Reinvigorating engineered noise controls: a systems approach.

Objectives: Hearing loss is a major worldwide health issue affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people. Causes of hearing loss include genetics, chemicals, medications, lifestyle habits such as smoking, and noise.

Development of a methodology for the quantification of reaerosolization of a biological contaminate surrogate particle from a military uniform fabric.

In a mass casualty medical evacuation after a bioaerosol (BA) dispersal event, a decontamination (DC) method is needed that can both decontaminate and prevent biological particle (BP) re-aerosolization (RA) of contaminated clothes. However, neither the efficacy of current DC methods nor the risk of BP RA is greatly explored in the existing literature. The goals of this study were to develop a repeatable method to quantify the RA of a biological contaminant off military uniform fabric swatches and to test the efficacy of one DC protocol (high-volume, low-pressure water) using 1 µm polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres as a surrogate.

Method development for the evaluation of emergency decontamination protocol effectiveness using an ultraviolet fluorescent aerosol.

After hazardous material incidents, it is important to perform emergency decontamination procedures to remove contamination from the body. As these emergency decontamination procedures are developed, it is important to understand the efficacy of a given protocol. This study discusses a method that was developed to evaluate the efficacy of decontamination procedures by using an ultraviolet fluorescent aerosol and an image analysis protocol.

Pure Tone Audiometry Evaluation Method Effectiveness in Detecting Hearing Changes Due to Workplace Ototoxicant, Continuous Noise, and Impulse Noise Exposures.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the relative risks (RR) of hearing impairment due to co-exposure of continuous noise, impulse noise, metal ototoxicants, and organic solvent ototoxicants using several pure tone audiometry (PTA) evaluation methods.

Design: Noise and ototoxicant exposure and PTA records were extracted from a DoD longitudinal repository and were analyzed for U.S.

Effect of noise and ototoxicants on developing standard threshold shifts at a U.S. Air Force depot level maintenance facility.

Noise exposure has traditionally been considered the primary risk factor for hearing loss. However, ototoxicants commonly found in occupational settings could affect hearing loss independently, additively, or synergistically when combined with noise exposures. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the combined effect of metal and solvent ototoxicants, continuous noise, and impulse noise on hearing loss.

External Dose to Recovery Teams Following a Wide-area Nuclear or Radiological Release Event.

The common radionuclide 137Cs is a gamma-ray source term for nuclear reactor accidents, nuclear detonations, and potential radionuclide dispersal devices. For wide-area contamination events, one remediation option integrates water washing activities with on-site treatment of water for its immediate reuse. This remediation option includes washing building and roadways via firehose, collecting the wash water, and passing the contaminated water through chemical filtration beds.

A review of CBRN topics related to military and civilian patient exposure and decontamination.

Chemical and biological (CB) warfare have long been practiced, and although these types of warfare are not acceptable in modern times, this does not prevent them from occurring. This makes it important for societies to be able to appropriately respond to these events, including the best way to decontaminate victims to keep them and emergency responders safe. Decontamination methods such as chemical, physical, wet, and dry methods are discussed, as well as their downsides.

Noise concerns of residents living in close proximity to hydraulic fracturing sites in Southwest Pennsylvania.

Objective: Noise associated with nontraditional gas industry (NTGI) sites (e.g., hydraulic fracturing well pads, compressor stations, processing plants) may create disturbances and anxiety in rural populations.

Chemical-Induced Hearing Loss in Shipyard Workers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lead, cadmium, arsenic, toluene, and xylene exposure on hearing compared with noise exposures alone.

Methods: Personnel at a shipyard (n = 1266) were divided into four exposure groups on the basis of concentrations: low metals/low solvents/high noise (reference group), high metals/high solvents/low noise, high metals/low solvents/high noise, and high metals/high solvents/high noise. Hearing changes occurring from the years 2004 to 2015 were analyzed.

Effects of combined exposure to metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shifts.

Background: Studies suggest metal and solvent exposure may damage hearing. This study evaluated the association between exposures classified as high for metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shift (PTS) development.

Methods: A total of 1,546 personnel at an industrial shipyard were divided into five exposure groups based on level of concentration: high noise, high metals/solvents, high metals/noise, high metals/solvents/noise, and a low metals/solvents/noise reference group.

Laboratory evaluation of airborne particulate control treatments for simulated aircraft crash recovery operations involving carbon fiber composite materials.

Objective: This study compared four treatment protocols to reduce airborne composite fiber particulates during simulated aircraft crash recovery operations.

Design: Four different treatments were applied to determine effectiveness in reducing airborne composite fiber particulates as compared to a "no treatment" protocol. Both "gold standard" gravimetric methods and real-time instruments were used to describe mass per volume concentration, particle size distribution, and surface area.

A noise delivery system for multi-animal multi-level whole body ototoxicity studies.

The Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, studied ototoxic effects of JP-8 in rats.

Laboratory evaluation of airborne particulate control treatments for simulated aircraft crash recovery operations involving carbon fiber composite materials.

Objective: This study compared four treatment protocols to reduce airborne composite fiber particulates during simulated aircraft crash recovery operations.

Design: Four different treatments were applied to determine effectiveness in reducing airborne composite fiber particulates as compared to a "no treatment" protocol. Both "gold standard" gravimetric methods and real-time instruments were used to describe mass per volume concentration, particle size distribution, and surface area.

Comparison of high-volume air sampling equipment for viral aerosol sampling during emergency response.

Objective: This study compared the performance of two high-volume bioaerosol air samplers for viable virus to an accepted standard low-volume sampler. In typical bioaerosol emergency response scenarios, highvolume sampling is essential for the low infective concentrations and large air volumes involved.

Design: Two high-volume air samplers (XMX/2LMIL and DFU-1000) were evaluated alongside a lowvolume sample (BioSampler).

Insertion loss of noise barriers on an aboveground, full-scale model longwall coal mining shearer.

The U.S. mining industry struggles with hazardous noise and dust exposures in underground mining.

Effects of cross-sectional partitioning on active noise control in round ducts.

Active noise control (ANC) is particularly useful in hard-walled ducts where plane waves propagate. Higher order mode waves are much more difficult to control. Basic acoustic principles dictate that the cut-on frequency at which higher order modes will first begin to eclipse simple plane waves in a duct will be determined by the cross-sectional diameter of the duct.

Effects of cross-sectional dimensions on active noise control in rectangular and round ducts.

Active noise control (ANC) works best to reduce low frequency noise. Because many industrial noise sources are broadband, ANC may be used more if it can be successfully applied to higher frequency ranges. This study explored one method to increase ANC effectiveness at higher frequencies.

Photometer response determination based on aerosol physical characteristics.

Aerosol photometers often are calibrated against field measurements of total or respirable aerosol concentrations. However, the response of these instruments to a particular aerosol concentration level will change if there is a change in aerosol size distribution. To determine a predictable correction factor that relates photometer to gravimetric measurements of an aerosol, the authors performed an analysis of photometer response relative to particle size distribution, density, and refractive index.