The Internet of Things (IoT) explores new perspectives and possible improvements in risk assessment practices and shows potential to measure long-term and real-time occupational exposure. This may be of value when monitoring gases with short-term maximum levels and for time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations used in standard measuring practices. A functional embedded system was designed using low-cost

In the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) hazard release, emergency responders rely on respiratory protection to prevent inhalation of these hazards. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) CBRN Statement of Standard calls for CBRN respirator canisters to be challenged with 11 different chemical test representative agents (TRAs) during certification

Pharmaceutical workers involved with the production of antimicrobial drugs are exposed to various antimicrobial chemicals in different steps of manufacturing such as grinding, sieving, compression, granulation, mixing, and filling. These exposures may lead to the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacteria. Scientific reports on the occupational health hazard of pharmaceutical workers involved

Industrial workshops or any other industrial premises where noisy machines are operated should be as acoustically absorbent as possible. On the other hand, acoustic treatments are expensive (especially when correcting existing premises), messy, and not always compatible with the implemented production processes. Therefore, there is a need for acoustic specifications to find the best compromise between

A pilot project was conducted to determine the effect of common construction dusts as interferences in a new portable end-of-shift (EoS), direct-on-filter (DoF) sampling and analysis method for respirable crystalline silica (RCS), in this case, quartz. Construction dusts were prepared from plaster, drywall, cement and brick by grinding, aerosolizing, and collecting respirable dust with high flow rate

(2020). Correspondence: Indices of physiological strain for firefighters of the Australian Defence Forces. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 7-8, pp. D13-D14.

(2020). In response to indices of physiological strain for firefighters of the Australian Defence Forces. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 7-8, pp. D11-D12.

(2020). Letter to the editor regarding Chung, et al, “Career fire hall exposures to diesel engine exhaust in Ontario, Canada”. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 7-8, pp. D15-D15.

(2020). Response to the letter to the editor regarding “Career fire hall exposures to diesel engine exhaust in Ontario, Canada” manuscript. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 7-8, pp. D16-D17.

(2020). “The Action Level”®. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 7-8, pp. D18-D19.

Double gloving of disposable gloves is now commonplace in healthcare settings when extra protection is needed against aqueous solutions and especially for antineoplastic drugs in isotonic aqueous media. In the present study, an ASTM F739 2.54 cm cell with closed-loop water collection without recirculation at 35 °C in a moving tray water bath was used to test the permeation of diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl

Abstract Many studies into surface contamination of hospital environments have demonstrated that occupational exposure to cytotoxics through the dermal route remains a possible risk. In this study, we assess the actual dermal exposure of the hands of pharmacy technicians and cleaning personnel in a panel of hospitals performing tasks that pose a risk of exposure. We compare the dermal exposure to a

Despite the known human health risks associated with excessive heat exposure, particularly in occupational settings, data describing potential heat exposures in school kitchens is scarce, and no published studies to date have performed a quantitative heat exposure assessment for workers employed in this setting. The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent of heat stress in New York City public

The purpose of this investigation was to enhance our understanding of the effects the current British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) firefighting schedule have on the development of fatigue and sleep deprivation. This was a cohort study that objectively and subjectively measured sleep quantity, sleep quality, and fatigue throughout a 17-day British Columbia wildland firefighting deployment. Wildland

(2020). “The Action Level”®. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. D9-D10.

(2020). The American Board of Industrial Hygiene: 60 years of progress. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 253-261.

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has initiated a process to update its standards for exposure to lead in workplaces. In support of this effort, the state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment evaluated the age-specific, bio-kinetic model of lead metabolism in humans, originally published by R.W. Leggett in 1993. This model was ultimately chosen for its physiologic

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that opioid overdose deaths (including fentanyl and carfentanil) comprised 46,802 (69%) of the 67,367 total drug overdose deaths. The opioid overdose epidemic affects Americans not only at home but also in the workplace. First responders may be at risk of opioid exposure during incidents such as vehicle searches and responses to overdose

Susceptibility to heat illness during physically demanding work in hot environments is greater on the second of two consecutive workdays. While it has been demonstrated that heat storage is exacerbated on the second compared to first workday in older workers (50–65 yr), the effects on heart rate variability (HRV), an established surrogate of cardiac autonomic modulation, remain unclear. This study

Abstract The routes of COVID-19 transmission to healthcare personnel from infected patients is the subject of debate, but is critical to the selection of personal protective equipment. The objective of this paper was to explore the contributions of three transmission routes—contact, droplet, and inhalation—to the risk of occupationally acquired COVID-19 infection among healthcare personnel (HCP). The

Contamination of multiple antineoplastic drugs (ADs) on work surfaces presents an exposure concern for health care workers. Surface wipe sampling is a recognized method to evaluate the degree of contamination present. Our research team has previously reported on wipe sampling and analytical methods to simultaneously detect 10 commonly used ADs from a single wipe. Our objectives here were: to field

Exposure modeling is a valuable tool for assessing chemical vapor exposures that occur during transient events such as small spills of volatile liquids. Models are available to estimate liquid evaporation rates and resulting air concentrations. However, liquid evaporation rate models require the surface area of the puddle in order to provide vapor generation rates in terms of mass per time. This study

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an aerodynamic separation scheme for obtaining aerosols with nearly monodisperse fiber lengths as test samples for mechanistic toxicological evaluations. The approach involved the separation of aerosolized glass fibers using an Aerodynamic Aerosol Classifier (AAC) or a multi-cyclone sampling array, followed by the collection of separated

Aethalometers are direct-reading instruments primarily used for measuring black carbon (BC) concentrations in workplace and ambient atmospheres. Aethalometer BC measurements of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were compared to measurements made by other methods when subjected to high (>30 µg/m3) and low (1–30 µg/m3) CNT aerosol concentrations representing worst-case and typical workplace concentrations, respectively

The Ultrasonic Personal Aerosol Sampler (UPAS) is a small, lightweight, and quiet sampler that collects airborne particulate matter on a filter for gravimetric or compositional analysis. The objective of this work was to develop UPAS inlets with collection efficiencies that match criteria for respirable or thoracic mass sampling. The two-stage inlet for respirable mass described here utilizes an impaction

Because of the semi-volatile nature of diisocyanates (being airborne in both physical vapor and particulate phases), their high reactivity and low occupational exposure limits, diisocyanate exposure evaluation has been challenging for industrial hygienists and laboratories. The objective of this study was to compare the toluene diisocyanate (2,4 and 2,6 isomers, TDI) concentration measured by five

Fungi are ubiquitous in environments and produce secondary metabolites that are usually low-molecular-weight organic compounds during growth processes. Dust samples containing these fungal secondary metabolites collected from study sites are often stored in certain temperature conditions for an extended period until laboratory analysis resources are available. However, there is little information on

Abstract We aimed to assess the occurrence of bovine viruses (bovine leukemia virus–BLV and bovine adenovirus–BAdV) at workplaces in traditional dairies and to evaluate the potential role of airborne and surface contamination in spreading of these viruses derived from raw milk. The total amount of 122 samples—including 37 air (bioaerosol), 40 surface, and 45 milk samples—were checked for the presence

The aim of this study was to develop a new method to measure respirator protection factors for aerosol particles using portable instruments while workers conduct their normal work. The portable instruments, including a set of two handheld condensation particle counters (CPCs) and two portable aerosol mobility spectrometers (PAMSs), were evaluated with a set of two reference scanning mobility particle

Firefighting is physically and mentally strenuous, requiring rapid, appropriate decision-making in hot environments. Intact cognitive function is imperative to firefighters' effectiveness and safety. The study purpose was to investigate the effect of hyperthermia and the effect of body cooling on sustained attention and response inhibition while wearing firefighters' personal protective ensembles after

Agricultural workers are exposed to heat stress due to spending significant amount of time outdoors. Risk information from mobile apps is more readily available for timely advice on risk management that is crucial in preventing severe acute illnesses and deaths, but its reliability is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool mobile app in

A follow-up study evaluated the chemical and physical parameters of 10 disposable nitrile glove products in association with the observed variability in chemical permeation performance. The aim was to determine which polymer properties explained or were predictive of the observed wide variation in breakthrough time and steady state permeation rate. The physical and mechanical properties evaluated were

Agricultural work is associated with increased risk of adverse musculoskeletal health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to quantify exposure to biomechanical factors among a sample (n = 55) of farmers in the Midwest region of the U.S. while they performed a variety of routine agricultural activities, and to compare exposure levels between these activities. Surface electromyography was used to

The exposure prediction component of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essentials model (paper version) was evaluated using field measurements from National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) reports. Overall 757 measured exposures for 94 similar exposure groups (SEGs) were compared with the COSHH Essentials predicted exposure range

A study was conducted in an underground mine with the objective to assess relative contributions of different types and categories of diesel-powered vehicles to submicron aerosol concentrations and to assess the effectiveness of selected diesel particulate matter control strategies and technologies. The net contributions of each of six heavy-duty (HD) vehicles, five light-duty (LD) vehicles, and the

Skin exposure to chemicals in the workplace environment is a major concern, the hands being the major exposure sites. Employers purchase gloves that have permeation data generated from permeation "standards" of the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM International), European Committee for Standardization (EN), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that

Wildland firefighters are exposed to numerous noise sources that may be hazardous to their hearing. This study examined the noise exposure profiles for 264 wildland firefighters across 15 job categories. All 264 firefighters completed questionnaires to assess their use of hearing protection devices, enrollment in hearing conservation programs, and their overall perception of their noise exposure. Roughly

Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure levels encountered by wildland firefighters (WLFs) throughout their work shift can change considerably within a few minutes due to the varied tasks that are performed and the changing environmental and fire conditions encountered throughout the day. In a U.S. Forest Service study during the 2009-2012 fire seasons, WLFs from 57 different fires across the U.S. were monitored

Health-based aerosol sampling should reflect how particles penetrate and deposit in various regions of the human respiratory system. Therefore, size-selective sampling should be adopted when monitoring aerosol concentration in the atmosphere. However, cyclone samplers, the most commonly used respirable sampler type in the workplace, show specific particle size-dependent bias toward the international

As part of ongoing epidemiological studies for assessing the association between exposure to dust from taconite operations and the development of respiratory diseases, the goal of this study was to reconstruct the exposures of workers to elongate mineral particle (EMP) in the Minnesota taconite mining industry from 1955-2010. Historical NIOSH-7400 and equivalent EMP personal exposure data were extracted

The protection of emergency medical service (EMS) workers from airborne disease transmission is important during routine transport of patients with infectious respiratory illnesses and would be critical during a pandemic of a disease such as influenza. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of ambulance ventilation systems at reducing EMS worker exposure to airborne particles (aerosols)

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter <800> guidelines will be adopted in the U.S. and Canada in 2019, requiring regular surface sampling for antineoplastic drug (AD) surface contamination as a means of environmental surveillance. USP Chapter <800> does not provide guidance on when and where to sample. Research to support the development of such guidance within a broader sampling strategy is

This study evaluated lead concentrations in blood and related factors among the South Korean population based on data from the Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) II (2012-2014) conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Research and the Ministry of Environment. Personal data were obtained from non-institutionalized civilian Korean individuals in an interview with trained

High levels of exertion and physiological strain are the leading cause of fireground injuries. The Physiological Strain Index (PSI) provides a rating of strain based on body core temperature and heart rate; however, it may underestimate the strain of workers in protective clothing as skin temperature may be elevated. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the PSI and an Adaptive Physiological

Wildland firefighters engaged in fire suppression activities are often exposed to hazardous air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter (PM2.5) during wildfires with no respiratory protection. Although the most significant exposures to smoke likely occur on the fireline, wildland firefighters may also be exposed at the incident command post (ICP), an area designated

McIntyre Powder (MP) is a finely ground aluminum powder that was used between 1943 and 1979 as a prophylaxis for silicosis. Silicosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust and was prevalent in the Canadian mining industry during this time period. The McIntyre Research Foundation developed, patented, and produced the MP and distributed it to licensees in Canada

This study evaluated a novel robotic direct reading method that used a real-time location system to measure the spatial-concentration distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a chemistry laboratory. The CEMWIP II is a custom-made sensor that measures VOCs, temperature, humidity, and location, sending data wirelessly in real time to a remote location for display and storage. In this study

The inhalation and the deposition of welding-generated ultrafine particles in welders' respiratory tracts have been linked to severe pulmonary impairments. In the present study, a mobile aerosol lung deposition apparatus (MALDA) was developed and applied to study the respiratory deposition of ultrafine welding fume particles. The MALDA was constructed with a set of physiologically representative human

The aim of this study was to make a preliminary evaluation of the University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler) for personal air sampling of particles. Nine personal air samplings of respirable fraction were conducted in an open-pit mine, with pairwise UNC samplers and a respirable cyclone mounted on the chest of workers. UNC samples were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy

Bronchoscopy is classified as an aerosol-generating procedure, but it is unclear what drives the elevated infection risk observed among healthcare personnel performing the procedure. The objective of this study was to characterize pathways through which bronchoscopists may be exposed to infectious agents during bronchoscopy procedures. Aerosol number concentrations (0.2-1 µm aerodynamic diameter) were

The floor polish removal (FPR) and reapplication (FPA) are important cleaning tasks in public buildings that have hard floor surfaces. Usually, the FPR and FPA are conducted once or twice a year, during the periodic cleaning of these buildings. The FPR can be performed either chemically (CFPR) or by using dry scrubber (DFPR), when the polish is ground from the floor. In this study, cleaning workers'

Metal gouging and lancing liberate particles of an unknown size and composition. Fumes are formed when vaporized materials condense in air, creating fine and ultrafine particles which can agglomerate. Particle sizes may be <1 µm in diameter. Inhalation of this mixture of metal fumes can lead to adverse health effects. This study characterized fumes by particle size fractions and metal composition.

Recent studies have shown the 2001 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) Threshold Limit Value (TLV®) for Hand Activity was not sufficiently protective for workers at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). These studies led to a revision of the TLV and Action Limit. This study compares the effect of applying the 2018 TLV vs. the 2001 TLV to predict incident CTS within a

Cleaning workers are exposed to many risk factors, including handling of cleaning products. Epidemiological studies show that they have a high incidence of asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Some studies have indicated an even higher incidence of asthma in individuals using cleaning sprays regularly. It is known that sprays produce an aerosol that can expose the respiratory system to chemicals

Noise is a constant and ongoing health hazard across many workplaces and industries worldwide. The effective management of noise-related health effects is primarily dependent on accurate measurements of sound levels. The accuracy and feasibility of smartphone sound level meter applications (apps) for noise monitoring in occupational and environmental scenarios was tested. Ten iOS and Android smartphones

An ideal inhalable aerosol sampler for occupational exposure monitoring would have a sampling efficiency that perfectly matches the inhalable particulate matter (IPM) criterion. Two common aerosol samplers in use worldwide are the closed-face cassette (CFC) and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler. However, the CFC is known to under-sample, with near zero sampling efficiency for particles