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SynergistNOW
Currently featured in the September 2026 Synergist
A Critical Weakness
Understanding Category A Waste
Category A (Cat-A) waste has the potential to significantly disrupt healthcare facility operations. IHs and OEHS professionals can help mitigate the impacts of Cat-A waste on healthcare facilities as part of their role in high-consequence infectious disease response.
Near Zero
Using Direct-Reading Instruments for ACGIH 20 ppb Benzene TWA Decisions
In 2024, ACGIH substantially lowered its Threshold Limit Value time-weighted average for benzene from 0.5 ppm to 0.02 ppm, equivalent to 20 ppb. This change places the occupational benchmark in the very low ppb range where many portable direct-reading instruments approach their detection and quantitation limits.
Don't Overlook the Small Stuff
The Health Effects of Ultrafine Particulate Matter
Ultrafine particulate matter, or UFP, are generally understood as particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 0.1 micrometer (100 nanometers). UFP have great potential to cause adverse health effects, such as oxidative stress and inflammation as well as respiratory and cardiovascular effects, but their precise role in many illnesses calls for more research.
Features from the August 2026 Synergist
Sampling and Analysis FAQ
Cultivating a Partnership Between Practitioners and Laboratories
Industrial hygiene professionals come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, with many having stumbled into this profession. It’s expected that their understanding of sampling and analytical methods ranges from novice to expert. This FAQ addresses topics of frequent discussion between labs and IHs.
Measuring Asbestos Exposure
ASTM Revises Method for Asbestos by Phase Contrast Microscopy
Although no asbestos is mined in the United States and very little is imported these days, it is still encountered occupationally. The recent revision of ASTM D7201 incorporates modern developments in research on the sampling and analysis of asbestos in air.
Ventilation in Unoccupied Labs
Engineering and Safety Considerations
Many laboratories draw more ventilation when they are in active use than in the unoccupied state, when the workers are not present. In building management terms, reduced airflow to an unoccupied room is called ventilation setback. It's a very effective tool for energy conservation in labs and is now appearing in energy codes and standards for laboratory buildings.