Percorrer por autor "Querido, Micaela"
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- Biological risk assessment: a challenge for occupational safety and health practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemicPublication . Carvalhais, Carlos; Querido, Micaela; Pereira, Cristiana C.; Santos, JoanaBackground: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. Objective: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. Methods: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. Results: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. Conclusions: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.
- Development of Self-disinfecting Paints and In Vitro Assessment of their Cytotoxicity on Human CellsPublication . Querido, Micaela; Paulo, Ivo; Galhano Santos, Rui; Bordado, João; Teixeira, João Paulo; Pereira, CristianaThis PhD project aims to develop, test and validate a self-disinfecting paint, to be applied in areas with a high propensity for infection spreading, such as healthcare facilities, schools or other public spaces, to help reduce infection risks.
- In Vitro Cyto- and Genotoxicity Assessment of Antibacterial Paints with Triclosan and IsoborneolPublication . Querido, Micaela; Rosário, Fernanda; Bessa, Maria; Mendes, Francisca; Teixeira, José; Teixeira, João; Pereira, CristianaSurfaces with antimicrobial properties are gaining notoriety as an efficient method to avoid surface contamination. Self-disinfecting paints are a promising strategy towards cleaner indoor environments by preventing the colonization of walls with microorganisms. However, its widespread use needs an appropriate toxicological safety evaluation due to the potential for biological disturbance associated to its biocidal activity. In this work, the cyto- and genotoxic assessment of two self-disinfecting paints containing the antimicrobial substances triclosan (TCS) and isoborneol (ISB) is performed. HaCaT and A549 cell lines models were selected for the in vitro assessment. To evaluate the cytotoxicity, tests by direct contact and on extracts obtained from leaching were performed following ISO 10993, whereas the genotoxicity was assessed by comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The results showed low levels of cyto- and genotoxicity under the models and conditions tested, indicating that these substances have commercial potential.