Airborne Exposures to Monoethanolamine, Glycol Ethers, and Benzyl Alcohol During Professional Cleaning: A Pilot Study

A growing body of epidemiologic evidence suggests an association between exposure to cleaning products and respiratory dysfunction. Due to the lack of quantitative assessments of respiratory exposures to airborne irritants and sensitizers among professional cleaners, the culpable substances have yet to be identified. Purpose: Focusing on previously identified irritants, our aims were to determine (i) airborne concentrations of monoethanolamine (MEA), glycol ethers, and benzyl alcohol (BA) during different cleaning tasks performed by professional cleaning workers and assess their determinants; and (ii) air concentrations of formaldehyde, a known indoor air contaminant. Methods: Personal air samples were collected in 12 cleaning companies, and analyzed by conventional methods. Results: Nearly all air concentrations [MEA (n = 68), glycol ethers (n = 79), BA (n = 15), and formaldehyde (n = 45)] were far below (<1/10) of the corresponding Swiss occupational exposure limits (OEL), except for ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (EGBE). For butoxypropanol and BA, no OELs exist. Although only detected once, EGBE air concentrations (n = 4) were high (49.48-58.72mg m−3), and close to the Swiss OEL (49mg m−3). When substances were not noted as present in safety data sheets of cleaning products used but were measured, air concentrations showed no presence of MEA, while the glycol ethers were often present, and formaldehyde was universally detected. Exposure to MEA was affected by its amount used (P = 0.036), and spraying (P = 0.000) and exposure to butoxypropanol was affected by spraying (P = 0.007) and cross-ventilation (P = 0.000). Conclusions: Professional cleaners were found to be exposed to multiple airborne irritants at low concentrations, thus these substances should be considered in investigations of respiratory dysfunctions in the cleaning industry; especially in specialized cleaning tasks such as intensive floor cleanin

Gene Expression Response in Peripheral Blood Cells of Petroleum Workers Exposed to Sub-Ppm Benzene Levels

Ce numéro aux diverses tonalités illustre à sa façon, la richesse, les limites et les difficultés des questions éthiques appliquées à l’administration publique. Ainsi que nous le verrons, l’éthique publique ne se limite pas à la lutte contre la fraude et la corruption mais inclut bien d’autres facettes, dont celles relatives aux comportements professionnels des agents et aux tensions entre valeurs personnelles ou professionnelles. Revêtu d’une dimension managériale, l’article de J. Maesschal..

Morphological-hemodynamic characteristics of intracranial mirror aneurysms.

<p>A 42-year-old male presented with severe headache. The angiograms of internal carotid artery showed an unruptured aneurysm (A) and a ruptured aneurysm (B). The distribution of normalized WSS magnitude on the aneurysms sac showing the ruptured aneurysm had a lower WSS than the unruptured one (C and D). The Streamlines showing the flow pattern of the ruptured aneurysm was complex at peak systole (E and F). Streamlines are rendered with colors according to the velocity magnitude.</p