They are called funeral directors, morticians, undertakers, mortuary custodians, and funeral service professionals. Those soft-spoken individuals who counsel grieving family members and help plan the service after a loved-one dies, are likely also the ones who handle the technical aspects of preserving the deceased so that family and friends can say goodbye in a less clinical setting than a hospital or nursing home. Unfortunately, part of this job – the embalming part – can create toxic fumes that pose health hazards for the professional.
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Cancer. The word evokes many feelings in people, sadness and fear top the list. It’s no wonder. On a global scale, nearly 13 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries, including the United States.
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In the early 20th century, public awareness of occupational- related illnesses was not yet a reality, but advocacy for the safety of US laborers, was beginning to grow. Physicians, research scientists and medical experts began documenting worker health problems. Pioneers of the labor-advocacy movement led efforts to improve industrial hygiene after finding conclusive evidence linking Read More
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Upon entering the kitchen and flicking on the light, little thought is likely given to where or how that light switch was made, any more than thought is given to the countertops on which the food is prepared or the pot handles of the vessel used to cook the food. Those who work in the thermosetting plastics industry, however, think about these products all the time. It’s what they do.
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In the art conservation industry, professional painting conservators will tell you that regardless of the monetary worth of your artifact, indoor air pollution will, at some point, negatively affect the intrinsic value of the piece. In fact, as soon as an artist finishes his or her creation, aging and deterioration begin.
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Americans love their pets. And though the statistics stating the numbers of domestic pets vary wildly, from 180 million dogs and cats from one source to just under 150 million reported by another, there is no disputing that there are a lot of them living amongst – and being fed by – us.
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Property rooms or evidence rooms are secure areas, typically in a police station, used to store seized or stolen property and criminal evidence until the items can be returned to their rightful owners or used in court as matters of proof. Evidence includes items such as weapons, keys, money, personal objects, prescription and illicit drugs. Many of these items will be returned to their owners, destroyed or auctioned off. Evidence, of course, will be maintained for investigations and legal proceedings until a case is closed. The sophistication and organization of each department’s evidence room varies. Regardless of whether property or evidence is stored in boxes or bins, in envelopes or plastic bags, one thing is certain: each article tells a story and contains clues that can potentially exonerate or indict a suspect.
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More than a half a million people work in laboratories across America. No matter their field of scientific study, lab workers can be exposed to occupational hazards whether chemical, biological or radioactive in nature.
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Since the beginning of baseball’s popularity in the 1850s, fans’ love of the game has only grown fonder. In the over 150 years since, much has changed in the world of organized sports but the baseball bat has largely remained the same. At the outset of baseball, players tended to make their own bats, fashioning them to their particular size and weight preferences.
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Activities such as sharing popcorn while watching a movie, drinking hot cocoa on a cold night, even the simple act of eating crackers may take on a different meaning once one becomes aware of the chemical ingredients that have gone into the flavorings of their favorite snacks.
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