Direct-Read Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Bioaerosol Exposure in Home Healthcare

Vishal D. Nathu, Jurate Virkutyte, Marepalli B. Rao, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Mark Hernandez and Tiina Reponen
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Vishal D. Nathu: Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
Jurate Virkutyte: Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
Marepalli B. Rao: Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA
Marina Nieto-Caballero: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA
Mark Hernandez: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA
Tiina Reponen: Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) are subjected to variable working environments which increase their risk of being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. One of the potential occupational hazards within the industry includes exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize concentrations of three types of bioaerosols utilizing a novel fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument during seven activities that HHCWs typically encounter in patients’ homes. Bioaerosols were measured in an indoor residence throughout all seasons in Cincinnati, OH, USA. A fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO, USA) was utilized for all data collection. Total particle counts and concentrations for each particle type, including fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles, were utilized to form the response variable, a normalized concentration calculated as a ratio of concentration during activity to the background concentration. Walking experiments produced a median concentration ratio of 52.45 and 2.77 for pollen and fungi, respectively. Fungi and bacteria produced the highest and lowest median concentration ratios of 17.81 and 1.90 for showering, respectively. Lastly, our current study showed that sleeping activity did not increase bioaerosol concentrations. We further conclude that utilizing direct-reading methods may save time and effort in bioaerosol-exposure assessment.

Keywords: bioaerosol; home healthcare; residential; occupational; fluorescence; activities; direct read (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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