Real‐time air monitoring of occupational exposures to particulate matter among hairdressers in Maryland: A pilot study

Indoor Air ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Shao ◽  
Lucy Kavi ◽  
Meleah Boyle ◽  
Lydia M. Louis ◽  
Walkiria Pool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Air Monitoring

scholarly journals A pilot study characterizing real time exposures to particulate matter and carbon monoxide from cookstove related woodsmoke in rural Peru

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 380-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adwoa A. Commodore ◽  
Stella M. Hartinger ◽  
Claudio F. Lanata ◽  
Daniel Mäusezahl ◽  
Ana I. Gil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time

scholarly journals Piloting the Play Cycle Observation Method in ‘real time’: Recording children’s Play Cycles in pre-school provision

2020 ◽  
pp. 1476718X2096985
Author(s):  
Pete King ◽  
LaDonna Atkins ◽  
Brandon Burr
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Children's Play ◽  
Observational Tool ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
And Training

The Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) is an observational tool developed to focus on the process of play and has shown good reliability when watching videos of children playing. This study piloted use of the PCOM in ‘real time’ in a pre-school setting where 3-year-old children play. The results from two independent observers not familiar with the concept of the Play Cycle or the PCOM found good inter-rater reliability using Cohen Kappa (k) when observing play cues to form play cycles, as well as observing play cues within established play cycles. In addition, the recording of the nature of the play cues and play returns, the play frame and how the play cycle finishes (annihilation) were shown to be consistent between the two inter-rater observers. The results of this pilot study indicate the PCOM can be used as an observational tool to record the process of play by both students and practitioners working in a range of contexts including playwork, childcare, early years and statutory education. The PCOM can also be used as a teaching and training aid for trainers and lecturers.

scholarly journals Exposure to Atmospheric Particulate Matter-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Health Effects: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2177
Author(s):  
Lu Yang ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Xuan Zhang ◽  
Wanli Xing ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Particulate matter (PM) is a major factor contributing to air quality deterioration that enters the atmosphere as a consequence of various natural and anthropogenic activities. In PM, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of organic chemicals with at least two aromatic rings that are mainly directly emitted via the incomplete combustion of various organic materials. Numerous toxicological and epidemiological studies have proven adverse links between exposure to particulate matter-bound (PM-bound) PAHs and human health due to their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Among human exposure routes, inhalation is the main pathway regarding PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere. Moreover, the concentrations of PM-bound PAHs differ among people, microenvironments and areas. Hence, understanding the behaviour of PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere is crucial. However, because current techniques hardly monitor PAHs in real-time, timely feedback on PAHs including the characteristics of their concentration and composition, is not obtained via real-time analysis methods. Therefore, in this review, we summarize personal exposure, and indoor and outdoor PM-bound PAH concentrations for different participants, spaces, and cities worldwide in recent years. The main aims are to clarify the characteristics of PM-bound PAHs under different exposure conditions, in addition to the health effects and assessment methods of PAHs.

Real-Time Prediction of Size-Resolved Ultrafine Particulate Matter on Freeways

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 2234-2241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srijan Aggarwal ◽  
Ricky Jain ◽  
Julian D. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Time Prediction ◽  
Ultrafine Particulate Matter

Clinical Application of Real-Time Sonoelastography for Evaluation of Medial Epicondylitis: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 246-254
Author(s):  
Minwoo Shin ◽  
Seok Hahn ◽  
Jisook Yi ◽  
Yun-Jung Lim ◽  
Jin-Young Bang
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Clinical Application ◽  
Medial Epicondylitis

scholarly journals The Impact of a Location-Sensing Electronic Health Record on Clinician Efficiency and Accuracy: A Pilot Simulation Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 841-848
Author(s):  
Kevin King ◽  
John Quarles ◽  
Vaishnavi Ravi ◽  
Tanvir Chowdhury ◽  
Donia Friday ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Human Computer Interaction ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Identification Accuracy ◽  
Patient Identification ◽  
Location Services ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Computer Interaction

Background Through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, the federal government invested $26 billion in electronic health records (EHRs) to improve physician performance and patient safety; however, these systems have not met expectations. One of the cited issues with EHRs is the human–computer interaction, as exhibited by the excessive number of interactions with the interface, which reduces clinician efficiency. In contrast, real-time location systems (RTLS)—technologies that can track the location of people and objects—have been shown to increase clinician efficiency. RTLS can improve patient flow in part through the optimization of patient verification activities. However, the data collected by RTLS have not been effectively applied to optimize interaction with EHR systems. Objectives We conducted a pilot study with the intention of improving the human–computer interaction of EHR systems by incorporating a RTLS. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of RTLS on process metrics (i.e., provider time, number of rooms searched to find a patient, and the number of interactions with the computer interface), and the outcome metric of patient identification accuracy Methods A pilot study was conducted in a simulated emergency department using a locally developed camera-based RTLS-equipped EHR that detected the proximity of subjects to simulated patients and displayed patient information when subjects entered the exam rooms. Ten volunteers participated in 10 patient encounters with the RTLS activated (RTLS-A) and then deactivated (RTLS-D). Each volunteer was monitored and actions recorded by trained observers. We sought a 50% improvement in time to locate patients, number of rooms searched to locate patients, and the number of mouse clicks necessary to perform those tasks. Results The time required to locate patients (RTLS-A = 11.9 ± 2.0 seconds vs. RTLS-D = 36.0 ± 5.7 seconds, p < 0.001), rooms searched to find patient (RTLS-A = 1.0 ± 1.06 vs. RTLS-D = 3.8 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), and number of clicks to access patient data (RTLS-A = 1.0 ± 0.06 vs. RTLS-D = 4.1 ± 0.13, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced with RTLS-A relative to RTLS-D. There was no significant difference between RTLS-A and RTLS-D for patient identification accuracy. Conclusion This pilot demonstrated in simulation that an EHR equipped with real-time location services improved performance in locating patients and reduced error compared with an EHR without RTLS. Furthermore, RTLS decreased the number of mouse clicks required to access information. This study suggests EHRs equipped with real-time location services that automates patient location and other repetitive tasks may improve physician efficiency, and ultimately, patient safety.

scholarly journals Indoor particulate matter measurement as a tool in the process of the implementation of Smoke-free Hospitals

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nardini ◽  
R. Cagnin ◽  
G. Invernizzi ◽  
A. Ruprecht ◽  
R. Boffi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Portable Instrument ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Total Suspended Particles ◽  
European Code ◽  
Working Day ◽  
Indoor Particulate Matter

Aim of the study: There are International and National standards that requires hospitals and health premises to be smoke-free. According to recent data from Italy and other European Countries, smoking is a widespread habit in hospitals. To get smoke-free hospitals in an Italian region, we have adopted the European Code for smoke-free hospitals, which sets standards and provides instruments for its implementation. According to the Code, whenever possible, each step towards a smoke-free hospital, should be shared by all staff. As a mean for achieving this goal, in our region the certification of single units as smoke-free units has been chosen. For getting the certification, besides implementing the Code, we planned to use ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) monitoring, as ETS should not be present in hospitals. As a marker of ETS we have chosen Particulate Matter (PM), as it can easily be measured in real-time with a portable instrument and, when other - even outdoor - sources of combustion can be ruled out, it is an accurate detector of cigarette smoke. Here the first experience of measuring PM in hospitals for monitoring ETS and certificating smoke-free health premises, is described. Materials and methods: PM measurements were carried out without any previous notification in different areas of two Network hospitals of the Veneto Region, during a single working day. A real time laser-operated aerosol mass analyser was used. Several classes of PM (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, PM10, TSP Total Suspended Particles) were measured. Results: Outdoor PM levels were found to be repeatedly lower than the annual official limits of 65 mcg/m3 and around the 24 hour official limits of 15 mcg/m3 [15 to 20 mcg/m3, with an overall mean (±SD) of 17.8 (1.9)] throughout the whole day. Very good indoor air quality was found in the operating theaters and isolation department, where PM2.5 concentrations were much lower than outdoor levels [1.6 (0.9) and 5.9 (0.6) mcg/m3, respectively]. No increase in PM pollution was found in the surveyed medical offices, halls and waiting rooms where smoking was positively forbidden [PM2.5 concentrations of 14.8 (2.2) and 12.9 (1.1) mcg/m3] except in a medical office and in two coffee rooms for staff only where high PM levels were recorded [PM2.5 58.7 (29.1), 27.0 (10.6) and 107.1 (47.8) mcg/m3] and an offence of smoking restrictions could be proved. Conclusions: The measurement of PM in hospital for monitoring ETS proved to be both feasible and sensible. PM measurements with a portable instrument can be used both for controlling the compliance with rules or chosen standards and for educating staff about smoking related hazards, thus gaining consensus for the implementation of the tobacco control policy. In our experience, PM measurement can be used as an aid inside all actions designed by the European Code for smoke-free hospitals.

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