Browsing by Author "Oppliger, Anne"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Assessment of occupational exposure to mycotoxins: relevance of biomonitoring toolsPublication . Viegas, Carla; Viegas, Susana; Oppliger, AnneAs an alternative or as a complement to air monitoring, biomonitoring is another way of assessing exposure to mycotoxins. Biomonitoring can include the detection, in easily accessible body fluids such as blood and urine, of the parent compound (mycotoxin) and its metabolites. However, the use of biomonitoring implies the availability of information related with each mycotoxin toxicokinetics, metabolism, and bioavailability to be able to interpret correctly the results. Moreover, it is important to note that data on background dietary exposure to mycotoxins is needed to determine the additional burden of respiratory and dermal exposure in the workplace. If this background data are unavailable, a control group of individuals from the general population should be included to exclude the possibility of exposure by diet. Additionally, we should consider that the most common exposure scenario in the workplaces is exposure to mycotoxins mixtures. It is, therefore, extremely relevant, from an occupational health point of view, to be able to measure several mycotoxins in one sample. Contextual information about the workplace and tasks developed is also very relevant to obtained since levels of exposure can vary greatly between different tasks within the same industry, and characterizing exposure implies recognize which tasks implicate higher exposure. Only with this information is possible to perform a more accurate exposure and risk assessment and, consequently, identify the most suitable risk management measures to apply. Several data will be presented from past and on-going research projects to demonstrate how biomonitoring was useful and contributes to recognize which occupational settings adds significantly to the exposure resulting from the ingestion of mycotoxin-contaminated food. The different variables that promote exposure to mycotoxins in different settings will also be discussed.
- Filling the knowledge gap: scoping review regarding sampling methods, assays, and further requirements to assess airborne virusesPublication . Dias, Marta; Gomes, Bianca; Pena, Pedro; Cervantes, Renata; Beswick, Alan; Duchaine, Caroline; Kolk, Annette; Madsen, Anne Mette; Oppliger, Anne; Pogner, Clara; Duquenne, Philippe; Wouters, Inge M.; Crook, Brian; Viegas, CarlaAssessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination early and to help prevent spread between employees and the general population. Measuring workers' exposure can facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of protective and mitigation measures in place. This scoping review aims to give an overview of available methods and those already implemented for airborne virus exposure assessment in different occupational and indoor environments. The results retrieved from the various studies may contribute to the setting of future standards and guidelines to ensure a reliable risk characterization in the occupational environments crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. The search aimed at selecting studies between January 1st, 2010, and June 30th, 2023 in the selected databases. Fifty papers on virus exposure assessment fitted the eligibility criteria and were selected for data extraction. Overall, this study identified gaps in knowledge regarding virus assessment and pinpointed the need for further research. Several discrepancies were found (transport temperatures, elution steps, …), as well as a lack of publication of important data related to the exposure conditions (contextual information). With the available information, it is impossible to compare results between studies employing different methods, and even if the same methods are used, different conclusions/ recommendations based on expert judgment have been reported due to the lack of consensus in the contextual information retrieved and/or data interpretation. Future research on the field targeting sampling methods and in the laboratory regarding the assays to employ should be developed bearing in mind the different goals of the assessment.
- Occupational exposure to mycotoxins: current knowledge and prospectsPublication . Viegas, Susana; Viegas, Carla; Oppliger, AnneOccupational exposure to mycotoxins are supposedly very frequent, but it is rarely reported in the scientific literature. Several recent studies described occupational exposure to the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) mycotoxin in different occupational settings. Previously, exposure to other mycotoxins was shown in the animal husbandry and food processing sectors, confirming that occupational exposure cannot be negligible. However, no guidelines or standard methodologies are available for helping occupational hygienists to consider mycotoxin exposure in their interventions. This article reviews the literature on this problem and recommends some actions for the better management of this risk factor in occupational settings, especially where environmental conditions are favorable to fungal presence.
- Occupational exposure to mycotoxins: current knowledge and prospectsPublication . Viegas, Susana; Viegas, Carla; Oppliger, AnneWorkers in numerous sectors are exposed to organic dust originating from such diverse organic matter as soil, plants, animals, food, and fecal matter. This dust contains lots of different bacteria and fungi and their components such as endotoxins and glucans. Furthermore, some fungi can actively produce secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. Some mycotoxins can have serious human health effects when ingested, but their health effects following inhalation or dermal contact are still insufficiently documented. Occupational exposure to mycotoxins is supposedly very frequent, but it is rarely reported in the scientific literature. Several recent studies described occupational exposure to the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) mycotoxin. Previously, exposure to mycotoxins was shown in the animal husbandry and food processing sectors, confirming that occupational exposure cannot be negligible. However, no guidelines or standard methodologies are available for helping occupational hygienists to consider mycotoxin risk in their occupational health interventions. In this work will be discussed which occupational environments are prone to be contaminated with mycotoxins, what exposure assessment tools can be use and related limitations, exposure characteristics and influencing variables. Aspects to consider exposure and risk assessment will also be presented and discussed. Additionally, the type of preventive measures that can be applied in different occupational settings will be presented.
- Workplace air standardisation projects related to biological agents at European level: recent history and perspectivesPublication . Duquenne, Philippe; Kolk, Annette; Pogner, Clara; Viegas, Carla; Oppliger, Anne; Crook, Brian; Thom, Christian; Barzykowski, Elisabeth; Madsen, Anne-MetteAs a significant portion of our time is spent in workplaces, occupational exposure is of particular interest for maintaining human health. Within the Technical Committee CEN/TC 137 “Assessment of workplace exposure” the working group named WG5 “Biological Agents” is engaged in the standardization of strategies to assess workplace exposure to bioaerosols. The group already existed since the early 2000s in the European Committee of Standardization (CEN) and was reactivated in 2017 to continue on work items of prevailing interest. Between 2018 and 2021 three standards have been revised and newly published: EN 13098 (general guidelines for measurements), EN 14031 (measurement of airborne endotoxins), and EN 14583 (performance of sampling devices). As the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed, the work on bioaerosols is still important and many questions remain open. Recently, the work group drafted three new topics on which normative documents should be prepared in the future: “the measurement of airborne viruses”, “the measurement of airborne mycotoxins” and “the use of biomolecular methods for the measurement of airborne microorganisms”. As it is still a pressing topic, the work on the new preliminary work items has started with the preparation of a standard for virus measurement. The CEN/TC 137/WG5 has maintained its dynamic over the years and is also encouraging pre-normative research and networking. The work of the group contributes to a unified approach at the European level on the issue of biological risk assessment and makes it possible to disseminate a better awareness of biological risks.