An Airbus A320 of the German company Germanwings fell on Tuesday morning in southern France, killing 150 people (144 passengers and 6 crew members.
The plane was going from Barcelona (Spain) to Dusseldorf (Germany) and fell by steep so 8min
Were aboard 67 German, 45 Spanish and Turkish
The wreck is at 2,000 meters altitude in the Alps.
A black box was found. Accident causes are still unknown.
Source: G1
An Airbus A320 of the German company Germanwings fell on Tuesday morning in southern France, killing 150 people (144 passengers and 6 crew members.
The plane was going from Barcelona (Spain) to Dusseldorf (Germany) and fell by steep so 8min
Were aboard 67 German, 45 Spanish and Turkish
The wreck is at 2,000 meters altitude in the Alps.
A black box was found. Accident causes are still unknown.
Source: G1
Distance learning course on Occupational Safety and Heath is a course promoted by the ILO.
Its main objective épromover knowledge and understanding of how to manage the Health and Occupational Security Service.
Hours: 500 hours
Link: http://www.ilo.org/safework/events/couraces/WCMS_229077/lang–en/índex.htm
Source: Journal Protection number 279, page 18, February 2015
NEW YORK, New York (CNN) — Nearly three out of every four workers who participated in rescue and recovery efforts at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center towers have experienced some health problems, a federally funded study found.
The study, conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Mount Sinai Hospital, was based on the screenings of 3,500 workers at Ground Zero and the Staten Island landfill, where tons of debris was trucked after the attacks.
The preliminary results, based on 250 of the first screenings, suggest lingering health issues for a majority of the workers, and for many, a delayed diagnosis.
“Seventy-three percent of the sample had ear, nose and throat symptoms, or abnormal ear, nose and throat physical exam findings, or both”
Said Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of the screening program.
Herbert said 57 percent of those tested had lung problems and 20 percent had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
An estimated 35,000 workers — who responded from all across the country after the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil
— were exposed to concrete dust that may have contained asbestos, lead, fiberglass and other particles released when the twin towers collapsed after being hit by two hijacked aircraft. All are eligible for the free and confidential exams, which end in July.
“This particular screening program is very unique. Never before has an occupational medical screening program involving as many workers as are involved in this program been launched”
Said Dr. John Howard, director of NIOSH.
One of those who participated in the medical study is Frank Greer, a sheet metal worker, who said the privilege of serving in recovery efforts came at a huge price.
“I’m really worried about my kids and the future. I want to be there to take care of them,”
Greer said.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, helped obtain the program’s initial $12 million in funding.
“This is an American priority, to take care of these brave men and women” Clinton said.
The senator said she is seeking an additional $90 million so that Ground Zero workers can be screened and treated. At present, those screened receive diagnostic evaluations and a referral, but no treatment reimbursement.
“I would even hope the president would address this issue in his State of the Union address”
Clinton said.
“I can’t imagine anything better than having the president of the United States saying, ‘We stand with our own.’ Just like in the military, we don’t leave anybody behind in our homeland either”
She added.
Source: CNN
Inspired by the story of the Protest Already, CQC program Band-Brazil, who denounced the mining company Queiroz of the city of Paracatu-MG by local community poisoning by arsenic, I decided to conduct some research in the literature about the risks of poisoning by the chemical agent mentioned.
In case you haven’t seen the article yet, you can check out with the link below (In portuguese Brazil):
Link: http://entretenimento.band.uol.com.br/cqc/videos/proteste-ja/
ARSENIC POISONING
The arsenic is used in hardening of metals such as copper and lead, in solid products of silicon and germanium. Its salts are used in the manufacture of herbicides and rodenticides, in semiconductors and in pyrotechnics.
The arsenic trioxide is being used in experimental research for the treatment of solid tumors like gastric cancer and tumors in the head and neck.
Health risks
All compounds of arsenic are toxic. The lethal dose for humans is 1 to 2 mg/kg body weight. Their toxicity varies according to the State of metal and with the solubility. Thus, the trivalent arsenic inorganic compounds such as arsenic trichloride, arsenic trioxide and arsine are highly toxic-more poisonous than the metal and its salts pentavalentes.
Lewsite: the arsenic compound Lewisite, is a strong cause of vesicles that can penetrate the skin and cause lesions on the exhibition area. Lewsite was used as a poison gas in World War I.
Arsenic sulfide: is less soluble and less acute toxicity.
Routes of exposure: the arsenic is absorbed by the body through gastrointestinal and inhalation.
Clinical Phase:
Acute:
• Fever, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract irritation, nasal septal ulcers and dermatitis.
Conical:
• Can produce skin pigmentation, peripheral neuropathy and degeneration of the liver and the kidneys.
The arsenic is carcinogenic to humans. Oral ingestion is responsible for an increase in the incidence of tumors in the liver, blood and lungs.
The mutagenic effects of arsenic were reviewed by (Basu el al. 2001).Bernstam et al. (2002) measured the Percutaneous absorption of As (III) and (V) The in vitro using artificial skin. The authors observed that The (III) low exposure doses equal to 10 mg/L can cause significant morphological changes, disruption of cell membrane and inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis.In this way, the authors realized that tri-concentrations of pentavalent arsenic or levels above 100 mg/L in water from showers or the sink can manifest harmful effects.
Toxicodinamic stage: the toxic effects of arsenic are attributed to their binding properties with sulfur. Form complexes with coenzymes. This inhibits the production of ATP which is essential for the metabolism of the body’s energy.
Antidotes:
• 2.3-dimercapto-1-propanol: antidote against intoxication.
• 2.3 ditioritritol is a more efficient and less toxic antidote.
Written by: Gustavo Coutinho Bacellar-occupational physician
References:
Book ACGIH 2015, p13.
General Guide Book Harmful Properties of chemicals p596 and 597.
| Substance
(ACGIH, 2015) |
TLV-TWA | TLV-STEL (C) | ||
| ppm | mg/m3 | ppm | mg/m3 | |
| Arsênic | – | 0,01 | – | – |
Saúde e Segurança do Trabalho 