Industrial Hygiene Program

A review of occupational exposures to carcinogens among wildland firefighters

Molly West
Skylar Brown
Elizabeth Noth, PhD, CIH
Joseph Domitrovich
Kathleen Navarro
2024

Wildfires can negatively impact the health and well-being of wildland firefighters through a variety of exposure pathways. Many studies have measured acute health effects from occupational exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke; however, research specifically examining cancer risks from exposure to carcinogens is limited. This review aimed to better understand cancer risk in this occupation by assessing the existing evidence of exposures and summarizing measured concentrations of carcinogens among wildland firefighters. A systematic search was conducted to identify scientific...

Industrial Hygiene Program (UCB)

The IH program trains technical professionals and scientists committed to preventing job-related disease and injury. The program’s goal is to educate committed and passionate industrial hygienists with both a firm theoretical background to enable growth and flexibility in our rapidly changing world.

Elevator Ventilation and SARS-CoV-2-Relevant Particulate Matter Removal in Three Older California Elevators

Michael Kado
Kelsi Perttula
Elizabeth Noth, PhD, CIH
David Moore
Patton Nguyen
Charles Perrino
Mark Nicas, PhD, MPH, CIH
Katherine Hammond
2023

The objective of this study was to measure particulate matter (PM) total loss rates in three older (1940s, 1960s, and 1980s) elevators in California during two phases and three low-cost intervention modes. Tracer gas decay and <2 μm aerodynamic diameter nontoxic NaCl particles (PM2) were used to calculate PM2 loss rates. The NaCl particles were considered surrogates for smaller particles carrying SARS-CoV-2. Empirical PM2 loss rates were paired with modeled dynamic scenarios to estimate SARS...