Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Unsupervised Machine Learning For Pattern Identification In Occupational Accidents, Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki, Steven Freeman, Gretchen Mosher

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Creating safe work environment is significant in saving workers’ lives, improving corporates’ social responsibility and sustainable development. Pattern identification in occupational accidents is vital in elaborating efficient safety counter-measures aiming at improving prevention and mitigating outcomes of future incidents. The objective of this study is to identify patterns related to the occurrence of occupational accidents in non-farm agricultural work environments based on workers’ compensation claims data, using latent class clustering method as an un-supervised machine learning modeling approach. The result showed injury profiles and incident dynamics have low, average, and high levels of risks based on the main causes and …

Quantification And Analysis Of Micro-Level Activities Data From Children Aged 1-12 Years Old For Use In The Assessments Of Exposure To Recycled Tire On Turf And Playgrounds., Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Jocelyn Claude, Patty Wong, Asa Bradman, Carly Hyland, Rosemary Castorina, Robert A Canales, Dean Billheimer, Elmira Torabzadeh, James O Leckie, Paloma I Beamer

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: There are growing health concerns about exposure to toxicants released from recycled tire rubber, which is commonly used in synthetic turf and playground mats. To better estimate children's exposure and risk from recycled tire rubber used in synthetic turf and playground mats, there is a need to collect detailed accurate information on mouthing activity and dermal contact behaviors. The objective of this study was to quantify and analyze micro-level activity time series (MLATS) data from children aged 1-12 years old while playing (non-sport-related games) at turf-like locations and playgrounds. Another objective was to estimate the incidental ingestion rate of …

Association Between Increasing Agricultural Use Of 2,4-D And Population Biomarkers Of Exposure: Findings From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2014., Marlaina S. Freisthler, C Rebecca Robbins, Charles M Benbrook, Heather A. Young, David M Haas, Paul D Winchester, Melissa J Perry

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most extensively used herbicides in the United States. In 2012, 2,4-D was the most widely used herbicide in non-agricultural settings and the fifth most heavily applied pesticide in the US agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to examine trends in 2,4-D urinary biomarker concentrations to determine whether increases in 2,4-D application in agriculture are associated with increases in biomonitoring levels of urine 2,4-D.

METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with available urine 2,4-D biomarker measurements from survey cycles between 2001 and 2014 were utilized. Urine …

Mise En Visibilité Des Situations D’Exposition Cutanée Aux Pesticides Et Des Pratiques De Prévention : Développement Méthodologique Réalisé En Collaboration Avec Des Producteurs De Pommes Québécois (2e Édition), Caroline Jolly, Sylvie Beaugrand, Ludovic Tuduri, Élise Ledoux, Alain Garrigou

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Dans une optique de rentabilité visant la survie de l’entreprise, et pour répondre aux attentes de qualité du marché, les agriculteurs utilisent des pesticides. La littérature scientifique documente largement les effets à la santé susceptibles d’être liés à l’utilisation des pesticides. Plusieurs auteurs mentionnent l’importance de la voie cutanée comme voie d’exposition aux pesticides. Ce rapport présente le développement d’une méthodologie mixte alliant ergonomie et expologie visant à documenter l’exposition cutanée, les situations d’exposition et les pratiques de prévention associées.

Il s’appuie sur un devis de recherche par étude de cas qui se décline en quatre étapes : une étude …

Please Don’T Shoot The Messenger, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial emphasizes the importance of discerning reliable information amid the influx of COVID-19-related studies and guidelines. Drawing parallels with the ancient Greek sentiment from Sophocles' play Antigone, JMDA Editor Dr. Chris Smiley advocates for an open-minded approach to trustworthy sources, citing the World Health Organization's seven steps for evaluation. The Michigan Dental Association is highlighted as a reliable resource for synthesizing evolving information for clinicians. Despite pandemic-induced frustrations, the editorial urges practitioners to navigate changes resiliently, recognizing the dynamic nature of public health guidance.

Characteristics And Assessing Biological Risks Of Airborne Bacteria In Waste Sorting Plant, Abbas Norouzian Baghani, Somayeh Golbaz, Gholamreza Ebrahimzadeh, Marcelo I. Guzman, Mahdieh Delikhoon, Mehdi Jamshidi Rastani, Abdullah Barkhordari, Ramin Nabizadeh

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Examining the concentration and types of airborne bacteria in waste paper and cardboard sorting plants (WPCSP) is an urgent matter to inform policy makers about the health impacts on exposed workers. Herein, we collected 20 samples at 9 points of a WPCSP every 6 winter days, and found that the most abundant airborne bacteria were positively and negatively correlated to relative humidity and temperature, respectively. The most abundant airborne bacteria (in units of CFU m⁻³) were: Staphylococcus sp. (72.4) > Micrococcus sp. (52.2) > Bacillus sp. (30.3) > Enterococcus sp. (24.0) > Serratia marcescens (20.1) > E. coli (19.1) > Pseudomonas sp. (16.0) > Nocardia …

Infection Prevention In Dentistry: Reaching Our “New Normal”, Karen K. Daw Mba, Cecm, Marie T. Fluent Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article addresses the evolving landscape of infection prevention in dentistry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the dynamic nature of guidance and standards. It explores historical perspectives, including the transition from "wet finger dentistry" to universal precautions and standard precautions. The focus then shifts to the regulatory considerations and the relevance of transmission-based precautions in the context of COVID-19. The Hierarchy of Controls is discussed, encompassing elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative control, and personal protective equipment. Respiratory hygiene, personal protective equipment, and infection prevention practices are compared between the pre-COVID era and the current landscape, emphasizing the importance of adapting …

Essai Sur Le Terrain Du Mini Pipe Strain Meter Du Jniosh Comme Système D’Alerte De Sécurité Lors Des Travaux En Tranchée, André Lan, Bertrand Galy, Satoshi Tamate, Tomohito Hori, Nabutaka Hiraoka

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les travaux en tranchée exposent les travailleurs à de nombreux risques. Le risque d'effondrement est le plus important et le plus fréquent lors de tels travaux, mais il est malheureusement très souvent sous-estimé, car même un effondrement mineur ou partiel de moins de 1 m3 de sol peut mortellement blesser un travailleur. L'analyse de 59 rapports de la Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) concernant des accidents graves et mortels survenus lors de travaux d'excavation et en tranchée réalisés entre juin 1973 et mai 2015 montre qu'il y a eu 51 …

Field Test Of The Jniosh Mini Pipe Strain Meter As A Safety Alert System During Trench Work, André Lan, Bertrand Galy, Satoshi Tamate, Tomohito Hori, Nabutaka Hiraoka

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les travaux en tranchée exposent les travailleurs à de nombreux risques. Le risque d'effondrement est le plus important et le plus fréquent lors de tels travaux, mais il est malheureusement très souvent sous-estimé, car même un effondrement mineur ou partiel de moins de 1 m3 de sol peut mortellement blesser un travailleur. L'analyse de 59 rapports de la Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) concernant des accidents graves et mortels survenus lors de travaux d'excavation et en tranchée réalisés entre juin 1973 et mai 2015 montre qu'il y a eu 51 …

Seroprevalence Of Covid-19 Igg Antibody In Resident And Fellow Physicians In Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Analysis Of A Cross-Sectional Survey, Dennis J. Baumgardner, Alexander Schwank, Jessica J. F. Kram, Wilhelm Lehmann, Jacob Bidwell, Tricia La Fratta, Kenneth Copeland

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Medical trainees are likely at differential risk of exposure to COVID-19 per respective clinical activity. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibody (Ab) among resident and fellow physicians with varying degrees of exposure to COVID-19.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of Milwaukee-based resident and fellow physicians, encompassing December 2019–June 2020, was conducted. Relevant variables of interest were ascertained by survey and payroll data, and Abbott ARCHITECT Ab test (index cut-off of ≥ 1.4) was performed. Descriptive statistics were generated, with 95% CI calculated for the study’s primary outcome of seroprevalence.

Results: Among survey respondents (92 of 148, 62%), …

The Effect Of A Vegetation Buffer On Sound Levels, Madison Cicha

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Noise pollution is a growing concern in the environmental health community. Unlike other common exposures, such as air and water pollution, noise is uniquely difficult for an individual to protect themselves from. Studies have shown multiple adverse health outcomes resulting from exposure to noise pollution, including hearing impairment, negative social behavior and annoyance, sleep disturbance, along with a strong association between noise pollution and high cardiovascular risk. It is important, then, to look for solutions to this exposure. This study is designed to assess the effects of a tree barrier in reducing traffic noise. Noise monitoring was conducted at Saint …

A Study Of Noise Exposures For Amusement Park Employees By Positions And Ride Categories, Danielle M. Dao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Millions of workers in the United States encounter daily noise exposures in their workplace, associated with millions of dollars in workers compensation annually. Many industries have been well studied for the presence of hazardous noise, but little exposure data exists for the amusement park industry.Major attractions found at amusement parks fall within one of three categories and in each of those categories, five employee positions are common. This thesis sought to identify if there are differences in potential employee noise exposure among the ride types and if there are differences in noise exposure among the employee positions. The analysis of …

Violence Against Healthcare Workers: An Epidemic Within A Pandemic, Michaela Ramandanes

College of Health Sciences Posters

Violence and harassment towards healthcare workers has been an underlying problem throughout history. However, with the rapid and evolving onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks that healthcare workers face has been a focal topic of discussion among administration, staff and the public. What was once considered an occupational hazard is now being raised as a public health issue- an epidemic within a pandemic. This literature review seeks to identify the prevalence and causes of violence and harassment towards healthcare workers. Was healthcare violence as prevalent before COVID-19? Has violence increased because patient volume increased? Additionally, this review will determine …

Zip8-Mediated Intestinal Dysbiosis Impairs Pulmonary Host Defense Against Bacterial Pneumonia, Derrick R. Samuelson, Deandra R. Smith, Kelly C. Cunningham, Todd A. Wyatt, Sannette C. Hall, Daryl J. Murry, Yashpal S. Chhonker, Daren L. Knoell

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. An increased susceptibility is due, in part, to compromised immune function. Zinc is required for proper immune function, and an insufficient dietary intake increases the risk of pneumonia. Our group was the first to reveal that the Zn transporter, ZIP8, is required for host defense. Furthermore, the gut microbiota that is essential for lung immunity is adversely impacted by a commonly occurring defective ZIP8 allele in humans. Taken together, we hypothesized that loss of the ZIP8 function would lead to intestinal dysbiosis and impaired host defense against pneumonia. To …

Sars-Cov-2 Dysregulates Neutrophil Degranulation And Reduces Lymphocyte Counts, Abenaya Muralidharan, Todd A. Wyatt, St. Patrick Reid

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has given rise to one of the largest pandemics, affecting millions worldwide. High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios have been identified as an important correlate to poor recovery rates in severe COVID-19 patients. However, the mechanisms underlying this clinical outcome and the reasons for its correlation to poor prognosis are unclear. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved in healthy neutrophils acquiring a SARS-CoV-2-mediated detrimental role are yet to be fully understood. In this study, we isolated circulating neutrophils from healthy donors for treatment with supernates from infected epithelial cells and direct infection with SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Infected epithelial cells …

Aldehyde Trapping By Adx-102 Is Protective Against Cigarette Smoke And Alcohol Mediated Lung Cell Injury, Carmen A. Ochoa, Claire Nissen, Deanna Mosley, Christopher Bauer, Destiny Jordan, Kristina L. Bailey, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Most individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorders smoke cigarettes. Large concentrations of malondialdehyde and acetaldehyde are found in lungs co-exposed to cigarette smoke and alcohol. Aldehydes directly injure lungs and form aldehyde protein adducts, impacting epithelial functions. Recently, 2-(3-Amino-6-chloroquinolin-2-yl)propan-2-ol (ADX-102) was developed as an aldehyde-trapping drug. We hypothesized that aldehyde-trapping compounds are protective against lung injury derived from cigarette smoke and alcohol co-exposure. To test this hypothesis, we pretreated mouse ciliated tracheal epithelial cells with 0–100 µM of ADX-102 followed by co-exposure to 5% cigarette smoke extract and 50 mM of ethanol. Pretreatment with ADX-102 dose-dependently protected against smoke and …

Surface Modification Of Biodegradable Microparticles With The Novel Host-Derived Immunostimulant Cpdi-02 Significantly Increases Short-Term And Long-Term Mucosal And Systemic Antibodies Against Encapsulated Protein Antigen In Young Naïve Mice After Respiratory Immunization, Jacob E. Parriott, Jason P. Stewart, D. David Smith, Stephen M. Curran, Christopher D. Bauer, Todd A. Wyatt, Joy A. Phillips, Elizabeth Lyden, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Joseph A. Vetro Phd

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Generating long-lived mucosal and systemic antibodies through respiratory immunization with protective antigens encapsulated in nanoscale biodegradable particles could potentially decrease or eliminate the incidence of many infectious diseases, but requires the incorporation of a suitable mucosal immunostimulant. We previously found that respiratory immunization with a model protein antigen (LPS-free OVA) encapsulated in PLGA 50:50 nanoparticles (~380 nm diameter) surface-modified with complement peptide-derived immunostimulant 02 (CPDI-02; formerly EP67) through 2 kDa PEG linkers increases mucosal and systemic OVA-specific memory T-cells with long-lived surface phenotypes in young, naïve female C57BL/6 mice. Here, we determined if respiratory immunization with LPS-free OVA encapsulated in …

Post-Endotoxin Exposure-Induced Lung Inflammation And Resolution Consequences Beneficially Impacted By Lung-Delivered Il-10 Therapy, Jill A. Poole, Rohit Gaurav, Aaron Schwab, Amy J. Nelson, Angela Gleason, Debra J. Romberger, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Although lung diseases typically result from long-term exposures, even a robust, one-time exposure can result in long-lasting consequences. Endotoxin is a ubiquitous environmental/occupational inflammatory agent often used to model airway inflammation. Using a murine model, the return to lung homeostasis following high dose inhalant lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10-100 μg) exposure were delineated over 2 weeks. LPS-induced rapid weight loss, release of proinflammatory mediators, and inflammatory cell influx with prolonged persistence of activated macrophages CD11c⁺CD11b⁺ and recruited/transitioning CD11c^intCD11b⁺ monocyte-macrophages out to 2 weeks. Next, lung-delivered recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-10 was intratracheally administered for 3 doses initiated …

Incidence And Potential Co-Morbidities In Facial Pigmentary Demarcation Lines In Indian Populations, Lakkireddygari Sujana, Savitha L. Beergouder, Alekhya Rallapalli, Sujatha Alla, Prasanthi Chidipudi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: The most noticeable part of human body is face. The obvious boundaries on the skin known as Pigmentary Demarcation Lines (PDL) found over face and have clear borders of abrupt transition between more hyper-pigmented skin and areas of normal skin pigmentation due to differences in melanocyte distribution that may be influenced by multiple factors. Facial pigmentary demarcation lines (PDL) directly reflect on patient’s physical appearance and self-image as they may contribute to dysmorphism and even central to depressive illness in susceptible individuals posing cosmetic concern for the patient and a challenge for dermatologist. Therefore, it is important for early …

Réduction Des Risques Lors Des Interventions En Espace Clos : Développement D’Une Base De Connaissances Sur La Prévention Intrinsèque Et La Protection Collective, Damien Burlet-Vienney, Yuvin Chinniah, Ali Bahloul, Andrés Felipe González Cortés, Capucine Ouellet, Abdallah Ben Mosbah

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les espaces clos parmi les plus courants dans les milieux de travail au Québec sont les réservoirs, les cuves, les puits d’accès, les égouts, les tuyaux et les citernes. Les entrées en espace clos sont effectuées, entre autres, pour des raisons de maintenance (p. ex. : réparation, inspection, nettoyage, déblocage). Les risques pour la santé et la sécurité des travailleurs impliqués sont variés : atmosphérique, chimique, biologique, mécanique, physique ou liés à une chute ou au non-respect des principes ergonomiques. Dans le cadre de ce projet, une moyenne de 2,6 décès par an en espace clos au Québec sur la …