Towards harmonisation of testing of nanomaterials for EU regulatory requirements on chemical safety - A proposal for further actions.

Over the recent years, EU chemicals legislation, guidance and test guidelines have been developed or adapted for nanomaterials to facilitate safe use of nanomaterials. This paper provides an overview of the information requirements across different EU regulatory areas. For each information requirement, a group of 22 experts identified potential needs for further action to accommodate guidance and test guidelines to nanomaterials.

Towards health-based nano reference values (HNRVs) for occupational exposure: Recommendations from an expert panel.

Unique physicochemical characteristics of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) suggest the need for nanomaterial-specific occupational exposure limits (OELs). Setting these limits remains a challenge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to set out a framework to evaluate the feasibility of deriving advisory health-based occupational limit values for groups of ENMs, based on scientific knowledge.

Industry Derived Occupational Exposure Limits: A Survey of Professionals on the Dutch System of Exposure Guidelines.

The Netherlands' system for occupational exposure limits (OELs) encompasses two kinds of OELs: public and private. Public OELs are set by the government. Private OELs are derived by industry and cover all substances without a public OEL.

Physico-chemical properties of manufactured nanomaterials - Characterisation and relevant methods. An outlook based on the OECD Testing Programme.

Identifying and characterising nanomaterials require additional information on physico-chemical properties and test methods, compared to chemicals in general. Furthermore, regulatory decisions for chemicals are usually based upon certain toxicological properties, and these effects may not be equivalent to those for nanomaterials. However, regulatory agencies lack an authoritative decision framework for nanomaterials that links the relevance of certain physico-chemical endpoints to toxicological effects.

Characterization of silver particles in the stratum corneum of healthy subjects and atopic dermatitis patients dermally exposed to a silver-containing garment.

Silver is increasingly being used in garments to exploit its antibacterial properties. Information on the presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in garments and their in vivo penetration across healthy and impaired skin from use is limited. We investigated the presence of AgNPs in a silver containing garment and in the stratum corneum (SC) of healthy subjects (CTRLs) and individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Percutaneous penetration of silver from a silver containing garment in healthy volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis.

Human data on dermal absorption of silver under "in use" scenario are scarce which hampers health risk assessment. The main objective of the present study was to determine percutaneous penetration of silver after dermal exposure to silver containing garment in healthy individuals and atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Next to assess pro-inflammatory effect of silver in the skin.

Pilot study on the identification of silver in skin layers and urine after dermal exposure to a functionalized textile.

Silver (Ag) is increasingly used in consumer products like functionalized textiles and medical devices owing to its strong antimicrobial activity which is largely assigned to Ag ions released after oxidation of metallic Ag. To increase generation of Ag ions, in various products Ag is often present as nanoparticles. Ideally, Ag ions would remain on the surface of the skin to combat the bacteria and the uptake of Ag into the body should be limited.

Filaggrin loss-of-function mutations and atopic dermatitis as risk factors for hand eczema in apprentice nurses: part II of a prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: Environmental exposure and personal susceptibility both contribute to the development of hand eczema. In this study, we investigated the effect of loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG), atopic dermatitis and wet work exposure on the development of hand eczema in apprentice nurses.

Methods: Dutch apprentice nurses were genotyped for the four most common FLG mutations; atopic dermatitis and hand eczema history were assessed by questionnaire.

Wet work and hand eczema in apprentice nurses; part I of a prospective cohort study.

Background /objectives: Environmental exposure and personal susceptibility both contribute to the development of hand eczema. Here, we report an investigation on wet work exposure and its influence on the risk of developing hand eczema in apprentice nurses.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed among 721 Dutch apprentice nurses.

No remarkable differences in rates of sensitization to common type I and IV allergens between FLG loss-of-function mutation carriers and wild-type subjects.

Background: Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) have been associated with reduced skin barrier function, possibly allowing increased penetration of irritants and allergens.

Objectives: To study whether FLG loss-of-function mutation carriers show different rates of sensitization to common type I and IV allergens among patients referred for occupational contact dermatitis of the hands.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred and ninety-six Caucasian patients were genotyped for four FLG null mutations and patch tested with the European baseline series.

Genotype-phenotype associations in filaggrin loss-of-function mutation carriers.

Background: Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) have been reported to be associated with specific phenotypic characteristics such as hyperlinearity and keratosis pilaris.

Objectives: To study phenotypic features in patients with occupational irritant contact eczema of the hands in relation to FLG loss-of-function mutations.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective cohort study, genotype was determined for 459 study subjects for four FLG null alleles, and investigated for selected history, clinical and laboratory features.

Impact of tumour necrosis factor-α polymorphisms on irritant contact dermatitis.

Background: Genetic variations in genes coding for cytokines involved in skin inflammation may alter their expression, thus changing the susceptibility to irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of polymorphisms in the cytokine genes TNFA-238 and TNFA-308 in patients with occupational ICD, and to compare it with that in controls.

Methods: In a case-control study, 478 patients with occupational ICD of the hands were genotyped for TNFA-238 and TNFA-308 polymorphisms.

Revealing barriers and facilitators to use a new genetic test: comparison of three user involvement methods.

We compared three common user involvement methods in revealing barriers and facilitators from intended users that might influence their use of a new genetic test. The study was part of the development of a new genetic test on the susceptibility to hand eczema for nurses. Eighty student nurses participated in five focus groups (n = 33), 15 interviews (n = 15) or questionnaires (n = 32).

Quantification of wet-work exposure in nurses using a newly developed wet-work exposure monitor.

Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is an important work-related disease. A major cause of OCD is 'wet work': frequent contact of the skin with water, soap, detergents, or occlusive gloves. The German guidance TRGS 401 recommends that the duration of wet work (including use of occlusive gloves) should not exceed 2 h day(-1) and also the frequency of hand washing or hand disinfection should be taken into account.

Individual susceptibility to occupational contact dermatitis.

Occupational Contact Dermatitis (OCD) is one of the most common work-related diseases. High risk occupations are in health care, hairdressing, food sector and metal industry. OCD tends to become chronic; persistent OCD often results in impaired quality of life and loss of work ability.

Evaluation of a low-cost electrostatic dust fall collector for indoor air endotoxin exposure assessment.

Exposure to endotoxin in home environments has become a key issue in asthma and allergy research. Most studies have analyzed floor or mattress dust endotoxin, but its validity as a proxy for airborne exposure is unknown, while active airborne dust sampling is not feasible in large-scale population studies because of logistic and financial limitations. We therefore developed and evaluated a simple passive airborne dust collection method for airborne endotoxin exposure assessment.