Publications by authors named "Rodney Larson"
In the United States 18.6% of college students between 19-and 22-years old report e-cigarette use in the last 30 days. Information regarding e-cigarette use and perceptions in this age group may assist in understanding how to decrease initiation of e-cigarettes in a population that may otherwise not use nicotine.
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- The study compares pharmacy students' views on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) with those of other health care students using a 33-item questionnaire at a Midwestern university.
- High levels of ENDS use were reported among students, with 47% having tried them, but pharmacy students had lower usage rates (6%) compared to other health care students (19%).
- Pharmacy students reported feeling more prepared to counsel patients on tobacco cessation, but they were less likely to consider ENDS a healthier alternative to traditional tobacco and less inclined to recommend it as a quitting aid.
Article Synopsis
- Extrathoracic deposition of inhaled particles is a significant exposure pathway for hazardous materials, particularly in the head and throat areas.
- New ISO standards (ISO 13138) focus on sampling conventions for measuring how particles deposit in the upper respiratory tract, specifically the anterior and posterior nasal passages.
- This study tested polyurethane foam in an aerosol sampler, finding that it effectively estimates extrathoracic particle deposition for various sizes of aluminum oxide aerosols using a rotating mannequin setup in a wind tunnel.
Article Synopsis
- The text discusses the importance of where inhaled particles deposit in the body, leading to the adoption of a particle deposition sampling convention by the International Organization for Standardization.
- A study was conducted to evaluate how well a polyurethane foam insert in an IOM sampler mimicked this convention by testing different particle sizes and accounting for static electricity.
- Results showed that while the foam insert generally matched the sampling convention for larger particles, it underestimated efficiencies for all sizes, with a significant difference noted only for the smallest particle size when comparing standard and neutralized particles.
Article Synopsis
- The research investigated the effectiveness of the 37-mm closed-face cassette (CFC) sampler for aerosol collection by comparing two orientations: the traditional 45° angle and a proposed horizontal 0° angle.
- Conducted in a wind tunnel with fused alumina oxide particles of varying sizes, the study included 12 sampling events, collecting a total of 94 samples to compare mass concentration measurements.
- Results showed no significant differences in aerosol measurements between the two orientations, and less than 5% of the mass was lost on the cassette walls, suggesting that both methods are similar in effectiveness for sampling.
Evaluation of respirable crystalline silica in high school ceramics classrooms.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
January 2014
Article Synopsis
- A study measured respirable crystalline silica levels in 11 high school ceramics classrooms in Salt Lake County, revealing average concentrations of 0.009 mg/m3 near teachers and 0.008 mg/m3 near kilns.
- The data indicated a correlation between silica concentrations and the number of students in the classroom, but not with classroom size or building age.
- Findings suggest that ceramics teachers may face higher exposure risks to crystalline silica, exceeding the recommended limit by 21%.
This study analyzed data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Chemical Exposure Health Database to assess contaminant exposures in general medical and surgical hospitals. Seventy-five inspections conducted in these hospitals from 2005 through 2009 were identified. Five categories of inspections were conducted, the three most common being complaint-based, planned, and referral-based inspections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAir samples were collected in 12 randomly selected commercial nail salons in Salt Lake County, Utah. Measurements of salon physical/chemical parameters (room volume, CO2 levels) were obtained. Volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were collected using summa air canisters and sorbent media tubes for an 8-h period.
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- There is currently no MSHA-approved method for real-time monitoring of diesel particulate concentrations in mines, prompting this study on the efficacy of the Grimm Portable Aerosol Spectrometer.
- The study involved comparing the Grimm spectrometer's readings to traditional MSHA-approved cassette sampling methods in an underground metal mine, finding strong correlations in particulate concentration data.
- Results indicated that while diesel particulate sizes varied, the Grimm Model 1.109 can be adjusted to give accurate real-time data for monitoring air quality in mining environments.
Article Synopsis
- - The National Children's Study aims to examine how environmental exposures, including contaminants in food, impact the health of pregnant women and children, highlighting concerns that national databases might overlook community-specific dietary exposures.
- - This study evaluated the practicality of collecting food items from communities to assess pesticide exposure in mothers with young children in Salt Lake City, using a structured food collection protocol.
- - Results showed a high success rate with a 97.8% food collection rate, and most mothers found the process easy and non-burdensome, indicating that this method could effectively capture unique dietary exposures for larger studies.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to measure the lead levels in umbilical cord blood of newborns in Karachi, Pakistan, and determine factors influencing these levels.
- Researchers analyzed blood samples from 540 mothers and documented various lifestyle and dietary factors during pregnancy to find correlations with lead exposure.
- Results showed the average lead level in newborns was concerningly high, with certain dietary habits (like low iron intake) and cosmetic use (like daily surma) linked to elevated lead levels in the umbilical cord blood.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to uncover factors contributing to low birth weight (LBW) in Karachi, Pakistan, focusing on maternal nutrition and environmental exposures during pregnancy.
- - Out of 540 infants, 18.5% were classified as LBW, with significant associations found between LBW and poor maternal health and limited prenatal visits, as well as interactions involving maternal nutritional status.
- - The results suggest that inadequate nutrition and insufficient prenatal care are critical determinants of LBW, while environmental exposures like lead levels in the umbilical cord did not show a significant link to LBW.
Article Synopsis
- A study evaluated exposure levels to 1,3-butadiene, styrene, and dimethyldithiocarbamate among workers in synthetic rubber plants, using mathematical models to analyze job-specific exposure risks over time.
- The research found that exposure levels varied significantly based on tasks, jobs, plants, and historical time periods, with peak exposures of butadiene being notably significant.
- The study acknowledged limitations in its methodology, such as potential inaccuracies in exposure estimates and challenges in linking job data, but concluded that the new exposure estimates were consistent with older findings.
Article Synopsis
- - Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a carcinogenic drug that was found not effectively controlled by existing high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, leading to concerns about air monitoring methods for antineoplastics.
- - Further evaluations showed that current filter methods were minimally effective for monitoring certain antineoplastic agents, prompting the search for a more reliable alternative.
- - The newly developed method using Anasorb 708 solid sorbent tubes demonstrated over 90% recovery for CP and other agents, allowing for accurate collection and quantification of airborne concentrations, essential for risk assessments.
Development of an HPLC method for simultaneous analysis of five antineoplastic agents.
Appl Occup Environ Hyg
February 2003
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to analyze the health risks of common antineoplastic agents for healthcare workers by examining both air and surface samples.
- The research focused on five frequently used hazardous agents: 5-fluorouracil, ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin HCl, and paclitaxel, chosen based on their usage in cancer treatment facilities.
- A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to detect these agents at very low concentrations (0.5 microgram/mL), ensuring effective monitoring of exposure levels.