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Homemade cloth masks and other improvised face coverings have become widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic driven by severe shortages of personal protective equipment. In this study, various alternative (mostly common household) materials, which have not traditionally been used in respiratory protective devices, were tested for particle filtration performance and breathability. Most of these materials were found of some-but rather limited-utility in facemasks. At a breathing flow rate of 30 L min-1, 17 out of 19 tested materials demonstrated collection efficiency below 50%; at 85 L min-1, only one material featured particle collection efficiency above 50%. Pressure drop values were mostly below 4 mm w.g. (observed in 89% of cases for the two flow rates), which provides comfortable breathing. Only for one fabric material (silk) tested at 85 L min-1 did the pressure drop reach 11 mm w.g. Based on these results, a three-layer facemask prototype was designed and fabricated comprised of the best performing materials. Additional tests were conducted to examine possible particle detachment/shedding from the materials used in the newly developed facemask, but no such phenomenon was observed. The prototype was evaluated on 10 human subjects using the standard OSHA-approved quantitative fit testing protocol. The mask protection level, determined as an adopted fit factor, was found to lie between that of the two commercial surgical/medical masks tested for comparison. A 10-cycle washing of the mask prototype lowered its collection efficiency across the particle size range; however, washing did not substantially affect mask breathability. The study revealed that although homemade masks offer a certain level of protection to a wearer, one should not expect them to provide the same respiratory protection as high-end commercial surgical/medical masks or-by any means-NIOSH-certified N95 filtering facepieces.

ResumenLa frecuencia respiratoria (respiraciones/min) difiere entre los individuos y dependiendo de los niveles de actividad física. Las partículas ingresan a las mascarillas respiratorias mediante dos vías principales de penetración: infiltración a través del sellado facial y penetración a través de filtros. Sin embargo, se desconoce la forma en que la frecuencia respiratoria afecta el desempeño general de las mascarillas autofiltrantes N95 (filtering facepiece respirators, FFR) y las mascarillas quirúrgicas (MQ) contra partículas virales y otras partículas submicrómicas de importancia para la salud. En un maniquí de respiración a cuatro flujos inspiratorios medios (FIM) (15, 30, 55 y 85 L/min) y cinco frecuencias respiratorias (10, 15, 20, 25 y 30 respiraciones/min) se probaron una FFR y una MQ. En los dispositivos de protección respiratoria probados se determinaron la penetración a través del filtro (P

We assessed and compared indoor and outdoor residential aerosol particles in a third-floor apartment from August through September 2020. The measurements were conducted using a direct-reading ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) wideband integrated bioaerosol spectrometer (WIBS). It measures individual particle light scattering and fluorescence from which particle properties can be derived. The number concentrations of total aerosol particles (TAP) and total fluorescent aerosol particles (TFAP) were significantly higher indoors. Daily and hourly TFAP mean concentrations followed the same trends as the TAP, both indoors and outdoors. The daily mean rank of the TFAP fraction (TFAP/TAP) was significantly higher indoors (23%) than outdoors (19%). Particles representing bacteria dominated indoors while particles representing fungi and pollen dominated outdoors. The mean volume-weighted median diameters for TFAP were 1.67 μm indoors and 2.09 μm outdoors. Higher TFAP fraction indoors was likely due to occupants' activities that generated or resuspended particles. This study contributes to understanding the characteristics of residential aerosol particles in situations when occupants spend most of their time indoors. Based on our findings, a large portion of all indoor aerosol particles could be biological (15-20%) and of respirable particle size (≥95%). Using a novel direct reading UV-LIF-based sensor can help quickly assess aerosol exposures relevant to human health.

The objective of this analysis was to examine and compare quantitative metrics of observed dampness and mold, including visible mold and moisture damage, and fungal and bacterial microbiomes. In-home visits were conducted at age 7 for children enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study. Trained study staff evaluated the primary residence and measured total areas of visible moisture and mold damage in the home. Floor dust was collected and archived. Archived dust samples collected from each home (n = 178) were extracted and analyzed using bacterial (16S rRNA gene) and fungal (internal transcribed spacer region) sequencing. Fungi were also divided into moisture requirement categories of xerophiles, mesophiles, and hydrophiles. Data analyses used Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, Permanova, DESeq, and negative binomial regression models. Comparing high moisture or mold damage to no damage, five fungal species and two bacterial species had higher concentrations (absolute abundance) and six fungal species and three bacterial species had lower concentrations. Hydrophilic and mesophilic fungi showed significant dose-related increases with increasing moisture damage and mold damage, respectively. When comparing alpha or beta diversity of fungi and bacteria across mold and moisture damage levels, no significant associations or differences were found. Mold and moisture damage did not affect diversity of fungal and bacterial microbiomes. Instead, both kinds of damage were associated with changes in species composition of both bacterial and fungal microbiomes, indicating that fungal and bacterial communities in the home might be influenced by one another as well as by mold or moisture in the home.

Respiratory microbiome is an understudied area of research compared to other microbiomes of the human body. The respiratory tract is exposed to an array of environmental pollutants, including microbes. Yet, we know very little about the relationship between environmental and respiratory microbiome. The primary aim of our study was to compare the mycobiomes and bacteriomes between three sample types from the same participants, including home dust, saliva, and sputum. Samples were collected from 40 adolescents in a longitudinal cohort. We analyzed the samples using 16s bacterial rDNA and ITS fungal rDNA gene sequencing, as well as quantitative PCR with universal fungal and bacterial primers. Results showed that home dust had the greatest alpha diversity between the three sample types for both bacteria and fungi. Dust had the highest total fungal load and the lowest total bacterial load. Sputum had greater bacterial diversity than saliva, but saliva had greater fungal diversity than sputum. The distribution of major bacterial phyla differed between all sample types. However, the distribution of major fungal classes differed only between sputum and saliva. Future research should examine the biological significance of the taxa found in each sample type based on microbial ecology and associations with health effects.

Incidence rates of mental health disorders among adolescents is increasing, indicating a strong need for effective prevention efforts at a population level. The etiology of mental health disorders includes genetic, social, and environmental factors. Ultrafine particles (UFPs; particles less than 0.1 μm in diameter) have been shown to exert neurotoxic effects on the brain; however, epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between UFPs and childhood mental health outcomes is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if exposure to UFPs was associated with symptoms of mental health in adolescents. Adolescents completed personal UFP monitoring for one week as well as a series of validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) assessments to measure five domains of mental and physical stress symptoms. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between PROMIS domain T-scores and median weekly personal UFP exposure with the inclusion of interactions to explore sex differences. We observed that median weekly UFP exposure was significantly associated with physical stress symptoms (β: 5.92 per 10-fold increase in UFPs, 95% CI [0.72, 11.13]) but no other measured domains. Further, we did not find effect modification by sex on any of the PROMIS outcomes. The results of this study indicate UFPs are associated with physical symptoms of stress response among adolescents, potentially contributing to mental health disorders in this population.

Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) are subjected to variable working environments which increase their risk of being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. One of the potential occupational hazards within the industry includes exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize concentrations of three types of bioaerosols utilizing a novel fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument during seven activities that HHCWs typically encounter in patients’ homes. Bioaerosols were measured in an indoor residence throughout all seasons in Cincinnati, OH, USA. A fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO, USA) was utilized for all data collection. Total particle counts and concentrations for each particle type, including fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles, were utilized to form the response variable, a normalized concentration calculated as a ratio of concentration during activity to the background concentration. Walking experiments produced a median concentration ratio of 52.45 and 2.77 for pollen and fungi, respectively. Fungi and bacteria produced the highest and lowest median concentration ratios of 17.81 and 1.90 for showering, respectively. Lastly, our current study showed that sleeping activity did not increase bioaerosol concentrations. We further conclude that utilizing direct-reading methods may save time and effort in bioaerosol-exposure assessment.

Home-attending healthcare workers (HHCWs), one of the most rapidly growing occupations worldwide, are exposed to a wide range of aerosol contaminants, including pharmaceuticals administered to patients in their homes by nebulizer treatment. The aerosol concentration and exposure patterns may be vastly different from those identified in hospital environments. Inhalation exposure of healthcare professionals to nebulized medications has not been quantified. This pilot simulation study was conducted to measure particles released from a commercially available nebulizer-based aerosol delivery system into the indoor environment. Aerosolized medications such as Ipratropium Bromide, Budesonide, and Albuterol Sulfate (all suspended in a NaCl solution), and NaCl (used as medication to treat respiratory symptoms) were evaluated in individual trials. Deionized water was used as a control. The aerosols were measured using an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor at three locations of the HHCW-simulating manikin relative to the aerosol source. Exposure to all four selected aerosolized medications was significant (exceeding background control by one to four orders of magnitude). The particle size distributions measured for the four aerosols at a fixed distance from the source demonstrated similar trends with no significant differences identified in most cases. Although the total aerosol mass concentration in the breathing zone of the simulated HHCW ranged widely, from 2.29 to 10.2 μg/m3, it was not significantly affected by medication type. Therefore, we concluded that NaCl can serve as a surrogate for assessing aerosol exposures, at least for the selected nebulizer-administered medications.

Background Exposure to particulate matter has been shown to increase the adhesion of bacteria to human airway epithelial cells. However, the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the respiratory microbiome is unknown. Methods Forty children were recruited through the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study, a longitudinal cohort followed from birth through early adolescence. Saliva and induced sputum were collected at age 14 years. Exposure to TRAP was characterized from birth through the time of sample collection using a previously validated land-use regression model. Sequencing of the bacterial 16S and ITS fungal rRNA genes was performed on sputum and saliva samples. The relative abundance of bacterial taxa and diversity indices were compared in children with exposure to high and low TRAP. We also used multiple linear regression to assess the effect of TRAP exposure, gender, asthma status, and socioeconomic status on the alpha diversity of bacteria in sputum. Results We observed higher bacterial alpha diversity indices in sputum than in saliva. The diversity indices for bacteria were greater in the high TRAP exposure group than the low exposure group. These differences remained after adjusting for asthma status, gender, and mother’s education. No differences were observed in the fungal microbiome between TRAP exposure groups. Conclusion Our findings indicate that exposure to TRAP in early childhood and adolescence may be associated with greater bacterial diversity in the lower respiratory tract. Asthma status does not appear to confound the observed differences in diversity. These results demonstrate that there may be a TRAP-exposure related change in the lower respiratory microbiota that is independent of asthma status.

RESUMENEl nivel de protección ofrecido por las mascarillas con filtro de partículas y las mascarillas se establece considerando el porcentaje de partículas ambientales que penetran dentro del dispositivo de protección. Existen dos vías de penetración: (1) la infiltración a través del sellado facial de la mascarilla y (2) a través del medio filtrante. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue diferenciar el aporte proveniente de cada una de estas dos vías para partículas cuyo tamaño oscila entre 0.03-1 μm en condiciones de respiración reales. Así, mientras se realizaban pruebas de ajuste convencionales, se evaluaron una mascarilla respiratoria autofiltrante N95 y una mascarilla quirúrgica usada comúnmente en entornos de atención médica en 25 sujetos (número coincidente con el último panel de pruebas de ajuste del Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud Laborales). Asimismo, ambas mascarillas fueron evaluadas empleando maniquíes de respiración que imitaban de forma precisa los patrones de respiración registrados previamente en los sujetos evaluados. Posteriormente, se compararon los datos de penetración obtenidos en las evaluaciones realizadas con sujetos humanos y con maniquíes para determinar los diferentes tamaños de partículas, así como los patrones de respiración. Así se determinaron 5,250 valores de penetración específicos correspondientes al ejercicio y el tamaño de las partículas. Para cada valor se calcularon la tasa de infiltración a través del sellado facial de la mascarilla y la tasa de infiltración a través del filtro, con la finalidad de cuantificar los aportes relativos realizados por cada vía de penetración. El número de partículas que penetra mediante infiltración del sellado facial de la mascarilla autofiltrante/mascarilla quirúrgica probadas excedió ampliamente el número de aquellas que lo hacen a través del filtro. Para la mascarilla autofiltrante N95, el exceso fue (en promedio) de un orden de magnitud y se incrementó notablemente al aumentar el tamaño de las partículas (p 0.001): ∼7 veces mayor para 0,04 μm, ∼10 veces para 0.1 μm y ∼20 veces para 1 μm. En el caso de la mascarilla quirúrgica, la tasa de infiltración a través del sellado facial de la misma con respecto al filtro osciló entre 4.8 y 5.8 y no se vio significativamente afectada por el tamaño de las partículas para la fracción del submicrómetro evaluado. El movimiento facial/corporal tuvo un efecto pronunciado en el aporte relativo de las dos vías de penetración. La intensidad de la respiración y las dimensiones faciales mostraron alguna influencia (aunque limitada). Considerando que la mayoría de las partículas que penetraron ingresaron a través del sellado facial, al desarrollar la mascarilla autofiltrante/mascarilla quirúrgica la prioridad debería ser realizar una adecuación que permitiera eliminar o minimizar la infiltración a través del sellado facial y no mejorar la eficiencia del medio de filtro.

BackgroundExposure to particulate matter has been shown to increase the adhesion of bacteria to human airway epithelial cells. However, the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the respiratory microbiome is unknown.MethodsForty children were recruited through the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study, a longitudinal cohort followed from birth through early adolescence. Saliva and induced sputum were collected at age 14 years. Exposure to TRAP was characterized from birth through the time of sample collection using a previously validated land-use regression model. Sequencing of the bacterial 16S and ITS fungal rRNA genes was performed on sputum and saliva samples. The relative abundance of bacterial taxa and diversity indices were compared in children with exposure to high and low TRAP. We also used multiple linear regression to assess the effect of TRAP exposure, gender, asthma status, and socioeconomic status on the alpha diversity of bacteria in sputum.ResultsWe observed higher bacterial alpha diversity indices in sputum than in saliva. The diversity indices for bacteria were greater in the high TRAP exposure group than the low exposure group. These differences remained after adjusting for asthma status, gender, and mother’s education. No differences were observed in the fungal microbiome between TRAP exposure groups.ConclusionOur findings indicate that exposure to TRAP in early childhood and adolescence may be associated with greater bacterial diversity in the lower respiratory tract. Asthma status does not appear to confound the observed differences in diversity. It is still unknown whether the development of asthma changes the lower respiratory tract microbiome or if an altered microbiome mediates a change in disease status. However, these results demonstrate that there may be a TRAP-exposure related change in the lower respiratory microbiota that is independent of asthma status.

Elevated exposure to ambient manganese (Mn) is associated with adverse health outcomes. In Marietta, Ohio, the primary source of ambient Mn exposure is from the longest operating ferromanganese refinery in North America. In this study, the US EPA air dispersion model, AERMOD, was used to estimate ambient air Mn levels near the refinery for the years 2008–2013. Modeled air Mn concentrations for 2009–2010 were compared to concentrations obtained from a stationary air sampler. Census block population data were used to estimate population sizes exposed to an annual average air Mn > 50 ng/m3, the US EPA guideline for chronic exposure, for each year. Associations between modeled air Mn, measured soil Mn, and measured indoor dust Mn in the modeled area were also examined. Median modeled air Mn concentrations ranged from 6.3 to 43 ng/m3 across the years. From 12,000–56,000 individuals, including over 2000 children aged 0–14 years, were exposed to respirable annual average ambient air Mn levels exceeding 50 ng/m3 in five of the six years. For 2009–2010, the median modeled air Mn concentration at the stationary site was 20 ng/m3, compared to 18 ng/m3 measured with the stationary air sampler. All model performance measures for monthly modeled concentrations compared to measured concentrations were within acceptable limits. The study shows that AERMOD modeling of ambient air Mn is a viable method for estimating exposure from refinery emissions and that the Marietta area population was at times exposed to Mn levels that exceeded US EPA guidelines.

Black carbon (BC) is a descriptive term that refers to light-absorbing particulate matter (PM) produced by incomplete combustion and is often used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollution. Exposure to BC has been linked to adverse health effects. Penetration of ambient BC is typically the primary source of indoor BC in the developed world. Other sources of indoor BC include biomass and kerosene stoves, lit candles, and charring food during cooking. Home characteristics can influence the levels of indoor BC. As people spend most of their time indoors, human exposure to BC can be associated to a large extent with indoor environments. At the same time, due to the cost of environmental monitoring, it is often not feasible to directly measure BC inside multiple individual homes in large-scale population-based studies. Thus, a predictive model for indoor BC is needed to support risk assessment in public health. In this study, home characteristics and occupant activities that potentially modify indoor levels of BC were documented in 23 homes, and indoor and outdoor BC concentrations were measured twice. The homes were located in the Cincinnati-Kentucky-Indiana tristate region and measurements occurred from September 2015 through August 2017. A linear mixed-effect model was developed to predict BC concentration in residential environments. The measured outdoor BC concentrations and the documented home characteristics were utilized as predictors of indoor BC concentrations. After the model was developed, a leave-one-out cross-validation algorithm was deployed to assess the predictive accuracy of the output. The following home characteristics and occupant activities significantly modified the concentration of indoor BC: outdoor BC, lit candles and electrostatic or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Predicted indoor BC concentrations explained 78% of the variability in the measured indoor BC concentrations. The data show that outdoor BC combined with home characteristics can be used to predict indoor BC levels with reasonable accuracy.

Survival of bio-warfare aerosol agents exposed to different environmental conditions has gained substantial attention in the biodefense and biosecurity research communities. The present simulation study aimed at investigating the survival of aerosolized bacterial spores in close proximity to a flame under test conditions relevant to a fire or explosion in a bio-weapon facility. The tests were conducted with aerosolized spores of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a well-recognized surrogate of Bacillus anthracis, which is a common bio-warfare agent. The loss in spore viability resulting from their exposure to a peripheral area of an air-acetylene flame at two particle-to-flame proximity levels was experimentally determined for different exposure time intervals ranging approximately from 0.1 to 6.0 s. The spore inactivation was quantified through comparison of the viability levels obtained for exposed and non-exposed (control) samples. At relatively short time intervals, the inactivation rate was close to exponential. However, as the exposure time increased, the spore viability decrease slowed down for both proximity levels. The “breaking point” was found to be dependent on the particle-to-flame proximity. The findings point to a small fraction of spores that exhibits particularly high resistance to the stress from the flame-originated heat. To verify the existence of such a sub-population, a separate experiment was performed, in which the aerosolized spores that survived the stress caused by exposure to flame were subsequently subjected to an additional (post-exposure) stress by being placed in an oven for 5, 10 and 20 s. The study results demonstrated the presence of “super-resistant” Btk spores. This justifies the need of developing special materials with pronounced biocidal capabilities (well in excess of those associated with an air-acetylene flame) in order to effectively inactivate “super-resistant” aerosolized bio-agents.

There is little information regarding aerosol exposure from using medical nebulizers and the factors affecting the risk of exposure, especially for treatments performed in a patient’s home environment. Home healthcare workers (HHWs) are a rapidly growing work population often exposed to aerosol hazards. Thus, we designed a simulated environment to measure the aerosol inhalation exposure of an HHW administering pressure-nebulized medications. We determined the relative contributions of different factors to aerosol reduction, namely, the room air exchange rate, proximity to the patient, and patient breathing rate, in an exposure chamber simulating a patient’s bedroom. Additionally, the performance of respiratory protective devices worn by an HHW, a surgical mask and N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), was evaluated using NaCl as a well-established surrogate. The particle concentration in the breathing zone of an unprotected worker ranged from 7,118 to 284,600 cm–3. The proximity to the aerosol source affected the aerosol concentration, but the influence of this factor diminished when the distance increased beyond 24 inches. For an unprotected HHW, ventilation was the most effective way to reduce exposure to nebulizer-produced medical aerosols. An increase in the air exchange rate from 0 to 5 h–1 significantly reduced the exposure; however, a further increase (to 17 h–1) produced only a small reduction in the particle concentration. Therefore, no evidence suggests that patient homes require extremely efficient ventilation to mitigate HHWs’ exposure to nebulizer-produced medications. Increasing the patient’s breathing flow rate reduced the aerosol inhalation exposure; however, this factor cannot be controlled, which weakens its practical viability. Wearing respiratory protection devices was found to be the most efficient way to reduce aerosol exposure (within the set of tested variables). As expected, an N95 FFR with a proper seal was about 20-fold more efficient than a surgical mask.

The objective of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) accuracy criterion is to ensure that measurements from monitoring devices are within ± 25% of the true concentration of the analyte with 95% certainty. To determine whether NO(2) and O(3) sensors meet this criterion, three commercially available units (Cairclip O(3)/NO(2), Aeroqual NO(2), and Aeroqual O(3) sensors) were co-located three times with validated instruments (NO(x) chemiluminescence [NO(2mon)] and photometric O(3) analyzers [O(3mon)]) at an outdoor monitoring station. As cofactors of sensor performance such as temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) potentially influence the response of NO(2) and O(3) sensors, corrections for cofactors were made by using T, RH, and the sensor measurements to predict measurements made by NO(2mon) and O(3mon) during the first co-location period (training dataset). The developed models were tested in the merged data obtained from the second and third co-location periods (testing dataset). In the training and testing datasets, the mean NO(2) as measured by NO(2mon) was 4.6 ppb (range = 0.4 – 35 ppb) and 9.4 ppb (range = 1 – 37 ppb), respectively. The mean O(3) in the training and testing datasets as measured by O(3mon) was 38.8 ppb (range = 1 – 65 ppb) and 35.7 ppb (range = 1 – 61 ppb), respectively. None of the sensor measurements in the training dataset were within the NIOSH accuracy criterion (mean error ≥ 25%). After correcting for cofactors of sensor performance, the accuracy of the Cairclip O(3)/NO(2) and the Aeroqual O(3) sensors considerably improved when tested with the testing dataset (mean error = −1% and 14%, respectively). However, the Aeroqual NO(2) sensor had an error that was not within ± 25%. Raw measurements from the tested sensors may be unsuitable for assessing workers’ exposure to NO(2) and O(3). Corrections for cofactors of Cairclip O(3)/NO(2) and Aeroqual O(3) sensor performance are required for more accurate occupational exposure assessment.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing solid waste stream worldwide and mostly ends up in developing countries where residents use primitive methods for recycling. The most infamous e-waste recycling town, Guiyu in Southeast China, has been recycling since the mid-1990s. E-waste contains several harmful chemicals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). In 2011–12, the e-waste Recycling Exposures and Community Health (e-REACH) Study enrolled 634 pregnant women living in Guiyu and Haojiang, a control site, both in Shantou, China. The women completed a questionnaire and gave maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal urine, which were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mn. Maternal blood Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu compared to Haojiang. In Guiyu, the geometric mean of Pb concentration in maternal blood was 6.66 μg/dL (range: 1.87 – 27.09 μg/dL) and was 1.74-fold greater than in Haojiang (95% CI: 1.60, 1.89). In cord blood, Pb concentration was 1.53-fold higher in Guiyu (95% CI: 1.38, 1.68). In maternal urine, Cd (ratio: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.72, 2.69) and Mn (ratio: 2.60, 95% CI: 2.04, 3.31) concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu in comparison to Haojiang. In conclusion, pregnant women in Guiyu were at risk for increased exposure to heavy metals.

The objective of this study was to examine and compare environmental microbiota from dust and children's respiratory health outcomes at ages seven and twelve. At age seven, in-home visits were conducted for children enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS). Floor dust was collected and analyzed for bacterial (16 S rRNA gene) and fungal (internal transcribed spacer region) microbiota. Respiratory outcomes, including physician-diagnosed asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and aeroallergen sensitivity were assessed by physical examination and caregiver-report at ages seven and twelve. The associations between dust microbiota and respiratory outcomes were evaluated using Permanova, DESeq, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models. Four types of WQS regression models were run to identify mixtures of fungi or bacteria that were associated with the absence or presence of health outcomes. For alpha or beta diversity of fungi and bacteria, no significant associations were found with respiratory health outcomes. DESeq identified specific bacterial and fungal indicator taxa that were higher or lower with the presence of different health outcomes. Most individual indicator fungal species were lower with asthma and wheeze and higher with aeroallergen positivity and rhinitis, whereas bacterial data was less consistent. WQS regression models demonstrated that a combination of species might influence health outcomes. Several heavily weighted species had a strong influence on the models, and therefore, created a microbial community that was associated with the absence or presence of asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and aeroallergen+. Weights for specific species within WQS regression models supported indicator taxa findings. Health outcomes might be more influenced by the composition of a complex mixture of bacterial and fungal species in the indoor environment than by the absence or presence of individual species. This study demonstrates that WQS is a useful tool in evaluating mixtures in relation to potential health effects.

Targeting bioweapon facilities may release biothreat agents into the atmosphere. Bacterial spores such as Bacillus anthracis (Ba) escaping from direct exposure to the fireball potentially represent a high health risk. To mitigate it, reactive materials with biocidal properties are being developed. Aluminum-based iodine-containing compositions (e.g., Al·I2 and Al·B·I2) have been shown to inactivate aerosolized simulants of Ba effectively, i.e., by factors exceeding 104 when the spores are exposed to their combustion products over a short time (∼0.33 s). This follow-up study aimed at establishing an association between the spore inactivation caused by exposure to combustion products of different materials and the exposure time. Powders of Al, Al·I2, Al·B·I2, Mg, Mg·S, and Mg·B·I2 were combusted, and viable aerosolized endospores of B. thuringiensis var kurstaki (a well-established Ba simulant) were exposed to the released products for relatively short time periods: from ∼0.1 to ∼2 s. The tests were performed at two temperatures in the exposure chamber: ∼170°C and ∼260°C; both temperatures are lower than required for quick thermal inactivation of the spores. The higher temperature and exposure times above 0.33 s generated distinctively higher inactivation levels (as high as ∼105) for iodine-containing materials. We also observed inactivation levels of up to ∼103 at very short exposure times, 0.12s, in the presence of condensing MgO. However, the effect of MgO at longer exposure times became negligible. The biocidal effect of sulfur oxides was found to be weak. The study findings are crucial for establishing strategies and developing reaction models that target specific bioagent inactivation levels. Copyright © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research

"Green" housing is designed to use low-impact materials, increase energy efficiency and improve occupant health. However, little is known about the indoor mycobiome of green homes. The current study is a subset of a multicenter study that aims to investigate the indoor environment of green homes and the respiratory health of asthmatic children. In the current study, the mycobiome in air, bed dust and floor dust was compared between green (study site) and non-green (control site), low-income homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. The samples were collected at baseline (within four months following renovation), and 12months after the baseline at the study site. Parallel sample collection was conducted in non-green control homes. Air samples were collected by PM2.5 samplers over 5-days. Bed and floor dust samples were vacuumed after the air sampling was completed. The DNA sample extracts were analyzed using ITS amplicon sequencing. Analysis indicated that there was no clear trend in the fungal communities between green and non-green homes. Instead, fungal community differences were greatest between sample types - air, bed, and floor. Microbial communities also changed substantially between sampling intervals in both green and non-green homes for all sample types, potentially indicating that there was very little stability in the mycobiomes. Research gaps remain regarding how indoor mycobiome fluctuates over time. Longer follow-up periods might elucidate the effect of green renovation on microbial load in buildings.

This study was to investigate whether exposure to cadmium (Cd) during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes in a sex-dependent manner. Cd concentrations in maternal urine (U-Cd) samples were measured in 237 subjects from Guiyu (e-waste area) and 212 subjects from Haojiang. A significance level of p

Exposure of operating room (OR) personnel to surgical smoke, a unique aerosol generated from the common use of electrocautery during surgical procedures, is an increasing health risk concern. The main objective of this simulation study was to characterize the surgical smoke exposure in terms of the particle number concentration and size distribution in a human breathing zone. Additionally, the performance of respiratory protective devices designed for ORs was examined using two commercially available N95 facepiece filtering respirators (FFRs) as well as the same FFRs modified with new faceseal technology. The tests were conducted in an OR-simulating exposure chamber with the surgical smoke generated by electrocautery equipment applied to animal tissue and measured in the breathing zone with four aerosol spectrometers. The simulated workplace protection factor of each tested respirator was determined for ten subjects by measuring the total aerosol concentrations inside and outside of a respirator. The peak of the particle size distribution was in a range of 60–150 nm. The concentration of particles generated during the simulated surgical procedure significantly exceeded the background concentration under all tested air exchange conditions. The data suggest that wearing N95 filtering facepiece respirators significantly decreased the human exposure to surgical smoke. The new faceseal technology provided significantly higher respiratory protection than the commercial N95 FFRs.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study aimed at determining the Workplace Protection Factor (WPF) for respiratory protective devices widely used by health-care workers to reduce exposure to potentially hazardous aerosols when attending patients in their homes. Two devices were tested, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) and a surgical mask (SM). METHODS: Three home-attending health-care workers were recruited, medically cleared and fit tested. At the workplace, the aerosol concentrations outside (C(out)) and inside (C(in)) of the tested respiratory protective device worn by a subject were measured using two simultaneously operating P-Trak condensation particle counters within the particle size range of approximately 20–1,000 nm. Real-time and integrated (time-weighted average, TWA) values of WPF = C(out)/C(in) were determined. RESULTS: This pilot study demonstrated that the WPF of the tested N95 FFR consistently exceeded that of the SM. The WPF(TWA(C)) values calculated for the entire test time (based on the TWA aerosol concentration values) ranged from 29 to 40 and 2 to 9, respectively. In all cases, the N95 FFR provided protection above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) assigned protection factor of 10, whereas the SM often offered little or essentially no protection against the measured sub-micrometer aerosol particles. For both devices, the protection level was found to depend on activity. For example, the WPF(TWA(C)) for one subject wearing the N95 FFR was 56 during normal activity but fell almost 70% during tracheal suctioning. It is explicable considering that different procedures implemented by health-care workers in homes generate particles of different sizes and require different body movements; both factors are anticipated to affect the WPF. CONCLUSIONS: Wearing an N95-certified respirator helps significantly reduce the aerosol inhalation exposure of home-attending health-care workers. An SM offers much lower protection. The WPF depends on several factors, including, but not limited to, the health-care worker’s activity and/or body movements; the WPF varies from one worker to another.

Risk of inhalation exposure to viable Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) spores has primarily been assessed using short-term, stationary sampling methods which may not accurately characterize the concentration of inhalable-sized spores reaching a person’s breathing zone. While a variety of aerosol sampling methods have been utilized during previous anthrax responses, no consensus has yet been established for personal air sampling. The goal of this study was to determine the best sampler-filter combination(s) for the collection and extraction of B. anthracis spores. The study was designed to (1) evaluate the performance of four filter types (one mixed cellulose ester, MCE (pore size = 3 µm), two polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE (1 and 3 µm), and one polycarbonate, PC (3 µm)); and (2) evaluate the best performing filters in two commercially available inhalable aerosol samplers (IOM and Button). Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki [Bt(k)], a simulant for B. anthracis, served as the aerosol challenge. The filters were assessed based on criteria such as ability to maintain low pressure drop over an extended sampling period, filter integrity under various environmental conditions, spore collection and extraction efficiencies, ease of loading and unloading the filters into the samplers, cost, and availability. Three of the four tested collection filters—except MCE—were found suitable for efficient collection and recovery of Bt(k) spores sampled from dry and humid as well as dusty and clean air environments for up to 8 hr. The PC (3 µm) filter was identified as the best performing filter in this study. The PTFE (3 µm) demonstrated a comparable performance, but it is more expensive. Slightly higher concentrations were measured with the IOM inhalable sampler which is the preferred sampler’s performance criterion when detecting a highly pathogenic agent with no established “safe” inhalation exposure level. Additional studies are needed to address the effects of environmental conditions and spore concentration. The data obtained in this investigation are crucial for future efforts on the development and optimization of a method for assessing inhalation exposure to B. anthracis.

Carpet and rugs currently represent about half of the United States flooring market and offer many benefits as a flooring type. How carpets influence our exposure to both microorganisms and chemicals in indoor environments has important health implications but is not well understood. The goal of this manuscript is to consolidate what is known about how carpet impacts indoor chemistry and microbiology, as well as to identify the important research gaps that remain. After describing the current use of carpet indoors, questions focus on five specific areas: 1) indoor chemistry, 2) indoor microbiology, 3) resuspension and exposure, 4) current practices and future needs, and 5) sustainability. Overall, it is clear that carpet can influence our exposures to particles and volatile compounds in the indoor environment by acting as a direct source, as a reservoir of environmental contaminants, and as a surface supporting chemical and biological transformations. However, the health implications of these processes are not well known, nor how cleaning practices could be optimized to minimize potential negative impacts. Current standards and recommendations focus largely on carpets as a primary source of chemicals and on limiting moisture that would support microbial growth. Future research should consider enhancing knowledge related to the impact of carpet in the indoor environment and how we might improve the design and maintenance of this common material to reduce our exposure to harmful contaminants while retaining the benefits to consumers.

Workers in the waste sorting industry are exposed to diverse bioaerosols. Characterization of these bioaerosols is necessary to more accurately assess the health risks of exposure. The use of high-throughput DNA sequencing for improved analysis of microbial composition of bioaerosols, in combination with their in vitro study in relevant cell cultures, represents an important opportunity to find answers on the biological effects of bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize by high-throughput sequencing the biodiversity present in complex aerosol mixtures retained in forklift air conditioning filters of a waste-sorting industry and its effects on cytotoxicity and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro using human macrophages derived from monocytic THP-1 cells. Seventeen filters from the filtration system from forklifts operating in one waste sorting facility and one control filter (similar filter without prior use) were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and toxicological tests in vitro. A trend of positive correlation was seen between the number of bacterial and fungal OTUs (r = 0.47, p = 0.06). Seven filters (39%) exhibited low or moderate cytotoxicity (p 0.05). The highest cytotoxic responses had a reduction in cell viability between 17 and 22%. Filter samples evoked proinflammatory responses, especially the production of TNFα. No significant correlation was found between fungal richness and inflammatory responses in vitro. The data obtained stress the need of thorough exposure assessment in waste-sorting industry and to take immunomodulatory properties into consideration for bioaerosols hazard characterization. The broad spectrum of microbial contamination detected in this study demonstrates that adequate monitoring of bioaerosol exposure is necessary to evaluate and minimize risks. The combined techniques can support the implementation of effective environmental monitoring programs of public and occupational health importance.

Background: Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is a rapidly growing industry. Informal e-waste recycling creates a mixture of chemicals that can be harmful to humans, especially vulnerable populations like pregnant women and young children. Objectives: We aimed to analyze the associations between birth outcomes and living in a community with a history of informal e-waste recycling. Methods: The e-waste Recycling Exposure and Community Health (e-REACH) Study enrolled pregnant women in Guiyu, an informal e-waste recycling site (n = 314), and an unexposed control site (Haojiang) (n = 320) at delivery. We analyzed maternal whole blood samples for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). We captured data in newborns on birth weight, birth length, head circumference, body mass index (BMI), and Ponderal Index (PI). We compared the birth outcomes between sites after adjustment for covariates, and examined the associations with individual and the mixture of metals. Results: The neonates from Guiyu had smaller head circumference (adj β −1.96 cm, 95% CI −2.39, −1.52), BMI (adj β −0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI −1.03, −0.51), and PI (adj β −2.01 kg/m3, 95% CI −2.54, −1.47). Birth weights were lower in Guiyu compared to Haojiang, but the difference was not significant (β −51, 95% CI −132, 29). Cumulative exposure to metals was related to lower head circumference, BMI, and PI, but not related to birth weight. Discussion: We observed slight and statistically significant differences in the head size, BMI, and PI of neonates, but not birth weight, from Guiyu when compared to neonates from Haojiang. Cumulative metal exposure may partially account for the findings. Keywords: Electronic waste, Recycling, Metals, Birth outcomes

Evaluating fungal contamination indoors is complicated because of the many different sampling methods utilized. In this study, fungal contamination was evaluated using five sampling methods and four matrices for results. The five sampling methods were a 48 hour indoor air sample collected with a Button™ inhalable aerosol sampler and four types of dust samples: a vacuumed floor dust sample, newly settled dust collected for four weeks onto two types of electrostatic dust cloths (EDCs) in trays, and a wipe sample of dust from above floor surfaces. The samples were obtained in the bedrooms of asthmatic children (n = 14). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the dust and air samples for the 36 fungal species that make up the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI). The results from the samples were compared by four matrices: total concentration of fungal cells, concentration of fungal species associated with indoor environments, concentration of fungal species associated with outdoor environments, and ERMI values (or ERMI-like values for air samples). The ERMI values for the dust samples and the ERMI-like values for the 48 hour air samples were not significantly different. The total cell concentrations of the 36 species obtained with the four dust collection methods correlated significantly (r = 0.64–0.79, p < 0.05), with the exception of the vacuumed floor dust and newly settled dust. In addition, fungal cell concentrations of indoor associated species correlated well between all four dust sampling methods (r = 0.68–0.86, p < 0.01). No correlation was found between the fungal concentrations in the air and dust samples primarily because of differences in concentrations of Cladosporium cladosporioides Type 1 and Epicoccum nigrum. A representative type of dust sample and a 48 hour air sample might both provide useful information about fungal exposures.

Fungal growth on indoor surfaces can decay building materials and release hazardous substances that affect indoor air quality. Despite the numerous methods available for growth determination, there is no commonly accepted standard. The goal of this study was to compare five different assay methods for the measurement of fungal growth: cultivation, MS-based determination of ergosterol, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity, quantitative PCR and microscopic spore counting. Three fungal species (Aspergillus puulaauensis, Cladosporium montecillanum and Penicillium polonicum) were grown on three different building materials (two types of acoustic board and wood). Fungal load was determined at different time points. Results from all of the methods, except the spore count, showed good correlation between each other (r=0.6-0.8). Results obtained with the cultivation method had the highest variability among replicate samples (65 %), making it the least reproducible in repeated measurements. However, it also displayed the highest variability in incubation times (149 %), indicating its suitability for detecting transient changes in the physiological state of cells. Similar to the cultivation method, quantitative PCR correlated well with the other methods and had high variability in incubation times but had lower variability among replicate samples. Ergosterol and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase enzyme activity seemed to be the methods least dependent on the physiological state of the cells. Varying growth dynamics were observed for different species over time with the different assay methods. Each one of the tests provides a different perspective on fungal quantification due to its specific responses to the various stages of fungal growth.

Green eco-friendly housing includes approaches to reduce indoor air pollutant sources and to increase energy efficiency. Although sealing/tightening buildings can save energy and reduce the penetration of outdoor pollutants, an adverse outcome can be increased buildup of pollutants with indoor sources. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in the indoor air quality (IAQ) between green and non-green homes in low-income housing complexes. In one housing complex, apartments were renovated using green principles (n=28). Home visits were conducted immediately after the renovation, and subsequently at 6 months and at 12 months following the renovation. Of these homes, eight homes had pre-renovation home visits; this allowed pre- and post-renovation comparisons within the same homes. Parallel visits were conducted in non-green (control) apartments (n=14) in a nearby low-income housing complex. The IAQ assessments included PM2.5, black carbon, ultrafine particles, sulfur, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and air exchange rate. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. None of the indoor pollutant concentrations were significantly different between green and non-green homes. However, we found differences when comparing the concentrations before and after renovation. Measured immediately after renovation, indoor black carbon concentrations were significantly lower averaging 682 ng/m(3) in post-renovation vs. 2364 ng/m(3) in pre-renovation home visits (p=0.01). In contrast, formaldehyde concentrations were significantly higher in post-renovated (0.03 ppm) than in pre-renovated homes (0.01 ppm) (p=0.004). Questionnaire data showed that opening of windows occurred less frequently in homes immediately post-renovation compared to pre-renovation; this factor likely affected the levels of indoor black carbon (from outdoor sources) and formaldehyde (from indoor sources) more than the renovation status itself. To reduce IAQ problems and potentially improve health, careful selection of indoor building materials and ensuring sufficient ventilation are important for green building designs.

Destruction of bioweapon facilities due to explosion or fire could aerosolize highly pathogenic microorganisms. The post-event air quality assessment is conducted through air sampling. A bioaerosol sample (often collected on a filter for further culture-based analysis) also contains combustion products, which may influence the microbial culturability and, thus, impact the outcome. We have examined the interaction between spores deposited on collection filters using two simulants of Bacillus anthracis [B. thuringiensis (Bt) and B. atrophaeus (referred to as BG)] and incoming combustion products of Al as well as Mg and B·Ti (common ingredient of metalized explosives). Spores extracted from Teflon, polycarbonate, mixed cellulose ester (MCE), and gelatin filters (most common filter media for bioaerosol sampling), which were exposed to combustion products during a short-term sampling, were analyzed by cultivation. Surprisingly, we observed that aluminum combustion products enhanced the culturability of Bt (but not BG) spores on Teflon filters increasing the culturable count by more than an order of magnitude. Testing polycarbonate and MCE filter materials also revealed a moderate increase of culturability although gelatin did not. No effect was observed with either of the two species interacting on either filter media with products originated by combustion of Mg and B·Ti. Sample contamination, spore agglomeration, effect of a filter material on the spore survival, changes in the spore wall ultrastructure and germination, as well as other factors were explored to interpret the findings. The study raises a question about the reliability of certain filter materials for collecting airborne bio-threat agents in combustion environments.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Previous epidemiologic studies of dampness and mold relied on metrics that did not fully assess exposure–response relationships. Our objective was to examine quantitative metrics of dampness and mold during infancy and respiratory health outcomes during childhood. Methods: In-home visits were conducted before age 1 for children in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study. Respiratory outcomes included age 3 wheeze and age 7 asthma and wheeze. The associations between home exposure and respiratory outcomes were evaluated for 779 children using logistic regression adjusting for household income, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and the presence of pests. Results: Children residing in homes with ≥0.29 m2 of moisture damage were significantly more likely to have wheezing at age 3 and persistent wheeze through age 7 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 4.3 and aOR = 3.2; CI = 1.3, 7.5, respectively). Additionally, homes having ≥0.19 m2 of mold damage were associated with wheezing at age 3 and early transient wheeze assessed at age 7 (aOR = 2.9; CI = 1.3, 6.4 and aOR = 3.5; CI = 1.5, 8.2, respectively). Mold damage

Exposure to viable bacterial and fungal spores re-aerosolized from air handling filters may create a major health risk. Assessing and controlling this exposure have been of interest to the bio-defense and indoor air quality communities. Methods are being developed for inactivating stress-resistant viable microorganisms collected on ventilation filters. Here we investigated the inactivation of spores of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a recognized simulant for B. antracis, and Aspergillus fumigatus, a common opportunistic pathogen used as an indicator for indoor air quality. The viability change was measured on filters treated with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and gaseous iodine. The spores were collected on high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and non-HEPA filters, both flattened for testing purposes to represent "surface" filters. A mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membrane filter was also tested as a reference. Additionally, a commercial HEPA unit with a deep-bed (non-flattened) filter was tested. Combined treatments of Btk spores with UV and iodine on MCE filter produced a synergistic inactivation effect. No similar synergy was observed for A. fumigatus. For spores collected on an MCE filter, the inactivation effect was about an order of magnitude greater for Btk compared to A. fumigatus. The filter type was found to be an important factor affecting the inactivation of Btk spores while it was not as influential for A. fumigatus. Overall, the combined effect of UV irradiation and gaseous iodine on viable bacterial and fungal spores collected on flat filters was found to be potent. The benefit of either simultaneous or sequential treatment was much lower for Btk spores embedded inside the deep-bed (non-flattened) HEPA filter, but for A. fumigatus the inactivation on flattened and non-flattened HEPA filters was comparable. For both species, applying UV first and gaseous iodine second produced significantly higher inactivation than when applying them simultaneously or in an opposite sequence.

Accurate, cost-effective methods are needed for rapid assessment of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). Typically, real-time data of particulate matter (PM) from portable sensors have been adjusted using data from reference methods such as gravimetric measurement to improve accuracy. The objective of this study was to create a correction factor or linear regression model for the real-time measurements of the RTI’s Micro Personal Exposure Monitor (MicroPEM(™)) and AethLab’s microAeth® black carbon (AE51) sensor to generate accurate real-time data for PM(2.5) (PM(2.5RT)) and black carbon (BC(RT)) in Cincinnati metropolitan homes. The two sensors and an SKC PM(2.5) Personal Modular impactor were collocated in 44 indoor sampling events for 2 days in residences near major roadways. The reference filter-based analyses conducted by a laboratory included particle mass (SKC PM(2.5) and MicroPEM(™) PM(2.5)) and black carbon (SKC BC); these methods are more accurate than real-time sensors but are also more cumbersome and costly. For PM(2.5), the average correction factor, a ratio of gravimetric to real-time, for the MicroPEM(™) PM(2.5) and SKC PM(2.5) utilizing the PM(2.5RT) and was 0.94 and 0.83, respectively, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 84% and 52%, respectively; the corresponding linear regression model had a CV of 54% and 25%. For BC, the average correction factor utilizing the BC(RT) and SKC BC was 0.74 with a CV of 36% with the associated linear regression model producing a CV of 56%. The results from this study will help ensure that the real-time exposure monitors are capable of detecting an estimated PM(2.5) after an appropriate statistical model is applied.

Bioaerosols include viruses, bacteria, fungi, pollen, and their fragments as well as animal allergens. Bioaerosol exposure is common in indoor and outdoor environments and may cause infections, allergies, irritation, and toxic effects. The size of biological particles varies widely, from nanoscale (virions and microbial fragments) to approximately 100 μm (pollen grains). The same physical principles that are applied to nonbiological particles can be applied to bioaerosol sampling in terms of sampling efficiency of a given particle size range. When sampling bioaerosols for exposure assessment purposes, one has to consider what biological property would be the most relevant measure for the health effect in question. Cultivation and microscopic counting are traditional analytical methods, but recently several new methods are emerging that are based on chemical, biological, or immunochemical analysis of bioaerosol components. Data interpretation is based on comparisons of results in target and reference areas or populations. When comparing data with previously published values, only results that are obtained using the same methodology should be directly compared.

Firefighters are exposed to toxic environments upon entering burning structures. Many structures contain synthetic materials which release toxic chemicals when on fire. These chemicals can enter the body through multiple routes of exposure, including inhalation and skin absorption. Thus, according to the fire departments included in this study, firefighters now conduct on-site decontamination procedures to remove hazardous chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the surface of firefighter turnout gear. Several methods are being practiced at the local level, including decontamination with soap and water, and decontamination with water alone. The water-only decontamination method requires less time and supplies yet has not been investigated as a suitable method for removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from turnout gear. Therefore, we evaluated the efficiency of this method by measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration levels before and after water-only decontamination. The calculated efficiency displays the percentage of PAHs removed (or not removed) at post-decontamination in relation to the initial sample collected at pre-decontamination. The turnout gear was sampled after live residential structure fires. Firefighter turnout gear was worn throughout Attack, Overhaul Search and Rescue, and Rescue from Fire operations. All firefighters came to a central location for sampling after completing their job responsibilities. Water only decontamination did not appear to be effective, resulting in an overall 42% increase in PAH contamination. The unexpected increase may have been due to disparate pre and post-decontamination sampling sites on turnout gear.

People generally spend more time indoors than outdoors resulting in a higher proportion of exposure to particulate matter (PM) occurring indoors. Consequently, indoor PM levels, in contrast to outdoor PM levels, may have a stronger relationship with lung function. To test this hypothesis, indoor and outdoor PM(2.5) and fungal spore data were simultaneously collected from the homes of forty-four asthmatic children aged 10 – 16 years. An optical absorption technique was utilized on the collected PM(2.5) mass to obtain concentrations of black carbon (BC) and ultraviolet light absorbing particulate matter, (UVPM; a marker of light absorbing PM(2.5) emitted from smoldering organics). Enrolled children completed spirometry after environmental measurements were made. Given the high correlation between PM(2.5), BC, and UVPM, principal component analysis was used to obtain uncorrelated summaries of the measured PM. Separate linear mixed-effect models were developed to estimate the association between principal components of the PM variables and spirometry values, as well as the uncorrelated original PM variables and spirometry values. A one-unit increase in the first principal component variable representing indoor PM (predominantly composed of UVPM and PM(2.5)) was associated with 4.1% decrease (99% CI = −6.9, −1.4) in FEV(1)/FVC ratio. 11.3 μg/m(3) increase in indoor UVPM was associated with 6.4% and 14.7% decrease (99% CI = −10.4, −2.4 and 99% CI = −26.3, −2.9, respectively) in percent predicted FEV(1)/FVC ratio and FEF(25-75) respectively. Additionally, 17.7 μg/m(3) increase in indoor PM(2.5) was associated with 6.1% and 12.9% decrease (99% CI = −10.2, −1.9 and 99% CI = −24.9, −1.0, respectively) in percent predicted FEV(1)/FVC ratio and FEF(25-75), respectively. Outdoor PM, indoor BC, and indoor fungal spores were not significantly associated with lung function. The results indicate that indoor PM is more strongly associated with lung function in children with asthma as compared with outdoor PM.

Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is a rapidly growing industry in developing countries, as ~50 million metric tons of e-waste are generated annually. Informal e-waste recycling creates...