Protocol - Dust Collection - Vacuum Bag
Description
The respondent is mailed instructions and a sealable plastic bag to collect dust from his or her vacuum cleaner. The respondent is asked to collect the dust from his or her vacuum cleaner and mail it to the laboratory. At the laboratory, the sample is sieved, weighed, and analyzed for environmental contaminants.
Specific Instructions
If the timing of the dust collection (e.g., time of year, timing with respect to prior house cleaning) is critical, the researcher should inform the respondent.
Availability
Protocol
Note: The following protocol was used to measure the pesticide atrazine in the dust sample. Information has been provided at the end of this protocol on other types of environmental contaminants that can be obtained from this sample.
VACUUM DUST COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STUDY PARTICIPANT
When to Collect
Collect the vacuum dust sample any time within 1 week after you received your sampling kit. Please send us a vacuum cleaner bag that has been in use for a while so that it contains plenty of dust. If a new bag has been installed in your cleaner recently, please vacuum twice before removing the bag.
If your vacuum cleaner does not have a disposable bag, then transfer the dust collected into the resealable plastic bag.
If your vacuum cleaner is the type that uses water, then try to scrape out some dust from the inlet hose and around the seals. Try to collect as much as possible. We do not want the water from the vacuum cleaner.
How to Collect
1. Remove the folded clear plastic trash bag or the resealable plastic bag marked Vacuum Dust from your sampling kit.
2. Following the instructions provided with your vacuum cleaner, remove the disposable bag and place it in the plastic trash bag. Tie the plastic bag with the tie wrap attached to the outside of the trash bag. If you do not have a disposable bag, then empty the contents of the vacuum into the resealable plastic bag marked Vacuum Dust.
3. Record the date and time on the label attached to the trash bag or the resealable plastic bag. Also record how many days the vacuum has been used since changing out the bag or emptying the collection container (in cases of vacuums with no bags). An estimated time will be appropriate if you do not know the exact number of days.
Vacuum Dust Bag
4. Place the trash bag containing the vacuum cleaner bag or the resealable plastic bag marked Vacuum Dust in the cardboard box that was used to ship your sampling kit to you. Do not refrigerate or freeze the vacuum dust sample.
5. If applicable, install another bag in your vacuum cleaner before you use it again.
6. Send the plastic bag (with dust sample enclosed) to the laboratory.
For pesticide analysis the dust samples can be shipped to the laboratory at room temperature. For allergen and endotoxin analyses the dust samples need to be shipped on frozen ice packs.
Laboratory
At the laboratory the dust sample needs to be sieved and weighed. Dust samples can be stored at -20° C until analysis. Organochlorine, organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids require a hexane:acetone method and GC/MS analysis, cat and dust mite allergens require analysis via monoclonal-antibody-based, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and endotoxins require a limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay.
Personnel and Training Required
The respondent collects a dust sample from his or her vacuum bag and is responsible for sending it to the laboratory for analysis. Trained laboratory technicians are required to sieve, freeze, and analyze the dust.
Equipment Needs
Supplies and equipment are needed to collect, process (through a mesh sieve), freeze (-20°C freezer), and analyze the dust sample. The equipment used for analysis depends on the analyte. Please refer to a specialist for more details on appropriate collection and storage recommendations.
Requirements
| Requirement Category | Required |
|---|---|
| Major equipment | Yes |
| Specialized training | Yes |
| Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
| Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | Yes |
Mode of Administration
Self-administered sample collection with laboratory analysis
Lifestage
Adult
Participants
Adult 18+
Selection Rationale
Vacuum bags can feasibly be collected by the respondent and are a low-cost method to obtain environmental samples from a home.
Language
Chinese, English, Other languages available at source
Standards
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) | Environ expo dust vacuum proto | 62536-8 | LOINC |
| Human Phenotype Ontology | Increased anti-dust mite IgE antibody level | HP:0410223 | HPO |
| caDSR Form | PhenX PX061201 - Dust Collection Vacuum Bag | 5870271 | caDSR Form |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
The Expert Review Panel #2 (ERP 2) reviewed the measures in the Demographics, Environmental Exposures, and Social Environments domains.
Guidance from ERP 2 includes:
• No significant changes to measure
Back-compatible: no changes to Data Dictionary
Previous version in Toolkit archive (link)
Protocol Name from Source
RTI International, Atrazine Exposure Study, Vacuum Cleaner Dust Collection Protocol, 2001
Source
RTI International. (2001). Atrazine Exposure Study. Vacuum Cleaner Dust Collection Protocol. Research Triangle Park, NC: Author.
General References
Arbes, S. J., Jr., Sever, M., Vaughn, B., Mehta, J., Lynch, J. T., Mitchell, H., . . . Zeldin, D. C. (2005). Feasibility of using subject-collected dust samples in epidemiologic and clinical studies of indoor allergens. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(6), 665-669.
Colt, J. S., Gunier, R. B., Metayer, C., Nishioka, M. G., Bell, E. M., Reynolds, P., Buffler, P. A., & Ward, M. H. (2008). Household vacuum cleaners vs. the high-volume surface sampler for collection of carpet dust samples in epidemiologic studies of children. Environmental Health 7, 6.
Metayer, C. (2006). The Northern California Childhood Leukemia Study (NCCLS): 10 Years of Experience in Environmental and Genetic Epidemiology. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Basic Research Program Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Protocol ID
61201
Variables
Export Variables| Variable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX061201_Allergen_1 | ||||
| PX061201090000 | Name of first allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_1_Amount | ||||
| PX061201090100 | Concentration of first allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_2 | ||||
| PX061201100000 | Name of second allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_2_Amount | ||||
| PX061201100100 | Concentration of second allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_3 | ||||
| PX061201110000 | Name of third allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_3_Amount | ||||
| PX061201110100 | Concentration of third allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_4 | ||||
| PX061201120000 | Name of fourth allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_4_Amount | ||||
| PX061201120100 | Concentration of fourth allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_5 | ||||
| PX061201130000 | Name of fifth allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Allergen_5_Amount | ||||
| PX061201130100 | Concentration of fifth allergen measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_1 | ||||
| PX061201140000 | Name of first endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_1_Amount | ||||
| PX061201140100 | Concentration of first endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_2 | ||||
| PX061201150000 | Name of second endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_2_Amount | ||||
| PX061201150100 | Concentration of second endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_3 | ||||
| PX061201160000 | Name of third endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_3_Amount | ||||
| PX061201160100 | Concentration of third endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_4 | ||||
| PX061201170000 | Name of fourth endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_4_Amount | ||||
| PX061201170100 | Concentration of fourth endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_5 | ||||
| PX061201180000 | Name of fifth endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Endotoxin_5_Amount | ||||
| PX061201180100 | Concentration of fifth endotoxin measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Number_Days_Used | ||||
| PX061201020000 | Number of Days Vacuum Has Been Used Since more | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_1 | ||||
| PX061201040000 | Name of first organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_1_Amount | ||||
| PX061201040100 | Concentration of first organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_2 | ||||
| PX061201050000 | Name of second organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_2_Amount | ||||
| PX061201050100 | Concentration of second organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_3 | ||||
| PX061201060000 | Name of third organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_3_Amount | ||||
| PX061201060100 | Concentration of third organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_4 | ||||
| PX061201070000 | Name of fourth organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_4_Amount | ||||
| PX061201070100 | Concentration of fourth organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_5 | ||||
| PX061201080000 | Name of fifth organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Organic_Compound_5_Amount | ||||
| PX061201080100 | Concentration of fifth organic compound measured | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Sample_Weight | ||||
| PX061201030000 | Weight of dust collected | N/A | ||
| PX061201_Time_Of_Collection | ||||
| PX061201010000 | Time vacuum bag was emptied | N/A | ||
Measure Name
Dust Collection - Vacuum Bag
Release Date
October 30, 2009
Definition
Self-administered collection of the respondent’s vacuum bag for measurement of various environmental contaminants.
Purpose
Collection of a respondent’s vacuum bag yields a dust sample that may be used to measure various environmental contaminants in the home that are brought into the home on persons or objects or formed in the home. These contaminants include metals, toxic chemicals that may adhere to dust, and biologics like mold, dust mite, roach, rodent, and pet allergens. Such contaminants may affect the health of the residents who live in the home in a number of ways, including toxicity, sensitization with allergens, and triggering or exacerbating allergic and asthmatic responses.
Keywords
Environmental Exposures, vacuum, dust, allergens, endotoxin, pesticides, mold, mildew, dust mite, roach allergens, rodent allergens, pet allergens, asthma, allergy
Measure Protocols
| Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
|---|---|
| 61201 | Dust Collection - Vacuum Bag |
Publications
There are no publications listed for this protocol.