The Reference Value for Biomonitoring in Chemicals Risk Area in Thailand

The workers’biological standard value(WBSV)is generally used to assess chemicals health risks in community.It may cause the deviate biomonitoring.Therefore,this study was aimed to set the pilot reference value for exposed people to chemicals.The study was divided into three phases:the two phases for field-study method and one phase for stakeholder’s adoption.Phase I was proceeded in one industrial zone in Thailand during the years 2012-2014 to collect blood and urine samples of 402 working-age people in community accompanied with in-depth interview.The 4 heavy metals(arsenic,cadmium,lead,mercury)in blood and urine were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS)analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).The metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs,benzene,toluene,styrene,xylenes)in urine were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)analysis.The 8 chemicals concentrations of the volunteers’average chemicals concentration(VACC)were calculated.Phase II was proceeded during the years 2015-2016 to compare risk group identification between usage of VACC and usage of WBSV.The results were presented in mean value,standard deviation,percentage,and significant.The results showed approximately 90 percent of VACCs were lower than WBSV.The exceptional result was volunteers’average urinary arsenic concentration.It was clearly higher than WBSV.The comparative results showed the adjusted amount of risk people by VACC was higher than the adjusted amount risk people by WBSV.Phase III was proceeded in the year 2017 for stakeholder’s adoption.This study indicated that general people’s average chemicals concentration should be used as the reference value for biomonitoring and active health surveillance.

Risk Analysis of Chemical Hazards Based on the Case of EU Children’s Products Recalled and Study on the Reasonable Limitation of Harmful Element in Toys

The trade situation about China’s export of toy products to the EU was introduced. The recall characteristics of China’s toy products by the EU “Safety Gate” in terms of recall frequency, notified countries, taken measures, and reasons for recall were analyzed in this paper, and the risk factors of human health of unqualified products in terms of chemical hazards were studied in this paper. It is found that phthalate, boron, plumbum and cadmium were the main factors. Assessment of risk for boron in toys was conducted. It is suggested to limit the boron element in Slime: the limit of migration of boron in Slime toys for 3- to 6-year-old children shall be less than 704 mg/kg, and the limitation of migration of boron in Slime toys for 7- to 12-year-old children shall be less than 1268 mg/kg.

Assessing microbial and chemical exposure risks of Giardia in indoor swimming pool water disinfected by chlorine

Swimming pools adopt chlorination to ensure microbial safety. Giardia has attracted attention in swimming pool water because of its occurrence, pathogenicity, and chlorine resistance. To control Giardia concentrations in pool water and reduce the microbial risk, higher chlorine doses are required during disinfection. Unfortunately, this process produces carcinogenic disinfection byproducts that increase the risk of chemical exposure. Therefore, quantitatively evaluating the comparative microbial vs. chemical exposure risks that stem from chlorination inactivation of Giardia in swimming pool water is an issue that demands attention. We simulated an indoor swimming pool disinfection scenario that followed common real-world disinfection practices. A quantitative microbial risk assessment coupled with a chemical exposure risk assessment was employed to compare the Giardia microbial exposure risk(MER) and the trihalomethane chemical exposure risk(CER) to humans. The results demonstrated a 22% decrease in MER-and CER-induced health exposure risk, from 8.45E-5 at 8:00 to 6.60E-5 at 19:00. Both the MER and CER decreased gradually, dropping to 3.26E-5 and 3.35E-5 at 19:00, respectively. However, the CER exceeded the MER after 18:30 and became the dominant factor affecting the total exposure risk. Past the 18 hr mark, the contribution of trihalomethane CER far exceeded the risk aversion from microbial inactivation, leading to a net increase in total exposure risk despite the declining MER. Swimmers may consider swimming after 19:00, when the total exposure risk is the lowest. Lowering water temperature and/or p H were identified as the most sensitive factors to minimize the overall health exposure risk.

Pesticides Exposure:The Case of Workers on Growing Grapes in San Francisco Valley,Petrolina/Brazil

The objective of this work is to analyze the systems of application of pesticides used in harvesting grapes of the sub-medium San Francisco valley, in relation to the risks of occupational contamination. The manual, mechanized and semi mechanized systems of application, adopted by the grape growers of the city of Petrolina/PE, have been analyzed through a method of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation. In such a way, two production units were visited: a mid-sized company and another one from of the CODEVASF. Five simulations were carried out in four systems of pesticide application using the European entire body method. Pre-application processes, such as storage and dilution of pesticides, as well as post-application processes, including equipment maintenance, cleaning and storage of clothes used for the application process were also analyzed. The results show large differences in risk among the systems that were analyzed and better conditions offered by the agricultural company, which was seeking to obtain the certification process.

Integration of Chemical Methods and Biomarkers for Assessment of Chlorimuron-Ethyl Bioavailability in Soil

Bioavailability is a critical factor for assessing the environmental risk of organic pollutants in soil. In this study, extractions with 3 different solvents, including 2 aqueous solutions, calcium chloride(CaCl_2) and a phosphate buffer solution(PBS), and a mixture of aqueous solution and organic solvent, a PBS-methanol(8:2,volume/volume) mixture(PBS-M), were performed to assess the bioavailability of chlorimuron-ethyl in soil in comparison to a battery of toxicity tests in wheat seedlings. The results indicated that the peroxidase(POD) activity in wheat leaves after 7 d of exposure was one of the sensitive biomarkers of chlorimuron-ethyl in soil.The extractability of chlorimuron-ethyl by all the 3 solvents decreased with exposure time, and the rate of decrease of the PBS-M extraction between 1 and 7 d of exposure was substantially higher than those of the aqueous solution extractions. Chlorimuron-ethyl gradually changed from a water-soluble form into a soil organic matter(SOM)-bound form in the soil. The PBS extraction correlated best with the POD activity in the leaves after 7 d of exposure.