Background: This study examines perceptions of rock concert attendees about risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and use of hearing protection at a busy Toronto rock concert venue. Methods: Two hundred and four questionnaires were completed and returned (75% response rate) by attendees at four rock concerts. Results:The respondents had an average age of 20.6 years and 55.4% were male. Thirtyfour point three percent (34.3%) thought that it was somewhat likely and 39.8% thought it was very likely that noise levels at music concerts could damage their hearing, but 80.2% said that they never wore hearing protection at such events. Tinnitus and other hearing disturbances were experienced by 84.7% and 37.8% of attendees, respectively. Both experiencing hearing disturbances and concern about developing hearing loss were statistically significantly associated with concert attendees' use of hearing protection. Previous use of hearing protection, a higher score on a scale of readiness for behavioural change (Prochaska scale) and lack of concern about the appearance of ear plugs were statistically significantly associated with a reported willingness to use hearing protection in the future if it were provided for free at the door. Conclusion:Hearing protection is currently not worn by most attendees of rock concerts who are at risk of developing NIHL. Ear plugs and tactful NIHL education should be provided at the door, coupled with strategies to reduce music sound levels to safer listening levels.MeSH terms: hearing loss; noise; environmental; prevention La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Smoke from wood-fueled fires is one of the most common hazards encountered by firefighters worldwide. Wood smoke is complex in nature and contains numerous compounds, including methoxyphenols (MPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are carcinogenic. Chronic exposure to wood smoke can lead to adverse health outcomes, including respiratory infections, impaired lung function, cardiac infarctions, and cancers. At training exercises held in burn houses at four fire departments across Ontario, air samples, skin wipes, and urine specimens from a cohort of firefighters (n = 28) were collected prior to and after exposure. Wood was the primary fuel used in these training exercises. Air samples showed that MP concentrations were on average 5-fold greater than those of PAHs. Skin wipe samples acquired from multiple body sites of firefighters indicated whole-body smoke exposure. A suite of MPs (methyl-, ethyl-, and propylsyringol) and deconjugated PAH metabolites (hydroxynaphthalene, hydroxyfluorene, hydroxyphenanthrene, and their isomers) were found to be sensitive markers of smoke exposure in urine. Creatinine-normalized levels of these markers were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in 24 h postexposure urine despite large between-subject variations that were dependent on the specific operational roles of firefighters while using personal protective equipment. This work offers deeper insight into potential health risk from smoke exposure that is needed for translation of better mitigation policies, including improved equipment to reduce direct skin absorption and standardized hygiene practices implemented at different regional fire services.

This case indicates that workers may develop respiratory problems, including asthma when using 3D printers. Further investigation of the specific airborne emissions and health problems from 3D printing is warranted.

Our finding of frequently reported respiratory symptoms suggests a need for additional studies on exposed workers in this field.

BACKGROUND Workers who stand on platforms or equipment that vibrate are exposed to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV). Exposure to FTV can lead to vibration white feet/toes resulting in blanching of the toes, and tingling and numbness in the feet and toes. OBJECTIVES The objectives are 1) to review the current state of knowledge of the health risks associated with foot-transmitted vibration (FTV), and 2) to identify the characteristics of FTV and discuss the associated risk of vibration-induced injury. PARTICIPANTS Workers who operated locomotives (n = 3), bolting platforms (n = 10), jumbo drills (n = 7), raise drilling platforms (n = 4), and crushers (n = 3), participated. METHODS A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure FTV in accordance with ISO 2631-1 guidelines. Frequency-weighted root-mean-square acceleration and the dominant frequency are reported. Participants were also asked to report pain/ache/discomfort in the hands and/or feet. RESULTS Reports of pain/discomfort/ache were highest in raise platform workers and jumbo drill operators who were exposed to FTV in the 40 Hz and 28 Hz range respectively. Reports of discomfort/ache/pain were lowest in the locomotive and crusher operators who were exposed to FTV below 10 Hz. These findings are consistent with animal studies that have shown vascular and neural damage in exposed appendages occurs at frequencies above 40 Hz. CONCLUSIONS Operators exposed to FTV at 40 Hz appear to be at greater risk of experiencing vibration induced injury. Future research is required to document the characteristics of FTV and epidemiological evidence is required to link exposure with injury.

Many workers are exposed to high noise levels and may develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). 1,2 Tak et al. 3 estimated that, after the manufacturing sector, the construction sector had the greatest number of workers occupationally exposed to noise in the US. Construction workers in Canada are similarly exposed to high noise levels 4 and at risk of NIHL. 5,6 In construction work, the use of hand-held vibrating tools is an important source of noise exposure. 4 Exposure to hand-arm vibration may result in Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) which is comprised of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal components. 7,8 The main vascular component consists of cold-induced blanching of the fingers, a form of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon which is often referred to as Vibration White Finger (VWF). 9 Several studies have found that in workers exposed to both noise and hand-arm vibration, those workers with VWF have greater hearing loss than workers without VWF, after controlling for noise exposure. [10][11][12][13][14][15] However a well-designed study by Pyykko et al. 16 found that the permanent hearing loss in workers exposed to noise and vibration did not exceed the permanent hearing loss from exposure to noise only. Therefore it appears that VWF might be a marker for increased individual susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss without the vibration conferring increased risk of hearing loss from noise exposure. 17,18 The Occupational Health Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario has a comprehensive program to assess workers for HAVS. Most of the construction workers assessed for HAVS have not had audiometry at work and therefore the clinic offers audiometry to these workers as a means of case finding for NIHL. This study was carried out to assess the extent of NIHL in these construction workers and to examine possible predictors, in particular the duration of work in construction and the severity of VWF. METHODSA total of 191 construction workers were assessed for HAVS between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. All had been exposed to noise from their vibrating tools such as grinders, drills and impact tools. Twenty-two workers decided not to have the audiometric test that was offered and therefore the study group with new audiometric data comprised 169 subjects.The data abstracted from these workers' medical charts in 2008-9 included the age at assessment, years worked in construction, job title, audiometric test results and the HAVS Stockholm vascular

PurposeIn the 30 years since the Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS) was published, the scientific literature on hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) has grown and experience has been gained in its practical application. This research was undertaken to develop an up-to-date evidence-based classification for HAVS by seeking consensus between experts in the field.MethodsSeven occupational physicians who are clinically active and have had work published on HAVS in the last 10 years were asked to independently take part in a three-round iterative Delphi process. Consensus was taken when 5/7 (72%) agreed with a particular statement. Experts were asked to provide evidence from the literature or data from their own research to support their views.ResultsConsensus was achieved for most of the questions that were used to develop an updated staging system for HAVS. The vascular and neurological components from the SWS are retained, but ambiguous descriptors and tests without adequately developed methodology such as tactile discrimination, or discriminating power such as grip strength, are not included in the new staging system. A blanching score taken from photographs of the hands during vasospastic episodes is recommended in place of self-recall and frequency of attacks to stage vascular HAVS. Methods with the best evidence base are described for assessing sensory perception and dexterity.ConclusionsA new classification has been developed with three stages for the clinical classification of vascular and neurological HAVS based on international consensus. We recommend it replaces the SWS for clinical and research purposes.

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