Bulk Dust Samples Research Articles

Survey of the Asp f 1 allergen in office environments.

Sick Building Syndrome remains a prevalent problem with patient complaints similar to typical allergy symptoms. Unlike household allergens typically found in domestic reservoirs, the allergen from a common fungus like Aspergillus fumigatus (i.e., Asp f 1) is conceivably widespread in the work environment. This project surveyed airborne levels of the Asp f 1 allergen in office and non-industrial occupational environments, as well as the dust reservoirs of A. fumigatus believed to be responsible for those levels. Airborne and bulk dust samples were collected, extracted, and assayed for Asp f 1. Concurrently, bulk dusts collected from the same locations were selectively cultured for A. fumigatus, and mesophilic fungi and bacteria. Samples were collected during both wet and dry climatological conditions from paired wet and dry building locations to examine the possibility of Asp f 1 increases due to fungal growth blooms. Very low levels of Asp f 1 were detected but only in the airborne samples (2/120 positive samples, with 3.6 ng/m3 and 1.8 ng/m3; LOD < 1.2 ng/m3). No dust samples showed even detectable traces of the allergen (LOD = 5 ng/g dust). Although A. fumigatus counts from dusts fluctuated significantly with exterior moisture events, analysis of wet versus dry period samples showed no differences in Asp f 1 levels. These results indicate that even in the presence of measurable fungal concentrations, background levels of Asp f 1 are low. Nonindustrial office buildings devoid of indoor air quality issues were not observed to have significant levels of the Asp f 1 allergen in the geographical region studied.

Survey of the Asp f 1 Allergen in Office Environments

Sick Building Syndrome remains a prevalent problem with patient complaints similar to typical allergy symptoms. Unlike household allergens typically found in domestic reservoirs, the allergen from a common fungus like Aspergillus fumigatus (i.e., Asp f 1) is conceivably widespread in the work environment. This project surveyed airborne levels of the Asp f 1 allergen in office and non-industrial occupational environments, as well as the dust reservoirs of A. fumigatus believed to be responsible for those levels. Airborne and bulk dust samples were collected, extracted, and assayed for Asp f 1. Concurrently, bulk dusts collected from the same locations were selectively cultured for A. fumigatus, and mesophilic fungi and bacteria. Samples were collected during both wet and dry climatological conditions from paired wet and dry building locations to examine the possibility of Asp f 1 increases due to fungal growth blooms. Very low levels of Asp f 1 were detected but only in the airborne samples (2/120 positive samples, with 3.6 ng/m3 and 1.8 ng/m3; LOD < 1.2 ng/m3). No dust samples showed even detectable traces of the allergen (LOD = 5 ng/g dust). Although A. fumigatus counts from dusts fluctuated significantly with exterior moisture events, analysis of wet versus dry period samples showed no differences in Asp f 1 levels. These results indicate that even in the presence of measurable fungal concentrations, background levels of Asp f 1 are low. Nonindustrial office buildings devoid of indoor air quality issues were not observed to have significant levels of the Asp f 1 allergen in the geographical region studied.

National Occupational Health Survey of Mining Query System

Abstract The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a project called the National Occupational Health Survey of Mining (NOHSM) from 1984 to 1989. The NOHSM consisted of 491 mine surveys. The mines were selected so as to be statistically representative of the entire U.S. mining industry. At each mine, NIOSH employees obtained data regarding occupational hygiene programs, potential exposure to chemical and physical agents, and bulk dust samples. The NOHSM survey data have been automated in the NOHSM Query System. This system allows queries to be processed against the data collected during the NOHSM survey. The NOHSM Query System was developed to be user friendly so that end-users can process their own queries against the NOHSM data. This was accomplished by making the system key driven with on-line help, and simplifying the query formulation process by minimizing the selections. There are two steps in formulating a query. Step one is deciding which data to retrieve or how to...

Use of a Sedimentation Method for Determining Respirable Mass Fraction in a Bulk Dust Sample

A preliminary study of a liquid sedimentation technique is described that was used to determine respirable particle fractions for a variety of insoluble dusts. Side-by-side comparisons of sedimentation and averaged cyclone respirable fraction measurements gave fairly good agreement. This method provides a rapid, inexpensive, and easy way to obtain estimates of the respirable fraction of bulk dust samples.

Quartz Analyses of the Bulk Dust Samples Collected by the National Occupational Health Survey of Mining

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted the National Occupational Health Survey of Mining (NOHSM) over a 6-year period, which began in May 1984 and ended in Augu...

Characterization of airborne mineral dusts associated with farming activities in rural Alberta, Canada

The dry and windy climate of the Western Canadian prairie provinces, combined with large scale agricultural activities, results in aerosolization or organic and mineral dusts. The purpose of this study was to conduct an environmental and minerological analysis of these dusts in order to estimate the risk for pneumoconiosis in exposed farmer populations. Two districts in central/southern Alberta were chosen for study. One of these regions was representative of a predominantly grain growing district with minimal use of irrigation; the other region was largely devoted to forage and irrigated crop production. Air pollution statistics showed a bi-modal distribution of total suspended particulates (TSP) with peaks corresponding with maximal farm activities in the spring and early fall. Analysis of bulk dust samples obtained from tractor cab filters showed that the majority of particles from both districts were within the respirable range (less than 5 microns). Samples from the forage-crop region contained more organic material, a greater water soluble fraction and had particles that were, on average, smaller and rounder than particles from the grain district. These differences were thought to reflect differences in irrigation patterns and use of fertilizers between the two districts. Free silica (quartz) content was also very variable and ranged from 1 to 17% on a mass basis. Respirable fibrous minerals were occasionally identified, however, no asbestos fibres, fibrous tremolite, or fibrous zeolites were identified. The results indicate that there is potential risk for mineral dust pneumoconiosis in heavily exposed farmer populations and that this risk will be influenced by local and regional factors.

Identification of aflatoxin B1 in grain elevator dusts in central Illinois.

Bulk dust samples obtained from grain elevators in the central Illinois area were analyzed for aflatoxin (AFT) content using instrumental two-dimensional high performance thin-layer chromatography (HP-TLC). AFT B1 levels ranged from nondetectable up to 3.5 ppb. This is the first report of AFT occurring in dust in northern grain mills. Long-term exposures of workers to AFT contaminated dust via the respiratory route could pose some hazard.