{"title":"112 An alternative to the HSE/NPL phase contrast test slide for airborne asbestos fibre analysis laboratories","authors":"Geoff Pickford, Philip Hibbs","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxae035.052","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"More than 55 years ago, an analytical technique employing phase contrast microscopy was developed for the quantitative estimation of airborne asbestos fibre concentration. It was found that the detection limit of these microscopes was dependent upon microscope design, set-up and observer performance. In the late 1970’s the HSE/NPL Phase-Contrast Test Slide was developed that facilitated the standardisation of detection limits of microscopes and observers in laboratories around the world. An alternative test slide has now been developed using state of the art nano-metre fabrication technology, and is known as the Pickford Phase Contrast Test Slide, and manufactured by PhaseSlides. Both subjective and newly developed objective visibility testing show that the Pickford Test Slide is equivalent to the HSE/NPL Test Slide, and users report it to be much easier to use. Each Pickford Test Slide is certified by the Environmental Analytical Laboratory of the Southern Cross University – stating that it is equivalent in performance to that of the HSE/NPL test slide. Acknowledgement to the BOHS Annals of Work Exposures and Health.","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxae035.052","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
More than 55 years ago, an analytical technique employing phase contrast microscopy was developed for the quantitative estimation of airborne asbestos fibre concentration. It was found that the detection limit of these microscopes was dependent upon microscope design, set-up and observer performance. In the late 1970’s the HSE/NPL Phase-Contrast Test Slide was developed that facilitated the standardisation of detection limits of microscopes and observers in laboratories around the world. An alternative test slide has now been developed using state of the art nano-metre fabrication technology, and is known as the Pickford Phase Contrast Test Slide, and manufactured by PhaseSlides. Both subjective and newly developed objective visibility testing show that the Pickford Test Slide is equivalent to the HSE/NPL Test Slide, and users report it to be much easier to use. Each Pickford Test Slide is certified by the Environmental Analytical Laboratory of the Southern Cross University – stating that it is equivalent in performance to that of the HSE/NPL test slide. Acknowledgement to the BOHS Annals of Work Exposures and Health.
期刊介绍:
About the Journal
Annals of Work Exposures and Health is dedicated to presenting advances in exposure science supporting the recognition, quantification, and control of exposures at work, and epidemiological studies on their effects on human health and well-being. A key question we apply to submission is, "Is this paper going to help readers better understand, quantify, and control conditions at work that adversely or positively affect health and well-being?"
We are interested in high quality scientific research addressing:
the quantification of work exposures, including chemical, biological, physical, biomechanical, and psychosocial, and the elements of work organization giving rise to such exposures;
the relationship between these exposures and the acute and chronic health consequences for those exposed and their families and communities;
populations at special risk of work-related exposures including women, under-represented minorities, immigrants, and other vulnerable groups such as temporary, contingent and informal sector workers;
the effectiveness of interventions addressing exposure and risk including production technologies, work process engineering, and personal protective systems;
policies and management approaches to reduce risk and improve health and well-being among workers, their families or communities;
methodologies and mechanisms that underlie the quantification and/or control of exposure and risk.
There is heavy pressure on space in the journal, and the above interests mean that we do not usually publish papers that simply report local conditions without generalizable results. We are also unlikely to publish reports on human health and well-being without information on the work exposure characteristics giving rise to the effects. We particularly welcome contributions from scientists based in, or addressing conditions in, developing economies that fall within the above scope.