scholarly journals Occupational exposure of librarians to mold spores and metal particles: a real-time case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Baldelli ◽  
Brett Couch ◽  
Benjamin Loosley ◽  
Karen Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Metal Particles ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Total Average

AbstractIn a university library, activities typical of librarians, such as unpacking boxes, removing books from the shelves, dusting, packing boxes, cataloguing, conservation and repair, photocopying, setting materials for class, and walking in a main hallway, were found to reduce indoor air quality through the production of airborne mold spores, metal dusts, and particulate matter of different size bins. Analyzing three libraries, the activity of conservation generated 9000 spores/m3 of mold spores, nearing the exposure limit of 104 spores/m3 reported for Penicillium sp., and silver nanoparticles of about 15 µg/m3, that over 8 h would exceed the occupational exposure limit of 0.19 µg/m3. For none of the activities, the levels of particulate matter with a diameter lower than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) did not exceed the 8-h time weight average limits of exposure. However, by analyzing the 5th percentile of the real-time PM10 data, values of about 1.5 mg/m3, which is concerning for occupational exposure. Measuring real-time exposures of PM could generate an estimation of levels of mold spores and metal dusts in libraries. We demonstrate a high Spearman’s rank correlation (0.70) between the 5th percentile of PM with a diameter lower than 1 µm and different metals. A high linearity (R2 = 0.85) is obtained between the total average of PM with a diameter lower than 10 µm and mold spores/m3.

Gefahrstoffe am Arbeitsplatz – Arbeitsplatzgrenzwert, Immissionsgrenzwert oder Innenraumrichtwert?/Hazardous substances at workplace – Occupational exposure limit, immission limit value or indoor air guide value?

Gefahrstoffe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (07-08) ◽  
pp. 255-259
Author(s):  
R. Hebisch ◽  
T. Kuhlbusch ◽  
K. Bux ◽  
D. Breuer ◽  
T. Lahrz
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Occupational Exposure Limit ◽  
Guide Value ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit

Die Beurteilung der Konzentrationen von Gefahrstoffen in der Luft kann anhand verschiedener Beurteilungsmaßstäbe erfolgen. Einerseits ist dafür ausschlaggebend, ob Tätigkeiten mit Gefahrstoffen oder ohne Gefahrstoffe ausgeführt werden. Andererseits ist auch immer zu berücksichtigen, ob die Tätigkeiten im Freien, in teilweise geschlossenen oder geschlossenen Arbeitsbereichen erfolgen. Es werden einzelne Szenarien näher betrachtet und die Expositionsbeurteilung wird anhand von Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerten, Immissionsgrenzwerten und Innenraumrichtwerten dargestellt. Dabei wird insbesondere auf solche Situationen eingegangen, die sich nicht eindeutig voneinander abgrenzen lassen.

scholarly journals Residents’ Perceptions of and Response Behaviors to Particulate Matter—A Case Study in Seoul, Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 3660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung Eun Cho ◽  
Mi Jeong Kim
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Psychological Attributes ◽  
Mitigation Action ◽  
Response Behaviors

This study is interested in understanding the particulate matter perceptions and response behaviors of residents. The purpose of this study was to identify indoor air quality along with the response behaviors of residents in Seoul, to ascertain whether there is a difference in behaviors when particulate matter is present, according to the characteristics of residents and to grasp the nature of this difference. A questionnaire survey of 171 respondents was conducted. The questionnaire measured the indoor air quality perceived by residents, the health symptoms caused by particulate matter, residents’ response behaviors to particulate matter and the psychological attributes affecting those response behaviors. Residents of Seoul were divided into college students in their twenties, male workers in their thirties and forties and female housewives in their thirties and forties. The data were calibrated by SPSS 23 using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analyses. The results show that most people found particulate matter to be an important problem but were unable to do sufficient mitigation action to prevent its presence. Residents showed greater psychological stress resulting in difficulty going out than physical symptoms. The most influential factor on response behaviors was psychological attributes. Participants were aware of the risks of particulate matter but believed it to be generated by external factors; thus, they felt powerless to do anything about it, which proved to be an obstacle to response behaviors.

scholarly journals Case Study of In-Cab Pollutants for Nonroad Construction Equipment

10.29007/z2wj ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Lewis ◽  
Rachel Mosier ◽  
Yongwei Shan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Construction Equipment ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Air Conditioning Systems ◽  
Respirable Particulate

Like buildings, nonroad construction equipment with enclosed cabs have doors and windows, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems; thus, these machines have their own indoor air quality (IAQ) environment. Understanding the role of thermal comfort and air pollutants can help equipment operators manage in-cab environments to reduce health concerns and increase productivity. The objective of this case study was to collect and analyze IAQ data from the cabs of nonroad equipment as it performed real-world activities. Using state-of-the-art IAQ instrumentation, data were collected for in-cab pollutant concentration levels including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and respirable particulate matter. Concentrations of carbon monoxide did not exceed published exposure limits for IAQ, but they did approach the published limits. Concentrations of CO2 frequently exceeded IAQ recommended levels for adequate ventilation. Concentrations of respirable particulate matter frequently exceeded IAQ recommended levels. The case study yielded enough information to conclude that studying IAQ in nonroad equipment cabs is necessary to improve human health, safety, and productivity for equipment operators.

scholarly journals Studying the Relation between the Transformational Leadership and Employees Empowerment (Case Study of Bank Passargad of Iran)

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Soudabe Salek ◽  
Fatemeh Khoeini
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Intellectual Stimulation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Meaningful Relationship ◽  
Inspirational Motivation

The aim of this research is to investigate relationship between transformational leadership and employee’s empowerment working in Pasargad bank. Population under the study consists of all staff employees of Pasargad bank equals to 535 individuals. Research sample is of 204 individuals who have been selected by simple random sampling method. Instruments used for measuring the study include two standard questionnaires for transformational leadership and empowerment which enjoy considered validity and Stability. For analyzing research data, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient has been used and results indicated that there is a meaningful relationship between Idealized features, Idealized behavior, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational Motivation, Individualized Consideration and employee’s empowerment. In other words, there is relationship between transformational leadership and employee’s empowerment.

Analysis of Environmental Materials with Correlation between PM2.5 and Other Indexes in AQI of Wuhan

2014 ◽  
Vol 1003 ◽  
pp. 269-272
Author(s):  
Ying Hong Xie ◽  
Xiao Wei Han ◽  
Peng Sun ◽  
Xue Lian Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Kendall Rank Correlation ◽  
Environmental Materials ◽  
Management Work ◽  
Main Factor

Fine particulate matter PM2.5 is the main factor of "Haze” weather. The paper chose the content of various indicators in the sets of air quality index AQI detected by a monitoring station in Wuhan city as samples. Based on the methods of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Kendall rank correlation coefficient to establish mathematical model, the paper analyzed the correlation between the content of PM2.5 and other five basic detection indicators and corresponding pollutants, with providing theoretical and experimental evidence for air management work. Two methods of the experiment results showed that PM2.5 (content) has a strong correlation with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide (content), and had a negative correlation with ozone (content).

scholarly journals Exposure of workers to occupational heat during the application of phytosanitary products in coffee crop

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Deleon Ramirio ◽  
Paulo Henrique Siqueira Sabino ◽  
Geraldo Gomes de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Adriano Bortolotti da Silva ◽  
Wilson Roberto Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Thermal Shock ◽  
Tolerance Limit ◽  
Occupational Exposure Limit ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Phytosanitary Products

During the application of phytosanitary products in coffee trees, workers may be exposed to temperatures that could compromise their health. Exposure to occupational heat can lead to progressive dehydration, cramps, exhaustion and the possibility of thermal shock. Thus, knowing the levels of occupational heat that workers are exposed becomes important. This study aimed to evaluate workers’ occupational exposure to heat during the application of phytosanitary products with manual costal pump in the coffee crops. The case study was developed at the IFSULDEMINAS school farm - Campus Inconfidentes in the months of September and October 2017. The occupational heat in the coffee crop was evaluated using the WBGTAVERAGE method, using TGD 400 thermal stress meter. The WBGT values found were compared to the exposure limits of NR 15 for the purposes of insalubrity classification and with NHO 06 for acclimatized and non-acclimatized workers. The results showed that the WBGT found is below the tolerance limit of NR 15, for the month of September. In October, the tolerance limit was exceeded in the period from 11:00 a.m. to 2:59 p.m., considering a continuous heavy activity and rest in the workplace, and the activity considered unhealthy. Considering the criteria of the NHO 06 it was observed that the limits of occupational exposure were exceeded in the month of October, for acclimatized and non-acclimatized workers. In September the occupational exposure limit of NHO 06 was exceeded only for non-acclimated workers. Therefore, the workers should be submitted to acclimatization during the phytosanitary application activity in the month of October.

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