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This article presents a conceptual, mathematical model of dermal exposure resulting from aerosol deposition on human forearm hair. The model is applicable to exposure scenarios where dermal deposition is governed by aerosol impaction, interception, and diffusion mechanisms. The model employs filtration theory, single fiber efficiency equations, and a modified potential airflow approximation. The results are extended, using previously published results, for application to dermal deposition on the forearm during spray painting. The average (N = 8) predicted dermal deposition of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate as collected on a 10-cm(2) tape strip is 108.9 (+/- 70.3) pmol, whereas field measurements indicated an average of 168.6 (+/- 82.0) pmol per strip. The corresponding measured average dermal flux was 3.63 pg/cm(2)s (+/- 1.34); the prediction was 2.24 pg/cm(2)sec (+/- 1.25). The study calls attention to the importance of body hair both for modeling and measuring dermal exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native mass spectrometry (nMS) screening of natural glycan libraries against glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) is a powerful tool for ligand discovery. However, as the glycan concentrations are unknown, affinities cannot be measured directly from natural libraries. Here, we introduce Co ncentration- In dependent (COIN)-nMS, which enables quantitative screening of natural glycan libraries by exploiting slow mixing of solutions inside a nanoflow electrospray ionization emitter. The affinities ( K d ) of detected GBP-glycan interactions are determined, simultaneously, from nMS analysis of their time-dependent relative abundance changes. We establish the reliability of COIN-nMS using interactions between purified glycans and GBPs with known K d values. We also demonstrate the implementation of COIN-nMS using the catch-and-release (CaR)-nMS assay for glycosylated GBPs. The COIN-CaR-nMS results obtained for plant, fungal, viral, and human lectins with natural libraries containing hundreds of N -glycans and glycopeptides highlight the assay's versatility for discovering new ligands, precisely measuring their affinities, and uncovering "fine" specificities. Notably, the COIN-CaR-nMS results clarify the sialoglycan binding properties of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain and establish the recognition of monosialylated hybrid and biantennary N -glycans. Moreover, pharmacological depletion of host complex N -glycans reduces both pseudotyped virions and SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, suggesting that complex N -glycans may serve as attachment factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Introduction: Manganese (Mn)-induced parkinsonism involves motor symptoms similar to those observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous literature suggests that chronic Mn- exposure may increase PD risk, although Mn-induced clinical syndromes are considered atypical for PD. This study investigated whether asymptomatic welders display differences in the substantia nigra (SN), the key pathological locus of PD., Method: Brain MRI data and occupational exposure history were obtained in welders (N = 43) and matched controls (N = 31). Diffusion tensor imaging fractional anisotropy (FA; estimate of microstructural integrity) and R2* (estimate of iron and other PD-related brain differences) values in the SN pars compacta (SNc), SN reticulata (SNr), and globus pallidus (GP) were compared between the two groups. The MRI markers of the SN and GP within welders were related to exposure estimates., Results: Compared to controls, welders who had chronic, but low-level, Mn-exposure had similar FA and R2* values in both SN regions (p's > 0.082), but significantly lower FA (p = 0.0013), although not R2* (p = 0.553), in the GP. In welders, FA values in the SN and GP showed a second-order polynomial relationship with cumulative lifetime welding exposure (p's < 0.03)., Conclusion: Neurotoxic processes associated with Mn-exposure may be different from those in PD when the exposure-level is relatively low. Greater welding duration and level, however, were associated with FA differences in the GP and SN, indicating that welding exposures above a certain level may induce neurotoxicity in the SN, a finding that should be explored further in future studies., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chronic high-level manganese (Mn)-induced neurotoxicity has been associated with Mn accumulation in the basal ganglia and higher risk for developing parkinsonism. Recent studies in Mn-exposed animals revealed Mn accumulation in the hippocampus, the presence of Aβ diffuse plaques, and deficits in associative learning, the latter being hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or related disorders. This and recent evidence of hippocampal Mn accumulation in welders prompted us to test the hypothesis that welders with chronic Mn exposure would display changes in the hippocampus. Subjects with (welders; n = 42) or without (controls; n = 31) welding history were studied. Mn exposure was estimated by occupational questionnaires, whole blood Mn, and R1 imaging (estimate of short-term brain Mn accumulation). Hippocampal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; estimate of microstructural brain changes) and volume were determined. Compared with controls, welders displayed no significant difference in hippocampal volume (p = .165). Welders, however, exhibited higher DTI hippocampal mean diffusivity (MD) values compared with controls (p = .035) that was evident particularly in older welders (>50 years, p = .002). Hippocampal MD was associated significantly with age in welders (R = 0.59; p < .001) but not in controls (p = .16). Moreover, higher hippocampal MD values (age adjusted) were associated with long-term cumulative Mn exposure (R = 0.36, p = .021). Welders with chronic exposure have higher MD values in the hippocampus that become greater with increasing age, a brain change that is similar to that observed in those at risk for AD. The current results suggest that Mn exposure, coupled with aging, may make welders more vulnerable to AD or AD-like changes., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Although an essential nutrient, manganese (Mn) can be toxic at high doses. There is, however, uncertainty regarding the effects of chronic low-level Mn-exposure. This review provides an overview of Mn-related brain and functional changes based on studies of a cohort of asymptomatic welders who had lower Mn-exposure than in most previous work. In welders with low-level Mn-exposure, we found: 1) Mn may accumulate in the brain in a non-linear fashion: MRI R1 (1/T1) signals significantly increased only after a critical level of exposure was reached (e.g., ≥300 welding hours in the past 90days prior to MRI). Moreover, R1 may be a more sensitive marker to capture short-term dynamic changes in Mn accumulation than the pallidal index [T1-weighted intensity ratio of the globus pallidus vs. frontal white matter], a traditional marker for Mn accumulation; 2) Chronic Mn-exposure may lead to microstructural changes as indicated by lower diffusion tensor fractional anisotropy values in the basal ganglia (BG), especially when welding years exceeded more than 30 years; 3) Mn-related subtle motor dysfunctions can be captured sensitively by synergy metrics (indices for movement stability), whereas traditional fine motor tasks failed to detect any significant differences; and 4) Iron (Fe) also may play a role in welding-related neurotoxicity, especially at low-level Mn-exposure, evidenced by higher R2* values (an estimate for brain Fe accumulation) in the BG. Moreover, higher R2* values were associated with lower phonemic fluency performance. These findings may guide future studies and the development of occupation- and public health-related polices involving Mn-exposure., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Welding fumes contain several metals including manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) that may affect the nervous system. Previous studies of potential welding-related neurotoxicity have focused primarily on Mn exposure. The current study examined neurobehavioral and brain imaging changes in asymptomatic welders and their associations with both Mn and Fe exposure measurements., Methods: Data were obtained from subjects with (n=46) and without (controls; n=31) a history of welding exposure. Occupational questionnaires estimated recent (HrsW; welding hours and E 90 ; cumulative exposure, past 90days) and lifetime (YrsW; total welding years and ELT; cumulative exposure, lifetime) exposure. Brain MRI pallidal index (PI), R1 (1/T1), and R2* (1/T2*) were measured to estimate Mn and Fe concentrations in the basal ganglia [caudate nucleus (CN), putamen, and globus pallidus], amygdala, and hippocampus. Comprehensive neuropsychological tests were conducted to examine behavioral differences between welders and controls. Correlation analyses were conducted between neuropsychological tests and those exposure measurements that showed significant group differences., Results: Compared to controls, welders had significantly higher R2* in the CN and lower performance on the Phonemic Fluency test. Correlation analyses revealed that welders' Phonemic Fluency scores were inversely associated with R2* in the CN, but not with the PI or R1 in any brain region of interest studied., Discussion: The results showed that neurobehavioral performance for the asymptomatic welders in our study was worse than individuals who had not welded, and suggest the differences may be associated with higher Fe accumulation in the CN., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We demonstrated recently that the T1 relaxation rate (R1) captured short-term Mn exposure in welders with chronic, relatively low exposure levels in a cross-sectional study. In the current study, we used a longitudinal design to examine whether R1 values reflect the short-term dynamics of Mn exposure., Methods: Twenty-nine welders were evaluated at baseline and 12 months. Occupational questionnaires estimated short-term welding exposure using welding hours in the 90days prior to each study visit (HrsW 90 ). In addition, blood Mn levels, the pallidal index (PI; globus pallidus T1-weighted intensity (T1WI)/frontal white matter T1WI), and R1 values in brain regions of interest (ROIs) were determined as Mn biomarkers at each visit. Associations between changes in estimated welding exposure and changes in purported Mn biomarkers were assessed by Spearman's correlations with adjustment for age and baseline R1, HrsW 90 , and blood Mn values., Results: Changes in welding hours (HrsW 90 : the short-term welding exposure estimate), was associated significantly with changes in R1 values in the putamen (r=0.541, p=0.005), caudate (R=0.453, p=0.023), globus pallidus (R=0.430, p=0.032), amygdala (R=0.461, p=0.020), and hippocampus (R=0.447, p=0.025), but not with changes in blood Mn levels or the PI., Discussion: Changes in R1 values correlated with changes in the short-term welding exposure estimate, but not with more traditional measures of Mn exposure (blood Mn levels or PI). These results suggest that R1 may serve as a useful marker to capture the short-term dynamics in Mn brain accumulation related to welding exposure., Competing Interests: The authors do not have any financial conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multi-digit synergies, a recently developed, theory-based method to quantify stability of motor action, are shown to reflect basal ganglia dysfunction associated with parkinsonian syndromes. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that multi-digit synergies may capture early and subclinical basal ganglia dysfunction. We chose asymptomatic welders to test the hypothesis because the basal ganglia are known to be most susceptible to neurotoxicity caused by welding-related metal accumulation (such as manganese and iron)., Methods: Twenty right-handed welders and 13 matched controls were invited to perform single- and multi-finger pressing tasks using the fingers of the right or left hand. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and Grooved Pegboard scores were used to gauge gross and fine motor dysfunction, respectively. High-resolution (3T) T1-weighted, T2-weighted, T1 mapping, susceptibility, and diffusion tensor MRIs were obtained to reflect manganese, iron accumulation, and microstructural changes in basal ganglia. The synergy index stabilizing total force and anticipatory synergy adjustments were computed, compared between groups, and correlated with estimates of basal ganglia manganese [the pallidal index, R1 (1/T1)], iron [R2* (1/T2*)], and microstructural changes [fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity]., Results: There were no significant differences in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (total or motor subscale) or Grooved Pegboard test scores between welders and controls. The synergy index during steady-state accurate force production was decreased significantly in the left hand of welders compared to controls (p=0.004) but did not reach statistical significance in the right hand (p=0.16). Anticipatory synergy adjustments, however, were not significantly different between groups. Among welders, higher synergy indices in the left hand were associated significantly with higher fractional anisotropy values in the left globus pallidus (R=0.731, p<0.001) but not with the pallidal index, R1, or R2* values in the basal ganglia., Conclusions: These data suggest that multi-digit synergy metrics may serve as preclinical markers for basal ganglia dysfunction in welders and other populations at risk for neurodegenerative diseases involving parkinsonian symptoms. This finding may have important clinical, scientific, and public/occupational health implications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Welding fumes contain several metals including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) that at high exposure may co-influence welding-related neurotoxicity. The relationship between brain accumulation of these metals and neuropathology, especially in welders with subclinical exposure levels, is unclear. This study examined the microstructural integrity of basal ganglia (BG) regions in asymptomatic welders using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)., Methods: Subjects with (n = 43) and without (age- and gender-matched controls; n = 31) history of welding were studied. Occupational questionnaires estimated short-term (HrsW; welding hours and E90; cumulative exposure, past 90 days) and long-term (YrsW; total years welding and ELT; cumulative exposure, lifetime) exposure. Whole blood metal levels (Mn, Fe, and Cu) were obtained. Brain MRI pallidal index (PI), R1 (1/T1), and R2* (1/T2*) were measured to estimate Mn and Fe accumulation in BG [caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus (GP)]. DTI was used to assess BG microstructural differences, and related with exposure measurements., Results: When compared with controls, welders had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the GP. In welders, GP FA values showed non-linear relationships to YrsW, blood Mn, and PI. GP FA decreased after a critical level of YrsW or Mn was reached, whereas it decreased with increasing PI values until plateauing at the highest PI values. GP FA, however, did not show any relationship with short-term exposure measurements (HrsW, E90), blood Cu and Fe, or R(2)* values., Conclusion: GP FA captured microstructural changes associated with chronic low-level Mn exposure, and may serve as a biomarker for neurotoxicity in asymptomatic welders., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Welding has been associated with neurobehavioral disorders. Welding fumes contain several metals including copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) that may interact to influence welding-related neurotoxicity. Although welding-related airborne Fe levels are about 10-fold higher than Mn, previous studies have focused on Mn and its accumulation in the basal ganglia. This study examined differences in the apparent transverse relaxation rates [R2* (1/T2*), estimate of Fe accumulation] in the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus) between welders and controls, and the dose-response relationship between estimated Fe exposure and R2* values. Occupational questionnaires estimated recent and lifetime Fe exposure, and blood Fe levels and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained. Complete exposure and MRI R2* and R1 (1/T1: measure to estimate Mn accumulation) data from 42 subjects with welding exposure and 29 controls were analyzed. Welders had significantly greater exposure metrics and higher whole-blood Fe levels compared with controls. R2* in the caudate nucleus was significantly higher in welders after controlling for age, body mass index, respirator use, caudate R1, and blood metals of Cu and Mn, whereas there was no difference in R1 values in the basal ganglia between groups. The R2* in the caudate nucleus was positively correlated with whole-blood Fe concentration. This study provides the first evidence of higher R2* in the caudate nucleus of welders, which is suggestive of increased Fe accumulation in this area. Further studies are needed to replicate the findings and determine the neurobehavioral relevance., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Microstructures on insect wings can promote directional drop shedding, and the local orientation of these structures is expected to facilitate drop removal. However, microstructures may exhibit very different orientations at different locations on the wing. Using the march fly Penthetria heteroptera, we propose that local orientation of small hairs (microtrichia) reflects a balance of three nonexclusive strategies: (1) preventing water from becoming stuck in intervenous grooves (microtrichia point upslope), (2) shedding water off the wing as readily as possible (microtrichia point towards the nearest edge), and, (3) shedding water away from the body (microtrichia point distally). We present evidence for all three and show that local microtrichial orientation is seldom determined by any one factor. We develop a mathematical model that employs factor-specific weighting values determined via optimization. Our predictions are tested against the orientation of microtrichia randomly sampled from a P. heteroptera specimen. Using the best-fit weighting parameters, the model displays a median residual of 20°; no residual is greater than 46°. The model also reproduces qualitative aspects of microtrichial orientation, such as bifurcation midway between veins and convergence toward peaks. This strong correspondence between modelled and observed orientation supports the role of microtrichia as directional antiwetting devices and highlights the importance of considering both function and wing geometry to explain the organization of natural microstructure arrays.

Although the essential element manganese (Mn) is neurotoxic at high doses, the effects of lower exposure are unclear. MRI T1-weighted (TIW) imaging has been used to estimate brain Mn exposure via the pallidal index (PI), defined as the T1W intensity ratio in the globus pallidus (GP) versus frontal white matter (FWM). PI may not, however, be sensitive to Mn in GP because Mn also may accumulate in FWM. This study explored: (1) whether T1 relaxation rate (R1) could quantify brain Mn accumulation more sensitively; and (2) the dose-response relationship between estimated Mn exposure and T1 relaxation rate (R1). Thirty-five active welders and 30 controls were studied. Occupational questionnaires were used to estimate hours welding in the past 90 days (HrsW) and lifetime measures of Mn exposure. T1W imaging and T1-measurement were utilized to generate PI and R1 values in brain regions of interest (ROIs). PI did not show a significant association with any measure of Mn and/or welding-related exposure. Conversely, in several ROIs, R1 showed a nonlinear relationship to HrsW, with R1 signal increasing only after a critical exposure was reached. The GP had the greatest rate of Mn accumulation. Welders with higher exposure showed significantly higher R1 compared either with controls or with welders with lower exposure. Our data are additional evidence that Mn accumulation can be assessed more sensitively by R1 than by PI. Moreover, the nonlinear relationship between welding exposure and Mn brain accumulation should be considered in future studies and policies., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Arc welding is a common unit operation in the construction industry, where frequent changes in location and welding position make it more difficult to control fume exposures than in industries where fixed locations are the norm. Welders may be exposed to a variety of toxic airborne contaminants including manganese (Mn) and hexavalent chromium (CrVI). Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is a well-known engineering control for welding fumes but has not been adopted widely in the construction industry. This literature review presents data on the performance of a variety of LEV systems for welding fume control from the construction (five references), shipyard (five references), and other industries. The studies indicate that LEV can reduce fume exposures to total particulate, Mn, and CrVI to levels below currently relevant standards. Field studies suggest that 40-50% or more reduction in exposure is possible with portable or fixed LEV systems relative to natural ventilation but that correct positioning of the hood and adequate exhaust flow rates are essential. Successful implementation of extraction guns for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and flux core arc welding has been demonstrated, indicating that a successful balance between extraction airflow and shielding gas requirements is possible. Work practices are an important part of achieving successful control of fume exposures; in particular, positioning the hood close to the arc, checking exhaust flow rates, and avoiding the plume. Further research is needed on hood size effects for controlling welding fume with portable LEV systems and identifying and overcoming barriers to LEV use in construction.

Welding-generated metallic fumes contain a substantial amount of manganese (Mn), making welders susceptible to Mn toxicity. Although overt Mn toxicity manifests as a type of parkinsonism, the consequences of chronic, low-level Mn exposure are unknown. To explore region-specific Mn accumulation and its potential functional consequences at subclinical levels of Mn exposure, we studied seven welders without obvious neurological deficits and seven age- and gender-matched controls. Mn exposure for welders was estimated by an occupational questionnaire. High-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Grooved Pegboard performance of both hands, Trail making, and olfactory function tests were obtained from all subjects. Compared with controls, the welders had a significantly higher T1 relaxation rate (R1) in the olfactory bulb (OB, p = 0.02), mean T1-weighted intensity at frontal white matter (FWM; p = 0.01), bilateral globus pallidus (GP; p = 0.03), and putamen (p = 0.03). The welders scored worse than the controls on the Grooved Pegboard test for both dominant (p = 0.06) and nondominant hand (p = 0.03). The dominant hand Grooved Pegboard scores correlated best with mean MRI intensity of FWM (R² = 0.51, p = 0.004), GP (R² = 0.51, p = 0.004), putamen (R² = 0.49, p= 0.006), and frontal gray matter (R² = 0.42, p = 0.01), whereas the nondominant hand scores correlated best with intensity of FWM (R² = 0.37, p = 0.02) and GP (R² = 0.28, p = 0.05). No statistical differences were observed in either the Trail-making test or the olfactory test between the two groups. This study suggests that Mn accumulates in OB and multiple other brain regions in "asymptomatic" welders and that MRI abnormalities correlate with fine motor but not cognitive deficits. Further investigations of subclinical Mn exposure are warranted.

Studies of exposure to the lung carcinogen hexavalent chromium (CrVI) from welding tasks are limited, especially within the construction industry where overexposure may be common. In addition, despite the OSHA requirement that the use of engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV) first be considered before relying on other strategies to reduce worker exposure to CrVI, data on the effectiveness of LEV to reduce CrVI exposures from welding are lacking. The goal of the present study was to characterize breathing zone air concentrations of CrVI during welding tasks and primary contributing factors in four datasets: (1) OSHA compliance data; (2) a publicly available database from The Welding Institute (TWI); (3) field survey data of construction welders collected by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR); and (4) controlled welding trials conducted by CPWR to assess the effectiveness of a portable LEV unit to reduce CrVI exposure. In the OSHA (n = 181) and TWI (n = 124) datasets, which included very few samples from the construction industry, the OSHA permissible exposure level (PEL) for CrVI (5 μg/m(3)) was exceeded in 9% and 13% of samples, respectively. CrVI concentrations measured in the CPWR field surveys (n = 43) were considerably higher, and 25% of samples exceeded the PEL. In the TWI and CPWR datasets, base metal, welding process, and LEV use were important predictors of CrVI concentrations. Only weak-to-moderate correlations were found between total particulate matter and CrVI, suggesting that total particulate matter concentrations are not a good surrogate for CrVI exposure in retrospective studies. Finally, in the controlled welding trials, LEV reduced median CrVI concentrations by 68% (p = 0.02). In conclusion, overexposure to CrVI in stainless steel welding is likely widespread, especially in certain operations such as shielded metal arc welding, which is commonly used in construction. However, exposure could be substantially reduced with proper use of LEV.

Welders are exposed to a variety of metal fumes, including manganese, that may elevate the risk for neurological disease. This study examines several large data sets to characterize manganese, iron, and total particulate mass exposures resulting from welding operations. The data sets contained covariates for a variety of exposure modifiers, including the presence of ventilation, the degree of confinement, and the location of the personal sampler (i.e., behind or in front of the welding helmet). The analysis suggests that exposures to manganese are frequently at or above the current ACGIH(R) threshold limit value of 0.2 mg/m(3). In addition, there is evidence that local exhaust ventilation can control the exposures to manganese and total fume but that mechanical ventilation may not. The data suggest that higher exposures are associated with a greater degree of enclosure, particularly when local exhaust ventilation is absent. Samples taken behind the helmet were, in general, lower than those measured outside of it. There were strong correlations among manganese, iron, and total particulate mass exposures, suggesting simple equations to estimate one fume component from any of the others.

Gas release in photic-zone microbialites can lead to preservable morphological biosignatures. Here, we investigate the formation and stability of oxygen-rich bubbles enmeshed by filamentous cyanobacteria. Sub-millimetric and millimetric bubbles can be stable for weeks and even months. During this time, lithifying organic-rich laminae surrounding the bubbles can preserve the shape of bubbles. Cm-scale unstable bubbles support the growth of centimetric tubular towers with distinctly laminated mineralized walls. In environments that enable high photosynthetic rates, only small stable bubbles will be enclosed by a dense microbial mesh, while in deep waters extensive microbial mesh will cover even larger photosynthetic bubbles, increasing their preservation potential. Stable photosynthetic bubbles may be preserved as sub-millimeter and millimeter-diameter features with nearly circular cross-sections in the crests of some Proterozoic conical stromatolites, while centrimetric tubes formed around unstable bubbles provide a model for the formation of tubular carbonate microbialites that are not markedly depleted in (13)C.

Exposure to manganese dusts and fumes may cause a clinical neurological syndrome called manganism. Welders are frequently exposed to manganese-containing fumes generated by electric arcs and thermal torches. This paper reviews studies on the association between exposure to such welding fumes and neurological disease. Using the IRSST expert panel criteria, 78 cases of probable/possible, and 19 additional cases of possible occupational manganism were identified in the literature among manganese-exposed workers involved in welding processes. Epidemiological evidence linking welding exposures to Parkinson's disease is still controversial. Although more research is needed to clarify the risks of neurological impairment from welding, control measures including ventilation and adequate respiratory protection, should be implemented to minimize welding fume exposures. The significance of fume transport into the central nervous system via the olfactory nerve, which by-passes the blood-brain barrier, also needs to be assessed.

In analogy to gas-dynamical detonation waves, which consist of a shock with an attached exothermic reaction zone, we consider herein nonlinear traveling wave solutions to the hyperbolic ("inviscid") continuum traffic equations. Generic existence criteria are examined in the context of the Lax entropy conditions. Our analysis naturally precludes traveling wave solutions for which the shocks travel downstream more rapidly than individual vehicles. Consistent with recent experimental observations from a periodic roadway [Y. Sugiyama, N. J. Phys. 10, 033001 (2008)], our numerical calculations show that nonlinear traveling waves are attracting solutions, with the time evolution of the system converging toward a wave-dominated configuration. Theoretical principles are elucidated by considering examples of traffic flow on open and closed roadways.

Overexposure to welding fume constituents, particularly manganese, is of concern in the construction industry due to the prevalence of welding and the scarcity of engineering controls. The control effectiveness of a commercially available portable local exhaust ventilation (LEV) unit was assessed. It consisted of a portable vacuum and a small bell-shaped hood connected by a flexible 2 inch (50.8 mm) diameter hose, in both experimental and field settings. The experimental testing was done in a semienclosed booth at a pipefitter training facility. Five paired trials of LEV control vs. no control, each approximately 1 hr in duration and conducted during two successive welds of 6 inch (152.4 mm) diameter carbon steel pipe were run in random order. Breathing zone samples were collected outside the welding hood during each trial. In the field scenario, full-shift breathing zone samples were collected from two pipefitters welding carbon steel pipe for a chiller installation on a commercial construction project. Eight days of full-shift sampling were conducted on both workers (n = 16), and the LEV was used by one of the two workers on an alternating basis for 7 of the days. All samples were collected with personal sample pumps calibrated at 2 L/min. Filter cassettes were analyzed for total particulate and manganese concentration by a certified laboratory. In the experimental setting, use of the portable LEV resulted in a 75% reduction in manganese exposure (mean 13 microg/m(3) vs. 51 microg/m(3); p < 0.05) and a 60% reduction in total particulate (mean 0.74 mg/m(3) vs. 1.83 mg/m(3); p < 0.05). In the field setting, LEV use resulted in a 53% reduction in manganese exposure (geometric mean 46 microg/m(3) vs. 97 microg/m(3); p < 0.05) but only a 10% reduction in total particulate (geometric mean 4.5 mg/m(3) vs. 5.0 mg/m(3); p > 0.05). These results demonstrate that LEV use can reduce manganese exposure associated with welding tasks in construction.

Application of the Johnson bivariate S(B) distribution, or alternatively the S(BB) distribution, is presented here as a tool for the analysis of concentration data and in particular for characterizing the relationship between exposures and biomarkers. Methods for fitting the marginal S(B) distributions are enhanced by maximizing the Shapiro-Wilk W statistic. The subsequent goodness of fit for the S(BB) distribution is evaluated with a multivariate Z statistic. Median regression results are extended here with methods for calculating the mean and standard deviation of the conditional array distributions. Application of these methods to the evaluation of the relationship between exposure to airborne bromopropane and the biomarker of serum bromide concentration suggests that the S(BB) distribution may be useful in stratifying workers by exposure based on using a biomarker. A comparison with the usual two-parameter log-normal approach shows that in some cases the S(BB) distribution may offer advantages.

This work investigates the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model air flow and particle transport associated with an inhaling anatomical mannequin. The studied condition is typically representative of occupational velocities (Re = 1920) and at-rest breathing (R = U(o)/U(m) = 0.11). Methods to verify and validate CFD simulations are detailed to demonstrate convergence and describe the model's uncertainties. The standard k-epsilon model provided a reasonable flow field, although vertical velocity components were consistently smaller than the experimental validation data, owing to truncation of the computational model at hip height. Laminar particle trajectory studies indicated that the modeled velocity field resulted in a shift of particle aspiration fractions toward particles smaller than those determined experimentally, consistent with the vertical velocity field differences.

Exposure evaluations for epidemiological investigations and risk assessments may require estimates of background concentrations and peak exposures, as well as the population mean and variance. The S(B) distribution is a theoretically appealing probability function for characterizing ratios, and random variables bound by extremes, such as human exposures and environmental concentrations. However, fitting the parameters of this distribution with maximum likelihood methods is often problematic, and some alternative methods are examined here. Two methods based on percentiles, a quantile estimator, and a method-of-moments fitting procedure are explored. The quantile and method-of-moments procedures are based on new explicit expressions for the first four moments of this distribution. The fitting procedures are compared by simulation, and with actual data sets consisting of measurements of human exposure to airborne contaminants.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and numerical investigations of particle inhalability and contaminant exposure have used simple geometrical surrogates for a breathing human form, but the effect of eliminating facial features has not been investigated. In this work, the velocity field and particle aspiration associated with two differently shaped mannequins were investigated to determine if an elliptical form was sufficient to represent the complexity of fluid flow associated with an inhaling human. Laser Doppler anemometry was used to measure velocity, and both optical sizing and gravimetric analysis were used to measure particle aspiration from an aerosol source. All tests were performed with continuous inhalation through the mouth, with the mannequin facing the 0.3 m s(-1) freestream. Although limitations in the laser Doppler optics prevented velocity measurements at distances <11 mm in front of the mannequin mouth opening, significant velocity differences were identified up to 20 mm in front of the mouth opening. This indicated that facial features affected the flow field near the face only. Owing to these differences, particle aspiration was compared between mannequins for three different velocity ratio conditions using an aerosol source. Even with relatively large variability in the aspirated concentration in this study, the aspirated mass concentration was significantly less for the anatomical mannequin relative to the elliptical form. Thus, the simplified elliptical cylinder does not sufficiently characterize the fluid dynamics near the mouth of an inhaling human form at these limited test conditions. Future CFD and numerical simulations to investigate human aspiration of particles should incorporate the complex features of the human face to investigate adequately particle aspiration in low velocity environments.

Aims: Systematic registration of data from clinical practice is important for clinical care, local, national and international registries, and audit. Data to be collected for these different purposes should be harmonized. Therefore, during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union (EU) (January to June 2004), the Department of Health and Children worked with the European Society of Cardiology, the Irish Cardiac Society, and the European Commission to develop data standards for clinical cardiology. The Cardiology Audit and Registration Data Standards (CARDS) Project aimed to agree standards for three modules of cardiovascular health information systems: acute coronary syndromes (ACS), percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), and clinical electrophysiology (pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and ablation procedures)., Methods and Results: Data items from existing registries and surveys were reviewed to derive draft data standards (variables, coding, and definitions). Variables common to the three modules include demographics, risk factors, medication, and discharge and follow-up data. Modules about a procedure contain variables on the lesion, the device, and medication during the procedure. The ACS module includes presenting symptoms, reperfusion and acute treatments, and procedures in hospital and at follow-up., Conclusions: The data standards were discussed and adopted at a conference involving EU member states in Cork, Ireland, in May 2004. After a pilot study, the standards will be disseminated to stakeholders throughout Europe.

This paper explores the 4-parameter lognormal distribution (or Johnson S(B) distribution) as a model for occupational exposures to airborne contaminants. This model can incorporate extreme values when they are known a priori, or alternatively, they can be estimated from the data. This additional flexibility may be of value in estimating background and/or maximum exposures, as well as improving the fitting process and subsequent estimation of mean exposures. In addition, the model is physically consistent with the definition of concentration and provides a basis for linking stochastic and deterministic exposure modeling approaches. There is some additional computational burden in estimating the mean and variance of exposure relative to the usual 2-parameter lognormal model.

This literature review presents information on measures for controlling worker exposure to toxic airborne contaminants generated during abrasive blasting operations occurring primarily in the construction industry. The exposures of concern include respirable crystalline silica, lead, chromates, and other toxic metals. Unfortunately, silica sand continues to be widely used in the United States as an abrasive blasting medium, resulting in high exposures to operators and surrounding personnel. Recently, several alternative abrasives have emerged as potential substitutes for sand, but they seem to be underused Some of these abrasives may pose additional metal exposure hazards. In addition, several new and improved technologies offer promise for reducing or eliminating exposures; these include wet abrasive blasting, high-pressure water jetting, vacuum blasting, and automated/robotic systems. More research, particularly field studies, is needed to evaluate control interventions in this important and hazardous operation.

This paper presents a stochastic differential equation for exposure based on a modified version of the standard dilution ventilation equation. An equilibrium solution is obtained with the assumption that variability in the rate of change of concentration is proportional to the product of concentration and one minus concentration. Appropriate definitions for concentration are used to ensure a physically consistent model. The probability distribution for exposure that results is the standard beta distribution. This model is supported by several exposure data sets, which fit the beta distribution well. Issues regarding parameter estimation for the beta distribution, and application of the model are presented. Recommendations are made for simultaneously collecting contaminant generation rate information, ventilation rates, and time-dependent breathing-zone tracer concentrations, in addition to the exposure data.

This literature review summarizes engineering control technology research for dust and silica exposures associated with selected tasks in the construction industry. Exposure to crystalline silica can cause silicosis and lung fibrosis, and evidence now links it with lung cancer. Of over 30 references identified and reviewed, 16 were particularly significant in providing data and analyses capable of documenting the efficacy of various engineering controls. These reports include information on generation rates and worker exposures to silica and dust during four different tasks: cutting brick and concrete block, grinding mortar from between bricks, drilling, and grinding concrete surfaces. The major controls are wet methods and local exhaust ventilation. The studies suggest that while the methods provide substantial exposure reductions, they may not reduce levels below the current ACGIH threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.05 mg/m(3) for respirable quartz. Although further research on controls for these operations is indicated, it is clear that effective methods exist for significant exposure reduction.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute sponsored a workshop on laboratory chemical hoods on June 8, 9, and 10, 1998, that brought together 24 experts in the field of laboratory chemical hoods to critically assess the information known about hood performance. Workshop participants developed 31 consensus statements that reflect their collective views on the body of knowledge or lack thereof, for laboratory chemical hoods. The consensus statements fall into four broad categories: (1) hood selection, use, and operation; (2) hood and laboratory design issues; (3) ventilation system design issues; and (4) hood performance testing. The consensus statements include 26 statements on what is known and unknown about the performance of laboratory chemical hoods, 2 statements of definition, and 3 statements that reflect the participants' agreement not to agree. The brief commentary that follows each consensus statement provides guidance and recommendations.

This paper presents results from numerical simulations conducted to estimate the inertial range (stopping distance) of large aerosol particles ejected away from local exhaust hoods. Potential flow theory is used to specify the air velocity along the centerline of a flanged circular hood. A high-order Gear method is used to integrate the particle equations of motion with drag coefficients in the transitional range. The results allow for a relative comparison of hood performance based on the energy cost needed to stop the particle within a specified distance. Hood size is shown to be a critical factor, while the capture velocity generated by the hood at the point of particle ejection is of secondary importance.

The primary objective of this study was to improve the characterization of particulate matter emissions from burning incense. Emissions of particulate matter were measured for 23 different types of incense using a cyclone/filter method. Emission rates for PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter) ranged from 7 to 202 mg/h, and PM2.5 emission factors ranged from 5 to 56 mg/g of incense burned. Emission rates were also determined using an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) and a small electrostatic precipitator (ESP), and emission rates were compared to those determined using the cyclone/filter method. Emission rates determined by the ELPI method were consistently lower than those determined by the cyclone/filter method, and a linear regression correlation was found between emission rates determined by the two methods. Emission rates determined by the ESP method were consistently higher than those determined by the cyclone/filter method, indicating that the ESP may be a more effective method for measuring semivolatile particle emissions. A linear regression correlation was also found between emission rates determined by the ESP and cyclone/filter methods. Particle size distributions were measured with the ELPI, and distributions were found to be similar for most types of incense that were tested. Size distributions by mass typically ranged from approximately 0.06 to 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter, with peak values between 0.26 and 0.65 microm. Results indicated that burning incense emits fine particulate matter in large quantities compared to other indoor sources. An indoor air quality model showed that indoor concentrations of PM25 can far exceed the outdoor concentrations specified by the US EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), so incense smoke can pose a health risk to people due to inhalation exposure of particulate matter. Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were also measured for seven types of incense. Emission rates of the gaseous pollutants were sufficient to cause indoor concentrations, estimated using the indoor air quality model, to exceed the outdoor concentrations specified by the NAAQS under certain conditions. However, the incense samples that were tested would fill a room with thick smoke under these conditions.

The transfer efficiency of a compressed air spray gun is an important performance index with regard to worker health, environmental, and economic considerations. It is defined as the fraction of paint sprayed that coats the surface. Worker exposure has been identified as a function of the transfer efficiency based on total mass of paint sprayed, which can be predicted by a mathematical model developed with nonvolatile oil. This study extends the existing model to include volatile effects by employing a mathematical approach based on a mass balance. This method allows the current model to predict transfer efficiency bounds at two extreme situations: all volatile compounds evaporate either before or after droplet impaction. Model predictions show that tight transfer efficiency bounds are obtained, especially for high values of transfer efficiency. Thus, the average of the upper and lower bounds should be a reasonable estimate of transfer efficiency. It is also found that the current model prediction, which is based on total mass of paint sprayed, for nonvolatile material can be converted to a transfer efficiency based on the mass of solids. The laboratory study shows that the predicted transfer efficiency based on the mass of solids is within the 95 percent C.I. of the measured value. This work relates the transfer efficiency used in industry, which is calculated on the basis of paint solids, with a model that predicts worker exposure during spray painting operations.

This paper presents a mathematical model to predict breathing-zone overspray concentrations produced during spray painting as a function of the overspray generation rate, ventilation and work practices. The overspray generation rate required an estimate of the spray gun transfer efficiency, which was provided by a previously developed mathematical model. These models were evaluated in the field under two different scenarios: first in a controlled environment that approximated the assumptions of models, and then under actual spray painting conditions. Results from the first test showed the model overestimated transfer efficiency, but the measured exposures and predicted exposures were not significantly different. During actual spray painting operations, all task exposures were within a factor of three of the model predictions, and there was no statistical difference between the measured and predicted values. The predicted average exposure of each worker was within the 95% confidence interval. The overall mean exposure was within one standard error of the model prediction. The current study expands on the original exposure model by including a transfer efficiency model to provide a better estimate of the overspray generation rate. The theoretical foundation between exposure and its primary determinants is established, and this knowledge can be applied to design and can evaluate optimal control interventions. Also, the general methodology presented here for developing an exposure model is applicable to operations other than spray painting.

The transfer efficiency of a spray-painting gun is defined as the amount of coating applied to the workpiece divided by the amount sprayed. Characterizing this transfer process allows for accurate estimation of the overspray generation rate, which is important for determining a spray painter's exposure to airborne contaminants. This study presents an experimental evaluation of a mathematical model for predicting the transfer efficiency of a high volume-low pressure spray gun. The effects of gun-to-surface distance and nozzle pressure on the agreement between the transfer efficiency measurement and prediction were examined. Wind tunnel studies and non-volatile vacuum pump oil in place of commercial paint were used to determine transfer efficiency at nine gun-to-surface distances and four nozzle pressure levels. The mathematical model successfully predicts transfer efficiency within the uncertainty limits. The least squares regression between measured and predicted transfer efficiency has a slope of 0.83 and an intercept of 0.12 (R2 = 0.98). Two correction factors were determined to improve the mathematical model. At higher nozzle pressure settings, 6.5 psig and 5.5 psig, the correction factor is a function of both gun-to-surface distance and nozzle pressure level. At lower nozzle pressures, 4 psig and 2.75 psig, gun-to-surface distance slightly influences the correction factor, while nozzle pressure has no discernible effect.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to simulate breathing-zone concentration for a simple representation of spray painting a flat plate in a cross-flow ventilated booth. The results demonstrate the capability of CFD to track correctly changes in breathing-zone concentration associated with work practices shown previously to be significant in determining exposure. Empirical data, and models verified through field studies, are used to examine the predictive capability of these simulations and to identify important issues in the conduct of such comparisons. A commercially available CFD package is used to solve a three-dimensional turbulent flow problem for the velocity field, and to subsequently generate particle trajectories for polydisperse aerosols. An in-house algorithm is developed to convert the trajectory data to breathing-zone concentrations, transfer efficiencies and aerosol size distributions. The mesh size, time step, duration of the simulation, and number of particles per size interval are all important variables in achieving convergent results.

This paper presents a mathematical model to predict breathing-zone concentrations of airborne contaminants generated during compressed air spray painting in cross-flow ventilated booths. The model focuses on characterizing the generation and transport of overspray mist. It extends previous work on conventional spray guns to include exposures generated by HVLP guns. Dimensional analysis and scale model wind-tunnel studies are employed using non-volatile oils, instead of paint, to produce empirical equations for estimating exposure to total mass. Results indicate that a dimensionless breathing zone concentration is a nonlinear function of the ratio of momentum flux of air from the spray gun to the momentum flux of air passing through the projected area of the worker's body. The orientation of the spraying operation within the booth is also very significant. The exposure model requires an estimate of the contaminant generation rate, which is approximated by a simple impactor model. The results represent an initial step in the construction of more realistic models capable of predicting exposure as a mathematical function of the governing parameters.

The results of a "user" tracer gas test were applied to investigate the effects of various parameters on hood containment ability and to evaluate accepted methods to classify hood performance. This user tracer gas test was performed with a human subject standing in front of the hood. Based on the data collected, face velocity, its variability, and cross drafts are important in determining hood leakage. Results indicate that the temporal variability of face velocity may deserve as much consideration as its spatial variability, a parameter more traditionally recognized as being important. The data collected indicate that hoods with horizontally sliding sash doors perform better with the doors positioned to provide a center opening rather than when all of the doors are pushed to one side. The observed smoke patterns suggest that this trend is caused by the location and instability of vortices formed along the perimeter edge when all doors are pushed to one side. The results of manikin tracer gas tests and the user tracer gas test are inconsistent, suggesting that more research is needed to determine how best to evaluate whether a hood protects its users.

The observation that the between-worker variance component of exposure is significant for those performing the same tasks suggests that work practices are an important determinant of exposure. Decisions to implement engineering controls may be less than optimal if these work practices are not carefully identified. This study examines the position of the worker with respect to an object and the airflow direction in a large booth-type hood, and its implications for control of exposure. Experiments are conducted in a wind-tunnel using a mannequin and tracer gas techniques to measure exposures in the various positions at different air velocities. Smoke-wire, flow-visualization techniques are employed to correlate the exposures with the airflow patterns. Numerical predictions of these flow patterns and exposures compare favorably with experimental data, despite limitations. Further work is underway to examine more realistic situations such as spray-painting applications.

A finite-element formulation with penalty approach to enforce continuity is employed here to simulate the three-dimensional velocity field resulting from a simple push-pull ventilation configuration. An analytic expression for the length scale and a transport equation for turbulent kinetic energy are coupled with the momentum equations. A coaxial square hood and jet are arranged with cross-draught perpendicular to the common centreline. Numerical predictions of the velocity and turbulence kinetic energy fields are evaluated in the plane of symmetry with hot film anemometry, and smoke-wire flow visualizations. The agreement of the simulated jet trajectories with flow visualizations is reasonable, as are velocities. Predictions of turbulence kinetic energy are not as good, particularly near the hood face. Despite the limitations the numerical approach is useful in assessing the impact of cross-draughts on the push-pull arrangement.

The velocity field downstream of a worker is approximated with a discrete vortex algorithm. This information is used to calculate trajectories of massless tracer 'particles' released from a point-source of contaminant. Concentrations in the plane of this source are estimated by averaging over a number of such trajectories. Approximations include: (1) representing the worker by a two-dimensional elliptical cylinder; and (2) representing tracer gas contaminant by massless particles generated without momentum. These particles are transported by both vortex shedding and turbulent diffusion. Computer-predicted mean concentrations in the near-wake region downstream of the worker compare well with results from wind-tunnel tracer gas experiments employing a mannequin. Subsequently, the concept of a computational breathing zone is introduced, and predictions of worker exposure are made. These simulations of time-integrated breathing zone concentration also compare well with measured values.

Several factors affecting breathing zone concentration were examined in a paint spray booth by using a tracer gas method. The variables in the study include contaminant momentum, the presence of a flat plate downstream of the worker, the distance between the contaminant source and the body, and the worker's motion. A dramatic reduction in breathing zone concentration was observed when the spray gun emitted contaminants with high momentum. Reductions of 30-50% were observed because of the other variables. The source momentum effect was studied, subsequently, in a wind tunnel by measuring the breathing zone concentration of a mannequin with various flows through jets of different diameter, at varying freestream velocities. A functional relationship was determined between nondimensional breathing zone concentration and contaminant source momentum. This relationship is supported by numerical simulations. The effect of contaminant momentum on the near-wake flow field is discussed in conjunction with results from the numerical simulations.

The phenomenon of boundary layer separation can be an important factor in determining a worker's exposure to toxic airborne pollutants. A conceptual model was developed to understand this phenomenon and to predict the average concentration in the reverse flow region downstream of a worker in a uniform freestream. Subsequently, the assumptions of this model were tested experimentally in wind tunnel studies. On the basis of these results, a revised model is presented and validated by using a tracer gas method. The revised model provides a reasonable estimate of the average concentration in the reverse flow region of the mannequin. Empirical models are presented that relate both the average concentration in the reverse flow region and the breathing zone concentration to the body dimensions and the freestream air velocity. Applications and limitations of the results are discussed.

The effect of boundary layer separation on worker exposure is an important factor in the design of local exhaust ventilation. Three-dimensional airflow around a mannequin is examined by using flow visualization techniques and hot-film anemometry. Above the chest, a downwash effect is noted; from the chest to the elbows, a combination of downwash and vortex shedding is observed; and from the waist to the hip, vortex shedding appears to be dominant. A coherent vertical flow structure is observed close to the body. Vortex shedding frequency is determined by using hot-film anemometry. The dimensions of the reverse flow region and the area of the vortices are estimated from flow visualization videos.

The discrete vortex method is a numerical technique for the solution of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in vorticity-transport form. The technique is employed here, with appropriate modifications, to simulate boundary layer separation around a worker and to assess the implications for exposure. Approximations include: (1) representation of the worker as a two-dimensional elliptical cylinder; and (2) contaminant transport by vortex shedding exclusively. The model results in estimates of breathing zone concentration that are in reasonable agreement with laboratory wind tunnel experiments.

Computer simulations were used to examine competing exhaust hood configurations for shielded metal arc welding. The welder's breathing zone concentration appears to be an inverse linear function of the computer-predicted hood capture efficiency. Hood aspect ratio, hood flow, and the welder's position relative to the hood all have a significant effect on the breathing zone concentration. The height of the hood above the welding surface showed no significant effect in reducing breathing zone concentration. Further examination of breathing zone concentration as a function of capture efficiency is needed before reliable design methods can be developed using this parameter.

A model describing the three-dimensional velocity field into a flanged slot hood has been developed using potential flow theory. Modeling the slot as an elliptical aperture allows use of the potential function to develop expressions for the velocity components (vx,vy,vz) at any point (x,y,z). Experiments were performed to measure velocities in front of six slot hoods. Experimental results were compared with velocities predicted by two models: an equal area ellipse with the same length to width ratio as the slot and an ellipse inscribed within the slot.