Dataset Information

Particulate matter emissions during autopsies: a method to reduce exposure.

ABSTRACT: Particulate matter emitted during autopsies can serve as a vector for numerous viruses or bacteria and can lead to infections. Reducing the exposure of those particles in indoor working environments is, therefore, an important issue. To assess the health risk for employees in forensic medicine, we measure particulate matter in the ambient air during autopsies by using an aerosol spectrometer. The autopsies were performed with either an ordinary oscillating saw or an adapted saw with a suction unit. The particle emissions from both saws were compared to each other in order to evaluate whether a technical adaption leads to a particle reduction. Furthermore, the particle exposure reduction by wearing a face mask and variations in the background concentration in the room were analyzed. High particle concentrations were measured while using the ordinary saw. By using the adapted saw or wearing a face mask, the particle exposure could mostly be avoided. On the majority of the working days, an increase in the background concentration could be observed. Based on this knowledge, the use of a proper suction unit and wearing a face mask during autopsies is necessary. Besides, it is important to have sufficient ventilation in the room so that long-lasting high background concentrations can be prevented.

SUBMITTER: Droge J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9008663 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Particulate matter emissions during autopsies: a method to reduce exposure.

Dröge Janis J Moussaoui Ibrahim El IE Klingelhöfer Doris D Held Hannelore H Groneberg David A DA Verhoff Marcel A MA Plenzig Stefanie S

Environmental science and pollution research international 20220414 40

Particulate matter emitted during autopsies can serve as a vector for numerous viruses or bacteria and can lead to infections. Reducing the exposure of those particles in indoor working environments is, therefore, an important issue. To assess the health risk for employees in forensic medicine, we measure particulate matter in the ambient air during autopsies by using an aerosol spectrometer. The autopsies were performed with either an ordinary oscillating saw or an adapted saw with a suction un ...[more]

PMID: 35420344

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Project description:BackgroundEmerging findings have increased concern that exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5) may be neurotoxic, even at lower levels of exposure. Yet, additional studies are needed to determine if exposure to current PM2.5 levels may be linked to hemispheric and regional patterns of brain development in children across the United States.ObjectivesWe examined the cross-sectional associations between geocoded measures of concurrent annual average outdoor PM2.5 exposure, regional- and hemisphere-specific differences in brain morphometry and cognition in 10,343 9- and 10- year-old children.MethodsHigh-resolution structural T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIH Toolbox measures of cognition were collected from children at ages 9-10 years. FreeSurfer was used to quantify cortical surface area, cortical thickness, as well as subcortical and cerebellum volumes in each hemisphere. PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using an ensemble-based model approach and assigned to each child's primary residential address collected at the study visit. We used mixed-effects models to examine regional- and hemispheric- effects of PM2.5 exposure on brain estimates and cognition after considering nesting of participants by familial relationships and study site, adjustment for socio-demographic factors and multiple comparisons.ResultsAnnual residential PM2.5 exposure (7.63 ± 1.57 µg/m3) was associated with hemispheric specific differences in gray matter across cortical regions of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes as well as subcortical and cerebellum brain regions. There were hemispheric-specific associations between PM2.5 exposures and cortical surface area in 9/31 regions; cortical thickness in 22/27 regions; and volumes of the thalamus, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens. We found neither significant associations between PM2.5 and task performance on individual measures of neurocognition nor evidence that sex moderated the observed associations.DiscussionEven at relatively low-levels, current PM2.5 exposure across the U.S. may be an important environmental factor influencing patterns of structural brain development in childhood. Prospective follow-up of this cohort will help determine how current levels of PM2.5 exposure may affect brain development and subsequent risk for cognitive and emotional problems across adolescence.

Dataset Information

Particulate matter emissions during autopsies: a method to reduce exposure.

Publications

Particulate matter emissions during autopsies: a method to reduce exposure.

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