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Nafees AA, Ali Y, Sadia A, Shaukat N, Irfan M, Fatmi Z, Azam I, Matteis SD, Burney P, Cullinan P. Assessing the Feasibility of a Multifaceted Intervention Package for Improving Respiratory Health of Textile Workers: Findings From the MultiTex Pilot Study in Karachi, Pakistan. Asia Pac J Public Health 2024; 36:202-209. [PMID: 38247056 DOI: 10.1177/10105395231226273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
We piloted the development and implementation of a multifaceted intervention package for improving respiratory health among textile workers using a pre-post design at six mills in Karachi. The intervention, implemented following a baseline survey (n = 498), included health and safety training of workers and managers, promotion of cotton dust control measures, and the provision of facemasks. Follow-up surveys were conducted at 1, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) scores and respiratory symptoms were assessed through a questionnaire and spirometry was conducted. The intervention was provided to 230 workers and led to an improvement in KAP scores that was more likely among workers with a higher educational status, spinners, smokers, those with a permanent employment status, working in morning shifts, and with ⩾5 years of textile experience. We found the intervention acceptable and feasible in these textile mills henceforth, trials are required to determine its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asaad Ahmed Nafees
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- Genomic and Environmental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Yousaf Ali
- Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Afreen Sadia
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Natasha Shaukat
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zafar Fatmi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Iqbal Azam
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sara De Matteis
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Peter Burney
- Genomic and Environmental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Paul Cullinan
- Genomic and Environmental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
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Sousan S, Anthony TR, Altmaier R, Gibbs J, Nonnenmann M. Use of prototype side stream filtration system to control dust levels in a commercial swine farrowing building. J Occup Environ Hyg 2023; 20:633-645. [PMID: 37582250 PMCID: PMC10918672 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2247457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Swine meat provides an essential global food source. Due to economies of scale, modern U.S. swine production primarily occurs indoors to maintain an optimal environment across the stages of swine production. Indoor concentrations of dust and contaminant gases in swine production buildings increase in the winter months due to reduced ventilation to optimal building temperature. In this study, an engineering control technology designed to recirculate the air in a swine farrowing room through a mobile air handling unit containing high-efficiency particulate filters was presented. A mobile solution could be easily deployed as an intervention method if an infectious disease outbreak occurs at a swine operation. The performance of this control technology was evaluated following deployment in a production farrowing barn for a period of 6 weeks during the winter in the Midwestern United States. Contaminant concentrations of inhalable dust, respirable dust, and carbon dioxide were measured in the room treated by the prototype system and compared to contaminant concentrations measured in an untreated "control" room. Over 6 weeks, the mean inhalable and respirable dust concentrations observed during the study period for the "treatment" room were 2.61 and 0.14 mg/m3, respectively, compared to 3.51 and 0.25 mg/m3, respectively, for the control room. The mobile recirculating ventilation system, operating at a flow rate of 45 m3/min (5 room air exchanges per hour), reduced the inhalable dust by 25% and respirable dust by 48% as measured with a real-time aerosol monitor, when compared to the control room. In addition, no concentration differences in carbon dioxide and relative humidity between the treatment and the control rooms were observed. Inhalable and respirable concentrations of dust were significantly reduced (p = 0.001), which demonstrates an essential improvement of the air quality that may prove beneficial to reduce the burden of disease among both workers and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Sousan
- Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
- North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - T Renée Anthony
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Ralph Altmaier
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Jenna Gibbs
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Matthew Nonnenmann
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Lian X, Wang W, Zhang J. How to optimize dust pollution control in opencast coal mines: Analysis of a joint social regulation model based on evolutionary game theory. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289164. [PMID: 37494392 PMCID: PMC10370741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals drive innovation in pollution governance systems, unleashing the potential of social supervisory forces to achieve coordinated governance by multiple stakeholders. In order to improve dust pollution control in opencast coal mines, this study combines prospect theory with evolutionary game theory, analyzing the evolutionary game process of coordinated governance activities of coal mining enterprises, local regulators, and social camps in the management of dust pollution against the backdrop of national supervisions. The research indicates that the perceived value of dust pollution has a significant impact on the strategic choices of the three agents involved in the game. Coal mining enterprises tend to be risk averse, and by reducing the cost of dust pollution control and increasing the additional benefits of pollution control, it can promote pollution control behavior by coal mining enterprises. Local regulators are also risk averse, but not sensitive to risk benefits. Strengthening pollution subsidy incentives and environmental fines can help promote dust pollution control behavior by coal mining enterprises. However, increasing the strength of the rewards strategy is not conducive to local regulators' own regulatory responsibilities, and environmental fines have limited binding effects. The strategic choices of social camps' supervision have a restrictive effect on the strategic choices of coal mining enterprises and local regulators, promoting the evolution of equilibrium results in the direction of maximizing social benefits. When coal mining enterprises actively governance pollution, local regulators strictly regulated, and social camps do not monitor, the system reaches its optimal equilibrium state. The research results clarify the mechanism and specific effects of social supervision of opencast coal mine dust pollution control, guide the participation of the public in dust pollution control, and regulate the behavior strategies of coal mining enterprises and local regulators, providing the scientific basis for management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Lian
- School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Wensheng Wang
- School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
- Research Institute of Decision-making Science and Big Data, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
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Anlimah F, Gopaldasani V, MacPhail C, Davies B. A systematic review of the effectiveness of dust control measures adopted to reduce workplace exposure. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:54407-54428. [PMID: 36964805 PMCID: PMC10121514 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26321-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent increase in silicosis cases in several countries casts doubt on dust control practices and their effectiveness in preventing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure. Apart from silicosis, RCS may lead to other illnesses, health-related quality of life losses for workers and their families, and economic losses for companies. Thus, this systematic literature review examined the effectiveness of interventions employed to prevent exposure to RCS and increase the use of dust control measures. The review used keywords related to dust control interventions to search seven databases. Search results were screened and extracted for synthesis. The narrative synthesis showed the extent of research investment in China. In several designs and combinations, the interventions utilized water, surfactant, foam, and air currents to reduce dust exposure. These interventions offer varying degrees of dust control effectiveness against RCS and respirable dust. Although evidence indicates that interventions significantly decrease dust concentration levels, the control measures in place may not effectively prevent workplace overexposure to RCS. The review found that education and training interventions are employed to improve dust controls and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) use. Also, marketing strategies promote the use of RPE. These interventions can increase the frequency of use of RPE and the adoption of best practice dust control measures. Interventions increase knowledge, awareness, and attitudes about RPE usage and generate positive perceptions while reducing misconceptions. However, the benefits obtained from an intervention may diminish after its implementation, indicating that the interventions may not continually motivate workers to adopt control measures or use RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Anlimah
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, Centre for Occupational Public and Environmental Research in Safety and Health (COPERSH), University of Wollongong, Building 29, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Vinod Gopaldasani
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, Centre for Occupational Public and Environmental Research in Safety and Health (COPERSH), University of Wollongong, Building 29, Room 124, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Catherine MacPhail
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Building 29, Room 242, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Brian Davies
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Health and Society, Centre for Occupational Public and Environmental Research in Safety and Health (COPERSH), University of Wollongong, Building 29, Room 116, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
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Achilleos S, Michanikou A, Kouis P, Papatheodorou SI, Panayiotou AG, Kinni P, Mihalopoulos N, Kalivitis N, Kouvarakis G, Galanakis E, Michailidi E, Tymvios F, Chrysanthou A, Neophytou M, Mouzourides P, Savvides C, Vasiliadou E, Papasavvas I, Christophides T, Nicolaou R, Avraamides P, Kang CM, Middleton N, Koutrakis P, Yiallouros PK. Improved indoor air quality during desert dust storms: The impact of the MEDEA exposure-reduction strategies. Sci Total Environ 2023; 863:160973. [PMID: 36539092 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Desert dust storms (DDS) are natural events that impact not only populations close to the emission sources but also populations many kilometers away. Countries located across the main dust sources, including countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, are highly affected by DDS. In addition, climate change is expanding arid areas exacerbating DDS events. Currently, there are no intervention measures with proven, quantified exposure reduction to desert dust particles. As part of the wider "MEDEA" project, co-funded by LIFE 2016 Programme, we examined the effectiveness of an indoor exposure-reduction intervention (i.e., decrease home ventilation during DDS events and continuous use of air purifier during DDS and non-DDS days) across homes and/or classrooms of schoolchildren with asthma and adults with atrial fibrillation in Cyprus and Crete-Greece. Participants were randomized to a control or intervention groups, including an indoor intervention group with exposure reduction measures and the use of air purifiers. Particle sampling, PM10 and PM2.5, was conducted in participants' homes and/or classrooms, between 2019 and 2022, during DDS-free weeks and during DDS days for as long as the event lasted. In indoor and outdoor PM10 and PM2.5 samples, mass and content in main and trace elements was determined. Indoor PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations, adjusting for premise type and dust conditions, were significantly lower in the indoor intervention group compared to the control group (PM2.5-intervention/PM2.5-control = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.70; PM10-intervention/PM10-control = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.71). In addition, the PM2.5 and PM10 particles of outdoor origin were significantly lower in the intervention vs. the control group (PM2.5 infiltration intervention-to-control ratio: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.58; PM10 infiltration intervention-to-control ratio: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.89). Our findings suggest that the use of air purifiers alongside decreased ventilation measures is an effective protective measure that reduces significantly indoor exposure to particles during DDS and non-DDS in high-risk population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souzana Achilleos
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Antonis Michanikou
- Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Panayiotis Kouis
- Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Stefania I Papatheodorou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrie G Panayiotou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Paraskevi Kinni
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus; Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus; Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Nikos Mihalopoulos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Kalivitis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | - Emmanouil Galanakis
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eleni Michailidi
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | | | - Marina Neophytou
- Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Petros Mouzourides
- Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chrysanthos Savvides
- Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section, Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Emily Vasiliadou
- Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section, Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ilias Papasavvas
- Department of Cardiology, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Rozalia Nicolaou
- Department of Cardiology, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Choong-Min Kang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicos Middleton
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Kouis P, Michanikou A, Galanakis E, Michaelidou E, Dimitriou H, Perez J, Kinni P, Achilleos S, Revvas E, Stamatelatos G, Zacharatos H, Savvides C, Vasiliadou E, Kalivitis N, Chrysanthou A, Tymvios F, Papatheodorou SI, Koutrakis P, Yiallouros PK. Responses of schoolchildren with asthma to recommendations to reduce desert dust exposure: Results from the LIFE-MEDEA intervention project using wearable technology. Sci Total Environ 2023; 860:160518. [PMID: 36573449 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Current public health recommendations for desert dust storms (DDS) events focus on vulnerable population groups, such as children with asthma, and include advice to stay indoors and limit outdoor physical activity. To date, no scientific evidence exists on the efficacy of these recommendations in reducing DDS exposure. We aimed to objectively assess the behavioral responses of children with asthma to recommendations for reduction of DDS exposure. In two heavily affected by DDS Mediterranean regions (Cyprus & Crete, Greece), schoolchildren with asthma (6-11 years) were recruited from primary schools and were randomized to control (business as usual scenario) and intervention groups. All children were equipped with pedometer and GPS sensors embedded in smartwatches for objective real-time data collection from inside and outside their classroom and household settings. Interventions included the timely communication of personal DDS alerts accompanied by exposure reduction recommendations to both the parents and school-teachers of children in the intervention group. A mixed effect model was used to assess changes in daily levels of time spent, and steps performed outside classrooms and households, between non-DDS and DDS days across the study groups. The change in the time spent outside classrooms and homes, between non-DDS and DDS days, was 37.2 min (pvalue = 0.098) in the control group and -62.4 min (pvalue < 0.001) in the intervention group. The difference in the effects between the two groups was statistically significant (interaction pvalue < 0.001). The change in daily steps performed outside classrooms and homes, was -495.1 steps (pvalue = 0.350) in the control group and -1039.5 (pvalue = 0.003) in the intervention group (interaction pvalue = 0.575). The effects on both the time and steps performed outside were more profound during after-school hours. To summarize, among children with asthma, we demonstrated that timely personal DDS alerts and detailed recommendations lead to significant behavioral changes in contrast to the usual public health recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiotis Kouis
- Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonis Michanikou
- Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Helen Dimitriou
- Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Julietta Perez
- Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Kinni
- Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Souzana Achilleos
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cyprus International Institute for Environmental & Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | | | | | | | - Chrysanthos Savvides
- Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section, Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Emily Vasiliadou
- Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section, Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nikos Kalivitis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | | | - Stefania I Papatheodorou
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA
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King G, Miller A, Schneider C, Feagan G, Gain D. Evaluation of a self-cleaning portable dust collector for reducing worker exposures to silica at hydraulic-fracturing sites. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2023; 73:109-119. [PMID: 36319087 PMCID: PMC10809035 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2022.2141917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers continue to study worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and develop interventions to reduce these exposures. Occupational overexposures to RCS continue to cause illness and deaths in many industries and RCS has been identified as a serious exposure risk associated with hydraulic- fracturing operations during oil and gas extraction. In 2016 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reduced the permissible exposure limit (PEL) to 0.05 milligrams of silica per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour day. This mandate requires hydraulic-fracturing operations to implement dust controls and safer work methods to protect workers from silica exposures above this PEL by June 23, 2021. At hydraulic-fracturing sites utilizing sand movers, pneumatic transfer of fracking sand is the primary source of aerosolized RCS. Currently, there are limited commercially available engineering controls for the collection of dust emitted from thief hatches on sand movers. The goal of this research is to develop a robust, cost-effective, weather resistant, portable, self-cleaning dust collection system that can be retrofitted onto sand mover thief hatches. A prototype was designed, built, and tested, and it was determined that the system could handle flows in the range of 600 to 1300 cfm with loading/cleaning cycle times of 40 and 5 minutes respectively and demonstrated operating efficiencies of 97-99%. Further development of this NIOSH prototype is being done in collaboration with an industry partner with the goal of developing a commercially viable, cost-effective solution to reduce RCS at hydraulic-fracturing sites around the world.Implications: This research has verified that airborne dust created by pneumatic transfer of fracking sand can be effectively collected using a passive cartridge filter system, and that the filters can be cleaned using blasts of air. Mounting these units to the thief hatches of sand movers will significantly reduce dust emissions from sand movers on hydraulic fracturing sites. Thus, this system offers the Oil and Gas Industry a method to reduce worker exposure to RCS on hydraulic fracturing sites that utilize sand movers. The success of this prototype has led researchers to devise a modified version for collecting dust at conveyor transfer points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant King
- Western States Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Arthur Miller
- Spokane Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane, WA, USA
| | | | - Greg Feagan
- Spokane Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Darby Gain
- Independent Contractor, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
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Erlandson G, Magzamen S, Sharp JL, Mitra S, Jones K, Poole JA, Bradford M, Nonnenmann M, Reynolds SJ, Schaeffer JW. Preliminary investigation of a hypertonic saline nasal rinse as a hygienic intervention in dairy workers. J Occup Environ Hyg 2023; 20:14-22. [PMID: 36260509 PMCID: PMC10958439 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2022.2137297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Livestock workers experience an increased burden of bioaerosol-induced respiratory disease including a high prevalence of rhinosinusitis. Dairy operations generate bioaerosols spanning the inhalable size fraction (0-100 μm) containing bacterial constituents such as endotoxin. Particles with an aerodynamic diameter between 10 and 100 μm are known to deposit in the nasopharyngeal region and likely affect the upper respiratory tract. We evaluated the effectiveness of a hypertonic saline nasal lavage in reducing inflammatory responses in dairy workers from a high-volume dairy operation. Inhalable personal breathing zone samples and pre-/post-shift nasal lavage samples from each participant over five consecutive days were collected. The treatment group (n = 5) received hypertonic saline while the control group (n = 5) received normotonic saline. Personal breathing zone samples were analyzed for particulate concentrations and endotoxin using gravimetric and enzymatic methods, respectively. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α) were measured from nasal lavage samples using a multiplex assay. Inhalable dust concentrations ranged from 0.15 to 1.9 mg/m3. Concentrations of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group (p < 0.02, p < 0.04, and p < 0.01, respectively). Further analysis of IL-10 anti-inflammatory indicates a positive association between hypertonic saline administration and IL-10 production. This pilot study demonstrates that hypertonic saline nasal lavages were successful in upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines to support larger interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Erlandson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Julia L Sharp
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Sanchayita Mitra
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kenneth Jones
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Campus, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Jill A Poole
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Mary Bradford
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Matthew Nonnenmann
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Stephen J Reynolds
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Denver, Colorado
- High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Joshua W Schaeffer
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Denver, Colorado
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9
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Li M, Song X, Li G, Tang J, Li Z. Experimental Study on Dust Suppression Effect and Performance of New Nano-Composite Dust Suppressant. IJERPH 2022; 19:ijerph19106288. [PMID: 35627825 PMCID: PMC9141402 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, a nano-composite dust suppressant has been proposed to make up for the deficiency in wettability and moisturizing performance of a nanofluid dust suppressant. The nanometer material Al2O3, super absorbent polymer, carboxyl methyl starch sodium, and polyacrylamide were selected as effective components of it. The surface tension of the solution, evaporation resistance, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) were chosen as evaluation index to compare the suppression performance, these dust suppressants include the water, nanofluid dust suppressant and nano-composite dust suppressant, and the surface morphology of each tested material was observed by micro image analysis system. It was found that the surface tension and water loss rates of the nano-composite dust suppressants, respectively, decreased by 31.96% and 7.1%, and the maximum UCS increased by 31.82% compared with data of nanofluid dust suppressants. Since the nano-composite dust suppressant has good dispersion, permeability and bond performance, the suppressant film has fewer micro-cracks from the photos of microscopic image; it can improve the compactness and integrity of dust consolidation to prevent the evaporation of water and dust re-entrainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (M.L.); (J.T.); (Z.L.)
| | - Xinzhu Song
- School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (M.L.); (J.T.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-13762390780
| | - Gang Li
- Sinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd., Maanshan 243000, China;
| | - Jiao Tang
- School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (M.L.); (J.T.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zhi Li
- School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (M.L.); (J.T.); (Z.L.)
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10
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Pennisi E. Soils' coating helps keep dust storms at bay. Science 2022; 376:786-787. [PMID: 35587957 DOI: 10.1126/science.add0536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Breakdown of "biocrusts" allows wind to attack dryland soils.
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11
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Woodfield MJ, Jones RM, Sleeth DK. Influence of face shields on exposures to respirable aerosol. J Occup Environ Hyg 2022; 19:139-144. [PMID: 34982641 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2021.2023163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of face shields on the concentration of respirable aerosols in the breathing zone of the wearer. The experimental approach involved the generation of poly-dispersed respirable test dust aerosol in a low-speed wind tunnel over 15 min, with a downstream breathing mannequin. Aerosol concentrations were measured in the breathing zone of the mannequin and at an upstream location using two laser spectrophotometers that measured particle number concentration over the range 0.25-31 µm. Three face shield designs were tested (A, B, and C) and were positioned on the mannequin operated at a high and low breathing rate. Efficiency-the reduction in aerosol concentration in the breathing zone-was calculated as a function of particle size and overall, for each face shield. Face shield A, a bucket hat with flexible shield, had the highest efficiency, approximately 95%, while more traditional face shield designs had efficiency 53-78%, depending on face shield and breathing rate. Efficiency varied by particle size, but the pattern differed among face shield designs. Face shields decreased the concentration of respirable aerosols in the breathing zone when aerosols were carried perpendicular to the face. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of face shield position relative to the source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion J Woodfield
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Rachael M Jones
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Darrah K Sleeth
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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12
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Singer G, Overko R, Yilmaz S, Crisostomi E, Shorten R. Markovian city-scale modelling and mitigation of micro-particles from tires. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260226. [PMID: 34851981 PMCID: PMC8635397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent uptake in popularity in vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions is a welcome development in the fight against traffic induced airborne pollutants. As vehicle fleets become electrified, and tailpipe emissions become less prevalent, non-tailpipe emissions (from tires and brake disks) will become the dominant source of traffic related emissions, and will in all likelihood become a major concern for human health. This trend is likely to be exacerbated by the heavier weight of electric vehicles, their increased power, and their increased torque capabilities, when compared with traditional vehicles. While the problem of emissions from tire wear is well-known, issues around the process of tire abrasion, its impact on the environment, and modelling and mitigation measures, remain relatively unexplored. Work on this topic has proceeded in several discrete directions including: on-vehicle collection methods; vehicle tire-wear abatement algorithms and controlling the ride characteristics of a vehicle, all with a view to abating tire emissions. Additional approaches include access control mechanisms to manage aggregate tire emissions in a geofenced area with other notable work focussing on understanding the particle size distribution of tire generated PM, the degree to which particles become airborne, and the health impacts of tire emissions. While such efforts are already underway, the problem of developing models to predict the aggregate picture of a network of vehicles at the scale of a city, has yet to be considered. Our objective in this paper is to present one such model, built using ideas from Markov chains. Applications of our modelling approach are given toward the end of this note, both to illustrate the utility of the proposed method, and to illustrate its application as part of a method to collect tire dust particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunda Singer
- Institute for Design and Control of Mechatronical Systems, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Roman Overko
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
- * E-mail:
| | - Serife Yilmaz
- Education Faculty, Department of Mathematics Education, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
| | - Emanuele Crisostomi
- Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Robert Shorten
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Hung TY, Chen WL, Su YC, Wu CC, Chueh TY, Chen HL, Hu SC, Lin T. Comparing the effectiveness of negative-pressure barrier devices in providing air clearance to prevent aerosol transmission. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250213. [PMID: 33882091 PMCID: PMC8059829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effectiveness of aerosol clearance using an aerosol box, aerosol bag, wall suction, and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter evacuator to prevent aerosol transmission. METHODS The flow field was visualized using three protective device settings (an aerosol box, and an aerosol bag with and without sealed working channels) and four suction settings (no suction, wall suction, and a HEPA filter evacuator at flow rates of 415 liters per minute [LPM] and 530 LPM). All 12 subgroups were compared with a no intervention group. The primary outcome, aerosol concentration, was measured at the head, trunk, and foot of a mannequin. RESULTS The mean aerosol concentration was reduced at the head (p < 0.001) but increased at the feet (p = 0.005) with an aerosol box compared with no intervention. Non-sealed aerosol bags increased exposure at the head and trunk (both, p < 0.001). Sealed aerosol bags reduced aerosol concentration at the head, trunk, and foot of the mannequin (p < 0.001). A sealed aerosol bag alone, with wall suction, or with a HEPA filter evacuator reduced the aerosol concentration at the head by 7.15%, 36.61%, and 84.70%, respectively (99.9% confidence interval [CI]: -4.51-18.81, 27.48-45.73, and 78.99-90.40); trunk by 70.95%, 73.99%, and 91.59%, respectively (99.9% CI: 59.83-82.07, 52.64-95.33, and 87.51-95.66); and feet by 69.16%, 75.57%, and 92.30%, respectively (99.9% CI: 63.18-75.15, 69.76-81.37, and 88.18-96.42), compared with an aerosol box alone. CONCLUSIONS As aerosols spread, an airtight container with sealed working channels is effective when combined with suction devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yao Hung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Zhong-Xing branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan
- CrazyatLAB (Critical Airway Training Laboratory), Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Zhong-Xing branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Cheng Su
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien County, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi County, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chieh Wu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Zhong-Xing branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yao Chueh
- Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ling Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Zhong-Xing branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Cheng Hu
- Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tee Lin
- Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
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14
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Zhang J, Sun T, Yang X, Liu J. Experimental study on dust removal optimization of shearer external spray in air velocity. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2020; 56:181-189. [PMID: 33370155 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2020.1859851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In order to clarify the influence of air velocity on the atomization effect of shearer external spray and optimize dust suppression performance, the dust removal experiment was carried out by utilizing the self-designed external spray experiment platform. The effect of three kinds of air velocity on the atomization effect of main spray parameters was investigated to clarify the influence of air velocity on the atomization effect of shearer external spray and optimize dust suppression performance. The results showed that the influence of air velocity on droplet size and distribution width of the droplet size was slightly less than the spray pressure. The average diameter of the droplet was 54.211 μm, and the particle size distribution of the droplet was more uniform and concentrated when air velocity was 2 m/s, the pressure was 5 MPa and nozzle diameter was 1.0 mm. When the air velocity was less than 2 m/s and the spray pressure was 3-5 MPa, the atomization effect was better by using 1.0 or 1.2 mm diameter nozzle. Through on-site applications and optimization, the leeward total dust removal efficiency of the shearer can reach 79.43%, and the maximum increase range can reach 18.51 percentage points. The respiratory dust removal efficiency of the shearer can reach 87.45%, and the maximum increase range can reach 11.87 percentage points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangshi Zhang
- School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
- State Key Lab of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Tianliang Sun
- School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Xuesong Yang
- School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Liu
- School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
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15
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Perret JL, Miles S, Brims F, Newbigin K, Davidson M, Jersmann H, Edwards A, Zosky G, Frankel A, Johnson AR, Hoy R, Reid DW, Musk AW, Abramson MJ, Edwards B, Cohen R, Yates DH. Respiratory surveillance for coal mine dust and artificial stone exposed workers in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Respirology 2020; 25:1193-1202. [PMID: 33051927 PMCID: PMC7702073 DOI: 10.1111/resp.13952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Coal mine lung dust disease (CMDLD) and artificial stone (AS) silicosis are preventable diseases which have occurred in serious outbreaks in Australia recently. This has prompted a TSANZ review of Australia's approach to respiratory periodic health surveillance. While regulating respirable dust exposure remains the foundation of primary and secondary prevention, identification of workers with early disease assists with control of further exposure, and with the aims of preserving lung function and decreasing respiratory morbidity in those affected. Prompt detection of an abnormality also allows for ongoing respiratory specialist clinical management. This review outlines a medical framework for improvements in respiratory surveillance to detect CMDLD and AS silicosis in Australia. This includes appropriate referral, improved data collection and interpretation, enhanced surveillance, the establishment of a nationwide Occupational Lung Disease Registry and an independent advisory group. These measures are designed to improve health outcomes for workers in the coal mining, AS and other dust-exposed and mining industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Perret
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and BiostatisticsThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Susan Miles
- Department of MedicineCalvary Mater NewcastleNewcastleNSWAustralia
- School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNSWAustralia
| | - Fraser Brims
- Curtin Medical SchoolCurtin UniversityPerthWAAustralia
- Department of Respiratory MedicineSir Charles Gairdner HospitalPerthWAAustralia
| | | | - Maggie Davidson
- Health and Management School of ScienceWestern Sydney UniversitySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Hubertus Jersmann
- Department of Thoracic MedicineRoyal Adelaide HospitalAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Adrienne Edwards
- Christchurch Public HospitalCanterbury District Health BoardChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Graeme Zosky
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
- School of Medicine, College of Health and MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - Anthony Frankel
- Bankstown HospitalSouth Western Sydney Local Heath DistrictSydneyNSWAustralia
- Department of MedicineUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSWAustralia
| | | | - Ryan Hoy
- School of Public Health and Preventive MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - David W. Reid
- QIMR‐Berghofer Institute of Medical ResearchBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - A. William Musk
- Department of Respiratory MedicineSir Charles Gairdner HospitalPerthWAAustralia
- School of Population HealthUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWAAustralia
| | - Michael J. Abramson
- School of Public Health and Preventive MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
| | - Bob Edwards
- Wesley Dust Disease Research CentreBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Robert Cohen
- School of Public Health, University of IllinoisChicagoILUSA
| | - Deborah H. Yates
- Department of Thoracic MedicineSt Vincent's HospitalSydneyNSWAustralia
- University of NSWSydneyNSWAustralia
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16
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Nussbaumer-Streit B, Mayr V, Dobrescu AI, Wagner G, Chapman A, Pfadenhauer LM, Lohner S, Lhachimi SK, Busert LK, Gartlehner G. Household interventions for secondary prevention of domestic lead exposure in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020; 10:CD006047. [PMID: 33022752 PMCID: PMC8094406 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd006047.pub6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead exposure is a serious health hazard, especially for children. It is associated with physical, cognitive and neurobehavioural impairment in children. There are many potential sources of lead in the environment, therefore trials have tested many household interventions to prevent or reduce lead exposure. This is an update of a previously published review. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of household interventions intended to prevent or reduce further lead exposure in children on improvements in cognitive and neurobehavioural development, reductions in blood lead levels and reductions in household dust lead levels. SEARCH METHODS In March 2020, we updated our searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 10 other databases and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also searched Google Scholar, checked the reference lists of relevant studies and contacted experts to identify unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of household educational or environmental interventions, or combinations of interventions to prevent lead exposure in children (from birth to 18 years of age), where investigators reported at least one standardised outcome measure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently reviewed all eligible studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We contacted trialists to obtain missing information. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included 17 studies (three new to this update), involving 3282 children: 16 RCTs (involving 3204 children) and one quasi-RCT (involving 78 children). Children in all studies were under six years of age. Fifteen studies took place in urban areas of North America, one in Australia and one in China. Most studies were in areas with low socioeconomic status. Girls and boys were equally represented in those studies reporting this information. The duration of the intervention ranged from three months to 24 months in 15 studies, while two studies performed interventions on a single occasion. Follow-up periods ranged from three months to eight years. Three RCTs were at low risk of bias in all assessed domains. The other 14 studies were at unclear or high risk of bias; for example, we considered two RCTs and one quasi-RCT at high risk of selection bias and six RCTs at high risk of attrition bias. National or international research grants or governments funded 15 studies, while the other two did not report their funding sources. Education interventions versus no intervention None of the included studies in this comparison assessed effects on cognitive or neurobehavioural outcomes, or adverse events. All studies reported data on blood lead level outcomes. Educational interventions showed there was probably no evidence of a difference in reducing blood lead levels (continuous: mean difference (MD) -0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.13 to 0.07; I² = 0%; 5 studies, 815 participants; moderate-certainty evidence; log-transformed data), or in reducing floor dust levels (MD -0.07, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.24; I² = 0%; 2 studies, 318 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Environmental interventions versus no intervention Dust control: one study in this comparison reported data on cognitive and neurobehavioural outcomes, and on adverse events in children. The study showed numerically there may be better neurobehavioural outcomes in children of the intervention group. However, differences were small and the CI included both a beneficial and non-beneficial effect of the environmental intervention (e.g. mental development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II): MD 0.1, 95% CI -2.1 to 2.4; 1 study, 302 participants; low-certainty evidence). The same study did not observe any adverse events related to the intervention during the eight-year follow-up, but observed two children with adverse events in the control group (1 study, 355 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Meta-analysis also found no evidence of effectiveness on blood lead levels (continuous: MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.06; I² = 0%; 4 studies, 565 participants; moderate-certainty evidence; log-transformed data). We could not pool the data regarding floor dust levels, but studies reported that there may be no evidence of a difference between the groups (very low-certainty evidence). Soil abatement: the two studies assessing this environmental intervention only reported on the outcome of 'blood lead level'. One study showed a small effect on blood lead level reduction, while the other study showed no effect. Therefore, we deem the current evidence insufficient to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of soil abatement (very low-certainty evidence). Combination of educational and environmental interventions versus standard education Studies in this comparison only reported on blood lead levels and dust lead levels. We could not pool the studies in a meta-analysis due to substantial differences between the studies. Since the studies reported inconsistent results, the evidence is currently insufficient to clarify whether a combination of interventions reduces blood lead levels and floor dust levels (very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Based on available evidence, household educational interventions and environmental interventions (namely dust control measures) show no evidence of a difference in reducing blood lead levels in children as a population health measure. The evidence of the effects of environmental interventions on cognitive and neurobehavioural outcomes and adverse events is uncertain too. Further trials are required to establish the most effective intervention for reducing or even preventing further lead exposure. Key elements of these trials should include strategies to reduce multiple sources of lead exposure simultaneously using empirical dust clearance levels. It is also necessary for trials to be carried out in low- and middle-income countries and in differing socioeconomic groups in high-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Verena Mayr
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Andreea Iulia Dobrescu
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Gernot Wagner
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Andrea Chapman
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Lisa M Pfadenhauer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, IBE, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Szimonetta Lohner
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Center of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Stefan K Lhachimi
- Research Group for Evidence-Based Public Health, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
- Department for Health Services Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laura K Busert
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gerald Gartlehner
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
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17
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Lv C, Zhang W, Ling M, Li H, Zhang G. Quantitative analysis of eco-economic benefits of reclaimed water for controlling urban dust. Environ Geochem Health 2020; 42:2963-2973. [PMID: 32100241 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
With the acceleration of urbanization and industrialization, urban air pollution, especially dust pollution, has become a global problem. The traditional method to control dust problem is to spray roads with tap water. However, this method will inevitably lead to a huge waste of water resources. Using reclaimed water instead of tap water for dust control can not only achieve the same effect of reducing dust and haze, but also save water resources. In addition, the saved tap water can be used for production and life, thereby obtaining additional benefits. In order to quantify the eco-economic benefits of sprinkling water for dust control, a quantitative method was proposed based on the emergy theory of ecological economics. It was used to calculate the cost of different water resources, the cooling and humidifying benefit, the dust control and haze reduction benefit, and the other use benefit. Taking the 2017 data of Zhengzhou as an example, the results indicated that the cost of using reclaimed water to control dust was reduced by 54%. The total benefit of using reclaimed water was about 1.30-1.80 times that of using tap water, and the net benefit was 4.65-7.17 times. Therefore, the use of reclaimed water instead of tap water for road dust control has advantages of low cost and high eco-economic benefits. The method proposed in this paper can provide quantitative basis for the popularization of using reclaimed water to dust control in cities with serious air pollution and water resource shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuimei Lv
- School of Water Conservancy Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wuyue Zhang
- School of Water Conservancy Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Minhua Ling
- School of Water Conservancy Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huiqin Li
- School of Water Conservancy Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangjun Zhang
- School of Water Conservancy Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
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18
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Abstract
Dust masks are widely used to prevent the inhalation of particulate matter into the human respiratory organs in polluted air environments. The filter of a dust mask inherently obstructs the natural respiratory air flows, and this flow resistance is mainly responsible for the discomfort experienced when wearing a dust mask. In atmospheric conditions seriously contaminated with fine dust, it is recommended that common citizens wear a dust mask in their everyday lives, yet many people are reluctant to wear a dust mask owing to the discomfort experienced when wearing it for a long time. Understanding of physical reasons for the discomfort is thus crucial in designing a dust mask, but remains far from clear. This study presents a technique to quantify the wearing comfort of dust masks. By developing a respiration simulator to measure the pressure loss across a dust mask, we assessed the energy costs to overcome flow resistance when breathing through various types of dust masks. The energy cost for a single inhalation varies with the mask type in a range between 0 and 10 mJ. We compared the results with the survey results of 40 people about the wearing comfort of the dust masks, which revealed that the wearing comfort crucially depends on the energy cost required for air inhalation though the dust mask. Using the measured energy cost during inhalation as a parameter to quantify the wearing comfort, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of dust masks in terms of not only the filtering performance but also the wearing comfort. Our study suggests some design principles for dust mask filters, auxiliary electric fans, and check valves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejin Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ryeol Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nahmkeon Hur
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjung Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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19
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Poole JA, Nordgren TM, Heires AJ, Nelson AJ, Katafiasz D, Bailey KL, Romberger DJ. Amphiregulin modulates murine lung recovery and fibroblast function following exposure to agriculture organic dust. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 318:L180-L191. [PMID: 31693392 PMCID: PMC6985879 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00039.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to agricultural bioaerosols can lead to chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Amphiregulin (AREG) can promote the lung repair process but can also lead to fibrotic remodeling. The objective of this study was to determine the role of AREG in altering recovery from environmental dust exposure in a murine in vivo model and in vitro using cultured human and murine lung fibroblasts. C57BL/6 mice were intranasally exposed to swine confinement facility dust extract (DE) or saline daily for 1 wk or allowed to recover for 3-7 days while being treated with an AREG-neutralizing antibody or recombinant AREG. Treatment with the anti-AREG antibody prevented resolution of DE exposure-induced airway influx of total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages and increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CXCL1. Neutrophils and activated macrophages (CD11c+CD11bhi) persisted after recovery in lung tissues of anti-AREG-treated mice. In murine and human lung fibroblasts, DE induced the release of AREG and inflammatory cytokines. Fibroblast recellularization of primary human lung mesenchymal matrix scaffolds and wound closure was inhibited by DE and enhanced with recombinant AREG alone. AREG treatment rescued the DE-induced inhibitory fibroblast effects. AREG intranasal treatment for 3 days during recovery phase reduced repetitive DE-induced airway inflammatory cell influx and cytokine release. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that inhibition of AREG reduced, whereas AREG supplementation promoted, the airway inflammatory recovery response following environmental bioaerosol exposure, and AREG enhanced fibroblast function, suggesting that AREG could be targeted in agricultural workers repetitively exposed to organic dust environments to potentially prevent and/or reduce disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill A Poole
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Tara M Nordgren
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Art J Heires
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Amy J Nelson
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dawn Katafiasz
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Kristina L Bailey
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Debra J Romberger
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
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Wang P, Shen S, Zhou L, Liu D. Turbulent Aggregation and Deposition Mechanism of Respirable Dust Pollutants under Wet Dedusting using a Two-Fluid Model with the Population Balance Method. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:ijerph16183359. [PMID: 31514472 PMCID: PMC6765917 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, a mathematical model based on the two-fluid (Euler–Euler) frame model for wet dedusting process is proposed. The model considers in detail the aggregation of particles and droplets caused by turbulence and Brownian diffusion as well as the gravitational deposition process. The population balance model (PBM) is used to describe the spatiotemporal evolution of particle size distribution (PSD) for the dust particle and the water droplet. The wet dedusting process under different conditions is simulated and compared with the detailed experimental data. The results show that the experimental data and simulation results are within the allowable range of error (about 32.3–61.2% in dedusting efficiency for respirable dust by experimental data and about 47.3–57.9% in it by simulation results). This model can be used to predict the effect of PSD of the dust particle, spray flow, and ventilation rate on dedusting efficiency of wet dedusting. The parameter analysis shows that dedusting efficiency decreases as particle size decreases. In order to ensure high capture efficiency of respirable dust, the diameter of droplets should be controlled to between 15 μm and 70 μm. The ratio of droplet volume flow to dust volume flow increases from 2.0 to 12.0, while dedusting efficiency only increases from 39.2% to 54.7%, so it is clear that for spray quantity to dedusting efficiency, larger is not necessarily better. Besides this, the speeds of both spray droplets and ventilation also have great influence on dedusting efficiency, and the related formulas are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Department of Renewable Energy, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Shuai Shen
- Department of Renewable Energy, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
| | - Ling Zhou
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; (L.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Deyou Liu
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; (L.Z.); (D.L.)
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21
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Mwandira W, Nakashima K, Kawasaki S, Ito M, Sato T, Igarashi T, Chirwa M, Banda K, Nyambe I, Nakayama S, Nakata H, Ishizuka M. Solidification of sand by Pb(II)-tolerant bacteria for capping mine waste to control metallic dust: Case of the abandoned Kabwe Mine, Zambia. Chemosphere 2019; 228:17-25. [PMID: 31022616 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental impacts resulting from historic lead and zinc mining in Kabwe, Zambia affect human health due to the dust generated from the mine waste that contains lead, a known hazardous pollutant. We employed microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), an alternative capping method, to prevent dust generation and reduce the mobility of contaminants. Pb-resistant Oceanobacillus profundus KBZ 1-3 and O. profundus KBZ 2-5 isolated from Kabwe were used to biocement the sand that would act as a cover to prevent dust and water infiltration. Sand biocemented by KBZ 1-3 and KBZ 2-5 had maximum unconfined compressive strength values of 3.2 MPa and 5.5 MPa, respectively. Additionally, biocemented sand exhibited reduced water permeability values of 9.6 × 10-8 m/s and 8.9 × 10-8 m/s for O. profundus KBZ 1-3 and KBZ 2-5, respectively, which could potentially limit the entrance of water and oxygen into the dump, hence reducing the leaching of heavy metals. We propose that these isolates represent an option for bioremediating contaminated waste by preventing both metallic dust from becoming airborne and rainwater from infiltrating into the waste. O. profundus KBZ 1-3 and O. profundus KBZ 2-5 isolated form Kabwe represent a novel species that has, for the first time, been applied in a bioremediation study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Mwandira
- Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakashima
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Satoru Kawasaki
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Mayumi Ito
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sato
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Igarashi
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Meki Chirwa
- IWRM Centre/Geology Department, School of Mines, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
| | - Kawawa Banda
- IWRM Centre/Geology Department, School of Mines, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
| | - Imasiku Nyambe
- IWRM Centre/Geology Department, School of Mines, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
| | - Shouta Nakayama
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Hokuto Nakata
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Mayumi Ishizuka
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
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Zhang K, Zhang J, Wei J, Ren T, Xu X. Coal seam water infusion for dust control: a technical review. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019; 26:4537-4554. [PMID: 30617885 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-04086-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Coal mine dust continues to be a health and safety issue in underground coal mines. Coal seam water infusion was developed and widely applied in European coal mines for dust control, and was also a common practice in most Chinese coal mines. This method typically involves the infusion of water into the coal seam to increase its moisture content, and therefore reduce dust generation during mining operations. With the availability of other dust control methods such as water spraying systems, the water infusion method has not been considered as a viable means for dust mitigation in modern mines. However, the increase in production output and the deployment of more powerful equipment for coal cutting and transport and intensive gas drainage practices mean that workers could be exposed to more dust contaminations. Whilst the mine operators are committed to suppress and dilute airborne dust particles using these passive measures, there is a need to critically examine and subsequently develop this proactive dust control technology for practical applications in Chinese coal mines. The paper provides a critical review of the water infusion technologies in view of its technological advances and practical application limitations. The methods of water infusion, mechanism of water flow in coal, the role of surfactants and the key parameters influencing the effect of water infusion on dust control are identified and discussed. Existing problems and prospects for water infusion are analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
- College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China.
- College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China.
| | - Jianping Wei
- College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
- The Collaborative Innovation Center of Coal Safety Production of Henan Province, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Ting Ren
- School of Civil, Mining & Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Xiangyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
- College of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
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23
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Boivin R, Pilon F, Lavoie JP, Leclere M. Adherence to treatment recommendations and short-term outcome of pleasure and sport horses with equine asthma. Can Vet J 2018; 59:1293-1298. [PMID: 30532286 PMCID: PMC6237262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Treatments for mild forms of equine asthma are extrapolated from those recommended for severe equine asthma (heaves), but little is known about owner's adherence to recommendations and treatment efficacy. The objective was to determine which recommendations are implemented by owners and their perception of the clinical response to treatment. Medical records of 43 horses diagnosed with moderate asthma between 2010 and 2012 were retrieved from the Université de Montréal database. Treatments and perceived responses were recorded by telephone survey, 2 to 35 months after diagnosis. All 33 owners who completed the survey attempted to decrease exposure to dust and half had also administered medication. Twenty-four owners (73%) described a > 50% improvement in the clinical signs. There was no association between a specific treatment and outcome. A majority of owners of pleasure and sport horses with equine asthma perceived improvement when limiting exposure to hay and barn dust (alone or with medications).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Boivin
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 2M2
| | - Frédérique Pilon
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 2M2
| | - Jean-Pierre Lavoie
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 2M2
| | - Mathilde Leclere
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec J2S 2M2
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24
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Han S, Chen H, Harvey MA, Stemn E, Cliff D. Focusing on Coal Workers' Lung Diseases: A Comparative Analysis of China, Australia, and the United States. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15:ijerph15112565. [PMID: 30453500 PMCID: PMC6266950 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
China has high and increasing annual rates of occupational lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis and silicosis. In contrast, Australia and the United States of America (USA) have greatly lowered their annual rates of lung diseases since the 1970s. This paper systematically compared and analysed the multi-elements of coal dust management and health management in these three countries to provide a reference for China. Regarding coal dust management, this paper found that coal workers in China are more susceptible to lung diseases compared to workers in the USA and Australia, considering fundamental aspects such as mine type, coal rank, and geological conditions. In addition, the controllable aspects such as advanced mitigation, monitoring methods, and the personal protective equipment of coal dust were relatively inadequate in China compared to the USA and Australia. Health management in China was found to have multiple deficiencies in health examination, co-governance, and compensations for coal workers suffering from lung diseases and healthcare for retired coal workers. These deficiencies may be attributed to insufficient medical resources, the Chinese government-dominated governance, ineffective procedures for obtaining compensation, and the lack of effective and preventive healthcare programs for the retired coal workers. Based on the USA and Australia experience, some suggestions for improvement were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Han
- School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China.
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Hong Chen
- School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Maggie-Anne Harvey
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
| | - Eric Stemn
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
- Environmental & Safety Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Box 237, Ghana.
| | - David Cliff
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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Lu XX, Zhu HQ, Wang DM. New technology and practice of dust pollution control with foam jet in underground mines. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 2018; 54:39-47. [PMID: 30359556 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2018.1507220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Foam is used as an efficient means of dust suppression in underground coal mines. The poor performance of conventional adding device of foaming agent restricts its wide application. The objective of this study is to propose and investigate a new parallel jet adding device (PJAD). Experimental results show that PJAD requires a greater water flow to produce negative pressure than the single stage jet adding device (SJAD) and is harder to generate cavitation. PJAD consumes a less pressure loss than SJAD and realizes any adding proportion below 1%, which is especially suitable for precision addition of foaming agent. A foaming system used for dust suppression is put forward with PJAD adding foaming agent. Field application indicates that foam achieves a far better dust suppression effect than the roadheader water spraying, and the foam cost is significantly reduced due to the low adding proportion of foaming agent. The marked dust suppression effect makes us believe that the proposed PJAD will greatly promote the large-scale application of foam technology used for dust suppression in underground coal mines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xiao Lu
- a State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining , China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing) , Beijing , PR China
- b State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control , Henan Polytechnic University , Jiaozuo , PR China
- c State Key Laboratory of Fire Science , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei , PR China
| | - Hong-Qing Zhu
- a State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining , China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing) , Beijing , PR China
| | - De-Ming Wang
- d Key Laboratory of Gas and Fire Control for Coal Mines of Ministry of Education , China University of Mining and Technology , Xuzhou , PR China
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26
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Strohmaier C, Schmithausen AJ, Krommweh MS, Diekmann B, Büscher W. Evaluation of a dry filter for dust removal under laboratory conditions in comparison to practical use at a laying hen barn. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:29511-29517. [PMID: 30136184 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2981-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The high amount of particulate matter from poultry houses in the exhaust air, especially at different types of laying hen barns, is the main challenge farmers are faced with concerning emissions. As a possibility for the mitigation of particulate matter in the outgoing air, a dry filter based on the principle of centrifugal force was investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Aerosol spectrometers were used for continuous measurements in raw and clean gas. Field experiments took place under summer and winter conditions, so that filter efficiency under different climate conditions could be compared and measurement values at the barn were continuously collected over 24-h periods. Data collected under laboratory conditions showed a high efficiency of the dry filter, whereas results of the field experiments differed in each size fraction of the particulate matter. These differences may be explained by the fact that under laboratory conditions, better circumstances for correct measuring were created, e.g., laminar flow of the air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Strohmaier
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Nußallee 5, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
| | | | - Manuel S Krommweh
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Nußallee 5, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Bernd Diekmann
- Institute of Physics, University of Bonn, Nußallee 12, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Büscher
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Nußallee 5, 53115, Bonn, Germany
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27
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Abstract
A cone hood is an efficient device for capturing dust releases generated by a variety of process equipment. For stationary airflow conditions, a circular cone hood with a round flange is the most efficient design. The goal of this article is to determine the effect that inflow velocity, suction velocity, and terminal settling velocity of dust particles have on the aspiration coefficient in combination with hood length and inclination angle. No studies have yet addressed the efficiency of an exhaust hood facing an updraft flow of air with suspended dust particles. To simulate the moving fluid, we used the discrete vortices method accounting for flow separation at sharp edges of the cone hood. A custom test bench was built to validate the velocity field distribution around the exhaust hood. To evaluate capture efficiency, we determined the aspiration coefficient using plotted limiting trajectories of dust particles by solving equations of particle dynamics numerically in view of gravity and streamlining airflow patterns. In order to validate our estimate of the aspiration coefficient, we compared our findings with regularities identified by earlier researchers for a simpler problem of dust-air mixture approaching a circular exhaust opening. The following conditions were considered: the ratio of updraft velocity to the exhaust hood suction velocity varying between 0.01 and 0.5; the ratio of dust particle terminal velocity to the suction velocity varying between 0.000625 and 0.2; flange angle varying between 0° and 90°; and the ratio of flange length to the exhaust opening radius varying between 1 and 4. Using regularities discovered by us, exhaust hood designs can be tailored to a variety of application conditions in terms of dust release capture efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- K I Logachev
- a Department of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation, Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shoukhov , Belgorod , Russia
| | - A M Ziganshin
- b Department of Thermal Power Engineering, Gas Supply and Ventilation Department, Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering , Kazan , Tatarstan , Russia
| | - O A Averkova
- a Department of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation, Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shoukhov , Belgorod , Russia
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28
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Jiang H, Luo Y, Yang J. The mechanics of bolt drilling and theoretical analysis of drilling parameter effects on respirable dust generation. J Occup Environ Hyg 2018; 15:700-713. [PMID: 30081754 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1489136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The respirable dust generated during bolt-hole drilling can present serious health problems to the miners involved in roof drilling operations. A proactive dust control approach, different from the conventional passive approaches, is proposed. Laboratory experiments have been conducted to validate the dust reduction effects of the approach. A mechanical model has been developed to simulate the rotary drag bits drilling process under different cutter conditions. The functions of the area of the total friction, drilling power, and specific energy are all presented in the model. According to this model, drilling bite depth and bit wear condition were identified as key factors influencing the respirable dust generation and energy consumption. The relationships among drilling specific energy, airborne dust concentrations of respirable and larger (1-100 μm) particles, and drilling bite depth were established. It was found that by achieving a low specific energy with a proper drilling bite depth and by avoiding worn bit use, a significant reduction of quartz-rich respirable dust from its generation source could be achieved. Once validated, the mechanical model can be used for roof bolter drilling optimization and automation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Jiang
- a Department of Mining Engineering , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia
- b College of Safety Science and Engineering , Xi'an University of Science and Technology , Xi'an , Shaanxi , China
| | - Yi Luo
- a Department of Mining Engineering , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia
| | - Jian Yang
- a Department of Mining Engineering , West Virginia University , Morgantown , West Virginia
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29
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Seaman CE, Shahan MR, Beck TW, Mischler SE. Comparison of the CAS-POL and IOM samplers for determining the knockdown efficiencies of water sprays on float coal dust. J Occup Environ Hyg 2018; 15:214-225. [PMID: 29200377 PMCID: PMC5852676 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1411597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Float coal dust, generated by mining operations, is distributed throughout mine airways by ventilating air designed to purge gases and respirable dust. Float coal dust poses an explosion hazard in the event of a methane ignition. Current regulation requires the application of inert rock dust in areas subjected to float coal dust in order to mitigate the hazard. An alternate method using water sprays, which have been effective in controlling respirable dust hazards, has been proposed as a way to control float coal dust generated on longwall faces. However, the knockdown efficiency of the proposed water sprays on float coal dust needs to be verified. This study used gravimetric isokinetic Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers alongside a real-time aerosol monitor (Cloud Aerosol Spectrometer with polarization; CAS-POL) to study the effects of spray type, operating pressure, and spray orientation on knockdown efficiencies for seven different water sprays. Because the CAS-POL has not been used to study mining dust, the CAS-POL measurements were validated with respect to the IOM samplers. This study found that the CAS-POL was able to resolve the same trends measured by the IOM samplers, while providing additional knockdown information for specific particle size ranges and locations in the test area. In addition, the CAS-POL data was not prone to the same process errors, which may occur due to the handling of the IOM filter media, and was able to provide a faster analysis of the data after testing. This study also determined that pressure was the leading design criteria influencing spray knockdown efficiency, with spray type also having some effect and orientation having little to no effect. The results of this study will be used to design future full-scale float coal dust capture tests involving multiple sprays, which will be evaluated using the CAS-POL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara E Seaman
- a Pittsburgh Mining Research Division , NIOSH , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
| | - Michael R Shahan
- a Pittsburgh Mining Research Division , NIOSH , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy W Beck
- a Pittsburgh Mining Research Division , NIOSH , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
| | - Steven E Mischler
- a Pittsburgh Mining Research Division , NIOSH , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
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30
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Schaafsma AW, Limay-Rios V, Forero LG. The role of field dust in pesticide drift when pesticide-treated maize seeds are planted with vacuum-type planters. Pest Manag Sci 2018; 74:323-331. [PMID: 28787098 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonicotinoid-contaminated dust escaping pneumatic seeders causes exposure to non-target organisms such as pollinators. Two sources of dust have been reported: abrasion by talc which is added as seed lubricant during planting, and seed-to-seed abrasion occurring during seed handling, distribution and planting. We report a third important source that warrants remediation. Here, soil dust stirred up by planters was found to enter the vacuum air intake near seed metering devices. RESULTS The mean quantity of dust collected from the exhaust of a commercial pneumatic planter over a number of field sites and situations was 46 g ha-1 , ranging from 5.8 to 184.2 g ha-1 . While the clothianidin concentration in exhaust dust declined with increasing quantity of dust, total clothianidin recovered increased linearly within the study parameters. Up to 2.4 g ha-1 of clothianidin was recovered from planter exhaust, representing approximately 12.6% of the active ingredient applied to seed. A similar pattern occurred in the laboratory on a single standing planter unit using diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust. CONCLUSION Field dust in pneumatic metering systems contributes significantly to clothianidin contamination in planter exhaust by seed abrasion. Adding diatomaceous earth as surrogate field dust to the Heubach seed dust protocol accounted for field dust abrasion and distinguished anti-abrasive properties of seed treatments. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur W Schaafsma
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON, Canada
| | - Victor Limay-Rios
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON, Canada
| | - Luis G Forero
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON, Canada
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31
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Jiang H, Luo Y, McQuerrey J. Experimental study on effects of drilling parameters on respirable dust production during roof bolting operations. J Occup Environ Hyg 2018; 15:143-151. [PMID: 29157141 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1395960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Underground coalmine roof bolting operators exhibit a continued risk for overexposure to airborne levels of respirable coal and crystalline silica dust from the roof drilling operation. Inhaling these dusts can cause coal worker's pneumoconiosis and silicosis. This research explores the effect of drilling control parameters, specifically drilling bite depth, on the reduction of respirable dust generated during the drilling process. Laboratory drilling experiments were conducted and results demonstrated the feasibility of this dust control approach. Both the weight and size distribution of the dust particles collected from drilling tests with different bite depths were analyzed. The results showed that the amount of total inhalable and respirable dust was inversely proportional to the drilling bite depth. Therefore, control of the drilling process to achieve proper high-bite depth for the rock can be an important approach to reducing the generation of harmful dust. Different from conventional passive engineering controls, such as mist drilling and ventilation approaches, this approach is proactive and can cut down the generation of respirable dust from the source. These findings can be used to develop an integrated drilling control algorithm to achieve the best drilling efficiency as well as reducing respirable dust and noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Jiang
- a Department of Mining Engineering , West Virginia University , Morgantown , WV
- c College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology , Xi'an , Shaanxi , China
| | - Yi Luo
- a Department of Mining Engineering , West Virginia University , Morgantown , WV
| | - Joe McQuerrey
- b Department of Research & Development , J. H. Fletcher & Co. , Huntington , WV
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32
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Keller FX, Chata F. Characterization of wood dust emission from hand-held woodworking machines. J Occup Environ Hyg 2018; 15:13-23. [PMID: 28841385 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1368526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This article focuses on the prevention of exposure to wood dust when operating electrical hand-held sawing and sanding machines. A laboratory methodology was developed to measure the dust concentration around machines during operating processes. The main objective was to characterize circular saws and sanders, with the aim of classifying the different power tools tested in terms of dust emission (high dust emitter vs. low dust emitter). A test set-up was developed and is described and a measurement methodology was determined for each of the two operations studied. The robustness of the experimental results is discussed and shows good tendencies. The impact of air-flow extraction rate was assessed and the pressure loss of the system for each machine established. For the circular saws, three machines over the nine tested could be classified in the low dust emitter group. Their mean concentration values measured are between 0.64 and 0.98 mg/m3 for the low dust emitter group and from 2.55 and 4.37 mg/m3 for the high dust emitter group. From concentration measurements, a machine classification is possible-one for sanding machines and one for sawing machines-and a ratio from 1-7 is obtained when comparing the results. This classification will be helpful when a choice of high performance power tools, in terms of dust emission, must be made by professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- F-X Keller
- a Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité , Vandœuvre , France
| | - F Chata
- a Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité , Vandœuvre , France
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Dehghani S, Moore F, Akhbarizadeh R. Microplastic pollution in deposited urban dust, Tehran metropolis, Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:20360-20371. [PMID: 28707239 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9674-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollutants such as microplastics have become a major concern over the last few decades. We investigated the presence, characteristics, and potential health risks of microplastic dust ingestion. The plastic load of 88 to 605 microplastics per 30 g dry dust with a dominance of black and yellow granule microplastics ranging in size from 250 to 500 μm was determined in 10 street dust samples using a binocular microscope. Fluorescence microscopy was found to be ineffective for detecting and counting plastic debris. Scanning electron microscopy, however, was useful for accurate detection of microplastic particles of different sizes, colors, and shapes (e.g., fiber, spherule, hexagonal, irregular polyhedron). Trace amounts of Al, Na, Ca, Mg, and Si, detected using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, revealed additives of plastic polymers or adsorbed debris on microplastic surfaces. As a first step to estimate the adverse health effects of microplastics in street dust, the frequency of microplastic ingestion per day/year via ingestion of street dust was calculated. Considering exposure during outdoor activities and workspaces with high abundant microplastics as acute exposure, a mean of 3223 and 1063 microplastic particles per year is ingested by children and adults, respectively. Consequently, street dust is a potentially important source of microplastic contamination in the urban environment and control measures are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharareh Dehghani
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran.
| | - Farid Moore
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran
| | - Razegheh Akhbarizadeh
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran
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Matsui EC, Perzanowski M, Peng RD, Wise RA, Balcer-Whaley S, Newman M, Cunningham A, Divjan A, Bollinger ME, Zhai S, Chew G, Miller RL, Phipatanakul W. Effect of an Integrated Pest Management Intervention on Asthma Symptoms Among Mouse-Sensitized Children and Adolescents With Asthma: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2017; 317:1027-1036. [PMID: 28264080 PMCID: PMC5632564 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.21048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Professionally delivered integrated pest management (IPM) interventions can reduce home mouse allergen concentrations, but whether they reduce asthma morbidity among mouse-sensitized and exposed children and adolescents is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of an IPM intervention on asthma morbidity among mouse-sensitized and exposed children and adolescents with asthma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Randomized clinical trial conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, and Boston, Massachusetts. Participants were mouse-sensitized and exposed children and adolescents (aged 5-17 years) with asthma randomized to receive professionally delivered IPM plus pest management education or pest management education alone. Enrollment occurred between May 2010 and August 2014; the final follow-up visit occurred on September 25, 2015. INTERVENTIONS Integrated pest management consisted of application of rodenticide, sealing of holes that could serve as entry points for mice, trap placement, targeted cleaning, allergen-proof mattress and pillow encasements, and portable air purifiers. Infestation was assessed every 3 months, and if infestation persisted or recurred, additional treatments were delivered. All participants received pest management education, which consisted of written material and demonstration of the materials needed to set traps and seal holes. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was maximal symptom days defined as the highest number of days of symptoms in the previous 2 weeks among 3 types of symptoms (days of slowed activity due to asthma; number of nights of waking with asthma symptoms; and days of coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness) across 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS Of 361 children and adolescents who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 9.8 [3.2] years; 38% female; 181 in IPM plus pest management education group and 180 in pest management education alone group), 334 were included in the primary analysis. For the primary outcome, there was no statistically significant between-group difference for maximal symptom days across 6, 9, and 12 months with a median of 2.0 (interquartile range, 0.7-4.7) maximal symptom days in the IPM plus pest management education group and 2.7 (interquartile range, 1.3-5.0) maximal symptom days in the pest management education alone group (P = .16) and a ratio of symptom frequencies of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.69-1.06). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among mouse-sensitized and exposed children and adolescents with asthma, an intensive year-long integrated pest management intervention plus pest management education vs pest management education alone resulted in no significant difference in maximal symptom days from 6 to 12 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01251224.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Matsui
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Matthew Perzanowski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Roger D Peng
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert A Wise
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Susan Balcer-Whaley
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michelle Newman
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Amparito Cunningham
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adnan Divjan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Mary E Bollinger
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore
| | - Shuyan Zhai
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ginger Chew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Rachel L Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York7Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York8Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Dagsson-Waldhauserova P, Arnalds O, Olafsson H. Long-term dust aerosol production from natural sources in Iceland. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2017; 67:173-181. [PMID: 28102779 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2013.805703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean with maritime climate. In spite of moist climate, large areas are with limited vegetation cover where >40% of Iceland is classified with considerable to very severe erosion and 21% of Iceland is volcanic sandy deserts. Not only do natural emissions from these sources influenced by strong winds affect regional air quality in Iceland ("Reykjavik haze"), but dust particles are transported over the Atlantic ocean and Arctic Ocean >1000 km at times. The aim of this paper is to place Icelandic dust production area into international perspective, present long-term frequency of dust storm events in northeast Iceland, and estimate dust aerosol concentrations during reported dust events. Meteorological observations with dust presence codes and related visibility were used to identify the frequency and the long-term changes in dust production in northeast Iceland. There were annually 16.4 days on average with reported dust observations on weather stations within the northeastern erosion area, indicating extreme dust plume activity and erosion within the northeastern deserts, even though the area is covered with snow during the major part of winter. During the 2000s the highest occurrence of dust events in six decades was reported. We have measured saltation and Aeolian transport during dust/volcanic ash storms in Iceland, which give some of the most intense wind erosion events ever measured. Icelandic dust affects the ecosystems over much of Iceland and causes regional haze. It is likely to affect the ecosystems of the oceans around Iceland, and it brings dust that lowers the albedo of the Icelandic glaciers, increasing melt-off due to global warming. The study indicates that Icelandic dust may contribute to the Arctic air pollution. IMPLICATIONS Long-term records of meteorological dust observations from Northeast Iceland indicate the frequency of dust events from Icelandic deserts. The research involves a 60-year period and provides a unique perspective of the dust aerosol production from natural sources in the sub-Arctic Iceland. The amounts are staggering, and with this paper, it is clear that Icelandic dust sources need to be considered among major global dust sources. This paper presents the dust events directly affecting the air quality in the Arctic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Dagsson-Waldhauserova
- a Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland
- b Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland , Hvanneyri , Borgarnes , Iceland
| | - Olafur Arnalds
- b Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland , Hvanneyri , Borgarnes , Iceland
| | - Haraldur Olafsson
- a Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland , Reykjavik , Iceland
- c The Icelandic Meteorological Office , Reykjavik , Iceland
- d Bergen School of Meteorology , Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway
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Yu M, Yang C. Improving the Non-Hydrostatic Numerical Dust Model by Integrating Soil Moisture and Greenness Vegetation Fraction Data with Different Spatiotemporal Resolutions. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165616. [PMID: 27936136 PMCID: PMC5147792 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dust storms are devastating natural disasters that cost billions of dollars and many human lives every year. Using the Non-Hydrostatic Mesoscale Dust Model (NMM-dust), this research studies how different spatiotemporal resolutions of two input parameters (soil moisture and greenness vegetation fraction) impact the sensitivity and accuracy of a dust model. Experiments are conducted by simulating dust concentration during July 1–7, 2014, for the target area covering part of Arizona and California (31, 37, -118, -112), with a resolution of ~ 3 km. Using ground-based and satellite observations, this research validates the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of dust storm output from the NMM-dust, and quantifies model error using measurements of four evaluation metrics (mean bias error, root mean square error, correlation coefficient and fractional gross error). Results showed that the default configuration of NMM-dust (with a low spatiotemporal resolution of both input parameters) generates an overestimation of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). Although it is able to qualitatively reproduce the temporal trend of the dust event, the default configuration of NMM-dust cannot fully capture its actual spatial distribution. Adjusting the spatiotemporal resolution of soil moisture and vegetation cover datasets showed that the model is sensitive to both parameters. Increasing the spatiotemporal resolution of soil moisture effectively reduces model’s overestimation of AOD, while increasing the spatiotemporal resolution of vegetation cover changes the spatial distribution of reproduced dust storm. The adjustment of both parameters enables NMM-dust to capture the spatial distribution of dust storms, as well as reproducing more accurate dust concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzhu Yu
- NSF Spatiotemporal Innovation Center and Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - Chaowei Yang
- NSF Spatiotemporal Innovation Center and Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Nussbaumer‐Streit B, Yeoh B, Griebler U, Pfadenhauer LM, Busert LK, Lhachimi SK, Lohner S, Gartlehner G. Household interventions for preventing domestic lead exposure in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 10:CD006047. [PMID: 27744650 PMCID: PMC6461195 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd006047.pub5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead poisoning is associated with physical, cognitive and neurobehavioural impairment in children, and trials have tested many household interventions to prevent lead exposure. This is an update of the original review, first published in 2008. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of household interventions for preventing or reducing lead exposure in children, as measured by improvements in cognitive and neurobehavioural development, reductions in blood lead levels and reductions in household dust lead levels. SEARCH METHODS In May 2016 we searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, nine other databases and two trials registers: the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also checked the reference lists of relevant studies and contacted experts to find unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of household educational or environmental interventions, or combinations of interventions to prevent lead exposure in children (from birth to 18 years of age), where investigators reported at least one standardised outcome measure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently reviewed all eligible studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We contacted trialists to obtain missing information. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included 14 studies involving 2643 children: 13 RCTs (involving 2565 children) and one quasi-RCT (involving 78 children). Children in all studies were under six years of age. Thirteen studies took place in urban areas of North America, and one was in Australia. Most studies were in areas with low socioeconomic status. Girls and boys were equally represented in all studies. The duration of the intervention ranged from 3 months to 24 months in 12 studies, while 2 studies performed interventions on a single occasion. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 48 months. Three RCTs were at low risk of bias in all assessed domains. We rated two RCTs and one quasi-RCT as being at high risk of selection bias and six RCTs as being at high risk of attrition bias. For educational interventions, we rated the quality of evidence to be high for continuous blood lead levels and moderate for all other outcomes. For environmental interventions, we assessed the quality of evidence as moderate to low. National or international research grants or governments funded 12 studies, while the other 2 did not report their funding sources.No studies reported on cognitive or neurobehavioural outcomes. No studies reported on adverse events in children. All studies reported blood lead level outcomes.We put studies into subgroups according to their intervention type. We performed meta-analyses of both continuous and dichotomous data for subgroups where appropriate. Educational interventions were not effective in reducing blood lead levels (continuous: mean difference (MD) 0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.09 to 0.12, I² = 0%; 5 studies; N = 815; high quality evidence (log transformed); dichotomous ≥ 10.0 µg/dL (≥ 0.48 µmol/L): risk ratio (RR) 1.02, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.30; I² = 0%; 4 studies; N = 520; moderate quality evidence; dichotomous ≥ 15.0 µg/dL (≥ 0.72 µmol/L): RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.09; I² = 0%; 4 studies; N = 520; moderate quality evidence). Meta-analysis for the dust control subgroup also found no evidence of effectiveness on blood lead levels (continuous: MD -0.15, 95% CI -0.42 to 0.11; I² = 90%; 3 studies; N = 298; low quality evidence (log transformed); dichotomous ≥ 10.0 µg/dL (≥ 0.48 µmol/L): RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.18; I² = 0; 2 studies; N = 210; moderate quality evidence; dichotomous ≥ 15.0 µg/dL (≥ 0.72 µmol/L): RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.35 to 2.07; I² = 56%; 2 studies; N = 210; low quality evidence). After adjusting the dust control subgroup for clustering in meta-analysis, we found no evidence of effectiveness. We could not pool the studies using soil abatement (removal and replacement) and combination intervention groups in a meta-analysis due to substantial differences between studies, and generalisability or reproducibility of the results from these studies is unknown. Therefore, there is currently insufficient evidence to clarify whether soil abatement or a combination of interventions reduces blood lead levels. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Based on current knowledge, household educational interventions are ineffective in reducing blood lead levels in children as a population health measure. Dust control interventions may lead to little or no difference in blood lead levels (the quality of evidence was moderate to low, meaning that future research is likely to change these results). There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of soil abatement or combination interventions. No study reported on cognitive or neurobehavioural outcomes or adverse events. These patient-relevant outcomes would have been of great interest to draw conclusions for practice.Further trials are required to establish the most effective intervention for preventing lead exposure. Key elements of these trials should include strategies to reduce multiple sources of lead exposure simultaneously using empirical dust clearance levels. It is also necessary for trials to be carried out in low- and middle-income countries and in differing socioeconomic groups in high-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nussbaumer‐Streit
- Danube University KremsDepartment for Evidence‐based Medicine and Clinical EpidemiologyDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
- Danube University KremsCochrane AustriaDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
| | | | - Ursula Griebler
- Danube University KremsDepartment for Evidence‐based Medicine and Clinical EpidemiologyDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
- Danube University KremsCochrane AustriaDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
| | - Lisa M Pfadenhauer
- Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichInstitute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and EpidemiologyMarchioninistr 13MunichBavariaGermany
| | - Laura K Busert
- Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichInstitute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and EpidemiologyMarchioninistr 13MunichBavariaGermany
| | - Stefan K Lhachimi
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and EpidemiologyResearch Group for Evidence‐Based Public HealthAchterstr. 30BremenGermany28359
- University of BremenInstitute for Public Health and Nursing Research, Health Sciences BremenBibliotheksstr. 1BremenGermany28359
| | | | - Gerald Gartlehner
- Danube University KremsDepartment for Evidence‐based Medicine and Clinical EpidemiologyDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
- Danube University KremsCochrane AustriaDr.‐Karl‐Dorrek‐Str. 30KremsAustria3500
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Abstract
Rotary-type percussion dowel drilling machines, which drill horizontal holes in concrete pavement, have been documented to produce respirable crystalline silica concentrations above recommended exposure criteria. This places operators at potential risk for developing health effects from exposure. United States manufacturers of these machines offer optional dust control systems. The effectiveness of the dust control systems to reduce respirable dust concentrations on two types of drilling machines was evaluated under controlled conditions with the machines operating inside large tent structures in an effort to eliminate secondary exposure sources not related to the dowel-drilling operation. Area air samples were collected at breathing zone height at three locations around each machine. Through equal numbers of sampling rounds with the control systems randomly selected to be on or off, the control systems were found to significantly reduce respirable dust concentrations from a geometric mean of 54 mg per cubic meter to 3.0 mg per cubic meter on one machine and 57 mg per cubic meter to 5.3 mg per cubic meter on the other machine. This research shows that the dust control systems can dramatically reduce respirable dust concentrations by over 90% under controlled conditions. However, these systems need to be evaluated under actual work conditions to determine their effectiveness in reducing worker exposures to crystalline silica below hazardous levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Echt
- a Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Wayne T Sanderson
- b Department of Epidemiology , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky
| | - Kenneth R Mead
- a Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - H Amy Feng
- a Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Daniel R Farwick
- a Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Dawn Ramsey Farwick
- a Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
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Keown D. Aluminum metal combustible dust explosion from improper design, construction and use of dust collection system sends two employees by life flight to burn centers. J Occup Environ Hyg 2016; 13:D135-D137. [PMID: 27074058 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1177643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dain Keown
- a Department of Labor , OSHA, Mobile Area Office , Mobile , Alabama
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Abstract
A huge number of workers are employed in traditional rice mills where they are potentially exposed to dust. In this study a dust collection system was developed to capture the airborne dust in the rice mill. The feeding and sieving section of the mill was identified as major dust creating zone. The dust was captured by creating suitable air stream at feeding and sieving sections of the mill and collected in cyclone dust collector. The air stream was created by blower which was selected on the basis to get minimum air speed of 0.5 m/s in the working zones of workers. It was observed that the developed system is successfully collects the significant amount of dust and able to reduce the dust concentration up to 58%. Further, the respirable dust concentration reduced to below 5 mg/m(3) throughout the mill which is within the recommended limit of dust exposure.
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Alexander BM, Esswein EJ, Gressel MG, Kratzer JL, Feng HA, King B, Miller AL, Cauda E. The development and testing of a prototype mini-baghouse to control the release of respirable crystalline silica from sand movers. J Occup Environ Hyg 2016; 13:628-38. [PMID: 27003622 PMCID: PMC4984675 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1168239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a significant risk to worker health during well completions operations (which include hydraulic fracturing) at conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction sites. RCS is generated by pneumatic transfer of quartz-containing sand during hydraulic fracturing operations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers identified concentrations of RCS at hydraulic fracturing sites that exceed 10 times the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and up to 50 times the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL). NIOSH research identified at least seven point sources of dust release at contemporary oil and gas extraction sites where RCS aerosols were generated. NIOSH researchers recommend the use of engineering controls wherever they can be implemented to limit the RCS released. A control developed to address one of the largest sources of RCS aerosol generation is the NIOSH mini-baghouse assembly, mounted on the thief hatches on top of the sand mover. This article details the results of a trial of the NIOSH mini-baghouse at a sand mine in Arkansas from November 18-21, 2013. During the trial, area air samples were collected at 12 locations on and around a sand mover with and without the mini-baghouse control installed. Analytical results for respirable dust and RCS indicate the use of the mini-baghouse effectively reduced both respirable dust and RCS downwind of the thief hatches. Reduction of airborne respirable dust ranged from 85-98%; reductions in airborne RCS ranged from 79-99%. A bulk sample of dust collected by the baghouse assembly showed the likely presence of freshly fractured quartz, a particularly hazardous form of RCS. Planned future design enhancements will increase the performance and durability of the mini-baghouse, including an improved bag clamp mechanism and upgraded filter fabric with a modified air-to-cloth ratio. Future trials are planned to determine additional respirable dust and RCS concentration reductions achieved through these design changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara M Alexander
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Division of Applied Research and Technology , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Eric J Esswein
- b National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Western States Division , Denver , Colorado
- c University of theWitwatersrand , School of Public Health , Johannesburg , South Africa
| | - Michael G Gressel
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Division of Applied Research and Technology , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Jerry L Kratzer
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Division of Applied Research and Technology , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - H Amy Feng
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Division of Applied Research and Technology , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Bradley King
- b National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Western States Division , Denver , Colorado
| | - Arthur L Miller
- d National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Spokane Mining Research Division , Spokane , Washington
| | - Emanuele Cauda
- e National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Pittsburgh Mining Research Division , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
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Dauber J, Davidson J, Walters M. Dry Media Dust Collectors vs. Wet Scrubbers: Two Technologies for Combustible Dust Control. Occup Health Saf 2016; 85:34-38. [PMID: 27311204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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Ilinykh MV, Serebryakov PV, Antoshina LI. [Responsiveness of peripheral blood neutrophils under exposure to industrial aerosols]. Gig Sanit 2016; 95:1052-1055. [PMID: 29431944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There was made an evaluation of the functional state of peripheral blood neutrophils in 230 workers with dustbreathing risks (mine, metallurgical and machine-building works). There was noted the change in the responsiveness of neutrophils in dependence on both composition and the intensity of the exposure of industrial aerosols to the human body. There was followed the relation between the pathology of the respiratory system with the biochemical changes of granulocytes. These data can be used for the assessment of the nonspecific body resistance in the development of dust lung diseases.
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Kryuchkova EN, Saarkoppel LM, Yatsyna IV. [Features of immune response in chronic exposure to industrial aerosols]. Gig Sanit 2016; 95:1058-1061. [PMID: 29431946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There are considered features of disorders of the immune response in chronic exposure to dust aerosols. The detected changes of indices of the immune status of employees of the dust dangerous occupations and patients with chronic dust pathology of the lungs were unidirectional in the character, which is probably caused by manifestations of nonspecific response of the immune system to the dust factor. The deterioration of cellular immunity, humoral immunity and cytokine profile predisposes to the occurrence of immunopathologic states, contributing to the development of caused by both worksite and occupation pathology.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that tends to involve skin creases, such as the folds of the elbows or knees; it is an intensely itchy skin condition, which can relapse and remit over time. As many as a third of people with eczema who have a positive test for allergy to house dust mite have reported worsening of eczema or respiratory symptoms when exposed to dust. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of all house dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for the treatment of eczema. SEARCH METHODS We searched the following databases up to 14 August 2014: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library (2014, Issue 8), MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1974), LILACS (from 1982), and the GREAT database. We also searched five trials registers and checked the reference lists of included and excluded studies for further references to relevant studies. We handsearched abstracts from international eczema and allergy meetings. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of any of the house dust mite reduction and avoidance measures for the treatment of eczema, which included participants of any age diagnosed by a clinician with eczema as defined by the World Allergy Organization. We included all non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions that sought to reduce or avoid exposure to house dust mite and their allergenic faeces. The comparators were any active treatment, no treatment, placebo, or standard care only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently checked the titles and abstracts identified, and there were no disagreements. We contacted authors of included studies for additional information. We assessed the risk of bias using Cochrane methodology. MAIN RESULTS We included seven studies of 324 adults and children with eczema. Overall, the included studies had a high risk of bias. Four of the seven trials tested interventions with multiple components, and three tested a single intervention. Two of the seven trials included only children, four included children and adults, and one included only adults. Interventions to reduce or avoid exposure to house dust mite included covers for mattresses and bedding, increased or high-quality vacuuming of carpets and mattresses, and sprays that kill house dust mites.Four studies assessed our first primary outcome of 'Clinician-assessed eczema severity using a named scale'. Of these, one study (n = 20) did not show any significant short-term benefit from allergen impermeable polyurethane mattress encasings and acaricide spray versus allergen permeable cotton mattress encasings and placebo acaricide spray. One study (n = 60) found a modest statistically significant benefit in the Six Area, Six Sign Atopic Dermatitis (SASSAD) scale over six months (mean difference of 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 6.7), P = 0.008) in favour of a mite impermeable bedding system combined with benzyltannate spray and high-filtration vacuuming versus mite permeable cotton encasings, water with a trace of alcohol spray, and a low-filtration vacuum cleaner. The third study (n = 41) did not compare the change in severity of eczema between the two treatment groups. The fourth study (n = 86) reported no evidence of a difference between the treatment groups.With regard to the secondary outcomes 'Participant- or caregiver-assessed global eczema severity score' and the 'Amount and frequency of topical treatment required', one study (n = 20) assessed these outcomes with similar results being reported for these outcomes in both groups. Four studies (n = 159) assessed 'Sensitivity to house dust mite allergen using a marker'; there was no clear evidence of a difference in sensitivity levels reported between treatments in any of the four trials.None of the seven included studies assessed our second primary outcome 'Participant- or caregiver-assessed eczema-related quality of life using a named instrument' or the secondary outcome of 'Adverse effects'.We were unable to combine any of our results because of variability in the interventions and paucity of data. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We were unable to determine clear implications to inform clinical practice from the very low-quality evidence currently available. The modest treatment responses reported were in people with atopic eczema, specifically with sensitivity to one or more aeroallergens. Thus, their use in the eczema population as a whole is unknown. High-quality long-term trials of single, easy-to-administer house dust mite reduction or avoidance measures are worth pursuing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Nankervis
- The University of Nottinghamc/o Cochrane Skin GroupA103, King's Meadow CampusLenton LaneNottinghamUKNG7 2NR
| | - Emma V Pynn
- University Hospital of WalesDepartment of DermatologyHeath ParkCardiffWalesUKCF14 4XW
| | - Robert J Boyle
- Imperial College LondonSection of Paediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of MedicineWright Fleming BuildingNorfolk PlaceLondonUKW2 1PG
| | - Lesley Rushton
- Imperial College LondonDepartment of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsFaculty of MedicineSt Mary's Campus, Norfolk PlaceLondonUKW2 1PG
| | - Hywel C Williams
- The University of NottinghamCentre of Evidence Based DermatologyQueen's Medical CentreDerby RoadNottinghamUKNG7 2UH
| | - Deanne M Hewson
- The University of Nottinghamc/o Cochrane Skin GroupA103, King's Meadow CampusLenton LaneNottinghamUKNG7 2NR
| | - Thomas Platts‐Mills
- University of VirginiaDepartment of Medicine, Division of Asthma, Allergy and ImmunologyBox 801355CharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA22901
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46
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Srinivasan A, Beck C, Buckley T, Geyh A, Bova G, Merz W, Perl TM. The Ability of Hospital Ventilation Systems to FilterAspergillusand Other Fungi Following a Building Implosion. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015; 23:520-4. [PMID: 12269450 DOI: 10.1086/502100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives:To assess the ability of hospital air handling systems to filterAspergillus, other fungi, and particles following the implosion of an adjacent building; to measure the quantity and persistence of airborne fungi and particles at varying distances during a building implosion; and to determine whether manipulating air systems based on the movement of the dust cloud would be an effective strategy for managing the impact of the implosion.Design:Air sampling study.Setting:A 976-bed teaching hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.Methods:Single-stage impactors and particle counters were placed at outdoor sites 100, 200, and 400 m from the implosion and in five locations in the hospital: two oncology floors, the human immunodeficiency virus unit, the cardiac surgical intensive care unit, and the ophthalmology unit. Air handling systems would operate normally unless the cloud approached the hospital.Results:Wind carried the bulk of the cloud away from the hospital.Aspergilluscounts rose more than tenfold at outdoor locations up to 200 m from the implosion, but did not increase at 400 m. Total fungal counts rose more than sixfold at 100 and 200 m and twofold at 400 m. Similar toAspergillus, particle counts rose several-fold following the implosion at 100 and 200 m, but did not rise at 400 m. No increases in any fungi or particles were measured at indoor locations.Conclusion:Reacting to the movement of the cloud was effective, because normal operation of the hospital air handling systems was able to accommodate the modest increase inAspergillus, other fungi, and particles generated by the implosion.Aspergillusmeasurements were paralleled by particle counts.
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47
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Kurkin AV, Dauletkalieva ZA, Rybalkina DH. [Cytologic study of buccal epithelium in various lengths of service in chrysotile-asbestos production]. Med Tr Prom Ekol 2015:16-18. [PMID: 26036017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Buccal epithelium cytograms were analyzed in workers of chrysotile-asbestos production "Kostanaiskiye mineraly" JSC. Findings are that 10-20 years of service are associated with increased number of 4th differentiation grade cells and correspondingly decreased number of 5th differentiation grade cells. Later, with 20 years of service, numbers of 4th and 5th grade epitheliocytes reach initial values. With 10-20 years of service, integral parameters of differentiation index, cornification index and intracellular relations decrease. Findings are that 10-20 years of service are connected with domination of proliferation over differentiation processes. Length of service over 20 years is with adaptive processess in the workers. These data are important in evaluation of mucosal system in variable length of occupational service.
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48
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Dorribo V, Wild P, Pralong JA, Danuser B, Reboux G, Krief P, Niculita-Hirzel H. Respiratory health effects of fifteen years of improved collective protection in a wheat-processing worker population. Ann Agric Environ Med 2015; 22:647-654. [PMID: 26706970 DOI: 10.5604/12321966.1185768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Occupational exposure to grain dust causes respiratory symptoms and pathologies. To decrease these effects, major changes have occurred in the grain processing industry in the last twenty years. However, there are no data on the effects of these changes on workers' respiratory health. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory health of grain workers and farmers involved in different steps of the processing industry of wheat, the most frequently used cereal in Europe, fifteen years after major improvements in collective protective equipment due to mechanisation. MATERIALS AND METHOD Information on estimated personal exposure to wheat dust was collected from 87 workers exposed to wheat dust and from 62 controls. Lung function (FEV1, FVC, and PEF), exhaled nitrogen monoxide (FENO) and respiratory symptoms were assessed after the period of highest exposure to wheat during the year. Linear regression models were used to explore the associations between exposure indices and respiratory effects. RESULTS Acute symptoms - cough, sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat - were significantly more frequent in exposed workers than in controls. Increased mean exposure level, increased cumulative exposure and chronic exposure to more than 6 mg.m (-3) of inhaled wheat dust were significantly associated with decreased spirometric parameters, including FEV1 and PEF (40 ml and 123 ml.s (-1) ), FEV1 and FVC (0.4 ml and 0.5 ml per 100 h.mg.m (-3) ), FEV1 and FVC (20 ml and 20 ml per 100 h at >6 mg.m (-3) ). However, no increase in FENO was associated with increased exposure indices. CONCLUSIONS The lung functions of wheat-related workers are still affected by their cumulative exposure to wheat dust, despite improvements in the use of collective protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Dorribo
- Service of Occupational Medicine, Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Jacques A Pralong
- Service of Occupational Medicine, Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Brigitta Danuser
- Service of Occupational Medicine, Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Reboux
- Service of Parasitology and Mycology, CHU de Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Peggy Krief
- Service of Occupational Medicine, Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland
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49
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Abstract
General ventilation with recirculated air may be cost-effective to control the concentration of low-toxicity, contaminants in workplaces with diffuse, dusty operations, such as in agriculture. Such systems are, however, rarely adopted with little evidence showing improved air quality and ability to operate under harsh conditions. The goal of this work was to examine the initial and long-term performance of a fabric-filter shaker dust collector (SDC) in laboratory tests and as deployed within a recirculating ventilation system in an agricultural building. In laboratory tests, collection efficiency and pressure drop were tracked over several filter loading cycles, and the recovery of filter capacity (pressure drop) from filter shaking was examined. Collection efficiencies of particles larger than 5 μm was high (>95%) even when the filter was pristine, showing effective collection of large particles that dominate inhalable concentrations typical of agricultural dusts. For respirable-sized particles, collection efficiencies were low when the filter was pristine (e.g., 27% for 1 μm) but much higher when a dust cake developed on the filter (>99% for all size particles), even after shaking (e.g., 90% for 1 μm). The first shake of a filter was observed to recovery a substantial fraction of filter capacity, with subsequent shakes providing little benefit. In field tests, the SDC performed effectively over a period of three months in winter when incorporated in a recirculating ventilation system of a swine farrowing room. Trends in collection efficiency and pressure drop with loading were similar to those observed in the laboratory with overall collection efficiencies high (>80%) when pressure drop exceeded 230 Pa, or 23% of the maximum loading recommended by the manufacturer. This work shows that the SDC can function effectively over the harsh winter in swine rearing operations. Together with findings of improved air quality in the farrowing room reported in a companion manuscript, this article provides evidence that an SDC represents a cost-effective solution to improve air quality in agricultural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Peters
- a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , University of Iowa , Iowa City , Iowa
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50
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Abstract
Respirable dust is of particular concern in the construction industry because it contains crystalline silica. Respirable forms of silica are a severe health threat because they heighten the risk of numerous respirable diseases. Concrete cutting, a common work practice in the construction industry, is a major contributor to dust generation. No studies have been found that focus on the dust suppression of concrete-cutting chainsaws, presumably because, during normal operation water is supplied continuously and copiously to the dust generation points. However, there is a desire to better understand dust creation at low water flow rates. In this case study, a water-soluble surfactant additive was used in the chainsaw's water supply. Cutting was performed on a free-standing concrete wall in a covered outdoor lab with a hand-held, gas-powered, concrete-cutting chainsaw. Air was sampled at the operator's lapel, and around the concrete wall to simulate nearby personnel. Two additive concentrations were tested (2.0% and 0.2%), across a range of fluid flow rates (0.38-3.8 Lpm [0.1-1.0 gpm] at 0.38 Lpm [0.1 gpm] increments). Results indicate that when a lower concentration of additive is used exposure levels increase. However, all exposure levels, once adjusted for 3 hours of continuous cutting in an 8-hour work shift, are below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/m(3). Estimates were made using trend lines to predict the fluid flow rates that would cause respirable dust exposure to exceed both the OSHA PEL and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) threshold limit value (TLV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Summers
- a Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering Department , Oregon State University , Corvallis , Oregon
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