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Thomas J Slavin

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas J Slavin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A critical assessment of studies on the carcinogenic potential of diesel exhaust.

After decades of research involving numerous epidemiologic studies and extensive investigations in laboratory animals, a causal relationship between diesel exhaust (DE) exposure and lung cancer has not been conclusively demonstrated. Epidemiologic studies of the transportation industry (trucking, busing, and railroad) show a small elevation in lung cancer incidence (relative risks [RRs] generally below 1.5), but a dose response for DE is lacking. The studies are also limited by a lack of quantitative concurrent exposure data and inadequate or lack of controls for potential confounders, particularly tobacco smoking. Furthermore, prior to dieselization, similar elevations in lung cancer incidence have been reported for truck drivers, and in-cab diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposures of truck drivers were comparable to ambient highway exposures. Taken together, these findings suggest that an unidentified occupational agent or lifestyle factor might be responsible for the low elevations in lung cancer reported in the transportation studies. In contrast, underground miners, many of whom experience the highest occupational DPM exposures, generally do not show elevations in lung cancer. Laboratory studies must be interpreted with caution with respect to predicting the carcinogenic potential of DE in humans. Tumors observed in rats following lifetime chronic inhalation of very high levels of DPM may be attributed to species-specific overload mechanisms that lack relevance to humans. Increased tumor incidence was not observed in other species (hamsters or mice) exposed to DPM at very high levels or in rats exposed at lower levels (</=2000 mug/m3). Although DPM contains mutagens, mutagenicity studies in which cells were exposed to concentrated extracts of DPM also have limited application to human risk assessment, because such extracts can be obtained from DPM only by using strong organic solvents, agitation, and heat. Most studies have shown that whole DPM itself is not mutagenic because the adsorbed organic compounds are minimally bioavailable in aqueous-based fluids. In the past two decades, dramatic changes in diesel engine technology (e.g., low-sulfur fuel and exhaust after-treatment) have resulted in >99% reduction in DPM and other quantitative and qualitative changes in the chemical and physical characteristics of diesel exhaust. Thus, the current database, which is focused almost entirely on the potential health effects of traditional diesel exhaust (TDE), has only limited utility in assessing the potential health risks of new-technology diesel exhaust (NTDE). To overcome some of the limitations of the historical epidemiologic database on TDE and to gain further insights into the potential health effects of NTDE, new studies are underway and more studies are planned.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2005

The mapping of fine and ultrafine particle concentrations in an engine machining and assembly facility.

Aerosol mapping was used to assess particle number and mass concentration in an engine machining and assembly facility in the winter and spring. Number and mass concentration maps were constructed from data collected with two mobile sampling carts, each equipped with a condensation particle counter (10 nm < diameter < 1 microm) and an optical particle counter (300 nm < diameter < 20 microm). Number concentrations inside the facility ranged from 15 to 150 times greater than that outside the facility and were highly dependent on season. The greatest number concentration (>1,000,000 particles cm(-3)) occurred in winter in an area where mass concentration was low (<0.10 mg m(-3)). The increased number of particles was attributed to the exhaust of direct-fire, natural-gas burners used to heat the supply air. The greatest mass concentrations were found around metalworking operations that were poorly enclosed. The larger particles that dominated particle mass in this area were accompanied by ultrafine particles, probably generated through evaporation and subsequent condensation of metalworking fluid components. Repeat mapping events demonstrated that these ultrafine particles persist in workplace air over long time periods.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2004

A reevaluation of the literature regarding the health assessment of diesel engine exhaust.

While the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified diesel exhaust (DE) as a"probable"carcinogen in 1989 based primarily on"sufficient"animal data, other investigators have since concluded that the lung tumors found in the rat studies were a result of particle overloading. Subsequent health risk assessments of DE have not used the rat cancer data. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in developing its 2002 Health Assessment Document (HAD) for DE, primarily considered the epidemiology studies of railroad workers and truck drivers to develop health risk assessments of DE. However, both sets of epidemiology studies have serious weaknesses that make them unsuitable for cancer risk assessment. Major shortcomings were the lack of contemporaneous measurements of exposures to DE, difficulties with exposure history reconstruction, and adequately accounting for other exposures such as gasoline exhaust and cigarette smoke. To compound these problems, there was not, and there is still not, a specific exposure marker for DE. Interestingly, in the underground mining industry, where diesel exposures are much higher than observed in railroad workers and truck drivers, there was no increase in lung cancer. These problems and concerns led the U.S. EPA to conclude that while DE was a"likely"carcinogen, a unit risk value or range of risk cannot be calculated from existing data and that the risk could be zero. In addition, the DE emissions have changed and continue to change with the implementation of new emission control technologies. The HAD recognized this fact and noted that further studies are needed to assess new diesel engine emissions. Recent chemical characterization studies on low-emitting diesel engines with catalyzed particulate filters have shown emissions rates for several chemicals of concern that are even lower than comparable compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled engines. With lower emissions, better fire safety, and improved cost-effectiveness of new low-emitting diesels compared to CNG, current efforts to restrict use of low-emitting diesels seems misguided.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2002

Perspectives on legal strategies to prevent workplace violence.

Workplace violence is a continuing problem in the United States, accounting for approximately 1,000 deaths each year and for more than 1.5 million incidents of nonfatal injuries. State and federal agencies have published guidelines for preventing workplace assaults, but there is a need for a strong research agenda to address the effectiveness of intervention strategies. After an overview, this article provides a discussion of workplace violence from three perspectives. One section discusses the process used in a manufacturing setting to install a workplace violence prevention program. A second section provides insight into the processes used to fully implement a workplace violence prevention program in a health care setting. A final section provides insight to the processes brought to bear in one state to mandate prevention of workplace violence in the health care setting. There is a critical need to evaluate alternative strategies to address workplace violence, to make the findings available to legislative and executive branches of government, and to implement effective strategies to counter violence in the workplace.

Humans↗