“My husband works in a pathology lab. Should be undergoing some tests due to occupational hazards?”
My husband works for a pathology lab. He is constantly exposed to infected samples. Should he be undergoing some tests due to occupational hazards?
3 Answers
Toxicology is the scientific discipline that study the detection, effects, and mechanism of action of poisons and toxic chemicals. Toxicity is a relative phenomenon that depends on the those and the inherent chemical property of the chemical. Dose response curve are produced in laboratory animals exposed to various amounts of the test substance.
Threshold dose – is the amount to chemical producing a measurable response.
No observed effect level – is the dose lower than the threshold dose.
Ceiling effect – is a plateau that is reached at which the response is no increased.
From this information is possible to stablish the daily threshold limit for the permissible level of occupational exposures. Exogenous chemicals are absorbed after ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption which is then metabolized in different organs. Chemicals are metabolized to products that are more of less toxic than the parent chemical. The site of toxicity is where metabolism or excretion of toxic metabolites occurs. The absorption distribution of toxicants is exposure, absorption at portal entry, distribution to body, from here there could be excretion of the toxin or metabolism to a more toxic, to a less toxic, or to a conjugate (a totally different product). A metabolism to a more toxic goes to a distribution to interaction with macromolecules (protein, DNA, RNA receptors), which can go two ways, to turnover and repair then excretion, and toxic effects (genetics, carcinogenic, reproductive and immunotoxin). Now the laboratory is governed by several governmental agencies that regulates the laboratory and their strict rule and regulations have to be followed by the laboratory because of possible exposure and contamination. There are several specific OSHA standards that apply to laboratories as well as other OSHA standards that apply to various specific aspects of laboratory activities. The occupational exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standards (29 CFR 1910.1450) was created for non-production laboratories. These standards were developed to address workplaces where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production botany. The purpose of OSHA’s laboratory standards (29 CFR 1910.1450) to ensure that workers in the workplace are protected from those chemicals. OSHA every year inspect the laboratory for compliance. No going back to your initial question. If your husband present with symptoms or if you feel that it is necessary, please contact an occupational physician to help you. Thank you.
Threshold dose – is the amount to chemical producing a measurable response.
No observed effect level – is the dose lower than the threshold dose.
Ceiling effect – is a plateau that is reached at which the response is no increased.
From this information is possible to stablish the daily threshold limit for the permissible level of occupational exposures. Exogenous chemicals are absorbed after ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption which is then metabolized in different organs. Chemicals are metabolized to products that are more of less toxic than the parent chemical. The site of toxicity is where metabolism or excretion of toxic metabolites occurs. The absorption distribution of toxicants is exposure, absorption at portal entry, distribution to body, from here there could be excretion of the toxin or metabolism to a more toxic, to a less toxic, or to a conjugate (a totally different product). A metabolism to a more toxic goes to a distribution to interaction with macromolecules (protein, DNA, RNA receptors), which can go two ways, to turnover and repair then excretion, and toxic effects (genetics, carcinogenic, reproductive and immunotoxin). Now the laboratory is governed by several governmental agencies that regulates the laboratory and their strict rule and regulations have to be followed by the laboratory because of possible exposure and contamination. There are several specific OSHA standards that apply to laboratories as well as other OSHA standards that apply to various specific aspects of laboratory activities. The occupational exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standards (29 CFR 1910.1450) was created for non-production laboratories. These standards were developed to address workplaces where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production botany. The purpose of OSHA’s laboratory standards (29 CFR 1910.1450) to ensure that workers in the workplace are protected from those chemicals. OSHA every year inspect the laboratory for compliance. No going back to your initial question. If your husband present with symptoms or if you feel that it is necessary, please contact an occupational physician to help you. Thank you.
He needs to do EXACTLY what the chief of the lab mandates that all staff do! ANY certified lab in the USA with have STANDARDIZED NORMS that all staff must follow in order to be employed there. One example of this is to wear UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION gowns/gloves/masks, etc., to protect against certain infections and to have HEPATITIS IMMUNIZATION--as this is a not uncommon infection that can be transmitted by blood/needle sticks in the lab.
Some of the answer is about whether he has any current relevant medical health issues also. Hope this helps:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538703/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538703/
