Air Monitoring In Areas Research Articles

Lead and noise exposures at eight Chinese registered electronics recycling facilities.

The purpose of this study was to assess employees' exposure to lead and noise, and to recommend control strategies for reducing these exposures at eight registered electronics recycling facilities in Eastern China. Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (JSCDC) performed a walkthrough and review of health and safety programs during a first visit and conducted full-shift personal and area air monitoring for lead, as well as personal noise exposure measurements on a second visit. Monitoring was performed over two work shifts for a total of 168 employees. Results indicated that employees working at glass breaking and cathode ray tubes dismantling were overexposed both to noise and lead. Airborne lead concentration ranged from 0.1 to 148μg/m3; and 4 of the 101 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 50μg/m3. Overexposures to lead involved cathode ray tubes dismantling and glass breaking. Employees working at plastics shredding and glass breaking areas were overexposed to noise. Full-shift time-weighted average noise levels ranged from 64 to 107 dBA; and 85 of the 123 samples were above the Chinese permissible exposure limit of 85 dBA. Control measures to reduce exposure to lead and noise, including improvements in their lead protection and hearing conservation programs, at these electronics recycling facilities were recommended.

Quantification of VX Vapor in Ambient Air by Liquid Chromatography Isotope Dilution Tandem Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Glass Bead Filled Sampling Tubes

An analysis method has been developed for determining low parts-per-quadrillion by volume (ppqv) concentrations of nerve agent VX vapor actively sampled from ambient air. The method utilizes glass bead filled depot area air monitoring system (DAAMS) sampling tubes with isopropyl alcohol extraction and isotope dilution using liquid chromatography coupled with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) with positive ion electrospray ionization for quantitation. The dynamic range was from one-tenth of the worker population limit (WPL) to the short-term exposure limit (STEL) for a 24 L air sample taken over a 1 h period. The precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated using liquid-spiked tubes, and the collection characteristics of the DAAMS tubes were assessed by collecting trace level vapor generated in a 1000 L continuous flow chamber. The method described here has significant improvements over currently employed thermal desorption techniques that utilize a silver fluoride pad during sampling to convert VX to a higher volatility G-analogue for gas chromatographic analysis. The benefits of this method are the ability to directly analyze VX with improved selectivity and sensitivity, the injection of a fraction of the extract, quantitation using an isotopically labeled internal standard, and a short instrument cycle time.

Asbestos exposure from gaskets during disassembly of a medium duty diesel engine

Diesel engines have historically used asbestos-containing gaskets leading to concerns of fiber release and mechanic exposure. Other published studies regarding asbestos fiber release during gasket removal have reported on short-duration events; were conducted under simulated work conditions; or had other limitations. There are no comprehensive studies relating to diesel engine gaskets under conditions similar to those reported herein, evaluating asbestos fiber release from gaskets during all facets of a complete disassembly and cleaning of a medium duty diesel engine in a busy repair and service shop by a journeyman mechanic. Asbestos content of all gaskets was identified; all disassembly tasks were described and timed; and personal and area air monitoring was conducted for each task. Twenty seven of thirty three gaskets contained chrysotile asbestos in concentrations that ranged from 5 to 70%. All but one air monitoring sample reported results below the limit of reliable detection even though plumes of visible dust were evident during various removal, cleaning, and buffing procedures. The detection limit for airborne asbestos fibers in this investigation was influenced by the presence of other shop dust in the air. Our investigation demonstrates that using shop-standard procedures in an established repair facility, a journeyman mechanic has very little potential for exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during disassembly of an engine, approximately 10% or less than that currently considered to be acceptable by OSHA.

03/02618 Worker health in refuse-derived fuel plants, a five-year follow-up: Mahar, S. Arhiv za Higijenu Rada I Toksikilogiju, 2002, 53, (3), 191–196

Personal and area air monitoring data for endotoxins, contaminants of concern in the solid waste industry, were analysed to determine if recommended levels were exceeded and if problematic trends existed in comparison with previous measurements. Current and historic lung function and symptom information from the workforce was analysed to determine if values were within predicted norms and to observe any trends that might indicate work related ill health. Average personal exposures to endotoxins were well within recommended levels and remain unchanged from previous sampling. Lung functions in the workforce are within predicted normal values. No trends indicating reductions in lung function based on length of employment were observed and average values are in normal ranges.

An Exposure Characterization of a Large Scale Application of a Biological Insecticide,Bacillus Thuringiensis

Abstract The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is one of the most destructive insect pests of trees and shrubs in the United States. Since its introduction in the United States in 1869, the gypsy moth has extensively infested areas of 13 northeastern and mid-atlantic states. Smaller, localized infestations have been found in recent years in 17 other states across the nation. When DDT was available, the gypsy moth was almost eradicated from the United States, but as DDT use was curtailed, the gypsy moth infestations became widespread. The State of Oregon has chosen to primarily use the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Bt) to eradicate the gypsy moth from approximately 250,000 acres of forested and urban areas in Lane County, Oregon. Personal exposure and area air monitoring for Bt was conducted to determine occupational and general public exposure potential to Bt. Portable sampling pumps with membrane filters (MF) were used to conduct the sampling. Analysis of the MF for Bt involved ...

Computerization of data from continuous and sequential air monitoring systems.

Continuous and sequential area air monitoring systems are more frequently becoming a necessity in both new and existing chemical manufacturing and processing plants. While these systems have most frequently been installed to alert employees to conditions of possible acute overexposure, they generate a wealth of data valuable in documenting employee exposures over extended period of time. Within the Dow Chemical Company, use of a dedicated microcomputer with area air monitoring systems has proven helful in summarizing each days' data and in calculating month-to-date totals for use in employee exposure documentation over long time periods.