Impacts of Personalized Sensor Feedback Regarding Exposure to Environmental Stressors

Feedback on personal exposure to air pollution, noise or extreme temperatures through wearable sensors or sensors installed at home or in the workplace can offer information that might motivate behaviours to mitigate exposure. As personal measurement devices are becoming increasingly accessible, it is important to evaluate the effects of such sensors on human perception and behaviour. We conducted a systematic literature research and identified 33 studies, analysing the effects of personal feedback on air pollution, noise and temperatures. Feedback was given through reports including different forms of visualization, in-person or over the telephone, or directly on the sensor or through a phone app. The exposure feedback led to behaviour changes particularly for noise and temperature feedback while findings on behaviour adaptation to avoid air pollution were mixed. Most studies reported increased awareness and knowledge from receiving exposure feedback. Many participants in studies on air pollution reported low levels of self-efficacy regarding exposure mitigation. For a better understanding of the effects of personal exposure feedback, more studies are required, particularly providing feedback from wearable sensors measuring outdoor air pollution, noise and temperature.

The Health of Firefighters Deployed to the Fort McMurray Fire: Lessons Learnt

Introduction: Firefighters were working in exceptionally difficult conditions during the Fort McMurray/Horse River fire in May 2016.Methods: From mid-May, we recruited firefighters from 13 fire services as they returned from the fire. In October 2016 we extended recruitment to all Alberta-based firefighters deployed to the fire. In December 2017–May 2018 we sent a first online follow-up: this concentrated on mental health supports. The second follow-up, in October 2018–January 2019, included screening scales for respiratory ill-health and PTSD. All three contacts included visual analogue scales for chest symptoms and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We estimated exposure to PM2.5, and calculated an exposure mitigation index from reports of respiratory protective equipment (RPE).Results: We recruited 1,234 firefighters and examined the relation of respiratory symptoms to estimated particulate exposure. The relation was strong immediately post fire but weakened over time. We found less chest tightness and cough in those whose RPE in the first week mitigated exposure by at least 10%. We examined the relation between particulate exposure and mental ill-health from screening questionnaires and found those with high exposure (reflecting the ferocity of the fire) had poorer mental health scores. Firefighters reporting their “worst moment during the fire” was life threatening were more anxious at second follow-up. Overall both anxiety and depression scores increased at successive contacts, more so in those with mental ill-health recorded in physician billing records before the fire.Discussion: The results from this study overall suggest on-going fire-related health effects in a substantial minority of firefighters, similar to those reported in the longitudinal follow-up of firefighters after the collapse of the World Trade Centre. Self-reports of both respiratory symptoms and mental ill-health were strongly related, soon after the fire, to estimated particulate exposures. Anxiety increased over time since the fire in those who felt their life or safety had been threatened, underlining the need for ongoing support. Our conclusions about the benefits of rapid research relate particularly to the collection of biomarkers of exposure as quickly and widely as possible, and the establishment of a nominal list of participants before they are too widely dispersed.

A Strategy for Field Evaluations of Exposures and Respiratory Health of Workers at Small- to Medium-Sized Coffee Facilities

Coffee production is a global industry with roasteries throughout the world. Workers in this industry are exposed to complex mixtures of gases, dusts, and vapors including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, coffee dust, allergens, alpha-diketones, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Adverse respiratory health outcomes such as respiratory symptoms, reduced pulmonary function, asthma, and obliterative bronchiolitis can occur among exposed workers. In response to health hazard evaluations requests received from 17 small- to medium-sized coffee facilities across the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted investigations during 2016–2017 to understand the burden of respiratory abnormalities, exposure characteristics, relationships between exposures and respiratory effects, and opportunities for exposure mitigation. Full-shift, task-based, and instantaneous personal and area air samples for diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione and other VOCs were collected, and engineering controls were evaluated. Medical evaluations included questionnaire, spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide. Exposure and health assessments were conducted using standardized tools and approaches, which enabled pooling data for aggregate analysis. The pooled data provided a larger population to better address the requestors' concern of the effect of exposure to alpha-diketones on the respiratory heath of coffee workers. This paper describes the rationale for the exposure and health assessment strategy, the approach used to achieve the study objectives, and its advantages and limitations.

Indoor Particulate Matter in Urban Households: Sources, Pathways, Characteristics, Health Effects, and Exposure Mitigation

Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air with varying size, shape, and chemical composition which intensifies significant concern due to severe health effects. Based on the well-established human health effects of outdoor PM, health-based standards for outdoor air have been promoted (e.g., the National Ambient Air Quality Standards formulated by the U.S.). Due to the exchange of indoor and outdoor air, the chemical composition of indoor particulate matter is related to the sources and components of outdoor PM. However, PM in the indoor environment has the potential to exceed outdoor PM levels. Indoor PM includes particles of outdoor origin that drift indoors and particles that originate from indoor activities, which include cooking, fireplaces, smoking, fuel combustion for heating, human activities, and burning incense. Indoor PM can be enriched with inorganic and organic contaminants, including toxic heavy metals and carcinogenic volatile organic compounds. As a potential health hazard, indoor exposure to PM has received increased attention in recent years because people spend most of their time indoors. In addition, as the quantity, quality, and scope of the research have expanded, it is necessary to conduct a systematic review of indoor PM. This review discusses the sources, pathways, characteristics, health effects, and exposure mitigation of indoor PM. Practical solutions and steps to reduce exposure to indoor PM are also discussed.

Extended Abstract: An Empirical Study Reviewing Occupational Exposure Leading to Lung Related Diseases and COVID-19 Incidences in Louisiana Parishes

Per the Louisiana Department of Health, mesothelioma and asbestos related deaths are higher than the national average (https://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/ accessed 11_17_2021). Occupational exposure to various chemicals in different industries including, petrochemical, construction, plumbing, manufacturing etc. can lead to lung cancer and even mesothelioma. Louisiana has a comparatively higher fatality rate (66.6 in 100,000 people) than the USA national average (58.7 in 100,000 people) for lung cancer and other lung related disorders. Louisiana’s five Mississippi River Ports together, make the largest port complex in the world. These ports and waterways carry a quarter of the nation’s waterborne commerce including half of the nation’s grain, and nearly a quarter of the nation’s coal. They allow connection to major industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation/warehousing, mining, and oil/chemical. Unfortunately, these industries brought about most occupational exposure sources. However, there is no existing data source that accurately tracks the location of high-risk parishes and the predominant occupations in those parishes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the route of occupational exposure of asbestos or other lung related carcinogens in Louisiana which would help in exposure mitigation.

Peak Inhalation Exposure Metrics Used in Occupational Epidemiologic and Exposure Studies

Peak exposures are of concern because they can potentially overwhelm normal defense mechanisms and induce adverse health effects. Metrics of peak exposure have been used in epidemiologic and exposure studies, but consensus is lacking on its definition. The relevant characteristics of peak exposure are dependent upon exposure patterns, biokinetics of exposure, and disease mechanisms. The objective of this review was to summarize the use of peak metrics in epidemiologic and exposure studies. A comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and NIOSHTIC-2 databases was conducted using keywords related to peak exposures. The retrieved references were reviewed and selected for indexing if they included a peak metric and met additional criteria. Information on health outcomes and peak exposure metrics was extracted from each reference. A total of 1,215 epidemiologic or exposure references were identified, of which 182 were indexed and summarized. For the 72 epidemiologic studies, the health outcomes most frequently evaluated were: chronic respiratory effects, cancer and acute respiratory symptoms. Exposures were frequently assessed using task-based and full-shift time-integrated methods, qualitative methods, and real-time instruments. Peak exposure summary metrics included the presence or absence of a peak event, highest exposure intensity and frequency greater than a target. Peak metrics in the 110 exposure studies most frequently included highest exposure intensity, average short-duration intensity, and graphical presentation of the real-time data (plots). This review provides a framework for considering biologically relevant peak exposure metrics for epidemiologic and exposure studies to help inform risk assessment and exposure mitigation.

Substantiation of methods of improving safety of pipeline gas transportation

Ensuring the operational efficiency of hazardous production facilities throughout their entire service life becomes a formidable challenge associated with coordinating thorough monitoring of such facilities, assessing their exposure, mitigation and sustainability, and taking measures to minimize and prevent negative outcomes that can lead to negative consequences, including human fatalities, injuries and economic losses. At the same time, the optimal choice of the ratio between levels of risk and costs of identification, regulation and increase in the resource will ensure both a reduction to a minimum of the risk of failures in gas pipeline systems and increase the efficiency of resource use to maximize technogenic safety. The paper proposes a methodology for the calculation of risk indicators and the probability of emergencies on gas networks and gas distribution facilities during their operation in normal and emergency situations.

A Comparative Quantitative Assessment of Human Exposure to Various Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria among U.S. Ground Beef Consumers

Consumption of animal-derived meat products is suspected as an important exposure route to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) along the beef supply chain is well-documented. A retail-to-fork quantitative exposure assessment was established to compare consumers’ exposure to various ARB due to the consumption of ground beef with and without “raised without antibiotics (RWA)” claims and to inform potential exposure mitigation strategies related to consumer practices. The microbial agents evaluated included generic Escherichia coli , tetracycline-resistant (TET r ) E. coli , 3 rd -generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC r ) E. coli , Salmonella enterica , TET r S. enterica , 3GC r S. enterica , nalidixic acid-resistant (NAL r ) S. enterica , Enterococcus spp., TET r Enterococcus spp., erythromycin-resistant (ERY r ) Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus , and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The final model outputs were the probability of exposure to at least 0 to 6 log10 CFU microorganisms per serving of ground beef at consumption. It was estimated that tetracycline resistance was more prevalent in ground beef, compared with other types of resistance, among which the predicted average probability of ingesting TET r Enterococcus was highest (6.2% of ingesting at least 0 log 10 CFU/serving), followed by TET r E. coli (3.1%) and TET r Salmonella (0.0001%), given common product purchase preferences and preparation behaviors among beef consumers in the U.S. The effectiveness of consumer-related interventions was estimated by simulating the differences in exposure as a result of changes in consumer practices in purchasing, handling, and preparing ground beef. The results indicated that proper employment of recommended safe cooking and food preparation practices mitigates ARB exposure more effectively than choosing RWA rather than conventional (CONV) beef.