November 10, 2008
Scientist Warns Industry Not to Ignore
Potential Health Threat to Pharmacy Workers
— Recently issued study that found retail pharmacy workers
are exposed to airborne pharmaceutical agents needs further review
—
For Immediate Release
Contact: Josh Fenton, The Fenton Group
Tel. 401-490-4888/401-497-0186
jfenton@thefentongroup.net
Drexel, MO – AlburtyLab’s President, David Alburty
issued a statement today regarding serious concerns about efforts
by McKesson/Parata to misrepresent and diminish the potential health
threats that pharmacy workers face when they work in pharmacies
using air pressure driven dispensing machines.
Statement by David Alburty:
Communications recently issued by McKesson/Parata regarding potential
exposure of pharmacy workers to airborne pill dust when they use
air pressure driven drug dispensing machines attempt to mask a potentially
serious health matter affecting pharmacy workers.
McKesson/Parata claims that unreleased tests they performed, not
conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
but “under OSHA standards (set by *1 NIOSH),” are relevant
to this issue. They are not.
It is critical to know that OSHA air quality regulations are limited
to general guidelines for “nuisance dust” such as emissions
from grinding and burning processes. There are no OSHA standards
establishing safe quantities of pharmaceutical compounds in the
air. Nor are there OSHA standards for PM-2.5 particles and nanoparticles.
These very small particles, which are used to transport pharmaceutical
agents, have been shown to be generated when pills are subjected
to air pressure dispensing.
PM-2.5 particles are the subject of EPA air quality standards and
World Health Organization guidelines because they penetrate the
lungs deeply and rapidly enter the bloodstream. As documented in
our (AlburtyLab, October 2008) study, these particles are believed
to cause a number of serious health problems. The fact that OSHA
standards do not yet address this issue does not mean that it should
be ignored.
Our study unveiled potentially serious exposures for pharmacy workers,
and our strong recommendation is that the issue needs to be studied
by federal regulatory agencies. As reported by the publication Inside
OSHA on October 27, 2008, "A NIOSH official says that he believes
pharmacists are being exposed to harmful particles." He further
stated, "The agency advises against using technology that produces
any type of particulate that could be inhaled."
The official described our study as "fairly straightforward"
and said that there is concern that drugs involved were "not
meant to be inhaled."
Clearly, federal regulatory agencies must assess risk and set guidelines
for these types of machines and establish procedures to monitor
the health impact on pharmacy workers when they are used.
The previous press release, the executive summary and the full study
are available for review.
http://www.alburtylab.com
About AlburtyLab, Inc.
AlburtyLab is an independent laboratory located in Drexel, Missouri
that serves the aerosol research, development, and instrumentation
communities. AlburtyLab has conducted independent studies for a
range of agencies and companies, including Boeing/US Navy, Boston
Scientific, Northrop Grumman, US Postal Service, US Department of
Homeland Security, and the US Army Research Laboratory.
Technical questions may be directed to Mr. Alburty at (816) 619-3374
or via email to dalburty@alburtylab.com.
This study was funded by one of the technologies reviewed in the
evaluation, ScriptPro LLC of Mission, Kansas.
The Executive Summary and the final report can be found at www.alburtylab.com
*1 NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health)
that created testing specifications required by OSHA.
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