M. Eileen Birch

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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Joseph E. Fernback

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Matthew M. Dahm

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Mary K. Schubauer‐Berigan

Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer

Douglas E. Evans

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Aaron Erdely

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Alan Dozier

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

John D. Beard

Brigham Young University

Robert R. Mercer

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Chen Wang

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Stephen Bertke

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Cooperative Institutions

King's College London

300

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

245

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

University of Manchester

University College London

Versus Arthritis

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Center for Rheumatology

University of Southampton

University of Cincinnati

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Low-wind and other microclimatic factors in near-road black carbon variability: A case study and assessment implications

Atmospheric Environment (2013)

Marissa S. Liang Timothy C. Keener M. Eileen Birch Richard Baldauf Jill Neal

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.07.057

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Citations (14)

Characterization of Micronized/Nanoscale Copper Particles in Wood Dust by TEM/STEM

Microscopy and Microanalysis (2016)

Chen Wang Chaolong Qi Alan Echt Alan Dozier Joseph E. Fernback

Characterization

10.1017/s1431927616010308

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Citations (1)

Assessment of airborn multiwalled carbon nanotubes in a manufactoring environment

Nanotechnologies in Russia (2016)

Л. М. Фатхутдинова Timur O. Khaliullin Ramil R. Zalyalov А. Г. Ткачев M. Eileen Birch

Agglomerate

Carbon fibers

10.1134/s1995078016010055

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Citations (18)

Carbon Nanotube and Nanofiber Exposure Assessments: An Analysis of 14 Site Visits

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene (2015)

Matthew M. Dahm Mary K. Schubauer‐Berigan Douglas E. Evans M. Eileen Birch Joseph E. Fernback

Recent evidence has suggested the potential for wide-ranging health effects that could result from exposure to carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF). In response, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) set a recommended exposure limit (REL) for CNT and CNF: 1 µg m−3 as an 8-h time weighted average (TWA) of elemental carbon (EC) for the respirable size fraction. The purpose of this study was to conduct an industrywide exposure assessment among US CNT and CNF manufacturers and users. Fourteen total sites were visited to assess exposures to CNT (13 sites) and CNF (1 site). Personal breathing zone (PBZ) and area samples were collected for both the inhalable and respirable mass concentration of EC, using NIOSH Method 5040. Inhalable PBZ samples were collected at nine sites while at the remaining five sites both respirable and inhalable PBZ samples were collected side-by-side. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) PBZ and area samples were also collected at the inhalable size fraction and analyzed to quantify and size CNT and CNF agglomerate and fibrous exposures. Respirable EC PBZ concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 2.94 µg m−3 with a geometric mean (GM) of 0.34 µg m−3 and an 8-h TWA of 0.16 µg m−3. PBZ samples at the inhalable size fraction for EC ranged from 0.01 to 79.57 µg m−3 with a GM of 1.21 µg m−3. PBZ samples analyzed by TEM showed concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 1.613 CNT or CNF-structures per cm3 with a GM of 0.008 and an 8-h TWA concentration of 0.003. The most common CNT structure sizes were found to be larger agglomerates in the 2–5 µm range as well as agglomerates >5 µm. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the inhalable samples for the mass of EC and structure counts by TEM (Spearman ρ = 0.39, P < 0.0001). Overall, EC PBZ and area TWA samples were below the NIOSH REL (96% were <1 μg m−3 at the respirable size fraction), while 30% of the inhalable PBZ EC samples were found to be >1 μg m−3. Until more information is known about health effects associated with larger agglomerates, it seems prudent to assess worker exposure to airborne CNT and CNF materials by monitoring EC at both the respirable and inhalable size fractions. Concurrent TEM samples should be collected to confirm the presence of CNT and CNF.

Agglomerate

Inhalation exposure

Exposure Assessment

Fraction (chemistry)

10.1093/annhyg/mev020

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Citations (87)

An automated method for the measurement of a range of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in human plasma or serum using turbulent flow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2012)

Lewis Couchman M. Eileen Birch Robin Ireland A. L. Corrigan Saumya Wickramasinghe

Protein precipitation

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Lapatinib

10.1007/s00216-012-5970-2

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Citations (78)

Association of pulmonary, cardiovascular, and hematologic metrics with carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposure among U.S. workers: a cross-sectional study

Particle and Fibre Toxicology (2018)

Mary K. Schubauer‐Berigan Matthew M. Dahm Aaron Erdely John D. Beard M. Eileen Birch

Commercial use of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (CNT/F) in composites and electronics is increasing; however, little is known about health effects among workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 108 workers at 12 U.S. CNT/F facilities. We evaluated chest symptoms or respiratory allergies since starting work with CNT/F, lung function, resting blood pressure (BP), resting heart rate (RHR), and complete blood count (CBC) components.We conducted multi-day, full-shift sampling to measure background-corrected elemental carbon (EC) and CNT/F structure count concentrations, and collected induced sputum to measure CNT/F in the respiratory tract. We measured (nonspecific) fine and ultrafine particulate matter mass and count concentrations. Concurrently, we conducted physical examinations, BP measurement, and spirometry, and collected whole blood. We evaluated associations between exposures and health measures, adjusting for confounders related to lifestyle and other occupational exposures.CNT/F air concentrations were generally low, while 18% of participants had evidence of CNT/F in sputum. Respiratory allergy development was positively associated with inhalable EC (p=0.040) and number of years worked with CNT/F (p=0.008). No exposures were associated with spirometry-based metrics or pulmonary symptoms, nor were CNT/F-specific metrics related to BP or most CBC components. Systolic BP was positively associated with fine particulate matter (p-values: 0.015-0.054). RHR was positively associated with EC, at both the respirable (p=0.0074) and inhalable (p=0.0026) size fractions. Hematocrit was positively associated with the log of CNT/F structure counts (p=0.043).Most health measures were not associated with CNT/F. The positive associations between CNT/F exposure and respiratory allergies, RHR, and hematocrit counts may not be causal and require examination in other studies.

Cross-sectional study

10.1186/s12989-018-0258-0

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Citations (47)

Organic and Elemental Carbon Filter Sets: Preparation Method and Interlaboratory Results

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene (2012)

Ming Chai M. Eileen Birch Greg Deye

Carbonaceous aerosols play an important role in climate, visibility, air quality, and human health effects, and they have been routinely monitored in workplace and environmental settings. Different thermal analysis methods have been applied to determine the carbon content of carbonaceous aerosols. Good agreement between results for total carbon (TC) generally has been found, but the organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) fractions determined by different methods often disagree. Measurement uncertainty is mainly due to pyrolysis and charring of OC sample components. Lack of reference materials has impeded progress on method standardization and understanding method biases. A relatively simple method for generating matched filter sets having known OC–EC contents is reported. After generation and analysis of each set to confirm agreement between filters, the filter sets were distributed to six laboratories for an interlaboratory comparison. Analytical results indicate a uniform carbon distribution for the filter sets and good agreement between the participating laboratories. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) for mean TC (OC + EC), OC, and EC results for seven laboratories were <10, 11, and 12% (respectively). Except for one EC result (RSD = 16%), RSDs reported by individual laboratories for TC, OC, and EC were <12%. The method of filter generation is generally applicable and reproducible. Depending on the application, different filter loadings and types of OC materials can be employed. Matched filter sets prepared by the described approach can be used for determining the accuracy of OC–EC methods and thereby contribute to method standardization.

Charring

Carbon fibers

Filter paper

10.1093/annhyg/mes029

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Citations (12)

Occupational Monitoring of Particulate Diesel Exhaust by NIOSH Method 5040

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2002)

M. Eileen Birch

NMAM 5040 is a particulate carbon method based on a thermal-optical analysis technique. The method was evaluated and published as a method for monitoring occupational exposures to particulate diesel exhaust, but it is applicable to particulate carbon aerosols in general, and has been routinely used in both occupational and environmental settings. Both organic and elemental carbon are determined, but EC is a more selective measure of workplace diesel exposure. In previous studies, good agreement between TC results obtained by different methods has been achieved, but the OC-EC results for different methods have been quite variable. Although a reference material is not currently available to test the accuracy of different methods, previous studies indicate that purely thermal methods are subject to positive bias from organic materials that char. Charring and inadequate removal of refractory OC components during the nonoxidative mode (typically 550 degrees C in nitrogen) likely explain the positive bias of thermal methods, as well as the large variability across methods. These interferences may be negligible in some cases (e.g., samples from mines), but they present significant biases in others (e.g., urban air samples, samples containing wood or cigarette smokes). Good interlaboratory agreement was obtained in a round robin comparison between six laboratories that used NMAM 5040, which was not the case with purely thermal methods. Good agreement has also been seen in smaller-scale comparisons conducted for quality assurance purposes. Until a suitable reference material becomes available, such comparisons are recommended as part of a laboratory's QA procedures. At present, five commercial laboratories (4 in the United States and 1 in Canada) perform the 5040 analysis, and over 40 instruments are in use globally for environmental and occupational monitoring.

Charring

10.1080/10473220290035390

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Citations (71)

Type and Toxicity of Pesticides Sold for Community Vector Control Use in the Gambia

Epidemiology Research International (2012)

Mary Murphy Wayne T. Sanderson M. Eileen Birch Fang-Hui Liang Edrisa Sanyang

Objectives . The objective of this study was to identify the types of pesticides in circulation at local markets in The Gambia and to determine the proportion of products that were sold as unlabeled pesticides. Methods . One hundred twenty-eight samples sold as pesticides were collected from four local markets throughout The Gambia. Pesticides in the samples were identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Findings . Of the 128 samples collected, 115 were unlabeled. Pesticide components in 111 of those unlabeled samples were identified. Approximately 28% of these samples that contained pesticides are banned or restricted in the United States, and about 16% was classified as hazardous by WHO. Conclusions . Based on results for 128 samples, a significant percentage of the pesticide products sold at local markets in The Gambia in 2005 are considered extremely hazardous.

10.1155/2012/387603

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Citations (16)

Carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposure and sputum and blood biomarkers of early effect among U.S. workers

Environment International (2018)

John D. Beard Aaron Erdely Matthew M. Dahm Marie A. de Perio M. Eileen Birch

10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.004

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Citations (67)