need this study guide complete answers come from powerpoint

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 Chemical hazards

 Gases – carbon monoxide

 Vapors - solvents

 Particulates

 Asbestos

 Silica

 Lead dust and fumes

EHST 3060/61:

Environmental Issues in

Construction

 To identify specific biohazards in

construction

 To discuss the adverse health effects of these

biohazards

 To enumerate the tasks involved with

exposure to biohazards

 To enumerate control strategies for

biohazard exposure

 Microorganisms

 Legionella

 West Nile virus

 Histoplasmosis

 Parasites

 Malaria

 Insects

 Mosquitoes

 Ticks

 Plants

Physical

Chemical

Biological

Ergonomic

Occupational

Disease

 Microorganisms

 Bacteria

 Virus

 Fungi

 Parasites

 Insects

 Organic aerosols

 Plants

 Animals

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 Exposure may occur during

 Demolition

 Renovation

 Sewer work

 Work on air handling systems

 Other construction work

http://www.nielsenenviro.com/services

 Contact with contaminated or disease-carrying

 Soil

 Water

 Insects (mosquitoes, ticks)

 Bird or bat droppings

 Animals

 Structures

 Bacteria - Legionella

 Virus – West Nile virus; Hantavirus

 Fungi – Histoplasmosis

 Pathogenic bacteria that cause Legionnaires'

disease

 Acquired its name after a July 1976 outbreak

of a disease that sickened 221 persons, causing

34 deaths

 First noticed among people attending a

convention of the American Legion

 Potentially fatal infectious

disease caused by the

bacteria Legionella

 Produces high fever and

pneumonia

 Chills and cough (dry or with

sputum)

 Deranged renal functions,

liver functions and

electrolytes

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 Route of entry: inhalation of aerosols

containing Legionella bacteria

 Sources: contaminated water from cooling

towers in air conditioning systems

 Exposure: Work on air handling systems

 Most often spread to humans from the bite of

an infected mosquito

 First reported in the US in 1999; occupational

exposures have been documented

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00836

 80% of human infections: no symptoms

 20%: flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue,

headache, and muscle or joint pain)

 <1%: severe illness that may be fatal

 High fever

 Stiff neck

 Disorientation

 Tremors

 Muscle weakness

 Paralysis

 Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

 Meningitis (inflammation of the brain or spinal

cord membranes)

 Outdoor workers whenever mosquitoes

are biting

 Farmers

 Foresters

 Landscapers

 Groundskeepers

and gardeners

 Mechanics

 Painters

 Roofers

 Pavers

 Construction workers

 Laborers

 ANY TIME infected mosquitoes are biting

 Most infections occur from July through

September

 Many mosquitoes are most active from

dusk to dawn; some active during the day

 Avoid working outdoors during peak

activity times for mosquitoes

 Use insect repellent if working outdoors

when mosquitoes are biting

 Use of protective clothing (i.e. long-

sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks)

 Avoid handling dead animals when

possible

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 An infectious disease, primarily affecting a

person's lungs, caused by inhaling the spores

of Histoplasma capsulatum

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Histoplasma_capsulatum_

var._duboisii._PHIL_4221_lores.jpg

http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/pdf/histoplasmosis-lifecycle508c.pdf

 Infected individuals can exhibit a variety of

symptoms sometimes so mild they do not

realize they are infected and therefore do

not seek treatment.

 In fact, the majority of those infected do not

exhibit any apparent symptoms.

 Fever

 Chest pain

 Dry cough

 Headache

 Loss of appetite

 Shortness of breath

 Joint and muscle pains

 Chills

 Hoarseness

 Presumed ocular histoplasmosis

 Loss of vision

 Disseminated histoplasmosis

 Most rare and severe form of this disease

 Fungus spreads to organs outside the lungs

Histoplasmosis

of the lung

 Bridge inspector

or painter

 Chimney cleaner

 Construction

worker

 Demolition

worker

 Farmer

 Gardener

 Heat and air-

conditioning system

installer or service

person

 Microbiology laboratory

worker

 Restorer of historic or

abandoned buildings

 Roofer

 Cave explorer

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

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 Handling of soil: Outdoor construction

workers at risk because the fungi grows in

soil, especially those enriched with bird

feces.

 Can also be carried on the wings, feet, and

beaks of birds and infect soil under roosting

sites

 Demolition industry workers:

fecal accumulations inside or

outside buildings

Starling

Grackle

Red-winged blackbird

Cowbird

Pigeon droppings in

abandoned building

 Excluding a colony of bats or a flock of birds

from a building

 Posting health risk warnings

 Communicating health risk to workers

 Controlling aerosolized dust when removing bat

or bird manure from a building

 Disinfecting contaminated material

 Disposing of waste

 Controlling aerosolized dust during construction,

excavation and demolition

 Wearing personal protective equipment

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

 Excluding a colony of bats

or a flock of birds from a

building

 Sealing off all entry points

to prevent their return

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

 Posting health risk warnings

 Communicating health risk to workers

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

DO NOT ENTER

HISTOPLASMOSIS RISK

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

PLEASE CALL 252-123-4567

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 Controlling aerosolized dust when removing bat

or bird manure from a building

 Controlling aerosolized dust during construction,

excavation and demolition

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

 Wet method

 Adding a surfactant or

wetting agent to water

 Collection of manure in

double, heavy-duty plastic

bags or drum

 Industrial vacuum cleaner

 Disinfecting contaminated material

 Disposing of waste

 Wearing personal protective equipment

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf

 Biohazards are often found in water systems

and sewers, conduits which may contain

bacteria and biological waste.

 Worker exposure: performing sewer work

Organism Signs & Symptoms Average Latency Period

Bacteria

Salmonella Nausea, headache, diarrhea and vomiting; almost always with a

fever.

6 to 72 hours

Tetanus

(lockjaw)

Muscular stiffness in jaw, neck. Sweating, fever, difficultly

swallowing.

8 days

Shigella Cramps, diarrhea, fever, bloody stool, nausea, vomiting. 1 to 3 days

Leptospirosis

(Weil’s Disease)

Intestinal problems, liver and kidney disease, jaundice. 4 to 10 days

E. coli Diarrhea, vomiting, little or no fever, blood often seen in stool. Approximately 3 days

Tulareisis Chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, stomach pain, diarrhea,

vomiting.

3 to 5 days

Yersinia Diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain that resembles appendicitis. 1 to 14 days

Viruses

Hepatitis A Fever, abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice, dark-colored urine. Approximately 30 days

Hepatitis B Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, joint pain. 60 to 90 days

Hepatitis C Develops slowly, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea and

vomiting. Jaundice is less common.

6 to 9 weeks

HIV Destroys immune system, prone to opportunistic infections. 1 to 2 years

Polio Fever, headache, nausea, muscle pain and stiffness, paralysis. 6 to 20 days

Parasites

Entameoeba

histolytica

(amebiasis)

Mild nausea, loose stool, abdominal tenderness. In severe cases

can spread throughout the body and attack other organs,

especially the liver.

14 to 28 days

Giardia lamblia Cramps, weight loss, loose/greasy stool, bloating. Fever is rare.

 Malaria

 Mosquito-borne disease caused by a

parasite

 Experience fever, chills, and flu-like

illness

 Severe complications and death if

left untreated

 Transmitted in tropical and

subtropical areas (Africa and South

Asia)

 Eradicated in the US, but 1,500

cases are still found every year

 Mosquitoes

 West Nile virus

 Malaria

 Ticks

 Lyme disease

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 Caused by the bacterium Borrelia

burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans

through the bite of infected blacklegged

ticks

 Fever, headache, fatigue, and a

characteristic skin rash called erythema

migrans

 If left untreated, infection can spread to

joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

 Working in construction sites in or near areas

with infected deer ticks

Poison oak Stinging nettle

Poison sumac

 Contact dermatitis

 Inflammation of the skin caused by direct

contact with an irritating substance

 Caused by a chemical called urushiol, which

produces an itchy rash, redness, blisters and

scaling

 No regulation on biohazard worker protection

specifically for construction

 Guidelines for the prevention of biohazard

exposure exist that the construction industry

can use

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http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-109/pdfs/2005-109.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-155/pdfs/2005-155.pdf

 Microorganisms

 Legionella – liver, kidneys

 West Nile virus – encephalitis/ meningitis

 Histoplasmosis – lung, eyes

 Parasites

 Malaria - blood

 Insects

 Mosquitoes – WNV, Malaria

 Ticks – Lime disease

 Plants