Direct-read fluorescence-based measurements of bioaerosol exposure in home healthcare.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hernandez M ; Nathu VD ; Nieto-Caballero M ; Rao MB ; Reponen T ; Virkutyte J
• Description:
  Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) are subjected to variable working environments which increase their risk of being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. One of the potential occupational hazards within the industry includes exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize concentrations of three types of bioaerosols utilizing a novel fluorescence-based direct reading instrument during seven activities that HHCWs typically encounter in patients' homes. Bioaerosols were measured in an indoor residence throughout all seasons in Cincinnati, OH, USA. A fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO, USA) was utilized for all data collection. Total particle counts and concentrations for each particle type, including fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles, were utilized to form the response variable, a normalized concentration calculated as a ratio of concentration during activity to the background concentration. Walking experiments produced a median concentration ratio of 52.45 and 2.77 for pollen and fungi, respectively. Fungi and bacteria produced the highest and lowest median concentration ratios of 17.81 and 1.90 for showering, respectively. Lastly, our current study showed that sleeping activity did not increase bioaerosol concentrations. We further conclude that utilizing direct-reading methods may save time and effort in bioaerosol-exposure assessment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Fungi Health Personnel Home Care Services Occupational Health Particulate Matter Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Bioaerosol; Home Healthcare; Residential; Occupational; Fluorescence; Activities; Direct Read Health Care Workers; Workers; Work Environment; Home Health Care; Hazards; Bioaerosols; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Particulates; Particle Counters; Fungi; Bacteria; Exposure Assessment;
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064855
• Citation:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Mar; 19(6):3613
• Contact Point Address:
  Tiina Reponen, Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
• Email:
  reponeta@ucmail.uc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8d18a9e89beed0739d48c32fc0c13735b6b9343417ba51e61a57a2e252839b9165ec52934cc3195f536b083dedc4000368db24f18d813e72d1e6436e89541c00
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248866/cdc_248866_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.75 MB ]