Personal Protective Devices Research Articles

The health risks associated with long-term fuel exposure on Saudi Arabian workers: Prevention strategies and best practices

Clinically, petroleum products contain harmful chemicals. The health impacts of fuel pollution have become a real environmental problem in Saudi Arabia, which largely rely on the petroleum industries. The aim of this review paper is to highlight the health risk associated with long-term exposure to fuel pollutions on the workers of Saudi Arabia, and to elaborate the prevention and protection strategies for safety practices. The review showed how the workers in Saudi Arabia (as a leading oil producer country) exposed to fuel during their work in its volatile form (volatile organic compound; VOC). This air pollution can cause adverse effect on their health (e.g., hematological disorders) as was reported in many places within Saudi Arabia. The review also reflected the needs for evaluation parameters to assess the level of exposure to these contaminants. Also, recent evidence was introduced about acute and long-term exposure to VOCs was introduced. The systemic health implications, included respiratory, immunological, hematological, dermatological, renal, reproductive, and central nervous system pathologies. The review also discusses the protection and safety strategy to promote the health status of the worker and also hammering on the personal protection devices.

A decision-making model for blasting risk assessment in mines using FBWM and GRA methods

Due to the extensive use of explosives, the failure to identify hazards and assess risks in blasting may lead to catastrophic consequences. However, classical risk assessment approaches are limited in their ability to address ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as in assigning weights to the criteria involved in the risk assessment process. This study employs a multi-criteria decision-making system to address these limitations and assess the risks associated with blasting. The proposed model integrates Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) to prioritize risks and the Fuzzy Best-Worst Method (FBWM) to assign weights to the criteria critical to the risk assessment process. The findings indicated that “not using personal anti-static protection devices during blasting (R12)”, “placing the explosive fuse near explosive materials (R15)”, and “bringing explosive materials to the explosion site before completing drilling and blasting operations (R23)” were the most significant blasting risks, respectively. These risks stem from operational processes, human factors, and the working environment, thus requiring special attention. The weighting of the study criteria, including Consequence (C), Probability (P), and Exposure (E), revealed that the C criterion, with a final weight of 0.538, was the most influential in the risk assessment process. The P and E criteria, with weights of 0.294 and 0.167, respectively, ranked second and third in importance among the assessment criteria. To ensure the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method, a validation study comprising two distinct parts—sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis—was conducted. The results of these evaluations highlighted the appropriate and reliable performance of the proposed approach. This approach can assist decision-makers, managers, and risk analysts in more accurately identifying and assessing risks by addressing some of the limitations inherent in classical risk assessment methods.

Improvement of the model for calculating the protection coefficient of filtering respirators from harmful aerosol

Research objective. Improvement of the model for calculating the protection coefficient of filtering respirators from harmful solid aerosol. Materials and methods. For the experimental determination of the protection coefficient of the filtering respirator according to the standard DSTU EN 149:2017 «Personal respiratory protective devices. Filtering half masks to protect against aerosols. Requirements, testing, marking» and the application of the method DSTU EN 13274-1:2005 «Personal respiratory protective devices. Methods of testing. Part 1. Determination of the penetration coefficient and the overall penetration coefficient», lightweight filtering half masks of «Standard» FFP2 type were used on volunteers. Results. The protection coefficient of the filtering respirators used on volunteers in laboratory conditions was calculated at the specified concentration of test aerosol in the ambient air by the standard testing method described in DSTU EN 13274-1:2005 «Personal respiratory protective devices. Methods of testing. Part 1. Determination of the penetration coefficient and the overall penetration coefficient» and takes into account the measurement error from the instruments not exceeding 10%. A comparison of the obtained indicators of the protection coefficient of filtering respirators in laboratory conditions and with the developed theoretical model, taking into account particle deposition in the sampling probe and submask space during the exhalation process, showed a good agreement of the indicators by the Student's t-test criterion. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty lies in the development of a model for calculating the protection coefficient of filtering respirators based on the assessed mass distribution function of aerosol particles in the breathing zone; penetration function through the gap between the face and the half mask, taking into account the inhalation and exhalation process, as well as particle deposition in the sampling probe. Practical significance of the work lies in the development of a formula for the theoretical determination of the protection coefficient of filtering respirators, which is used to calculate the professional risk of pneumoconiosis among users

Droplet Micro-Sensor and Detection of Respiratory Droplet Transmission.

Droplet transmission is the primary infection route for respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and influenza, but small and low-cost wearable droplet detection devices are a significant challenge. Herein, a respiratory droplet micro-sensor based on graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) assembled onto SiO2 microspheres by the nebulized natural deposition is presented. Benefiting from the energy dissipation of the microsphere to droplets, the sensor can detect droplets as far as 2 m from coughing. With this sensor, droplet signal variations caused by some factors like distance, speech, angles, and wind directions are explored, and the effectiveness of different protective measures in preventing droplet transmission is evaluated. This droplet detection technology is expected to be utilized for the development of personal detection and protection devices against infectious respiratory diseases.

Lightweight and robust cellulose/MXene/polyurethane composite aerogels as personal protective wearable devices for electromagnetic interference shielding

The increasing electromagnetic pollution is urgently needed as an electromagnetic interference shielding protection device for wearable devices. Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXene), due to their interesting layered structure and high electrical conductivity, are ideal candidates for constructing efficient conductive networks in electromagnetic interference shielding materials. In this work, lightweight and robust cellulose/MXene/polyurethane composite aerogels were prepared by mixing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) suspensions with MXene, followed by freeze-drying and coating with polyurethane. In this process, CNF effectively assembled MXene nanosheets into a conductive network by enhancing the interactions between MXene nanosheets. The prepared aerogel exhibited the shielding effectiveness of 48.59 dB in the X-band and an electrical conductivity of 0.34 S·cm−1. Meanwhile, the composite aerogel also possessed excellent thermal insulation, infrared stealth, mechanical and hydrophobic properties, and can be used as a wearable protective device to protect the human body from injuries in different scenarios while providing electromagnetic interference shielding protection.

EACVI survey on radiation exposure in interventional echocardiography.

The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) Scientific Initiatives Committee performed a global survey on radiation exposure in interventional echocardiography. The survey aimed to collect data on local practices for radioprotection in interventional echocardiography and to assess the awareness of echocardiography operators about radiation-related risks. A total of 258 interventional echocardiographers from 52 different countries (48% European) responded to the survey. One hundred twenty-two (47%) participants were women. Two-thirds (76%) of interventional echocardiographers worked in tertiary care/university hospitals. Interventional echocardiography was the main clinical activity for 34% of the survey participants. The median time spent in the cath-lab for the echocardiographic monitoring of structural heart procedures was 10 (5-20) hours/month. Despite this, only 28% of interventional echocardiographers received periodic training and certification in radioprotection and 72% of them did not know their annual radiation dose. The main adopted personal protection devices were lead aprons and thyroid collars (95% and 92% of use, respectively). Dedicated architectural protective shielding was not available for 33% of interventional echocardiographers. Nearly two-thirds of responders thought that the radiation exposure of interventional echocardiographers was higher than that of interventional cardiologists and 72% claimed for an improvement in the radioprotection measures. Radioprotection measures for interventional echocardiographers are widely variable across centres. Radioprotection devices are often underused by interventional echocardiographers, portending an increased radiation-related risk. International scientific societies working in the field should collaborate to endorse radioprotection training, promote reliable radiation dose assessment, and support the adoption of radioprotection shielding dedicated to interventional echocardiographers.

IJCM_401A: Study of patterns and associated factors of occupational injuries among the people seeking health care in the urban area of Mangalore

Background: Injuries occurring at the workplace are among the most important health concerns these days. This study was done to study the patterns of compensations available to those seeking health care for occupational injuries and to assess the level of implementation of occupational safety measures in their workplaces. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital, Mangalore included all adults who were seeking health care for occupational injuries during the study period. A pre-tested semi-structured proforma, which included employment details, working conditions, type/s of injuries, availability & utility of Personal Protective Devices, and Compensations availed for health reasons was used and the collected data were analysed using SPSS version 25. The results were expressed as proportions. To compare the groups, the Chi-square test was used and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 164 patients with a mean age of 38.6 years (SD: 9.85). Overall, 92.1% did not have any pre-employment training regarding PPEs applicable to their work. Also, 81.7% of the employers did not provide any PPEs. But among Government sector employees, 77.8% of their employers provided them with PPEs. The proportion was highest among Government employees when compared to others regarding the provision of PPEs. This difference across the groups was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: High number of injuries at the workplace were related to the musculoskeletal system. Awareness and use of PPEs at the workplace were poor among the study population.

Stone mining work and dust pollution in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.

Dust pollution is common in Indian roads and several industrial settings (including mines) that affects human health. Identification and characterization of the dust particles in the mining area is essential for knowing the properties of the dust that effectively causes ailments to humans, particularly among workers those who are working in unorganized industrial settings. The present study aimed to determine the level of dust pollution and to know the size and characterize the dust particles in the Pachami-Hatgacha stone mine areas of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. Dust samples were collected and analysed for Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to determine the size and shape of the particles, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the free silica content, and X-ray Florence (XRF) analysis for quantitative estimation of components in the sample. All the analyses were done following standard instrumentation and techniques. The size of the dust particles was much less (ranges 101-298nm) than the size of respirable particles (2500nm). Those were mostly generated as well as precipitated during peak working hours of the day. Presence of considerable amounts of silica was confirmed by the FT-IR (strong and broad band at 1000cm-1) and XRF analysis (76.85% SiO2). Exposure to these dust particles may cause severe health impairments. Therefore, interventions like wet drilling and blasting, sprinkling of water during peak working hours, and awareness of use of personal protective devices among workers are required to reduce the risk and hazards associated with dust pollution to the health of miners and inhabitants around the mines.

Ocular morbidity patterns among metal workers from an unorganized sector: A cross-sectional study

Introduction and Aim: The metal working process has many hazards that the metal workers are exposed to resulting in several health disorders and diseases. However, there is a lack of documented information regarding the prevalence of ophthalmic safety practices and the factors influencing them among metal workers in the Moradabad region or the study area. The aim of the present study is to assess ocular morbidity patterns among the metal workers from an unorganized sector. Methods: We conducted this study to find out the morbidity patterns among the metal workers working in Northwestern Uttar Pradesh, district Moradabad. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 metal workers using a pre-validated structured questionnaire. Results: All the metal workers working, without any formal eye health and safety training. Eye Injury was the most common problem at work. The age of the metal workers, duration of employment & welding hours per day were associated with ocular morbidities among the metal workers. In this study, among 100 metal workers, 18% of workers were suffering from an occupational eye injury. 98% metal workers population don’t have any personal protective eye device.86% of them feel this protective eye device is not so necessary. Conclusion: There is a need for occupational health safety awareness services for metal workers in Moradabad as well as in Uttar Pradesh. While further research may be required to make policy recommendations, the current study provides a baseline morbidity burden among these mental workers to look for interventions to promote health and safety at work for this neglected unorganized group.

Re-inventing protection in a post-pandemic world: A new aerodynamic endonasal filtration technology

Is there a “missing device” for respiratory personal protection? Does it exist an easy-to-use device, allowing extensive use in everyday settings by the population, maximizing tolerability and low visual and physical invasiveness protecting from a wide range of threats including airborne pathogens, hence including the particle range of fine and ultrafine particles? Looking at the recent past, in the urgency of finding ready-to-use solutions for the respiratory protection of the population during the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, devices for occupational safety have been used, such as filtering face masks. These are devices intended for workers operating during work shifts in environments characterized by potential high risk, known a priori, often directly sensible; this makes wearers motivated to tolerate discomfort for a given period to face a localized risk, and safety managers determined to supervise compliance with usage specifications. Their use by general population has implied known shortcomings, such as weak compatibility with relational work and activities, low tolerability during prolonged use, low compliance with the proper use of the device, all of this lessening actual protection. The need for a new perspective has emerged, targeting effectiveness in whole daily life, rather than punctual efficacy. Nasal filters are promising candidates to protect individuals throughout the day during the most varied activities, but they lack a systematic definition as a device and as a product; it follows that the high complexity needed to reach an effective performance envelop is generally underestimated. By reviewing available literature, the present paper draws on the experience from the pandemic and infers systematic product specifications and characterization methods for a new, effective personal respiratory protection device; these specifications are compared with the stringent constraints associated with the endonasal applications and, based on air filtration state of the art, quantifies the need for technology disruption and outlining possible new development paths.

Epidemiology of Occupational Injuries and Workplace Assessment in Turnery Industries at an Industrial District, Eastern Cairo, Egypt

Background Occupational injury could be fatal or non-fatal with lost work time. Turneries are workplaces in which multiple simultaneous health hazards occur and the most common hazards are mechanical hazards. Objective To measure the frequency and types of injuries among a sample of turnery workers, to identify risk factors of occupational injuries among them, and to describe the environmental conditions at some of these turneries as a part of occupational safety prospective. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 75 workers in three Industrial areas in Eastern Cairo El-herafeen, Madinat Al-salam and El-Abour. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire with both close and open-ended questions, and an observational environmental checklists were filled by the researcher. Results Seventy-five turnery workers were interviewed, (76%) of them reporting injury during the last 12 months. About (46.7%) of operators believing that their work is extremely dangerous. The most significant determinants for occupational injuries (p value < 0.05) were lack of safety training, non-use of personal protective devices and work hazard perception. In environmental assessment, all work stations had non-covered traditional machines, only 2 work stations out of 10 assessed had natural ventilation with open windows; not any of the work stations had regular noise survey neither did any of the workers use hearing protection equipment even though it was available in 2 work stations; only 4 work stations had floors free from protruding nails, splinters, holes and loose boards, goggles were available in 4 stations while gloves and rubber boots were available in 6 stations. Conclusion Most of workers in small scale work stations specialized in turnery industry had occupational injury during the last 12 months. Most of the observed workstations did not comply with advised safety checklist.

From sawdust to safety: Examining knowledge and practices of respiratory protective measures among sawmill workers in South-Eastern Nigeria

The availability of timber products and the increase in demand for construction and export have made it a thriving business in Nigeria. . Chronic respiratory symptoms are common among sawmill workers because of their exposure to occupational-related sawdust hazards. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, self-reported respiratory symptoms, and protective measure in place by the sawmill workers. This was a cross-sectional study and it was carried out at Timber market, Nkwo-Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria with a sample size of 157. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the statistical package for social sciences. The result of the study showed that nearly all the respondents were male (97.5%) and the majority were between 30-49 years of age. 45.9% of the respondents had worked at the sawmill for 10 years and above. The majority of the respondents were aware that the sawmill dust can affect their respiratory health 119(75.8%).Some of the respiratory problem reported include: Cough 97(61.8%), Cold 81(51.6%), Chest tightness 18(11.5%), Wheeze 17(10.5%), Shortness of breath 12(7.6%). The study indicated that majority of the respondents do not make use of personal protective device 100(63.7%) whilst only 57(36.3%) make use of personal protective equipment. Some of the common reasons cited for not using PPE were that it was not comfortable 44(43%) and that the PPE was not available 34(34%). A great percentage of the sawmill workers had poor knowledge of respiratory protective measures (37.0%). The sawmill workers had a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms probably because poor safety practices were evident. It is therefore essential to improve the level of knowledge among sawmill workers about occupational hazards and safety practices in order to mitigate its negative consequences. These can be achieved via periodic health awareness campaigns, and health policies by the government with the aim to enforce the sawmill workers to observe proper protective measures while working.

Localisation of PPE manufacturing during COVID-19 (local manufacturing partnership and Kingsgate Clothing South Africa)

Learning outcomes • After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following:• Identify the difference between core competencies and dynamic capabilities and how they make a difference in a crisis towards building an agile organisation.• Evaluate the support through a collaborative, temporary, trans-organisational system to local manufacturers to achieve agility and sustainability.• Realise the importance of clear expectations exchange and communication between partners to enhance collaboration, even in temporary structures in increasing agility and sustainability. Case overview/synopsis The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns created a crisis for South Africa and the President, Cyril Ramaphosa called for urgent collaboration between business, labour and government to meet the demand for locally produced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical devices. The case illustrates this response and collaboration between government, labour and business through a temporary newly formed structure, called Business for South Africa (B4SA). Ross Boyd, Head of the innovation work stream of B4SA which housed the local manufacturing partnership (LMP) was considering his dilemma of how to be agile in sustaining their support to the South African manufacturers even though the LMP was a temporary structure. The local manufacturers had to repurpose their production lines to produce local PPE and medical devices. How could the LMP support the South African manufacturers to sustain their agility in building capabilities during COVID-19? At the same time, Ahmed Dhai, the Group Executive of Operations of Kingsgate Clothing, which was benefiting from the support of the LMP, was reflecting on his leadership in taking decisions to repurpose production and increase capacity during COVID-19. Dhai was considering his dilemma of being agile during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The case features several decisions taken by Kingsgate and offers students the opportunity to evaluate these decisions given the fluctuations in supply and demand of PPE and the leadership that Dhai demonstrated in how he communicated and dealt with his staff during the pandemic. Students could also give recommendations to Ross Boyd and Ahmed Dhai on how they could lead their organisations to be more agile during and beyond COVID-19. Complexity academic level The case study is suitable for MBA or MPhil level on Strategy courses. The case would also find good application in Organisational Behaviour and Leadership courses on Masters level and Executive Education programmes. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science.

Bioaerosol-induced in vitro activation of toll-like receptors and inflammatory biomarker expression in waste workers

PurposeOccupational exposure to bioaerosols during waste handling remains a health concern for exposed workers. However, exposure-related health effects and underlying immunological mechanisms are still poorly described.MethodsThe present study assessed the inflammatory potential of work-air samples (n = 56) in vitro and investigated biomarker expression in exposed workers (n = 69) compared to unexposed controls (n = 25). These quantitative results were compared to self-reported health conditions.ResultsPersonal air samples provoked an activation of TLR2 and TLR4 HEK reporter cells in one-third of all samples, indicating that the work environment contained ligands capable of inducing an immune response in vitro. Monocyte levels, as well as plasma biomarker levels, such as IL-1Ra, IL-18 and TNFα were significantly higher in exposed workers, compared to the control group when confounding factors such as BMI, sex, age and smoking habits were accounted for. Furthermore, a significant exposure-related increase in midweek IL-8 levels was measured among exposed workers. Tendencies of increased prevalence of health effects of the respiratory tract were identified in exposed workers.ConclusionInhalable dust provoked TLR activation in vitro, indicating that an exposure-related immune response may be expected in susceptible workers. However, despite significant differences in inflammatory plasma biomarker levels between exposed and unexposed workers, prevalence of self-reported health effects did not differ between the groups. This may be due to the healthy worker effect, or other factors such as adequate use of personal protective respiratory devices or adaptation to the work environment with reduced activation of the immune system.

Levels of Heavy Metals in Blood of Electronic Technicians in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

In human, blood is a body fluid that circulate over the body and transport nutrients and other substances like oxygen, hormones, waste products among others to the cells and organs. It is a dynamic component for the survival and functioning of living organisms. Thus, the levels of heavy metal in the blood of Electronic Technicians were investigated during the dry season of 2021. Forty (40) blood samples from Electronic Technicians were purposively collected with the aid of 5ml needle and syringes into EDTA bottles and placed in an ice-chest, and were taken into laboratory for further analysis of Lead (Pb), Mercy (Hg) and Arsenic (As) respectively. Non-experimental method like interview and observational technique (number of years, age and marital status) were also utilized. The Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), Descriptives Statistics, Single Factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPSS version 23 were used for the organization of data. Result inter-alia reveals that the mean lead (Pb) of 0.64218 ±0.9245 (mg/L) is high. The working experience range of exposure for lead (Pb) revealed further that 11-20years has the highest bioaccumulation value of 12.41mg/L followed by 1-10years having 6.65mg/L respectively. The highest mercury value in the blood of Electronic Technician in this study was 4.45mg/L for an exposure-years of 1-10years working experience while the least mercury value in the blood of Electronic Technician in this study was 0.10mg/L for an exposure-years of 41-50years working experience. The value of arsenic in the blood of Electronic Technicians from 11-12years of experience had the highest value of bioaccumulation of 8.47mg/L followed by1-10years which recorded 3.02mg/L. These values of lead, mercury and arsenic as observed in this study serves as risks factors to the recipient’s health status since they are of higher values to the reference factor. Thus, electronic technician should undergo intensive medical attention to ascertain their health status with heavy metal. Both government and nongovernmental agencies should create sensitization and awareness campaign on the need for the utilization of personal protective devices at work environment no matter the nature of the small and medium-scale enterprises.

Performance Evaluation of Radiation-Shielding Materials and Process Technology for Manufacturing Skin Protection Cream.

Personnel using X-ray devices, the main source of radiation in medical institutions, are primarily affected by scattered rays. When interventionists use radiation for examinations/treatments, their hands may enter the radiation-generating area. The shielding gloves used for protection against these rays restrict movement and cause discomfort. Here, a shielding cream that directly adheres to the skin was developed and examined as a personal protective device; further, its shielding performance was verified. Bismuth oxide and barium sulfate were selected as shielding materials and comparatively evaluated in terms of thickness, concentration, and energy. With increasing wt% of the shielding material, the protective cream became thicker, resulting in improved protection. Furthermore, the shielding performance improved with increasing mixing temperature. Because the shielding cream is applied to the skin and has a protective effect, it must be stable on the skin and easy to remove. During manufacturing, the bubbles were removed, and the dispersion improved by 5% with increasing stirring speed. During mixing, the temperature increased as the shielding performance increased by 5% in the low-energy region. In terms of the shielding performance, bismuth oxide was superior to barium sulfate by approximately 10%. This study is expected to facilitate the mass production of cream in the future.

Advances in Wearable Piezoelectric Sensors for Hazardous Workplace Environments.

Recent advances in wearable energy harvesting technology as solutions to occupational health and safety programs are presented. Workers are often exposed to harmful conditions-especially in the mining and construction industries-where chronic health issues can emerge over time. While wearable sensors technology can aid in early detection and long-term exposure tracking, powering them and the associated risks are often an impediment for their widespread use, such as the need for frequent charging and battery safety. Repetitive vibration exposure is one such hazard, e.g., whole body vibration, yet it can also provide parasitic energy that can be harvested to power wearable sensors and overcome the battery limitations. This review can critically analyze the vibration effect on workers' health, the limitations of currently available devices, explore new options for powering different personal protective equipment devices, and discuss opportunities and directions for future research. The recent progress in self-powered vibration sensors and systems from the perspective of the underlying materials, applications, and fabrication techniques is reviewed. Lastly, the challenges and perspectives are discussed for reference to the researchers who are interested in self-powered vibration sensors.

Benchtop assessment of sealing efficacy and breathability of additively manufactured (AM) face masks.

The onset of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices, and other medical supplies causing many stakeholders and the general public alike to turn to additive manufacturing (AM) as a stopgap when normally accessible devices were not available. However, without a method to test these AM constructs, there continued to be a disconnect between AM suppliers and the community's needs. The objective of this study was to characterize the pressure drop and leakage of four different publicly available AM face mask models with two filter material combinations, as well as to investigate the impact of frame modification techniques including the use of foam strips and hot-water face forming to improve fit when the masks are donned on manikin head forms. AM face mask frame designs were downloaded from public repositories during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. AM face masks were fabricated and tested on manikin head forms within a custom chamber containing dry aerosolized NaCl. Pressure drops, particle penetration, and leakage were evaluated for various flow rates and NaCl concentrations. Results indicated that filter material combination and frame modification played a major role in the overall performance of the AM face masks studied. Filter material combinations showed improved performance when high filtration fabric was used, and the cross-sectional area of the fabric was increased. AM frame modifications appeared to improve AM face mask leakage performance by as much as 69.6%.

Estimated potential death and disability averted with vehicle safety interventions, Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

To evaluate road safety in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and estimate the benefits that vehicle safety interventions would have in this group of countries. We used a counterfactual analysis to assess the reduction in traffic deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost if eight proven vehicle safety technologies and motorcycle helmets were entirely in use in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We modelled each technology using country-level incidence estimations of traffic injuries, and the prevalence and effectiveness of the technology to calculate the reduction in deaths and DALYs if the technology was fitted in the entire vehicle fleet. The availability of electronic stability control, including the antilock braking systems, would provide the most benefits for all road users with estimates of 23.2% (sensitivity analysis range: 9.7-27.8) fewer deaths and 21.1% (9.5-28.1) fewer DALYs. Increased use of seatbelts was estimated to prevent 11.3% (8.11-4.9) of deaths and 10.3% (8.2-14.4) of DALYs. Appropriate and correct use of motorcycle helmets could result in 8.0% (3.3-12.9) fewer deaths and 8.9% (4.2-12.5) fewer DALYs. Our findings show the potential of improved vehicle safety design and personal protective devices (seatbelts and helmets) to reduce traffic deaths and disabilities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These improvements can be achieved by vehicle design regulations and creating consumer demand for safer vehicles and motorcycle helmets through mechanisms such as new car assessment programmes and other initiatives.

Antiviral Peptides in Antimicrobial Surface Coatings—From Current Techniques to Potential Applications

The transmission of pathogens through contact with contaminated surfaces is an important route for the spread of infections. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 highlights the necessity to attenuate surface-mediated transmission. Currently, the disinfection and sanitization of surfaces are commonly performed in this regard. However, there are some disadvantages associated with these practices, including the development of antibiotic resistance, viral mutation, etc.; hence, a better strategy is necessary. In recent years, peptides have been studied to be utilized as a potential alternative. They are part of the host immune defense and have many potential in vivo applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, immunomodulation, etc. Additionally, the ability of peptides to interact with different molecules and membrane surfaces of microorganisms has made it possible to exploit them in ex vivo applications such as antimicrobial (antibacterial and antiviral) coatings. Although antibacterial peptide coatings have been studied extensively and proven to be effective, antiviral coatings are a more recent development. Therefore, this study aims to highlight antiviral coating strategies and the current practices and application of antiviral coating materials in personal protective equipment, healthcare devices, and textiles and surfaces in public settings. Here, we have presented a review on potential techniques to incorporate peptides in current surface coating strategies that will serve as a guide for developing cost-effective, sustainable and coherent antiviral surface coatings. We further our discussion to highlight some challenges of using peptides as a surface coating material and to examine future perspectives.