Lobstermen Precautions for Shop Work

Details

• Personal Author:
  Backus A
• Description:
  Indoor exposure: Several small studies at the Harvard School of Public Health confirm that when lobstermen work on their gear indoors, they are exposed to a dangerous mix of particles, fumes, solvents, chemicals, and yes, endotoxin, which is produced by Gram negative bacteria present on dried rope. Lobstermen know this full well. One who visited the Sunbeam with "high VOC" (volatile organic compounds) ratings and UV protectants. These solvent exposures can be harmful to the central nervous system over time. The respiratory system consists of nasal passages, the trachea, bronchial tubes, and the lungs, which are equipped with miniature air sacs called alveoli that are designed to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. The upper respiratory tract is designed to trap and filter harmful particles and chemicals. Mucus and cilia (small hairs) in the nasal passages above the airways intercept particles that ae larger than 2.5 micrometers. However, particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, such as fine dust, fumes, solvents, and endotoxin, can penetrate into the lower respiratory tract. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can go into the lung. Oil-soluble droplets seem to penetrate more deeply than water-soluble droplets. Fine and ultrafine particles and droplets that penetrate into the lungs wind up in the alveoli where they can, according to recent research, diffuse across the cell membrane and end up in the blood stream. Once in the blood stream, they can impact numerous other organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, blood, and brain. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Blood Dust Endotoxins Environmental Exposure Hunting Lung Nose Occupational Health Paint Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory System Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Sense Organs Solvents Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Bacteria Blood Stream Brain Function Central Nervous System Chemicals Exposure Levels Fishing Fishing Industry Fumes Hazards Heart Indoor Environments Kidneys Latex Liver Nasal Cavity Paints Particulate Dust Particulates Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Risk Factors Safety Culture Safety Education Safety Measures Ultrafine Particles Ultrafine Particulates Ventilation Systems VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds Wood Dust Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  0273-6713
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maine ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062112
• Citation:
  Commercial Fish News 2005 Nov; :11B
• Contact Point Address:
  Ann Backus, MS, Director of Outreach, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA
• Email:
  abackus@hohp.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Commercial Fisheries News
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ef92bc237304046a7e23370606a9273d2a64c6d0341215941d92ea784e957d9e97d5ce4f4a1af3df761e5d172f4d9bc65c46c36127156637afbccc4dc4e482cc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225424/cdc_225424_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 142.58 KB ]