Personal formaldehyde exposure during the transportation of embalmed cadavers.

Occupational exposure to the known carcinogen formaldehyde during embalming (the preservation of cadavers) has been well documented. Cadavers may be transported to universities on loan for training medical professionals in human anatomy courses. However, occupational formaldehyde exposure levels associated with the transportation of cadavers have not previously been published.

"It makes me feel like good inside because I helped him do stuff" - Perceptions of psychological well-being in adolescents providing dementia care.

According to a 2018 report by the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 250,000 children help support a family member with dementia, but few studies exist that describe their experience as family carers. This qualitative descriptive study sought to understand the perceived psychological well-being of adolescents who assist with providing care to family members with dementia. Eleven adolescents ages 12 to 17 caring for older non-parental family members with dementia in northwest Ohio participated in one of three focus group discussions.

Nursing Home Staff's Perceptions of Noise Compared to Measured Noise Levels: A Descriptive Study.

A noisy environment may cause annoyance to nursing home staff and affect their ability to provide quality care to residents. The current descriptive study examined differences between staff's perceived noise levels and measured noise levels in four nursing home facilities in Ohio. Most participants (N = 90) were White females.

Perceptions of Water-related Environmental Concerns in Northwest Ohio One Year after a Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom.

Water is essential to human life around the world, but there are numerous threats to its quality both internationally and nationally. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to examine public perceptions of water-related environmental concerns in northwest Ohio. In fall 2015, nine focus groups on environmental health conditions were conducted with Lucas County, Ohio residents.

Task-specific noise exposure during manual concrete surface grinding in enclosed areas-influence of operation variables and dust control methods.

Noise exposure is a distinct hazard during hand-held concrete grinding activities, and its assessment is challenging because of the many variables involved. Noise dosimeters were used to examine the extent of personal noise exposure while concrete grinding was performed with a variety of grinder sizes, types, accessories, and available dust control methods. Noise monitoring was conducted in an enclosed area covering 52 task-specific grinding sessions lasting from 6 to 72 minutes.

Genetic evidence for the offsite transport of E. coli associated with land application of Class B biosolids on agricultural fields.

The land-application of Class B biosolids is tightly regulated to allow for natural attenuation of co-applied pathogens. Since many agricultural fields that receive biosolids are artificially drained through subsurface tiles, it is possible that under scenarios of excessive drainage associated with heavy rainfall events, co-applied pathogens might be carried offsite to contaminate nearby surface waters. To address this concern, we used genetic as well as traditional methods to investigate the impact of rainfall on the offsite drainage of Escherichia coli from agricultural fields during biosolids application.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure assessment--horizontal and vertical PM profiles in relation to agricultural activities and environmental factors in farm fields.

Reports profiling airborne particulate matter (PM) in farm fields, especially during a Class B biosolids land-injection process, are scarce. Thus, this study characterized PM in such a farm field located in northwest Ohio. For comparison, a control farm field with no biosolids application history was also monitored.

Effectiveness of dust control methods for crystalline silica and respirable suspended particulate matter exposure during manual concrete surface grinding.

Concrete grinding exposes workers to unacceptable levels of crystalline silica dust, known to cause diseases such as silicosis and possibly lung cancer. This study examined the influence of major factors of exposure and effectiveness of existing dust control methods by simulating field concrete grinding in an enclosed workplace laboratory. Air was monitored during 201 concrete grinding sessions while using a variety of grinders, accessories, and existing dust control methods, including general ventilation (GV), local exhaust ventilation (LEV), and wet grinding.

Dissipation and leaching potential of selected pharmaceutically active compounds in soils amended with biosolids.

Biosolids land application is an important pathway introducing pharmaceuticals into the environment. In this work, laboratory column and dissipation experiments were performed using soils of varying properties in order to study the fate and transport of pharmaceutical residues introduced by the land application of biosolids. For experimentation, five pharmaceutical compounds (carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, fluoxetine, diltiazem, and clindamycin) and two metabolites (carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide and norfluoxetine) commonly found in biosolids were selected.

Occupational silica exposure as a risk factor for scleroderma: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Among potential environmental risk factors for systemic sclerosis (SSc), occupational exposures have received some attention. In this meta-analysis, we examined the association between SSc and occupational exposure to silica.

Methods: We searched Medline, Toxline, BIOSIS, and Embase (1949 and November 2009) for original articles published in any language.

Occupational noise exposures among three farm families in northwest Ohio.

A pilot project was conducted to evaluate occupational noise exposures of three families living and working on farms in Northwest Ohio. Noise exposures were measured continuously for 7 consecutive days for each participant for 1 week each during planting, growing, and harvesting seasons. The dosimeters were programmed to evaluate noise exposures using both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) action level and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)/American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) guidelines.

Crystalline silica dust and respirable particulate matter during indoor concrete grinding - wet grinding and ventilated grinding compared with uncontrolled conventional grinding.

The effectiveness of wet grinding (wet dust reduction method) and ventilated grinding (local exhaust ventilation method, LEV) in reducing the levels of respirable crystalline silica dust (quartz) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSP) were compared with that of uncontrolled (no dust reduction method) conventional grinding. A field laboratory was set up to simulate concrete surface grinding using hand-held angle grinders in an enclosed workplace. A total of 34 personal samples (16 pairs side-by-side and 2 singles) and 5 background air samples were collected during 18 concrete grinding sessions ranging from 15-93 min.

Indoor air quality in restaurants with and without designated smoking rooms.

Indoor air quality in restaurants was studied in two cities in northwest Ohio after clean indoor air ordinances had been enacted. Carbon dioxide and ultrafine particles were measured in two restaurants in Toledo and two restaurants in Bowling Green. One restaurant in each city was smoke free, and one restaurant in each city contained a dedicated smoking room.

Effectiveness of clean indoor air ordinances in controlling environmental tobacco smoke in restaurants.

Clean indoor air (CIA) ordinances in Toledo, Ohio, and Bowling Green, Ohio, regulate smoking in restaurants to protect patrons and employees. Yet complete protection is questionable because the ordinances allow for smoking in certain dining sections. Two restaurants were studied in each city, one smoking and one nonsmoking.