• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.78-85
• /
• 2022

Background: Veterinarians may encounter a variety of zoonotic pathogens in their work. Methods: We conducted two cross-sectional questionnaire studies among veterinarians in Finland. Participants were recruited during two Annual Veterinary Congresses. In 2009, 306 veterinarians participated in an extensive questionnaire study, and in 2016, 262 veterinarians participated in a more focused study that included two same questions. Results: In 2009, the majority (90.9%) of the participating veterinarians reported having been occupationally exposed to zoonotic pathogens. Zoonotic infections (15.0%), needle stick incidents (78.8%), bites (85.0%), as well as infected skin lesions (24.2%) were reported. In 2009, 8.2% of the participants fully agreed with the statement "I have good knowledge of zoonoses and their prevention"; in 2016, the proportion was 10.3%. The reported use of protective practices and personal protective equipment in connection with specific veterinary procedures indicated that there was room for improvement, particularly in protection from pathogens that are transmissible via inhalation and mucous membranes. Conclusion: The results confirm that veterinarians are commonly occupationally exposed to zoonotic pathogens. Education should aim to improve and maintain the knowledge of zoonoses and their prevention. Use of protective practices should be advocated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권8호
• /
• pp.3046-3053
• /
• 2023

Radon is a naturally occurring carcinogenic agent, poses a serious health hazard when inhaled or ingested in significant amounts. The water of the Padma river will be used as a tertiary coolant for the soon-to-be-commissioned 'Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant'. Hence, it is important to assess the radiological status of the river prior to the commission of this power plant. Therefore, for the first time, 25 samples of water were collected from various locations of the Padma River and analyzed for radon concentration using the RAD H₂O (DURRIDGE) radon monitoring device. The radon concentrations were found in the range from 0.077 ± 0.036 to 0.494 ± 0.211 Bq/L with a mean of 0.250 ± 0.093 Bq/L. All the concentrations were found to be below the recommended limits of WHO (100 Bq/L) and USEPA (11.1 Bq/L). The mean annual effective dose due to the radon exposure via inhalation and ingestion pathways were 0.638 µSv/y and 0.629 µSv/y, respectively, which were all well below the annual effective dose recommended by WHO (0.1 mSv/y). Since Bangladesh lacks a national safety limit of radon in water, this pioneering study provides baseline data on radon levels for the environment around Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.35-47
• /
• 2014

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the pollution level (gaseous and particle phase) in the public facilities for the PAHs, non-regulated materials, forecast the risk level by the health risk assessment (HRA) and propose the guideline level. PAH assessments through sampling of particulate matter of diameter < 2.5 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$). The user and worker exposure scenario for the PAHs consists of 24-hour exposure scenario (WIES) assuming the worst case and the normal exposure scenario (MIES) based on the survey. This study investigated 20 PAH substances selected out of 32 substances known to be carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. The risk assessment applies major toxic equivalency factor (TEF) proposed from existing studies and estaimates individual Excess Cancer Risk (ECR). The study assesses the fine dusts ($PM_{2.5}$) and the exposure levels of the gaseous and particle PAH materials for 6 spots in each 8 facility, e.g. underground subway stations, child-care facilities, elderly care facilities, super market, indoor parking lot, terminal waiting room, internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms), movie theater. For internet caf$\acute{e}$ (PC-rooms) in particular, that marks the highest $PM_{2.5}$ concentration and the average concentration of 10 spots (2 spots for each cafe) is 73.3 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range: 6.8-185.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The high level of $PM_{2.5}$ seen in internet cafes was likely due to indoor smoking in most cases. For the gaseous PAHs, the detection frequency for 4-5 rings shows high and the elements with 6 rings shows low frequency. For the particle PAHs, the detection frequency for 2-3 rings shows low and the elements with 6 rings show high frequency. As a result, it is investigated that the most important PAHs are the naphthalene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene from the study of Kim et al. (2013) and this annual study. The health risk assessment demonstrates that each facility shows the level of $10^{-6}-10^{-4}$. Considering standards and local source of pollution levels, it is judged that the management standard of the benzo (a)pyrene, one of the PAHs, shall be managed with the range of 0.5-1.2 $ng/m^3$. Smoking and ventilation were considered as the most important PAHs exposure associated with public facility $PM_{2.5}$. This study only estimated for inhalation health risk of PAHs and focused on the associated cancer risk, while multiple measurements would be necessary for public health and policy.

• 환경영향평가
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.286-297
• /
• 2020

본 연구에서는 국내 4개 도시(6개 지점)로부터 도로 노면 퇴적입자 내 PAHs의 농도 및 분포특성을 비교, 분석하고 오염 수준에 대한 초과 발암 위해도를 산정하여 인체 위해성 평가를 수행하였다. 지역별 오염농도를 바탕으로 흡입, 섭취, 피부 노출에 대한 노출경로를 설정하여 결정론적 위해성평가를 수행한 결과, 울산 지역의 경우 위해도 발암 기준 1×10^-6을 상회하는 결과가 나타났다. 또한 발암위해도가 있다고 판단되는 해당 지역에 대한 확률론적 위해성평가 결과, 확률적 평균값이 단일값을 활용한 결정론적 위해도 산정에서 도출되었던 발암위해도와 중앙값에 근접한 수준을 나타내었다. 민감도 분석 결과, 노출시간에 따른 기여도가 가장 크게 나타났다. 향후 기준치를 초과하는 발암 위해도를 나타내는 지역에 대한 위해도 관리는 물론 상세한 모니터링을 통한 추가 위해성 평가가 이루어져야 할 것으로 판단되며, 지역적 특성을 반영한 노출계수의 산정을 통해 인체 위해도 평가 결과 신뢰도를 높여야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제60권3호
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2006

배 경: 급성폐손상은 여러 가지 치료의 발전에도 높은 사망률을 보이는 질환으로 병태생리학적 연구가 필요한 실정이다. 아쿠아포린 (AQP)은 수분통로로 급성폐손상에서 폐부종에 관여되는 것으로 알려져 있어 bleomycin을 이용한 급성 폐손상모델에서 아쿠아포린의 발현을 확인하고자 하였다. 방 법: Bleomycin 10 U/kg을 Sprague-Dawley rats에 흡입시켜 급성 폐손상 보델을 만들고 흡입후 4, 7, 14일에 호흡수, 상시호흡량을 측정하고, 기관지폐포세척액을 얻으며, 폐조직을 얻었다. 얻은 폐조직에서 wet/dry 량을 측정하고 기관지 폐포세척액에서 사이토카인, 산화질소산물(nitrite와 nitrate)등을 측정하였다. 그리고 폐조직에서 AQP1, AQP4와 AQP5를 면역조직염색에서 확인하였다. 결 과: Bleomycin 흡입 후 호흡수는 4, 7일에 상시호흡량은 4일에 대조군에 비해 유의한 차이를 보였다. Wet/dry 질량은 대조군에 비해 4일에 유의하게 높았다. 기관지폐포세척액에서 산화질소산물은 4일에 가장 높았다. 면역화학염색에서 AQP1과 AQP4는 4일에 감소하였으며 AQP4는 7일에 증가하였고, AQP5는 4, 7, 14일에 발현이 증가하였다. 결 론: 아쿠아포린은 급성폐손상 모델에서 다양하게 발현하여 급성 폐손상의 경과에 따라 다르게 작용함을 시사한다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.97-113
• /
• 1998

교감신경계는 광범위한 각종 기능의 항상성 조절에 결정적인 역할을 하고 있으며, 저산소증, 출혈, 통증 등에 따른 스트레스 반응에 의해 자극되어 심박출량의 증가 및 조직으로 산소공급 향상을 위한 혈류 조절 반응이 나타나게 되나 주어진 환경에 따라 반응 정도는 다양하게 보고되고 있다. 고농도의 $N_2O$로 인해 발생된 저산소혈증 상태에서 혈역학적 변화가 저산소혈증을 발견하는 지표로서 유용한 지를 관찰하기 위해 본 실험에서는 마취후 기계적 환기를 시행한 한국산 잡견에서 고농도의 $N_2O$를 이용하여 흡입산소농도를 점진적으로 감소시킬 때 발생된 저산소혈증이 혈중 catecholarnine의 분비와 혈액 가스 및 혈역학적 변화를 비교 관찰하였다. Halothane으로 흡입 마취하여 기계적 환기를 시행한 뒤 10 마리의 한국산 잡견에서 21%, 15%, 10%, 5%의 산소를 5분씩 공급하여 혈역학상의 변화와 조직의 산소이용 상태 및 혈중 catecholamine치를 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 조절호흡의 결과, 실험견은 등탄산성 저산소혈증이 초래되었으며 흡입산소농도의 감소 정도에 따라 동맥혈 및 혼합정맥혈의 산소분압 및 포화도가 감소되었고, 산소섭취율이 증가함에 따라 동정맥혈 산소함량의 차이는 증가하였으며 동시에 심박출량이 증가하는 대상성 반응을 보였다. 중심 정맥압은 10%와 5%의 흡입산소농도에서 측정치가 유의하게 증가되었고, 평균 폐동맥압은 10%와 5%의 흡입산소농도에서 각각 55% 및 82% 증가되었으며 폐혈관저항도 각각 76%, 95%로 유의하게 증가되었으나 전신혈관저항의 변화는 유의성이 없었다. 실험견에서 혈중 norepinephrine, epinephrine 및 dopamine의 대조치는 각각 $141.4{\pm}94.4$ pg/ml, $172.6{\pm}130.1$ pg/ml, $151.1{\pm}282$ pg/ml이었다. 15% 산소 흡입 시 norepinephrine, epinephrine 및 dopamine치는 모두 유의한 증가를 나타내기 시작하였고 dopamine은 10% 흡입산소농도에서 가장 많이 증가하였으나 5% 흡입산소농도에서는 오히려 감소되었고 60%의 흡입산소로 재산소화하는 동안 대조치 수준으로 회복되었다. 이에 비해 norepinephrine은 15%의 흡입 산소농도에서 74% 증가한 후 저산소혈증이 심화될수록 더욱 증가하는 양상이 계속되었다. Epinephrine은 대조치에 비해 15% 산소 흡입시 29% 증가하였으나 10% 및 5% 흡입산소농도에서 각각 382%, 350% 증가되었다. 60%의 흡입산소로 재산소화하였을 때는 norepinephrine과 epinephrine치는 감소되었으나 대조치보다는 여전히 증가되어 있었다. 이상의 결과로 볼때 마취후 고농도의 $N_2O$에 의한 저산소 가스 흡입은 혈중 catecholamine의 농도를 증가시키나 심혈관계 및 교감 신경계의 반응을 매우 둔화시키는 것으로 생각된다. 따라서 임상 마취에서 환자에게 고농도의 $N_2O$를 흡입시켜 저산소혈증이 초래되는 경우 혈압 및 맥박수의 변화는 저산소혈증을 발견하는 지표로 유용하지 않은 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 국제학술대회
• /
• pp.45-72
• /
• 2005

C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gaftii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns. Cryptococcosis is an infection associated with an encapsulated, basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. The route of entry for this organism is through the lungs, with possible systemic spread via the circulatory system to the brain and meninges. There are four cryptococcal serogroups associated with disease in humans and animals, distinguished by capsular polysaccharide antigens. Cryptococcus neoformans: variety grubii (serotype A), variety neoformans (serotype D), and variety gattii (serotypes B and C) (Franzot et at. 1999). C. neoformans variety gattii has recently been elevated to species status, C. gattii. C. neoformans val. grubii and var. neoformans have a world-wide distribution, and are particularly associated with soil and weathered bird droppings. In contrast, C. gattii (CG) is not associated with bird excrement, is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates, and has a restricted environmental niche associated with specific tree species. (Ellis & Pfiffer 1990) Ellis and Pfeiffer theorize that, as a basidiomycete, CG requires an association with a tree in order to become pathogenic to mammals. In Australia, CG has been found to be associated with five species of Eucalypts, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. blakelyi, E. gomphocephala, and E. rudis. Eucalypts, although originally native to Australia, now have a world-wide distribution. CG has been found associated with imported eucalypts in India, California, Brazil, and Egypt. In addition, in Brazil and Columbia, where eucalypts have been naturalized, native trees have been shown to harbour CG (Callejas et al. 1998; Montenegro et al. 2000). In British Columbia, Canada, since the beginning of 1999, there have been 120 confirmed cases of cryptococcal mycoses associated with CG in humans, including 4 fatalities (data from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control), and over 200 cases in animal pets in BC (data from Central Laboratory for Veterinarians). What is remarkable about the BC outbreak of C. gattii-cryptococcosis is that all of the cases have been residents of, or visitors to, a narrow area along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, BC, from the tip of the island in the south (Victoria) to Courtenay on the north-central island as illustrated in Figure 1. Of the first 38 human cases, 58% were male with a mean age of 59.7 years (range 20 - 82): 36 cases (95%) were Caucasian. Ten cases (26%) presented with meningitis, the remainder presented with respiratory symptoms. Cultures recovered from cases of cryptococcosis associated with the outbreak were typed as serogroup B, which is specific to CG (Bartlett et al. 2003). This was the first reported outbreak of CVG in Canada, or indeed, the world. Where infection with CG is endemic, for example, Australia, the incidence of cryptococcosis ranges from 1.8 - 4.7 per million between the southern and northern states (Sorrell 2001). However, the overall incidence of cryptococcosis in immunocompenent individuals has been estimated at 0.2 per million population per year (Kwon-Chung et al. 1984). The population of Vancouver Island is approximately 720,000,consequently, even if the organism were endemic, one would expect a maximum of 0.15 cases of cryptococcal disease annually.