Darrah K. Sleeth

Darrah K. Sleeth, PhD, MPH, CIH

Languages spoken: English

Darrah Sleeth, PhD, MPH, CIH is a Professor in the Division of Occupational & Environmental Health and the affiliated Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational & Environmental Health. She has been at the University of Utah since 2010 and currently serves as the Industrial Hygiene Program Director. She earned a PhD in Industrial Health and an MPH in Industrial Hygiene & Hazardous Substances from the University of Michigan, as well as a BA in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She has also qualified as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Her research interests include exposure assessment for airborne respiratory hazards, particle size selective sampling methods and indoor air quality. She was involved in the design and use of a unique low speed wind tunnel and breathing mannequin system to assess both the inhalability of airborne particles and the performance of air sampling devices. She is also involved with community-based participatory research related to environmental exposures of tribal populations.

Research Statement

My overall research goal is to improve exposure assessment for occupational and environmental stressors in order to keep workers and the community healthy. Improved exposure data should lead to a more accurate understanding of the relationship between exposures and health outcomes. My laboratory work has involved the design of a low speed wind tunnel for controlled exposure studies, which has subsequently been used for air sampler design and testing. With this facility, my work has focused on (1) performance studies of existing equipment and (2) development of novel air samplers, which have subsequently been used for field research as well. My fieldwork is focused on understanding occupational and environmental exposures in a variety of settings, with ongoing collaboration from government, industry and community partners.

Education History

Undergraduate University of California
 BA
Graduate Training University of Michigan
 MPH
Doctoral Training University of Michigan
 PhD

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Schmees DK, Wu YH, Vincent JH (2008). Visualization of the airflow around a life-sized, heated, breathing mannequin at ultralow windspeeds. Ann Occup Hyg, 52(5), 351-60. (Read full article)
  2. L'Orange C, Anderson K, Sleeth DK, Anthony TR, Volckens J (2016). A Simple and Disposable Sampler for Inhalable Aerosol. Ann Occup Hyg, 60(2), 150-160.
  3. Sleeth DK, Vincent JH (2012). Performance study of personal inhalable aerosol samplers at ultra-low wind speeds. Ann Occup Hyg, 56(2), 207-20.
  4. Sleeth DK, Vincent JH (2011). Proposed modification to the inhalable aerosol convention applicable to realistic workplace wind speeds. Ann Occup Hyg, 55(5), 476-84.
  5. Coombs S*, Sleeth DK, Jones R (2021). Environmental and Occupational Health on the Navajo Nation: A Scoping Review. Reviews on environmental health, 37(2), 181-187.
  6. Kelly KE, Whitaker J, Petty A, Widmer C, Dybwad A, Sleeth DK, Martin R, and Butterfield A (2016). Ambient and Laboratory Evaluation of a Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensor. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex, 221, 491-500.
  7. Alaves VM, Sleeth DK, Thiese MS, Larson R (2013). Characterization of indoor air contaminants in a randomly selected set of commercial nail salons in Salt Lake County, Utah, USA. International journal of environmental health research, 23(5), 419-33. (Read full article)
  8. Schmees DK, Wu YH, Vincent J (2008). Experimental methods to determine inhalability and personal sampler performance for aerosols in ultra-low windspeed environments. Journal of environmental monitoring, 10(12), 1426-36. (Read full article)
  9. Collingwood S, Zmoos J*, Pahler LF, Wong B, Sleeth DK, Handy (2019). Investigating Measurement Variation of Modified Low-Cost Particle Sensors. Journal of aerosol science, 135, 21-32.
  10. Petersen R*, Hallar GA, McCubbin I, Ogren J, Andrews B, Lowenthal D, Gorder R, Purcell R, Sleeth DK, Novosselov (2019). Numerical, Wind-Tunnel, and Atmospheric Evaluation of a Turbulent Ground-Based Inlet Sampling System. Aerosol science and technology, 53(6), 712-727.
  11. Cook DM*, Sleeth DK, Thiese MS, Larson R (2015). A comparison of the closed-face cassette at different orientations while measuring total particles. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 12(3), 199-204. (Read full article)
  12. Tomyn RL*, Sleeth DK, Thiese MS, Larson R (2016). The effects of neutralized particles on the sampling efficiency of polyurethane foam used to estimate the extrathoracic deposition fraction. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 13(2), 133-40. (Read full article)
  13. Stewart J*, Sleeth DK, Handy RG, Pahler LF, Anthony TR, Volckens (2017). Assessment of increased sampling pump flow rates in a disposable, inhalable aerosol sampler. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 14(3), 207-213. (Read full article)
  14. Anthony TR, Sleeth DK, Volckens (2015). Sampling Efficiency of Modified 37-mm Sampling Cassettes using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 13(2), 148-158.
  15. Vercellino RJ*, Sleeth DK, Handy RG, Min KT, Collingwood S (2018). Laboratory Evaluation of a Low-cost, Real-time, Aerosol Multi-Sensor. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 15(7), 559-567.
  16. Anthony TR, Cai C, Mehaffy J, Sleeth DK, Volckens (2016). Performance of Prototype High-Flow Inhalable Dust Sampler in Livestock Production. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 14(5), 313-322.
  17. Cox A*, Sleeth DK, Handy RG, Alaves, V (2018). Characterization of CO and NO2 Exposures of Ice Skating Rink Maintenance Workers. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 16(2), 101-108.
  18. Borsh FB*, Sleeth DK, Handy RG, Pahler LF, Andrews R, Ashley (2019). Evaluation of a 25-mm Disposable Sampler Relative to the Inhalable Aerosol Convention. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 16(9), 634-642.
  19. Woodfield M*, Jones RM, Sleeth D (2022). Influence of face shields on exposures to respirable aerosol. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 19(3), 139-144.
  20. Sleeth DK, Balthaser SA, Collingwood S, Larson R (2016). Estimation of the Human Extrathoracic Deposition Fraction of Inhaled Particles Using a Polyurethane Foam Collection Substrate in an IOM Sampler.LID - 10.3390/ijerph13030292 [doi]LID - E292 [pii]. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(3), (Read full article)
  21. Fechser M*, Alaves VM, Larson RR, Sleeth D (2014). Evaluation of Respirable Crystalline Silica in High School Ceramics Classrooms. International journal of environmental research and public health, 11(2), 1250-1260.
  22. Young B*, Sleeth DK, Handy RG, Pahler L (2021). The Recovery of Volatile Organic Compounds and Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Fused-Silica Lined Canisters, Polyvinyl Fluoride/Tedlar Bags, and Foil-Lined Bags. Chemical health & safety, 28(6), 426-435.
  23. Thorsen M*, Handy R, Sleeth DK, Thiese M, Riches N (2017). A Comparison Study Between Previous and Current Shoreline Concentrations of Heavy Metals at the Great Salt Lake Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence. Human and ecological risk assessment, 23(8), 1941-1954.
  24. Sleeth DK, Vincent J (2009). Inhalability for aerosols at ultra-low windspeeds. Journal of physics. Conference series, (151), 1-9.
  25. Boregowda S, Handy R, Sleeth D, Merryweather (2016). Constructal Model of Fitts's Law to Predict Speed-Accuracy Trade-off. International journal of design & nature and ecodynamics, 12(1), 44-54.
  26. Knight JL*, Sleeth DK, Larson RR, Pahler L (2013). An analysis of OSHA inspections assessing contaminant exposures in general medical and surgical hospitals. Workplace health & safety, 61(4), 153-60. (Read full article)
  27. Sleeth D (2013). The impact of particle size selective sampling methods on occupational assessment of airborne beryllium particulates. Environmental science. Processes & impacts, 15(5), 898-903.
  28. Webb L*, Sleeth DK, Handy R, Stenberg J*, Schaefer C, Collingwood (2021). Indoor Air Quality Issues for Rocky Mountain West Tribes. Frontiers in public health, 9, 606430.
  29. Cox, A*, Handy RG, Thiese M, Sleeth D (2019). Development of an Empirical Formula for Describing Human Inhalability of Airborne Particles at Low Wind Speeds and Calm Air. Annals of work exposures and health, 63(9), 1046-1060.
  30. Haggerty L*, Reischl U, Handy R, Adams K, Sleeth D, Schaefer (2019). The Thermodynamics of Indoor Air Pollution: A Pilot Study Emulating Traditional Kenyan Homesteads. Sustainable cities and society, 53,
  31. Transtrum MJ*, Larson RR, Sleeth DK, Thiese M (2011). Comparison of Real-Time and Traditional Monitoring Methods for Diesel Particulate Matter in Underground Mines: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of chemical health & safety, 19(3), 12-17.
  32. Nield CP*, Sleeth DK, Larson RR, Thiese M (2013). Particle Size Selective Sampling of Airborne Arsenic during Electroplating Operations. Journal of chemical health & safety, 21(1), 15-20.
  33. Payne RL*, Alaves VM, Larson RR, Sleeth D (2015). An Evaluation of Diesel Particulate Matter in Fire Station Vehicle Garages and Living Quarters. Journal of chemical health & safety, 23(4), 26-31.
  34. Cross J*, Larson RR, Pahler LF, Sleeth D (2014). Evaluation of the Use of an SKC Button Inhalable Aerosol Sampler with a Grimm Aerosol Monitor to Determine Air Concentrations of Subtilisin. Journal of chemical health & safety, 21(6), 4-13.
  35. Simons AK*, Handy RG, Sleeth DK, Pahler LF, Thiese M (2017). A Comparison Study Between Passive and Active Workplace Personal Air Monitoring Techniques for Airborne Isopropyl Alcohol Concentrations. Journal of chemical health & safety, 24(6), 36-43.
  36. Clingenpeel S*, Handy RG, Pahler LF, Sleeth D (2018). A Comparative Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Wipe Sampling Materials to Remove Beryllium from Differently Textured Surfaces Using Zinc Oxide as a Surrogate. Journal of chemical health & safety, 26(1), 15-22.
  37. Pahler LF, McKenzie-Smith D*, Handy RG, Sleeth D (2017). Development of Custom Calibration Factors for Respirable Silica Using Standard Methods Compared to Photometric Monitoring Data. Journal of chemical health & safety, 25(1), 27-35.
  38. Sleeth DK, Pahler LF, and Larson R (2015). A Comparison of Direct-Reading Instruments for the Measurement of Hexavalent Chromium during Stainless Steel Welding. Journal of chemical health & safety, 23(3), 36-42.
  39. Boregowda S, Handy R, Sleeth D, Merryweather (2016). Physiological Entropy Generation as a Metric to Characterize Human System Stress Response. 2016(ID:4932710), 8 pages.
  40. Boregowda S, Handy R, Sleeth D, Riches (2017). Using Thermodynamic Degradation Approach to Quantify Human Stress Response. ID:7546823, 5 pages.
  41. Mecate D*, Handy R, Pahler LF, Sleeth DK, Ramsay J, Schaefer (2021). Temperature Inversion and Ultrafine Particulate/Near Ultrafine Particulate Matter Concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley. Technium Romanian Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology, 2(7), 422-435.
  42. Phillips H*, Handy RG, Sleeth DK, Thiese M, Schaefer (2019). Taking the “LEED” in indoor air quality: Does certification result in healthier buildings?. 15(3), 55-66.
  43. Robello R*, Lake K*, Handy R, Sleeth DK, Schaefer C, Collingwood (2021). A quantitative comparison of heavy metal concentrations in the soils on two Rocky Mountain West tribal reservations. Journal of Student Research, 10(1),
  44. Ellis M*, Handy R, Sleeth DK, Pahler L, Schaefer (2021). A Pilot Observational Study Comparing Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Parameter Measurements Between Three Commercial Kitchen Configurations. Journal of Student Research, 10(1),
  45. Wilson AM, Sleeth DK, Schaefer C, Jones R (2022). Transmission of respiratory viral diseases to healthcare workers: COVID-190 as an example. Annual review of public health, 43, 311-330.
  46. Peck A*, Handy RG, Sleeth DK, Schaefer C, Zhang Y, Pahler LF, Ramsay J, and Collingwood S (2023). Aerosol Measurement Degradation in Low-Cost Particle Sensors Using Laboratory Calibration and Field Validation. Toxics, 11(1), 56.
  47. Spooner S*, Handy R, Daher N, Edie R, Henry T, and Sleeth (2023). A Comparison of Ambient Air Ethylene Oxide Modeling Estimates from Facility Stack and Fugitive Emissions to Canister-Based Ambient Air Measurements in Salt Lake City . Air, 1(3), 175-183.
  48. Fang R*, Andrus N*, Dominguez T*, Sleeth DK, and Jones R (2023). Aerosol and surface contamination assessment of a novel ventilated infectious aerosol containment device. Annals of work exposures and health, 68(2), 192-202.
  49. Mangin T, Barrett Z*, Palmer Z*, Tang D, Nielson S, Sleeth D, Kelly (2025). Understanding the effect of outdoor pollution episodes and HVAC type on indoor air quality. Building and environment, 278,
  50. Fang R*, Collingwood S, Zhang Y, Stanford J, Porucznik C, and Sleeth (2025). Optimizing Air Quality Monitoring: Comparative Analysis of Linear Regression and Machine Learning in Low-Cost Sensor Calibration. Aerosol and air quality research, 25(10),
  51. Trollan A*, Mark B, Spiess S, Moreno LE, Stanford J, and Sleeth D (2025). Characteristics Associated with Miscarriages in Utah Nail Technicians. The Utah women's health review,
  52. Fang R*, Zhang Y, Collingwood S, Stanford JB, Porucznik C, Sleeth (2025). Assessing the impact of real-world environmental factors on low-cost PM2.5 monitor performance by comparing calibration before and after deployment. The Science of the total environment, 995, 180106. (Read full article)
  53. Dominguez T*, Pettit L*, Garner C*, Yamamoto DP, VanDerslice JA, Handy RG, Gren LH, Sleeth D (2025). Evaluating United States Air Force hearing conservation educational materials for compliance, readability, understandability, and actionability. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 22(11), 889-902. (Read full article)

Letter

  1. Reeves K*, Loder R, Handy R, Sleeth DK, Schaefer (2021). Non-routine Environmental Hazards Encountered by National Park First Responders. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness,

Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

  1. KS (2013). Center researches safety hazards at Utah workplaces.