Hilary Cowie

Publications of Hilary Cowie

• Occupational Dermal Exposure to Heavy Fuel Oils

  Authors: Yvette Christopher, M van Tongeren, Hilary Cowie, John W Cherrie

  01/2008;

  Occupational Dermal Exposure to Heavy Fuel Oils TM/07/05

• Trends in inhalation exposure--a review of the data in the published scientific literature.

  Authors: Karen S Creely, Hilary Cowie, Martie van Tongeren, Hans Kromhout, John Tickner, John W Cherrie

  The Annals of occupational hygiene. 12/2007; 51(8):665-78.

  As part of a larger study aimed at identifying the long-term changes in inhalation exposure for selected hazardous substances in a number of industrial sectors within the UK, we have reviewed theAs part of a larger study aimed at identifying the long-term changes in inhalation exposure for selected hazardous substances in a number of industrial sectors within the UK, we have reviewed the published literature on temporal changes in inhalation exposure. Scientific papers and reports of interest were identified using standard literature review techniques. Most studies did not express the results as relative annual trends in exposure, and so where possible the data were reanalysed using regression methods to produce estimates of the average annual percentage change in concentration. In the majority of instances, there were significant reductions in exposure, with percentage yearly declines up to 32%. In many studies, information about changes in the working environment, process conditions or other factors that may have influenced the change in exposure over time was lacking. Factors commonly cited as being responsible for exposure reductions included the introduction of new standards and response to regulatory requirements as well as changes in production methods. A large number of exposure measurement datasets exist for many industrial sectors for most of the second half of the 20th century and this resource has allowed us to identify trends in occupational exposure. It is most important that longitudinal exposure data continue to be collected along with relevant contextual information to enable future changes to be adequately assessed.

• Trends in inhalation exposure mid 1980s till present

  Authors: KS Creely, Martie van Tongeren, D While, AJ Soutar, John Tickner, M Agostini, F De Vocht, Hans Kromhout, M Graham, A Bolton, Hilary Cowie, John W Cherrie

  01/2006;

  RR460 - Trends in inhalation exposure mid 1980s till present

• Exposure and risks from wearing asbestos mitts.

  Authors: John W Cherrie, Matthew Tindall, Hilary Cowie

  Particle and fibre toxicology. 10/2005; 2:5.

  BACKGROUND: Very high fibre inhalation exposure has been measured while people were wearing personal protective equipment manufactured from chrysotile asbestos. However, there is little data thatBACKGROUND: Very high fibre inhalation exposure has been measured while people were wearing personal protective equipment manufactured from chrysotile asbestos. However, there is little data that relates specifically to wearing asbestos gloves or mitts, particularly when used in hot environments such as those found in glass manufacturing. The aim of this study was to assess the likely personal exposure to asbestos fibres when asbestos mitts were used. RESULTS: Three types of work activity were simulated in a small test room with unused mitts and artificially aged mitts. Neither pair of mitts were treated to suppress the dust emission. The measured respirable fibre exposure levels ranged from <0.06 to 0.55 fibres/ml, with no significant difference in fibre exposure between aged and unused mitts. The use of high localised ventilation to simulate convective airflows from a furnace reduced exposure levels by about a factor of five. Differences between tasks were statistically significant, with simulated "rowing" of molten glass lowest and replacement of side seals on the furnace highest. Estimated lifetime cancer risk from 20 years exposure at the upper end of the exposure range measured during the study is less than 22 per 100,000. CONCLUSION: People who wore asbestos mitts were likely to have been exposed to relatively low levels of airborne chrysotile asbestos fibres, certainly much lower than the standards that were accepted in the 1960's and 70's. The cancer risks from this type of use are likely to be very low.

• Exposure and risks from wearing asbestos mitts

  Authors: John Cherrie, Matthew Tindall, Hilary Cowie

  Particle and Fibre Toxicology. 01/2005;

  Abstract Background Very high fibre inhalation exposure has been measured while people were wearing personal protective equipment manufactured from chrysotile asbestos. However, there is littleAbstract Background Very high fibre inhalation exposure has been measured while people were wearing personal protective equipment manufactured from chrysotile asbestos. However, there is little data that relates specifically to wearing asbestos gloves or mitts, particularly when used in hot environments such as those found in glass manufacturing. The aim of this study was to assess the likely personal exposure to asbestos fibres when asbestos mitts were used. Results Three types of work activity were simulated in a small test room with unused mitts and artificially aged mitts. Neither pair of mitts were treated to suppress the dust emission. The measured respirable fibre exposure levels ranged from <0.06 to 0.55 fibres/ml, with no significant difference in fibre exposure between aged and unused mitts. The use of high localised ventilation to simulate convective airflows from a furnace reduced exposure levels by about a factor of five. Differences between tasks were statistically significant, with simulated "rowing" of molten glass lowest and replacement of side seals on the furnace highest. Estimated lifetime cancer risk from 20 years exposure at the upper end of the exposure range measured during the study is less than 22 per 100,000. Conclusion People who wore asbestos mitts were likely to have been exposed to relatively low levels of airborne chrysotile asbestos fibres, certainly much lower than the standards that were accepted in the 1960's and 70's. The cancer risks from this type of use are likely to be very low.

• Development of a push-pull ventilation system to control solder fume

  Authors: S I Watson, J R Cain, Hilary Cowie, John W Cherrie

  01/2001; 45:669-76.

  Hand soldering using rosin core solder wire is common in the electronics industry and several studies have implicated the aerosol produced when rosin flux is heated in causing respiratoryHand soldering using rosin core solder wire is common in the electronics industry and several studies have implicated the aerosol produced when rosin flux is heated in causing respiratory sensitisation. Control of solder fume is generally achieved using local exhaust hoods, simple blowers with a filter or low-volume high-velocity (LVHV) ventilation systems. None of these provide an ideal control system and so a push-pull ventilation design was developed as an alternative. Laboratory tests of the system's capture efficiency were carried out using nitrous oxide tracer gas. Capture efficiency was generally greater than 90% with the push airflow operating. However, without the push airflow, capture efficiency decreased sharply with increasing distance from the exhaust hood (between 38 and 58% at 420 mm from the front of the exhaust hood with the same exhaust airflow used by the push-pull system). The push-pull system was found to be relatively insensitive to obstructions placed in the path of the air flow or the influence of cross draughts.The system was tested in five electronics factories and the effectiveness was compared to their existing ventilation systems. Where only a small amount of soldering was carried out both the in-house and push-pull systems seemed to provide adequate control of inhalation exposure to rosin-based solder flux fume measured as total resin acids. However, the push-pull system provided more consistent control than the existing ventilation systems when larger quantities of solder were used. In these situations the mean personal exposure level was reduced to below the UK Maximum Exposure Limit (MEL) of 0.05 mg/m(3) 8-h time weighted average in most instances. The corresponding mean personal exposure level with the in-house systems in operation was about three to four times the long-term MEL. Interpretation of these data is complicated because of high background contribution to exposure from poorly controlled soldering operations elsewhere in the factories. However, this study suggests that the in-house systems were relatively inefficient.

• Does the wearing of sampling pumps affect exposure?

  Authors: John W Cherrie, G Lynch, B S Bord, P Heathfield, Hilary Cowie, A Robertson

  01/1994; 38:827-38.

  There is a possibility that wearing traditional sampling pumps could affect worker behaviour and undermine the validity of occupational hygiene exposure measurement. Sampling pumps are bulky and canThere is a possibility that wearing traditional sampling pumps could affect worker behaviour and undermine the validity of occupational hygiene exposure measurement. Sampling pumps are bulky and can be noisy, and if these characteristics alter work patterns sufficiently exposures may be modified. This paper describes a carefully controlled pilot study designed to test the hypothesis that the wearing of personal sampling pumps may affect workers' exposure. Comparisons were made using pump-based systems and diffusive samplers to measure organic vapours. Diffusive samplers were chosen as controls because they are much less bulky and therefore less likely to affect behaviour. A carefully constructed sampling strategy, involving measurements on between 13 and 20 workers on 6 working days, was used at five sites. On alternate days both sampling methods were used, side-by-side, on the workers and on the remaining days only diffusive samplers were worn. The sites chosen had minimal day-to-day variation in environmental conditions. The results showed that at one site the concentrations were approximately 50% higher on the days when pumps were worn compared with other days. At the remaining sites no significant differences were found. From the characteristics of the work at the site where differences were observed it is suggested that pumps may affect measured concentrations when people have flexible work patterns and spend part of their time seated and/or the work is in quiet areas.