[Hygienic characteristics of working conditions and health status of workers engaged in the production of benzene and xylenes at a petroleum refinery].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Air Pollution↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “PETROLEUM PRODUCTS”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Radiological health implications of lead-210 and polonium-210 accumulations in LPG refineries.
Radon-222, a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas, is often a contaminant in natural gas. During fractionation at processing plants, Radon tends to be concentrated in the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) product stream. Radon-222 decays into a number of radioactive metallic daughters which can plate out on the interior surfaces of plant machinery. The hazards associated with gamma-emitting short-lived radon daughters have been investigated previously. The present work reports an analysis of the hazards associated with the long-lived daughters; Pb-210, Bi-210, and Po-210. These nuclides do not emit appreciable penetrating radiation, and hence do not represent a hazard as long as they remain on the inside surfaces of equipment. However, when equipment that has had prolonged exposure to an LPG stream is disassembled for repair or routine maintenance, opportunities for exposure to radioactive materials can occur. This paper reports a series of measurements made on an impeller taken from a pump in an LPG facility. Alpha spectroscopy revealed the presence of Po-210, and further measurements showed that the amount on the impeller surface was well above the exempt quantity. Breathing zone measurements made in the course of cleaning the impeller showed that an inhalation exposure equivalent to breathing Po-210 at the Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC) for 60 hours could be delivered in less than half an hour. It was concluded that maintenance and repair work on LPG and derivitive product stream equipment must be carried out with the realization that a potential radiological health problem exists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Air Pollution, Radioactive↗
Toxicity of cleaning agents for removal of grease from wounds.
Industrial injuries are often open wounds contaminated with grease. Commercial compounds used for removing grease from intact skin are composed of petroleum distillates. These products are occasionally used to remove grease from open wounds. Using an animal model, this study examines the use of commercial compounds in open wounds in comparison with mild detergent and water. A clear correlation is established between their use and adverse tissue reaction. The use of soap and water as opposed to petroleum-based compounds is recommended for removal of grease from a wound.
Animals↗
Cancer mortality in oil refinery workers.
The cancer mortality experience from 1964 to 1973 of employees of the Imperial Oil Limited was examined in a cohort study. Employees in jobs which exposed them on a daily basis to crude petroleum or its products, compared with nonexposed employees, were found to have more than three times the risk of esophageal and stomach cancer and about twice the risk of lung cancer. In the exposed group, increasing risks of both cancers occurred with increasing duration of employment. In the absence of more complete information on the similarity of the exposed and nonexposed employees, these results cannot be ascribed with certainty to a carcinogenic effect of petroleum. However, there was no other clear explanation for the results, and further study is required. When refinery workers were compared with nonrefinery workers without consideration of exposure to petroleum in either group, the refinery workers were found to have twice the risk of cancer of the intestines (including rectum) and other digestive organs. No relationship with duration of employment was evident. Although the increased intestinal cancer mortality in the refinery workers was not consistent, bias was not an obvious explanation for the observed relationship. Therefore, the presence on a refinery site of a carcinogen other than petroleum has not been ruled out, and further study is urged.
Adult↗
Natural gas and indoor air pollution: a comparison with coal gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to compare the combustion products of coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas in relation to indoor air pollution. METHODS: Regular pollutants including B(a)P were monitored and 1-hydroxy pyrene were tested in urine of the enrolled subjects. Radon concentrations and their changes in four seasons were also monitored in the city natural gas from its source plant and transfer stations to final users. To analyze organic components of coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas, a high-flow sampling device specially designed was used to collect their combustion products, and semi-volatile organic compounds contained in the particles were detected by gas chromatograph-mass spectrograph (GC/MS). RESULTS: Findings in the study showed that the regular indoor air pollutants particles and CO were all above the standard in winter when heating facilities were operated in the city, but they were lowest in kitchens using natural gas; furthermore, although NO2 and CO2 were slightly higher in natural gas, B(a)P concentration was lower in this group and 1-hydroxy pyrene was lowest in urine of the subjects exposed to natural gas. Organic compounds were more complicated in coal gas and liquefied petroleum gas than in natural gas. The concentration of radon in natural gas accounted for less than 1% of its effective dose contributing to indoor air pollution in Beijing households. CONCLUSION: Compared to traditional fuels, gases are deemed as clean ones, and natural gas is shown to be cleaner than the other two gases.
Air Pollution, Indoor↗
Mutagenicity of urine from individuals exposed to LPG combustion products.
The mutagenicity of urine from individuals exposed to the combustion products of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was detected with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and its newly developed derivatives YG1021 (nitroreductase overproducing) and YG1024 (O-acetyltransferase overproducing). The detection showed significantly increased mutagenicity for the two YG strains and increased positive rates for all three strains in the presence of both rat liver S9 and beta-glucuronidase. Further analysis demonstrated that urine samples taken from smoking and non-smoking exposed individuals exhibited significantly higher mutagenic potency (revertants/10 microliters urine concentrate) than their corresponding controls. These results indicate that the increased urine mutagenicity is caused by the exposure to LPG combustion products or smoking. The mutagenic potency of urine samples of all exposed individuals tested with YG1024 was found to be about 7 times higher than with TA98. The difference in mutagenic potency was smaller for the same samples when comparison was made between YG1021 and TA98. This suggests that the mutagenic compounds present in the urine samples contain mainly aromatic compounds as glucuronide conjugates. Our results demonstrate that YG1024 is more sensitive than TA98 in detecting the mutagenicity of these samples. In addition, no significant difference in the mutagenic potency between the 'pure' exposed (non-smokers') and the 'pure' smokers' (unexposed) samples was found in all three tester strains. This might mean that the exposure extent of mutagens/carcinogens in LPG combustion products for exposed individuals roughly corresponds to the smoking level of smokers who smoke 20-40 cigarettes per day. Furthermore, the results also suggest that synergism might exist in the mutagenic effects of exposure to LPG combustion products and cigarette smoking.
Adult↗
Toxicopathology of oilfield poisoning in cattle: a review.
The toxicologic pathology of petroleum and oilfield-related chemicals is reviewed, and a field guide for toxicopathologic evaluation of cattle is given. Cattle will voluntarily ingest petroleum and chemicals used in the exploration, production and transportation of crude petroleum. Variability in chemical composition of petroleum from different fields will alter the type and severity of lesions observed. When airborne pollutants are present, cattle are continually exposed and make excellent sentinel animals. The lung, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain are target organs for petroleum hydrocarbons. Exposure to elemental sulfur can produce pulmonary pathology. Sulfur-containing gases are irritating to the mucosa of the eye and respiratory tract. Arsenic and lead cause lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, brain, liver and kidney. Glycols are hepato-, nephro- and neurotoxic, and oral exposure to diethylene glycol produces corneal lesions. Invert drilling fluids are fetotoxic. Nonpesticide organophosphate esters target the peripheral and central nervous systems. Toxicopathy is a strategic tool in the diagnosis of intoxications occurring in cattle after exposure to oilfield chemicals. Cattle are sensitive to oilfield pollutants and are a useful biomonitoring species.
Animals↗
Air medical transport of patients from offshore oil and gas facilities. Historical accident data and initial experience.
The offshore petroleum exploration and production industry (OSI) is isolated from traditional means of access to emergent health care and may benefit from the unique attributes of helicopter air medical transport. This study was undertaken to review the incidence of OSI-related incidents, injuries and deaths, and report the initial experience of a civilian hospital-based helicopter air transport program in the evacuation of offshore patients. It was learned that the mean annual incidence of major OSI accidents from 1980 to 1986 was 19.1 (+/- 7.0). Mean annual mortality and reported injury were 14.7 (+/- 7.6) and 36.7 (+/- 25.4) patients respectively. Fires and explosions were the most frequently reported events at 62 per year (+/- 11.5/year). Nine OSI patients were evacuated by helicopter during the study's eight-month pilot period (seven for trauma and two for medical illness). One of the nine patients had been exposed to a potentially hazardous substance, requiring changes in the air medical team's operations, aircraft and equipment. The study shows that the offshore petroleum environment is ideally suited for air medical transport, as injuries are common and medical illnesses are to be expected. However, air medical programs operating offshore must deal with additional regulatory requirements and develop operational procedures to ensure safety during these flights.
Accidents, Occupational↗
[Evaluation of the influence of chemical factors of petroleum organic synthesis enterprises on the health status of their workers].
Recent studies conducted by a number of authors have given a good idea of the toxic effects of petroleum and its products on man. The combined effects of chemical and physical factors are known to potentiate their toxic effects and to cause an increase in morbidity among the workers of oil-refining plants. The paper substantiates the basic health indices to reduce the risk of industrial influences of the chemical components of emissions from an oil-producing plant on its workers' health. The workers were examined in accordance with the developed algorithm of hygienic evaluation under the influence of a combination of chemical factors, which makes it possible to define health indicators to optimize monitoring and to evaluate the efficiency of therapeutic-and-prophylactic programs. The results of the study suggest that in the workers, the elevated blood level of organic compounds exerting a polytropic toxic effect on the vital organs and systems is a risk factor for diseases and requires a systemic monitoring. Thus, program-specific planning of therapeutic and prophylactic measures implemented at an oil-producing plant should be accomplished by taking into account the optimum complex of diagnostic studies to evaluate the workers' health status.
Chemical Industry↗
Multiple myeloma in the United States, 1950--1975.
A total of 68,400 whites and 10,533 nonwhites were reported to have died from multiple myeloma (MM) in the continental United States between 1950 and 1975 (excluding 1972 because of incomplete case ascertainment). Age-adjusted mortality rates for nonwhites were approximately twice as high as for whites. During the 25-year period of this survey, there was a twofold to threefold increase in MM mortality. The increase was seen in both races, but was greater in nonwhites than whites and primarily occurred in people over 55 years of age. The increases were uniform in all geographic regions and urban/rural categories. MM mortality from 1950--1969 was correlated with geographic, demographic, and occupational factors at the county level. The rates were highest in the far west and mid-central regions for whites and in the northeast for nonwhites. Urban areas had the highest rates and rural areas had the lowest, and positive associations were seen with indices of socioeconomic level and the percentage of residents with Scandinavian ancestry. For white males, MM mortality rates were elevated in areas with high petroleum and paper production, and a slight increase was seen in furniture manufacturing areas.
Adult↗
Effect of subacute benzene exposure on the activity of two neuropeptide-degrading enzymes in the rat brain.
Benzene (Bz) is an important industrial chemical, a petroleum by-product, a component of unleaded gas, and thus a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. It is well established that this organic solvent possesses neurotoxic and behavioral effects. However, the neurochemical mechanism of the solvent action remains obscure. The aminopeptidases (AP) are proteolytic enzymes that have been proposed as a candidate regulator of the degradation of several neuropeptides. In this work, changes in Lys- and Leu-aminopeptidase activities in several rat brain regions after benzene administration are described. The AP activity was determined by measuring the rate of hydrolysis of the artificial substrates Lys- and Leu-2-naphthylamides (fluorimetrically detected in triplicate). Both enzyme activities decrease in the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala after Bz treatment. It is suggested that these aminopeptidase activities play a part in the benzene action mechanism, possibly by regulating the activity of several neuroactive peptides.
Aminopeptidases↗
Batch co-digestion of multi-component agro-wastes.
In certain parts of the developing world conventional energy supplies such as electricity, gas, coal and petroleum by-products are either unavailable, too capital intensive to install, are unjustifiable due to low population densities in some semi-arid regions, or are simply unaffordable to the target population. In Zimbabwe, it has been assessed that only biomass energy can conveniently provide both lighting and space heating. Therefore, means of generating biogas from agricultural and other organic wastes, and to encourage their use is a policy which has been adopted by Zimbabwe's Department of Energy. In this study cattle slurry was mixed with a range of solid wastes and allowed to digest in 11 batch digesters. The mixtures which were used were selected on the basis of centroid design with the objective of determining whether there was either synergism or antagonism. Two trials were carried out, one based on cattle slurry, chicken manure (CM) and molasses (Mol), the other based on sheep and goat manure, chicken manure and surplus activated sludge. The criteria for judging the success of a co-digestion were volatile solids (VS) reduction, total methane production and methane yield. In the first trial, the analysis based on the methane yield showed that there was no antagonism and that the mixture of 30% cattle slurry/30% CM/40% Mol gave a synergistic effect. The analysis based on the VS destruction, however, did show that there was some very slight antagonism. In the second trial, the analysis based on the methane yield showed that there was both antagonism and synergism and that the synergism produced an extra 6.7% methane. The analysis based on the VS destruction also showed that there was both antagonism and synergism but that the effects were small.
Agriculture↗
Environmental exposures in elderly Canadians with Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND: Etiologic hypotheses for Parkinson's disease have implicated environmental factors, genetic factors, or a combination of the two. METHODS: Data from a survey of elderly Canadians (n = 10,263) with regard to their history of Parkinson's disease and previous environmental exposures were analyzed. Exposure to various environmental factors was compared between 87 patients with Parkinson's disease and 2070 elderly controls without Parkinson's disease. RESULTS: Exposure to plastic resins (OR (odd ratio) = 8.79), epoxy resins (OR = 6.94), glues (OR = 4.26), paints (OR = 3.84), and petroleum (OR = 2.30) products was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with Parkinson's disease. CONCLUSION: These substances deserve further exploration with respect to the possible development of parkinsonism.
Adhesives↗
Intraepidermal carcinoma of the eyelid.
PURPOSE: To examine the clinical and pathological features and treatment outcomes of cutaneous squamous intraepidermal carcinoma of the eyelid in order to determine its behaviour, its relationship to squamous cell carcinoma and appropriate management. METHODS: All patients from the practice of one of the authors with a histological diagnosis of squamous intraepidermal carcinoma were included. Retrospective chart review was performed, and pathology re-examined. All patients were recalled for examination. Histological diagnosis of periocular intraepidermal carcinoma, lesion characteristics, outcome of surgical excision, local recurrence, and occurrence of metastasis were assessed as main outcome measures. RESULTS: Thirty-one white, usually fair-haired patients had a total of 37 lesions. Most had a history of occupational or recreational sun exposure. Other predisposing factors included exposure to arsenic, petroleum by-products and epidermodysplasia verruciformis. All except one had other solar keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancers. All had surgical excision. Six cases (16%) had evidence of progression to squamous cell carcinoma. Seven cases (18%) had local recurrence successfully treated by further local excision. No patient had perineural spread or distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: This lesion, which serves as a marker for severe actinic damage, may masquerade as chronic blepharitis. Early diagnosis prior to dermal invasion is important. Complete excision is the recommended treatment. Adjunctive treatment with topical 5-fluorouracil may be appropriate in some circumstances. Long-term follow up is mandatory.
Adolescent↗
Enhancing desulphurization by engineering a flavin reductase-encoding gene cassette in recombinant biocatalysts.
Biological desulphurization of petroleum feedstocks and products may offer an attractive alternative to reduce sulphur oxide emissions that cause serious environmental pollution. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulphurization via the Dsz pathway of Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 is an energetically expensive process that consumes reducing equivalents. We have shown in this work that the HpaC oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli W is able to supply the required FMNH2 to the Dsz monooxygenases. The cloning and expression of the hpaC gene in Pseudomonas strains bearing the dszABC gene cluster significantly enhanced DBT desulphurization efficacy of the recombinant biocatalysts in a resting-cell process, thus indicating that overexpression of a heterologous flavin reductase in the host cell is critical for a high rate of sulphur removal in vivo. The hpaC and dszABC genes have been engineered as a single transcription unit under control of broadhost-range regulatory signals in a mobilizable DNA cassette that can be used to confer a DBT desulphurization phenotype to a wide variety of bacteria regardless of the expression of putative housekeeping flavin reductases within the host cells. This cassette will be very useful in exploring the biotechnological potential of novel biocatalysts for developing an efficient desulphurization process.
Air Pollutants↗
Mis-swallowing of cleaning naphtha: report of three cases.
Cleaning naphtha, a product of Chinese Petroleum Corporation, is a complex hydrocarbon mixture which contains mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is used as a cleaning fluid and solvent. Three toddlers mis-swallowed a mouth of cleaning naphtha accidentally. One developed multiple organ failure before death, another completely recovered without sequelae, and the other died very soon after mis-swallowing. Two fatal cases were both induced vomiting with aspiration immediately after mis-swallowing by their parents. Therefore, inducing vomiting should not be encouraged especially at home, and prevention of aspiration is very important in the management of such cases.
Accidents, Home↗
[Degradation of oil derivatives by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus MM5].
This paper describes the isolation of microorganisms from polluted heating oil. The growth of one of them has been studied (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus MM5) in several linear and branched hydrocarbons as well as the effect of its growth on commercial diesel oil. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus MM5 is not capable of using glucose as its only source of carbon, and it needs the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus sources to degrade any petroleum by-product.
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in subtropical Ecuador: popular perceptions, knowledge, and treatment.
Popular perceptions and knowledge about cutaneous leishmaniasis and its treatment were studied in an endemic area of subtropical Northwest Ecuador. Although most of the adults surveyed were familiar with the disease, the vector, and traditional treatments, many showed a lack of knowledge about transmission of the disease, ulcer healing, and conventional treatment. Gender was found to have a significant impact on disease risk, perceptions, and treatment knowledge. Males experienced a risk of contracting cutaneous leishmaniasis that was almost triple that of women. Men were also more likely to perceive that the disease seriously diminished the victim's capacity to work. Women, on the other hand, were more prone to perceive that cutaneous leishmaniasis was a serious disease that significantly decreased self-esteem. Although 80% of the subjects knew at least one method of treating the disease, women tended to know more methods than men. Most of 150 different therapies reported involved the use of indigenous plants, chemicals, acids, antibiotics, heat treatments, or petroleum by-products. Some of these treatments could have clinical value. However, only 7% of the subjects knew about pentavalent antimonials. Almost 70% of the subjects with a past or present infection history were treated solely by traditional methods; only 12% received a full course of Glucantime, while 7.5% got an incomplete course. The findings indicate that it will be important to consider the identified gaps in knowledge and gender perceptions regarding the disease and its treatment when planning future control programs.
Adolescent↗