Search

A computer-controlled mechanical chamber was used to perform multiple contacts between human cadaver skin or cotton sheet samples and soil-laden carpet or aluminum foil to measure mass soil transfer. The amount transferred was measured with an analytical balance. The contact parameters of pressure (10 to 50 kPa) and time (10 to 50 s) were varied for 760 separate multiple contact experiments, where two soil types (play sand and lawn soil) and two soil sizes (< 139.7 and ≥ 139.7 < 381 μm) were used. Through parametric and non-parametric tests, this article specifically looks at the influence and interaction of these experimental parameters on the transfer of soil or sand to human skin during multiple contacts. The relationships between the amount of soil or sand that transfers for a first contact, for a second contact, and overall are also presented. On average, a second contact added an additional 8% of soil or sand to the adherence material (i.e., cloth, skin). The experimental variables of pressure, time, soil size, and soil type had less influence on the magnitude of transfer for the second contact as compared to the first contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computer-controlled mechanical chamber was used to control the contact between carpet samples laden with soil, and human cadaver skin and cotton sheet samples for the measurement of mass soil transfer. Mass soil transfers were converted to adherence factors (mg/cm2) for use in models that estimate dermal exposure to contaminants found in soil media. The contact parameters of pressure (10 to 50 kPa) and time (10 to 50 sec) were varied for 369 experiments of mass soil transfer, where two soil types (play sand and lawn soil) and two soil sizes (< 139.7 μm and ≥139.7 < 381) were used. Chamber probes were used to record temperature and humidity. Log transformation of the sand/soil transfers was performed to normalize the distribution. Estimated adjusted means for experimental conditions were exponentiated in order to express them in the original units. Mean soil mass transfer to cadaver skin (0.74 mg/cm2) was higher than to cotton sheets (0.21 mg/cm2). Higher pressure (p < 0.0001), and larger particle size (p < 0.0001) were also all associated with larger amounts of soil transfer. The original model was simplified into two by adherence material type (i.e., cadaver skin and cotton sheets) in order to investigate the differential effects of pressure, time, soil size, and soil type on transfer. This research can be used to improve estimates of dermal exposure to contaminants found in home carpets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]