An industrial nanocoating process air emissions impact on public health was quantified by using the burden of disease (BoD) concept. The health loss was calculated in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), which is an absolute metric that enables comparisons of the health impacts of different causes. Here, the health loss was compared with generally accepted risk levels for air pollution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffective particle density is a key parameter for assessing inhalation exposure of engineered NPs in occupational environments. In this paper, particle density measurements were carried out using two different techniques: one based on the ratio between mass and volumetric particle concentrations; the other one based on the ratio between aerodynamic and geometric particle diameter. These different approaches were applied to both field- and laboratory-scale atomization processes where the two target NPs (N-doped TiO, TiON and AgNPs capped with a quaternized hydroxyethylcellulose, AgHEC) were generated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhotocatalytic air purifiers based on nano-titanium dioxide (TiO ) visible light activation provide an efficient solution for removing and degrading contaminants in air. The potential detachment of TiO particles from the air purifier to indoor air could cause a safety concern. A TiO release potential was measured for one commercially available photocatalytic air purifier "Gearbox Wivactive" to ensure a successful implementation of the photocatalytic air purifying technology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndustrial spray coating processes are known to produce excellent coatings on large surfaces and are thus often used for in-line production. However, they could be one of the most critical sources of worker exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs). A monitoring campaign at the Witek s.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
November 2021
An automatic lab-scaled spray-coating machine was used to deposit Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on textile to create antibacterial fabric. The spray process was monitored for the dual purpose of (1) optimizing the process by maximizing silver deposition and minimizing fluid waste, thereby reducing suspension consumption and (2) assessing AgNPs release. Monitoring measurements were carried out at two locations: inside and outside the spray chamber (far field).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAirborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been object of debate in the scientific community since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic. This mechanism of transmission could arise from virus-laden aerosol released by infected individuals and it is influenced by several factors. Among these, the concentration and size distribution of virus-laden particles play an important role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int
February 2022
COVID-19 pandemic raised a debate regarding the role of airborne transmission. Information regarding virus-laden aerosol concentrations is still scarce in community indoors and what are the risks for general public and the efficiency of restriction policies. This work investigates, for the first time in Italy, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in air samples collected in different community indoors (one train station, two food markets, one canteen, one shopping centre, one hair salon, and one pharmacy) in three Italian cities: metropolitan city of Venice (NE of Italy), Bologna (central Italy), and Lecce (SE of Italy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF