DEPARTMENTS

This month, AIHA is honored to host the 9th Occupational and Environmental Exposure of Skin to Chemicals (OEESC) conference. This event, the leading international conference on skin exposure, was first held in Washington, D.C., in 2002. Since then, OEESC has been held every few years at locations around the world, most recently in Dublin, Ireland, in 2019. The 9th OEESC in Dulles, Virginia, will once again bring together a wide range of disciplines and knowledge related to the importance of skin health not just at work, but also for consumers and in the general environment. Below, Synergist staff offer brief summaries of a few of the sessions on offer at OEESC 2024. The sessions listed were part of the conference program as of late July. All times listed are Eastern. For an updated schedule or to register, visit the conference home page.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Firefighter Protective Clothing at Mitigating Dermal Exposures to Fireground Contaminants Monday, Sept. 23, 9:30–10 a.m. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies firefighting as a known human carcinogen. This session discusses PPE’s limitations for mitigating firefighters’ exposures to contaminants such as volatile organic chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Importance of Standardization in Surface and Dermal Exposure Assessment Monday, Sept. 23, 11–11:30 a.m. Few unambiguous measurement methods are available for surface and dermal sampling, but the development of consensus standards can help overcome this shortcoming. This presentation provides an overview of consensus standards that are available, under development, or proposed by organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization, ASTM, and the European Committee for Standardization.

Dermal Exposure in Additive Manufacturing Monday, Sept. 23, 1:30–2:30 p.m. While researchers and the media have concentrated on the potential effects of additive manufacturing through the inhalation route, few studies have been published on dermal exposures. This 60-minute keynote session presents an overview of additive manufacturing processes, the current state of knowledge on dermal exposures from additive manufacturing, and recommended control measures.

Hydrofluoric Acid Exposure: A Study of Decontaminating Agents against Systemic Dermal Fluoride Uptake on an Ex Vivo Human Skin Model Monday, Sept. 23, 3–3:30 p.m. Hydrofluoric acid (HF), a significant occupational hazard, is used to clean stone, brick, and marble surfaces; to make pesticides, plastics, and fuels; and in agents for cleaning farm equipment and the walls inside car washes. This presentation will provide real-world insights for managing HF exposure. Attendees will also learn about the toxicological mechanisms through which HF affects biological tissue.

Quantification of Methyl Salicylate Skin Exposure in Human Subjects Tuesday, Sept. 24, 8–9 a.m. The military uses methyl salicylate (MeS) during testing of military systems to assess their ability to protect against mustard gas. This keynote presentation addresses challenges related to the quantification of MeS skin exposure given the large background concentrations that arise from the chemical’s usage in a variety of foods, spices, and healthcare products.

The Human Skin as a Route of Exposure to Biological Aerosols and the Role of Protective Clothing in Preventing Occupational Infectious Disease Tuesday, Sept. 24, 10:10–10:40 a.m. This presentation reviews the scientific literature on the selection and use of protective clothing to prevent skin contact with clouds of aerosolized, airborne infectious agents. Standards, regulations, and guidelines for the design, manufacture, and use of protective clothing in healthcare, laboratory, and industrial environments will be evaluated. RELATED: Read “Placement Makes the Poison​: Infection Control Lessons​ from the 2014 Ebola Outbreak.”

Accuracy of Professional Judgments for Dermal Exposure Assessment Using Deterministic Models Tuesday, Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m.–Noon The inaccuracy of OEHS professionals’ exposure judgments is well established by research. This presentation presents the results of a study that characterizes the dilemma for dermal exposure judgments specifically. Researchers found that practitioners have little experience with performing dermal exposure assessments and that improvements in training and the use of dermal exposure models are needed. RELATED: Read “Judgment Day: How Accurate Are Industrial Hygienists’ Qualitative Exposure Assessments?” and “Filling the Gaps: Survey Clarifies Needs for Improvement in Exposure Assessment.”

Practical Considerations and Pitfalls for Using PPE for Skin Protection Tuesday, Sept. 24, 12:10–12:40 p.m. Errors related to personal protective equipment can stem from a lack of understanding. This presentation discusses the sources of these errors, which can include issues related to storage of PPE or ineffective training. Attendees will also learn about aspects of PPE, other than manufacturers’ tests, that may affect the level of protection PPE provides. RELATED: Read “Chemical Protective Clothing 101: A Primer on Permeation, Penetration, and Degradation.”

Hazard Characterization of Dermal Exposure to Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) Wednesday, Sept. 25, 9:30–10 a.m. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) has many uses in a variety of workplaces, including the manufacture of polyurethane foams for furniture, bedding, and car and airplane seats. The health effects of TDI exposure include respiratory and dermal sensitization. This presentation will improve attendees’ understanding of the hazards of TDI exposure, leading to the implementation of better risk management strategies. RELATED: Read “Dermal Sensitizers: What Does Our Immune System Already Know?” in the digital Synergist.