A proposed model for a collaborative approach to dental hygiene research.

As dental hygiene responds to the increased need for quality oral health services, dental hygienists seek quality research findings on which to base their practice decisions. However, the amount of research published by dental hygienists, and addressing dental hygiene interventions, remains limited. There are few dental hygienists in Canada working in positions that have time dedicated to research activities. To increase the amount of dental hygiene research, innovative approaches such as collaborative research must be considered. This paper considers measures that facilitate the conduct of collaborative research, and discusses challenges to the process that should be considered during the design. An example of a group investigation is presented, involving dental hygiene educators who collaborated on a research project implemented within their respective educational institutions. A model for a collaborative approach to future research initiatives is proposed. Lessons learned are shared and recommendations are put forward. It is suggested that innovative collaborations such as this may help to increase the body of knowledge for dental hygiene in Canada.

Volatile organic contaminants found in the habitable environment of the Space Shuttle: STS-26 to STS-55.

The health and performance of spacecraft crews can be adversely affected by contaminants present in the respirable air. Contaminants originate from hardware offgassing, crew and microbial metabolism, use of utility chemicals, leakage from fluid systems and payload experiments, and from electrical overheating. The quality of Shuttle air is measured by collecting contaminants in evacuated cylinders or on sorbent resin for later ground-based analysis by gas chromatography (GC) and GC mass spectrometry (MS). The results of those analyses are presented for 28 missions, including 5 Spacelabs which were flown in the payload bay of the Shuttle. The major contaminants were relatively nontoxic alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol), ketones (acetone, diacetone alcohol), alkanes, halocarbons (Halon 1301, Freon 113), and siloxanes. Occasionally, more toxic contaminants, such as methanol, acetaldehyde, and tetrachloroethene, were present at low concentrations (below 1 mg/m3). The contaminant concentrations measured in spacecraft air were compared to spacecraft maximum allowable concentrations (SMAC's) which are set to protect the crew from adverse health effects or performance decrements. Aggregate toxicity assessments (T values) of the contaminants present during each mission, calculated by summing the ratios of measured concentrations to each contaminant's SMAC, showed that air quality consistent met the criterion that the T value be less than 1.

Air quality assessments for two recent Space Shuttle flights.

Degradation of air quality in the Space Shuttle environment through chemical contamination and high solid-particulate levels may affect crew performance and health. A comprehensive study of the Shuttle atmosphere was undertaken during the STS-40 (Spacelab Space Life Sciences 1) and STS-42 (Spacelab International Microgravity Laboratory 1) missions to determine the effectiveness of contaminant control procedures by measuring concentrations of volatile organic compounds and analyzing particulate matter trapped on air filters. Analysis of volatile contaminants showed that the air was toxicologically safe to breathe during both missions with the exception of one period during STS-40 when the Orbiter Refrigerator/Freezer was releasing noxious gases into the middeck. Chemical analyses of selected particles collected on air filters facilitated their positive identification. Trace amounts of rat hair and food particles were found in the STS-40 Spacelab filters; a trace amount of soilless plant-growth media was detected in the STS-42 Spacelab filter. The low levels of particles released from these Spacelab experiments indicate that containment measures were effective.