نشریه طب کار
سال چهارم شماره 3 (پیاپی 8، پاییز 1391)

The Operation room personnel are exposed to anesthestic gases such as Isoflurane. The Chronic exposure to such substances will increase the risk of abortion as well as congenital malformations. In this research، we have determined the amount of exposure to isoflurane gas in operation room air and the breathing zone of operation room personnel. An analytical cross sectional study was done on the concentration of isoflurane in far & near zones in ear، throat and nose operation room of a hospital with OSHA103 method using charcoal tube and analyzed by gas chromatography devices with flame ionization detector (GC/FID). The average concentration of isoflurane gas was 4. 059±4. 073 mg/m3، Its maximum was19. 597 mg/m3، its minimum was 0. 122 mg/m3. The result showed that in 47. 9% of the samples in near area، 33. 3% in far area and 40. 6% of the total samples، the amount of contamination in breathing zone of operation room personnel was higher than the allowed concentration as proposed in national institute of safety and health The results showed that there are not differences between the measured concentration in far & near areas. Contamination of isoflurane anesthetic gas is high in studied operating room. On the other hand the study showed that depending on the type of surgery، the generation rate of contamination in different days can be varied up to 17 times. So control measurement such as setting of air conditioning system and appropriate and standard cleaning in room and periodic monitoring of them is essential.

Sleep disorders in pilots due to its impact on the flight safety and the flight staff and passenger’s health are important. This study evaluates the frequency of sleep disorders in pilots by standard questionnaires and comparison with ground staff. This was a cross–sectional study on flight crew and other workers of private flight airline. The cases were selected randomly. All participants were asked to fill 2 standard questionnaires: ISI (Insomnia Severity Index) and ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia were considered by ESS>10 and ISI>8، respectively. The frequency of insomnia and sleepiness in flight crew was 66% and 24%، respectively comparing 60% and 27% in other workers. It is proved in this study that the excessive day time sleepiness has high frequency in the pilots and also insomnia is the most complication in this group.

There is little data available on job stress dimensions and their relationship to general health status among Iranian nurses. The aims of this study were investigating job stress dimensions and examining their relationship to general health status among nurses working in the hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). In this cross-sectional study، 385 randomly selected nurses of SUMS were assessed. The Persian version of Job Content Questionnaire (P-JCQ)، the Persian version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and demographic questionnaires were used for data collection. Using SPSS (version 11. 5) software، descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test were applied for data analysis. The means (SD) of decision latitude، psychological job demands، social support، physical job demands and job insecurity were found to be 58. 15 (6. 50)، 38. 19 (5. 14)، 22. 67 (3. 67)، 16. 03 (2. 58) and 7. 74 (3. 85)، respectively. The results revealed that decision latitude and social support dimensions had low levels، but psychological and physical job demands as well as job insecurity dimensions had high levels among the study subjects. The mean (SD) total score of GHQ-28 was found to be 28. 34 (12. 93) which was higher than the cut-off point value of 23. Based on the results of GHQ-28، 35. 3% and 64. 7% of the nurses were categorized as healthy and suspected health disorders groups، respectively. The mean score of all job stress dimensions had significant relationship with general health status. In the majority of cases، subjects were exposed to high levels of job stress. Most of nurses were suspected to suffer from some kind of health disorders. Based on the results، any interventional program for health disorders prevention should focus on reducing job insecurity as well as increasing decision latitudes (control) and social support (from both co-workers and supervisors) among nurses.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is one of the most common occupational diseases in the world. About 16% of hearing loss is associated with noise exposure in the workplaces. The aim of this research was investigation of the relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010 on1062 workers in Tabriz Tractor Manufacturing Plant. In this study، the equivalent sound level (Leq) more than 85dB (A) was considered as exposure and hearing loss as outcome. A checklist of items was used in order to extract data from the workers'' medical records which included age، work experience، duration of daily work in a noisy environment and hearing loss. Based on the results، a regression model was suggested. Total of 1062 workers under study، including 392 workers (36. 9%) were exposed to equivalent sound level equal or more than 85dB (A) (exposed group) and 670 workers (63. 1%) to less than 85dB (A) (non exposure group). Results showed that the hearing loss increased by age، noise exposure and work experience. Based on the results، it is suggested to control noise exposure for studied workers and apply noise control mechanisms for reducing hearing loss، increase work efficiency and reduce cure costs. Suggested regression model can be used for prediction of NIHL in that workplace for care of hearing loss of studied workers.

Benzene، as a carcinogen، is a volatile substance emitted in many workplaces including large plants، small factories، laboratories، hospitals، offices، and even homes. To assess the ability of Dracaena deremensis and Hedera helix plants for removing benzene، this study was conducted. In a laboratory trial study،6 two-year old plants were exposed to 46 microliter of benzene in a sealed chamber. The concentration of benzene was measured using solid phase micro extracion (SPME) method and GC -FID. The concentration of benzene decreased to 12، 34، 50، 91and 97% by Hedera helix plant after 24،48،72،96 and 120 hr، respectively. Also the concentration of benzene decreased to 18، 37، 94، 98 and 100% in 24،48،72،96 and 120 hr، respectively. The ability of Dracaena deremensis for removing benzene was higher than Hedera helix in the same conditions. For soil our results show that the concentration of benzene decreased to 2، 21، 42، 55 and 71%. The present study indicates that Dracaena deremensis and Hedera helix are useful plants for removing benzene and improving indoor air quality in the small workplaces، laboratories and even houses.

Bioaerosol spreading in different parts of hospitals are known as hazardous factors for health، which play a major role in hospital infection. The object of this study was to investigate the possibility of microorganisms in the air، including fungal spores and bacteria in the air of different parts of hospitals. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in 1390. Air samples were collected using bioaerosol sampling pumps and Sabro dextrose agar and Chapman agar plates. Bioaerosols were counted as the number of colonies per cubic meter of air. Finally، the types of microorganisms were detected using a microscope. The results of the present study showed that the surgical ward at Rezai hospital and labour room of the 11th of Muharram hospital had the highest concentrations of fungal contamination. Intensive care unit (ICU) and radiology wards at Rezai Hospital as well as the examination room in the 11th of Muharram hospital had the lowest concentration of contamination. In addition، the highest concentration of staphylococcus was seen in pediatric wards at Rezai hospital. The lowest pollution contamination concentration was observed in ultrasonagraphy and kitchen. The results showed that aspergillus and penicillium species were the most frequent types of fungi in hospital environment. In this study، bioaerosol concentrations in different parts of the hospitals were different while the types of microorganisms dispersed at hospital environment were similar، thus there is the possibility of occupational exposure for workers in different parts of hospital.

With increasing activities in underground mines and special risks of such mines، establishment of a coordinated and systematic safety system is important. Prediction of occupational accidents to prevent their occurrence is very important. In this cross-sectional study، the accidents occurred during 2006 to 2010 in one of the mines of central region of Iran were studied، and the relationship between the causes of accidents and its location، type of injury and injured organs، work experience، age groups، time of accident and work shifts were determined. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16. Mean age of the subjects with accidents was 27. 33±4. 51 years and their work experience was between 1-3 years، the most frequent accident type included falling objects (24. 85%) and contact with moving objects (20. 9%). The most common cause of accidents was lack of control measures and the work environment and recklessness. Contusion and sprain (32. 2%) and fractures (22. 6%) were the most frequent outcome of events. In the present study، indices of repetition severity and frequency of the incident in 2010 were the most frequent ones which is the development of mining operations and the hazards faced by workers. The implementation of safety systems and education of personnel about safety rules is essential in order to prevent accidents، improve safety culture and reduce accident costs.

Burnout as an occupational disorder may cause physical and psychological stresses، and lead to decreased staff interest and work efficacy. This study was designed to assess the relationship between emotional expressiveness، self efficacy and burnout syndrome in Shahriar municipality employees in 2012.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 employees of Shahriar municipality selected by cluster sampling. Three questionnaires were used to collect data including: Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)، King & Emmons Expressiveness Questionnaire and Scherer general self efficacy questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis and SPSS15 software.

Results showed a negative and significant correlation between emotional expressiveness and depersonalization (p<0. 05)، but the correlation between emotional expressiveness and personal accomplishment was positive and significant (p<0. 05). Self-efficacy had a negative significant relationship with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p<0. 01)، but the relationship between personal accomplishment and self-efficacy was positive and significant (p<0. 01). A positive significant relationship exists between gender and depersonalization (p<0. 05)، but the relationship between gender and personal accomplishment was significant and negative، also a positive correlation was observed between age and personal accomplishment (p<0. 01).

Emotional expressiveness and self -efficacy have a significant relationship with burnout.