be collected to determine if the workers should be enrolled in a hearing conservation program.

The ability of organophosphate pesticides to disturb immune function has been demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro studies, but evidence of such effects on humans remains scarce. To assess the association between organophosphate pesticides exposure and cytokine levels in Mexican flower workers, a cross-sectional study was carried out. A questionnaire was provided to 121 male flower workers, and urine and blood samples were collected. Using gas chromatography, urinary concentrations of dialkylphosphate metabolites were determined. The serum cytokine levels, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, were measured using multiplex analysis, and levels of INF-γ and TNF-α by ELISA. We found that a higher dialkylphosphate concentration decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines INF-γ (β = -0.63; 95 % CI: -1.22, -0.05), TNF-α (β= -1.18; 95 % CI: -2.38, 0.02), and IL-6 (β= -0.59; 95 % CI: -1.29, 0.12), and increased IL-10 (β=0.56; 95 % CI: 0.02, 1.09), the main anti-inflammatory cytokine, suggesting an imbalance of the immune response in flower workers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As a result of firing pulverized coal in thermal power plants, enormous amounts of fly ash (FA) are produced as industrial waste. The release into the atmosphere and storage of this industrial waste remains one of the major environmental problems that threaten human health by contributing to air, water, and soil pollution. The recovery and reuse of FA in the construction industry is the only economic solution to the existing problem. In this study, the potential radiological risk caused by the usage of FA in concrete and cement production as a main component and its storage in landfill sites was evaluated for people and works by estimating radiological parameters (activity concentration and alpha index, annual effective doses, and the corresponding excess lifetime cancer risks) based on activity concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides in FA. Also, the radiological risk to the workers working in the FA landfill site was evaluated using the Residual Radioactivity Onsite 7.2 code. The average activity concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides in FA samples from the Tunçbilek lignite coal-fired thermal power plant at Kütahya province of Turkey were measured as 417, 156 and 454 Bq kg -1 for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively. When using up to 35% by mass of FA in cement and concrete, the average values of the radiological parameters revealed that they were within the recommended safety limits. However, code estimations showed that a regular worker in FA storage would be exposed to a total effective dose rate greater than 3 mSv y -1 .

Exposure to particulate matter and endotoxin can lead to acute and chronic respiratory problems in workers. A study was conducted to quantify particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μm (PM10) and endotoxin levels in rice mills in northeast India. Sixty-four PM10 dust samples were collected from eight rice mills at two locations: the feeding and polishing sections for two varieties of paddy: Ranjit and Hali. Endotoxin exposures were analyzed using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) gel clot test. The results showed that the geometric mean of the 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) PM10 dust concentration and endotoxin level in the rice mills were 10.69 mg/m³ and 2.2 EU/m³, respectively. Dust and endotoxin exposure were higher in the feeding section than in the polishing section. Endotoxin exposure in the feeding section during the milling of the Hali variety of paddy was 56.0 % higher than the milling of the Ranjit variety. Additionally, endotoxin exposure during the milling of the Hali variety was 24.2 % higher than that of the milling of the Ranjit variety in the polishing section. The dust exposure in the rice mills was 194.5 % higher than the standards set up by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, the exposure to endotoxin in rice mills was approximately 40.10 times below the recommended limit of 90 EU/m 3 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study examines the impact of chainsaw chain type and tree species on the concentration of inhalable wood dust generated during motor-manual harvesting in forested areas. The effects of conducting real-world measurements of inhalable dust within the operator's breathing zone during forestry work are investigated. Two different chain types were evaluated: the commonly used 3/8" pitch chain (conventional chain) and the 0.325" pitch chain. Additionally, measurements were taken for three tree species: beech, oak, and pine (including both live and standing dead trees after a fire). Results showed that, overall, using the conventional 3/8" chain type yielded the highest concentration of wood dust for all three tree species. Notably, the highest wood dust concentration was observed in the burned Pinus brutia cluster, also with the 3/8" chain pitch. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding how chain type and tree species contribute to wood dust levels.

Purpose of Review: Numerous epidemiological studies have shown increased health risks among workers and residents living near nuclear power plants exposed to radiation levels meeting regulatory dose limits. This study aimed to evaluate the association between radiation exposure and disease risks among these populations exposed to radiation levels meeting the current regulatory dose limits., Recent Findings: We searched four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) for studies published before August 2023, screened eligible studies (inclusion and exclusion criteria based on population, exposure, comparator, and outcome framework), and collected data on exposure indicators and disease risks. We applied random-effects models of meta-analysis to estimate the pooled effects and meta-regression to assess the dose-response relationship (radiation dose rate for workers and distance for residents). We identified 47 studies, 13 with worker and 34 with resident samples, covering 175 nuclear power plants from 17 countries, encompassing samples of 480,623 workers and 7,530,886 residents. Workers had a significantly lower risk for all-cancer and a significantly higher risk for mesothelioma. Residents had significantly higher risks for all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia. Notably, children under 5 years old showed the highest risk for all-cancer. Our meta-regression showed a significantly positive dose-response relationship between cumulative dose of radiation exposure and risk for circulatory disease among workers. Our findings demonstrated higher risks for mesothelioma for workers and all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia for residents exposed to low-dose radiation from nuclear power plants. Some included studies did not adjust for cancer risk confounders, which could overestimate the association between radiation exposure and cancer risk and increase the risk of bias., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an ideal binary targeted radiotherapy for treating refractory tumors. An accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) neutron source has attracted more and more attention due to its advantages such as higher neutron yield in the keV energy region, less gamma radiation, and higher safety. In addition to 10 B, neutrons also react with other elements in the treatment room during BNCT to produce many activation products. Due to the long half-life of some activation products, there will be residual radiation after the end of treatment and the shutdown of the accelerator, which has adverse effects on radiation workers. Therefore, the ambient dose equivalent rate in the treatment room needs to be evaluated. The AB-BNCT neutron source model proposed by Li is studied in this paper. Based on the Monte Carlo method, the Geant4 platform was used to simulate the dose induced by radionuclides near the Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA) of the source. It is concluded that the concrete wall contributed the most to the radiation dose. The dose rate of 2.45 μSv h -1 after 13 min of shutdown meets the dose rate limit of 2.5 μSv h -1 , at which point it is safe for workers to enter the treatment room area., (Copyright © 2024 Health Physics Society.)

Background: When asbestos fibers are inhaled, asbestos bodies can form in the lungs with the involvement of macrophages. It can take decades from the last exposure to the onset of an asbestos-related disease., Objectives: The aim of this review is to present methods to detect asbestos bodies in lung tissue, the development of diagnostic criteria and to discuss pros and cons of different methods., Materials and Methods: Observations and evaluations from the German Mesothelioma Register, along with relevant literature review and expert recommendations in guidelines are presented., Results: Assessing asbestos-related diseases requires recognition of the person's occupational history, the asbestos fiber burden in the lungs, and determining fiber types. Various methods have been developed and validated, including light microscopy techniques such as bright-field microscopy, phase-contrast microscopy, polarization microscopy, and differential interference microscopy, as well as electron microscopy techniques like field-emission-scanning electron microscopy (e.g., FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)., Conclusion: The use of asbestos has been heavily restricted worldwide, even completely banned in Europe. Thus, patients' exposure to asbestos is decreasing. However, asbestos exposure during renovations, demolitions, or through unconscious handling of asbestos-containing materials remains a concern., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Human cytogenetic biomonitoring (HCB) has long been used to evaluate the potential effects of work environments on the DNA integrity of workers. However, HCB studies on the genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-MFs) were limited by the quality of the exposure assessment. More specifically, concerns were raised regarding the method of exposure assessment, the selection of exposure metrics, and the definition of exposure group. In this study, genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to ELF-MFs were assessed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 88 workers from the electrical sector using the comet and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, considering workers' actual exposure over three consecutive days. Different methods were applied to define exposure groups. Overall, the summarized ELF-MF data indicated a low exposure level in the whole study population. It also showed that relying solely on job titles might misclassify 12 workers into exposure groups. We proposed combining hierarchical agglomerative clustering on personal exposure data and job titles to define exposure groups. The final results showed that occupational MF exposure did not significantly induce more genetic damage. Other factors such as age or past smoking rather than ELF-MF exposure could affect the cytogenetic test outcomes., (© 2024 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Bioelectromagnetics Society.)

Objective: This study aimed to compare the occupational radiation exposure of medical workers between general hospitals and university hospitals., Methods: Radiation exposure data from three hospitals in Hiroshima city, including one university hospital and two general hospitals, were collected using personal dosimeters. Monthly radiation doses were analyzed, and the annual sum of radiation exposure dose was calculated for 538 subjects in general hospitals and 1224 subjects in the university hospital. To assess the impact of locality, additional data from Nagasaki University Hospital and Fukushima Medical University Hospital were included for comparative analysis. Professional affiliations, such as doctors, nurses, and radiological technologists, were considered in the evaluation., Results: The study revealed slight but significant differences in radiation doses between general and university hospitals. In general hospitals, except for radiological technologists, a slightly higher radiation dose was observed compared to university hospitals. Despite the annual increase in the use of medical radiation, the majority of hospital workers in both settings adhered to safety guidelines, with occupational radiation exposure remaining below the limit of detection (LOD). Workers who involved in fluoroscopic procedure, whether at university or general hospitals, had higher radiation doses than those who did not., Conclusion: The study's primary conclusion is that workers in general hospitals experience a slight but significantly higher radiation dose and a lower percentage below the LOD compared to university hospitals. The observed difference is attributed to the greater workload at general hospitals than at university hospitals, and also may be due to the different nature of university hospital and general hospital. University hospitals, characterized by greater academic orientation, tend to benefit from comprehensive support systems, specialized expertise, and advanced technology, leading to more structured and regulated radiation control. These findings provide a basis for targeted interventions, improved safety protocols., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japan Radiological Society.)

Objectives: In Italy, asbestos was used intensively until its ban in 1992, which was extended for asbestos cement factories until 1994. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dose-response between asbestos exposure and asbestosis mortality across a pool of Italian occupational cohorts, taking into account the presence of competing risks., Methods: Cohorts were followed for vital status and the cause of death was ascertained by a linkage with mortality registers. Cause-specific (CS) Cox-regression models were used to evaluate the dose-exposure relationship between asbestosis mortality and the time-dependent cumulative exposure index (CEI) to asbestos. Fine and Gray regression models were computed to assess the effect of competing risks of death., Results: The cohort included 12,963 asbestos cement workers. During the follow-up period (1960-2012), of a total of 6961 deaths, we observed 416 deaths attributed to asbestosis, 879 to lung cancer, 400 to primary pleural cancer, 135 to peritoneal cancer, and 1825 to diseases of the circulatory system. The CS model showed a strong association between CEI and asbestosis mortality. Dose-response models estimated an increasing trend in mortality even below a CEI of 25 ff/mL-years. Lung cancer and circulatory diseases were the main competing causes of death., Conclusions: Asbestos exposure among Italian asbestos-cement workers has led to a very high number of deaths from asbestosis and asbestos-related diseases. The increasing risk trend associated with excess deaths, even at low exposure levels, suggests that the proposed limit values would not have been adequate to prevent disability and mortality from asbestosis., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Radiation is an integral part of routine medical practice, but it carries a risk to the health of medical staff. Hence, it should be assessed periodically. The study's goal was to quantify the levels of radiation exposure for medical staff at King Faisal Medical Complex (KFMC), Taif City Saudi Arabia, and to assess their radiation protective procedures in practice., Methods: The study looked at the thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) records of 50 medical professionals who were exposed to radiation while working at KFMC from 2019 to 2020 in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, radiation exposure is read from skin TLDs using Harshaw model 6600 plus detectors. The Excel software was utilized to process the obtained data for calculating effective doses. A questionnaire was also distributed to the medical staff to assess their radiation protection procedures. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 23 was used to analyze the obtained data., Results: The mean annual effective doses of the medical staff in 2019 and 2020 were determined to be 1.14 mSv and 1.4645 mSv, respectively, with no significant difference in effective doses between males and females in either year. The socio-demographic features of the medical personnel were examined, and the findings revealed that the majority of participants were male radiological technologists. The rate of adherence to radiation protection techniques was 68%, with a normally distributed dispersal. The amount of adherence varied significantly depending on nationality, occupation, and academic qualification., Conclusion: According to the research, the mean annual effective dosage for medical professionals at KFMC was significantly below the recommended level, indicating satisfactory compliance with the ALARA radiation safety concept., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)