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PubMed2004

Heat and water vapour transfer of protective clothing systems in a cold environment, measured with a newly developed sweating thermal manikin.

A moveable sweating thermal manikin has recently been developed. Thermal and water-vapour resistances of three kinds of cold-protective clothing ensembles, laminated with polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane and without a laminate were measured, with the aid of the manikin in a cold environment of 5 degrees C with a relative humidity of 70% and an air velocity of around 1.5 m s(-1). Two sweating rates of 65 and 130 g m(-2) h(-1) were employed. Supplied heat fluxes in both of the sweat rates ranged from 350 W m(-2) to 400 W m(-2). To maintain a comfortable condition, the skin wettedness (w) (mean weighted value) had to be kept at < or = 0.6. The measurements obtained from the manikin when testing the three ensembles were w=0.3 (approximately) for the low sweat rate and w > or = 0.6 for the high sweat rate, irrespective of the property differences among the ensembles. In addition, the condensation in the ensembles in comparison with those calculated from an analytical equation is discussed. Condensation mass fluxes in the ensembles obtained by experiment and those from the calculation agreed sufficiently well. Thus, distribution of the condensation in the ensembles was estimated using the equation.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed1998

Influence of hydration status and fluid replacement on heat tolerance while wearing NBC protective clothing.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of hypohydration and fluid replacement on tolerance to an uncompensable heat stress. Eight healthy young males completed a matrix of six trials in an environmental chamber, set at 40 degrees C and 30% relative humidity, while wearing nuclear, biological, and chemical protective clothing. Subjects performed either light (3.5 km x h(-1), 0% grade, no wind) or heavy (4.8 km x h(-1), 4% grade, no wind) treadmill exercise combined with three hydration states [euhydration with fluid replacement (EU/F), euhydration without fluid replacement (EU/NF), and hypohydration with fluid replacement (H/F)]. Hypohydration of 2.2% body mass was achieved by exercise and fluid restriction on the day preceding the trials. No differences in the endpoint mean skin temperature (Tsk), sweat rate, or rectal temperature (Tre) were observed among the hydration conditions for either work rate. During light exercise, the change in Tre (deltaTre) was significantly higher with H/F than EU/F after 40 min, and heart rate was greater after 25 min. The heart rate was greater during EU/NF than during EU/F after 60 min. Tolerance times were significantly greater for EU/F than for either EU/NF or H/F. With heavy exercise, no differences in deltaTre were observed across hydration conditions. Compared to EU/F, heart rates were higher after 10 and 30 min for H/F and EU/NF, respectively. Tolerance times were significantly less during H/F than with either of the EU conditions. Stroke volume was significantly decreased in H/F trials compared to EU/F trials for both light and heavy work rates, but no differences in cardiac output were observed. It was concluded that even minor levels of hypohydration significantly impaired exercise tolerance in a severely uncompensable heat stress environment at both light and heavy exercise intensities.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effects of repeated exercise/rest sessions at -10 degrees C on skin and rectal temperatures in men wearing chemical protective clothing.

The development of thermophysiological responses during four consecutive exercise/rest sessions in the cold was studied in men wearing chemical protective clothing and a face mask. Six men repeated four exercise/rest sessions during 8 h at -10 degrees C. Each session consisted of step exercise (240 W x m(-2)) for 60 min and rest for another 60 min. Rectal and skin temperatures were measured continuously and thermal sensations were obtained at 30-min intervals. Entering the cold from a warm environment and the onset of exercise resulted in a decrease in skin temperatures during the first session and the decrement in the temperatures of the extremities continued for 10-20 min during the following period of exercise. Torso skin temperature was at its lowest during the first rest period. After the first session of cold exposure the range and the level of variation in mean body temperature (Tb) followed a pattern which was repeated until the end of the experiment. However, the torso skin temperatures increased gradually until the fourth session, while the temperatures of the extremities, in contrast, tended to decrease up to the third session. In conclusion, the present results indicated that although Tb, reflecting the whole body heat balance, showed a typical pattern of change after the first session (2 h), the torso area was warming until the end of the cold exposure while the extremities continued to cool down up to the third session (6 h), obviously due to a prolonged redistribution of the circulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Contamination of protective clothing and nurses' uniforms in an isolation ward.

Staphylococcus aureus was frequently isolated, usually in small numbers, from cotton gowns (12.6 per cent), plastic aprons (9.2 per cent) and nurses' uniforms (15 per cent). Gram-negative bacilli were infrequently isolated. Contamination of the protective clothing did not increase when used over periods of up to 11 days. Fewer organisms were recovered from the front of nurses' uniforms when plastic aprons instead of gowns were worn, but gowns provided better shoulder protection. However, no differences were observed in isolations of Staph, aureus or Gram-negative bacilli from these sites.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1991

Bacterial contamination of air and surgical wounds during joint replacement operations. Comparison of two different types of staff clothing.

Compared with conventional surgical clothing, polypropylene coveralls reduced the bacterial contamination of the air of a conventionally ventilated operating room by 62%. The contamination of surgical wounds during joint replacement was also reduced, but not to a significant degree. Sixteen percent of the bacteria sampled from the wounds were resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic and the importance of a clean air system for performing joint replacement operations is stressed. The use of commercially available non-woven swabs for sampling bacteria from the surgical wound compared favourably with the use of specially prepared velvet pads.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed2004

Effective personal protective clothing for health care workers attending patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Optimal usability is crucial in providing protection for health care workers who are exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome day and night while taking care of patients with the virus. No research study has yet tested the usability of personal protective clothing (PPC). METHOD: The study was carried out in 3 stages. PPC available in Hong Kong were sorted by their physical properties in the first stage. The second stage was a single-blinded study examining the different usability aspects of the PPC. The third stage was a simulated viral load test. RESULTS: Four types were identified: good water repellency and water resistance, poor air permeability (Type A PPC); good water repellency and air permeability, poor water resistance (Type B PPC); poor water repellency, poor water resistance, and fair air permeability (Type C PPC); and good water repellency, poor air permeability, and fair water resistance (Type D PPC). Type D PPC had a significantly higher number of contamination sites on the subjects' dorsum and palm. Type C PPC had the highest contamination over the trunk. Findings in the viral load test showed that there was a significant difference in the contamination of the face (t=4.69, df=38, P<.00) between 1 and 2 strokes. CONCLUSION: Type A PPC is effective in providing a desirable protective function against droplet splash, if a disposable PPC is required. Type C PPC, the surgical gown, is also appropriate, as the cost is low, air permeability is fair, and the level of possible hand contamination is lowest among the 4 groups in the current study.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dress for success. A nurse's knowledge of simple clothing adaptations and dressing aids may make the difference between rehabilitation success and failure.

Typical chronic diseases that affect older people often result in the loss of independence in daily activities, such as dressing. Losses of functional independence in such basic areas are factors in the institutionalization of elderly persons. The nurse's challenge? Help your clients remain independent. Simple clothing adaptations and dressing aids will help elderly people preserve self-esteem, social contacts, and control of their personal environment.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Air contamination during total hip arthroplasty in an ultraclean air enclosure using different types of staff clothing.

Air contamination was measured in a down-flow, clean air enclosure during 50 total hip arthroplasties to compare the effect of different scrub suits and operating gowns. In one series, with cotton clothes, the operating gowns used were either disposable nonwoven operating gowns or total body exhaust gowns. With the exhaust gowns the median air contamination, measured as colony-forming units (cfu)/m3, was reduced by about 5 times, to 0.3. In another series, nonwoven operating gowns were used together with scrub suits made of either cotton or one of two types of synthetic materials. The latter two scrub suits were equipped with elastic sealings at the openings. With both of these types the median air contamination, compared to cotton scrub suits, was reduced by about one half, to 0.4 cfu/m3. The authors conclude that both specially designed scrub suits and exhaust gowns can further reduce an already low level of bacterial air contamination in a down-flow, clean air enclosure.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1978

Bacterial contamination in a modern operating suite. 4. Bacterial contamination of clothes worn in the suite.

Clean clothes in the staff dressing rooms were heavily contaminated with bacteria, mainly Bacillus sp., but Staphylococcus aureus were found on 14% and Clostridium sp. on 10% of the garments examined. A comparison of the occurrence of Staph. aureus on shirts worn by staff in wards and operating departments showed ward shirts to be contaminated more heavily and with more strains. Examination of sterile gowns worn by surgeons showed that 70% were contaminated with Staph. aureus after operation. Of the strains isolated 31% were identical with those carried by the surgeon or by the patient operated on, but for the remainder no source could be found.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1989

Truckin' pneumonia--an outbreak of Q fever in a truck repair plant probably due to aerosols from clothing contaminated by contact with newborn kittens.

We describe an outbreak of Q fever affecting 16 of 32 employees at a truck repair plant. None of the cases were exposed to cattle, sheep or goats, the traditional reservoirs of Q fever. The cases did not work, live on, or visit farms or attend livestock auctions. One of the employees had a cat which gave birth to kittens 2 weeks prior to the first case of Q fever in the plant. The cat owner fed the kittens every day before coming to work as the cat would not let the kittens suckle. Serum from the cat had high antibody titres to phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii antigens. The attack rate among the employees where the cat owner worked, 13 of 19 (68%), was higher than that of employees elsewhere, 3 of 13 (28%) [P less than 0.01]. The cat owner's wife and son also developed Q fever. None of the family members of the other employees with Q fever was so affected. We conclude that this outbreak of Q fever probably resulted from exposure to the contaminated clothing of the cat owner.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in house dust and clothes dryer lint.

Few studies have measured the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the indoor environment. Here, we report measurements of PBDEs in house dust samples collected from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the United States. Dust samples were analyzed for 22 individual PBDE congeners and our results found PBDEs present in every sample. Concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 780 ng/g dry mass to 30 100 ng/g dry mass. The dominant congeners observed in the dust samples were congeners associated with the pentaBDE and decaBDE commercial mixtures. Ancillary data were collected on the homes and examined for any correlations with total PBDE concentrations. No correlations were observed with year of house construction, type of flooring (i.e., hardwood vs carpet) or the number of television sets or personal computers in the home. However, a significant inverse correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between the area of the home and the contribution of BDE 209 to the total PBDE concentration in dust. Using estimates of inadvertent dust ingestion (0.02-0.2 g/day) by young children (ages 1-4), we estimate ingestion of total PBDEs to range from 120 to 6000 ng/day. Clothes dryer lint was also sampled and analyzed for PBDEs from five of the homes and were present in all five samples ranging from 480 to 3080 ng/g dry mass. This study demonstrates that PBDEs are prevalent at relatively high concentrations within homes where people, and particularly young children, may be susceptible to exposure.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Recovery of some common solvents from protective clothing breakthrough indicator pads by microwave-solvent extraction and gas chromatography.

The efficiency of solvent adsorption using Permea-Tec general solvent pads, used for the detection of chemical breakthrough of protective clothing, was determined for methanol, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, trichloroethylene (TriCE), tetrachloroethylene (TetCE), toluene, m-xylene, and D-limonene. Known volumes of single or mixed solvents were added to pads in the range 0.2-5.0 microliters (0.16-8.13 micrograms). After microwave-solvent extraction (ME) into hexan-1-ol, the samples (0.5-3.0 microliters) of the filtered and extracted solutions were analyzed by gas chromatography. All solvents exhibited > 97% adsorption on the pads at spiking levels of 0.48-0.98 microgram for each solvent. The solvent recovery for the system was calculated for each solvent, with solvents with boiling points below 110 degrees C showing recoveries of > 90%, and with solvents with boiling points above 110 degrees C showing recoveries from 80 to 90%. The recovery precision was good (RSD < or = 4%) for all solvents over the range 1.0-2.5 microliters of applied solvents to pads for ME and 1.0 microliter of extracted solutions for GC analysis.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

Determination of solvents permeating through chemical protective clothing with a microsensor array.

The performance of a novel prototype instrument in determining solvents and solvent mixtures permeating through samples of chemical protective clothing (CPC) materials was evaluated. The instrument contains a mini-preconcentrator and an array of three polymer-coated surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) microsensors whose collective response patterns are used to discriminate among multiple permeants. Permeation tests were performed with a 2.54 cm diameter test cell in an open-loop configuration on samples of common glove materials challenged with four individual solvents, three binary mixtures, and two ternary mixtures. Breakthrough times, defined as the times required for the permeation rate to reach a value of 1 microg cm(-2) min(-1), determined by the instrument were within 3 min of those determined in parallel by manual sampling and gas chromatographic analysis. Permeating solvents were recognized (identified) from their response patterns in 59 out of 64 measurements (92%) and their vapor concentrations were quantified to an accuracy of +/- 31% (typically +/- 10%). These results demonstrate the potential for such instrumentation to provide semi-automated field or bench-top screening of CPC permeation resistance.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Mite control with low temperature washing-II. Elimination of living mites on clothing.

BACKGROUND: Allergens produced by mites are one of the principal causes of allergic disease. House dust mites can be found in significant numbers living in textile garments, and therefore development of optimal washing conditions for delicate textiles represents an important aim for domestic mite control. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of methods to eliminate house dust mites from clothing under low temperature washing conditions. METHODS: Domestic house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae were cultured on garments under favourable conditions. The breeding success was monitored in terms of population and distribution using the free-mite Mobility Test. The mite containing garments were washed at low temperature with different commercial detergents in the presence or absence of a mite control additive containing 0.03% benzyl benzoate, and the numbers of mites surviving the washing process were assessed using the Heat Escape Method. RESULTS: The successful culture of mites in textile garments led to mite numbers of a total of at least 9000 to 10000 mites in 10 garments (Mobility Test). After washing in a domestic washing machine with detergents alone approximately 6000 remaining mites were detected in 10 garment halfs (Heat Escape Method). In contrast, mite control by the application of the same detergents together with an additive achieved a reduction to almost 50 mites. This is an additional reduction in mite numbers of 99.2%. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to achieve mite control in delicate garments by washing at low temperature in the presence of a mite control additive providing a final concentration of 0.03% benzyl benzoate.

Allergens↗
PubMed2000

Dispersal of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis by staff in an operating suite for thoracic and cardiovascular surgery: relation to skin carriage and clothing.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) is a common cause of deep sternal infections. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate staff in an operating suite for thoracic and cardiovascular surgery as a possible source of MRSE and the possibility of reducing the amount of MRSE shed into the air by wearing tightly woven scrub suits. A second aim was to compare the results of dispersal obtained in a test chamber with those from an operating room. We studied carriage of MRSE in the nose and on different skin sites and made an experimental study of dispersal of MRSE during exercise in a test chamber and during operations, using two different types of scrub suits. Dispersal of MRSE [defined as > 1% of the total count of colony forming units (CFU) shed into the air] occurred in 25% of women and 43% of men. Nasal carriage was found among 28% in women and 33% in men. Among five skin-sampling sites, carriage of MRSE was most frequent on the cheek (50%) and in the axilla (24%) and least frequent in the perineum (5%). Dispersal of MRSE was however more strongly associated with carriage in the perineum (P = 0.097) than on the cheek (P = 0.5) and in the axilla (P = 0.21). With regard to shedding of bacteria into the air, there was a significant difference in favour of the tightly woven clothes regarding total counts of CFU both in the test chamber (P = 0.02) and the operating theatre (P = 0.002). Regarding MRSE, no such difference was found. We found there were too many dispersers of MRSE among operating department staff to exclude them from work. Although tightly woven scrub suits significantly reduced the amount of bacteria shed into the air, the amount of MRSE was not significantly reduced. Full-scale experiments in operating rooms are not needed when evaluating the protective capacity of different scrub suits as results from a test chamber give conclusive information.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1980

[Diseases of the patella caused by clothing (author's transl)].

Fashionable clothing involving tight-fitting trousers and high heels forces human to adopt an attitude leading to diseases at the point of insertion of the tendons and of the cartilage of the patella. It is emphasized that malformations of the femoropatellar joint may possibly be caused by exogenous influences and may, therefore, be successfully treated by externally applied methods during the growth period.

Clothing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of a novel ice-cooling technique on work in protective clothing at 28 degrees C, 23 degrees C, and 18 degrees C WBGTs.

This study tested a new ice cooling system that permits ice cooling system recharge without personal protective clothing removal. Six male volunteers (22.1 +/- 1.2 years) underwent tests with the new ice cooling system (COOL) and without (NOCL) at a moderate work rate (450 W) in three environments of 28, 23, and 18 +/- 1 degrees C wet bulb globe temperature. Walks at 28 degrees C were carried out first with NOCL and COOL counterbalanced, then test order and environment were counterbalanced. At 28 degrees C, mean work time in COOL significantly increased by 37.5 min (188%) over NOCL (p < 0.05). At 23 degrees C mean work time in COOL was significantly increased by 44.3 min (171%) compared with NOCL (p < 0.05). Mean work times at 18 degrees C were not significantly different, although all subjects completed the 120 minutes of work in COOL compared with a mean work time of 109 +/- 20 min for NOCL. During rest, mean reductions in rectal temperature were significantly greater in COOL than NOCL (p < 0.05) at 28 and 23 degrees C. Mean heart rate calculated for the same point in both treatments was significantly lower for COOL at 28, 23, and 18 degrees C (p < 0.05). Thermal comfort rating was significantly different at 18 and 23 degrees C (p < 0.05). This new design seemed to provide comparable cooling to conventional vests and also provides greater practicality for field use. Even in experimental form the suit demonstrated increased productivity due to extended tolerance time.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of physiological responses to two types of particle barrier, vapor permeable clothing ensembles.

Chemical protective clothing (PC) use while working results in elevated rectal temperatures (Tre) that limit work time. Particle barrier, vapor permeable (PBVP) PCs allow workers to cool themselves by evaporating some sweat. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on worker productivity of two types of PBVP suits, a Kleenguard (PPPC) (Kimberly Clark), and a Tyvek (PEPC) (DuPont) suit. Fifteen males in a repeated measures design performed four work tests consisting of a walk/arm curl combination at a time-weighted work rate of 1.0 L/min (300 kcal/hr), two in a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of 26 degrees C and two in a WBGT of 18 degrees C, with subjects wearing each suit once in each environment. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between the suits at 18 degrees C WBGT, but a significant difference was found (p < 0.05) between the suits, with the PPPC having a lower Tre in the WBGT = 26 degrees C at the 80th, 100th, and 120th min. A significant difference (p < .05) was also seen in the 26 degrees C WBGT with the PPPC resulting in a lower heart rate (HR) at the 40th, 60th, 80th, 100th, and 120th min and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) at the 75th, 90th, and 120th min. Additionally, a significant difference (p < .05) was seen between PEPC and PPPC for Tre, delta Tre, mean skin temp (mTsk), delta mTsk, and HR, each regressed against time in the 26 degrees C WBGT. Twelve of the 15 subjects also reported feeling cooler in the PPPC versus the PEPC in either WBGT environment.

Adolescent↗