Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene最新文献

{"title":"Influence of kindergarten dormitory bed layout on the proximity propagation characteristics of exhaled pollutants.","authors":"Yanhui Mao, Yongsheng Wang, Lina Zhang, Qiu Tu, Lijuan Wang, Xiangfei Kong, Jihui Yuan","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2491489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2491489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kindergarten dormitories are indoor napping areas where preschool children spend extended periods nearby, making them high-risk environments for the transmission of respiratory diseases. To understand the transmission characteristics of respiratory pollutants, particularly CO₂ and simulated cough aerosols between adjacent beds, two common bed layouts in kindergartens were investigated: three beds of staggered height (TBSH) and three beds of uniform height (TBUH). The experiments measured CO₂ and PM_2.5 concentrations (using liquid aerosols generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer as surrogates for cough particles) in the breathing zone of mannequins under different ventilation modes (on and off) and sleeping postures (lying face up and on the right side). The results showed that when ventilation was off, CO₂ concentration near the head of each bed reached nearly 1,000 ppm within 60 min. When ventilation was on, CO₂ concentration was diluted to ambient levels within 3.3 min. However, when the ventilation was on, aerosols exhibited different propagation characteristics compared to CO₂. While CO₂ was rapidly diluted, aerosols accumulated downstream and formed high-concentration zones at adjacent downstream beds. These findings visualize the potential aerosol transmission pathways between beds in kindergarten dormitories and highlight the limitations of using CO₂ as an aerosol transmission tracer. The study found that increasing bed heights along the ventilation airflow direction effectively reduced downstream aerosol concentrations and compensated for the insufficient horizontal distance in kindergarten dormitories. Kindergarten design standards should consider local dilution efficiency in the breathing zone, and bed layouts should be integrated with the ventilation system to ensure air velocities exceed 0.01 m/s near the head, thereby reducing the residence time of pollutants in the breathing zone.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143970576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioeconomic disparities in hygiene behaviors and their association with urinary metal levels in Chinese preschoolers.","authors":"Wei Lin, Wanhong He, Ye Fu, Minghui He, Mingzhu Li, Yang Liu, Yanli Liu, Meiqin Zhu, Liting Yang, Yuefeng He, Hongcheng Ding, Jing Wang","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2485088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2485088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The relationship between personal hygiene and the risk of communicable diseases is well established, with socioeconomic status recognized as a significant factor in this context. Given that infectious diseases, environmental pollutants, and metals share pathways of entry into the human body, this study sought to investigate the correlation between hygiene practices and urinary metal levels in preschool-aged children. A cross-sectional analysis involving 1,477 preschoolers was conducted where urinary concentrations of 23 metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Information about hygiene practices and socioeconomic status was collected from the children's guardians. The results of regression analyses revealed a significant association between improved hygiene practices and lower urinary levels of chromium, iron, and antimony (all <i>p</i> < 0.05), as well as with high household per capita monthly income. Compared to children from low-income families, children from high-income families had better hygiene behaviors (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). In low-income families, children with good hygiene behaviors had lower urinary chromium, iron, and antimony levels (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Mediation analysis further suggested that bathing and hygiene practices could explain about 7.56% to 28.24% of the effects of urinary chromium, iron, and antimony levels related to household per capita monthly income (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings emphasized that good hygiene behaviors might be a feasible way to reduce heavy metal exposure among children.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144029596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of portable air cleaners within an ambulance workspace.","authors":"Mirle Pena, Dylan T Neu, H Amy Feng, Duane R Hammond, Kenneth R Mead, Rupak K Banerjee","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2485074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2485074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emergency medical service (EMS) providers face significant exposure to infectious aerosols during outbreaks like the COVID-19 pandemic. Most ambulances lack ventilation controls to reduce EMS worker exposure to these aerosols. Ambulances are smaller than hospital rooms and handle numerous patients daily, increasing contact with potentially infectious individuals. Ventilation controls such as portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration can mitigate this risk. Few studies have assessed portable HEPA filters in ambulances. This study evaluated two HEPA filter models in an unoccupied, stationary research ambulance at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Cincinnati. A tracer aerosol simulated patient aerosol generation, and optical particle counters (OPCs) measured aerosols. The HEPA units were tested individually, placed in the same location, and operated for 50 min. Results showed significant reductions in aerosol concentrations during the generation phase, with performance varying during the decay period. Overall, HEPA units reduced particle concentrations by around 50% during the generation phase and continued to be effective through the decay period. This demonstrates the potential of portable HEPA filters as an affordable and effective option for air cleaning in ambulance patient modules.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144026086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating asbestos exposures of occupational non-users at three refinery and petrochemical complexes using the U.S. EPA draft existing chemical occupational exposure value for asbestos.","authors":"Lindsey Malek, Robert Tutt, David Altom, Steven Lacey","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2025.2475104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2025.2475104","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144004431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial assessment and performance evaluation of eyewash stations in the laboratory setting.","authors":"Derek A Newcomer, Ishveen Chopra, Ibne Karim M Ali, Shantanu Roy, Jennifer R Cope, Judi Todd Darnell","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443208","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eyewash stations are an essential component of laboratory safety programs, providing first aid in case of ocular exposure to hazardous materials. However, the presence of microbial contamination in these devices poses a potential risk of ocular infection to laboratory employees. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the microbial quality and performance of 40 eyewash stations fixed in 10 buildings in a laboratory setting. Water quality parameters, including temperature, pH, turbidity, and the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp., were measured at various time points (first draw, after 2 min of flushing, and 15 min flushing) from samples collected from each of the 40 eyewash stations. Performance and operational data were also measured according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Z358.1-2014 standard. Our results showed variable compliance with this standard across measures of physical condition, performance, access, and maintenance. Out of the 147 water samples collected (130 eyewash samples, 17 building reference samples), 28 samples were suspected to contain <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. or other free-living amoeba based on initial testing. Further analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> spp. in 5 out of 28 samples. The results of this study provide insights into the potential risk of ocular infections associated with using eyewash stations and provide the basis for the recommendations on maintenance protocols to minimize the risk of microbial contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"322-335"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143365113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing fentanyl and methamphetamine in air and on surfaces of transit vehicles.","authors":"Marc Beaudreau, Pranav Srikanth, Christopher Zuidema, Martin A Cohen, Edmund Seto, Christopher D Simpson, Marissa G Baker","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2444430","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2444430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recently, the misuse of fentanyl and methamphetamine has increased in the United States. These drugs can be consumed via smoking a powder, which can subsequently contaminate air and surfaces with drug residue. With limited access to safe consumption sites, this misuse often occurs in public spaces such as public transit, leading to potential secondhand exposures among transit operators and riders. In the Pacific Northwest, transit operators have reported acute health symptoms and safety concerns regarding these drug exposures. Researchers conducted an exposure assessment, sampling air and surfaces for fentanyl and methamphetamine. A total of 78 air samples and 89 surface samples were collected on 11 buses and 19 train cars from four transit agencies in the Pacific Northwest. Fentanyl was detected above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in 25% of air samples (range of concentrations > LOQ: 0.002 to 0.14 µg/m³) and 38% of surface samples (range of concentrations > LOQ: 0.011 to 0.47 ng/cm²), while methamphetamine was detected in 100% of air samples (range: 0.003 to 2.32 µg/m³) and 98% of surface samples (range of concentrations > LOQ: 0.016 to 6.86 ng/cm²) The highest fentanyl air sample (0.14 µg/m³) was collected in the passenger area of a train for 4 hr, and would exceed the ACGIH^® 8-hr TWA TLV^® of 0.1 µg/m³ if conditions remained the same for the unsampled period. No surface samples exceed the ACGIH fentanyl surface level TLV (10 ng/cm²). The prevalence of fentanyl and methamphetamine on public transit highlights the need to protect transit operators from secondhand exposure and from the stress of witnessing and responding to smoking events. Future work is needed to evaluate the utility of engineering and administrative controls such as ventilation and cleaning upgrades in reducing exposures on transit, as well as the utility of training and increased workplace support for operators in addressing their health and well-being after observing or responding to drug use events.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"300-310"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11981843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143059365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interlaboratory comparison of particle filtration efficiency testing equipment.","authors":"Timothy A Sipkens, Rym Mehri, Ruth Perez Calderon, Richard G Green, Andrew Oldershaw, Gregory J Smallwood","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2447321","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2447321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Particle filtration efficiency (PFE) is a critical property of face masks, with the most common test methods using sodium chloride as a challenge aerosol. In the absence of bottom-up uncertainty budgets for PFE, interlaboratory comparisons provide an alternative route to robustly quantify the precision and bias of the method. This work presents the results of several interlaboratory comparisons of particle filtration efficiency performed across a network of laboratories. Using log-penetration as a surrogate for PFE, it is shown that expanded reproducibility intervals were consistent across most samples, at around 26% of the nominal value of log-penetration. Between-laboratory contributions to this reproducibility were significant, nearly doubling the lab-reported uncertainties in most instances and emphasizing the need for ongoing interlaboratory studies to be performed for particle filtration. More work is required to identify the causes of these between-laboratory differences, requiring dedicated testing. Alongside uncertainty quantification, testing materials across a range of variables (such as the number of layers, amount of charge on the material, and basis weight) affirm that constant quality is a good approximation when layering or changing the basis weight on an otherwise identical material.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"259-273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142983833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison between WBGT app prototype and WBGT monitor to assess heat stress risk in an eastern North Carolina outdoor setting.","authors":"Bridget Angol, Sinan Sousan, Jo Anne G Balanay","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2444415","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2444415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is the preferred environmental heat metric for occupational heat-related illness prevention but may not always be readily accessible in the workplace. Thus, there is a need for well-designed WBGT-based tools that are reliable, accessible, and inexpensive. A novel WBGT app prototype was developed to calculate the current and forecasted outdoor WBGT. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the WBGT app prototype in providing accurate heat stress risk information for outdoor workplace settings in eastern North Carolina by comparing the WBGT indices and risk levels from the app (WBGT_app) with those derived from a heat stress monitor (WBGT_ins). Outdoor WBGT measurements were data logged at a university campus site using a heat stress monitor from March to August 2023 for 81 days and were assigned to risk levels by workload based on the ACGIH Threshold Limit Values. Hourly WBGT_app values and their corresponding risk levels were obtained using the app prototype. Data analysis was conducted using a t-test, Pearson correlation test, and cross-tabulation. Results showed that the hourly mean WBGT_app was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.01) than the WBGT_ins, but there was no significant difference between the overall average of the daily mean (<i>p</i> = 0.15) and daily maximum (<i>p</i> = 0.69) WBGT_app and WBGT_ins. There was a strong, positive correlation between the hourly mean (<i>r</i> = 0.94, <i>p</i> < 0.01), daily mean (<i>r</i> = 0.97, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and daily maximum (<i>r</i> = 0.94, <i>p</i> < 0.01) WBGT_app and WBGT_ins. The app correctly identified 73-88% of minimal-risk conditions, depending on workload type, and was most reliable in correctly identifying extreme-risk conditions at 97%, 95%, and 93% for light, moderate, and heavy workloads, respectively. This demonstrates the app's capability of being protective of the workers, particularly in more severe heat stress risk conditions. Recommendations to improve the app's accuracy involved using accurate solar irradiance data and applying linear calibration. The WBGT app prototype shows good potential as an alternative risk assessment tool for heat stress risk among outdoor workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"274-287"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement to quantify mineral composition including crystalline silica in respirable dust.","authors":"Johanne Østereng Halvorsen, Peter Stacey, Pål Graff, Elin Lovise Folven Gjengedal, Torunn K Ervik","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443206","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to test the use of Rietveld refinement on respirable aerosol samples to determine the phase of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and other minerals. The results from the Rietveld refinement were compared to an external standard method and gravimetrical measurements. Laboratory samples consisting of α-quartz, feldspar, and calcite with variable proportions and total mass loadings were made and analyzed using the NIOSH 7500 <i>Silica, Crystalline, by XRD (filter redeposition) method</i>, followed by Rietveld refinement. Field samples of respirable dust, from construction sites working with concrete, brick, and other materials were included. To correct for amorphous content and unidentified phases, an internal standard was added to the field samples, which were treated like laboratory samples. Rietveld refinement was successfully used for quantification of RCS in laboratory and field samples. The method showed comparable results to the NIOSH 7500 method for quartz and remained linear for laboratory samples up to 20 mg. The lowest quantified amounts of quartz in the laboratory samples were 5 µg. The two methods yielded similar results for RCS in field samples with a total mass of up to 15 mg and a quartz content of 1.8 wt% to 11 wt%. A total sample mass of above 0.5 mg was required for optimal quantification of crystalline phases by Rietveld refinement. The method proved useful in determining RCS and other crystalline components in field samples and corrected for interferences even with a complex matrix and high mass loading.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":"22 4","pages":"248-258"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143811638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from common cooking fuels in Nigeria.","authors":"Jamiu Adetayo Adeniran, Basheerah Folake Jimoh, Ayodele Sarat Atanda, Tunmise Latifat Adewoye, Muhammad-Najeeb O Yusuf, Khadijat Abdulkareem Abdulraheem, Emmanuel Toluwalope Odediran","doi":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443196","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15459624.2024.2443196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cooking fuels are sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are persistent in the environment and have detrimental effects on human health. Fifteen PCBs congeners from the smoke of eight (8) commonly used cooking fuels in Nigeria were investigated in this study. Glass fiber filters were used to collect air emissions during the combustion of cooking fuels in a controlled chamber. PCB congeners in the smoke of studied cooking fuels were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and their associated health risks were evaluated. The health risks of PCBs (both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) from inhalation exposure were evaluated for both children and adults. The daily inhalation rate ranged from 4.44 × 10⁵ to 6.16 × 10⁵ fgTEQkg^-1 for adults and 9.94 × 10⁵ to 1.38 × 10⁶ fgTEQkg^-1 for children. Hazard quotient (HQ) values obtained for both adults and children were higher than the acceptable limit of 1. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) varied between 2.40 × 10^-3 and 3.33 × 10^-3 for adults and <math><mn>6.211</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mrow><mn>10</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></math> and <math><mn>8.62</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mrow><mn>10</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></math> for children. This study recommends promoting clean cooking technologies through policy interventions, public awareness campaigns, and investment in research and development, to reduce risks associated with harmful cooking emissions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene","volume":" ","pages":"239-247"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142950351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}