Exposure modeling plays a significant role for regulatory organizations, companies, and professionals involved in assessing and managing occupational health risks in workplaces. One context in which ...occupational exposure models are particularly relevant is the REACH Regulation in the European Union (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006). This commentary describes the models for the occupational inhalation exposure assessment of chemicals within the REACH framework, their theoretical background, applications, and limitations, as well as the latest developments and priorities for model improvement. Summing up the debate, despite its relevance and importance in the context of REACH not being in question, occupational exposure modeling needs to be improved in many respects. There is a need to reach a wide consensus on several key issues (e.g., the theoretical background and the reliability of modeling tools), to consolidate and monitor model performance and regulatory acceptance, and to align practices and policies regarding exposure modeling.
The aims of this review are: analyse the in-vehicle exposure determinants to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs); identify the lack of information in this field, providing suggestions for future ...surveys; discuss the applicability of innovative solutions for the reduction of in-vehicle exposure to TRAPs.
outlined that route, traffic and time-related variables are closely related to each other and mainly affect the in-cabin black carbon, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and ultrafine particles exposure levels. Self-pollution plays an important role in defining the in-vehicle exposure especially to volatile organic compounds. Ventilation settings resulted to be the main determinants of in-vehicle exposure to TRAPs.
One of the gaps of knowledge identified concerns the impact of leading vehicles on in-cabin TRAPs concentrations. The study of in-cabin exposure determinant factors is useful to implement effective measures to mitigate high exposures inside vehicles: the most promising seems to be the development of responsive ventilation systems.
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•Route, time and traffic characteristics are closely related to each other.•Self-pollution plays a critical role in defining the in-cabin pollutants exposure.•Ventilation settings is the main determinants of in-vehicle exposure to TRAPs.•Gaps of knowledge: impact of leading vehicles on in-cabin TRAPs concentrations.•Gaps of knowledge: factors associated to in-vehicle exposure to VOCs.
The paper aims to propose a new method to evaluate the occupational exposure risk for examiners involved in dynamic olfactometry. Indeed, examiners are possibly exposed to hazardous pollutants ...potentially present in odorous samples. A standardized method to evaluate the examiners' occupational safety is not yet available and the existing models present some critical aspect if applied to real odorous samples (no uniform reference concentrations applied and presence of compounds for which no toxicity threshold is available). A deepening of assessment procedure to evaluate the occupation exposure risk for olfactometric assessors is necessary. This paper proposes a standardized approach for risk assessment in dynamic olfactometry. The proposed approach allows the quantification synthetic and conservative risk indices. In this model, the use of the hazard index for the odorous mixture was proposed to assess the non-carcinogenic risk; the calculation of the inhalation risk was applied to estimate the carcinogenic risk. Different databases can be used to retrieve proper occupational exposure limits, according to the proposed hierarchical basis. These implementations allow obtaining the complete characterization of real samples which can be used to calculate the minimum dilution factor for protecting the panellists’ health.
•Olfactometric assessors are exposed, during the odour analysis, to an unknown risk.•The standard doesn't described operative procedures to assess this risk.•Current models available in the literature for assessing this risk are simplified.•This paper proposes a robust and conservative method to assess this occupational risk.•This method is used to calculate the minimum dilution value to ensure examiner safety.
The number of people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), i.e. the virus causing coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is dramatically increasing worldwide to the ...size of a pandemic. At the time of writing Italy is ranking first among countries both in terms of number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and in terms of number of deaths. Such a wide spread of COVID-19 has led to concern among workers who are facing the risk of becoming infected during the execution of their duties. We believe it is useful to remark on the need for professional expertise in the field of Occupational Hygiene in this emergency context, in which the indications provided by national and international bodies, the available scientific literature and the legal provisions are constantly and rapidly evolving. It is of fundamental importance that there is an effective analysis of expert inputs, to provide essential guidance to Health, Safety and Environmental managers and other prevention managers in workplaces. In this regard, not only a constant update of the regulatory framework is needed, but also a development and circulation of operational guidance to all the stakeholders to translate general indications into clear operating procedures and implementation tools to be adopted in the workplaces. We believe that the scientific associations in the field of Occupational Hygiene play a crucial role in guiding and assisting prevention professionals. There is considerable expertise in the occupational hygiene and exposure science communities that can help employers and workers to contain and delay the spread of COVID-19. For this reason, the Italian Association of Industrial Hygienists (AIDII-Associazione Italiana degli Igienisti Industriali) published documents containing operational guidelines to provide correct and constantly updated information for: (i) workers employed in essential activities (with low and medium risk of contagion), (ii) health workers and other workers at high or very high risk of contagion, and (iii) for the correct use and handling of personal protective equipment for workers and for the population in general. It is worth pointing out that the documents produced are not intended to replace those produced by authoritative bodies, but to comply with and complete them by reporting an effective summary and further indications about the measures that should be taken in practice under the light of the Italian legislation. At present, the challenge is to produce scientifically sound knowledge, appropriate tools, and effective methodologies, by coordinating the initiatives of different scientific associations, with the final aim to effectively transfer them to employers and workers.
Human exposure to air pollutants, and specifically to particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), may pose a relevant risk on human health.
To evaluate the personal exposure of ...adults living and working in Milan (Italy) by environmental and biological monitoring.
Personal exposure of 51 volunteer adults to PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and selected VOCs, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m + p-xylene, methyl tert-butyl ether, naphthalene, hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, and limonene was assessed along a 24-h period via personal cascade impactors and radial diffusive samplers. Urine spot samples were collected to investigate the corresponding urinary biomarkers. Time-activity patterns were filled in by participants to explore the performed activities. Multiple regression models were applied to investigate the association between personal exposure, biomarker levels, and tobacco smoke, traffic exposure, commuting mode, cooking activities, and personal characteristics.
Median personal exposure to PM2.5, PM2.5–10, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene o-xylene, m + p-xylene, methyl tert-butyl ether, naphthalene, hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, and limonene were 36.1, 7.8, 2.3, 7.8, 2.1, 1.8, 4.7, 0.8, 0.3, 1.4, 2.5, 1.6, and 59.9 μg/m3, respectively. Median levels of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene o-xylene, m + p-xylene, naphthalene, hexane, and heptane were 78.0, 88.1, 21.5, 15.2, 43.9, 21.0, 11.0, and 22.5 ng/L, respectively. For personal exposure, multiple regression models explained up to 67% (PM2.5) and 61% (benzene) of variability, with major contribution from commuting mode and environmental exposure. For biological monitoring, multiple regression analysis explained up to 74% of urinary benzene, with a major contribution given by creatinine, and secondary contributions by commuting mode, personal exposure to airborne benzene and smoking.
Personal exposure to air pollutants was lower than that measured in the past in Milan. Personal exposure was mainly driven by traffic variables, while internal dose was mainly driven by personal characteristics and smoking habit.
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•General population personal exposure was investigated by environmental monitoring.•Biological monitoring was applied to assess urinary unmetabolized VOC.•VOC exposure was lower than in the past.•Commuting mode affected personal exposure to air pollutants.•Personal characteristics, smoking and air exposure were main biomarker determinants.
The objective of this study was to compare the use of co-located real-time devices and gravimetric samplers to measure ultrafine particles (UFP) and size-fractionated PM mass concentrations. The ...results contribute to evaluating the comparability of different monitoring instruments for size-fractionated PM concentrations. Paired light scattering devices and gravimetric samplers were used to measure the PM1, PM2.5, PM4/5, PM10 and TSP mass concentrations during 8-h monitoring sessions in an urban background site (Como, Italy) in winter. A total of 16 sampling sessions were performed: measurements were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Absolute deviations between techniques were calculated and discussed. The UFP concentrations measured using a condensation particle counter were clearly overestimated compared with the reference instrument (portable diffusion charger), with an absolute deviation that appeared to increase with the UFP concentration. The comparison of different light-scattering devices (photometers - ‘PHOTs’) indicated an over-estimation of two of the tested instruments (PHOT-2 and PHOT-3) with respect to the one used as the reference (PHOT-1) regarding the measurement of the size-fractioned PM, with the only exception being PM4/5. Further, the comparison of different light-scattering devices with filter-based samplers indicated that direct-reading devices tend to over-estimate (PHOT-2, PHOT-3) or under-estimate (PHOT-1) the PM concentrations from gravimetric analysis. The comparison of different filter-based samplers showed that the observed over-estimation error increased with increasing PM concentration levels; however, the good level of agreement between the investigated methods allowed them to be classified as comparable, although they cannot be characterized as having reciprocal predictability. Ambient relative humidity was correlated with the absolute error resulting from the comparison of direct-reading vs. filter-based techniques, as well as among different filter-based samplers for the same PM fraction.
•The performances of different devices for measurement of UFP and PM were compared.•The results were analyzed using linear regression analysis and absolute deviations.•The overestimation error increased with increasing PM and UFP concentrations.•The studied direct-reading methods can be generally classified as comparable.•The absolute error is correlated with relative humidity in filter-based techniques.
At the beginning of the study, our hypothesis was that visiting certain microenvironments (MEs) is one of the most important determinants of personal exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) and that ...moving between microenvironments significantly differentiates exposure. The overall aim of this study is to perform relevant exposure measurements to extend our knowledge on environmental exposure to UFP in urban environments. The UFP concentrations in different urban MEs were measured by personal monitoring in repeated sampling campaigns along a fixed route. The measurement runs were performed on one-week periods and at different times of day (AM: 08.00–10.30; PM: 16.00–18.30) and repeated in different periods of the year (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) for a total of 56 runs (>110 h). Measurements included on-line monitoring of the UFP particle number concentration (PNC), mean diameter (mean-d) and lung-deposited surface-area (LDSA). Additionally, the PNC, particle mass concentration (PMC) profiles for quasi-ultrafine particles (QUFP; PM0.25) were estimated. A significant seasonal difference in the PNC and PMC, mean diameter and surface area was observed as well as between different times of the day and days of the week. In addition, differences in the UFP concentrations were also found in each ME, and there were specific mean-diameter and surface area concentrations. In general, the mean particle diameters showed an inverse relationship with the PNC, while the LDSA had the opposite behaviour. Appreciable differences among all MEs and monitoring periods were observed; the concentration patterns and variations seemed related to the typical sources of urban pollutants (traffic), proximity to sources and time of day. The highest exposures were observed for walking or biking along high-trafficked routes and while using public buses. The UFP exposure levels in modern cars, equipped with high-efficiency filters and in air recirculation mode, were significantly lower.
•Ultrafine particles (UFP) personal exposure were measured in urban environments.•UFP were characterized by number, mass concentration, mean diameter and surface-area.•Appreciable differences among microenvironments and monitoring periods were observed.•Concentration patterns were related to typical sources of urban pollutants (traffic).•Temporal and microenvironmental patterns were determinants of UFP exposure.
Air quality has a huge impact on different aspects of life quality, and for this reason, air quality monitoring is required by national and international regulations. Technical and procedural ...limitations of traditional fixed-site stations for monitoring or sampling of air pollutants are also well-known. Recently, a different type of miniaturized monitors has been developed. These monitors, due to their characteristics (e.g., low cost, small size, high portability) are becoming increasingly important for individual exposure assessment, especially since this kind of instrument can provide measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution, which is a notable advantage when approaching assessment of exposure to environmental contaminants. The aim of this study is indeed to provide information regarding current knowledge regarding the use of miniaturized air pollutant sensors. A systematic review was performed to identify original articles: a literature search was carried out using an appropriate query for the search of papers across three different databases, and the papers were selected using inclusion/exclusion criteria. The reviewed articles showed that miniaturized sensors are particularly versatile and could be applied in studies with different experimental designs, helping to provide a significant enhancement to exposure assessment, even though studies regarding their performance are still sparse.
Exposure to air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), represents a growing health problem. The aim of our study was to investigate whether PM could induce a dysbiosis in the nasal microbiota ...in terms of α-diversity and taxonomic composition.
We investigated structure and characteristics of the microbiota of 40 healthy subjects through metabarcoding analysis of the V3–V4 regions of the 16s rRNA gene. Exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was assessed with a personal sampler worn for 24h before sample collection (Day −1) and with measurements from monitoring stations (from Day −2 to Day −7).
We found an inverse association between PM10 and PM2.5 levels of the 3rd day preceding sampling (Day −3) and α-diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon and PD_whole_tree). Day −3 PM was inversely associated also with the majority of analyzed taxa, except for Moraxella, which showed a positive association. In addition, subjects showed different structural profiles identifying two groups: one characterized by an even community and another widely dominated by the Moraxella genus.
Our findings support the role of PM exposure in influencing microbiota and altering the normal homeostasis within the bacterial community. Whether these alterations could have a role in disease development and/or exacerbation needs further research.
•We evaluated whether PM could induce a dysbiosis in the nasal microbiota.•PM exposure reduces the diversity within the microbiota community.•PM alters microbiota homeostasis potentially influencing disease development.
Evaluation and validation studies of quantitative exposure models for occupational exposure assessment are still scarce and generally only consider a limited number of exposure scenarios. The aim of ...this review was to report the current state of knowledge of models' reliability in terms of precision, accuracy, and robustness. A systematic review was performed through searches of major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed), concerning reliability of Tier1 ("ECETOC TRA"-European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Targeted Risk Assessment, MEASE, and EMKG-Expo-Tool) and Tier2 models (STOFFENMANAGER
and "ART"-Advanced Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Tool). Forty-five studies were identified, and we report the complete information concerning model performance in different exposure scenarios, as well as between-user reliability. Different studies describe the ECETOC TRA model as insufficient conservative to be a Tier1 model, in different exposure scenarios. Contrariwise, MEASE and EMKG-Expo-Tool seem to be conservative enough, even if these models have not been deeply evaluated. STOFFENMANAGER
resulted the most balanced and robust model. Finally, ART was generally found to be the most accurate and precise model, with a medium level of conservatism. Overall, the results showed that no complete evaluation of the models has been conducted, suggesting the need for correct and harmonized validation of these tools.
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