OBJECTIVES: To identify and summarise volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure profiles of healthcare occupations. METHODS: Personal (n=143) and mobile area (n=207) evacuated canisters were collected and analysed by a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer to assess exposures to 14 VOCs among 14 healthcare occupations in five hospitals. Participants were volunteers identified by their supervisors. Summary statistics were calculated by occupation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the 14 analyte inputs to five orthogonal factors and identify occupations that were associated with these factors. Linear regressions were used to assess the association between personal and mobile area samples. RESULTS: Exposure profiles differed among occupations; ethanol had the highest geometric mean (GM) among nursing assistants (∼4900 and ∼1900 µg/m(3), personal and area), and 2-propanol had the highest GM among medical equipment preparers (∼4600 and ∼2000 µg/m(3), personal and area). The highest total personal VOC exposures were among nursing assistants (∼9200 µg/m(3)), licensed practical nurses (∼8700 µg/m(3)) and medical equipment preparers (∼7900 µg/m(3)). The influence of the PCA factors developed from personal exposure estimates varied by occupation, which enabled a comparative assessment of occupations. For example, factor 1, indicative of solvent use, was positively correlated with clinical laboratory and floor stripping/waxing occupations and tasks. Overall, a significant correlation was observed (r=0.88) between matched personal and mobile area samples, but varied considerably by analyte (r=0.23-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals that vary with the activities and products used during activities. These VOC profiles are useful for estimating exposures for occupational hazard ranking for industrial hygienists as well as epidemiological studies. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
OBJECTIVES: To identify and summarise volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure profiles of healthcare occupations. METHODS: Personal (n=143) and mobile area (n=207) evacuated canisters were collected and analysed by a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer to assess exposures to 14 VOCs among 14 healthcare occupations in five hospitals. Participants were volunteers identified by their supervisors. Summary statistics were calculated by occupation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the 14 analyte inputs to five orthogonal factors and identify occupations that were associated with these factors. Linear regressions were used to assess the association between personal and mobile area samples. RESULTS: Exposure profiles differed among occupations; ethanol had the highest geometric mean (GM) among nursing assistants (∼4900 and ∼1900 µg/m(3), personal and area), and 2-propanol had the highest GM among medical equipment preparers (∼4600 and ∼2000 µg/m(3), personal and area). The highest total personal VOC exposures were among nursing assistants (∼9200 µg/m(3)), licensed practical nurses (∼8700 µg/m(3)) and medical equipment preparers (∼7900 µg/m(3)). The influence of the PCA factors developed from personal exposure estimates varied by occupation, which enabled a comparative assessment of occupations. For example, factor 1, indicative of solvent use, was positively correlated with clinical laboratory and floor stripping/waxing occupations and tasks. Overall, a significant correlation was observed (r=0.88) between matched personal and mobile area samples, but varied considerably by analyte (r=0.23-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals that vary with the activities and products used during activities. These VOC profiles are useful for estimating exposures for occupational hazard ranking for industrial hygienists as well as epidemiological studies. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Authors: Elise Pechter; Letitia K Davis; Catharine Tumpowsky; Jennifer Flattery; Robert Harrison; Florence Reinisch; Mary Jo Reilly; Kenneth D Rosenman; Donald P Schill; David Valiante; Margaret Filios Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: G L Delclos; A A Arif; L Aday; A Carson; D Lai; C Lusk; T Stock; E Symanski; L W Whitehead; F G Benavides; J M Antó Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Jan-Paul Zock; Núria Cavallé; Hans Kromhout; Susan M Kennedy; Jordi Sunyer; Angeles Jaén; Nerea Muniozguren; Félix Payo; Enrique Almar; José L Sánchez; Josep M Antó; Manolis Kogevinas Journal: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol Date: 2004-09
Authors: Leslie Elliott; Matthew P Longnecker; Grace E Kissling; Stephanie J London Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Feng-Chiao Su; Melissa C Friesen; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Paul K Henneberger; Ryan F LeBouf; Marcia L Stanton; Xiaoming Liang; Michael Humann; M Abbas Virji Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2018-08-13 Impact factor: 2.179
Authors: Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Ryan F LeBouf; Jinghai Yi; Jason Ham; Timothy Nurkewicz; Diane E Schwegler-Berry; Bean T Chen; J Raymond Wells; Matthew G Duling; Robert B Lawrence; Stephen B Martin; Alyson R Johnson; M Abbas Virji Journal: J Occup Environ Hyg Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Taekhee Lee; Jhy-Charm Soo; Ryan F LeBouf; Dru Burns; Diane Schwegler-Berry; Michael Kashon; Jay Bowers; Martin Harper Journal: J Occup Environ Hyg Date: 2018-04 Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: M Abbas Virji; Xiaoming Liang; Feng-Chiao Su; Ryan F LeBouf; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Marcia L Stanton; Paul K Henneberger; E Andres Houseman Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 2.179
Authors: Morgan N Caridi; Michael J Humann; Xiaoming Liang; Feng-Chiao Su; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Ryan F LeBouf; Marcia L Stanton; M Abbas Virji; Paul K Henneberger Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2018-10-13 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Orianne Dumas; Aleta S Wiley; Paul K Henneberger; Frank E Speizer; Jan-Paul Zock; Raphaëlle Varraso; Nicole Le Moual; Krislyn M Boggs; Carlos A Camargo Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2016-11-15 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Rena Saito; M Abbas Virji; Paul K Henneberger; Michael J Humann; Ryan F LeBouf; Marcia L Stanton; Xiaoming Liang; Aleksandr B Stefaniak Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2014-10-28 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: C Quinot; O Dumas; P K Henneberger; R Varraso; A S Wiley; F E Speizer; M Goldberg; J P Zock; C A Camargo; N Le Moual Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2016-08-26 Impact factor: 4.402