Personal exposure to gaseous and particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nanoparticles and lung deposited surface area (LDSA) for soot among Norwegian chimney sweepers.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of high molecular weight from chimney soot can cause cancer among chimney sweepers. These sweepers may also be exposed to high concentrations of nanosized particles, which can cause significant inflammatory responses due to their relatively greater surface area per mass. In this study, the authors aimed to assess the exposure profiles of airborne personal exposure to gaseous and particulate PAHs, and real-time samples of the particle number concentrations (PNCs), particle sizes, and lung-deposited surface areas (LDSAs), for chimney sweepers in Norway.

Comparing PM, respirable dust, and total dust fractions using real-time and gravimetric samples in an exposure chamber study.

Using an exposure chamber, we investigate the precision of the DustTrak DRX monitor by comparing its results to those obtained from taking traditional gravimetric samples of two stone minerals commonly used in asphalt and lactose powder. We also discuss the possibility of using real-time monitors such as DustTrak DRX for occupational exposure monitoring purposes. The results are based on 19 days of experiment, each day with measurements collected over 4 h.

Short-term exposure to stone minerals used in asphalt affect lung function and promote pulmonary inflammation among healthy adults.

Objective: Stone minerals are a partially ignored environmental challenge but a significant contributor to urban air pollution. We examined if short-term exposure to two stone minerals - quartz diorite and rhomb porphyry - commonly used in asphalt pavement would affect lung function, promote pulmonary inflammation, and affect bronchial reactivity differently.

Methods: Our randomized crossover study included 24 healthy, non-smoking young adults exposed to the stone minerals quartz diorite, rhomb porphyry, and control dust (lactose).

Association between exposure to different stone aggregates from asphalt and blood coagulability: A human exposure chamber study.

A large fraction of particulate matter (PM) especially PM, concentrations are due to non-exhaust emissions, such as road abrasion and wear on tires and brake pads. Concentrating on road abrasion, we aimed to investigate blood coagulability in healthy adults after exposure to two types of stone materials commonly used in asphalt on Norwegian roads. This study followed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study design.

Exposure to Ultrafine Particles in the Ferroalloy Industry Using a Logbook Method.

Background: It is difficult to assess workers' exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) due to the lack of personal sampling equipment available for this particle fraction. The logbook method has been proposed as a general method for exposure assessment. This method measures the time and concentration components of the time-weighted average concentration separately and could be suitable for investigation of UFP exposure.

Embedded systems and the Internet of Things: Can low-cost gas sensors be used in risk assessment of occupational exposure?

The Internet of Things (IoT) explores new perspectives and possible improvements in risk assessment practices and shows potential to measure long-term and real-time occupational exposure. This may be of value when monitoring gases with short-term maximum levels and for time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations used in standard measuring practices. A functional embedded system was designed using low-cost carbon monoxide (CO) electrochemical sensors and long-range-wide-area-network radio communication technology (LoRaWAN) was used to enable internet connectivity.

Can CO sensors in the ventilation system of a pool facility help reduce the variability in the trihalomethane concentration observed in indoor air?

Volatile and hazardous compounds are formed during the chlorination of pool water. Monitoring components in the air, such as the four trihalomethanes; chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform (tTHM), is challenging. Carbon dioxide (CO) sensors are used for controlling air quality in different buildings and can be installed in ventilation systems for continuous surveillance and monitoring purposes.

UV treatment and air quality in a pool facility.

We investigated how UV treatment of indoor pool water affects the concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) and chloramines (NCl) in the air above one therapy pool. One-hundred and sixty-two samples of tTHMs (sum of the four most common THMs in swimming facilities) and thirty-six samples of NCl were collected simultaneously at poolside and in the extract channel in a room with one therapy pool for 2 days a week over a period of 5 weeks. When the UV lamp was on, the concentration of combined chlorine in the water decreased 58%, the concentration of tTHMs in the air increased 37%, and the concentration of NCl in the air decreased 15%.

Determinants of Exposure and Variability of Trihalomethanes in the Air of Three Indoor Swimming Pools.

Introduction: Negative health effects related to long-term exposure to volatile trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during the chlorination of pool water is recognized, but the determinants causing the concentrations to vary within and between sampling locations have not received much attention.

Methods: One hundred and twenty air samples of four THMs were examined in three Norwegian indoor pool facilities. In each facility, repeated samples were collected above a sports pool and a therapy pool, 0.

Modelling the concentration of chloroform in the air of a Norwegian swimming pool facility-A repeated measures study.

Certain volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs) off-gassing from pool water can cause eye and skin irritations, respiratory problems, and even cancer. No guidelines or recommendations concerning DBPs in the air exist in Norway. Traditionally, ventilation strategies in indoor swimming pools are based on reducing condensation on the windows rather than ensuring proper air quality in the users' breathing zone.

Effectuality of Cleaning Workers' Training and Cleaning Enterprises' Chemical Health Hazard Risk Profiling.

Background: Goal-oriented communication of risk of hazards is necessary in order to reduce risk of workers' exposure to chemicals. Adequate training of workers and enterprise priority setting are essential elements. Cleaning enterprises have many challenges and the existing paradigms influence the risk levels of these enterprises.

Are safety data sheets for cleaning products used in Norway a factor contributing to the risk of workers exposure to chemicals?

Objectives: Cleaning products are considered less hazardous than those used in other sectors. Suppliers and distributors are less conscientious when it comes to informing users on health risks. The aim of the study was to elaborate on the usefulness and clarity of information in the safety data sheets (SDS) for cleaning products, and considering if the use of these SDSs can be seen as a risk factor towards occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in the sector.