News

Construction and renovation projects can release contaminants such as dust, gases, organic vapours, odours and microbiological agents into the air.   Often these projects are carried out while the buildings or nearby premises are occupied and it is important to maintain an acceptable indoor environmental quality to protect the health of these occupants. 1. Initial […]

Asbestos was mined and used commercially in a variety of industries and products. The mining of asbestos in South Africa came to an end in 2002 and the current asbestos regulations prohibit the mining transport, use and manufacture of asbestos products.   The occupations traditionally associated with exposure to asbestos may no longer exist or

The township of Soweto was built some 50 years ago using locally manufactured corrugated asbestos cement sheets for roofing. The presence of asbestos in the fabric of the buildings has caused some concern. A study conducted by the NIOH showed that there was no evidence of airborne asbestos fibres in the township due to asbestos

The Pathology Division of the National Institute for Occupational Health has stored and maintained histology materials from deceased miners examined for compensation, since the establishment of the NIOH in 1957. This archival collection of blocks and slides is of great value to pathologists and scientists nationally and internationally who study mining related diseases and many

Biological Monitoring is the measurement and assessment of workplace agents or their metabolites either in tissues, secreta, excreta, expired air or any combination of these to evaluate exposure and health risk compared to an appropriate reference.   Many jobs involve the use of chemicals which can harm workers’ health if they are not properly handled.

27 September 2010  Rabies was confirmed as the cause of death in the 2 year child who died in a Johannesburg Hospital recently, one month after being scratched by an unvaccinated domestic puppy in Soweto.  Laboratory tests were conducted at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Dept of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory

10 September 2010 Two brothers residents in Gauteng died this last week at the Olivedale Hospital in Johannesburg as a result of liver failure induced by a very severe and very rare form of Ebstein Barr virus infection.   Extensive testing has been done to rule out other causes of their illness. All tests for

22 April 2010 Currently there are 140 laboratory confirmed human cases of Rift Valley fever in South Africa, and there have been 9 deaths to date. The majority of cases have had mild flu-like symptoms and have not developed complications. There is no vaccine for humans or specific treatment. The risk of disease is to

24 March 2010 A recent announcement has been made by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA (FDA) that an independent academic team has found traces of the DNA of a virus of pigs called porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) in Rotarix vaccine, the vaccine used to vaccinate children against gastroenteritis caused by the