Evaluation of a Prototype Local Ventilation System to Mitigate Retail Store Worker Exposure to Airborne Particles

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barone TL ; Lee T ; Portnoff L ; Yantek, David S. ; Zheng Y
• Description:
  The objective of this study is to evaluate a prototype local ventilation system (LVS) intended to reduce retail store workers' exposure to aerosols. The evaluation was carried out in a large aerosol test chamber where relatively uniform concentrations of polydisperse sodium chloride and glass-sphere particles were generated to test the system with nano- and micro-size particles. In addition, a cough simulator was constructed to mimic aerosols released by mouth breathing and coughing. Particle reduction efficiencies of the LVS were determined in four different experimental conditions using direct reading instruments and inhalable samplers. The particle reduction efficiency (%) depended on the position beneath the LVS, but the percentage was consistently high at the LVS center as follows: (1) > 98% particle reduction relative to background aerosols; (2) > 97% in the manikin's breathing zone relative to background aerosols; (3) > 97% during mouth breathing and coughing simulation; and (4) > 97% with a plexiglass barrier installation. Lower particle reduction (<70%) was observed when the LVS airflow was disturbed by background ventilation airflow. The lowest particle reduction (<20%) was observed when the manikin was closest to the simulator during coughing. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Communicable Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Infectious Aerosol Breathing Zone COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Local Ventilation System Mitigate Exposure Occupational Exposure Respiratory Diseases Retail Store Retail Workers
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division ; NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  289-303
• Volume:
  20
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067404
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2023 Jul; 20(7):289-303
• Contact Point Address:
  Taekhee Lee, Health Hazards Prevention Branch, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15236 USA
• Email:
  fwc8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9162265367f7545d27873012ed97cb30643b16ddc0c826cca4cfd66e1fb9f977c7e34513fcbcc122207e1ea923514005bd6f0d6d0c8175104e36b3954698c40c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215631/cdc_215631_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.85 MB ]