Skin absorption of metals derived from hydrogenated stainless particles in human skin: Results from the TITANS project.

Workers involved in the decommissioning and removal of radioactive material from nuclear power plants can come into contact with tritiated dust from stainless steel. This study aimed to investigate metal penetration and permeation after skin contamination with these particles. Static diffusion Franz cells were used with intact, damaged, or broken human skin.

Core-shell electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers, loaded with rifampicin and coated with silver nanoparticles, for tissue engineering applications.

In the field of tissue engineering, the use of core-shell fibers represents an advantageous approach to protect and finely tune the release of bioactive compounds with the aim to regulate their efficacy. In this work, core-shell electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber-based membranes, loaded with rifampicin and coated with silver nanoparticles, were developed and characterized. The membranes are composed by randomly oriented nanofibers with a homogeneous diameter, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Effect of forced aeration on the biogeochemical cycle of nutrients and metal(loid)s as a remedy for hypoxia in a permanently stratified estuary (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea).

The Timavo River estuary (northern Adriatic Sea) is characterised by strong thermohaline stratification that keeps the deep waters hypoxic. The consequence is an harmful algal bloom at the surface in summer that can be mitigated with a forced aeration system installed at the bottom to improve water oxygenation. The nutrient and metal(loid) cycle was investigated, before and during reoxygenation, using an in situ benthic chamber coupled with sampling and analyses of the water column, sediments and porewater.

Exposure to gallium arsenide nanoparticles in a research facility: a case study using molecular beam epitaxy.

We evaluated GaAs nanoparticle-concentrations in the air and on skin and surfaces in a research facility that produces thin films, and to monitored As in the urine of exposed worker. The survey was over a working week using a multi-level approach. Airborne personal monitoring was implemented using a miniature diffusion size classifier (DiSCMini) and IOM sampler.

Probing the effectiveness of barrier creams against human skin penetration of nickel powder.

Objective: Barrier creams (BCs) are marketed as locally applied medical devices or cosmetic products to protect the skin from exposure to chemicals and irritants. Generally, the mechanism of action of such products is mainly due to the formation of a superficial thin film between the skin and the irritant or sensitizer, thus reducing or totally blocking the cutaneous penetration of such agents. Specifically, studies focusing on the effectiveness of commercial protective creams to prevent nickel cutaneous penetration are extremely scarce.