The effects of the exposure to neurotoxic elements on Italian schoolchildren behavior.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are constantly increasing on a global scale. Some elements like heavy metals are known to be neurotoxic. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the neurobehavioral effect of the exposure to trace elements including lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium and their interactions among 299 schoolchildren residing in the heavily polluted Taranto area in Italy.

Children exposure to inorganic and organic arsenic metabolites: A cohort study in Northeast Italy.

The aim of this study was to provide urinary levels of total arsenic (TAs) and As species as arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenocholine (AsC), inorganic As (i.e., [As(III)+As(V)]), methylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in 7 year-old-children (n = 200) enrolled in the Northern Adriatic Cohort II (NACII), a prospective cohort in a coastal area of Northeast Italy.

Human biomonitoring to evaluate exposure to toxic and essential trace elements during pregnancy. Part B: Predictors of exposure.

Maternal exposure to toxic and essential trace elements represents a surrogate of exposure to the unborn child. Variables of exposure as sociodemographic, lifestyles and diet may contribute to different exposure of pregnant women to specific trace elements. Blood, urine and cord blood samples of 53 pregnant women of the HEALS-EXHES cohort, recruited in Reus (Catalonia, Spain) between 2016 and 2017, were analysed for the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn.

Human biomonitoring of metals in workers at the waste-to-energy incinerator of Turin: An Italian longitudinal study.

Evidence of negative health effects of solid waste management is uncertain. Available reviews suggests the use of biomarkers in human biomonitoring (HBM) to detect low exposure levels. In September 2013, a waste-to-energy plant located in the Turin (Italy) went into operation.

Purine DNA Lesions at Different Oxygen Concentration in DNA Repair-Impaired Human Cells (EUE-siXPA).

Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a DNA repair disease characterized by nucleotide excision repair (NER) malfunction, leading to photosensitivity and increased incidence of skin malignancies. The role of XP-A in NER pathways has been well studied while discrepancies associated with ROS levels and the role of radical species between normal and deficient XPA cell lines have been observed. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry we have determined the four 5',8-cyclopurines (cPu) lesions (i.

[Exposure assessment to air pollutants: dispersion models versus human biomonitoring].

Background: the assessment of individual exposure to toxicants in industrially contaminated areas is difficult when multiple productions are actively close to residential areas. Two thermoelectric power plants (one recently converted to coal) and a large harbour have been operating since the Sixties in the area of Civitavecchia (North of Rome, Lazio Region, Central Italy). Detailed exposure assessment of pollutants from industrial sources, heating (biomass combustion), and urban traffic were not available.

Human biomonitoring to evaluate exposure to toxic and essential trace elements during pregnancy. Part A. concentrations in maternal blood, urine and cord blood.

Exposures to toxic elements or deficiencies of essential elements during pregnancy may be associated to various birth complications or even diseases in early life. The aim of this paper was to assess the concentrations of selected toxic (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb) and essential trace elements (Co, Cu, Mn, Se and Zn) in blood and urine samples of delivering women at different periods of gestation and cord blood, as well as to evaluate the placental permeability for these elements. A total of 53 women participating in the HEALS-EXHES study were enrolled.

Setting up a collaborative European human biological monitoring study on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium.

The EU human biomonitoring initiative, HBM4EU, aims to co-ordinate and advance human biomonitoring (HBM) across Europe. Within its remit, the project is gathering new, policy relevant, EU-wide data on occupational exposure to relevant priority chemicals and developing new approaches for occupational biomonitoring. In this manuscript, the hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] study design is presented as the first example of this HBM4EU approach.

Neurocognitive impact of metal exposure and social stressors among schoolchildren in Taranto, Italy.

Background: Metal exposure is a public health hazard due to neurocognitive effects starting in early life. Poor socio-economic status, adverse home and family environment can enhance the neurodevelopmental toxicity due to chemical exposure. Disadvantaged socio-economic conditions are generally higher in environmentally impacted areas although the combined effect of these two factors has not been sufficiently studied.

Urinary metabolites of organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in children from an Italian cohort (PHIME, Trieste).

Urinary metabolites of organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) pesticides from seven years old children of a birth cohort study (n=199; PHIME cohort of Trieste, Italy) have been measured. Six OP and two PYR metabolites have been investigated, 2-diethylamino-6-methylpyrimidin-4-ol (DEAMPY, pirimiphos metabolite) was the one found at higher concentrations, median 3.4 ng/mL specific gravity adjusted (SG adjusted), followed by 4-nitrophenol (PNP, median 1.

Bismuth titanate-based UV filters embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles: Role of bismuth concentration in the self-sealing process.

The development of new safe inorganic UV filters to effectively protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation effects is an emerging issue. Bismuth titanate-based UV filters embedded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) represent a new class of inorganic sunscreens, with excellent UVA and UVB shielding properties. In addition, the presence of bismuth ions promotes a self-sealing process, allowing (i) the entrapment of the active phases in the deepest core of the system and (ii) the formation of an external glassy silica layer with a consequent suppression of the photocatalytic activity.

Human biomonitoring health surveillance for metals near a waste-to-energy incinerator: The 1-year post-operam study.

This human biomonitoring (HBM) follow-up survey, within the SPoTT project, assessed the temporal and spatial trends of exposure to 18 metals in a cohort living around the waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator of Turin (Italy) before (T0, 2013) and after 1-year of plant activity (T1, 2014). Urine of 380 adult individuals (186 exposed and 194 unexposed subjects, classified on fallout maps) were analyzed by sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. A decrease trend of the majority of metals in all subjects indicates that the overall air quality of the studied sites was not significantly compromised, also in proximity of the WTE plant, as corroborated also by air monitoring data of the regional agency.

Human primary macrophages scavenge AuNPs and eliminate it through exosomes. A natural shuttling for nanomaterials.

The use of nanomaterials is increasing but the real risk associated with their use in humans has to be defined. In fact, nanomaterials tend to accumulate in organs over a long period of time and are slowly degraded or eliminated by the body. Exosomes are nanovesicles actively shuttle molecules, including chemical products and metals, through the body.

ICP-MS based methods to characterize nanoparticles of TiO and ZnO in sunscreens with focus on regulatory and safety issues.

This study sought to develop analytical methods to characterize titanium dioxide (TiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), including the particle size distribution and concentration, in cream and spray sunscreens with different sun protection factor (SPF). The Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (SP ICP-MS) was used as screening and fast method to determine particles size and number. The Asymmetric Flow-Field Flow Fractionation (AF4-FFF) as a pre-separation technique was on-line coupled to the Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS) and ICP-MS to determine particle size distributions and size dependent multi-elemental concentration.

Human biomonitoring data analysis for metals in an Italian adolescents cohort: An exposome approach.

The first Italian human biomonitoring survey (PROBE - PROgramme for Biomonitoring general population Exposure) considered a reference population of adolescents, aged 13-15 years, living in urban and rural areas and investigated their exposure to metals. The study was expanded up to 453 adolescents living in the same areas of Latium Region (Italy) and blood samples were analyzed for 19 metals (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ir, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sb, Sn, Tl, V, and W) by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The exposure assessment was contextualized following an exposome approach that considered several determinants related to the subjects, available environmental parameters and geo-coding of residence address.

Mercury in Children: Current State on Exposure through Human Biomonitoring Studies.

Mercury (Hg) in children has multiple exposure sources and the toxicity of Hg compounds depends on exposure routes, dose, timing of exposure, and developmental stage (be it prenatal or postnatal). Over the last decades, Hg was widely recognized as a threat to the children's health and there have been acknowledgements at the international level of the need of a global policy intervention-like the Minamata treaty-aimed at reducing or preventing Hg exposure and protecting the child health. National human biomonitoring (HBM) data has demonstrated that low levels of exposure of Hg are still an important health concern for children, which no one country can solve alone.

Trace elements, oxidative status and antioxidant capacity as biomarkers in very low birth weight infants.

Reference data on trace elements, oxidative status and antioxidants in very low birth weight infants (VLBW) are limited and need to be updated for use in clinical settings. Serum and urine of 30 VLBW infants (mean weight, 1167g) at mean age of 23.8 (t0) and 37.

Formation and Controlled Growth of Bismuth Titanate Phases into Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: An Efficient Self-Sealing Nanosystem for UV Filtering in Cosmetic Formulation.

The application of nanosized inorganic UV filters in cosmetic field is limited by their high photocatalytic properties that could induce the degradation or dangerous transformation of the organic molecules in sunscreen formulations. To overcome this problem and simultaneously enlarge the window of filter's absorption, we propose the growth of bismuth titanates BiTiO into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). We investigated the chemical-physical properties by means of XRPD, TEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, N physisorption, XPS, and SF-ICP-MS analysis, while the influence on the environment was evaluated through photocatalytic tests.

A survey on lifestyle and level of biomarkers of environmental exposure in residents in Civitavecchia (Italy).

Background: The assessment of individual exposure to toxicants in industrially contaminated areas is difficult when multiple productions are active close to residential areas. Two thermoelectric power plants and a large harbor have been operating since the '60s in the area of Civitavecchia (North of Rome).

Methods: The ABC (Ambiente e Biomonitoraggio nell'area di Civitavecchia, Environment and Biomonitoring in Civitavecchia) program involved, in the period 2013-2014, residents in Civitavecchia and in the nearby municipalities (Santa Marinella, Allumiere, Tolfa and Tarquinia).

Determination of mercury in hair: Comparison between gold amalgamation-atomic absorption spectrometry and mass spectrometry.

Mercury is a heavy metal that causes serious health problems in exposed subjects. The most toxic form, i.e.

Biomonitoring and exposure assessment of people living near or working at an Italian waste incinerator: methodology of the SPoTT study.

Only few studies on the health effect of waste incinerators were focused on human biomonitoring (HBM). Our aim is to describe a protocol for assessing early variation of selected items in a population group living close to a waste incinerator in Turin, Italy. A cohort of 394 subjects was randomly selected, among residents near the incinerator and residents far from it.

The response to oxidative stress and metallomics analysis in a twin study: The role of the environment.

Inefficient response to oxidative stress has been associated with ageing and health risk. Metals are known to inhibit DNA repair and may modify the antioxidant response. How genetic variability and lifestyle factors modulate the response to oxidative stress is poorly explored.

Human biomonitoring of metals in adults living near a waste-to-energy incinerator in ante-operam phase: Focus on reference values and health-based assessments.

The human biomonitoring (HBM) of metals is a part of the ongoing project SPoTT for the longitudinal health surveillance of the population living near a waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator (Turin, Italy). The HBM of metals in the SPoTT population aimed to evaluate: i) reference values (RVs) before the WTE incinerator started operation; ii) differences in exposure by variables; iii) variations respect to other HBM studies; iv) exposure that exceeds the available health-based benchmarks as the Biomonitoring Equivalents (BEs) for urine Cd and Human Biomonitoring (HBM-I and HBM-II) values for urine Hg, Tl, and blood Pb; v) risk assessment by generating hazard quotients (HQs) for the single metal and hazard index (HI) for the co-occurrence of metals. Eighteen metals in urine and Pb in blood were determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A medical-toxicological view of tattooing.

Long perceived as a form of exotic self-expression in some social fringe groups, tattoos have left their maverick image behind and become mainstream, particularly for young people. Historically, tattoo-related health and safety regulations have focused on rules of hygiene and prevention of infections. Meanwhile, the increasing popularity of tattooing has led to the development of many new colours, allowing tattoos to be more spectacular than ever before.

The effects of palladium nanoparticles on the renal function of female Wistar rats.

A number of studies have shown that palladium nanoparticles are able to exert some adverse health effects, such as concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis and alterations of the release and expression of numerous cytokines. Nevertheless, our current knowledge of the potential toxic effects induced by exposure to these nanoparticles is far from being complete. For this reason, the present study assessed the possible renal toxicity of palladium nanoparticles by investigating urinary excretion of retinol binding protein, β(2)-microglobulin and albumin in female Wistar rats intravenously exposed to different nanoparticle concentrations (0.