Derk Brouwer
Biographic Data
| ID | 7852369 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Derk Brouwer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Derk |
| FAMILY NAME | Brouwer |
| SIGNATURE | BROUWER D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of the Witwatersrand |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1750-3715 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 11 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Probabilistic human health risk assessment of PM2.5 exposure in communities affected by local sources and gold mine tailings
Epidemiological studies have found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) poses potential human health risks, including respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the potential human health risks associated with exposure to PM 2.5 in the eMbalenhle community which is near gold mine Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). Ambient PM 2.5 concentrations were measured for 1 year (from February 2022 to…
Health Risk Assessment of Nail Technicians in the Formal and Informal Sectors of Johannesburg, South Africa
Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in nail salons poses risks of acute and chronic health effects for nail technicians. The objectives of this study were to investigate differences in VOC exposure and self-reported symptoms among formal and informal nail technicians and assess the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks using a probabilistic approach. A questionnaire was administered to 54 formal and 60 informal nail technicians to eli…
Exposure of formal and informal nail technicians to organic solvents found in nail products
Nail technicians are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from nail products used in their daily work, which may cause adverse health effects. This study aimed to assess VOC exposure of nail technicians in the South African formal and informal sectors and to provide a task-based exposure assessment of different nail applications. Personal passive sampling was conducted on 10 formal and 10 informal nail technicians located in the n…
Bayesian Hierarchical Framework from Expert Elicitation in the South African Coal Mining Industry for Compliance Testing
Occupational exposure assessment is important in preventing occupational coal worker's diseases. Methods have been proposed to assess compliance with exposure limits which aim to protect workers from developing diseases. A Bayesian framework with informative prior distribution obtained from historical or expert judgements has been highly recommended for compliance testing. The compliance testing is assessed against the occupational exposure limit…
Prediction of Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs) and Chrysotile Asbestos Exposure Concentrations in Asbestos-Cement (AC) Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe
The use of historical asbestos measurement data in occupational exposure assessment is essential as it allows more quantitative analysis of possible exposure response relationships in asbestos-related disease (ARD) occurrence. The aim of this study was to predict possible ARDs, namely lung cancer, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancer, and asbestosis, in two chrysotile asbestos cement (AC) manufacturing factories. Prediction of ARDs was done usin…
Bayesian Hierarchical Modelling of Historical Data of the South African Coal Mining Industry for Compliance Testing
Bayesian hierarchical framework for exposure data compliance testing is highly recommended in occupational hygiene. However, it has not been used for coal dust exposure compliance testing in South Africa (SA). The Bayesian analysis incorporates prior information, which increases solid decision making regarding risk management. This study compared the posterior 95th percentile (P95) of the Bayesian non-informative and informative prior from histor…
Job Exposure Matrix for Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre in the Asbestos Cement Manufacturing (ACM) Industry in Zimbabwe
Occupational chrysotile asbestos exposure data in Zimbabwe is limited. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a job exposure matrix (JEM) specific to the chrysotile asbestos cement manufacturing industry using the available personal exposure concentration data. Quantitative personal exposure chrysotile fibre concentration data collected by the two factories from 1996 to 2020 were used to construct the JEM. Exposure groups from which data …
Trends in Airborne Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre Concentrations in Asbestos Cement Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe from 1996 to 2016
Zimbabwe has two major factories that have been manufacturing chrysotile asbestos cement products since the 1940s. Exposure monitoring of airborne fibres has been ongoing since the early 1990s. This study examines trends in personal exposure chrysotile asbestos fibre concentrations for the period 1996-2016. Close to 3000 historical personal exposure measurements extracted from paper records in the two factories were analysed for trends in exposur…
Can the South African Milestones for Reducing Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Silicosis be Achieved and Reliably Monitored
Silicosis and other respirable crystalline silica-associated diseases, most notably tuberculosis, have long been substantial causes of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. For the mining and non-mining industries, silicosis elimination programmes have been developed with milestones regarding reduction of levels of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and targets regarding the date of eradication. The present paper explores the feas…
Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment
A D-grade type coal was burned under simulated domestic practices in a controlled laboratory set-up, in order to characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); namely, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Near-field concentrations were collected in a shack-like structure constructed using corrugated iron, simulating a traditional house found in informal settlements in South Africa (SA). Measurements were carried o…
Greenhouse and Mushroom House Exposure
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Greenhouse and Mushroom House Exposure
Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment
A D-grade type coal was burned under simulated domestic practices in a controlled laboratory set-up, in order to characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); namely, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Near-field concentrations were collected in a shack-like structure constructed using corrugated iron, simulating a traditional house found in informal settlements in South Africa (SA). Measurements were carried o…
Can the South African Milestones for Reducing Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Silicosis be Achieved and Reliably Monitored
Silicosis and other respirable crystalline silica-associated diseases, most notably tuberculosis, have long been substantial causes of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. For the mining and non-mining industries, silicosis elimination programmes have been developed with milestones regarding reduction of levels of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and targets regarding the date of eradication. The present paper explores the feas…
Trends in Airborne Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre Concentrations in Asbestos Cement Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe from 1996 to 2016
Zimbabwe has two major factories that have been manufacturing chrysotile asbestos cement products since the 1940s. Exposure monitoring of airborne fibres has been ongoing since the early 1990s. This study examines trends in personal exposure chrysotile asbestos fibre concentrations for the period 1996-2016. Close to 3000 historical personal exposure measurements extracted from paper records in the two factories were analysed for trends in exposur…
Prediction of Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs) and Chrysotile Asbestos Exposure Concentrations in Asbestos-Cement (AC) Manufacturing Factories in Zimbabwe
The use of historical asbestos measurement data in occupational exposure assessment is essential as it allows more quantitative analysis of possible exposure response relationships in asbestos-related disease (ARD) occurrence. The aim of this study was to predict possible ARDs, namely lung cancer, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancer, and asbestosis, in two chrysotile asbestos cement (AC) manufacturing factories. Prediction of ARDs was done usin…
Bayesian Hierarchical Modelling of Historical Data of the South African Coal Mining Industry for Compliance Testing
Bayesian hierarchical framework for exposure data compliance testing is highly recommended in occupational hygiene. However, it has not been used for coal dust exposure compliance testing in South Africa (SA). The Bayesian analysis incorporates prior information, which increases solid decision making regarding risk management. This study compared the posterior 95th percentile (P95) of the Bayesian non-informative and informative prior from histor…
Job Exposure Matrix for Chrysotile Asbestos Fibre in the Asbestos Cement Manufacturing (ACM) Industry in Zimbabwe
Occupational chrysotile asbestos exposure data in Zimbabwe is limited. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a job exposure matrix (JEM) specific to the chrysotile asbestos cement manufacturing industry using the available personal exposure concentration data. Quantitative personal exposure chrysotile fibre concentration data collected by the two factories from 1996 to 2020 were used to construct the JEM. Exposure groups from which data …
Exposure of formal and informal nail technicians to organic solvents found in nail products
Nail technicians are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from nail products used in their daily work, which may cause adverse health effects. This study aimed to assess VOC exposure of nail technicians in the South African formal and informal sectors and to provide a task-based exposure assessment of different nail applications. Personal passive sampling was conducted on 10 formal and 10 informal nail technicians located in the n…
Bayesian Hierarchical Framework from Expert Elicitation in the South African Coal Mining Industry for Compliance Testing
Occupational exposure assessment is important in preventing occupational coal worker's diseases. Methods have been proposed to assess compliance with exposure limits which aim to protect workers from developing diseases. A Bayesian framework with informative prior distribution obtained from historical or expert judgements has been highly recommended for compliance testing. The compliance testing is assessed against the occupational exposure limit…
Probabilistic human health risk assessment of PM2.5 exposure in communities affected by local sources and gold mine tailings
Epidemiological studies have found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) poses potential human health risks, including respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess the potential human health risks associated with exposure to PM 2.5 in the eMbalenhle community which is near gold mine Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). Ambient PM 2.5 concentrations were measured for 1 year (from February 2022 to…
Health Risk Assessment of Nail Technicians in the Formal and Informal Sectors of Johannesburg, South Africa
Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in nail salons poses risks of acute and chronic health effects for nail technicians. The objectives of this study were to investigate differences in VOC exposure and self-reported symptoms among formal and informal nail technicians and assess the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks using a probabilistic approach. A questionnaire was administered to 54 formal and 60 informal nail technicians to eli…
Medicine (8 works) · Environmental health (6 works) · Environmental Science (5 works) · Metallurgy (5 works) · Occupational and environmental lung diseases (5 works) · Air Quality and Health Impacts (4 works) · Computer Science (4 works) · Engineering (4 works) · Occupational Health and Safety Research (4 works) · Asbestos (3 works)