An investigation of size-specific particle concentrations using a real-time monitor in a hospital setting

Details

• Personal Author:
  Berakis, Michael ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Rao, Carol Y. ; Sabatino L
• Description:
  Indoor air quality investigations would benefit from direct reading instruments that can quickly identify potential sources. Aerosols are an important factor in many IAQ investigations, being associated with both chemical and microbial contaminants. Particles with aerodynamic diameters <1 micrometer may be a health concern. Since size distributions and concentrations are variable, a convenient size-selective particle monitor for indoor environments is needed. Particle monitoring was conducted in an 8- story hospital. During the sampling period, forest fires burned approximately 60 miles away. Depending upon weather conditions, the city had clear and smoke-filled days. Seventeen indoor and one outdoor locations were monitored. GRIMM real-time data-logging dust monitors were used to evaluate particle concentrations for 24 hours at each of the locations. Fifteen size fractions were measured ranging from 0.3 micrometer to 20 micrometer. Outdoor GRIMM particle counts averaged 2.8 x 10 5 particles/liter (p/L) with 99% of the particles sized below 1 micrometer (cut point> 0.3 micrometer; min 6.5 x 10 4 p/L-max 1.8 x 10 6 p/L) on the smokiest day. These coincided with indoor averages of 1.6 x 10 5 p/L (96.6% <1 micrometer) on the upper floor, and 2.4 x 10 5 p/L (99.8%<1 micrometer) on the lower floor of the building. On non-smoky days, average measurements for most sites were one order of magnitude lower. However, the size distributions differed. 94% of the particles on both the upper and lower floors were less than 1 micrometer while 96% were <1 micrometer outdoors. Areas of complaints within the hospital were associated with sites that had consistently elevated particle counts in reference to the outdoor site. Size specific particle concentrations may be more relevant to indoor air quality complaints than the classical gravimetric measurements for airborne dust. They are also more useful since they can instantaneously be obtained and immediately lead investigators to problem areas in large buildings. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Air Pollution, Indoor Dust Environmental Health Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-contamination Air-quality Dust-measurement Dusts Health-care-facilities Indoor-air-pollution Indoor-environmental-quality Medical-facilities Monitors Particulates
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  65-66
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041436
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2001 Jun; :65-66
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:89f3903253b00372b40bf3ff3e90328e2d7f8fd5205d8de493ee567e7aa17f8ea59dfc31d98d27bcd85fe533fa62d1c8614f4fac2d776e3f6def24548646c86e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194007/cdc_194007_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 240.51 KB ]