Household Care Research Articles

Occurrence, time trends, and human exposure of siloxanes and synthetic musk compounds in indoor dust from Korean homes

Siloxanes and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) have been widely used as additives in household and personal care products. Humans are easily exposed to siloxanes and SMCs originating from these products through ingestion and dermal absorption of indoor dust. In the present study, indoor dust samples were analyzed for 19 siloxanes (cyclic and linear) and 12 SMCs (polycyclic, macrocyclic, and nitro musks) to assess their occurrence, time trends over time, source, and health risks. A total of 18 siloxanes and 10 SMCs were detected in all indoor dust samples obtained from 2011⎯2021, indicating widespread and long-term contamination. Higher detection frequencies and concentrations were associated with siloxanes and SMCs with higher use and strong resistance against degradation processes. Indoor dust samples were dominated by linear siloxanes (L11–L13), 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-(g)-2-benzopyran (HHCB), musk ketone (MK), and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN). The frequent use of household and personal care products is likely an important source of siloxane and SMC contamination in indoor environments. The concentrations of siloxanes and SMCs in indoor dust increased from 2011 to 2021, particularly, those of linear siloxanes, reflecting the impact of regulatory actions addressing cyclic siloxanes. The profiles of siloxanes remained stable throughout the study period, whereas those of SMCs shifted from nitro to polycyclic musks. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of siloxanes and SMCs arising from ingestion were greater than from dermal absorption of indoor dust. The EDIs of siloxanes and SMCs associated with indoor dust indicated that children are exposed to these pollutants.

Parabolic Viscosity Behavior of NaCl-Thickened Surfactant Systems upon Temperature Change.

The viscosity of household care products plays an important role in pleasant delivery using consumer experience at home. A novel solution to mitigate the sharp rising of viscosities at low temperatures of detergents was proposed. By designing the formulation of the surfactant blend, formulators can achieve acceptable viscosity profiles in the temperature range encountered in daily life. The verification and modulation of formulas bearing parabolic viscosity-temperature behavior were systematically studied, including in single, binary, and ternary systems, based on the modulation of sodium ethoxylated alkyl sulfate (AES) by other anions, zwitterions, and nonions. The R ratio theory was used to have a better understanding of the molecular assembly of surfactants behind the parabolic behavior exhibited in rheology analyses. One of the key findings is that the parabolic viscosity-temperature phenomenon could be easily observed in the highly hydrated ethoxylated anionic systems like AES-based systems. For those anions lacking ethoxylation, especially sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), the monotonic variation of hydration affinity with temperature led to the disappearance of parabola in the observed temperature window (>0 °C). Moreover, salinity played an important role in the hydration affinity of the polar group and the interaction between the hydrophilic headgroups. A balanced salinity should be optimized to modulate the hydration affinity in a desired range so that the parabola could be easily tuned within the target temperature region. These findings provide opportunities for the formulators in the household care industry to design products with better pourability through carefully selecting a combination of surfactants and fine-tuning their ratios to improve consumer use experience, especially in winter.

Poverty and population health – The need for A Paradigm shift to capture the working poor and better inform public health planning

BackgroundCommunity-level socioeconomic disparities have a significant impact on an individual's health and overall well-being. However, current estimates for poverty threshold, which are often used to assess community-level socioeconomic status, do not account for cost-of-living differences or geography variability. The goals of this study were to compare geographic county-level overlap and gaps in access to care for households within poverty and working poor designations. MethodsData were obtained for 21 continental United States (US) states from the United Way's Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households for 2021. Raw data contained the percentage of households at the federal poverty level, the percentage of households at the ALICE designations (working poor), and the total households at the county level. Local Moran's I tests for spatial autocorrelation were performed to identify the clustering of poverty and ALICE households. These clusters were overlaid with a 30-min drive time from critical access hospitals' physical addresses. FindingsCounty-level clusters of ALICE (working poor) households occurred in different areas than the clustering of poverty households. Of particular interest, the extent to which the 30-min drive time to critical care overlapped with clusters of ALICE or poverty changed depending on the state. Overall, clustering in ALICE and poverty overlapped with 30-min drive times to critical care between 46 and 90% of the time. However, the specific states where disparities in access to care were prominent differed between analyses focused on households in poverty versus the working poor. InterpretationsFindings highlight a disparity in equitable inclusion of individuals across the spectrum of socioeconomic status. Furthermore, they suggest that current public health programming and benefits which support low socioeconomic populations may be missing a vulnerable sub-population of working families. Future studies are needed to better understand how to address the health disparities facing individuals who are above the poverty threshold but still struggle economically to meet based needs.

Kinetics and mechanism of triclocarban degradation by the chlorination process: Theoretical calculation and experimental verification

Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial agent commonly used in many household and personal care products, and has been found persistent in the aquatic environment. Here we elucidate the kinetics and mechanism of TCC degradation during chlorination process by density functional theory (DFT) calculation and experimental verification. Results showed that hypochlorous acid (HOCl)/hypochlorite (OCl−) reacted with TCC via Cl-substitution, OH-substitution and C–N bond cleavage pathways. The reactivity of OCl− (2.80 × 10−7 M−1 s−1) with TCC was extremely low and HOCl (1.96 M−1 s−1) played the dominant role in TCC chlorination process. The N site of TCC was the most reactive site for chlorination. The second-order rate constants, which are determined using density functional theory (DFT) (kTCC−chlorineC, 1.96 M−1 s−1), can be separated into reaction rate constants related to the reactions of HOCl and OCl− with different isomers of TCC (TCC2 and TCC6). The obtained kTCC−chlorineC was consistent with the experimental determined second-order rate constant (kTCC−chlorineE, 3.70 M−1 s−1) in chlorination process. Eight transformation products (TP348, TP382, TP127, TP161, TP195, TP330, TP204, and TP296) were experimentally detected for chlorination of TCC, which could also be predicted by DFT calculation. Explicit water molecules participated in the chlorination reaction by transmitting the proton and connecting with TCC, HOCl/OCl− and other H2O molecules, and obviously reduced the energy barrier of chlorination.

The Effect of Fresh Moringa Leaf Consumption During Pregnancy on Maternal Hemoglobin Level in Southern Ethiopia: Multilevel Analysis of a Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy, significantly impacts maternal health, fetal growth, and development. Moringa leaf is an iron-rich food that can overcome anemia, but there is a lack of evidence on the association between fresh moringa leaf consumption and maternal hemoglobin level during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to test the effect of fresh moringa leaf consumption during pregnancy on maternal hemoglobin levels in southern Ethiopia. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2022 among 230 fresh moringa leaf consumers and 230 non-consumers pregnant women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and hemoglobin level was determined by HemoCue Hb 301. Multivariate multilevel linear regression models were fitted using Statistical Software for Data Science (STATA) version 14. The overall mean hemoglobin level among pregnant women was 11.76 g/dl ± 1.47 [12.06 g/dl ± 1.22 among fresh moringa leaf consumers and 11.45 g/dl ± 1.64 among non-consumers] with a significant coefficient of association (β) of 0.90 g/dl [β = 0.90 g/dl, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.27]. A number of under-five children, bleeding during the current pregnancy, male-headed household, and current antenatal care visit were the individual-level factors. Distance from the nearest health facility and urban dweller was identified as the community-level factor associated with maternal hemoglobin level during pregnancy. This study showed that the consumption of fresh moringa leaf during pregnancy increases the level of hemoglobin. So policymakers and maternal and child health program managers need to target moringa tree scale-up and encourage fresh moringa leaf consumption during pregnancy, but its use needs additional rigorous clinical trials. In addition to this, mark the above factors in their efforts to increase maternal hemoglobin levels during pregnancy.

Household costs and care seeking patterns associated with COVID-19 in Blantyre, Malawi.

Economic consequences of COVID-19 illness and healthcare use for households in low income countries are not well known. We estimated costs associated with COVID-19 care-seeking and treatment from a household perspective and assessed determinants of treatment costs. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted between December 2020 and November 2021 in urban and peri-urban areas of Blantyre district. Adults (age ≥18 years) with confirmed COVID-19 were asked to report the symptoms they experienced or prompted them to seek COVID-19 tests as well as healthcare seeking behaviors preceding and following COVID-19 diagnosis. For individuals who sought healthcare, information on out-of-pocket expenditures incurred while seeking and receiving care including on transport, food etc. by both the patients and their guardians was collected. Finally, data on time use seeking, receiving care and during convalesces was recorded. Multivariate Generalized Linear Models were used to evaluate association between household COVID-19 costs and their determinants. Of 171 individuals who took part in the study, the average age was 40.7 years, standard deviation (SD) 15.0, and 50.8% were females. Most participants (85.3%) were symptomatic. Of these, 67.8% sought care at health facilities and the majority (91.7%) were treated as outpatients. The average total household cost associated with COVID-19 seeking, receiving care and convalescence was $62.81 (SD $126.02). Average costs for outpatient and inpatient cases were $52.96 (SD $54.35) and $172.39 (SD $407.08), respectively. Average out-of-pocket household expenditures were $42.62 (SD $123.10), accounting for 62% of total household costs. Being a male COVID-19 patient and engagement in formal employment were significantly associated with high COVID-19 household costs. Households face high economic burden related to COVID-19 sickness and healthcare use. Social policies that support households cope with both the direct and indirect COVID-19 cost are needed to ensure access to healthcare and protect households from COVID-19 related shocks.

A Critical Review of the Sustainability of South Africa's Health System, User’s Satisfaction and Key Performance Scores

The South African Government has made accessibility and equity the primary focus of its health policy objectives since 1994. However, the extent to which these policies achieve their aims of lessening inequality is not synthetically documented. This study critically reviews and synthesises the literature on the nature of the South African health system, user’s satisfaction and key performance scores. The study conducted a content analysis of several research papers and policy papers in the South African health sector. The review showed that the current health system is dualistic, indicating that the public health system is not living up to the National Core Scores and that this has impacted negatively on the level of satisfaction of households. The evidence demonstrated ongoing discrepancies in access to and use of health services, notwithstanding legislative initiatives. Moreover, the review showed that user’s perceptions of the quality of public healthcare services are deteriorating in South Africa. There is evidence of treatment delays, long waiting times, acute shortages of doctors, specialists and nurses, a lack of appropriate medication and poor health services delivery. The evidence provided about the South African health system can contribute to global policy discussions about health equity on the use of health services by households from different socioeconomic backgrounds and how policies can increase access to quality health care for low-income households.
 

"We want to hug a friend": the covid-19 pandemic among low-income adolescents.

To examine the perceptions of adolescent students from a public school, of both sexes, living in a peripheral region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in relation to the covid-19 pandemic, with a special focus on their experiences regarding education and sociability. This study is part of the Global Early Adolescent Study. Seven face-to-face focus groups were conducted with adolescents between 13 and 16 years old (19 girls and 15 boys) in 2021. The experience of remote teaching was frustrating for the adolescents, without the daily and personalized monitoring of the teacher(s). In addition to the difficult or impossible access to devices and the lack of support from schools, there is also the domestic environment, which made the schooling process more difficult, especially for girls, who were forced to take on more household and family care tasks. The closed school blocked an important space for socialization and forced family interaction, generating conflicts and stress in the home environment. The abrupt rupture brought feelings of fear, uncertainty, anguish and loneliness. The iterative evocation of the words "stuck", "alone" and "loneliness" and the phrase "there was no one to talk to" shows how most of the adolescents experienced the period of distancing. The pandemic aggravated the objective and subjective conditions of preexisting feelings, such as "not knowing the future" and the prospects of a life project. It has been documented how pandemic control measures implemented in a fragmented way and without support for the most impoverished families have negative effects on other spheres of life, in particular for poor young people. The school is a privileged territory to propose/construct actions that help adolescents to deal with problems aggravated in/by the pandemic.

The financial burden of out of pocket payments on medicines among households in Ethiopia: analysis of trends and contributing factors

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, out-of-pocket (OOP) payment is the key means of healthcare financing, and expenses on medicines are a crucial component of such payment. This study aims to investigate the financial implications of OOP payments on medicines for Ethiopian households.MethodsThe study involved a secondary data analysis of the national household consumption and expenditure surveys of 2010/11 and 2015/16. The "capacity-to-pay" method was used to calculate catastrophic OOP medicine expenditures. The extent of economic status related to catastrophic medicine payment inequity was calculated using concentration index estimation. The impoverishment consequences of OOP payment on medicine were estimated using poverty headcount and poverty gap analysis methods. Logistic regression models were used to identify the variables that predict catastrophic medicine payments.ResultsMedicines accounted for the majority of healthcare spending (> 65%) across the surveys. From 2010 to 2016, the total percentage of households facing catastrophic medicine payments decreased from 1% to 0.73%. However, the actual number of people expected to have experienced catastrophic medicine payments increased from 399,174 to 401,519 people. Payment for medicines pushed 11,132 households into poverty in 2015/16. The majority of disparities were explained by economic status, place of residence, and type of health services.ConclusionOOP payment on medicine accounted for the majority of total health expenses in Ethiopia. A high medicine OOP payment continued to push households into catastrophic payments and impoverishment. Household seeking inpatient care, those with lower economic status and urban residents were among the most affected. Hence, innovative approaches to improve the supply of medicines in public facilities especially those in urban settings and risk protection mechanisms for medicine expenditures particularly for inpatient care are recommended.

A Comparative Study on Cash Flow Statements of Dabur India Ltd. and Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. of India

It is said that “Cash is king”. Cash flow analysis is the most important elements for the company. It helps to understand how much cash a business generated or used during a specific accounting period. The common statement of cash flow makes a bridge between the income statement and balance sheet by showing how cash moved in and out of the business. The Fast-moving consumer goods industry is growing tremendously. It is the fourth largest sector of nation. It is divided into main three sectors: household and personal care, healthcare and food and beverages. According to recent data Indian FMCG market has reached US dollar 56.8 billion in December 2022. In this research paper the two Indian giant FMCG company i.e., Dabur Indian Limited and Godrej consumer limited has been considered. The analysis of cash flow statement is carried out for five years. It helps to know how company manages its cash inflow and outflow.

What and How are we Measuring When we Research Gendered Divisions of Domestic Labor? Remaking the Household Portrait Method into a Care/Work Portrait

The porous and shifting boundaries within and between care and work concepts, and practices and their related measurement complexities call for innovative conceptual and methodological approaches to research on work and care. This article details how we reconfigured the Household Portrait – a qualitative, participatory, visual, creative method that engages couples in mapping and discussing their household and care tasks and responsibilities – into a Care/Work Portrait. Informed by conceptual shifts in care theories, the Care/Work Portrait offers theoretical and methodological advantages for studying gendered divisions and relations of household work and care. It attends to unpaid care work/paid work/paid care work intra-connections, moves outside the household to include community-based work, deepens distinctions between tasks and responsibilities, and considers wider forms and contexts of care. This method goes beyond who does what tallies to bring forth relational, temporal, spatial stories about people’s complex care/work configurations and the specific contexts, constraints, supports, and structuring conditions of their lives.

Transmission of COVID-19 in Nightlife, Household, and Health Care Settings in Tokyo, Japan, in 2020

There have been few studies on the heterogeneous interconnection of COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in different social settings using robust, surveillance epidemiological data. To describe the characteristics of COVID-19 transmission within different social settings and to evaluate settings associated with onward transmission to other settings. This is a case series study of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tokyo between January 23 and December 5, 2020, when vaccination was not yet implemented. Using epidemiological investigation data collected by public health centers, epidemiological links were identified and classified into 7 transmission settings: imported, nightlife, dining, workplace, household, health care, and other. The number of cases per setting and the likelihood of generating onward transmissions were compared between different transmission settings. Of the 44 054 confirmed COVID-19 cases in this study, 25 241 (57.3%) were among male patients, and the median (IQR) age of patients was 36 (26-52) years. Transmission settings were identified in 13 122 cases, including 6768 household, 2733 health care, and 1174 nightlife cases. More than 6600 transmission settings were detected, and nightlife (72 of 380 [18.9%]; P < .001) and health care (119 [36.2%]; P < .001) settings were more likely to involve 5 or more cases than dining, workplace, household, and other settings. Nightlife cases appeared in the earlier phase of the epidemic, while household and health care cases appeared later. After adjustment for transmission setting, sex, age group, presence of symptoms, and wave, household and health care cases were less likely to generate onward transmission compared with nightlife cases (household: adjusted odds ratio, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02-0.05; health care: adjusted odds ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41-0.79). Household settings were associated with intergenerational transmission, while nonhousehold settings mainly comprised transmission between the same age group. Among 30 932 cases without identified transmission settings, cases with a history of visiting nightlife establishments were more likely to generate onward transmission to nonhousehold settings (adjusted odds ratio, 5.30 [95% CI, 4.64-6.05]; P < .001) than those without such history. In this case series study, COVID-19 cases identified in nightlife settings were associated with a higher likelihood of spreading COVID-19 than household and health care cases. Surveillance and interventions targeting nightlife settings should be prioritized to disrupt COVID-19 transmission, especially in the early stage of an epidemic.

Mobilizing care? WeChat for older adults’ digital kinship and informal care in Wuhan households

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the digital amplify all aspects of our lives—work, sociality, health, intimacy, care, and inequality. In a time of restrictions and physical distancing, the role of the digital for social inclusion—especially for older adults—was heightened with many having to care at a distance. Our study focuses on older adults from Wuhan and the role of the dominant social media app, WeChat, for intergenerational informal care through digital literacy during and after the pandemic. Often characterized in global media as the place where the virus began, many of the quotidian experiences of Wuhan people have been overlooked. We reflect upon ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Wuhan in 2020–2021 with 10 households. We are particularly interested in how kinship care practices in Wuhan households—as sites for complex configurations of intergenerational practices that converge digital, social, and material worlds—have shifted during the pandemic. We ask: what are the learnings, opportunities and limitations around smartphone apps like WeChat for informal care as part of filial piety? In sum, what are the possibilities and limitations for mobilizing care?

What Are Culturally Relevant Activities of Daily Living in the Asian-Indian Population? A Survey of 402 Patients With Knee Pain.

Patient-reported outcome measures are essential tools in assessing clinical outcomes. Although several patient-reported outcome measures such as the Oxford Knee Score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score have been developed and validated, their applicability in the Asian-Indian population may be limited; key cultural differences including varying functional demands, ethnicity-specific necessities, and social expectations represent a unique collection of needs. Such differences include preferences toward ground-level activities and those favoring the manual completion of tasks. (1) Which activities of daily living (ADLs) do patients in an Asian-Indian population consider the most important? (2) How do the categories of ADLs (personal care, household, work, travel, and recreation) vary among patients of different gender (men and women) and age (< 60 and > 60 years) groups? A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2019 at a hospital in Mumbai, India. We developed a questionnaire with five domains for physical activity (personal care, household, work, travel, and recreation) formulated from a review and modification of existing categories identified by the WHO and the American Heart Association. Forty key ADLs were identified according to input obtained from detailed interviews of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with orthopaedic illness, based on established domains. Respondents were instructed to identify the ADLs that were the most relevant to their lifestyle and culture. Responses from 402 patients (mean age 60 ± 12 years; 51% [206 of 402] were women) were analyzed to identify the most commonly selected ADLs. Responses were further evaluated to understand the impact of gender and age on these preferences by comparing men and women, as well as younger (age < 60 years) and older (age > 60 years) patients. The three most frequently reported ADLs in each domain, representing the ADLs that were the most important to the Asian-Indian population, were standing without assistance (82% [331 of 402]), getting up with support (81% [324 of 402]), and toilet use (74% [298 of 402]) in the personal activity category; climbing stairs (80% [322 of 402]), sitting cross-legged (80% [320 of 402]), and praying (79% [319 of 402]) in the household activity category; going to the market (72% [291 of 402]), long-distance walking (62% [250 of 402]), and carrying a shopping bag (60% [242 of 402]) in the work activity category; walking on an uneven surface (66% [266 of 402]), using a taxi (61% [247 of 402]), and traveling by train (59% [239 of 402]) in the travel activity category; and yoga (67% [269 of 402]), playing with children (66% [264 of 402]), and indoor games (63% [252 of 402]) in the recreational activity category. The order of importance of ADL domains was identical in the men versus women groups as well as in the younger age versus older age groups; ADL domains with the highest number of selected ADLs in order of decreasing importance were household care, personal care, work, travel, and recreation when analyzed by individual gender and age groups. Women were more likely than men to report the following ADLs as being important: climbing stairs (84% [172 of 206] of women and 77% [150 of 196] of men), getting up without support (83% [171 of 206] of women and 78% [153 of 196] of men), going to the market (74% [152 of 206] of women and 71% [139 of 196] of men), walking on uneven surfaces (67% [139 of 206] of women and 65% [127 of 196] of men), and playing with children (72% [148 of 206] of women and 59% [116 of 196] of men). The findings of this study aim to help providers engage in personalized and socioculturally relevant discussions about knee arthritis. Highlighted areas of importance may facilitate a more comprehensive preoperative discussion of total joint arthroplasty expectations in the context of the needs and demands of Asian-Indian patients. The findings of this study could establish the groundwork for the development of ethnicity-specific patient-reported outcome measures by incorporating the identified ADLs in novel metrics with validation of face and content validity.Level of Evidence Level III, prognostic study.

Simple and fast microderivatization method for determining formaldehyde using narrow-bore liquid chromatography with UV detection.

Formaldehyde is a harmful substance that can cause sick building syndrome and other diseases, such as contact allergy, asthma, leukemia, cancer, and brain/neuron disorders. Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous chemical owing to its use in many common products, including as a preservative in household and personal care products. To prevent overexposure to formaldehyde, a simple method for determining and controlling the formaldehyde content in commercial products is required. In this study, 3-aminoquinoline (3-AQ) was used to derivatize formaldehyde under mild conditions (2 min at 30 °C) without the use of catalysts or activators. The derivatized sample solutions were separated using narrow-bore liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet (UV) detector in a run time of only 5 min. All sample extraction and derivatization protocols were performed on the microliter scale to reduce the use of organic solvents. The linear range for the determination was 5-1000 μg mL-1, with a detection limit of approximately 1 μg mL-1 (2 ng per 2 μL injection). The proposed microscale method was successfully applied to the analysis of formaldehyde in commercial household products.

Mutual Health Insurance Model: Strategic Axis for Access to Health Care for Households in the DRC. Case Analysis of the Mutuelle De Santé De Kinshasa

Mutual Health Insurance Model: Strategic Axis for Access to Health Care for Households in the DRC. Case Analysis of the Mutuelle De Santé De Kinshasa

Characteristics of Asian American Family Caregivers of Older Adults Compared to Caregivers of Other Racial/Ethnic Groups: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2015-2020.

Asian Americans (AAs) are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic minority group in the United States. While otherwise highly heterogeneous, AAs overall value filial piety and eldercare. This study compared the health and caregiving experiences of AA caregivers of older adults to AA non-caregivers and caregivers of older adults across racial/ethnic groups. We used 2015-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 315 AA caregivers and 3822 AA non-caregivers, plus 395 American Indian/Alaska Native, 1883 Black, 1292 Hispanic, and 20,321 non-Hispanic White caregivers. Among AAs, 4.3% were caregivers, a lower proportion than in other racial/ethnic groups. Most AA caregivers were female (59%), married (71%), in excellent/very good/good health (76%), and with at least one chronic health condition (66%). Other than relationship to care recipients, caregivers' experiences were similar across racial/ethnic groups: most cared for <20 hours/week and provided household and personal care. Efforts to support AA caregivers should be attentive to cultural practices.

WHEN FAMILIES DISAGREE: CORRELATES AND STRESS PROCESS OUTCOMES OF FAMILY CAREGIVER DISAGREEMENT

Abstract Dementia caregiving is a family affair, yet prior research suggests that families often disagree about care provision. We explore correlates of such disagreements and how disagreements relate to stress process outcomes of care. The current study examines 552 family caregivers for Medicare-eligible older adults with dementia from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving. We consider demographic and care characteristics as predictors of family disagreement in a multinomial logistic model, and family disagreement as the key predictor of caregiving overload, emotional difficulty, and gains in linear regressions. Females had greater odds of disagreement, while those with friends and family to talk to and providing assistance with household care activities had lower odds of disagreement. Family disagreement was significantly associated with overload (B=0.95, p&amp;lt;.001) and emotional difficulty (B=0.45, p&amp;lt;.05), but not gains. Interventions to help families manage care disagreements and coordinate care may have great impact on caregiver well-being.

1972. Sources of COVID-19 Exposure Among Health Care Personnel in a Large Tertiary Care Medical Center.

Abstract Background Introduction: Health care personnel (HCP) are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. However, the exposure sources among HCP are poorly understood. Methods Design: We conducted active surveillance for all employed HCP newly diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2022. We inquired about their sources of exposure using a standardized health department checklist and CDC guidance for managing healthcare personnel with SARS-CoV-2 infection or exposure. Results Among all 8,766 HCP, 2,220 (25.3%) tested positive. Among positive cases, 749 (33.7%), 651 (29.3%), and 221 (10%) were among ancillary services HCP, RNs, and allied HCP, respectively (Table 1). The majority of the sources of exposures were unknown (57.8%), followed by household (26.2%), community (10.5%), and health care (5.5%), respectively. The incidence of COVID-19 increased with level of patient contact regardless of source of exposure. The majority of the cases, N=1054 (47.5%), occurred among HCP who were not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines and had unknown exposure, and vaccination status varied by source of exposure (Table 2). HCP COVID-19 cases mirrored transmission in the community (Figure). Table 1.Incidence of COVID-19 Among Employed HCP Overall and by Exposure Type (N=8766)Table 2.Vaccine status among Employed HCP Covid-19 Cases by Source of Exposure (N=2220)Figure.HCP COVID-19 cases by exposure type (Left Axis) in the Central New York region (Right Axis) between March 2020 and February 2022. Conclusion The majority of HCP cases had no known exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and were not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines highlighting the importance of vaccination as the single most effective mean to COVID-19 prevention among HCP. Disclosures Jana Shaw, MD,MS,MPH, Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant Stephen J. Thomas, MD, Clover: case adjudication committee (compensated for time)|EdJen: Advisor/Consultant|Icosavax: data monitoring (compensated for time)|Island Pharma: Ownership Interest|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Moderna: chair, safety monitoring committee (compensated for time)|New Day Diagnostics: Honoraria|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|PrimeVax: Ownership Interest|Sanofi Pasteur: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: case adjudication committee (compensated for time)|Vaxxinity: data monitoring committee (compensated for time).

Ecotoxicological Effects of the Anionic Surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) in Two Marine Primary Producers: Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Ulva lactuca.

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) is an anionic surfactant, extensively used in detergents, household and personal care products, as well as in industrial processes. The present study aimed to disclose the potential toxicological effects of SDS exposure under environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 3, and 10 mg L-1) on the physiology and biochemistry (photosynthesis, pigment, and lipid composition, antioxidative systems, and energy balance) of two marine autotrophs: the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the macroalgae Ulva lactuca. A growth rate (GR) reduction in P. tricornutum was observed with a classic dose-response effect towards the highest applied concentration, while a GR increase occurred in U. lactuca. Regarding photochemistry, the decrease in the fluorescence of the OJIP curves and laser-induced fluorescence allowed a better separation between SDS treatments in U. lactuca compared with P. tricornutum. Although all pigments significantly decreased in U. lactuca at the highest concentrations (except for antheraxanthin), no significant variations occurred in P. tricornutum. On the other hand, changes in fatty acid content were observed in P. tricornutum but not in U. lactuca. In terms of classical biomarker assessment, a dose-effect relationship of individual biomarkers versus SDS dose applied; U. lactuca displayed a higher number of biomarker candidates, including those in distinct metabolic pathways, increasing its usefulness for ecotoxicological applications. By evaluating the potential application of optical and biochemical traits, it was evident that the fatty acid profiles of the different exposure groups are excellent candidates in P. tricornutum, concomitant with the characteristics of this anionic surfactant. On the other hand, the results presented by laser-induced fluorescence and some parameters of PAM fluorometry in U. lactuca may be an advantage in the field, offering non-invasive, fast, easy-to-use, high-throughput screening techniques as excellent tools for ecotoxicology assessment.