This study was designed to determine how easily methamphetamine can be removed from clothing and building materials, utilizing different cleaning materials and methods. The study also addressed the penetration of methamphetamine into drywall and the ability of paints to encapsulate the methamphetamine on drywall. Clothing and building materials were contaminated in a stainless steel chamber by aerosolizing methamphetamine in a beaker heater. The amount of methamphetamine surface contamination was determined by sampling a grid pattern on the material prior to attempting to clean the materials. After cleaning, the materials were again sampled, and the degree of decontamination noted. We found that household clothing and response gear worn by first responders was easily decontaminated using a household detergent in a household washing machine. A single wash removed over 95% of the methamphetamine from these materials. The study also indicated that methamphetamine-contaminated, smooth non-porous surfaces can be easily cleaned to below detectable levels using only mild cleaners. More porous surfaces such as plywood and drywall were unlikely to be decontaminated to below regulatory levels even with three washes using a mild cleaner. This may be due to methamphetamine penetration into the paint on these surfaces. Evaluation of methamphetamine contamination on drywall indicated that approximately 40% of the methamphetamine was removed using a wipe, while another 60% remained in the paint layer. Stronger cleaners such as those with active ingredients including sodium hypochlorite or quaternary ammonia and commercial decontamination agents were more effective than mild detergent-based cleaners and may reduce methamphetamine contamination to below regulatory levels. Results from the encapsulation studies indicate that sprayed on oil-based paint will encapsulate methamphetamine on drywall and plywood surfaces up to 4.5 months, while latex paints were less effective.

Background Shigella species (spp.) are a leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea in children worldwide. The recent emergence of quinolone-resistant Shigella spp. gives cause for concern, and South Asia has been identified as a reservoir for global spread. The influence of socioeconomic status on antimicrobial resistance in developing countries, such as those in South Asia, remains unknown. Methods We used data collected from 2009 to 2014 from a hospital specializing in the treatment of diarrhea in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to determine the relationship between Ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigella spp. isolates and measures of socioeconomic status in Bangladeshi children less than 5 years of age. Results We found 2.7% (230/8,672) of children who presented with diarrhea had Shigella spp. isolated from their stool, and 50% (115/230) had resistance to Ciprofloxacin. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, we found that children from families where the father's income was in the highest quintile had significantly higher odds of having Ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigella spp. compared to children in the lowest quintile (OR = 6.1, CI 1.9-19). Factors protective against the development of resistance included access to improved sanitation (OR = 0.27, CI 0.11-0.7), and improved water sources (OR = 0.48, CI 0.25-0.92). We did not find a relationship between Ciprofloxacin resistance and other proxies for socioeconomic status, including the presence of animals in the home, nutritional status, paternal education level, and the number of family members in the home. Conclusions Although the associations between wealth and antimicrobial resistance are not fully understood, possible explanations include increased access and use of antibiotics, greater access to healthcare facilities and thus resistant pathogens, or greater consumption of commercially produced foods prepared with antibiotics.

Vehicle emissions are a major source of pollution in urban communities and idling may contribute up to 34% or more to local air pollution levels. Reduced idling has been found to be an effective policy tool for improving air quality, especially around schools, where it may also improve outcomes for asthmatic children. We studied two anti-idling campaigns in Salt Lake County, Utah to understand if reduced engine idling leads to behavioral change and subsequent reduction in traffic-related air pollution exposure of the related school. We found a 38% decrease in idling time following an anti-idling campaign and an 11% decrease in the number of vehicles idling at the school drop-off zones. The air quality measurements showed improvement in the middle of the campaign, but seasonal variability as well as atmospheric inversion events had substantial effects on overall ambient pollutant concentrations. This study provides an encouraging starting point to develop more effective anti-idling campaigns to protect the health of children, school staff, and the surrounding community.

This study was designed to explore the efficacy of the use of wipe sampling to determine methamphetamine contamination associated with the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine. Three laboratories were utilized to analyze wipe samples to investigate variability in reported methamphetamine concentration among samples spiked with known amounts of methamphetamine. Different sampling media, surfaces, and solvents were also utilized to determine potential differences in measured methamphetamine concentration due to different wipes, wipe solvents, and wipe contaminants. This study examined rate of false positive detection among blank samples and whether interference with common household substances would create a false positive detection of methamphetamine. Variability between the three labs-using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry or gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for detection of a known concentration of methamphetamine-resulted in percent differences of 3-30%. Results from wipe sample analysis for methamphetamine, using methanol or isopropanol, showed no significant difference in methamphetamine contamination recovery. Dust and paint contamination on methamphetamine wipe samples with known methamphetamine spike amounts did not affect methamphetamine wipe sample recovery. This study confirmed that either methanol or isopropanol is an appropriate solvent for use in methamphetamine wipe sampling. Dust and paint contamination on wipe samples will not interfere with the wipe sample analysis for methamphetamine. False positive detection for methamphetamine was not observed in any of the blank wipe samples submitted for the study. Finally, this study determined that methamphetamine will not be detected in structures that are truly methamphetamine free at current laboratory limits of quantification.

Air pollution near schools is particularly problematic. Pollution emissions from vehicle idling at or around schools may have significant effects on children’s health including increased rates of asthma and childhood leukemia. Outdoor pollution emissions from idling vehicles can also infiltrate into the schools resulting in health hazards both in school drop-off zones as well as inside nearby buildings. An Idle-Free Campaign was enacted at an elementary school to reduce idling among parents dropping off and picking up students. The campaign involved a focus group, surveys, informational events and materials, and vehicle counting efforts before and after the campaign. The surveys found that regardless of gender or level of education, parents were very concerned about air pollution concerns associated with idling and were willing to take steps to reduce their children’s exposure. Furthermore, the vehicle counting efforts showed a 17% reduction in idling vehicles and a 37% reduction in idling time following the anti-idling campaign. These findings show that a multi-pronged approach involving parents, teachers, staff, bus drivers, and delivery truck drivers, may be an effective tool to reduce idling at schools thus reducing children’s exposure.