Exposometer-based assessment of laboratory work environment

Human health is impacted by a wide range of exposures, including biological, chemical, and physical factors, making it challenging to assess their combined environmental health effects comprehensively. Advances in wearable and stationary sensor devices enable systematic longitudinal measurement of biotic and abiotic exposures. In this pilot study at the Center for Cervical Cancer Elimination (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden), we deployed stationary exposometer devices in three different laboratory locations (the pre-PCR "clean-room", the molecular analysis room, and the sample management/reception room) to assess the indoor biotic and abiotic aerosol exposures. Of all biotic sequences obtained after amplification, 0.56% were classified as known microorganisms. The aerosol profile of the clean room differed markedly from the sample reception and the analysis rooms, which exhibited similar biotic profiles at both the phylum level (all kingdoms) and species level for eukaryotic and viral fractions. The laboratory is an international reference laboratory for Human Papillomavirus, but this virus was not detected in the work environment in any location. Abiotic exposures displayed diurnal dynamics, with higher daytime light and carbon dioxide levels and higher volatile organic compounds (VOC) levels at night. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using exposometers for detailed indoor aerosol exposure assessment in occupational settings.