BACKGROUND Almost all reports of respiratory health effects of hydrofluoric acid are derived from industrial settings and usually involved massive and conspicuous exposures. In the present report we describe a case of adult-onset asthma immediately following use of a household rust stain remover that contained an 8-9% aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF). METHODS This is a case-report. ...

Industrial hygienists (IHs) are called upon to investigate exposures to mold in indoor environments, both residential and commercial. Because exposure standards for molds or mycotoxins do not exist, it is important for the industrial hygienist to have a broad knowledge of the potential for exposure and health effects associated with mold in the indoor environment. This review focuses on the tox...

OBJECTIVES Our aim was to examine the associations between high BMI and changes in BMI status during the first 7 years of life and asthma and allergic sensitization at age 8 years. METHODS A birth cohort of newborn infants was followed for 8 years. Repeated parental questionnaires provided information on environmental exposures and health outcomes. Information on height and weight during chil...

Under HSE’s wide-ranging initiative to bring about a reduction in occupational disease arising from exposure to dusts, gases, vapours and fumes, welders have been identified as an ‘at risk’ group. The initial stage in this process is to identify and set out the underlying evidence base for the potential ill-health effects arising from inhalation exposure. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to ...

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between childhood asthma and exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) in the swimming pool environment. In August 2007 a group of clinicians, epidemiologists, exposure scientists, pool operations experts, and analytical chemists met to discuss the literature on childhood asthma and swimming pools, and to develop recommendations for ...

Exposure to radionuclide thorium (Th) has generated widespread public concerns, mainly because of its radiological effects on human health. Activity levels of airborne 232Th in total suspended particulate (TSP) were measured in the vicinity of the largest rare earth mine in China in August 2012 and March 2013. The mean activity concentrations of 232Th in TSP ranged from 820μBqm-3 in a mining ar...

Health  Toxic by inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposure  Inhalation and ingestion may cause a reduced conscious level, sickness, headache, dizziness, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea and difficulties with breathing  Ingestion and inhalation may also cause liver and kidney damage, which in severe cases can lead to coma and death  Skin or eye contact can cause irritation  Carbon tetrachl...

Health effects of acute exposure • The main routes of exposure to hydrogen chloride are via inhalation, or skin or eye contact and exposure to hydrochloric acid is predominantly by ingestion, or skin or eye contact • Inhalation may cause irritation to nose and upper respiratory tract, ulceration, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Higher concentrations cause tachypnoea, pulmonar...

Measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was performed in 6 healthy baboons during ventilation with 35% stable xenon in artificial air. rCBF was measured with the intraarterial xenon-133 method. EEG was recorded continuously. All CBF areas of interest over one hemisphere reacted in the same way. Mean flow increased during short-term exposure to stable xenon and decreased if stable xen...

CBA/Ca male mice have been exposed to benzene in air at 10, 25, 100, 300, 400, and 3000 ppm for variable intervals 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for up to 16 weeks. Two weeks of inhaling 10 ppm produced no hematologic effects; 25 ppm induced a significant lymphopenia. Inhalation of 100, 300, and 400 ppm produced dose-dependent decreases in blood lymphocytes, bone marrow cellularity, marrow content of s...