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Erionite, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to the zeolite group has been designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 Carcinogen on the basis of mesothelioma, a disease also resulting from the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Significant outcrops of fibrous erionite have been reported in California, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, and other states. For geologists and industrial hygienists dealing with mining, construction, or various aspects of community protection, it is vital to understand the basics of detecting and handling erionite, since it is similar to asbestos and can cause similar disease. There are many fibrous zeolites, and discerning erionite from these other minerals requires modifications to current asbestos analysis methods. Without these modifications, identification and quantification are questionable and could increase the likelihood of both false negatives and false positives. There is currently no published method specific to erionite analysis; without guidance standards, each laboratory has approached erionite analysis independently. With a few small but significant changes to asbestos analysis methodologies, we developed a reproducible analytical procedure for rapid identification of erionite fibers in air, bulk, and soil samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using specialized preparation techniques, energy dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) calibrations, and a liquid nitrogen cryo-holder (cold stage), we were able to overcome the difficulties associated with erionite analysis. By incorporating these changes, commercial analytical laboratories can contribute reliable data to air-exposure studies and characterization guidelines, which may help in determining regulations and further understanding the health risks of erionite.

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Purpose The purpose of this project was to determine if iPad technology could decrease preoperative anxiety in school-age children. Each year, more than five million children in the United States have surgical procedures. Preoperative anxiety can delay induction of anesthesia, provoke the release of stress hormones, and hinder postoperative recovery. To decrease preoperative anxiety, a 17-page colorful iPad prep book was developed. The iPad prep book included pictures and words describing the outpatient day surgery process. Procedure A preexperimental one-group pretest/posttest design was utilized to focus on decreasing preoperative anxiety in 30 school-age children with the use of an iPad prep book before surgery on the day of surgery. Implementation of the project included administration of the Children's Anxiety Meter-State scale to patients to assess their level of anxiety. The iPad prep book was read to each participant by the researcher or child life specialist. To evaluate effectiveness of the iPad prep book, anxiety was reevaluated within 30 minutes of reading and discussing the iPad prep book. Results Data analysis utilized a one-sample t test to determine if changes in anxiety were statistically significant between preintervention and postintervention values. Children's (N = 30) anxiety scores were significantly decreased with iPad technology, t = −8.39, p < .05. Conclusion The use of iPad technology did positively improve preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgical patients.