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CLOTHES AS A SOURCE OF PARTICLES CONTRIBUTING TO THE "PERSONAL CLOUD"
Citation:
Wallace, L A., C HowardReed, V Zartarian, AND W R. Ott. CLOTHES AS A SOURCE OF PARTICLES CONTRIBUTING TO THE "PERSONAL CLOUD". Presented at ISEE/ISEA '99 Conference, Athens, Greece, September 5-8, 1999.
Description:
Previous studies such as EPA's PTEAM Study have documented increased personal exposures to particles compared to either indoor or outdoor concentrations--a finding that bas been characterized as a "personal cloud." The sources of the personal cloud are unknown, but could include proximity to important sources such as smoking, cooking, and the automobile, shedding of skin flakes, resuspension of particles from walking on carpet or sitting on upholstered furniture, static electricity, or other possibilities. Some investigators have previously identified particles from clothes as an important source of workplace exposures. Our objective was to identify the contribution of particles from clothes to personal exposure. We employed an MIE personal monitor using optical scattering to detect particles in the 0.5-5 micrometer range. The approach was to perform certain repetitive procedures (turning sweaters inside out, performing physical activities) while wearing the personal monitor and measuring with identical fixed indoor monitors at different distances away. Significant increases in particle exposures were recorded for clothes such as sweaters, shirts, and pants. Dry cleaning greatly reduced the particle levels produced by a sweater, and commercial laundering reduced the levels from shirts, but home laundering did not reduce levels from a cotton sweater. We conclude that particles deposit on clothes and can then be shaken off to contribute to personal exposure.
This paper has been reviewed in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.