Multi-walled carbon nanotubes induce stronger migration of inflammatory cells in vitro than asbestos or granular particles but a similar pattern of inflammatory mediators.

Biopersistent pro-inflammatory fibers are suspected human carcinogens. Cytotoxicity and transcription of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators of different fibers were investigated in functional relationship to chemotaxis in vitro as a model for fiber-induced inflammation of the lung. We challenged NR8383 rat macrophages with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and various asbestos fibers.

Diesel exhaust exposure and the risk of lung cancer--a review of the epidemiological evidence.

To critically evaluate the association between diesel exhaust (DE) exposure and the risk of lung cancer, we conducted a systematic review of published epidemiological evidences. To comprehensively identify original studies on the association between DE exposure and the risk of lung cancer, literature searches were performed in literature databases for the period between 1970 and 2013, including bibliographies and cross-referencing. In total, 42 cohort studies and 32 case-control studies were identified in which the association between DE exposures and lung cancer was examined.

Exposure to inhalable, respirable, and ultrafine particles in welding fume.

This investigation aims to explore determinants of exposure to particle size-specific welding fume. Area sampling of ultrafine particles (UFP) was performed at 33 worksites in parallel with the collection of respirable particles. Personal sampling of respirable and inhalable particles was carried out in the breathing zone of 241 welders.

Levels and predictors of airborne and internal exposure to manganese and iron among welders.

We investigated airborne and internal exposure to manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) among welders. Personal sampling of welding fumes was carried out in 241 welders during a shift. Metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A comparative field study on dust measurements by different sampling methods with emphasis on estimating factors for recalculation from chinese 'total dust' measurements to respirable dust concentrations.

In China, dust samplers were originally designed to collect 'total dust' for a short term during production, which is different from the widely adopted sampling strategy for dust. With the aim to provide the conversion factor from Chinese total dust to US and German respirable dust and to look at the influences on conversion factors from environment, production, and instruments, a comparative field study on the dust concentration measurements by different sampling methods was carried out in the same Chinese industries as in the 1989-1990 study and in some other factories. A supplemental experiment was also conducted in a wind tunnel.

Sampling and analysis of carbon in diesel exhaust particulates--an international comparison.

Objectives: The European Co-ordination on Diesel Soot Exposure (ECDSE) working group organised a laboratory inter-comparison which integrated both the sampling and the analytical determination. The aim was to gain more information on the performance of the methods for the determination of diesel particulate matter at workplaces and on their comparability, and to also confirm that the requirements of the European standard EN 482 are fulfilled for this analytical procedure.

Methods: Sampling was carried out in a diesel aerosol test chamber where participants used their own sampling devices.

International round robin tests on the measurement of carbon in diesel exhaust particulates.

Object: Diesel soot has been recognized as probably carcinogenic to humans. Elemental carbon (also called black carbon) in soot is considered at the moment as the most significant surrogate to be measured for assessing the exposure to this pollutant. Its analysis is done by combustion in an oven and determination of the CO2 formed, after elimination of the organic fraction of the soot by heating and/or by solvent extraction.