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Volume 4 Number 3 July
2006
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In
a February 28, 2006, letter from Health and Human Services Secretary Mike
Leavitt, members of the New York Congressional delegation were informed that
Secretary Leavitt had asked me to take a lead role for coordinating the
World Trade Center (WTC) health response programs in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. This role builds on NIOSH’s involvement,
since 2002, in funding health programs for screening, monitoring and treating
WTC responders. In carrying out the Secretary’s request, I have
been working closely with federal, state and local agencies, private organizations,
responders, clinics, and others to develop a roadmap for coordinating current
and future programs.
I
would like to share with you the goals I have set for accomplishing this task
and to describe some of the activities where NIOSH and our partners are
actively engaged. These goals fall into four general categories.
- Coordinate existing DHHS-funded programs
including:
- the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program
administered by the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and the New York and
New Jersey Consortium, and funded by NIOSH. The program initially began
as a medical screening program to establish health baselines for
responders, and subsequently added a medical monitoring role. http://www.wtcexams.org
- the New York City Fire Department WTC Medical
Monitoring and Treatment Program implemented by the FDNY Bureau of
Health Services and funded by NIOSH. THis program provides monitoring
examinations and treatment for firefighters and emergency medical service
technicians.
- the WTC Federal Responder Screening Program for
current federal workers who responded to the attack in an official
capacity. The program is administered by Federal Occupational
Health, a unit of our Department. https://wtcophep.rti.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1
- the WTC Health Registry is administered by the the
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and funded by
CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATDSR).
This telephone-based health and exposure interview is for responders and
people living in or attending school in the area of the WTC, or working
or present in the vicinity on September 11, 2001. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wtc/index.html
We
are also working with the following two groups:
- the NY Police Foundation COPE (Coping with Stress) is
a collaborative effort between the NY Police Foundation, Columbia
Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and the New York Presbyterian
Hospital. The comprehensive post-traumatic stress program provides
free and confidential counseling for all NYPD employees and their
families. http://www.nycpolicefoundation.org
- the Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance
(POPPA) a non-profit organization which aids police officers and their
families in coping more effectively with the multitude of stressors
experienced during the course of the law enforcement profession.
POPPA is dedicated to preventing and reducing marital problems,
substance abuse, and suicide in addition to existing psychological
disorders. http://www.poppainc.com
Later this summer, the directors from each of these
programs will meet in New York City to share information about their
individual programs.
- Identify unmet needs
We are actively
working to identify unmet needs of the WTC responders and those living or
working near the WTC site on September 11, 2001. Currently, we are exploring
the development of a case tracking system, a means of identifying individuals
with health problems or who have died and are not in the existing medical
monitoring programs. There is no existing monitoring and treatment program
for the residents of the lower Manhattan and Brooklyn areas, and we have
identified this as an unmet need.
- Ensure scientific reporting
Just as we at NIOSH strive to present our research to our
professional colleagues at scientific conferences and in scientific journals,
we want to increase the number of clinicians and providers participating in
the monitoring, screening and treatment programs who report their findings in
the scientific literature.
Additionally, we are currently planning a WTC Science Symposium to showcase
the DHHS-funded programs. Plans are underway to hold the symposium in
Spring 2007 in New York City. Watch future issues of eNews for details on the
symposium.
- Detail lessons learned
Unfortunately, no master list is
available of those who responded to the WTC attack. Therefore, fully
determining who responded to aid in the rescue, recovery, clean-up, and
restoration efforts is virtually impossible at our current state of
knowledge. Maintaining a master list of this type is one of the first lessons
learned that became apparent as our coordination efforts started.
We are developing a WTC Health Programs Coordination Web site which will
expand upon these goals and describe the programs, providing a central
web-based resource for information. We will announce the Web site in a future
issue of eNews.
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Mold Intervention Strategies After
Hurricanes, Floods Outlined
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 Strategies for limiting exposures to mold and preventing
mold-related health effects in the aftermath of hurricanes and storms are
outlined by scientists and engineers from NIOSH and partner agencies in the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an article published
in the June 9, 2006, issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The report notes that, for most people, undisturbed mold is not a substantial
health hazard. It is a greater hazard for persons with conditions such as
impaired host defenses or mold allergies. To prevent exposure that could
result in adverse health effects from disturbed mold, persons should 1) avoid
areas where mold contamination is obvious, 2) use environmental controls, 3)
use personal protective equipment, and 4) keep hands, skin, and clothing
clean and free from mold-contaminated dust, the article recommends. The
article is available on-line at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm.
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NIOSH Issues Review,
Recommendations on Refractory Ceramic Fibers
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 A comprehensive
scientific document on occupational exposures to refractory ceramic fibers is
now available from NIOSH. The document provides a thorough critical review of
scientific information concerning occupational exposures to refractory
ceramic fibers, recommends an exposure limit to address potential
work-related health effects, and outlines a recommended strategy to minimize
exposures in the workplace. The document, Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational
Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers, DHHS (NIOSH)
Publication No. 2006-123, incorporates an intensive NIOSH evaluation of the
published scientific literature, as reflected by more than 230 cited
references. It also incorporates comments by independent scientific
peer-reviewers and diverse stakeholder representatives. NIOSH estimates that
approximately 31,500 workers are potentially exposed to refractory ceramic
fibers during manufacturing, distribution, handling, installation, and
removal of these materials. Refractory ceramic fibers are synthetic
fibers produced by the melting and blowing or spinning of calcined kaolin
clay or a combination of alumina, silicon dioxide, or other oxides. They are
used in commercial applications requiring lightweight insulation that is
capable of withstanding high temperatures, such as furnace and kiln
insulation. The document is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-123.
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NIOSH Topic Pages Named
Best-of-the Web
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World-renowned Laboratory adopts
NIOSH Methods
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NIOSH technical methods for lead
sampling and analysis were incorporated recently into standard procedures
used by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory.
A world-renowned laboratory overseen and funded by the Office of Science of
the U.S. Department of Energy, Brookhaven conducts research in the physical,
biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and
national security. The Industrial Hygiene Group in Brookhaven’s Safety
and Health Services Division incorporated the NIOSH Method 9110 on Lead in
Surface Wipes into its surface wipe sampling procedure. Also referenced in
one of the laboratory’s standard operating procedures is NIOSH Method
7702, Lead by Field Portable XRF for Detection of LBP (Lead based paint) by
the Niton XL300 XRF Meter and Lead in Wipe Samples by Niton XL700 X-Ray
Fluorescence Meter.
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NIOSH National Personal Protective
Technology Laboratory Update
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 A June 29 notice alerts users that a respirator
represented by the manufacturer as NIOSH-approved has not in fact been
approved by NIOSH. A June 30 notice alerts users that NIOSH has voided
approvals for two other devices. View additional information at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/
.
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Jack Hardesty, who retired from
Federal Service in 1981 after a distinguished career as a public information
officer for NIOSH and other agencies of the U.S. Public Health Service,
passed away May 23, 2006, at his home in Ashland, OR. A pioneering
communicator in the field of occupational safety and health, he joined the
federal government in 1955 and served as the NIOSH press officer in the late
1970s. His wife Alice, who survives him, conducted internationally recognized
research in what is now the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology
on the subject of work-related hearing-loss prevention.
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 Two NIOSH designed field methods for detecting methamphetamine
now commercially available.
NIOSH scientists recently partnered with SKC Inc., a
prominent manufacturer of sampling technologies, to commercialize two
low-cost, NIOSH-designed field methods to help first responders, public
health officials, and remediation workers quickly detect the presence of methamphetamine
 on various environmental surfaces.
Now, a single sampling technique can be used to detect trace levels of the
illicit drug on surfaces, or used to evaluate decontamination efforts or
clearance.
The
kits are available from SKC Inc. at
http://www.meth-wipe.com. Mention of this company’s name does not
constitute a NIOSH commercial endorsement.
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MethAlert
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MethCheck
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For more information on NIOSH
research related to field methods for methamphetamine detection, please
contact John Snawder at JSnawder@xxxxxxx
or Eric Esswein at EEsswein@xxxxxxx.
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 NORA Symposium highlights now available on the Web
Relive your favorite moments from the NORA Symposium! An updated version of
the NORA Symposium Web page, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/symp06/,
is now available. There you can download the program book with nearly 200
abstracts of the latest in occupational safety and health research.
Read about innovative award winning projects and view the world premier of a
poem about workplace safety and health. The symposium participants applauded
the concept, emotion, content, and performance of the poem created by health
educator and poet Stacy Smallwood, which highlighted the human impact of
workplace injury and illness. Also added to the NORA site are summaries from
the sector and cross sector workshops, and copies of the NORA Compendium and
the NORA Team Document.
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OSHA debuts electronic Spanish-language Newsletter
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announces the
availability of a new electronic, Spanish-language safety and health
newsletter, Capsulas
de Salud y Seguridad. The newsletter, produced by
OSHA’s New York Region, will educate employers and employees in New
York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on ways to reduce
workplace hazards and improve safety and health in their workplaces, with a
particular focus on topics affecting Hispanic workers. You may obtain a copy
or receive future editions by emailing prvi-osha-news@xxxxxxx
or by visiting the OSHA Spanish-language Web page, http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/spanish/index.html.
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 Silicosis-Working with Cement Roofing
Tiles: A Silica Hazard DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2006-110
A new NIOSH educational brochure, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-110,
describes measures that can be taken to reduce roofers’ exposure to
silica dust, including steps for implementing a respirator program. NIOSH has
measured respirable silica levels up to four times the recommended exposure
limit around roofers cutting cement products, such as when roofing tiles are
cut during the installation process.
Health Hazard Evaluations
- Evaluation of exposure to solvents at
an aircraft fuel cell manufacturing facility. NIOSH
investigators responded to a request by employees to assess whether
employee health effects of dermatitis and acute neurological symptoms
were related to exposures in the work environment. They found that
airborne exposures to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, and acetone
were well below current occupational exposure limits, but documented
significant potential for dermal exposure among some
workers. Employees with higher MEK exposure had
significantly more symptoms of fatigue, lack of coordination, and
muscle weakness. Investigators recommended modifying work practices and
personal protective equipment and improved worker training to reduce
dermal solvent exposures. The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2000-0374-2998.pdf
- Evaluation of gastrointestinal illness at a
manufacturing facility. NIOSH
investigators responded to a request from the union representing
employees at a furnace manufacturing facility to assess whether
gastrointestinal illnesses among workers in a metal stamping and washing
area were related to workplace exposures. They found that bulk water
samples from the washer operation contained large numbers of fecal
bacteria, and that many employees working on or near the contaminated
machine had active diarrhea. Management determined that a pipe had
connected the machine's water reservoir to a sewage line. Once it
received NIOSH's initial report, management cut and capped
the pipe. NIOSH investigators recommended additional
precautionary measures, including hiring an experienced cleaning
contractor to disinfect the contaminated machine, improving personal
protective equipment use until the machine was properly cleaned, and
prohibiting eating, drinking, chewing gum, or smoking in the plant
production areas. The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2005-0024-3000.pdf
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13th
International Respiratory Protection of Healthcare Workers and Emergency
Responders
The 13th International
Respiratory Protection of Healthcare Workers and Emergency Responders
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 conference can be found at http://www.isrp.com.au/.
Noise-Induced
Hearing Loss in Children at Work and Play
NIOSH and partners will cosponsor Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in Children at
Work and Play October 19-20, 2006 in Cincinnati,
Ohio. The conference will focus on the issue of NIHL in children who
sometimes begin working as early as age 10-12 years, often in noisy
occupational environments, such as construction, agriculture, entertainment
and landscaping. Other cosponsors for the conference include the
National Hearing Conservation Association, Oregon Health and Science
University, the Marion Downs Hearing Center, the University of Northern
Colorado, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders. More information on the conference is available at http://www.hearingconservation.org/conf_childrenconf.html.
International Conference on Nanotechnology
Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to Practice
NIOSH and the University of Cincinnati will cosponsor the International Conference on
Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Research to
Practice December 3-8, 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The
conference is centered on the impact of nanotechnology on occupational and
environmental health and safety. For more information, visit the conference
Web site at http://www.uc.edu/noehs. The conference
follows other successful international forums cosponsored by NIOSH in Buxton,
U.K., in 2004, Minneapolis in 2006, and Miami earlier in 2006.
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Interstitial lung disease is a
general term used to describe a group of chronic lung diseases which affect
the deepest parts of the lungs, where oxygen is transferred into the blood
stream. Many of these diseases are caused by the inhalation of dusts or
fumes, such as asbestosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and
bronchiolitis obliterans.
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NIOSH eNews on the Web:
www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/
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NIOSH eNews is Brought to
You By:
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John Howard, M.D.
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Editor in Chief
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Max Lum
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Story Editor
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Tara Hartley
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Public Affairs Officer
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Fred Blosser
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Technical Lead
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Glenn Doyle
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Technical Support
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Joseph Cauley
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Please send
your comments and suggestions to us at nioshenews@xxxxxxx.
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