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Volume
8 Number 3 July 2010
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From the Director’s Desk
--John Howard, M.D. Director, NIOSH
June eNews 2010
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Mission in the Gulf
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Response worker on one of the igniter
vessels involved in a surface oil burn in the Gulf
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On April
20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling rig, caused by a
blowout, killed eleven workers and ignited a fireball whose flames were
visible from many miles away.
The
resulting fire could not be extinguished. On April 22, 2010, Deepwater
Horizon sank, leaving the drilled well gushing at the sea floor and causing
the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history, which continues to this day.
See live video feed from remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) on the BP Web site
(http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/
globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/
bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html).
In the
aftermath of the explosion, fire, and continuing release of crude oil into
the Gulf of Mexico, a large response effort has been mounted under the
direction of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The
response effort is led by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater Horizon
Unified Command (http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/).
NIOSH is
heavily engaged in several activities in support of the Deepwater Horizon
Response.
First, NIOSH is
rostering all response workers. To date, NIOSH has rostered over 20,000
response workers on the water and on the land. Response workers on the water
are involved in activities at the source of the crude oil release, working on
vessels involved with burning crude oil on the water and working on vessels
applying dispersant on the surface of the water and booming and skimming oil
from the surface. Response workers on the land are involved in shoreline
cleanup, decontamination of equipment and wildlife, and management of the
waste stream. More information about the rostering effort can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/workerroster.html.
One of the lessons learned from the World Trade Center response was the
necessity of having the basic contact, demographic, and job information of
each response worker. Such documentation will aid in monitoring potential
health effects over time.
Second, NIOSH is also
conducting a series of health hazard evaluations of response workers. An
interim report and updates to the Deepwater
Horizon Hazard Evaluation are posted at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/gulfspillhhe.html.
Third, NIOSH is
conducting health surveillance through worker health and symptom surveys and
by analyzing injury and illness data from cleanup contractors. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/data.html.
Also, CDC is collecting and analyzing health surveillance data from poison
control centers, healthcare facilities, and Gulf States health departments.
Findings are posted at http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/2010gulfoilspill/.
Fourth, NIOSH, together
with OSHA, has developed Interim
Guidance for Protecting Deepwater Horizon Workers and Volunteers,
a set of recommendations to be followed during the response, and will update
those recommendations as more is learned at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/protecting/.
Fifth, NIOSH plans
scientific studies to (1) examine the toxicity of this particular type of
crude oil, as well as the oil dispersants being used, and (2) evaluate
exposure monitoring using air sampling and bio-monitoring measurements. NIOSH
will also propose health effects studies that should be conducted in exposed
workers.
I invite
you to visit the NIOSH Web site to learn more about what NIOSH is doing as a
part of the Deepwater Horizon Response (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/)
or join the discussion on the NIOSH Science Blog http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to
each NIOSH employee who is involved in the Response. As we see from ongoing
reports and news coverage, we and our federal, state, and local partners are
serving a vital need in helping to protect the health and safety of those who
are working hard in diverse response tasks on the water and on shore. As I
hope our products demonstrate, we are committed to addressing this need with
our benchmark values of scientific diligence, partnership, and technical
expertise.
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NIOSH
Director Addresses Challenges to Keeping Migrant Workers Safe
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In a commentary in a special edition of the American
Journal of Industrial Medicine, NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., notes the
challenges of health and safety research for preventing work-related injuries
and illnesses in migrant worker populations. To read more go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-06-14-10.html.
For more information about NIOSH research on occupational health disparities
and NIOSH’s partnerships in addressing the safety and health needs of a
diverse and migrant workforce, go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ohd/.
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Call
for Nominations 2011 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention
Awards™
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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011
Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards.™ The awards
are given by NIOSH in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation
Association (NHCA) to recognize excellence in hearing loss prevention.
Additional information is available at www.safeinsound.us.
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Local Morgantown Media Highlights Flu Study
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NIOSH Construction Research Program
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To mark the 20th anniversary of the NIOSH Construction
Research Program, NIOSH teamed up with editors at the National Safety
Council’s Journal of Safety Research to publish a special issue on
construction safety. The publication highlights work from NIOSH’s
intramural and National Construction Center researchers. Coeditors are Matt
Gillen, NIOSH; Janie Gittleman, National Construction Center; and Mei-Li Lin,
National Safety Council. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224375
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AOL Features NIOSH Recommendations on Hearing Loss
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WV Public Broadcasting Highlights New NIOSH Coal Mine
Safety Project
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A new project designed to learn more about the use of
mine seals to help prevent explosions was recently the focus of a segment on
West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The work is being done just north of
Morgantown, WV, at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Laboratory, a former limestone mine
currently being used to conduct research on methods to improve coal mine
safety. View the video at http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=15293.
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Antimicrobial Pesticide-Related Illnesses Among Workers
in Healthcare Facilities
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Occupational exposures to antimicrobial pesticides are
known to cause adverse health effects. The May 14 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) looks at the nature and frequency of such exposures in healthcare
settings. CDC analyzed 2002-2007 data from pesticide poisoning surveillance
programs in California, Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas-the only four states
that regularly collect data on antimicrobial pesticide-related illness. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5918a2.htm
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Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified
Agents
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Researchers now have substantial evidence of
carcinogenicity in several common occupational agents and exposure
circumstances, but findings are not yet conclusive for humans. A recent
peer-reviewed article from researchers at NIOSH, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer, the American Cancer Society, the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Cancer Institute summarizes
recommendations for twenty of these agents and addresses some overarching topics
pertaining to several agents or categories of agents. http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2
Fehp.0901828#Ahead%20of%20Print%20(AOP)
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NIOSH Issues Report on 3M Model 8000 Respirator
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In a May report, NIOSH issued findings and
recommendations from an evaluation of the 3M Model 8000 respirator. The
evaluation was requested by the state of California in January, after a large
healthcare organization reported that it was unable to successfully fit test
their healthcare workers with units of the Model 8000 that the organization
had received from the California stockpile. The NIOSH evaluation found no
evidence of a defect in the device. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2010-0044-3109.pdf
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NIOSH Issues Users Notice Regarding CSE SR-100
Investigation
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NIOSH Requests Comments/Review on the Following
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Kudos to NIOSH’s Yvonne Boudreau
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NIOSH congratulates Yvonne Boudreau, a
medical officer in the NIOSH Denver Regional Office, who was recently awarded
The Florence Sabin Award for "Outstanding Contributions to Public Health
and the Health of the Citizens of Colorado" and was inducted into the
Delta Omega National Honorary Society in Public Health for outstanding
dedication to public health as a graduate of the MSPH Program at the Colorado
School of Public Health.
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New Report Focuses on Michigan Amputations
In the
latest report from its Amputation Surveillance System, the Michigan
Department of Community Health and Michigan State University identified 708
work-related amputations in 2007 from hospital and emergency department
medical records. This is four times as many amputations as in the employer
based annual survey administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state
said. This system identifies hazardous worksites that otherwise might go
undetected and facilitates remediation at these worksites, the state added.
Read the full report at http://www.oem.msu.edu
(click on annual reports and then the newest amputation report).
World Trade Center National Activities
While the
primary focus of the World Trade Center worker and volunteer medical programs
are in New York City, not all the volunteers were from New York. The
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic at the University of Illinois
at Chicago (a member of the Association of Occupational and Environmental
Clinics) continues to see World Trade Center volunteers from Chicago for
their annual medical monitoring evaluations. Types of conditions evaluated
include respiratory health effects, allergic symptoms, and post-traumatic
stress disorder. Other clinics, both AOEC and non-AOEC, around the country
are also seeing WTC responders. For more information email aoec@xxxxxxxx or go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/.
International Occupational and Environmental Medicine
A recent
investigation was conducted of metals exposures among workers in gold and
silver mines in Guatemala and community residents living near the mines. The
investigation, led by University of Michigan researchers with assistance from
University of Illinois at Chicago Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Clinic (a member of the Association of Occupational and Environmental
Clinics), did not find elevated levels of metals in the urine of workers but
discovered a trend of higher levels in residents living near the mine
compared with residents living farther away. Water, soil, and sediment
samples met current standards. For more information contact Dr. Howard Hu at howardhu@xxxxxxxxx.
Enrollment Open for Online Occupational Health Program
Enrollment
is open for the University of Illinois at Chicago International Program in
Occupational Health Practice that runs September 2010 through May 2011. The
online program provides an introduction to occupational health for
professionals worldwide who do not have formal academic training in
occupational safety and health or for those who want to refresh their
competencies in this area. The enrollment deadline is July 31. http://www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/ce/IntPrgOHP.html.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational
Safety and Health Administration has scheduled two additional stakeholder
meetings to solicit comments in developing an Injury and Illness Prevention
Program proposed rule. The meetings will be held July 20 in Washington, DC,
and August 3 in Sacramento, California. https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/osha/register-osha-I2P2.htm.
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Job Exposure Database for the Utilities Industry
NIOSH and
the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) held a workshop in February to
plan the development of a job exposure database for the utilities industry.
The NIOSH-developed Integrated Hazard Exposure Database will serve as the
foundation for the proposed industry-specific database. The combination of an
EPRI project (No. P62.003, http://mydocs.epri.com/docs/Portfolio/PDF/2010_P062.pdf)
and the NIOSH work helps implement the National Transportation, Warehousing,
and Utilities Agenda (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/comment/agendas/transwareutil/pdfs/TransWareUtilAug2009.pdf)
in the utilities industry. Contact the NORA Coordinator (noracoordinator@xxxxxxx) for more
information.
National Manufacturing Agenda Available
The National Manufacturing Agenda under the National
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/. The
agenda contains ten strategic goals designed to address top safety and health
concerns and to promote the greatest opportunities to advance protections
within the sector. Contact the NORA coordinator (noracoordinator@xxxxxxx) with
questions or suggestions or to join others to work on these goals.
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 NIOSH
Twitter Site Launched for Transportation Community
Follow NIOSH and the transportation community on
Twitter (http://twitter.com/NIOSHtransport)
to stay connected to industries such as those that transport passengers and
cargo, provide scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities
related to modes of transportation. Tweets will address information related
to occupational transportation including safety and health research, facts
and statistics, news and updates, conferences, and publications. For more
information contact Elizabeth Dalsey (edalsey@xxxxxxx)
or Jim Helmkamp (jhelmkamp@xxxxxxx) or
go to www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/twu.
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What’s New on the NIOSH Blog?
NIOSH Response Efforts at Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Much
public and media attention is focused on the environmental and economic
aspects of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. NIOSH’s response focuses on
protecting the workers and volunteers from injury and illness. Join the
discussion at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb062910_oilspill.html.
World Cup Noise Exposure
The sound
of vuvuzelas provides a unique cultural signature for the 2010 World Cup
games. But, does the noise level pose an occupational hazard to players,
stadium employees, and others? See the discussion in the June 17 NIOSH
Science Blog. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb061710_worldcupnoise.html.
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New Communication Products
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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
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Nanomaterials
and Worker Health: Medical Surveillance, Exposure Registries, and
Epidemiologic Research, cohosted by NIOSH and the Mountain and Plains
Education and Research Center, July 21–23 in Keystone, CO. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/keystone2010/
29th
International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, July 26–29,
Morgantown, WV.
http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~icgcm/gcconfer/gcconfmine/gc_index.html
Public
Meeting Total Inward Leakage Requirements for Half Mask Air-Purifying
Particulate Respirators, July 29, Hyattsville, MD. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/nioshdocket0137.html
138th
Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association,
November 6-10, Denver, CO. http://www.apha.org/meetings/
16th
Annual National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition (ErgoExpo), November
30-December 3, Las Vegas, NV. http://www.ergoexpo.com/
A comprehensive list of upcoming conferences can be
found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/exhibits.html.
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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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Director
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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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Tanya
Headley
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Copy
Editor
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Cathy
Rotunda
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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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Kevin
Whaley
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Please send your comments and suggestions
to us at nioshenews@xxxxxxx.
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