The Secretary of the US Veterans Administration announced today a major policy change regarding burn pit exposures.
Showing posts with label Asthma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asthma. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Thursday, December 1, 2016
New Jersey Workers Are at High Risk for Asthma
The US Centers for Disease Control reported today that workers in various industries and occupations are at risk for work-related asthma. CDC analyzed data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey and determined that in 21 states among an estimated 74 million adults employed at some time in the 12 months preceding the interview, 7.7% had current asthma.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Senator Gillibrand: We Have a Moral Obligation to Care for 9/11 Heroes, Survivors & Their Families
As the Zadroga Act slowly journeys to expiration, Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) declared that, “We Have a Moral Obligation to Continue to Provide the Critically Needed Care and Compensation That Our 9/11 Heroes, Survivors and Their Families Deserve."
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools, and Other Nonindustrial Buildings
Office buildings, schools, and other nonindustrial buildings may develop moisture and dampness problems from roof and window leaks, high indoor humidity, and flooding events, among other things.
For this Alert, we buildings [AIHA 2008]. This can lead to the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria; the release of volatile organic compounds; and the breakdown ofice bn wet materials. Outdoors,molds live in the soil, on plants, and on dead or decaying matter. There are thousands of species of molds and they can be any color. Different mold species can adapt to different moisture conditions. Research studies have shown that exposures to building dampness and mold have been associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, and respiratory infections. Individuals with asthma or hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be at risk for progression to more severe disease if the relationship between illness and exposure to the damp building is not recognized and exposures continue. NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Respiratory Disease from Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools, and Other Nonindustrial Buildings [PDF - 1.25 MB] |
Sunday, October 13, 2013
The Soaring Cost of a Simple Breath
Cost in the US for pharmaceutical medications are a stressor for all including workers' compensation carriers. The blame is targeted to injured workers for causing the problem. In actuality it appears that big pharma maybe the problem. Perhaps Federal legislation should allow cheaper rates for workers' compensation programs. Today's post is shared from nytimes.com.
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The kitchen counter in the home of the Hayes family is scattered with the inhalers, sprays and bottles of pills that have allowed Hannah, 13, and her sister, Abby, 10, to excel at dance and gymnastics despite a horrific pollen season that has set off asthma attacks, leaving the girls struggling to breathe.
Asthma — the most common chronic disease that affects Americans of all ages, about 40 million people — can usually be well controlled with drugs. But being able to afford prescription medications in the United States often requires top-notch insurance or plenty of disposable income, and time to hunt for deals and bargains. The arsenal of medicines in the Hayeses’ kitchen helps explain why. Pulmicort, a steroid inhaler, generally retails for over $175 in the United States, while pharmacists in Britain buy the identical product for about $20 and dispense it free of charge to asthma patients. Albuterol, one of the oldest asthma medicines, typically costs $50 to $100 per inhaler in the United States, but it was less than $15 a decade ago, before it was repatented. “The one that... |
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Asthma related to cleaning agents: a clinical insight
Cleaning workers are exposed to many substances ans irritants.Today post is from bmj.org.
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In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the potential role of exposure to cleaning products in the initiation and aggravation of asthma.
Epidemiological surveys have consistently documented increased prevalence3–5 and incidence6–8 rates of asthma in workers exposed to cleaning materials and/or disinfectants, especially in domestic cleaners3,4 and healthcare workers.
In addition, some studies have reported an increased risk of work-related asthma symptoms in exposed workers.
However, there is still limited knowledge on the specific exposures and pathophysiological mechanisms involved in cleaning-related asthma.
Cleaning materials typically contain a wide variety of ingredients, some of which are respiratory irritants, such as chlorine-releasing agents and ammonia, while others are potential airway sensitizers.
Asthma in cleaners has been mostly associated with the irritant effects of cleaning products, which may exacerbate asthma and, at high exposure levels, cause acute irritant-induced asthma (or ‘reactive airways dysfunction syndrome’)
Nevertheless, occasional case reports have ascribed occupational asthma (OA) due to specific airway hypersensitivty to components of detergents or disinfectants.2 Overall the determinants of cleaning-related asthma symptoms remain largely uncertain since most...
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Sunday, June 2, 2013
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey: Saving Lives From Tobacco Related Diseases
Antismoking mass media campaigns can help reduce the prevalence of smoking by discouraging young persons from initiating smoking and by encouraging current smokers to quit (1,2). Smoking cessation is a multistage process; intention to quit smoking precedes quit attempts (3).
To assess whether awareness of anti-cigarette smoking information in four mass media channels (television, radio, billboards, and newspapers or magazines) was significantly associated with a current cigarette smoker's intention to quit, CDC analyzed data from 17 countries that participated in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between awareness of antismoking messages and intent to quit smoking; odds ratios were adjusted to control for demographic factors, awareness of warning labels on cigarette packages, and awareness of tobacco advertisements.
In nine of 17 countries, intent to quit was significantly associated with awareness of antismoking messages in a single media channel versus no awareness, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.3 to 1.9. In 14 countries, intent to quit was significantly associated with awareness of messages in multiple channels versus no awareness, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.5 to 3.2. Antismoking information in mass media channels can help reduce tobacco consumption by encouraging smokers to contemplate quitting and might be more effective when presented in multiple channels.
In nine of 17 countries, intent to quit was significantly associated with awareness of antismoking messages in a single media channel versus no awareness, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.3 to 1.9. In 14 countries, intent to quit was significantly associated with awareness of messages in multiple channels versus no awareness, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.5 to 3.2. Antismoking information in mass media channels can help reduce tobacco consumption by encouraging smokers to contemplate quitting and might be more effective when presented in multiple channels.
Friday, May 24, 2013
California Study Reveals Occupational Asthma Is A Major Problem
"It is estimated that over 974,000 adults in California have asthma that has been caused or aggravated by their work, but work-related asthma (WRA) is often not recognized or diagnosed."
Work-related asthma (WRA) is under-recognized and often undiagnosed, but a new report
estimates that nearly a million adults in California have had work-related asthma. “Asthma in California: A Surveillance Report” tracks asthma data for the state of California, and includes a chapter on WRA. The updated chapter includes rates of WRA by industry and occupation, types of exposure, measures of the impact of WRA, and data on the characteristics of people with WRA, such as gender and age.
View WRA chapter: Work-related asthma (PDF)
View entire report: Asthma in California: A Surveillance Report (PDF, 6 MB)
View executive summary: Asthma in California: Executive Summary (PDF)
For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Work-Related Asthma
View WRA chapter: Work-related asthma (PDF)
View entire report: Asthma in California: A Surveillance Report (PDF, 6 MB)
View executive summary: Asthma in California: Executive Summary (PDF)
For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Work-Related Asthma
......
For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses. Click here now to submit a case inquiry.
Read more about "asthma" and workers' compensation
Oct 11, 2011
A recent study of pregnant working women reveals that their exposure to occupational pollution results in their children's development of asthma. The report was presented at the Eastern European Respiratory's annual ...
Oct 25, 2010
"Included in the study were thirteen cleaning employees with work-related asthma-like symptoms, three asthmatic controls and three atopic subjects without bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) who had no exposure to ...
Jun 18, 2010
However, in some conditions such as occupational asthma, a past history of childhood asthma and/or asthmatic attacks occurring before occupational exposure, does notautomatically rule out the possibility of a workplace ...
Jan 17, 2013
These pollutants are linked to health problems, including asthma, lung and heart disease and even premature death. Diesel engines are durable and often remain in use a long time. Older diesels that predate current and ...
Thursday, January 17, 2013
EPA Acts To Lower Toxic Old Diesel Engines in NY & NJ
Diesel engines are durable and often remain in use a long time. Older diesels that predate current and stricter air pollution standards emit large amounts of air pollutants. EPA grants such as those announced today are helping to reduce air pollution from some of the more than 11 million older diesel engines that continue to emit higher levels of pollution.
“EPA grants to replace dirty diesel engines with cleaner models protect people’s health, create jobs and cut fuel costs,” said EPA Regional Administrator, Judith A. Enck. “Older diesel engines generate significant amounts of air pollution that can make people sick. Replacing old polluting diesel engines reduces asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days and many other health impacts every year.”
Conservation Law Foundation Ventures, a not-for-profit organization, will use a $1.3 million EPA grant to replace an old engine on the Coral Coast, a 120-foot marine tug boat that operates out of New York harbor, with a new and cleaner EPA-certified engine. The new engine is estimated to emit 70% less nitrogen oxides and 83% less particulate matter than the current engine. The project is expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 57.7 tons per year and particulate matter by 2.7 tons per year in addition to conserving 42,558 gallons of fuel annually.
The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management will use a $1.4 million EPA grant to replace two old engines on locomotives operating in northern New Jersey with new and cleaner engines. The trains will also be equipped with either an automatic engine stop/start system or an auxiliary power unit, which will reduce idling. The new engines are estimated to reduce nitrogen oxides by as much as 12.8 tons per year and particulate matter by as much as 0.3 tons in addition to conserving 14,000 gallons of fuel per year.
The EPA grants to groups in New York and New Jersey announced today are part of nearly $30 million in grant funds awarded by the agency nationwide in 2012 for clean diesel projects.
For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel and the Northeast Diesel Collaborative http://www.northeastdiesel.org.
Read more about "diesel" and workers' compensation
Workers' Compensation: Diesel Exhaust Linked to Cancer
Jun 13, 2012
After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Jun 13, 2012
After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Apr 30, 2009
Diesel exhaust continues to be a major health hazard for certain workers. The American Lung Association has reported that, "Truck drivers, dockworkers and railroad workers may face higher risk of death from lung cancer and ...
Mar 14, 2012
Metro-North also must post an OSHA notice for employees in the Harmon Diesel Shop and on its internal website, and provide all diesel shop employees with information on employee protections for reporting work-related ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 5, 2012
Energy Saving Buildings May Make Workers Ill
A recent study reports that energy savings buildings that restrict outside air ventilation may increase the amount of indoor carbon dioxide, resulting in mental impairments for workers.
"Associations of higher indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations with impaired work performance, increased health symptoms, and poorer perceived air quality have been attributed to correlation of indoor CO2 with concentrations of other indoor air pollutants also influenced by rates of outdoor-air ventilation.....Direct adverse effects of CO2 on human performance may be economically important and may limit energy-saving reductions in outdoor air ventilation per person in buildings."
....For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.
More about sick buildings
Oct 03, 2012
“Air pollution can make people sick, especially particle pollution that can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose serious health risks, including increasing the risk of cancer and aggravating the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. ... EPA to Demolish Contaminated Building at Toxic Superfund Site in Garfield, N.J · Today Marks the 34th Anniversary of the Love Canal Tragedy · OSHA Cites Employers for Exposing Workers to Asbestos - $148,000 ...
Aug 02, 2012
Duane “Butch” O'Malley, 59, of Bourbonnais, Ill., who was convicted by a federal jury on September 26, 2011, for the illegal removal, handling and disposal of asbestos from a Kankakee building in August 2009, was ... http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/ · Unlawful Asbestos Removal Results in Criminal ... This Is Just Plain Sick: US Consumption of Asbesto... Exposure to Cadmium and Lead Linked to Hearing Los... What Workers Should Do In Case of a ...
Aug 18, 2012
... overexposed to formaldehyde, ensure that process safety information is accurate and in place, provide a hazard analysis of the facility in the event of a chemical release and its impact, provide refresher training to chemical operators on the epichlorohydrin process, inspect and test epichlorohydrin piping within the process building, and identify deficiencies in process safety management compliance audits. .... This Is Just Plain Sick: US Consumption of Asbesto.
Jul 09, 2012
If you are wearing a fragrance, you will need to remain at the front of the building when visiting. Thank you for your help! Tuttle. .... Not Taxable: Reimbursed Governmental Sick Leave Be... Surveillance Video Barred as Belated ...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Childrens Asthma Caused By Pregnant Mothers Occupational Exposure
Reuters reported: "In a Danish review of registry data on 45,658 seven-year-old children and their mothers, 18.6 percent of children of mothers who were exposed to low-molecular-weight particles and irritants at work during pregnancy contracted asthma, compared to 16.1 percent of the general population."
See: Mothers work exposure during pregnancy and asthma in their children, a prospective cohort-study; B. H. Christensen, A. D. Larsen, L. R. Skadhauge, A. M. Thulstrup, K. S. Hougaard, K. S. Hansen, M. Frydenberg, V. Schlünssen (Aarhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Gentofte, Denmark)
Monday, October 25, 2010
A New Wave of Disease - Cleaners Asthma
Workers exposed to chlorine agents have been diagnosed with respiratory impairments. A recent study has reported that "suggest that bleach inhalation at a concentration of 0.4 ppm—a concentration below 8-hr permissible occupational exposure level—brings about a substantial decrease in FEV1 in subjects."
"Included in the study were thirteen cleaning employees with work-related asthma-like symptoms, three asthmatic controls and three atopic subjects without bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) who had no exposure to cleaning products. The study protocol consisted of a methacholine test, sputum induction and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FENO) both at baseline and 24 hr after a 1-hr inhalation challenge with either placebo or bleach at a concentration of 0.4 ppm of chlorine."
"Included in the study were thirteen cleaning employees with work-related asthma-like symptoms, three asthmatic controls and three atopic subjects without bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) who had no exposure to cleaning products. The study protocol consisted of a methacholine test, sputum induction and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FENO) both at baseline and 24 hr after a 1-hr inhalation challenge with either placebo or bleach at a concentration of 0.4 ppm of chlorine."
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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@
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