Analyzing the Role of Chemical Mechanism Choice in Wintertime PM Modeling for Temperature Inversion-Prone Areas.

Chemical transport models are used for federal compliance demonstrations when areas are out of attainment, but there is no guidance for choosing a chemical mechanism. With the 2024 change of the annual PM standard and the prevalence of multiday wintertime inversion episodes in the western U.S.

Pro-inflammatory effects of inhaled Great Salt Lake dust particles.

Background: Climate change and human activities have caused the drying of marine environments around the world. An example is the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA which is at a near record low water level. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to windblown dust originating from dried lakebed sediments, but mechanistic studies evaluating the health effects of these dusts are limited.

Pro-Inflammatory Effects of Inhaled Great Salt Lake Dust Particles.

Background: Climatological shifts and human activities have decimated lakes worldwide. Water in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA is at near record lows which has increased risks for exposure to windblown dust from dried lakebed sediments. Formal studies evaluating the health effects of inhaled Great Salt Lake dust (GSLD) have not been performed despite the belief that the dust is harmful.

Effect of Three-Dimensional-Printed Thermoplastics Used in Sensor Housings on Common Atmospheric Trace Gasses.

Low-cost air quality sensors (LCSs) are becoming more ubiquitous as individuals and communities seek to reduce their exposure to poor air quality. Compact, efficient, and aesthetically designed sensor housings that do not interfere with the target air quality measurements are a necessary component of a low-cost sensing system. The selection of appropriate housing material can be an important factor in air quality applications employing LCSs.

Laboratory Performance Evaluation of a Low-Cost Electrochemical Formaldehyde Sensor.

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and an important indoor and outdoor air pollutant. However, current strategies for formaldehyde measurement, such as chromatographic and optical techniques, are expensive and labor intensive. Low-cost gas sensors have been emerging to provide effective measurement of air pollutants.

Regional impacts on air quality and health of changing a manufacturing facility's grid-boiler to a combined heat and power system.

Poor air quality is linked to numerous adverse health effects including strokes, heart attacks, and premature death. Improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector reduces air emissions and yields health benefits. One of these strategies, replacing an existing grid boiler (GB) with a combined heat and power (CHP) system, can improve a facility's energy efficiency but can also increase local air emissions, which in turn can affect health outcomes.

Comparing Aerosol Generation in Human and Animal Tissues During Common Otolaryngology Procedures.

Objective: To determine whether hamster and human tissues generate similar amounts of aerosolized particles using common otolaryngology surgical techniques.

Study Design: Quantitative experimental research.

Study Setting: University research laboratory.

Aerosol Generation During Bronchoscopy.

Background: Bronchoscopy is an aerosol-generating procedure and can place the health care providers at risk for exposure to viral pathogens. The pattern of aerosol generation during  different aspects of bronchoscopy are poorly understood. The goal of this study is to characterize the pattern of aerosol generation during flexible and rigid bronchoscopy performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia (GA).

Tobacco use increases the risk of chronic rhinosinusitis among patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: Although it has been postulated that tobacco use, as well as other environmental exposures, may contribute to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the data remain limited. Here, we utilised a large state population database to assess the association between tobacco use and CRS prevalence among patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methods: Employing a case-control study design, the Utah Population Database was queried for patients age >18 with a diagnosis of CRS and tobacco use who underwent ESS between 1996 and 2018.

Effect of combustion particle morphology on biological responses in a Co-culture of human lung and macrophage cells.

Atmospheric aging of combustion particles alters their chemical composition and morphology. Previous studies have reported differences in toxicological responses after exposure to fresh versus aged particles, with chemical composition being the prime suspect behind the differences. However, less is known about the contribution of morphological differences in atmospherically aged particles to toxicological responses, possibly due to the difficulty in resolving the two properties (composition and morphology) that change simultaneously.

Comparison of biological responses between submerged, pseudo-air-liquid interface, and air-liquid interface exposure of A549 and differentiated THP-1 co-cultures to combustion-derived particles.

Air liquid interface (ALI) exposure systems are gaining interest, and studies suggest enhanced response of lung cells exposed to particles at ALI as compared to submerged exposure, although the results have been somewhat inconsistent. Previous studies have used monocultures and measured particle deposition using assumptions including consistent particle deposition, particle density, and shape. This study exposed co-cultures of A549 and differentiated THP-1 cells to flame-generated particles using three exposure methods: ALI, pseudo-ALI, and submerged.

Feasibility of a High-Volume Filter Sampler for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19 Patient Rooms.

Aerosolization of SARS-CoV-2 by COVID-19 patients can put healthcare workers and susceptible individuals at risk of infection. Air sampling for SARS-CoV-2 has been conducted in healthcare settings, but methods vary widely and there is need for improvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a high-volume filter sampler, BioCapture z720, to detect SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patient rooms in a medical intensive care unit, a dedicated COVID-19 ward, and at nurses' stations.

Coupled Air Quality and Boundary-Layer Meteorology in Western U.S. Basins during Winter: Design and Rationale for a Comprehensive Study.

Wintertime episodes of high aerosol concentrations occur frequently in urban and agricultural basins and valleys worldwide. These episodes often arise following development of persistent cold-air pools (PCAPs) that limit mixing and modify chemistry. While field campaigns targeting either basin meteorology or wintertime pollution chemistry have been conducted, coupling between interconnected chemical and meteorological processes remains an insufficiently studied research area.

Nasal endoscopy, room filtration, and aerosol concentrations during live outpatient encounters: a prospective, case-control study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted safety concerns surrounding possible aerosol-generating procedures, but comparative data on the smallest particles capable of transmitting this virus remain limited. We evaluated the effect of nasal endoscopy on aerosol concentration and the role of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in reducing aerosol concentration.

Methods: Otolaryngology patients were prospectively enrolled in an outpatient, cross-sectional study.

Community-Based Measurements Reveal Unseen Differences during Air Pollution Episodes.

Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) pollution is linked to numerous adverse health effects. Pollution episodes, such as wildfires, can lead to substantial increases in PM levels. However, sparse regulatory measurements provide an incomplete understanding of pollution gradients.

Determining real-time mass deposition with a quartz crystal microbalance in an electrostatic, parallel-flow, air-liquid interface exposure system.

In vitro studies are the first step toward understanding the biological effects of particulate matter. As a more realistic exposure strategy than submerged culture approaches, air-liquid interface (ALI) in vitro exposure systems are gaining interest. One challenge with ALI systems is determining accurate particle mass deposition.

Airborne Aerosolized Mouse Cytomegalovirus From Common Otolaryngology Procedures: Implications for COVID-19 Infection.

Objectives: To determine whether common otolaryngology procedures generate viable aerosolized virus through a murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) model for infection.

Study Design: mCMV model of infection.

Setting: University of Utah laboratory.

Long-term calibration models to estimate ozone concentrations with a metal oxide sensor.

Ozone (O) is a potent oxidant associated with adverse health effects. Low-cost O sensors, such as metal oxide (MO) sensors, can complement regulatory O measurements and enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of measurements. However, the quality of MO sensor data remains a challenge.

Application of a Quartz Crystal Microbalance to Measure the Mass Concentration of Combustion Particle Suspensions.

Researchers studying the biological effects of combustion particles typically rely on suspending particles in de-ionized (DI) water, buffer, and/or media prior to in vitro or in vivo experiments. However, the hydrophobic nature of combustion particles makes it difficult to obtain well-suspended, evenly dispersed mixtures, which also makes it difficult to obtain equivalent dosing and endpoint comparisons. This study explored the use of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to measure the mass concentration of combustion particle suspensions.