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Occupational Health Engineering

ENGR 3126
Lecture 02 Human Body Systems and Hazards
(Adapted from: Dale McKinnon, LU, 2009)

Eugene Ben-Awuah, PhD

Bharti School of Engineering
Laurentian University
Office: F211
Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 2195
Email: ebenawuah@laurentian.ca

Humanbodysystemsandhazards
Hazardlocations
o Cellsanywhere
o RoutesofEntry
Inhalation respiratorysystem(lungs);contact skin;
ingestion intestines;injection bloodveins,nervesor
dermis
o InternalSystems
circulatorysystem,centralnervoussystem,
reproductivesystem
o RoutesofExit
liver,kidneys,bladder

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Mechanismsofentryoftoxicsubstances
Inhalation

Contact

Ingestion

Injection

TheHumanCell
Mitochondriaareresponsible
forcellularrespiration
Nucleusiscomposedofgenetic
material(DNA)
Cellmembraneregulatesfood
andchemicalsfromtheblood
andwasteproducts
Cytoplasmcomprisesofthegel
likesubstanceenclosedwithin
thecellmembraneandthe
nucleus

Cytoplasm

25um

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TheHumanCell
Humanbodycontainstrillionsofcells
o Specializedfunctions
redbloodcellstransportoxygen,
whitebloodcells(phagocytes)produceantibodiesto
defendagainstinfection,
livercellscontainenzymestoprotectthebodyagainst
poisonsandharmfulsubstances,
nervecellsgenerateandtransmitelectricalimpulsesto
controlthoughtsandmovement

Organsandtissuearecomprisedofbillionsofsimilar
cells
Cellsarelivingandreproducebydividing
Cellstakeinnutrients respiration

Hazardtocells
CellDamage
o DNA(controlscellreproductionandspecialized
function)canbedamaged
AbnormalGrowthorAbnormalFunction

Manyphysicalandchemicalagentsareknown
tocausecelldamage
Carcinogens,Mutagens,andTeratogens
Otherchemicalandphysicalagentscausea
varietyofhealthandsafetyproblems

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RespiratorySystem
Inhalationisacommon
pathforhazardous
substancestoenterthe
body
Lunghas3majorAreas
o RespiratorySystem
o ConnectiveTissue
o Structurealveolar
macrophage

HealthySeatedMale
o 3to4litresofgas/breath
o 95%ofgasintheAlveoli

UpperAirways
o Nose,paranasalsinuses,
mouth,pharynx,and
laranyx

UpperAirways
Bringinhaledairclosetobodytemperature
(~37oC)(eitherbyheatingorcooling)
Increaserelativehumidityclosetosaturation
Removesomesuspendedparticlesand
contaminantgases

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LowerAirways
Designtoevenlydistributeinhaledairtothe
alveoli
Airwayssubdividedichotomouslyatthe
tracheainto17Stagesofpurelyconductive
airwaysendingattheterminalbronchioles
Theterminalbronchiolesleadtothe
respiratorybronchioles;wallscontainthe
alveoli

Alveoli

Severalhundredmillionperlung
Provideadiffusingsurface(~70m2)
O2andCO2 diffusesfromthealveolitothehaemoglobinin
bloodoveradistanceof1umto4uminabout0.3seconds
CO2 diffusesfromhaemoglobininredcorpusclestothealveoli
ofthesamedistanceandtime
Containmacrophagestocleansethealveoliofinsoluble
particlesthroughphagocytosisanddigestion

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Inhalation
Mostdangeroussolidparticles/fibresare0.5to7um
insize
o Godeepintothelungandcandamage(scar)thealevoli
deepinthelung
o Scarringcausesdiseaseslikeasbestosis,silicosis,andcoal
workerpneumoconiosis
o Severeshortnessofbreath

Gases,vapours,mists,andfumesenterthe
bloodstream
o Stimulatesthelungsdefencestoproducealargeamount
ofphlegm(ChronicBronchitis)
o Candestroythealveoli(Emphysemia)

ExposuretoinhaledCarcinogenscancauselungcancer

Silica is found in many

rocks, sand, and
construction materials.
Silica dust is produced
while drilling these
materials. You can get a
lung disease called
silicosis by breathing
very small silica
particles into your lungs.
These particles can be
seen only with a
microscope.

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Emphysema,absestosis &silicosis

Carcinogens
Agentsorsubstancesthatcausecancer
Virtuallyalltypesofcellsarevulnerable
Second(40%ofpopulationwillcontract)leadingcauseof
deathnexttoheartdiseaseandstroke
Abnormalcellgrowthresultsinamalignant(Cancerous)
tumour
Tumourenlargesandspreadstootherareas(secondarysites)
andcancausedeath
ChemicalsintheworkplaceareknowntochangeDNA
(Carcinogens)
Repeatedexposureisrequired(10to30yearsbeforecancer
develops)
Cancermayhavestartedunknowntotheworker

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Someknownorsuspectedcarcinogens
Acrylonitrile

Arsenic

Asbestos

Benzo (a)Pyrene (PAH)

Beryllium

BischloromethylEther

Cadmium

Chromium

CigaretteSmoke

CokeOvenEmissions

HematiteOre

IonizingRadiation

IsopropylOil

LeatherDust

MustardGas

Nickel

RadonGas

VinylChloride

DieselParticulateMatters
(DPM)

Isocyanates

Mutagens&Teratogens
Mutagens
o Causechangestooneormorehereditaryfeatures
bymodifyinggenesinacell
o Example:IonizingRadiation

Teratogens
o Causechangetoadevelopingfetus
o Example:Thalidomide(NoLongerInUse)

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TheSkin
Largestorganofthehumanbodyandhasthelargestsurfacearea
Protectsinternalorgansfromtheoutsideenvironment
Outerlayercomposedofhardeneddeadcells
Containssweatglandsthatcancoolthebodythrough
evapotranspiration
Containssebaceousglandsthatproduceoilswhichservetorepel
water
Capillarybloodvesselsarekeyincontrollingbodytemperature
o Openwhenhot(radiateheat,cool),constrictwhencold
Protectivelayerofoilsandproteinstopreventinjuryandpenetration
ofharmfulsubstances
Somesubstances(e.g.solvents)penetrateskintobetransportedvia
circulationsystemandbloodtootherpartsofthebody

Absorption

Industrialskindiseaseaccountsfor50 75%ofallcompensationclaims
o Hazardoussubstancesabsorbedthroughtheskinandtraveltoanotherpartof
thebodyviathelymphaticsystemorcirculatorysystem(important:leaded
gasolineandinsecticides)
o Dermatitisismaindisease
Canaffectthepointofabsorption
SkinAbsorptionThroughtheFolliclesandGlands,alsoknownasappendageal
absorption,mayalsoexhibitreservoireffectsinwhichsubstancesmaybestored
withintheglandsforabsorptionovertime

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Dermatitis
Inflammationofskin
Causedbyhundredsofworkplacesubstances
o Solvents(Paint),EpoxyResins(Plastics
Manufacturing),Acids,CausticSubstances,Metals
(MetalPlating),andMore

Redness,itchiness,orscalingofskin
Twotypesofdermatitis
o PrimaryIrritationContactDermatitis
o AllergicContactDermatitis

PrimaryIrritationContactDermatitis
Chronic(cumulative)irritantcontact
Acuteirritantcontactdermatitis.Thisis
dermatitis.Thisoccursfollowing
oftentheresultofasingleoverwhelming
repetitiveexposuretoweaker
exposureorafewbriefexposuresto
irritantswhichmaybeeitherwet,
strongirritantsorcausticagents.
suchasdetergents,organicsolvents,
Commonworkchemicals,whichcause
soaps,weakacids,andalkalis,or
acuteirritantreactions,include:
dry,suchaslowhumidityair,heat,
Concentratedacids,e.g.sulphuric,nitric,
powders,anddusts.ChronicICDis
hydrochloric,chromic,hydrofluoricacids
duetoastepwiseprogressionof
Strongalkali,e.g.calcium,sodium,
damagetothebarrierfunctionof
potassiumhydroxide,wetconcrete,
theskin.
sodiumandpotassiumcyanide
Organicandinorganicsalts,e.g.
dichromates,arsenicsalts
Solvents/gases,e.g.acrylonitrile,
ethyleneoxide,carbondisulphide,
mustine.

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AllergicContactDermatitis

Allergiccontactdermatitis(ACD)isan
inflammatoryskindiseasethatiscausedby
contactallergens.
Thedamagetotheskinthatresultsinskin
eczemaiscausedbyTcellswhichrecognize
thesecontactallergenswhenpresentedon
skincellsandexertcytotoxiceffectson
theseskincells.
Contactallergenscanbeorganicchemicals
ormetalionssuchasnickel.
Incontrasttoirritantswhicharechemicals
thathavedirecttoxiceffectsontheskinand
causeirritantcontactdermatitis(ICD),
contactallergensmustinteractwith
proteinsinordertoactivatetheimmune
system.Theactivationoftheinnate
immunesystemisrequiredforsensitization
tocontactallergens.

ACD caused by textile dyes

Agentscausingcontactdermatitis
Acrylics

Chromates

EpoxyResins

Formaldehyde

Nickel

Thiruams

Polyurethane

Agentscausingskincancer
Pitch

Arsenic

UltraVioletLight

Asphalt

Tar

XRays

Creosote

Benzo(a)Pyrene(PAH)

Anthracene

ShaleOil

CuttingOils

Soot

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Ingestion/DigestiveSystem
Extendsfromthemouthto
theanus
Ingestion,Digestion,
Adsorption,andExpulsion
Smallintestineis
responsibleformost
digestionandabsorptionof
foodandwater
Largeintestinegenerally
absorbsvitaminsandsalts

Ingestion
Toxicsubstancesenterthebody
throughthemouthordigestivetrack
o Toxicsubstancescanbeonfoodandindrinks
o Smokinginadustyenvironment

Fromdigestivetracktobloodstreamtoliverorkidneys
LiverandKidneystrytomakethesubstancesless
harmfultothebody(notalwayssuccessful)
Cleanlunchrooms,washhands,donotleave
unwrappedfood

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CirculatorySystems

CirculatorySystem
Notindirectcontactwith
hazardousmaterialslikethe
lungs,digestivesystem,andskin
Transportshazardoussubstances
tootherpartsofthebody(useful
substancesaroundthebody)
Secondaryinvolvementwith
inhalation,absorption,ingestion
routesofentry
Primaryinvolvementwith
injectionrouteofentry
Nocellinthebodyismorethana
fewmmfromthecirculatory
system

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Hazardsforthecirculatorysystem
Likefoodandoxygen,workplacetoxicsubstancesinthebloodcanreach
everycellinthebodythroughthecapillariesofthecirculatorysystem
Inthelungs:
o Redbloodcellscontainaprotein(Haemaglobin)thatcarriesoxygentocells
o Carbonmonoxidebindstohaemaglobin200to300timesmorereadily(high
levelscanresultindeath)
o Lowerlevelsofrepeatedexposurecanaffecttheheartandcentralnervous
system

Anemia
o Toxicsubstancescanattackredbloodcellsdirectlyorindirectly
o Anaemiaresultswhenatoxicsubstanceinterfereswiththeproductionofred
bloodcellsinthebonemarrow
o Agents:
ArsineGas

Cadmium

Selenium

Copper

Lead

Gallium

Stibine

Beryllium

MercuryCompounds

Benzene

Toluene

Injection
Hospitalworkersandcontaminated
syringes
o Accidentallyinjectviruses

Diseasecanbecausedbysharingneedles
Puncturewound
o Steppingonanail(cancausebloodpoisoning)
o Canbecostlyifnottreatedwithantiseptic
o Slivers

Reportallinjuriesandhavethemtreated

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NervousSystem

NervousSystem
Controlsmovement,thoughts,emotions,
breathing,circulation,andorganfunction
Harmfulsubstancescanaffectitandthese
functionscanbecomeimpaired
Examples:themetalsPbandHg
o UncontrolledMoodSwingstoDeath

Alonglistofeffectsonnervoussystemof
heavymetals:
http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/Toxic%20metal%20Chart%20&%20chelators.htm

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HazardstoNervousSystem
Mostinjuriesarepermanent
Damagetotheperipheralnervoussystemcan
sometimesbereversed
Toxicsubstancescaninterferewithnerve
impulsesandcausetremorsandlossof
feelings,reflexes,orsupplyofoxygentothe
brain(dizziness,drowsiness)

Somesubstancestoxictothenervoussystem
Depressionof
System

BrainPoisoning

Oxygen
Depravationto
Brain

NerveFunction
Disorders

Acetates

Carbon
Disulphide

Asphyxiating
Gases(CO2)

Organo
Phosphate
Pesticides

Alcohols

Hydrogen
Cyanide

CO

HeavyMetals

Bromated
Chemicals

Hydrogen
Sulphide

Arsenic

Chlorinated
Chemicals

Stibine

Hg

Ethers

Pb

Ketones

Mn
ThebrainispartoftheCentralNervousSystem

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ReproductiveSystem

TestesandOvaries
Producecellsthatallowustoreproduce
Highlyspecialized
Therefore,pronetodiseaseanddamageby
hazardoussubstances.

SpecifichazardstoreproductiveSystem
Toxicsubstancescanresultindeformitiesand/or
miscarriagemayresultbecauseofaseverely
damagedembryo
Anaestheticgasescausehigherthannormalratesof
miscarriagesinfemalemedicalworkers
Reducedspermcountscanoccurinmalesexposed
toPborthepesticide,dibromochloropropane
Cancercausingsubstancesaffectthegenetic
materialofthecellsandoftencausebirthdefects
andmiscarriages

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LiverandKidneys RoutesofExit

TheLiver

Detoxification mechanism

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Otherliverfunctions

processingdigestedfoodfromtheintestine
controllinglevelsoffats,aminoacidsandglucoseintheblood
combatinginfectionsinthebody
manufacturingbile
storingiron,vitaminsandotheressentialchemicals
breakingdownfoodandturningitintoenergy
manufacturing,breakingdownandregulatingnumeroushormones
includingsexhormones
makingenzymesandproteinswhichareresponsibleformostchemical
reactionsinthebody,forexamplethoseinvolvedinbloodclottingand
repairofdamagedtissues
Contains>50%ofbodysmacrophages:Kuppfercells
Wasteproductswhicharenotexcretedbykidneysareremovedfromthe
bloodbyliver.Someofthempassintotheduodenumandthenintothe
bowelviathebileducts.

TheKidneys

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Kidneyfunctions

Filtersubstancesintheblood(overamillionfilters)
Depositedasurinetotubes(Tabules)
Tabulesmonitoracidandwaterinthebodytokeepabalance
Fromtabulestobladderforexitfromthebody
Regulatethefluidbalanceinthebody.Youneedacertainamountof
waterinyoursystem nottoomuch,andnottoolittle.So,kidneyshelp
maintaintherightbalance.Ifthereistoomuchwaterinthebody,the
kidneysproducemoreurine.Toolittlewaterresultsinlessurine.
Monitorelectrolytes(sodium,potassium,chloride,calciumand
phosphorousbeingthemainelectrolytes)andbalancetheacidsandbases
inthebody
Controlbloodpressure
Contributetotheproductionofhormones,suchasErythropoietinand
VitaminD.Erythropoietinstimulatesthebonemarrowtoproducethered
bloodcell.VitaminDpromotesstrong,healthybonesandhelpsto
maintainnormalchemicalbalanceinthebody.

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