were limited. Samples were covered at all times with clean jar lids, aluminum
foil or glass eyewashes. All glassware and equipment used in this study were
cleaned with Decon-90, rinsed three times with tap water followed by a final
rinse using filtered water (0.45 μm cellulose nitrate, Whatman). In the
field and lab, only 100% cotton clothing and white lab coats were worn. All
samples were filtered inside a clean air cabinet and covered during filtration.
Filters were immediately placed in clean Petri dishes until after initial visual
inspection. Once all fibers/questionable particles were recorded, lids were
removed to access suspect particles for verification.
Two wet peroxide oxidation controls using filtered water (0.45 μm
cellulose nitrate, Whatman) were processed identical to our environmental
samples to estimate procedural contamination. In addition, air contamination
controls were conducted during lab processing and filtering of samples
(n = 4). Filters moistened with filtered water (0.45
μm cellulose nitrate, Whatman) were exposed to the air next to where
vacuum filtration occurred for 30 minutes.