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![NIOSH eNews logo]()
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Volume 3 Number 10
February 2006
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Demonstrating
strong evidence of program effectiveness is critical to the future of NIOSH.
When asked if a given program is relevant to stakeholders’ needs, if it
is scientifically strong, and if it produces results that will help to
prevent work-related injury, illness, or death, we must be able to answer
“yes.” One of the most valid and accepted methods of evaluating
our research programs is through expert external review. At the request of
NIOSH, the National Academies (NA) is beginning this review. The NA will
assess program relevance and impact and provide advice on new areas of
research for NIOSH to consider. In addition, the NA is challenged with
determining the extent to which NIOSH research is responsible for changes in
the workplace that reduce the risk of occupational injuries, illnesses, and
death.
To
achieve this external review, the NA has established a Framework Committee to
oversee the review process. The Committee is chaired by David Wegman, M.D. of
the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. We encourage you to review the
committee’s framework for reviewing NIOSH research programs at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/framework1.html.
The committee will meet on April 10-11, 2006 in Washington, DC. If you would
like to participate in the meeting, please contact Amanda Roberts of the NA
at aroberts@xxxxxxx.
Extending
through Fiscal Year 2009, NIOSH will submit up to 15 of our Sector and
Cross-Sector programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio to the NA for
independent evaluation. Separate NA review panels will be assembled for each
of the programs. Programs currently under review include mining, hearing loss
prevention, agriculture and respiratory disease. Updated information,
including presentations and briefing documents, can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas.
Submit your suggestions and
questions regarding the review or your interest in participating in the
review process online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/feedback.html.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the review panels, please
contact Evan Douple at the NA, Edouple@xxxxxx.
We in NIOSH strongly encourage your interest and participation.
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NIOSH Scientists Contribute to CDC
Report on Mold Concerns After Katrina, Rita
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![MMWR logo]() A Jan. 20, 2006, CDC report on
health concerns associated with mold in water-damaged homes in New Orleans
and surrounding areas after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita includes
contributions by NIOSH scientists. The report was based on findings from
sampling and surveys conducted by CDC at the request of the Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals. It was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report and is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5502a6.htm.
Based on survey results, the
report recommended that public health interventions should emphasize the
importance of safe mold remediation methods, and should ensure the
availability of appropriate personal protective equipment. The report
includes responses from remediation workers pertaining to the workers’
ability to identify the appropriate type of respirator for mold clean-up, the
prevalence of respirator use, and for instances in which workers did not wear
the appropriate type of respirator, the reasons for their not doing so.
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NIOSH Researchers Develop
Interactive Web Page for Calculating Skin Permeation
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![Illustration of skin layers and hair follicle]() Researchers
Adam Fedorowicz and Fred Frasch of the NIOSH Health Effects Laboratory
Division have developed a new interactive Web page that allows users, such as
scientists evaluating potential risk of adverse effects from chemicals that
may enter the body through the skin, to measure the capacity of a chemical to
be absorbed through the skin http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/skinpermcalc.html.
The
Web page offers an interactive calculator that could be used by those wishing
to obtain estimates of the skin permeability coefficient
for a chemical of interest. In addition, the calculator contains a well-known
data base of measured permeability coefficients. The user can easily compare
the measured permeability of a specified chemical with the estimations from
the three models.
The product represents the dissemination
of research performed by the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)
Dermal Exposure Research Program to a larger audience. For additional
information contact Fred Frasch at HFrasch@xxxxxxx
or Adam Fedorowicz at AFedorowicz@xxxxxxx.
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NIOSH
Offers Training, Technical Assistance for Salvadoran Lead Evaluation
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![A Ministry of Health of El Salvador staff member checks workers' personal air monitors during the Ministry's lead exposure assessment in Salvadoran battery recycling/manufacturing plant. Photo courtesy of Aaron Sussell.]()
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A
Ministry of Health of El Salvador staff member checks workers' personal air
monitors during the Ministry's lead exposure assessment in Salvadoran
battery recycling/manufacturing plant. Photo courtesy of Aaron Sussell.
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NIOSH provided international
training and technical assistance in December 2005 in support of an
occupational and environmental health evaluation in El Salvador. The
assistance helped Salvadoran health officials and company officials in
evaluating potential occupational and community lead exposures associated
with a lead-acid battery recycling and manufacturing plant. The NIOSH team
consisting of Kevin Ashley, Manuel Rodriguez, and Aaron Sussell, offered
training on the calibration and use of lead sampling devices and laboratory
analytical equipment, provided equipment that enabled the Salvadoran
colleagues to continue the public health evaluation, and observed their
Salvadoran counterparts' technical performance in action. The assistance was
provided in collaboration with the CDC Office of Global Health Central
America Field Epidemiology Training Program (CA-FETP), and the Salvadoran
Ministry of Health. The focus of CA-FETP is to build institutional capacity
in the region for epidemiology and public health surveillance. The NIOSH
assistance to this project was part of NIOSH's ongoing commitment of
technical assistance to help build occupational safety and health capacities
in other countries. In turn, the findings and insights from such partnerships
often are useful in building similar capacities in small businesses in the
U.S. For more information on the project, contact Manuel Rodriguez at MRodriguez1@xxxxxxx.
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Public Meeting Set to Review Draft
Titanium Dioxide Document
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![Illustration of skin layers and hair follicle]() NIOSH will
hold a public meeting February 27, 2006 at the NIOSH Cincinnati Taft
Laboratory on the draft titanium dioxide Current Intelligence Bulletin. NIOSH
is seeking information on current titanium dioxide research, strategies in
use to control occupational exposure, workplaces and occupations where
exposures can occur, and opportunities for future collaborative efforts. In
addition to the public meeting, the public is invited to review and submit comments
on the draft document online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/preprint/tio2.
The document will remain available for comment until March 31, 2006.
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NIOSH to Hold Workshop on
Economics at Upcoming Ergonomics Meeting
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NIOSH will sponsor “Modeling
the Economics of Ergonomics” workshop following the 9th Annual Applied
Ergonomics Conference March 9, 2006 in Orlando,
Florida. This two-hour post-conference workshop will provide an overview of
various economic models available for estimating the costs and benefits
associated with implementation of interventions to reduce risks of
job-related musculoskeletal disorders. Specific information on data required
to conduct an economic analysis and outputs available for decision making
will be shared. The NIOSH presenters are Steve Hudock, Tapas Ray and Tom
Waters. The workshop is free for those attending the conference. For more
information on the workshop contact Steve Hudock at SHudock@xxxxxxx. More information on the
conference can be found at http://www.appliedergo.org/conference.
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NIOSH
Announces RFA on Workplace Violence Prevention Research
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!["Violence on the Job" logo over cracked glass]() The NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs announces a Request for
Applications (RFA) on Workplace Violence Prevention Research. The Fiscal Year
2006 funds will support research grant applications to develop, implement,
and validate intervention strategies designed to reduce the risks of violence
in the workplace. This RFA will focus on the development and/or evaluation of
interventions for workplace violence of Type I, Criminal Intent, and Type III,
Worker on Worker. NIOSH intends to commit approximately $1 million to fund
three to six new or competing continuation research grant awards. The RFA can
be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-06-004.html.
Questions can be sent to Lee Husting at EHusting@xxxxxxx.
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Look for the NIOSH Exhibit Booth
at the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. “Expanding the Power
of Risk Management” Conference April 23-27 in Honolulu, HI. More
information about the conference is available at http://www.rims.org.
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AIHA schedules Nanotechnology Symposium for May
conference
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) will
hold a day-long seminar on May 13, 2006, on issues relating to the control of
potential workplace exposures in processes where nanomaterials are produced
or used. The seminar will be part of the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and
Exposition, May 13-18, 2006, in Chicago, IL. For more
information, visit the AIHA Web site at http://www.aiha.org/Content/CE/aihce/aihce-nano.htm.
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![r2p logo]() Decontaminating chemical protective clothing and equipment
subject of new document from AIHA
Pengfei Gao, of the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory,
is the lead author of Guidelines
for the Decontamination of Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment,
recently published by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Dr.
Gao is a member of AIHA’s Protective Clothing and Equipment Committee.
The guidelines offer methodologies for decontaminating chemical protective
clothing (CPC) and equipment, including the most current practices for
regulatory compliance, decontamination work plans, waste management, hazard
and risk assessments, CPC reuse, quality assurance, and training. Dr. Gao's
participation provided a means for NIOSH's research and expertise on
protective clothing and equipment to be incorporated into the guidelines. The
views and policies expressed in the guidelines do not necessarily reflect the
views or policies of NIOSH. Ordering information can be found on the AIHA Web
site, http://www.aiha.org.
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![NORA logo]() Expanded and redesigned NORA Web site offers new resources for
Town Hall Meetings and the NORA Symposium
Interested in attending a NORA Town Hall Meeting? Want to
register for the NORA Symposium? The newly redesigned NORA Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/)
contains expanded resources to help you participate in these important
events. Visit the Town Hall Page (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/townhall/)
to view the most current schedule of meetings or download a brochure.
Register for the NORA Symposium online (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/symp06/)
and take advantage of the March 1st early registration deadline. With over
200 abstracts submitted for the Symposium and nine more Town Hall Meetings
yet to occur, this spring promises to be an exciting time for NORA. Stay
tuned to the NORA Web site for all the information you need to be involved.
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Applications currently being accepted for Robert W.
Campbell Award
Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2006 for the Robert W. Campbell
Award. The Campbell Award is an international award showcasing successful business
models through safety, health and environmental (SH&E) management.
Managed by the National Safety Council (NSC), the award fosters the sharing
of leading-edge SH&E management systems and best practices for
educational purposes worldwide. Details on the award and submission
requirements can be found at http://www.campbellaward.org.
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![Cover of NIOSH Publication number 2006-105]() Fire
Response Preparedness for Underground Mines
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-105 deals with the preparedness of miners
to respond to underground fires. It is intended to aid the mining industry in
understanding the various roles of emergency responders and the training
techniques used to increase their skill levels. The report also presents a
technology overview to assist in effective response to mine fires and can be
found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/2006-105.htm.
![Cover of NIOSH Publication number 2006-115]() Recommendations
for Protecting Laboratory, Field and Clinical Workers from West Nile Virus
Exposure
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-115 provides
recommendations to employees and employers of laboratory, field and clinical
workers for protection from West Nile Virus (WNV) exposure. Among the topics
addressed are identifying which workers may be exposed to WNV, who is at
risk, how to handle dead animals, how WNV affects pregnancy, and what to do
if you suspect you may have been infected with WNV. The document can be
accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-115.
![HHE Logo]() Health
Hazard Evaluation: Evaluation
of Exposure to Chlorinated Hydrocarbons at a Magnesium Processing Plant
NIOSH scientific investigators responded to a request from facility managers,
union representatives and the Environmental Protection Agency for a technical
assessment to determine the extent of exposure to carbon tetrachloride
(CCl4), chlorine (Cl2), and chlorinated hydrocarbons, including dibenzo-p-dioxins
(dioxins), chlorinated dibenzofurans (furans), polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), during the processing of magnesium at a
plant. They found that workers at the plant had measurable levels of dioxins,
furans, PCBs, and HCB in their blood. The levels, however, were lower than
those associated with observable health problems. Chlorine and HCB levels in
air exceeded OSHA standards and many workers’ hands and workplace surfaces
had HCB on them. NIOSH investigators recommended engineering controls, and
improvements in respiratory protection, housekeeping, and training. The full
report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2004-0169-2982.pdf.
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IFISH
3
The Third
International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference (IFISH 3)
will be held on February 1-4, 2006 in Chennai, India. IFISH 3 is for
those interested in small-scale and commercial fishing safety and injury
prevention and will include a stimulating program with keynote speakers,
presentation of scientific papers and posters, and workshop. In addition, a
thematic workshop on Tsunami will follow the conference on February 6-7,
2006. The conference is convened by the Bay of Bengal Programme
Inter-Government Organization in collaboration with the NIOSH Alaska Field
Station and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. More
information on the conference can be found at http://www.ifish3.org.
Call for Abstracts: 1st American Conference on
Human Vibration
Abstracts are due by February 12, 2006 for the 1st American Conference on Human
Vibration to be held June 5-7, 2006 in Morgantown, WV.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity for participants to exchange
information on all aspects of human responses to hand-transmitted vibration
and whole-body vibration. Questions regarding abstract submission can be sent
to achv@xxxxxxx or to Ren Dong at RDong@xxxxxxx. Information on the conference
can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/conferences/Vibration/.
Work,
Stress and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace
NIOSH, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of
Justice of the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education,
and the U.S. Department of Labor, will convene the sixth international
conference on occupational stress and health, Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference
in the Workplace in Miami, Florida, March 2-4, 2006,
at the Hyatt Regency Miami Hotel. The conference is designed to address the
constantly changing nature of work, and the implications of these changes for
the health, safety, and well-being of workers. In keeping with the conference
theme of “making a difference in the workplace,” there will be a
particular focus on the translation of research to practice and workplace
programs, policies, practices, case experiences, and other efforts to prevent
stress in today's workplace. More information about the conference can be
found at: http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh2006.html.
Call for Abstracts: 13th Conference of the
International Society for Respiratory Protection
Abstracts are due March 31, 2006 for the 13th Conference of the International
Society for Respiratory Protection. The conference
will be held August 27-September 1, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Topics
for papers include respiratory protection for healthcare workers, emergency
responders, and those in developing countries; updates on standards and
regulations; emerging hazards and technologies; and fundamentals of
respiratory protection. More information on the Call for Abstracts is available
at http://www.isrp.com.au/isrpcom/callforpapers_toronto.htm
or by contacting Ziqing Zhuang at ZZhuang1@xxxxxxx.
Additional information on the conference can be found at http://www.isrp.com/au.
2006
NORA Symposium: Research Makes a Difference
The National
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Symposium 2006: Research Makes a
Difference will be held on April 18-20, 2006 in
Washington, D.C. Several hundred occupational safety and health researchers,
stakeholders, and policymakers from the public and private sectors will
convene to celebrate completion of the first decade of NORA, mark the 35th
anniversary of NIOSH, and inaugurate the new plan for the future of NORA. An
important aspect of this conference will be scientific presentations
addressing the original 21 NORA priorities and anticipating research areas
for the next ten years. The symposium will be a unique forum for a broad
cross-section of the occupational safety and health community to learn about
the variety of research accomplishments stimulated or anticipated by NORA.
For more information about the symposium, please visit the NORA Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/NORA, or
e-mail the NORA coordinator at noracoordinator@xxxxxxx.
AIHce 2006 and VENT 2006
The American
Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce)
and Ventilation
2006-the 8th International Conference on Ventilation
will be held concurrently May 13-18, 2006 in Chicago, IL. AIHce 2006
will feature weekend symposia on nanotechnology and infectious disease,
late-breaking sessions on hurricane response and recovery, and expert panel
sessions on nanotechnology, confined spaces and hexavalent chromium.
Additionally, participants attending AIHce 2006 will have access
to Ventilation 2006
at no additional cost. Ventilation
2006 will serve as a forum for exchanging latest
developments in ventilation-related emission and exposure controls. NIOSH is
a cosponsor of Ventilation
2006. More information on both conferences can be
found at http://www.aiha.org/Content/CE/aihce/aihce.htm.
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Skin permeation coefficient (kp) is a
measure of the conductance of skin to a particular chemical from a particular
medium.
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