February 28, 2005—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added two Safety and Health Topic pages to its Web site. Both pages include basic information on the topics, as well as links to appropriate documents from NIOSH and other sources.
The Aerosols page provides links to information regarding the measurement, control, exposure characterization, and health effects associated with aerosols in the workplace. An aerosol is a suspension of tiny particles or droplets in the air, such as dusts, mists, or fumes, which can be inhaled or absorbed by the skin, sometimes causing adverse heath effects for workers.
Infectious Aerosols are dispersions of airborne liquid or solid particles capable of causing infection. Occupational exposures to airborne microbial agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi can cause illness in workers in a variety of settings, including health care, construction, and emergency response. This page contains resources to help workers and employers reduce exposures to infectious aerosols.
