TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dröge, Janis
A1  - Ibrahim, El Moussaoui
A1  - Klingelhöfer, Doris
A1  - Held, Hannelore
A1  - Groneberg, Jan David Alexander
A1  - Verhoff, Marcel A.
A1  - Plenzig, Stefanie
T1  - Particulate matter emissions during autopsies: a method to reduce exposure
T2  - Environmental science and pollution research
N2  - Particulate matter emitted during autopsies can serve as a vector for numerous viruses or bacteria and can lead to infections. Reducing the exposure of those particles in indoor working environments is, therefore, an important issue. To assess the health risk for employees in forensic medicine, we measure particulate matter in the ambient air during autopsies by using an aerosol spectrometer. The autopsies were performed with either an ordinary oscillating saw or an adapted saw with a suction unit. The particle emissions from both saws were compared to each other in order to evaluate whether a technical adaption leads to a particle reduction. Furthermore, the particle exposure reduction by wearing a face mask and variations in the background concentration in the room were analyzed. High particle concentrations were measured while using the ordinary saw. By using the adapted saw or wearing a face mask, the particle exposure could mostly be avoided. On the majority of the working days, an increase in the background concentration could be observed. Based on this knowledge, the use of a proper suction unit and wearing a face mask during autopsies is necessary. Besides, it is important to have sufficient ventilation in the room so that long-lasting high background concentrations can be prevented.
KW  - Autopsy
KW  - Bone dust
KW  - Face masks
KW  - Oscillating saws
KW  - Particle load reduction
KW  - Particulate matter
KW  - Particle size distribution
Y1  - 2022
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/69626
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-696268
SN  - 1614-7499
N1  - Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
VL  - 29
IS  - 40
SP  - 60519
EP  - 60530
PB  - Springer
CY  - Berlin ; Heidelberg
ER  -