NIOSH eNews web page

Research to Practice (r2p)
Research to Practice (r2p) is a NIOSH initiative focused on the transfer and translation of research findings, technologies and information into highly effective prevention practices and products that are adopted in the workplace. This is the first of a new series in eNews that will highlight specific examples of r2p from NIOSH research and outreach.

¿Qué Son Las Telenovelas?
The world of Spanish language mass communication and occupational health and safety will converge this year at the Telenovela World Summit.

Most Workplace Bullying Is Worker to Worker
Most incidents of workplace bullying appear to be perpetuated by employees against one another, early findings from a NIOSH study suggest.

New Associate Director for Mining Named
Dr. Jeffrey Kohler was appointed NIOSH Associate Director for Mining on July 8.

NIOSH Joined by FEMA In Emergency Vehicle Injury Study
FEMA lends support to NIOSH’s emergency vehicle crash study.

Wildland Firefighter Pilot Project
NIOSH is studying the feasibility of measuring potential respiratory risks that wildland firefighters may face.

Environmental and Occupational Health Response to SARS
Efforts by NIOSH industrial hygiene specialists who assisted Taiwan in preventing the transmission of SARS are described.

Preventable Workplace Lead Exposures Remain a Problem
Study shows lead exposures declined but still represent an occupational health problem.

MMWR Features NIOSH Study on Eliminating Asbestosis and Other Pneumoconiosis
Death rate for asbestosis has been rising despite declined usage, study reports.

Symposium Addresses Need To Better Understand Nanotechnology Based Materials
NIOSH will co-sponsor the First International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health.

NIOSH Scientist Receives NCID Honor Award
Researcher receives award for his contribution to the CDC responses to the SARS and Monkeypox outbreaks.

NIOSH Diversity Project
The NIOSH Diversity Team presented a new NIOSH orientation program.

News from Our Partners

FEMA Releases New Web page on Wildland Fire Preparedness

OSHA Debuts e-Tool for Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

Work Environment and Cardiovascular Diseases International Conference 

NORA

NORA Team Promotes Innovative Approach to Immigrant Worker Health

An Overview of the NORA Priority Population Team

Look For Us

The National Medical Association's (NMA) 2004 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, August 1-3, in San Diego, Calif.

9^th Annual Federal Safety and Health Congress & Expo, August 1-6, in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

Communication Products

Three new mining publications address the prevention of serious potential hazards.

An Oral History Analysis of Mine Emergency Response

Instrumental Cable Bolts in Cement Grout

Mining Safety and Health Training for an Evolving Workforce

Other new publications from NIOSH:

Prevention of MSDs for Children and Adolescents Working in Agriculture

Training Dives Present Serious Hazards to Fire Fighters

New On the Web

Coal Workers' X-Ray Surveillance Program

NPPTL Internet Site Redesign and Update

Upcoming Events

3^rd Conference on Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis

Workshop on Reducing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs to Healthcare

2^nd International Symposium on Work Ability

Steps to a HealthierUS Workforce Symposium

17^th International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health

Contact Dermatitis 2004-Blending Science with Best Practice

Word of the Month

Nanotechnology

Special Thanks

  From the Director's Desk

Latino men and women are a dynamic and rapidly growing segment of the U.S. work force. They also suffer a disproportionately high prevalence of job-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.

Latino men and women are more likely to be employed than non-Latino workers in riskier blue-collar and service occupations. Furthermore, data show that racial and ethnic minorities suffer disproportionately more fatal and non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses. Even though private industry injury and illness rates as a whole dropped 35 percent between 1992 and 2001, fatalities among Latino workers increased 67 percent during the same period.

Identifying the problems
This situation challenges us to identify the risks that the Latino working population faces on the job, communicate with them in a meaningful way and deliver practical, evidence-based information that they, their employers and occupational health and safety professionals can use to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. To do so, we must recognize the unique characteristics of the Latino working population, not only in regard to the factors that may distinguish Spanish-speaking employees in the workplace, but also those that may distinguish one Spanish-speaking population from another.

NIOSH is taking steps to address this paramount occupational safety and health issue. NIOSH makes many of its communication products and services available in Spanish:

A “NIOSH en español,” Web page ( http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/) provides a tailored location where a wide range of information is posted in Spanish, plus Spanish language access to NIOSH’s extensive data bases. In addition, NIOSH has implemented an automated answering service in Spanish on the NIOSH toll-free information number, 1-800-35-NIOSH.

In July NIOSH released three new communication products that are available in both English and Spanish:

• The Aggregate Training for the Safety Impaired (en español) video [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2003-120v (Sp)] was developed in response to requests by employers in the aggregates industry because of the consistently high rates of injuries. This is the Spanish language version of the NIOSH training video, Aggregate Training for the Safety Impaired that was originally distributed in English. It tells the story of two new hires in the aggregates industry, the segment of the mining industry that produces materials (such as sand and stone) used in making concrete, who make bad choices and experience equally bad consequences. Contact Candice Pickett cpickett@cdc.gov or call 509-354-8059 to obtain a copy of this video.

• Asthma Among Household Youth on Hispanic Farm Operations [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-158] provides information that parents of youths working on Latino farm operations can use to reduce the risk of asthma attacks. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-158 (English version), and http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2004-158sp.html (Spanish version).

• Youths who reside and work on farms are exposed to potentially dangerous farm hazards more frequently than other youth. Injuries to Youth on Hispanic Farm Operations [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2004-157] emphasizes to farm operators and their families the importance of creating a safe farm environment. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-157/ (English version), and http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2004-157sp.html (Spanish version).

Additionally, NIOSH provides funding for university-based research, assistance, training and education to address health and safety concerns for Latino employees in agriculture and to develop useful and appropriate educational materials for the Latino population as a whole.

Getting the Word Out
Building upon these steps, NIOSH is pursuing additional initiatives to further increase our outreach, including the following activities:

NIOSH is looking at ways to make the Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance program more useful and accessible to Latino employees and their employers. We are meeting with Latino community groups to enhance the program and develop Spanish language summaries of hazard evaluation reports in industries with high proportions of Latino employees, such as construction and food processing. These evaluation reports are key resources for offering practical, effective information for addressing serious and emerging workplace hazards.

NIOSH researchers and outside partners under the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) will gather in September at the symposium on immigrant worker safety and health to identify gaps and needs in research to serve Latinos and other immigrant workers. For more information contact Sherry Baron at sbaron@cdc.gov or 513-458-7159.

NIOSH is partnering with the Latino broadcast industry to explore innovative ways for incorporating health and safety education into the widely viewed Spanish television dramas called telenovelas.

I was pleased to share information about these ongoing initiatives in a presentation at the plenary session of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Latino Safety and Health Summit (http://www.osha.gov/hispanicsummit/) on July 22. I look forward to keeping you informed of ongoing accomplishments in this very important area of NIOSH research and outreach.

  Research to Practice (r2p)

(Research to Practice (r2p) is a NIOSH initiative focused on the transfer and translation of research findings, technologies and information into highly effective prevention practices and products that are adopted in the workplace. The following is the first of a new series in eNews that will highlight specific examples of r2p from NIOSH research and outreach. More information is available at the r2p Web page http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/r2p/.)

A NIOSH investigation at a microwave popcorn production plant revealed an association between occupational exposures to vapors from large quantities of butter flavorings used in the production process and decreased lung function in exposed employees. In the course of continued investigation, NIOSH identified evidence of affected workers in four of five additional popcorn plants.  NIOSH also became aware of known clusters of similar disease in employees of two flavoring manufacturing plants.

As part of an effort to inform other companies of the potential occupational risk and of ways to minimize the risk, NIOSH widely disseminated a NIOSH Alert, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-110/ . On June 15, International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) released an updated Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for one of their flavoring products which highlights the NIOSH Alert. IFF said it strongly urges users of flavorings to review the NIOSH alert to obtain a thorough understanding of the methods recommended by NIOSH to reduce the risk of worker exposure to flavorings. For more information on the flavorings studies, contact Richard Kanwal at rkanwal@cdc.gov.

What are telenovelas? Telenovelas are Spanish language television dramas (soap operas) viewed regularly by millions of people in the U.S. and other nations. Telenovelas have been successful in using health themes as a way of articulating social change. The world of Spanish mass communication and occupational health and safety will converge this year at the Telenovela World Summit, Sept. 30–Oct. 2, in Barcelona, Spain. NIOSH will be one of three agencies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presenting at the international conference with producers, writers and other executives involved in the production of telenovelas. At the Barcelona Summit, NIOSH Medical Officer Sherry Baron, M.D., and Health Communication Specialist Marisa Oge will present the following occupational topics affecting the U.S. Hispanic population: silicosis and construction workers, falls and construction workers, agriculture and pesticide exposure and safety in the meatpacking industry.

The Summit is an effort to increase the TV executives’ awareness of public health issues in the Latino population, including occupational safety and health, and to provide them with ideas for incorporating these issues in the storylines of telenovelas. Such collaboration holds promise for wide communication of information to help employers, employees and others better prevent work-related injury, illness and death in the growing U.S. Hispanic workforce. For more information on the NIOSH telenovela project, please contact Marisa Oge ( mio9@cdc.gov). For more information on the summit go to http://www.tvmasnovela.com.

  Most Workplace Bullying Is Worker to Worker

Most incidents of workplace bullying appear to be perpetuated by employees against one another, early findings from a NIOSH study suggest. The findings indicate that efforts to make changes at the organizational level to prevent bullying in the workplace should include steps to improve relationships among co-workers, and should not strictly focus on improving supervisor-employee and customer-employee relationships. The study was reported at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association, held July 28-Aug. 1, and was the subject of a USA Today press article on July 28. Further information on the study is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-07-28-04.html.

  New Associate Director for Mining Named

Congratulations to Jeffrey L. Kohler, Ph.D., who was appointed NIOSH Associate Director for Mining on July 8. He succeeds Lewis V. Wade, Ph.D., who has been named Senior Science Advisor in the NIOSH Office of the Director. Jeff joined NIOSH in 1998 as the Director of the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL). As PRL Director, Jeff fostered a strong labor-management partnership that has facilitated the outcome-driven research that is essential to the future of the institute.

  NIOSH Joined by FEMA in Emergency Vehicle Injury Study

NIOSH has been joined by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in an ongoing NIOSH study of ambulance and emergency medical vehicle crash data. The NIOSH Evaluation of Emergency Services Vehicle Occupant Safety Project involves the review of data on ambulance crash statistics, hazard identification and task analysis, determination of appropriate crash testing methodologies, development of occupant restraint systems and modeling of ambulance crash scenarios. NIOSH expects to complete the analysis by the fall of 2004. More information on the partnership is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-07-21-04.html.

  Wildland Firefighter Pilot Project

NIOSH industrial hygienists carrying sampling equipment to the fire line. Photo by Dan Yereb

NIOSH is conducting a pilot study to determine the feasibility of measuring potential respiratory risks that wildland firefighters may face from work-related exposures. Statistics show that approximately 5 percent to 10 percent of wildland firefighters suffer from respiratory problems, but scientists do not know what proportion of those cases may be due to job-related exposures. In the pilot project, NIOSH scientists followed two National Park Service Interagency Hotshot Crews from Colorado and California. The scientists took air samples at wildland fire operations and conducted medical evaluations of the firefighters. Results will determine whether a full study is feasible. For more information on this project, contact Denise Gaughan at DGaughan@cdc.gov or (304) 285-6262, or visit http://www.nps.gov/fire/download/pub_fir04_romo_seki_hotshots.pdf.

  Environmental and Occupational Health Response to SARS

Efforts by NIOSH industrial hygiene specialists who assisted Taiwan in controlling the transmission of SARS are described in the July issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a peer-reviewed journal published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). The NIOSH specialists were part of a team deployed by CDC in early 2003 at the time of the SARS outbreak in Taiwan. The article, “Environmental and Occupational Health Response to SARS, Taiwan, 2003,” depicts the rapid assistance that helped Taiwanese authorities keep medical personnel and patients safe through infection control methods such as utilization of personal protective equipment and construction of adequate isolation rooms. Environmental findings and observations from their visits to hospitals and medical centers throughout Taiwan are detailed in the article. The full article is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no7/03-0728.htm.

  Preventable Workplace Lead Exposures Remain a Problem

Although high blood-lead levels in adults continue to decline in prevalence, preventable lead exposures persist as an occupational health problem, a new NIOSH study finds. The study analyzed 35 states’ adult blood-lead level reports that were collected under the NIOSH Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program in 2002. The study, published in the July 9 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), noted that ABLES provides a tool for identifying and reducing harmful lead exposures. It does so by increasing the number of states that monitor adult blood-lead levels, identifying sources of persistent overexposures and helping states focus efforts to prevent such exposures. The full article is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5326a2.htm. More information on ABLES is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ables.html .

  MMWR Features DRDS Study on Eliminating Asbestosis and Other Pneumoconiosis

Although deaths from certain occupational diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dusts have shown a significant decline over the last 30 years, the death rate for one such disease, asbestosis, has been rising, according to results of a NIOSH study published in the July 23 issue of the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Even though the use of asbestos has declined substantially, leading to fewer workers significantly exposed, and despite regulation, new cases of asbestosis continue to appear as a result of exposures that occurred many years or decades ago. Continued vigilance and prevention efforts are necessary to assure that the progress made in eliminating this disease and other pneumoconiosis is maintained, the study reports. Changing Patterns of Pneumoconiosis Mortality – United States, 1968-2000 is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5328a1.htm.

  Symposium Addresses Need to Better Understand Nanotechnology Based Materials

NIOSH and the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom will co-sponsor The First International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health, to be held in Buxton, United Kingdom, on Oct. 12–14. The symposium provides NIOSH with a partnering opportunity to address potential occupational health concerns associated with the manufacturing and use of nanomaterials, which are engineered materials of very minute size (details of other activities can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/). As an increasing number of nanotechnology-based materials and products enter commercial production, there is a need to understand the potential safety and health risks and how they can be controlled.

The nanotechnology symposium is the first of its kind to bring together researchers, industry representatives and policy makers in order to define the issues facing workers and employers and to develop strategies to address the potential health risks. This is an open symposium aimed at initiating dialogue on nanotechnology and workplace safety and health. Additional information on the meeting is available at http://www.hsl.gov.uk/news/nanosymp.htm.

  NIOSH Scientist Receives NCID Honor Award

Alfred (Al) Amendola, Ph.D., a NIOSH Safety Engineer in the Division of Safety Research (DSR), received a Prevention Honor Award Certificate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on June 1. Dr. Amendola received the award for his contribution to the CDC response to the SARS and Monkeypox outbreaks.

   NIOSH Diversity Project

The latest step of NIOSH’s Diversity Initiative kicked off on July 19, when the NIOSH Cincinnati, Ohio, diversity team presented the first NIOSH orientation program. The program is geared toward new NIOSH employees (but open to all NIOSH personnel) and includes an overview of the NIOSH mission, its many programs and the diverse realm of responsibilities carried out by the institute. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/diversity/.

  News from Our Partners

FEMA Releases New Web page on Wildland Fire Preparedness
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Wildland Update Web page is designed to help firefighters and community leaders locate important and up-to-date information on preparing for and fighting wildland fires, such as weather predictions, current aviation strategy, community programs and a six minute safety briefing. The Web page includes links to the National Fire Plan, FIREWISE and the handbook “Preparing a Community Wildfire Plan.” The new Web page can be accessed at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/wildfire/update_2004.shtm.

OSHA Debuts e-Tool for Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
Workers and employers now have a Web-based tool from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to help identify and control hazards associated with the operation and maintenance of ammonia refrigeration systems. The Web site features two tutorials, ammonia receiving and storage and emergency response. More information can be accessed at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ammonia_refrigeration/index.html.

Work Environment and Cardiovascular Diseases International Conference
The 4^th International Conference on Work Environment and Cardiovascular Diseases will be held March 9-11, 2005, in Los Angeles, Calif. The conference’s objective is to present scientific progress in understanding work-related influences on the development and course of cardiovascular diseases. Emphasis will be placed on work organization, psychosocial stress and the impact of globalization on cardiovascular disease. Special encouragement is given to papers with cross-cultural data and/or an international perspective. The deadline for submission of abstracts is Oct.15. For more information, go to http://www.coeh.uci.edu/icoh.

  NORA

NORA Team Promotes Innovative Approach to Immigrant Worker Health
Improving the health and safety of immigrant workers requires continued vigilance and community based assistance. Sherry Baron, M.D., NIOSH medical officer and team leader of the NORA Special Populations at Risk Team, explains that occupational health and safety researchers need to shift their thinking about outreach to immigrant groups in order to surmount challenges related to language barriers, legal issues and transitory hiring practices. She states, “If we have only workplace programs, we may not reach the populations we’re trying to reach.” According to Dr. Baron, community based organizations often better understand the needs of immigrant populations and should be included in the design of health and safety programs.

Dr. Baron and other members of the NORA Special Populations At Risk Team will be promoting these unique partnerships at The Symposium on Immigrant Worker Safety and Health on Sept. 28-29, in Lowell, Mass., which is being cosponsored with the University of Massachusetts, Lowell; Department of Work Environment. This interactive meeting will bring together safety and health researchers, government officials, immigrant worker advocates and community based organizations to discuss how to improve research and prevention programs. Space is limited at this conference. For more information about the symposium or NIOSH’s outreach with immigrant workers, contact Sherry Baron at sbaron@cdc.gov or 513-458-7159.

An Overview of the NORA Priority Population Team
Minority groups represent a growing and important sector of the labor market, but research lags on understanding their unique occupational health and safety needs. James Grosch, Ph.D., NIOSH research psychologist and member of the NORA Special Populations at Risk Team, explains that these groups have been “underserved over the years and we have reason to believe they face certain risks.” He adds, “In a sense that’s what makes them a priority population, because we know less about them.”

Correcting this research gap is the mission of the Priority Populations Steering Committee (a NORA "Special Populations at Risk" sub group). The group sponsors 28 research projects addressing diversity issues and health disparities for minorities, immigrants, youth, seniors, disabled workers and women. The group’s accomplishments include: a publication in the journal Occupational Medicine, a soon to be published white paper on the needs of older workers and a compendium of research measures to study discrimination and harassment issues. Through partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the team also sponsored a series of workshops about the conflict between work and family life for low income workers and have awarded five environmental justice grants. The team’s newest project is The Immigrant Worker Symposium and Report (for more information about the symposium contact Sherry Baron at sbaron@cdc.gov or 513-458-7159).

  Look For Us

Look for the NIOSH exhibit at The National Medical Association's (NMA) 2004 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, August 1-3, in San Diego, Calif. We will be in booth 1444. More information is available at http://www.nmanet.org/Conferences_National.htm.

NIOSH will also have an exhibit at the 9^th Annual Federal Safety and Health Congress & Expo, August 1-6, in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. We will be in booth 21. More information is available at http://www.prsafety.org/index.htm.

  Communication Products

Three new NIOSH publications address the prevention of serious potential hazards in mining. The products are: 

• An Oral History Analysis of Mine Emergency Response
  An Oral History Analysis of Mine Emergency Response [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-145] provides lessons learned on-site at some of the largest mine disasters since the mid-1940s. Pittsburgh Research Laboratory scientists recorded interviews with mine emergency response experts. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2004-145.pdf.

• Instrumental Cable Bolts in Cement Grout
  Evaluation of Instrumental Cable Bolts in Cement Grout to Determine Physical and Numerical Modeling Properties [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2004-140] examines the novel approach that researchers at the Spokane Research Laboratory are using to evaluate cable bolts. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2004-140.pdf.

• Mining Safety and Health Training for an Evolving Workforce
  Safety and Health Training for an Evolving Workforce: an Overview from the Mining Industry [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-155] addresses the changing training needs in the mining industry as an influx of new and less experienced miners enter the workforce and many older workers retire. Email pubstaft@cdc.gov or call 1-800-35-NIOSH to request a copy of this publication.

Other new publications from NIOSH are:

• Prevention of MSDs for Children and Adolescents Working in Agriculture
  Conference Proceedings: Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Children and Adolescents Working in Agriculture [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-119] summarizes the discussions of a national panel of experts who were brought together to discuss research needs regarding prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) for youths and adolescents who work in agriculture. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-119/.

• Training Dives Present Serious Hazards to Fire Fighters
  NIOSH makes recommendations in Workplace Solutions - Divers Beware: Training Dives Present Serious Hazards to Fire Fighters [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-152] to prevent the risk of injury, illness and death in training dives that prepare fire fighters for search, rescue, recovery and other missions that may entail diving. The full publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2004-152.

  New On the Web

Coal Workers' X-Ray Surveillance Program
Coal Workers' X-Ray Surveillance Program Frequently Asked Questions & Resource List [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2002-122] addresses important questions for miners about coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (black lung), medical resources and federal disability benefits or compensation. The publication is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-122.

NPPTL Internet Site Redesign and Update
The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) announces the redesign of its NIOSH Internet pages. New additions include a Respirator Topic Page, a Protective Clothing Topic Page and an A-Z Site Index to make specific topics more readily available. See http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/.

Workers’ Health Chartbook 2004
The Workers’ Health Chartbook 2004 [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-146] consolidates information on the incidence and prevalence of work-related illnesses, injuries and deaths from the network of injury and illness surveillance tracking systems in the U.S. and is designed for agencies, organizations, employers, researchers, workers and others who need an authoritative reference source on occupational injuries and illnesses. An easy-to-use Web version of the chartbook is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/chartbook/.

  Upcoming Events

3^rd Conference on Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis
The 3^rd Conference on Molecular Mechanisms of Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis will be held Sept. 12-15, at the NIOSH Morgantown, W.Va., facility. The meeting is cosponsored by NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The conference will provide an opportunity to exchange information on new and emerging mechanisms of metal-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis; to formulate hypotheses regarding the ways certain metals may cause changes in the body at the molecular level that may predict or lead to cancer; and to propose novel therapeutic interventions, risk assessments and prevention strategies. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/metals-conf.pdf.

Workshop on Reducing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare: Converting Theory to Practice
NIOSH will sponsor a workshop Oct. 3-5, in San Antonio, Texas, to familiarize healthcare professionals with the recently published NIOSH Alert on Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings and to discuss implementation of the recommendations contained in the alert. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/conference.html.

2^nd International Symposium on Work Ability
The 2^nd International Symposium on Work Ability will be held Oct. 18-20, in Verona, Italy. The Symposium is being organized by the Universities of Milano and Verona, the International Commission on Occupational Health’s (ICOH) Scientific Committee "Ageing and Work" and the International Ergonomics Association’s (IEA) Technical Committee “Ageing.” Topics include ways to assess and promote work ability and the factors affecting the work ability of older workers. NIOSH is an institutional member of ICOH. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/workability-a.pdf.

Steps to a HealthierUS Workforce Symposium
The Steps to a HealthierUS Workforce 2004 Symposium will be held Oct. 26-28, at the Cafritz Center on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The symposium is being cosponsored by NIOSH and will bring together communities of occupational safety and health protection and health promotion to develop a coordinated system that addresses both workplace and worker health. The call for abstracts is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/steps/2004/callabstract.html. The deadline to submit a poster or presentation is August 27. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/steps.

17^th International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health
The EPICOH 2004, 17^th International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health will be held Oct. 13-16, in Melbourne, Australia. NIOSH is one of the sponsors for this year’s conference. EPICOH is one of the major international occupational health and safety conferences and should appeal to people who work in occupational health research, people with occupational health and safety responsibilities or anyone with an interest in the relationship between work and health. This year’s theme is reducing the global burden of occupational disease and injury. More information is available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/epicoh/index.html. Early bird registration is now extended to August 12!

Contact Dermatitis 2004-Blending Science with Best Practice
The Contact Dermatitis 2004-Blending Science with Best Practice Conference will be held Oct. 28-30, in Bethesda, Md. NIOSH, the NORA Allergic and Irritant Dermatitis Team and other organizations and agencies are sponsoring and hosting this conference. The conference is the latest in a series of scientific meetings and collaborative activities by a diverse industry, government and academic working group to advance research to prevent work-related skin disorders. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/CD2004/index.html.

  Word of the Month

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of matter at near-atomic scales to engineer and create structures, devices and systems that have unique properties and functions.  Resulting materials and products have engineered structures typically smaller than 100 nanometers, leading to the possibility of extremely strong, light-weight materials, unique electronic devices, new ways of diagnosing and treating illness and great advances in generating and harnessing energy (to name just a few of the applications).  Although most nanotechnologies are at the research, development or pre-competitive stage, an increasing number of nanotechnology-related products are being produced commercially. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/.

  Special Thanks

Special thanks to Tanya Headley for serving as guest story editor this month while Tara Williams is attending a training assignment.