Dr. Daniel Farcas, CIH, CSP, CHMM

“The CSP Exam - Essential Practice by Farcas, Hammond, and Cena is, as the name implies, an essential set of questions in Occupational Safety. This book is well laid out in 19 sections. It draws the reader in, which certainly assists with their increased retention of the amount of material that has to be covered. The questions are well introduced with a short narrative before the introduction of the pertinent equations and solution to the over 600 example essential questions. The book serves… Show more

“The CSP Exam - Essential Practice by Farcas, Hammond, and Cena is, as the name implies, an essential set of questions in Occupational Safety. This book is well laid out in 19 sections. It draws the reader in, which certainly assists with their increased retention of the amount of material that has to be covered. The questions are well introduced with a short narrative before the introduction of the pertinent equations and solution to the over 600 example essential questions. The book serves not only as a formidable preparation for the CIH exam but a good review of basic principles, a reference for many of the day-to-day technical issues confronting the practicing worker’s safety and a guide for raising awareness of potential problems for which alert action is required. The authors bring a breadth of experience and insight into the issues handled in the text. They bring context to the basic principles to be highlighted by the examples of the questions and their solutions. CSP Exam - Essential Practice should be a must-have text for everyone in the field.”Michael McCawley, Ph.D., West Virginia University. Show less

Artificial stone is increasing in popularity in construction applications, including commercial and residential countertops. Eco-friendliness, durability, and resistance to staining, make artificial stone attractive to consumers. Health concerns have arisen during manufacturing of artificial stone due to increased incidence of silicosis after relatively short exposure. Three artificial stone samples (A, B, and C) and one natural granite sample were subjected to cutting and grinding in a… Show more

Artificial stone is increasing in popularity in construction applications, including commercial and residential countertops. Eco-friendliness, durability, and resistance to staining, make artificial stone attractive to consumers. Health concerns have arisen during manufacturing of artificial stone due to increased incidence of silicosis after relatively short exposure. Three artificial stone samples (A, B, and C) and one natural granite sample were subjected to cutting and grinding in a controlled environment. Gravimetric analysis, X-Ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to determine crystalline silica concentrations and particle morphology of bulk and respirable particles. Silica content of bulk dust from artificial samples A and B was 91%, sample C was <10%, while granite was 31%. Silica percent in the respirable fraction for samples A and B was 53% and 54%, respectively, while sample C was <5% and granite was 8%. Number concentrations for samples A and B were mainly in the nano-fraction, indicating potential for translocation of silica particles to other organs outside of the lungs. Respirable dust concentrations inside the chamber were well above Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for all materials, indicating that confined-space exposures require ventilation to lower risks of acute silicosis regardless of the nature of the stone. Show less

The CIH Exam - Essential Practice Questions by Farcas, Hammond, and Cena is, as the name implies, an essential set of questions in Industrial Hygiene. It is well laid out in 17 sections. The questions are well introduced with a short narrative before the introduction of the pertinent equations and solution to the over 500 example problems. The book serves not only as a formidable preparation for the CIH exam but a good review of basic principles, a reference for many of the day-to-day technical… Show more

The CIH Exam - Essential Practice Questions by Farcas, Hammond, and Cena is, as the name implies, an essential set of questions in Industrial Hygiene. It is well laid out in 17 sections. The questions are well introduced with a short narrative before the introduction of the pertinent equations and solution to the over 500 example problems. The book serves not only as a formidable preparation for the CIH exam but a good review of basic principles, a reference for many of the day-to-day technical issues confronting the practicing industrial hygienist and a guide for raising awareness of potential problems for which alert action is required. The authors bring a breadth of experience and insight into the issues handled in the text. They bring context to the basic principles to be highlighted by the examples of the questions and their solutions. This should be a must-have text for everyone in the field. Show less

About the Book: “CSP EXAM Equations simply explained and with examples” was written in an easy-to-understand manner for the young professional studying for the certified safety professional (CSP) exam to help them understand the fundamental equations used in the exams’ formulas and grasp the basic concepts of the calculations by rigorous explained examples. “CSP EXAM Equations explained and with examples” can also assist safety and environmental professionals in their daily work and… Show more

About the Book: “CSP EXAM Equations simply explained and with examples” was written in an easy-to-understand manner for the young professional studying for the certified safety professional (CSP) exam to help them understand the fundamental equations used in the exams’ formulas and grasp the basic concepts of the calculations by rigorous explained examples. “CSP EXAM Equations explained and with examples” can also assist safety and environmental professionals in their daily work and decision-making process. Show less

About the Book:“CIH EXAM Equations simply explained and with examples” was written in an easy-to-understand manner for the young professional studying for the certified industrial hygienist (CIH) exam to help them understand the fundamental units used in the exams’ formulas and grasp the basic concepts of the calculations by rigorous explained examples. “CIH EXAM Equations explained and with examples” can also assist safety and environmental professionals in their daily work and decision-making… Show more

About the Book:“CIH EXAM Equations simply explained and with examples” was written in an easy-to-understand manner for the young professional studying for the certified industrial hygienist (CIH) exam to help them understand the fundamental units used in the exams’ formulas and grasp the basic concepts of the calculations by rigorous explained examples. “CIH EXAM Equations explained and with examples” can also assist safety and environmental professionals in their daily work and decision-making process.About the Author:Dr. Daniel Farcas has more than 20 years of experience in conducting scientific research and leading production teams in a variety of fields, including public health, infection control, nanotechnology, microbiology, silica, and asbestos. He is author or co-author of numerous scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.Dr. Daniel Farcas is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) CP #11723, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) #36048, and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) #24712.To learn more about Dr. Daniel Farcas work and research in industrial hygiene, please visit www.DanielFarcas.comThe author will like to thank the following reviewers for their insightful comments and efforts towards improving this book:Michael McCawley, Ph.D. – West Virginia University.Lorenzo Cena, Ph.D. – West Chester University.Clive Diaz, PE - Stratified, Inc. Show less

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination on surfaces including turnout gear had been found throughout a number of fire stations. As such, the outer shell barrier of turnout gear jackets may be an indirect transmission source and proper disinfection is essential to reduce the risk of exposure to fire fighters. Cleaning practices vary considerably among fire stations, and a method to assess disinfection of gear washed in commercial washer/extractors is… Show more

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination on surfaces including turnout gear had been found throughout a number of fire stations. As such, the outer shell barrier of turnout gear jackets may be an indirect transmission source and proper disinfection is essential to reduce the risk of exposure to fire fighters. Cleaning practices vary considerably among fire stations, and a method to assess disinfection of gear washed in commercial washer/extractors is needed.
Methods : Swatches (1 in. ×  1.5 in.) of the outer shell fabrics, Gemini™, Advance™, and Pioneer™, of turnout gear were inoculated with S. aureus, and washed with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered sanitizer commonly used to wash turnout gear. To initially assess the sanitizer, inoculated swatches were washed in small tubes according to the American Society for Testing Materials E2274 Protocol for evaluating laundry sanitizers. Inoculated swatches were also pinned to turnout gear jackets and washed in a Milnor commercial washer/extractor. Viable S. aureus that remained attached to fabric swatches after washing were recovered and quantified. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to characterize the stages of S. aureus biofilm formation on the swatches that can result in resistance to disinfection.
Results : Disinfection in small tubes for only 10 s reduced the viability of S. aureus on Gemini™, Advance™, and Pioneer™ by 73, 99, and 100%, respectively. In contrast, disinfection of S. aureus-contaminated Gemini™ swatches pinned to turnout gear and washed in the washer/extractor was 99.7% effective. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed that biofilm formation begins as early as 5 h after attachment of S. aureus. Show less

Three sets of soil samples were collected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and one set by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology from in and around the Slim Buttes Land Unit of the Sioux Ranger District of the Custer–Gallatin National Forest in the northwest of South Dakota. The rocks forming the Slim Buttes are sedimentary clays, sands and gravels including re-worked volcanic ash-falls in which the zeolite mineral erionite has crystallized during diagenesis in a… Show more

Three sets of soil samples were collected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and one set by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology from in and around the Slim Buttes Land Unit of the Sioux Ranger District of the Custer–Gallatin National Forest in the northwest of South Dakota. The rocks forming the Slim Buttes are sedimentary clays, sands and gravels including re-worked volcanic ash-falls in which the zeolite mineral erionite has crystallized during diagenesis in a fibrous form or morphology similar to that of asbestos. The samples were prepared using the fluidized bed asbestos segregator (FBAS) and analyzed by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) or transmission electron microscopy to detect the presence of mineral fibers. FBAS–PCM results compared to semi-quantitative polarized light microscopy (PLM) and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a recovery of approximately 1% and a linear relationship that likely can be extrapolated to concentrations well below the 1% detection limit of PLM. There were small variations between a PCM count of 10 fibers to a count of 100 fibers (or a maximum of 200 microscopic fields of view), which indicates the possibility of rapid turnaround of results. Although the four sets of samples examined in this work were collected by slightly different techniques, some tentative conclusions can be drawn about the distribution of erionite in soils. Erionite was detected in almost every soil sample, even those taken several miles from the outcrop, but without any distribution indicating recent transportation from the current volcaniclastic sediment outcrops. Removal of more extensive volcaniclastic sediments through erosion may have resulted in remnant material in soils, including erionite crystals. Show less

An adaptable system was developed to generate and characterize particles released from composite materials containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The system was tested with a belt sander by sanding 1) glass fiber/epoxy resin, 2) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and 3) ABS with carbon black. Each material was tested with fine and coarse sandpaper in its neat form and with CNT additives. Total number concentrations, respirable mass concentrations, and particle number/mass distributions of the… Show more

An adaptable system was developed to generate and characterize particles released from composite materials containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The system was tested with a belt sander by sanding 1) glass fiber/epoxy resin, 2) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and 3) ABS with carbon black. Each material was tested with fine and coarse sandpaper in its neat form and with CNT additives. Total number concentrations, respirable mass concentrations, and particle number/mass distributions of the released particles were measured with a combination of direct-read instruments. Airborne particle samples for electron microscopy analysis were collected on polycarbonate filters, and onto a transmission electron microscopy grid supported carbon film using a thermophoretic sampler. Using automated microscopy analysis and a newly developed method, over 200 particles from each filter sample were analyzed for chemical composition, size, and the presence of CNT protrusions. Show less

Rock dusting is used to prevent secondary explosions in coal mines, but inhalation of rock dusts can be hazardous if the crystalline silica (e.g., quartz) content in the respirable fraction is high. The objective of this study is to assess the quartz content and physical characteristics of four selected rock dusts, consisting of limestone or marble in both treated (such as treatment with stearic acid or stearates) and untreated forms. Four selected rock dusts (an untreated and treated limestone… Show more

Rock dusting is used to prevent secondary explosions in coal mines, but inhalation of rock dusts can be hazardous if the crystalline silica (e.g., quartz) content in the respirable fraction is high. The objective of this study is to assess the quartz content and physical characteristics of four selected rock dusts, consisting of limestone or marble in both treated (such as treatment with stearic acid or stearates) and untreated forms. Four selected rock dusts (an untreated and treated limestone and an untreated and treated marble) were aerosolized in an aerosol chamber. Respirable size-selective sampling was conducted along with particle size-segregated sampling using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analyses were used to determine quartz mass and particle morphology, respectively. Quartz percentage in the respirable dust fraction of untreated and treated forms of the limestone dust was significantly higher than in bulk samples, but since the bulk percentage was low the enrichment factor would not have resulted in any major change to conclusions regarding the contribution of respirable rock dust to the overall airborne quartz concentration. The quartz percentage in the marble dust (untreated and treated) was very low and the respirable fractions showed no enrichment. The spectra from SEM-EDX analysis for all materials were predominantly from calcium carbonate, clay, and gypsum particles. No free quartz particles were observed. The four rock dusts used in this study are representative of those presented for use in rock dusting, but the conclusions may not be applicable to all available materials. Show less

The objective of the present study is to compare and characterize nylon, polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane filters that might be used to replace the vinyl/acrylic co-polymer (DM-450) filter currently used in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) P-7 method (Quartz Analytical Method) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Manual of Analytical Methods 7603 method (QUARTZ in coal mine dust, by IR re-deposition). This effort is… Show more

The objective of the present study is to compare and characterize nylon, polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane filters that might be used to replace the vinyl/acrylic co-polymer (DM-450) filter currently used in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) P-7 method (Quartz Analytical Method) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Manual of Analytical Methods 7603 method (QUARTZ in coal mine dust, by IR re-deposition). This effort is necessary because the DM-450 filters are no longer commercially available. For example, the MSHA Pittsburgh laboratory alone analyses annually approximately 15,000 samples according to the MSHA P-7 method that requires DM-450 filters. There is an impending shortage of DM-450 filters. Membrane filters suitable for on-filter analysis should have high infrared (IR) transmittance in the spectral region 600-1000 cm−1. Nylon (47 mm, 0.45 µm pore size), PP (47 mm, 0.45 µm pore size) and PVC (47 mm, 5 µm pore size) filters meet this specification. Limits of detection and limits of quantification were determined from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements of blank filters. The average measured quartz mass and coefficient of variation were determined from test filters spiked with respirable α-quartz following MSHA P-7 and NIOSH 7603 methods. Quartz was also quantified in samples of respirable coal dust on each test filter type using the MSHA and NIOSH analysis methods. The results indicate that PP and PVC filters may replace the DM-450 filters for quartz measurement in coal dust by FTIR. PVC filters of 5 µm pore size was seemed to be suitable replacement although their ability to retain small particulates should be checked by filter experiment.
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