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Dental Laboratories
Published in Dag K. Brune, Christer Edling, Occupational Hazards in the Health Professions, 2020
Dental technicians are exposed to various gases, mostly from solvents, e.g., methylmethacrylate (MMA). Solvents may cause acute or chronic effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The acute symptoms are headache, fatigue, and drowsiness. These acute symptoms are reversible if exposure is discontinued. Long-term solvent exposure is connected with chronic effects on the CNS. The core symptoms are fatigability, bad memory, difficulties in concentration, and loss of initiative. Other symptoms are depression, dysphoria, emotional lability, headache, irritability, paresthesity, sleep disturbances, and vertigo.4 Similar symptoms could also appear due to other reasons, e.g., psychiatric disorders. Also irritative effects on the mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, and respiratory tracts could be associated with exposure to solvents. In dental laboratories, MMA is widely used and this compound will be paid special attention.
Environmental Pollution: Increasing Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published in Hasnain Nangyal, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Environmental Pollution, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Development, 2020
Industries, such as degreasants, paints, pharmaceuticals, printing inks, adhesives, pesticides, as well as household uses, like cosmetics, and household cleaners employ organic solvents. Exposure to carbon disulfide, methanol, benzene, toluene, ketones, n-hexane, and other solvents, is reported to produce Parkinson’s disorder. Occupational exposures to these organic solvents occur by inhalation of solvent vapors as these are volatile in nature. Solvent exposure increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, AD, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Solvent exposure/inhalation does not only affect central nervous system but it also causes peripheral neuropathy (Dick, 2006). Solvents are lipophilic and hence, can penetrate BBB easily. Effects of solvent trichloroethylene (TCE), are widely studied. Dermal exposure and chronic inhalation of TCE increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease (Gash et al., 2008). Solvents not only penetrate the BBB but can also increase the permeability of membrane by affecting their fluidity. Therefore, exposure to solvents could be further complicated by the synergistic action of other environmental pollutants/metal ions/nanoparticles.
Polyimides in High-Performance Electronics Packaging and Optoelectronic Applications
Published in Malay K. Ghosh, K. L. Mittal, Polyimides Fundamentals and Applications, 2018
An important requirement for polyimides used in electronics application is their resistance to environmental influences such as various process solvents, metal etchants, and components in thermal greases. Exposure to such materials occurs often at intermediate or elevated temperatures. As a consequence, polyimides may dissolve or undergo swelling [20,143,144], which can lead to increased stresses, adhesion loss, line distortion, and even breaking of signal lines. Solvent exposure might also lead to solvent-induced crazing or cracking. Typical solvents polyimides are exposed to include N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), diglyme, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ethanol, fluorocarbons, 1,1,1 - trichloroethane, and cellosolve. These solvents are used for lift-off processes, cleaning steps, resist development, and flux removal. Besides organic solvents, the polyimide coating will be exposed to water, whether in the form of rinses, metal etchants or plating solutions, or by exposure to humid atmosphere. Water is of particular concern because it is all-pervasive, leads to corrosion, and causes, even in small amounts, major changes in the dielectric properties of the polyimide.
A conceptual model for take-home workplace exposures
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2018
Rachael M. Jones, Igor Burstyn
Occupational exposures to stressors can cause behavior change, which alters how a worker behaves towards and with family members. The role of occupational psychosocial stressors and behavioral norms on family, the work-to-family spillover, are an important area of inquiry in occupational psychology.[18] For example, emotional labor, such as is required to suppress emotions at work, has been found to adversely impact marital relationships,[19] and exposure to violence can result post-traumatic stress disorder.[20] Work organization and conditions also impact behavior. For example, such as job insecurity among the working poor and high psychological demands among working non-poor have been associated with depressive symptoms.[21] Behavior change, however, may also arise from occupational exposure to other stressors, such as chemical agents. Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy, for example, affects attention, memory and motor performance,[22] which influence social interactions, but occupational solvent exposure has also been reported to affect the degree of violence at home.[23] Regardless of the cause, behavior change can adversely impact family health and wellbeing. To the extent the behavior change can be traced to occupational exposures, then preventative measures can be implemented in a manner that benefits families of all occupationally exposed persons.