World Hearing Day
Today marks the beginning of World Hearing Day, a time to reflect upon the things that those of us with hearing loss go through each and every day. Despite being far more common than you might otherwise think, hearing loss is a condition that can have a serious impact on your day to day life […]
Healthscreen’s New Clinic – The Pines Hospital, Manchester
This pristine, almost palatial hospital is easily found just outside the city centre in the luscious green of South Manchester and sits conveniently close to the airport and with excellent access to the nearby motorway and rail links. The Pines boasts incredible facilities within, and benefits from two state-of-the-art theatres; one fitted with lamina flow […]
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Monitoring – The Need to Knows
What is MEK? Methyl Ethyl Ketone, otherwise known as MIBK or butanone is a colourless liquid with an acetone-like odour. It is mostly used in the application of protective coatings and adhesives, reflecting its fine characteristics as a solvent. Other uses include pesticide application, or in factories that produce paint, rubber and machinery. Whilst MEK […]
Nickel Monitoring – Why You Might Need It
What is it? Nickel is a silvery-white lustrous metal that carries a slight golden tinge and is a chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It has been used for millennia but was first formally classified in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. Pure native nickel is found in the Earth’s crust in […]
Perchloroethylene Monitoring
What is Perchloroethylene? Also known as tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, perc/PERC and PCE, perchloroethylene is a chlorocarbon that takes the form of a colourless, sweet-smelling liquid. Celebrated self-taught English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday first managed to synthesize it in 1821 by the thermal decomposition of hexachloroethane. What is it used for? Since that initial breakthrough, PCE […]
Methylene Chloride Monitoring – What Should I Watch Out For?
What is it? Methylene Chloride, also known as dichloromethane (DCM), is a colourless, highly volatile liquid with a sweet aroma much like chloroform. This organochloride compound can occur naturally, and is found in wetlands, macroalgae and even volcanoes; however, the vast majority of it is made as a result of industrial emissions. What is it […]
Mercury Monitoring – Why Might I Need It?
What is Mercury? Also known as ‘quicksilver’, Mercury takes its name from the Roman messenger god known for his speed and agility, analogous to the Ancient Greek Apollo. Interestingly, it is also associated with the planet of the same name, and the astrological symbol for said planet is also one of chief alchemical symbols for […]
Cyclohexanone Screening – More Necessary Than You Might Think
Cyclohexanone is an organic compound that resembles a colourless oil and smells much like acetone. It is one of the most common factors in the production of nylon, and roughly half of the world’s supply is converted into adipic acid, one of the two requisite precursors for creating nylon 6.6. Moreover, it can also be […]
The Ongoing Importance of Chromium (Chrome) Monitoring
What is Chromium (Chrome)? Chromium is a chemical element, much like titanium, iron or copper. In its unpolished form, it’s a hard, grey, brittle transition metal; when polished, it reflects up to 70% of the visible spectrum and 90% of infrared light. It is from this that it derives its name, from the Greek χρῶμα, […]
Benzene Screening – Why It’s So Crucial
Among Healthscreen UK’s extensive range of services is that of Benzene monitoring. So, what exactly is this strange substance and why should you look out for it? What is Benzene? Benzene is a colourless or light yellowish chemical compound that is a liquid at room temperature. It originates partly from southwest Asia, where a resin […]
Mental Health Charity Lobbies Government for New Future of Work Commission
Mental Health Foundation in Scotland (MHF) has called on the Scottish and UK governments to set up a future of work commission to improve workplace wellbeing and post-pandemic labour practices. The charity argues that benefits such as shorter working hours, reduced job insecurity and a joint public and private sector commission would be integral in […]
Asbestos Screening and Medicals
What is Asbestos? Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause a serious illness known ‘Asbestosis’. Once used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing, Asbestos is a natural fibrous sillicate material that is found underground, often attached to other minerals. It has since been completely banned in the UK as of 1999 as scientists became fully […]
Lung Function Testing
Who is a Lung Function Test for? Lung function is a vastly important and often overlooked test to have, especially if you work in any workplace environment outside an office. Indeed, there are many industries wherein it should be an absolute necessity but oftentimes, employers and employees alike are not fully aware of the at-risk […]