Formaldehyde: The concern in our occupational environment

The use of formaldehyde has been commonplace in a variety of different occupational settings. Our environment includes all things in our environment including the workplace. The use of formaldehyde (CH₂O) is of much concern to myself and those working in certain occupations. The most frequent users of this chemical are the manufacturing, funeral service, and healthcare industries. There has been shown to be a significant relationship between the use of formaldehyde and negative health outcomes among exposed employees (Raja & Saltana, 2012). Depending on the job title, individuals are at higher risk when exposed at higher frequencies and longer durations. In the funeral service industry duration of embalming practice and related formaldehyde exposures were associated with statistically significantly increased risk for mortality from myeloid leukemia (Hauptmann 2009). Mortality from myeloid leukemia increased statistically significantly with increasing number of years of embalming and with increasing peak formaldehyde exposure. These findings were cause of much concern in the scientific community supplemented by other research showing the relationship between formaldehyde exposure and disease. Further research was also done on these outcomes linking the occupational risk of exposure to formaldehyde in the manufacturing industry. Ultimately President Obama signed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite-Wood Products Act into law in 2010, which set guidelines to protect the employees of this industry (Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Much is still to be understood regarding the harm of exposure. The exposure to this chemical is also variable depending on an individual’s specific job title within a specific industry. It is important to understand the occupational risks associated with chemical exposure so that informed decisions can be made with respect to risk. The research regarding the dangers caused by formaldehyde exposure has been more prominently focused on the short-term risks (Mandel, Trichopoulous, Adami & Cole, 2010). Being exposed to formaldehyde levels of .1 ppm in the air can cause watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas others have no reaction to the same level of exposure (National Cancer Institute 2011). Less research has been done in regards to the long-term risks of exposure to this chemical compared to the short-term risks. Embalmers use formaldehyde at a higher frequency in their occupational setting compared to other job titles, which makes them a high-risk population (Steinmaus et al., 2010). This exposure threat in the occupational environment if the most important to me because I have family members who work in the funeral service industry. It is important to be knowledgeable about this chemical because it contaminates our occupational environment making us at risk for negative health outcomes.

 

Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products. (2014, May 9). EPA. Retrieved  August 2, 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/formaldehyde/

Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk. (2011, June 10). National Cancer Institute.

            Retrieved August 2, 2014, from

            http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde

Freeman, L., Blair, A., Lubin, J., Stewart, P., Hayes, R., Hoover, R., et al. Mortality From             Lymphohematopoietic Malignancies Among Workers in Formaldehyde Industries: The National Cancer Institute Cohort. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 101, 751-761. Retrieved , from http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/101/10/751.full

Hauptmann, M., Stewart, P., Hayes, R., Lubin, J., Freeman, L., Hornung, R., et al. Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies and brain cancer among embalmers exposed to formaldehyde. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 24, 1696-1708. Retrieved December 16, 2009, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2794303/

Mandel, J., Trichopoulous, D., Adami, H., & Cole, P. Formaldehyde and lymphohematopoietic cancers: A review of two recent studies. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 58, 161-166. Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20736040

Raja, D., & Saltana, B. Potential health hazards for students exposed to formaldehyde in the gross anatomy laboratory. PubMed, 74, 36-40. Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22329207

Steinmaus, C., Smith, A., Smith, M., Zhang, L., & Schwilk, E. Formaldehyde and Leukemia: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Evaluation of Bias. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 52, 878-886. Retrieved August 2, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20798648

Ebola Virus

The virus that I find most interesting is Ebola. My interest certainly stems from the overwhelming media attention it has gotten recently and its threat to the health of the public. We typically view viruses such as Ebola or even small pox as having been eradicated though previous public health efforts, however this virus is quite a current threat. The virus has fatality rates in upwards of 90% in infected individuals. It can be spread though animals such as the fruit bat and then from human to human. The virus is not spread through the air, however it can be transmitted though bodily fluids which makes it highly transmittable. The symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and impaired kidney and live function. The incubation period for the virus can be up to 21 days so quarantining is often a necessary precaution.

Prevalence:  The World Health Organization, in partnership with the Ministries of Health in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria announced a cumulative total of 1603 suspect and confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and 887 deaths, as of August 1, 2014. Of the 1603 clinical cases, 1009 cases have been laboratory confirmed for Ebola virus infection.

Life cycle:

Although there is no successfully confirmed treatment, the virus can be prevented through precautionary measures. By reducing wildlife-to-human and human-to-human contact, the virus has a difficult time being transmitted. It should also be known that proper handling and disposal of Ebola infected bodies is crucial in reducing transmission. Healthcare professionals must fully protect themselves when treating infected individuals. The eradication effort is still being deliberated on globally.

 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YYskFkqoyI

Guinea Worm Parasite

The parasite that I find most interesting is the guinea worm. This is because although there is no medication or vaccine, it can be easily prevented by the use of a fabric strainer to filter infected drinking water.

Prevelance:  The point prevelance for 2008 was 4,647   

The initial infection results from drinking contaminated drinking water that contain small crustaceans that are infected with the D. medinensis larvae.

1.     After the consuming these crustaceans called copepods they die release the parasitic larvae which penetrates the stomach and intestinal wall of the host entering the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space.

2.     Once the larvae matures into adults the male worms die and the females move through the body to subcutaneous tissue near the surface of the skin.

3.     After approximately 1 year inside of the host the female worm creates a blister on the skin where it emerges exposing itself. The worm typically emerges on the lower legs. Often the host seeks water for relief from the discomfort which give the worm an opportunity to releases it larvae.

4.     The larvae is the consumed by copepods

5.     After two molts the parasite develops into infected larvae

6.     Ingestion of the copepod ends and begins the cycle

   

The eradication programs for guinea worm disease primarily involve strategies for prevention. Many of these programs facilitate sources for safe drinking water as well as the filtration devices to filter water before consumption. Something as simple as a piece of fine cloth to strain drinking water can be an effective strategy in preventing the consumption of this parasites. The use of larvicides such as temephos have been used to treat infected ponds. Efforts by the WHO ultimately established the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication in 1995 which provides a system to certify countries as being guinea-worm disease free. Once a host is infected with the parasite it will ultimately grow until forming a blister mostly on the lower leg, where the worm will emerge from the tissue. At this time the worm can be manually extracted.

http://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FYgQFSrZDE