Desorption efficiency and holding capacity of acid-treated filters for nicotine sampling in vape shops.

Efficient sampling materials are essential for assessing nicotine levels in vape shops and other settings where nicotine exposures may exist. Two different treatments of Whatman glass fiber type A (GF/A) filters (sodium bisulfate treated and citric acid treated) were evaluated for nicotine capture, desorption efficiency, and holding capacity using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The Filters were treated with 0.

Characterization of Photothermal Desorption-Compatible Diffusive Samplers for Volatile Organic Compounds.

Products and starting materials containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can easily be found in a variety of businesses, making them a common source of occupational exposure. To prevent negative impacts on employee health, field industrial hygienists must conduct regular sampling to ensure exposures remain below the regulatory limits set by governmental and professional associations. As such, the need for sensitive and reliable exposure assessment techniques becomes evident.

Reducing the particles generated by flushing institutional toilets.

Airborne particles play a significant role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A previous study reported that institutional flush-O-meter (FOM) toilets can generate 3-12 times as many droplets as other toilets by splashing (large droplets) and bubble bursting (fine droplets). In this study, an aerosol suppression lid was evaluated to measure the reduction of particles by size using three metrics; number, surface area, and mass concentrations.

Photothermal Desorption of Toluene from Carbonaceous Substrates Using Light Flash.

Millions of workers are occupationally exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) annually. Current exposure assessment techniques primarily utilize sorbent based preconcentrators to collect VOCs, with analysis performed using chemical or thermal desorption. Chemical desorption typically analyzes 1 µL out of a 1 mL (0.

Quantitative fit testing of filtering face-piece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals anthropometric deficits in most respirators available in Iran.

Purpose: Frontline health care workers (HCWs) must wear a standard N95 or FFP2 respirator during worldwide pandemics of respiratory diseases including COVID-19 to protect against airborne infectious pathogens when performing care activities. This study aimed to quantitatively investigate the fit of most of the common FFRs used during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

Methods: A total of 37 volunteers were fit tested in 20 selected FFRs in a randomized order.

Determining the Thermal Properties of Buckypapers Used in Photothermal Desorption.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose an occupational exposure risk due to their commonplace usage across industrial and vocational sectors. With millions of workers annually exposed, monitoring personal VOC exposures becomes an important task. As such, there is a need to improve current monitoring techniques by increasing sensitivity and reducing analysis costs.

Effects of Sterilization With Hydrogen Peroxide and Chlorine Dioxide on the Filtration Efficiency of N95, KN95, and Surgical Face Masks.

This quality improvement study examines the effects of sterilization with hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide on the filtration efficiency of N95, KN95, and surgical face masks.

Impact of flavors and humectants on waterpipe tobacco smoking topography, subjective effects, toxicant exposure and intentions for continued use.

Introduction: The present study examined how the lack of characterising flavours and low levels of humectants may affect users' waterpipe tobacco (WT) smoking topography, subjective effects, toxicant exposure and intentions for continued use.

Methods: 89 WT smokers completed four ad libitum smoking sessions (characterising flavor/high humectant (+F+H); characterising flavor/low humectant (+F-H); no characterising flavor/high humectant (-F+H); no characterising flavor/low humectant (-F-H)) in a randomised cross-over design. WT was commercially available; same brand but nicotine levels were not held constant.

Low powered variable voltage E-Cigarette batteries under perform at higher power settings.

Electronic Cigarettes (EC) use continues to increase with many efforts underway to develop dose-response relationships for clinical and sub-clinical purposes. This study investigated the battery performance of several variable voltage (VV) ECs capable of varied voltage outputs. Six brands of VV EC batteries were tested for dial setting accuracy (voltage) and power supplied during simulated vaping.

E-cigarette nicotine deposition and persistence on glass and cotton surfaces.

Nicotine from electronic cigarette aerosol will deposit on surfaces immediately after vaping, but how long deposited nicotine will persist on various surfaces is unknown. This work exposed glass and terrycloth (cotton) materials to electronic cigarette aerosols for 1 hr, assessed the initial nicotine sorption, and characterized surface persistence over a 72-hr period. Exponential decay of surface concentration was observed for both materials.

Electronic cigarette power affects count concentration and particle size distribution of vaping aerosol.

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (EC) have evolved rapidly toward higher powered devices that produce more vaping aerosol and a more satisfying vaping experience. This research characterized the particle size distribution and estimated the mass concentration of vaping aerosols produced at power outputs spanning the operating range typical of second generation variable voltage EC devices.

Methods: EC aerosol was characterized from a single coil atomizer powered by a variable voltage EC battery at the minimum and maximum dial settings (3.

Influence of facial hair length, coarseness, and areal density on seal leakage of a tight-fitting half-face respirator.

Background: OSHA regulations state that an employer shall not permit tight-fitting respirators to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the skin and facepiece seal. Studies have shown that facial hair in the face seal zone can increase penetration and decrease the fit factor (FF), although the relationship between the amount and characteristics of facial hair and the increase in penetration is not well quantified. This article examines the influence of facial hair length, areal density, and coarseness on FF for one model of half-face elastomeric negative-pressure air purifying respirator.

Fume emissions from a low-cost 3-D printer with various filaments.

3-D printing is an additive manufacturing process involving the injection of melted thermoplastic polymers, which are then laid down in layers to achieve a pre-designed shape. The heated deposition process raises concerns of potential aerosol and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission and exposure. The decreasing cost of desktop 3-D printers has made the use of 3-D printers more acceptable in non-industrial workplaces lacking sufficient ventilation.

Characterization of Particulate Fume and Oxides Emission from Stainless Steel Plasma Cutting.

Plasma cutting is a metal fabrication process that employs an electrically conductive plasma arc to cut metals. The metal fume emitted from stainless steel plasma cutting may consist of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), which is a carcinogen, and other toxicants. Overexposure to plasma cutting fume may cause pulmonary toxicity and other health effects.

Have combustible cigarettes met their match? The nicotine delivery profiles and harmful constituent exposures of second-generation and third-generation electronic cigarette users.

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes' (e-cigarettes) viability as a public health strategy to end smoking will likely be determined by their ability to mimic the pharmacokinetic profile of a cigarette while also exposing users to significantly lower levels of harmful/potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs). The present study examined the nicotine delivery profile of third- (G3) versus second-generation (G2) e-cigarette devices and their users' exposure to nicotine and select HPHCs compared with cigarette smokers.

Methods: 30 participants (10 smokers, 9 G2 and 11 G3 users) completed baseline questionnaires and provided exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO), saliva and urine samples.

Breakthrough curves for toluene adsorption on different types of activated carbon fibers: application in respiratory protection.

Activated carbon fibers (ACF) are considered viable alternative adsorbent materials in respirators because of their larger surface area, lighter weight, and fabric form. The purpose of this study was to characterize the breakthrough curves of toluene for different types of commercially available ACFs to understand their potential service lives in respirators. Two forms of ACF, cloth (AC) and felt (AF), with three surface areas each were tested.

Photothermal desorption of single-walled carbon nanotubes and coconut shell-activated carbons using a continuous light source for application in air sampling.

Many techniques exist to measure airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs), each with differing advantages; sorbent sampling is compact, versatile, has good sample stability, and is the preferred technique for collecting VOCs for hygienists. Development of a desorption technique that allows multiple analyses per sample (similar to chemical desorption) with enhanced sensitivity (similar to thermal desorption) would be helpful to field hygienists. In this study, activated carbon (AC) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were preloaded with toluene vapor and partially desorbed with light using a common 12-V DC, 50-W incandescent/halogen lamp.