A Pilot Study for Volatilome Characterization Using a Gas Sensor Array and GC/MS Techniques.

Legionellosis is a generic term describing the pneumonic (Legionnaires' disease, LD) and non-pneumonic (Pontiac fever, PF) forms of infection with bacteria belonging to the genus . Currently, the techniques used to detect spp. in water samples have certain limitations and drawbacks, and thus, there is a need to identify new tools to carry out low-cost and rapid analysis.

Direct multiclass desorption electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of sleep inducers and ototoxic drugs in dried blood spots.

Rationale: An unconventional and innovative approach for the quantitative determination of 11 ototoxic and narcoleptic drugs in whole blood is described. The multiclass method allows the inclusion of the most widespread drugs on the market (antihistamines, antidepressants, antihypertensives, anxiolytics, opioids, Z-drugs) responsible for 10% of occupational accidents.

Methods: The developed procedure involved the use of the desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) interface for the direct analysis of dried blood spots (DBS).

A 'Dilute and Shoot' Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for Multiclass Drug Analysis in Pre-Cut Dried Blood Spots.

Drugs able to affect the auditory and nervous systems and consumed by workers to treatdifferent pathologies can represent a possible source of risk in the work environment. All the target compounds involved in the presented project show ototoxic and/or narcoleptic side effects and, for these reasons, occupational safety organizations have recognized them as potential causes of work injuries. A multiclass method for the analysis of 15 drugs among the most widespread worldwide (belonging to nine different classes including antihistamines, beta-blockers, antidepressants, Z-drugs and opioids), was developed and validated.

Occupational exposure to graphene and silica nanoparticles. Part I: workplace measurements and samplings.

Few-Layers Graphene (FLG) are able to improve the performance of materials, due to their chemical-physical properties. Engineered amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiONPs) are among the most widespread nanomaterials (NMs) in the world. Such nanomaterials are two case studies of the research project 'NanoKey' that integrated the exposure assessment through personal measurements and sampling in the workplace, as described in the present work (part I), with the biomonitoring of exposed workers (reported in part II).

Direct and Oxidative DNA Damage in a Group of Painters Exposed to VOCs: Dose - Response Relationship.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in several working activities. This work is aimed at comparing oxidative stress and DNA damage biomarkers to specific VOCs in the occupational exposure of painters. Dose-response relationships between biomarkers of oxidative stress and of dose were studied.

Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds affects microRNA profiling: Towards the identification of novel biomarkers.

In the framework of a project aimed at finding novel predictive biomarkers of VOCs exposure-related diseases, the effect of exposure to ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene has been analyzed in a group of painters (spray- and roller-painters) working in the shipyard industry. Airborne levels of solvents were higher in spray- than in roller-painters, and comparable to the Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), particularly for toluene and xylene. The urinary concentration of each volatile organic compound (VOC) and of the corresponding metabolites were also concurrently measured.

Distortion product otoacoustic emission sensitivity to different solvents in a population of industrial painters.

To evaluate the ototoxic effect of the exposure to different organic solvents and noise using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The exposure to different solvents was evaluated by measuring, before and at the end of the work-shift, the urinary concentrations of solvent metabolites used as dose biomarkers. The urinary concentrations of DNA and RNA oxidation products were also measured as biomarkers of oxidative damage.

Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers of occupational exposure to low dose organic solvents.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recently acknowledged as novel and non-invasive biomarkers of exposure to environmental and occupational hazardous substances. This preliminary study investigates the potential role of blood miRNAs as molecular biomarkers of exposure to the most common organic solvents (ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene) used in the shipyard painting activity. Despite the low number of recruited workers, a two-tail standard Students' test with Holm-Bonferroni adjusted p-value shows a significant up-regulation of two miRNAs (miR_6819_5p and miR_6778_5p) in exposed workers with respect to controls.

Fine particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vehicles in Rome, Italy.

Urban commuters are exposed to elevated levels of air pollutants, especially in heavily polluted areas and traffic congested roads. In order to assess the contribution of commuting to citizens' exposure, measurements of fine particulate (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were carried out in cars, busses, and metro trains, within the LIFE+ EXPAH Project. Monitoring campaigns were performed in Rome, Italy, from April 2011 to August 2012.

Biomonitoring for Exposure Assessment to Styrene in the Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic Industry: Determinants and Interferents.

Fifty-eight workers exposed to styrene were monitored in four fibreglass reinforced plastic industries of Central Italy. The aim of the study was to explore the factors that can influence the levels of styrene exposure biomarkers of the workers and the aspects that might interfere with the exposure assessment measures, such as the co-exposure to acetone. Personal monitoring of professional exposure to airborne styrene and acetone was carried out by Radiello samplers and GC/MS analysis.

Children and elders exposure assessment to particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the city of Rome, Italy.

It has been amply demonstrated that exposure to fine particulate matter, containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may have adverse effects on human health, affecting especially the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Among population, school-age children and elders present particular susceptibilities and unique exposures to environmental factors. The study presented in this paper belongs to the Project EXPAH, founded by the European (EU) LIFE+ instrument, and consists of the personal monitoring of five elementary school children and four elders during the spring and the summer/autumn of the year 2012 in the city of Rome, Italy.

Otoacoustic emission sensitivity to exposure to styrene and noise.

The ototoxic effect of the exposure to styrene is evaluated, also in the presence of simultaneous exposure to noise, using otoacoustic emissions as biomarkers of mild cochlear damage. Transient-evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were recorded and analyzed in a sample of workers (15 subjects) exposed to styrene and noise in a fiberglass manufacturing facility and in a control group of 13 non-exposed subjects. Individual exposure monitoring of the airborne styrene concentrations was performed, as well as biological monitoring, based on the urinary concentration of two styrene metabolites, the Mandelic and Phenylglyoxylic acids.

Occupational exposure to styrene in the fibreglass reinforced plastic industry: comparison between two different manufacturing processes.

Background: Styrene is used in manufacturing fiberglass reinforced plastics: and occupational exposure was related to neurotoxicology and genotoxicity. The sum of the metabolites mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids is the ACGIH biomarker for occupational exposure with a BEI of 400 mg/g of creatinine in end shift urine corresponding to a airborne styrene concentration of 85 mg/m3. There are two main molding processes, open and closed, the last more effective at controlling worker's styrene exposure.

[Synergistic exposure to noise and styrene and cochlear functionality in a sample of exposed workers: preliminary results].

This study is aimed at testing the cochlear functionality using otoacoustic emissions, analyzing the synergistic effects of simultaneous exposure to noise and organic solvents EBTx on workers of a glass-reinforced plastic products factory. Exposure to organic solvents was assessed using ambiental measurements and evaluation of the salivary concentration. Biological monitoring was performed evaluating the urinary concentration of the styrene metabolites.

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter: validation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical method.

This study concerns the validation of an analytical method for the measurement of occupational exposure to trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulate matter (APM). Personal exposure to selected PAHs of five workers occupationally exposed to urban pollution in Rome, Italy, was evaluated. The samples were collected over 10 days evenly distributed during winter and summer of 2008.

Development and validation of method for analysis of some ototoxic solvents in saliva matrix by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The aim of this study was to develop an analytical method to monitor the saliva matrix for ototoxic solvents absorption: the method is based on headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and represents an alternative biological monitoring for investigating low exposure to hazardous ototoxic solvents. Simultaneous determination of toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes and styrene has been carried out and the method has been optimized for both instrumental parameters and samples treatment. Chromatographic conditions have been set in order to obtain a good separation of xylene isomers due to the interest in p-xylene as ototoxic one.

[Occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium during aircraft painting].

Hygienists are interested in hexavalent chromium due to its genotoxic and carcinogenic effect on humans. The use of products containing hexavalent chromium is decreasing in many industrial fields because of the substitution with less-toxic compounds. In the aeronautical industry, however, the chromate are added to primer paint as a corrosion inhibitor of aircrafts surfaces: so hexavalent chromium compounds are available in many primers with a composition ranging from 10% to 13%.

[Chemical risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds in the field of restoration of art objects].

The use of chemicals during restoration practices involves emissions of toxics depending on both the amount of original products used and the specific techniques applied. Restorers perform a great variety of techniques by using not standardized operative procedures: moreover, they are exposed to mixtures and very rarely to single chemicals. In this study we evaluated workers' exposure to solvent mixture which were generated during restoration of archaeological metal handcraft.