ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Hafizifard   H. (1)
Moradi   F. (1)
Kargarzadeh Ravari   A. (1)
Ebrahimpour   K. (*2)






(*2) Environmental Health Engineering Department, Health Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical sciences, Isfahan, Iran
(1) Legal Medical Organization of Bushehr, Bushehr, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Environmental Health Engineering Department, Health Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical sciences, Hezar-Jarib Street, Isfahan, Iran. Postal Code: 8174673461
Phone: +98 (31) 37923226
Fax: +98 (31) 36682509
k.najafabady@sbmu.ac.ir

Article History

Received:  February  23, 2019
Accepted:  July 8, 2019
ePublished:  September 21, 2019

BRIEF TEXT


Several people are exposed to a variety of chemicals in various businesses worldwide. Exposure to these substances can have numerous health effects on people.

... [1, 2]. A study by Akenga et al. in 2014 on more than 47,000 women with a history of occupational exposure to solvents, found that the chance of developing breast cancer in technicians exposed to solvents was significantly higher than other women [3]. Another study in Finland reported an increased incidence of leukemia and lymphatic system cancer among laboratory staff [4]. ... [5, 6]. Numerous methods have been proposed in scientific studies for the identification and quantification of solvents in laboratory environments, many of which have research implications, however, due to the legal and mandatory nature of these measurements, standardized methods for measuring pollutants in workplaces have been developed in most countries and announced by Lawmaker organizations. [7]. ... [8-12].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occupational exposure of Bushehr forensic laboratories staff to these solvents.

This study was a cross-sectional experimental research.

This study was carried out in September and October 2016 in the extraction section of Bushehr Forensic Toxicology Laboratory.

None declared.

The pure standard of the needed solvents, including chloroform (1601383), diethyl ether (47948) and ammonia (294993) were prepared (Sigma, USA). Other solvents needed for extraction, preparation and analysis of samples were obtained from Merck-Germany. Chloroform and diethyl ether were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a GC-FID (5975c, Agilent, USA) and ammonia levels were measured using the spectrophotometer (DR2000, Hach Company, USA). The sampling strategy, selecting the areas, number of stations and duplicates were performed according to the recommendations of the American National Occupational Health Association and in accordance with the forensic toxicology laboratory's work schedule. Chloroform sampling and analysis were performed according to Method No. 1003 recommended by the American National Occupational Health Association. Diethyl ether sampling and analysis were performed according to Method 1610 recommended by the American National Occupational Health Association. Sampling and analysis of the sample was quite similar to the chloroform measurement and analysis in the previous section. Ammonia sampling and analysis were performed according to Method 6015 recommended by the American National Occupational Health Association. Time weighted average (TWA) is the average exposure level of individuals with various harmful agents adjusted based on exposure time (8 h per day and 40 h per week). The following standard formula recommended by the US Association of Occupational Health Professionals was used to calculate the TWA of the exposure to solvents [17]: TWA=( ⁡〖(∑_(i=1)^n▒〖c_1 t_1 〗)/(∑_(i=1)^n▒t_i )〗 ) To validate the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the solvents, a certified reference material (CRM) of these solvents was prepared from Sigma, USA, and after re-confirmation by gas chromatograph equipped with GC-MS, calibration curves were first plotted at the concentrations of 1, 10, 20, 50 and 100 ppb. Then, all method validation indices, including linear range, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were evaluated and optimized, based on the most relevant guidelines in the reference books. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software and independent T-test.

There was a statistically significant difference between the exposure level of employees on the days of extraction and days without extraction (p <0.05; Table 1).The TWA of the laboratory staff exposure was calculated and compared with the Iran National Standard and also the limit stated by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as one of the most accepted international organizations in occupational safety and health (Table 2).Then the calibration curves of different solvent measurements and the validation results were presented to the measurement methods (Table 3 and Figures 1-3).

Various studies have shown that organic solvents have different effects on the health of various organs of the body, including the nervous system, heart, kidney, skin and liver [19]. Fiont & McPherson in their study demonstrated the effect of organic solvents on the auditory nervous system [20]. Sosa et al. (2009) examined individual exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in two Brazilian hospitals and found that the exposure levels were higher levels than recommended limits [21]. In 2006, Dimitriou & Tsoukali conducted a study to monitor ethanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform solvents in a toxicology laboratory in Greece. The results of this study showed that the exposure to ethanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform was higher than recommended occupational values [22]. ... [23].

It is suggested that a more comprehensive study be carried out in collaboration with all forensic medical centers in Iran and complementary studies, such as biological monitoring be added to achieve a comprehensive risk assessment.

Due to the different workloads of these laboratories in different centers, the staff exposure will be different.

Although the exposure levels of staffs of the forensic medical laboratories in Bushehr is lower than the allowed rate in Iran, but in some cases (especially chloroform), these exposures are at the warning rate.

We are grateful for the financial support of the Forensic Medicine Research Center and all those who assisted in the investigation.

None declared.

This research proposal was approved by the Research office of Iran Forensic Medicine Research (109252).

This research was funded by the Forensic Medicine Research Center.

TABLES and CHARTS

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