FACULTY
Michael G. Yost, PhD, MS
Professor, Env. and Occ. Health Sciences
My teaching reflects my general interest in exposure assessment, instrumentation for chemical sampling and in physical agents such as noise, vibration, electromagnetic radiation, heat, etc. I teach classes on occupational and environmental noise, nonionizing radiation, electrical safety, and a laboratory class on chemical sampling methods. My research program focuses mainly on developing novel tools for environmental and occupational exposure assessment. The Optical Remote Sensing Laboratory (ORS lab) is devoted to sampling techniques that use electromagnetic radiation (e.g. ultraviolet, visible, infrared light, or lasers,) to identify and measure environmental pollution at locations distant from the instrument. These instruments operate by passing light beams through the air and can measure trace contaminants directly in the beam path. ORS instruments can sample over paths from a few meters to several kilometers long. We have done extensive work developing these tools to scan an area and map contaminant concentrations. We have two ORS infrared instruments used for measuring gases, and a new LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) device for measuring aerosols. A second lab is investigating other novel sampling methods. We developed and tested a heart rate controlled sampling pump that changes flow rate in proportion to a person's breathing rate, to account for increased exposure due to exercise and physical labor. We also are working on optical methods for sampling exhaled breath (biological monitoring) and on an instrument that can measure chemicals on skin and other surfaces.
Contact Information
Box 3572341959 NE Pacific Street
Seattle, WA 98195
Tel: 206-685-7243
airion@u.washington.edu
Links
Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center
Optical Remote Sensing Laboratory
Research Interests
Optical remote sensing of chemicals in the environment, physical agents in the workplace: noise, vibration, non-ionizing radiation
Education
PhD, Environmental Health, University of California (Berkeley) 1989
MS, Environmental Health, University of California (Berkeley) 1984
Projects
1. LIDAR measurements of pesticide spray drift
We are assessing the impact of spray drift from farms on nearby homes and agricultural communities. LIDAR is used to detect and map aerosols generated from pesticide spraying in orchards. We are combining this information with dispersion modeling and surface deposition samples in a geographic information system (GIS) to model potential exposures children and adults.
2. Ambient Air Monitoring with Open-Path FTIR
Our research applies Open-Path Fourier Transform Infra-Red (OP-FTIR) spectroscopy to map chemical emissions and human exposures in communities and workplaces. The ORS lab is participating in the CHC's exposure assessment group, where we are applying these techniques to measure air emissions from pesticide use . We're also investigating ways to measure particles and to find unique "fingerprints" to identify air pollution sources in urban air sheds.
3. Development of a physiologic sampler
We're testing a new personal air-sampling device that varies the air flow in proportion to the actual breathing volume inhaled by a worker. Unlike conventional fixed flow rate samplers, this device would actually measure a sample proportional to the inhaled dose experienced by a worker.
4. Occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF)
This research involves collecting data on occupational EMF exposure for use in epidemiological studies. We have developed a job exposure matrix for EMF exposure that is being applied in population studies of brain cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological diseases. We've also been studying effects of EMF exposure on nighttime melatonin production in workers.
5. Noise and vibration exposures in forestry workers
In collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH) we have gathered exposure measurements on more than 100 workers. Currently we are investigating interventions to reduce high exposures to noise, hand-arm vibration, and whole body vibration.
