Couples with high levels of PCBs and similar environmental pollutants take longer to achieve pregnancy in comparison to other couples with lower levels of the pollutants, according to a preliminary study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
They are part of a category of chemicals known as persistent organochlorine pollutants and include industrial chemicals and chemical byproducts as well as pesticides. In many cases, the compounds are present in soil, water, and in the food chain. The compounds are resistant to decay, and may persist in the environment for decades. Some, known as persistent lipophilic organochlorine pollutants, accumulate in fatty tissues.
Exposure to these pollutants is known to have a number of effects on human health, but their effects on human fertility—and the likelihood of couples achieving pregnancy—have not been extensively studied.
"Our findings suggest that persistent organochlorine pollutants may play a role in pregnancy delay," said the study's first author, Germain Buck Louis, Ph.D., director of the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at NIH.
Dr. Buck Louis added that individuals might limit their exposure by removing and avoiding the fat of meat and fish, and by limiting the consumption of animal products.
In addition to researchers at the NICHD, the study also included investigators from the Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Emory University, Atlanta, and The EMMES Corp., Rockville, Maryland.
To conduct the study, the researchers enrolled 501 couples from four counties in Michigan, and 12 counties in Texas, from 2005 to 2009. The couples were part of the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment () study, established to examine the relationship between fertility and exposure to environmental chemicals and lifestyle.
The women taking part in the study ranged from 18 to 44 years of age, and the men were over 18. Couples provided blood samples for the analysis of organochlorines (PCBs) and perfluorochemicals (PFCs). Women kept journals to record their monthly menstrual cycles and the results of home pregnancy tests. The couples were followed until pregnancy or for up to one year of trying.
The researchers calculated the probability that a couple would achieve pregnancy by using a statistical measure called the fecundability odds ratio (FOR). The measure estimates couples' probability of pregnancy each cycle, based on their blood concentration of the compounds. A ratio less than one suggests a longer time to pregnancy, while a ratio greater than one suggests a shorter time to pregnancy.
The lowest FORs were seen for couples in which the females were exposed to PCB congener 167 (FOR 0.79); and in which the males were exposed to PCB congener 138 (FOR=0.71).
For each standardized increase in chemical concentration the researchers measured, the odds of pregnancy declined by 18 to 21% for females exposed to PCB congeners 118, 167, 209, and the perfluorchemical, perfluorooctane sulfonamide.
DDT is banned for use in the United States, but is still used in some countries.
The investigators noted that they cannot rule out that some of the delays they observed may have been due to exposure to multiple chemicals. They added that these associations would need to be confirmed by other researchers.
OSHA Cites American Masonry in Chicago for Exposing Workers to Lead Dust
OSHA has cited Waclaw Cilulko, doing business as American Masonry, Inc., for seven alleged willful health violations of OSHA's lead standards. An inspection of a commercial building site in Chicago that houses several art studios found workers exposed to excessive amounts of lead during sandblasting operations. Proposed penalties total $196,000.
"When employers such as American Masonry knowingly ignore health requirements, they are unduly placing their workers at risk for illnesses, and that is unacceptable," said Nick Walters, OSHA's regional administrator in Chicago. "Lead exposure can cause serious neurological damage, among other illnesses."
The violations involve failing to implement a written lead compliance program, provide personal protective equipment, provide clean changing rooms or separate storage facilities for protective work clothing to prevent cross-contamination with street clothes, and vacuum and remove lead dust from the work site. The company also has been cited for failing to implement a medical surveillance program for all employees exposed to lead that includes initial monitoring and biological monitoring such as blood sampling, as well as failing to implement a respirator protection program that includes fit testing and training. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
Chicago-based American Masonry, Inc., performs masonry repair and stone setting. Waclaw Cilulko operates several similar companies in the Chicago area that have undergone 39 OSHA inspections since 1978, resulting in 137 cited violations.
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OSHA cites Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services in Dayton Following Inspection
OSHA has cited Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services, LLC, in Dayton, Ohio with 13 safety and health violations. Proposed fines total $65,500 following a September inspection that OSHA initiated upon receiving a complaint alleging hazards.
"Lapmaster Precision Finishing Services is compromising its workers by failing to evaluate their exposure to and correct hazardous conditions," said Bill Wilkerson, OSHA's area director in Cincinnati. "Training workers is vital to their long-term safety and health. OSHA is committed to protecting workers."
Eleven serious violations include failing to develop energy control and hazard communication programs, train employees on the programs' requirements, provide machine guarding on belts and grinding machines, lock out the energy sources of machinery prior to servicing, require the use of safety glasses, ensure that workers are not exposed to live electrical parts, provide workers with personal protective equipment and training to minimize electrical exposure, train and certify employees who operate powered industrial vehicles, and properly store materials that can cause "struck-by" hazards. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Two other-than-serious violations involve a failure to maintain injury and illness forms and a lack of written certification of a hazard assessment. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
OSHA Cites Grede Wisconsin with Nine Safety Violations
OSHA has cited Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries, LLC, for nine—including two repeat—safety violations at the company's Berlin, Wisconsin, iron foundry. These carry $56,320 in proposed penalties.
"Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries is compromising the safety of its workers by allowing previously cited deficiencies to continue without correction," said Frank Winingham, OSHA's area director in Appleton. "Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to workers' well-being. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job."
OSHA conducted an inspection in May as a follow-up to an August 2010 inspection.
The repeat violations are operating a grinder with a missing guard and failing to have a cover on an electrical junction box. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited based on the 2010 inspection.
Seven serious violations include fall hazards stemming from unguarded, open-sided platforms and a lack of fall protection equipment; failing to correct unsafe crane conditions found on inspection; and failing to properly guard machines' nip points and chain sprockets. Some of the violations also involve OSHA's electrical safety standards, including allowing excessive dust to build up on electrical equipment, using electrical equipment above water puddles, having open doors on electrical panels and failing to remove defective equipment from service.
OSHA Cites Vann Energy Services for Violations After Two Workers Injured in Fire
OSHA has cited Vann Energy Services, LLC, in Nixon, Texas, with 13 safety and health violations—including two willful and three repeat—for exposing workers to flash fires and other hazards. OSHA's Austin Area Office opened an inspection after two workers were injured by a fire that occurred in an oil and gas field tank. Proposed penalties total $246,000.
Inspectors found that the employer had failed to ensure that the air inside the tank was tested for flammable or toxic materials before providing employees with electrical equipment that is capable of causing a potentially flammable environment to ignite.
The repeat violations include failing to provide eye and face protection, communicate chemical hazard information to workers and protect flexible electric cords from damage. OSHA cited the company for similar violations in August 2011.
One of the willful violations involves failing to implement a respiratory protection program that includes an evaluation of respiratory hazards, medical evaluations for workers, fit testing, training, and the proper means to clean and store the respirators. The other violation involves failing to implement a permit-required confined space entry program that includes atmospheric testing, proper written permits, a qualified attendant, and rescue plans.
Eight serious violations include failing to ensure that electrical equipment such as a portable lamp is approved for hazardous locations, maintain electrical conductors and cords in a safe operating condition, train workers on the proper use of personal protective equipment, consult workers on confined space entry procedures, and maintain fire extinguishers in a proper working condition.
"The employer was notified in August 2011 of possible fire hazards, yet failed to take corrective action and ultimately two workers suffered the consequences," said Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "Failing to implement safety precautions and continuing to put workers' lives at risk is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
OSHA Cites Williams & Davis Boilers with Repeat, Willful, and Serious Violations
OSHA has cited Williams & Davis Boilers, Inc., with nine safety violations—including one willful, four repeat and four serious—for continuing to expose workers to fall and other hazards at the company's facility in Hutchins, Texas. Proposed penalties total $131,670.
A May inspection was conducted as a follow-up to another in July 2011.
The willful violation involves operating a 10-ton overhead crane without bridge brakes and failing to ensure that the crane had sufficient clearance to prevent the bridge from striking the building.
The repeat violations include failing to protect workers from fall hazards while jacketing boilers 4-10 feet above the floor, ensure that workers are trained to safely operate powered industrial trucks, ensure that workroom floors are kept clean and dry, and keep pendent controls on overhead cranes clean so that the function labels are legible. Similar violations were cited during the 2011 inspection.
The serious violations include failing to ensure that personal protective equipment is designed and constructed for the work performed, implement confined space entry procedures for workers who perform welding duties inside de-aerators and boilers, establish energy control procedures for machinery with more than one energy source and ensure that powered industrial trucks are taken out of service when in need of repair.
"This employer is well aware of the hazards to workers and has had several opportunities to come into compliance with OSHA's safety standards. Instead, the employer has continued to allow the conditions to exist while putting workers at risk of injury or much worse," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas.
Walsh Construction Company Signs Partnership with MIOSHA to Ensure Worker Safety
The Walsh Construction Company, Partnering Employers, Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council, Partnering Unions, and Supporting Partners signed a formal partnership with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) to protect workers during the renovation of the Ann Arbor Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). The MIOSHA program is a part of LARA.
The partnership goal is zero injuries, zero incidents, zero near misses, zero tolerance of unsafe acts or conditions and zero citations.
"We are honored to join with Walsh Construction and affiliated partners today in this construction partnership," said LARA Deputy Director Rob Nederhood. "Through our collaboration, we will ensure this project is on the path for a safe and successful completion."
The project includes renovations to both the west and east plants of the existing WWTP. Renovations include rehabilitating existing flow control structures, complete demolition and replacement of primary and secondary treatment equipment, and construction of new buildings. Other improvements include installation of a new electrical distribution system and two new emergency power generators, utilities relocation, replacement of storm water collection system equipment, installation of new roadways, replacement of aeration systems with energy efficient blowers, embankment improvements to meet FEMA requirements, and construction of a new administration building.
"Safety is a top priority on every project and we want every worker to return to his or her home and family safely each day," said Steve Aleo, Regional Safety Manager for Walsh Construction Company. "We are pleased and proud that virtually every organization involved in this project is not only philosophically embracing the ideal vision of a zero-injury workplace—but also agreeing to support the tactical action plans outlined in this agreement to help make it happen."
Partnerships are an important emphasis in MIOSHA's Strategic Plan to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative relationships with groups, including trade associations, labor organizations, and employers. Partnerships move away from traditional enforcement methods and embrace collaborative agreements.
"These kinds of partnerships are becoming increasingly common in Michigan, and we couldn't be happier about it," said Patrick Devlin, Secretary-Treasurer, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. "There is no better way that we can improve the on-the-job health of the state's construction workers than making these kinds of sustained commitments to safety."
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