View clinical trials related to Industrial Hygiene.
Filter by:This project aims to reduce negative health outcomes in small businesses that primarily employ high-risk Latino workers by characterizing their exposures to hazardous chemicals and assessing if a community health worker (CHW) intervention is effective at decreasing these exposures. Although preventable by definition, occupational disease and injuries are leading causes of death in the United States, with a disproportionate burden faced by Latinos. Small businesses pose a particular risk. They are more likely to employ low-wage Latino workers, and often use hazardous solvents including volatile organic chemicals that can cause asthma, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disease; yet their workers lack access to culturally and linguistically appropriate occupational health and pollution prevention information due to economic, physical, and social barriers. CHW-led interventions and outreach in Latino communities have documented increased access to health care and health education and reduced workplace exposures among farmworkers. CHWs are an innovative method to bridge the gap between these small business communities and other stakeholders. The proposed project will capitalize on established partnerships between the University of Arizona, the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc. and the El Rio Community Health Center. A community-engaged research framework will be used to complete the following specific aims: 1) quantify and identify exposures to hazardous chemicals in the two high risk small business sectors common in our target area (i.e., auto repair shops and beauty salons); 2) work collaboratively with business owners, trade groups, workers and CHWs to design an industrial hygiene - enhanced CHW intervention tailored for each small business sector; and 3) conduct a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the CHW intervention at reducing workplace exposures to volatile organic compounds and assess which factors led to successful utilization of exposure control strategies in both male and female-dominated businesses. Businesses will be randomized to either an intervention or delayed intervention group, both of which will receive incentives to participate including worksite health screenings. CHWs will work closely with business owners and employees to select and implement exposure-strategies appropriate for their worksite using a menu of complementary strategies of varying complexity and cost. This innovative project has the potential to directly reduce occupational health disparities through a CHW intervention that moves beyond providing occupational health education. The intervention will overcome current barriers by helping marginalized Latino workers and small business owners who may have limited education, literacy, and computer skills to understand the hazards associated with their work, and will empower them to have greater control over their occupational exposures, with the ultimate goal of preventing occupational disease and reducing health disparities.
Background: - Research suggests that occupational exposure to formaldehyde is associated with increased risk for myeloid leukemia, but the significance of these findings is uncertain because of inconsistencies among studies and lack of knowledge of how formaldehyde can cause leukemia. - Damage to the DNA of myeloid cells (type of white blood cell) or an environmental factor not affecting the cell genetic machinery may be involved. Objective: To determine if formaldehyde exposure is associated with genetic or other changes in myeloid cells. Eligibility: Workers exposed to high levels of formaldehyde and unexposed workers in Guangdong Province, China. Design: - 40 exposed workers and 40 unexposed workers will be enrolled. - Subjects wear small instruments at work that measure chemicals in the air for 1 or 2 days. - Subjects have a brief physical examination and provide blood, urine, and mouth rinse samples. - Subjects answer a questionnaire about work, smoking and drinking, use of medicines, medical history, general health, exposure to radiation and exposure to various substances at home.
Background: - Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a solvent used in many medical and industrial processes. - TCE is a carcinogen (causes cancer) in rats, but its carcinogenicity in humans is unclear. There is some evidence of increased liver and kidney cancers and of an association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in studies of workers exposed to TCE. - The carcinogenicity and regulation of TCE is a matter of continuing debate. Objectives: - To determine if TCE exposure is associated with higher levels of genetic aberrations in certain white blood cells called lymphocytes. - To determine if TCE exposure affects lymphocyte subsets and levels of certain hormones called cytokines. Eligibility: Workers exposed to two different levels of exposure to TCE and unexposed workers in Guangdong Province, China. Design: - 45 workers exposed to more than 25 parts per million (ppm) TCE, 30 workers exposed to from 10 to less than 25 ppm TCE and 45 unexposed workers will be enrolled. - Subjects wear small instruments at work that measure chemicals in the air for 1 or 2 days during the 2-week study period. Exposed workers also wear several small skin patches on one of the two days. - Subjects provide blood and urine samples. - Subjects answer a questionnaire about work, smoking and drinking, use of medicines, medical history, general health, hobbies, and exposure to radiation and exposure to various substances at home.