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The dimensions of skin fragments dispersed into the air during activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. A. Mackintosh ,
O. M. Lidwell ,
A. G. Towers  and
R. R. Marples
C. A. Mackintosh
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
O. M. Lidwell
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
A. G. Towers
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
R. R. Marples
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
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There was a 1000-fold difference between the highest and the lowest mean rate of dispersal of bacteria-carrying particles during exercise among a group of three male and three female subjects. Differences in the numbers of skin fragments dispersed and in the proportion of these carrying bacteria were almost equally responsible for this. Since there is little difference between individuals in the rate of skin replacement the differences in the rates of dispersal of skin fragments during exercise must reflect large variations in the amount of skin surface removed in other ways. The skin fragments dispersed had a wide size range extending below 5 μm for the minimum projected diameter (MPD). The median MPD was about 20 μm with 7–10% less than 10 μm. Many of the particles could therefore pass freely through tightly woven fabrics with pores up to 10–15 μm which might seem to be impenetrable to whole corneocytes, typically larger than 30 × 40 μm in the hydrated state.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 81 , Issue 3 , December 1978 , pp. 471 - 480
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

References

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