Surface Wipe Samples Research Articles

Exposure of Young Children to Permethrin and Cypermethrin Insecticides in the Residential Environment.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the exposure to permethrin and cypermethrin of young children aged between 2 and 5 years in Nakhon Pathom and Sing Buri provinces, Thailand. A questionnaire that included general demographic information, household characteristics, insecticide usage and exposure-related behavior in children was used to interview parents or family caregivers. Permethrin and cypermethrin concentrations on floor surfaces and children's hands, as well as their urinary metabolites, were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The results showed that permethrin and cypermethrin were detected in 62% and 83% of the children's hand wipe samples, with geometric mean (GM) levels of 0.02 µg and 0.04 µg, respectively. Permethrin and cypermethrin were detected in 79% and 93% of floor surface wipe samples, with GM levels of 0.90 µg/m2, and 1.49 µg/m2, respectively. For children's urine, the GM concentrations of cis- and trans-DCCA, 3-PBA, and total pyrethroid metabolites were 0.84, 0.31 and 1.23 nmol/g creatinine, respectively. This study found that household insecticide product usage and having a tile floor were associated with increased permethrin concentrations on the children's hands and floor surfaces. However, cypermethrin concentrations on floor surfaces were significantly higher in families using aerosol insecticide sprays and insecticide products in the living room and bedroom. The predictors of the total pyrethroid, DCCA and 3-PBA metabolites are permethrin on children's hands or floor surfaces and cypermethrin on floor surfaces.

Evaluation of environmental antibiotic contamination by surface wipe sampling in a large care centre.

Exposure of healthcare workers to antibiotics may cause adverse health effects. Results of environmental contamination with antibiotics, obtained by taking surface wipe samples, can be used as an indicator for potential exposure to these sensitizing drugs. The objective was to describe the results of repeated measurements of contamination with antibiotics on multiple surfaces in hospital wards. Standardized needle and syringe preparation techniques and cleaning procedures were used. The preparation table and the floor around the waste bin in six wards were sampled and analysed for contamination with the antibiotics amoxicillin, benzylpenicillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, flucloxacillin, meropenem, piperacillin and vancomycin. Sampling was performed in four trials during 8 months. Depending on the outcome of the trials, the cleaning procedure was adapted. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of the drugs. During the four trials, contamination with all eight antibiotics was omnipresent on all preparation tables and floors in the six wards. The highest contamination was found for amoxicillin (1291 ng/cm2). Changing the cleaning procedure did not reduce the level of contamination. Surface contamination with the antibiotics was widespread and most probably caused by spillage during the preparation in combination with an ineffective cleaning procedure. Strategies should be developed and implemented by institutions for safe handling of antibiotics to reduce environmental contamination and potential exposure of healthcare workers to these sensitizing drugs.

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Following Standard Operating Procedures in the Department of Forensic Medical Examination Based on Bacteriological Test Results

Introduction: The activities of forensic medical examiners are associated with an increased risk of contracting highly infectious diseases. Introduction of standard operating procedures into the daily practice of these health professionals can increase their biological safety. Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in order to improve biological safety of the personnel performing autopsies in the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medicine in the city of Kazan. Materials and methods: The results of bacteriological testing of 120 indoor air samples for the total plate count, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast, and mold counts, and 320 surface wipe samples for S. aureus and total coliform counts, collected from February 3, 2021 to June 18, 2021 in the Autopsy Division before and after enforcement of standard operating procedures, were analyzed using the Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and McNemar test. Results: The analysis of 40 air samples taken after SOP enforcement and tested for the total plate count showed a significant decrease in bacteriological contamination of the premises: from 1,000.0 to 226.7 CFU/m3 (T = 5.7, p < 0.01) and from 812.5 to 165.0 CFU/m3 (T = 6.287, p < 0.001) in the Teaching Autopsy Room and Autopsy Room One, respectively. A statistical decrease was also observed in airborne fungal concentrations in Autopsy Room One (T = 3.727, p < 0.01) and the Teaching Autopsy Room (T = 5.129, p < 0.01). The post-SOP frequency of detection of coliform bacteria on various surfaces and autopsy instruments demonstrated a significant reduction as well (160 wipe samples, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study results show a pronounced decrease in microbial contamination of the Autopsy Division following introduction of standard operating procedures into the activities of the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medicine in the city of Kazan. It can be argued that standard operating procedures are effective in ensuring biological safety of healthcare workers.

Rapid screening of riot control agents using DART-TD-HRMS

PurposeRiot Control Agents (RCAs) are chemicals used in law enforcement for non-lethal riot control and use in conflicts between states that violates the Chemical Weapons Convention. OPCW's Scientific Advisory Board has identified sixteen potential RCAs including capsaicinoids, CS, and CR. RCAs may be misused for criminal purposes, so methods for detecting such misuse are needed. This study therefore evaluates the feasibility of a rapid, high throughput screening method of RCAs on surfaces (particularly clothing surfaces) by Direct Analysis in Real Time with a thermal desorption unit coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-TD-HRMS).MethodsA broadly applicable method for detecting potential RCAs was developed and tested on cotton fabric samples sprayed with self-defence sprays from an in-house reference stock. The feasibility of detecting RCAs by direct analysis of surface wipe samples placed in the DART source was also investigated.ResultsThe method detected all sixteen RCAs and contaminated clothing were successfully screened for active agents in a reference collection of self-defence sprays. A pilot study also showed that RCAs can be detected by holding a sample directly in front of the DART source.ConclusionDART-TD-HRMS enables rapid and simple screening of RCAs on fabric samples enabling a high sample throughput.

Longitudinal evaluation of environmental contamination with hazardous drugs by surface wipe sampling.

Exposure of healthcare workers to hazardous drugs can lead to adverse health effects supporting the importance of a continuous monitoring program, for example, by taking surface wipe samples. The objective was to describe the results of repeated monitoring of contamination with hazardous drugs on multiple surfaces in a hospital pharmacy and at two wards using standardized preparation techniques and cleaning procedures. Twelve surfaces in the hospital pharmacy and at two wards were sampled and analyzed for contamination with the hazardous drugs cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, methotrexate, and paclitaxel. The drugs were prepared with a closed-system drug transfer device (CSTD). Sampling of the drugs was performed in four trials during eight months. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of the drugs. During the four trials, contamination with five of the six hazardous drugs was found on half of the surfaces in the pharmacy and in a ward. Seventeen out of 288 possible outcomes were positive (6%), with the biological safety cabinet grate (n = 6) and scanner (n = 5) most frequently contaminated. The highest level of contamination was observed on the pass-thru window (cyclophosphamide: 2.90 ng/cm2) and the touch screen of the Diana device (5-fluorouracil: 2.38 ng/cm2). Both levels were below the action level of 10 ng/cm2. The long-term use of a CSTD in combination with appropriate cleaning has proven effective in achieving low levels of surface contamination with hazardous drugs.

Recovery of wipe sampling of urban surfaces contaminated with blistering chemical warfare agents

Abstract Effective sampling is a key step in the process of proving the use of chemical weapons. An alternative to collecting the respective sample is to perform a wipe of surface contamination. This work deals with the optimization of the wiping process of the surfaces of selected matrices contaminated with bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide and tris(2-chloroethyl)amine. Optimization of the procedure was carried out in terms of the choice of wiping material, wetting solvent and extraction of the wiped contaminant. Furthermore, the time decrease of surface contamination was monitored. The effect of transport on the change in the observed recovery value was investigated and the measurement deviations of the wipe method were discussed. The resulting values of observed recovery were negatively influenced by the volatility of the analyte, the porosity of the matrix and the time that passed since the contamination. Viscose was evaluated as the most effective wipe material. Low relative standard deviations (≤7 %) were achieved with this material. The optimal wetting solvent was dichloromethane. There was no degradation of contaminants on the surface of the matrices, so the fate was only affected by evaporation and penetration into the material.

CN89 In cancer care nursing, does the use of surface wipe sampling for hazardous drugs lead to a safer occupational environment, in an outpatient and inpatient oncology/haematology setting? An evidence translation proposal

CN89 In cancer care nursing, does the use of surface wipe sampling for hazardous drugs lead to a safer occupational environment, in an outpatient and inpatient oncology/haematology setting? An evidence translation proposal

Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties and their remediation in Queensland, Australia

The high use rate for methamphetamine in Australia has led to the emergence of local clandestine production. Contamination of the properties being used for methamphetamine production or consumption poses adverse health risks to occupants, and thus remediation is highly desirable to protect them. However, the residue level and removal efficiency of methamphetamine is not well documented yet in the literature. This study examined the level of methamphetamine residue on the surfaces of different materials in different rooms before and after remediation in Queensland with 561 swab samples taken from 47 properties suspected of methamphetamine production or consumption. Results indicated that kitchens and bathrooms usually had the highest levels of methamphetamine detected in surface wipe samples of all room types, while laminated and painted surfaces had higher methamphetamine contamination than the surfaces of other materials. Our results also indicated that properties with high residue levels and in certain situations might require multiple clean-ups, probably due to the low effectiveness of the remediation methods and the release of methamphetamine from within the matrix for porous materials. Efforts should be spent in the future to improve removal efficiency by using advanced technologies. This will inform methamphetamine contamination management guidance.

Solid-Phase Microextraction for Organic Contamination Control Throughout Assembly and Operational Phases of Space Missions.

Space missions concerned with life detection contain highly sensitive instruments for the detection of organics. Terrestrial contamination can interfere with signals of indigenous organics in samples and has the potential to cause false-positive biosignature detections, which may lead to incorrect suggestions of the presence of life elsewhere in the solar system. This study assessed the capability of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) as a method for monitoring organic contamination encountered by spacecraft hardware during assembly and operation. SPME-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) analysis was performed on potential contaminant source materials, which are commonly used in spacecraft construction. The sensitivity of SPME-GC-MS to organics was assessed in the context of contaminants identified in molecular wipes taken from hardware surfaces on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. SPME was found to be effective at detecting a wide range of common organic contaminants that include aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing compounds, alcohols, and carbonyls. A notable example of correlation of contaminant with source material was the detection of benzenamine compounds in an epoxy adhesive analyzed by SPME-GC-MS and in the ExoMars rover surface wipe samples. The current form of SPME-GC-MS does not enable quantitative evaluation of contaminants, nor is it suitable for the detection of every group of organic molecules relevant to astrobiological contamination concerns, namely large and/or polar molecules such as amino acids. However, it nonetheless represents an effective new monitoring method for rapid, easy identification of organic contaminants commonly present on spacecraft hardware and could thus be utilized in future space missions as part of their contamination control and mitigation protocols.

Evaluating wipe sampling parameters to assess method performance and data confidence during remediation of hazardous pesticide misuse chemicals on indoor materials

Pesticide misuse incidents are reported worldwide each year. The potential exposure to pesticides creates a concern for occupants in affected homes, apartments, and other occupied buildings. Pesticides that are improperly applied within these locations may require remediation prior to reoccupation. Incident response personnel rely heavily on data from sampling results to identify residue levels and determine when site remediation is complete. Surface wipe samples are often collected for this purpose. Therefore, it is important to ensure sampling and analysis procedures are well established for the contaminants of concern, particularly for wipe sampling variables that can affect analysis results. This investigation evaluated the effects of surface wipe media, wipe wetting solvents, pesticide concentrations effects, composite sampling, surface types, and pesticide formulation effects on analysis results for fipronil, permethrin, and deltamethrin. Tested surface types included galvanized steel, vinyl tile, and plywood. Wipe media included pre-packaged, sterile cotton gauze, pre-cleaned cotton twill, and a pre-packaged, pre-wetted wipes. Surface recovery results are reported for commercially available fipronil formulations and compared to technical grade fipronil solutions. Fipronil recoveries were 92–107 % for twill wipes, 81–98 % for cotton gauze wipes, and 79 % for pre-packaged, pre-wetted wipes on a galvanized steel surface. Permethrin recoveries were 83–116 % for twill wipes, 66–94 % for cotton gauze wipes, and 73 % for pre-packaged, pre-wetted wipes on a galvanized steel surface. Deltamethrin recoveries were 67–88 % for twill wipes, 55–71 % for cotton gauze wipes, and 63 % for pre-packaged, pre-wetted wipes on a galvanized steel surface. The data collected in this study can inform surface wipe sampling methods and potentially assist in obtaining more accurate sampling data associated with pesticide misuse incidents involving the target analytes.

Simultaneous determination of five cytotoxic drugs in surface wiped samples using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the control of environmental contamination in a comprehensive cancer centre

ABSTRACT The most common strategy to assess the occupational exposure risk to hazardous drugs in cancer healthcare settings is by monitoring environmental contamination of work surfaces with cytotoxic drugs. Healthcare workers, especially pharmacy technicians and nursing, handle multiple hazardous drugs, so they really may be exposed to different cytotoxic drugs simultaneously. Therefore, simultaneous determination of several cytotoxic drugs provides a more accurate assessment of the real occupational exposure risk in healthcare settings. Our objective was to develop a method for surface wipe sampling and a quantification method for five cytotoxic drugs commonly used in chemotherapy treatments preparation: cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Wiping procedure was performed using cellulose swabs moistened in a mixture solution containing acetonitrile, water, 2-propanol and methanol with 0.1% formic acid. The obtained extracts were simultaneously quantified by an LC-MS/MS method. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 column by a gradient elution, and detection was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring mode with electrospray source operating in positive and negative ion mode. Wipe and extraction procedures developed were simple and easy to implement, being able to recover the cytotoxic target drugs from two type surfaces sampling, stainless steel surfaces and polyethylene bags surfaces. The analytical method was linear over the calibration range and the limits of quantification were 1 ng/mL for cyclophosphamide, gemcitabine and paclitaxel, 1.5 ng/mL for epirubicin and 5 ng/mL for 5-fluorouracil. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy for all drugs were always inferior to 15%. This work provides a suitable procedure to identify cytotoxic contamination on work surfaces, being a useful tool to monitor occupational exposure risk to hazardous drugs, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of decontamination protocols applied and hazardous drug handling protocols in cancer healthcare settings.

Assessment of worker chemical exposures in California vape shops

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid mixture to make an aerosol that is inhaled, or vaped, by the user. Vape shops are retail environments designed to fulfill customer demand for diverse e-liquid flavors and hardware options, which create unique worker exposure concerns. To characterize exposures to vape shop workers, especially to flavoring chemicals associated with known respiratory toxicity, this study recruited vape shops from the San Francisco Bay Area. In six shops, we measured air concentrations for volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, flavoring chemicals, and nicotine in personal and/or area samples; analyzed components of e-liquids vaped during field visits; and assessed metals on surface wipe samples. Interviews and observations were conducted over the course of a workday in the same six shops and interviews were performed in an additional six where sampling was not conducted. Detections of the alpha-diketone butter flavoring chemicals diacetyl and/or 2,3-pentanedione were common: in the headspace of purchased e-liquids (18 of 26 samples), in personal air samples (5 of 16), and in area air samples (2 of 6 shops). Two exceedances of recommended exposure limits for 2,3-pentanedione (a short-term exposure limit and an 8-hr time-weighted average) were measured in personal air samples. Other compounds detected in the area and personal air samples included substitutes for diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione (acetoin and 2,3-hexanedione) and compounds that may be contaminants or impurities. Furthermore, a large variety (82) of other flavoring chemicals were detected in area air samples. None of the 12 shops interviewed had a health and safety program. Six shops reported no use of any personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, chemical resistant aprons, eye protection) and the others stated occasional use; however, no PPE use was observed during any field investigation day. Recommendations were provided to shops that included making improvements to ventilation, hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, and, if possible, avoidance of products containing the alpha-diketone flavoring chemicals. Future research is needed to evaluate the long-term health risks among workers in the vape shop retail industry and for e-cigarette use generally. Specific areas include further characterizing e-liquid constituents and emissions, evaluating ingredient health risks, evaluating the contributions of different routes of exposure (dermal, inhalation, and ingestion), and determining effective exposure mitigation measures.

Identifying dermal exposure as the dominant pathway of children's exposure to flame retardants in kindergartens

Exploration of multiple sources of brominated (BFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) for children promotes the understanding of exposure pathways and health risk. 10 BFRs and 9 OPFRs were measured in skin wipes from hands, forehead, and arms of 30 children, and surface wipe samples from sills, toys, desks and floors, and indoor air samples of kindergartens from Xinxiang, China. Higher ∑9OPFRs concentrations were observed in the forehead (1840 ng/m2), followed by hand (1420 ng/m2) and arm wipes (1130 ng/m2), and the ∑8BFRs concentrations in forehead, hand and arm wipes were 116, 315 and 165 ng/m2, respectively. The total concentration of OPFRs and BFRs in floor wipes (66.1 and 24.5 ng/m2) were lower than those in toy (205 and 535 ng/m2), sill (227 and 30.1 ng/m2) and desk (84.4 and 139 ng/m2) wipes. Concentrations of FRs in forehead wipes were significantly correlated with those in gaseous air (p < 0.05), moderate correlations were found between the hand wipes and surface wipes (p = 0.054). We estimated the daily average dosages (DADs) of children exposure to FRs via multiple pathways. Compared to DADs via inhalation and hand-to-mouth transfer, dermal exposure was determined to be the predominant exposure pathway to ∑9OPFRs and ∑8BFRs.

Cocaine Detection by a Laser-Induced Immunofluorometric Biosensor

The trafficking of illegal drugs by criminal networks at borders, harbors, or airports is an increasing issue for public health as these routes ensure the main supply of illegal drugs. The prevention of drug smuggling, including the installation of scanners and other analytical devices to detect small traces of drugs within a reasonable time frame, remains a challenge. The presented immunosensor is based on a monolithic affinity column with a large excess of immobilized hapten, which traps fluorescently labeled antibodies as long as the analyte cocaine is absent. In the presence of the drug, some binding sites of the antibody will be blocked, which leads to an immediate breakthrough of the labeled protein, detectable by highly sensitive laser-induced fluorescence with the help of a Peltier-cooled complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera. Liquid handling is performed with high-precision syringe pumps and microfluidic chip-based mixing devices and flow cells. The biosensor achieved limits of detection of 7 ppt (23 pM) of cocaine with a response time of 90 s and a total assay time below 3 min. With surface wipe sampling, the biosensor was able to detect 300 pg of cocaine. This immunosensor belongs to the most sensitive and fastest detectors for cocaine and offers near-continuous analyte measurement.

Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs: what about hospital sanitation personnel?

Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ANPs) occurs mainly through dermal contact. Our study was set up to assess the potential exposure of hospital sanitation (HS) personnel, for whom almost no data are available, through contamination of surfaces they regularly touch. In the oncology departments of two hospitals around Montreal, surface wipe samples of 120-2000cm2 were taken at 10 sites cleaned by the HS personnel and five other sites frequently touched by nursing and pharmacy personnel. A few hand wipe samples were collected to explore skin contamination. Wipes were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry for 10 ANPs. Overall, 60.9% of 212 surface samples presented at least one ANP above the limits of detection (LOD). Cyclophosphamide and gemcitabine were most often detected (52% and 31% of samples respectively), followed by 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan (15% each). Highest concentrations of five ANPs were found in outpatient clinics on toilet floors (5-fluorouracil, 49ng/cm2; irinotecan, 3.6ng/cm2), a perfusion pump (cyclophosphamide, 19.6ng/cm2) and on a cytotoxic waste bin cover (gemcitabine, 4.97ng/cm2). Floors in patient rooms had highest levels of cytarabine (0.12ng/cm2) and methotrexate (6.38ng/cm2). Hand wipes were positive for two of 12 samples taken on HS personnel, seven of 18 samples on nurses, and two of 14 samples on pharmacy personnel. A notable proportion of surfaces showed measurable levels of ANPs, with highest concentrations found on surfaces cleaned by HS personnel, who would benefit from appropriate preventive training. As potential sources of worker exposure, several hospital surfaces need to be regularly monitored to evaluate environmental contamination and efficacy of cleaning.

Возможности и ограничения анализа смывов с поверхностей для контроля контаминации объектов высокотоксичными органическими соединениями

Wipe sampling is widely used for microbiological control purposes. Sanitary and chemical studies also include analysis of samples wiped from the work surfaces during routine and periodic working conditions safety inspections at chemical facilities. The analysis also allows assessing the toxicity and hazard of items/structures that could be in contact with highly toxic substances. This study aimed to investigate the capabilities and limitations of the surface wipe sample analysis method in control of residual contamination of equipment and building structures of a former chemical weapons destruction facilities (CWDF) with sulfur mustard and O-isobutyl-S(2-diethylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VR), as well as their degradation products. Gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) enabled identification of the sulfur mustard markers, high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) allowed identifying VR markers. An assessment of the matrix influence on the results of GC-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS analysis was carried out. The matrix effect was established to affect the results the most in case of HPLC-MS/MS analysis: for GC-MS/MS analysis of target substances, the matrix factor averaged at 60–80%, for HPLC-MS/ MS it was less than 40%. The average percent sulfur mustard recoveries from three types of surfaces (PVC tiles, laminate and metal plates) was 9 ± 2%, 0.13 ± 0.02% and 0.10 ± 0.03%; in case of VR, the recoveries was 2.7 ± 0.5%, 11.8 ± 0.3% and 0.8 ± 0.1%, respectively. The limits of detection for sulfur mustard by GC-MS/MS and VR by HPLC-MS/MS were established at 0.001 MPL and 0.02 MPL, respectively. The developed approaches were applied to the analysis of wipe samples from the surfaces of the equipment and engineering structures of the former CWDF.

Characterization and Separation of Platinum-Based Antineoplastic Drugs by Zwitterionic Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC)–Tandem Mass Spectrometry, and Its Application in Surface Wipe Sampling

Platinum-based antineoplastic drugs (PtADs) are among the most important and used families of chemotherapy drugs, which, even showing severe side effects and being hindered by drug resistance, are not likely to be replaced clinically any time soon. The growing interest in the occupational health community in antineoplastic drug (AD) surface contamination requires the development of increasingly fast and easy high-throughput monitoring methods, even considering the lack of harmonized legally binding regulation criteria. Thus, a wipe sampling method together with zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC-Z)–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis was developed for the simultaneous evaluation of oxaliplatin, cisplatin, and carboplatin surface contaminations. A design of experiments approach was used to optimize the chromatographic conditions. Limits of quantification ranging from 2 to 5 ng/mL were obtained from interday and intraday repetitions for oxaliplatin and carboplatin, and between 170 and 240 ng/mL for cisplatin. The wipe desorption procedure is equivalent to other AD sampling methods, enabling a fast sample preparation, with an LC-MS/MS analysis time of less than 7 min.

Determination of eighty-two pesticides and application to screening pesticides in cannabis growing facilities

Determination of pesticides in cannabis facilities is increasingly important as medicinal and recreational uses of cannabis products expand rapidly. We report a method involving wipe sampling, liquid chromatography separation, and tandem mass spectrometry, which enables determination of 82 pesticides out of the 96 regulated by Health Canada. To demonstrate an application of the method, we sampled and measured pesticides in two cannabis growing facilities, representing a non-certified and a certified site. We detected 41 pesticides in surface wipe samples at the non-certified site and 6 at the certified site. This study provides the first evidence showing pesticide occurrence on common surfaces in cannabis growing facilities and points to a need for routine monitoring and strict control of pesticide use in cannabis facilities.

Occupational exposure of platinum-based anti-cancer drugs: five-year monitoring of hair and environmental samples in a single hospital

BackgroundOccupational exposure to chemotherapeutic agents in hospitals is a critical issue. Here, we focused on occupational exposure to platinum-based anti-cancer drugs (PDs) by evaluating platinum concentrations in hair and environmental workplace samples to monitor the risk among workers.MethodsHospital workers who dealt with or without PDs, patients treated with PDs, and non-medical office workers outside the hospital donated hair samples and completed a questionnaire regarding their history of handling PDs, including any incidents. Hair samples were collected and surface wipe sampling was performed in July 2010 and April 2015, before and after moving to a new building and introducing a revised safety program in August 2010. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.ResultsPlatinum concentrations in hair from PDs-handling workers was significantly higher than in non-PDs-handling workers (P = 0.045), although 50 times lower than that from PDs-treated patients. Platinum concentrations in the hospital environment had decreased at the second survey 5 years later but had not changed significantly in the hair samples from hospital workers.ConclusionPlatinum concentrations in hair are likely dependent on the frequency of handling PDs. Reduced environmental contamination from PDs did not influence platinum levels in hospital workers’ hair. Continuous monitoring by measuring platinum concentrations in the environment and in hair would provide information regarding these issues.

Current practices underestimate environmental exposures to methamphetamine: inhalation exposures are important

Current practice for determining the exposure to methamphetamine in contaminated homes relies on the analysis of surface wipe sample to address direct contact exposures. The movement of methamphetamine into the air phase, and the potential for inhalation exposures to occur within residential homes contaminated from former clandestine manufacture or smoking of methamphetamine has been generally poorly characterised and understood. All available risk-based guidelines for determining safe levels of methamphetamine in residential properties do not include any consideration of the inhalation pathway as an exposure route. This study showed that methamphetamine can readily move from contaminated materials in a home into the air phase. This movement of methamphetamine into the air phase provides both an exposure pathway and a mechanism for the transfer of methamphetamine throughout a property. The inhalation exposure pathway has the potential to result in significant intake of methamphetamine, adding to dermal absorption and ingestion exposure routes. Guidelines that are established for the assessment of methamphetamine contaminated properties that ignore inhalation exposures can significantly underestimate exposure and result in guidelines that are not adequately protective of health. This study also demonstrates that sampling methamphetamine in air can be undertaken using commercially available sorption tubes and analytical methods.