Evaluation of 1-Nitropyrene as a Surrogate Measure for Diesel Exhaust.

We investigated the viability of particle bound 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) air concentration measurements as a surrogate of diesel exhaust (DE) exposure, as compared with industry-standard elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) measurements. Personal exposures are reported for 18 employees at a large underground metal mine during four different monitoring campaigns. Full-shift personal air exposure sampling was conducted using a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) compliant diesel particulate matter (DPM) impactor cassette downstream of a GS-1 cyclone pre-selector.

Side-by-side comparison of three sampling methods for aerosolized endotoxin in a wastewater treatment facility.

Research studies have established the occurrence of adverse health effects in individuals exposed to organic dusts and water aerosols laden with endotoxin. To determine what exposure levels cause these health effects, it is necessary to quantify airborne endotoxin. Several scientific studies have demonstrated that the quantification of detectable endotoxin is affected by differences in sampling media, analytical method, and aerosol composition.

Workplace exposure to submicron particle mass and number concentrations from manual arc welding of carbon steel.

Particle emissions from manual shielded metal arc welding of carbon steel were sampled in a typical industrial maintenance and metal fabrication workplace environment. Particle number measurements over the size range from 14 nm to 10 microm using a scanning mobility particle sizer and an optical particle counter showed that welding produced an approximately lognormal particle mode with a 120 nm count median and a geometric standard deviation of 2.07.

Fatal injuries in the United States involving respirators, 1984-1995.

There is little published information concerning the epidemiology of fatal injuries involving respiratory protection. We compiled a case series from U.S.

An analysis of VDT monitor placement and daily hours of use for female bifocal users.

A population of 72 bifocal wearers was studied to determine the relationship between VDT (video display terminal) placement for those who reported musculoskeletal pain and those who did not. The mean hours worked was 50.4 minutes (p=0.

Airborne exposure to heavy metals and total particulate during abrasive blasting using copper slag abrasive.

This research investigates occupational exposure to metal and total particulate aerosols during abrasive blasting operations using one substitute abrasive, copper slag. Airborne exposures to metal (As, Be, Pb, Cr, Cd, V, and Ti) and total particulate aerosols from two copper slag sources are evaluated by the collection and analysis of personal breathing zone samples during abrasive blasting operations in both indoor and outdoor settings. Results from this research indicate that abrasive blasting operations using copper slag abrasive can generate, in a relatively short time, total particulate, lead, arsenic, and chromium exposures that exceed permissible exposure limits (PELs) set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).