Industrial Hygiene & Safety (IH&S)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a highly reactive gas emitted from the burning of fossil fuels at high temperatures. The primary sources in outdoor air are motor vehicles and coal-fired power plants. Oxidant injury is the primary mechanism in which NO2 damages the lung but the biological mechanisms in which it affects the cardiac system are largely unknown.

Workers' compensation claims for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) accepted in Washington State have increased ten-fold in recent years. As a result the University of Washington has undertaken a cross-sectional occupational hearing loss study in collaboration with Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

A cross-sectional study of dust exposure and health outcomes was conducted in a stone carving company in Thailand.  147 respirable dust samples were collected and 97 subjects participated in the study during November 1998 to October 1999.  Exposure indices were constructed and health outcomes of interest including respiratory symptoms, pulmonary functions, and chest radiographs were a

The traditional method of identifying noise-induced hearing loss is through pure tone air conduction audiometry. The measurement of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), sounde generated within the chochlea in response to aural stimuli, is a relatively new technique which has been proposed as a means to identify preclinical hearing loss.

Noise is a ubiquitous problem in the United States, particularly in the construction industry. Because over-exposure to noise does not usually have immediate adverse consequences, there has been little focus on exposure assessment and control of construction noise. Noise-related studies have been done in the construction industry, but the date are not comprehensive.

This study assessed exposures to respirable dust and silica exposures during seven construction activities. One hundred and eleven personal breathing zone samples were collected. The samples were collected by either a standard nylon cyclone or real-time aerosol monitor, which also recorded one-minute respirable dust levels.

This study assessed the effect of work characteristics on dust exposures during concrete grinding activities, with and without local exhaust ventilation (LEV). Particular attention was paid to the differences between work on flat surfaces where the shroud of the LEV system made a good seal, and on the edge where the seal was in partial contact with the surface.

Passive monitors have been popular since they were introduced to the field of industrial hygiene air sampling in the 1970s. The use of passive air monitors has historically included the assumption that the sorbent is 100 percent efficient and that reverse diffusion does not occur. However, several investigators have reported losses attributed to reverse diffusion.

In 2005, a key informant survey conducted by researchers with the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety & Health (PNASH) Center identified a clinician pesticide training gap.

The effects of chronic exposure to occupational noise are well documented in the scientific literature; however, exposure to non-occupational noise has received much less attention.

The cardiovascular system is exquisitely sensitive to adverse effects following increases in ambient particulate mater, as exemplified by increases in morbidity and mortality following periods of greater air pollution. This is especially true in the elderly and individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease. Diesel accounts for a large percentage of particulate matter in an urban setting.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are associated with ergonomic factors present in the workplace. The enormous costs, high rate of incidence, and public awareness of WMSDs has drawn increased attention to the need for intervention.

Protecting worker's health by insuring that the work conditions are safe from the chemical point of view is one of the main tasks of an industrial hygienist. To accomplish this goal, reliable methods of air contaminant measurement are essential.

Exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) is associated with a variety of detrimental short-term and chronic health effects in humans. This includes increasing evidence from epidemiological studies and animal research that an association between diesel exhaust and lung cancer exists.

Rapid development in Vietnam is increasing the need for construction materials, particularly for refractory brick. Silica is a major component in refractory brick production; however, exposures to high levels of silica dust may cause silicosis and other lung diseases.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sampling and analysis methods for ergosterol (an indicator of the biomass of fungi), viable fungi, and non-viable fungi from settled dust and to compare these results with questionnaire data used to assess exposure to mold and dampness in the home.