The Toxic Effects of Petroleum Diesel, Biodiesel, and Renewable Diesel Exhaust Particles on Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells.

The use of alternative diesel fuels has increased due to the demand for renewable energy sources. There is limited knowledge regarding the potential health effects caused by exhaust emissions from biodiesel- and renewable diesel-fueled engines. This study investigates the toxic effects of particulate matter (PM) emissions from a diesel engine powered by conventional petroleum diesel fuel (SD10) and two biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels in vitro.

A Miniaturized Method for Evaluating the Dynamic Gas-Phase Adsorption and Degradation of Sarin on Porous Adsorbents at Different Humidity Levels.

Metal organic frameworks based on zirconium nodes (Zr-MOFs) have impressive adsorption capacities, and many can rapidly hydrolyze toxic organophosphorus nerve agents. They could thus potentially replace commonly used adsorbents in respiratory filters. However, current test methodologies are poorly adapted to screen the large number of available MOFs, and data for nerve agent adsorption by MOFs are scarce.

In vitro toxicity evaluation in A549 cells of diesel particulate matter from two different particle sampling systems and several resuspension media.

In urban areas, inhalation of fine particles from combustion sources such as diesel engines causes adverse health effects. For toxicity testing, a substantial amount of particulate matter (PM) is needed. Conventional sampling involves collection of PM onto substrates by filtration or inertial impaction.

Potential exhaled breath biomarkers identified in chlorine-exposed mice.

Exhaled breath (EB) contains various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can indicate specific biological or pathological processes in the body. Analytical techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can be used to detect and measure these exhaled biomarkers. In this study, the objective was to develop a non-invasive method of EB sampling in animals that were awake, as well as to analyze EB for volatile biomarkers specific for chlorine exposure and/or diagnostic biomarkers for chlorine-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

Rapid changes in profiles from stored materials used in scent training of explosive detection dogs.

Canines trained on scents from materials emitting vapours of explosives and related compounds are widely used to detect explosives in civilian, military and forensic applications. Despite the importance of these training materials, there is limited knowledge on how long these subsamples can be stored and whether vapour profiles change over time. We developed a sampling methodology that makes use of a secondary chamber for stabilisation of headspace concentration to allow reliable and reproducible determination of scent profiles.

The potential of thermal desorption-GC/MS-based analytical methods for the unambiguous identification and quantification of perfluoroisobutene and carbonyl fluoride in air samples.

The reactive gases perfluoroisobutene and carbonyl fluoride are highly toxic and difficult to analyze in air. For this paper, the available sampling and analysis methods involving gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were investigated for their potential to give unambiguous identification and quantification of perfluoroisobutene and carbonyl fluoride, for which no such methods exist. Although high concentrations of perfluoroisobutene could be analyzed directly by manual split injection, sorbent sampling followed by thermal desorption GC/MS allowed lower concentrations to be analyzed.

Characterization of toxicological effects of complex nano-sized metal particles using in vitro human cell and whole blood model systems.

Metal oxide fumes form at high temperatures, for instance, during welding or firing ammunition. Inhalation exposure to high levels of airborne metal oxide particles can cause metal fume fever, cardiovascular effects, and lung damage in humans, but the associated underlying pathological mechanisms are still not fully understood. Using human alveolar epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and whole blood model systems, we aimed to elucidate the short-term effects of well-characterized metal particles emitted while firing pistol ammunition.

Exposures to lead during urban combat training.

Lead exposure is still a major concern for occupations that regularly train or work with firearms, such as law enforcement and military personnel. Due to the increasing number of women of fertile age in such professions, there is a strong incentive to monitor lead exposures during firearms training. Personal air sampling was performed during two sessions of a nine-day urban combat training (UCT) course for cadets in the Swedish Armed Forces, one session employing leaded ammunition (leaded scenario) and one session employing unleaded ammunition (unleaded scenario).

Choosing the number of images and image position when analyzing the UNC Passive Aerosol Sampler for occupational exposure assessment.

The University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler) could be an alternative when measuring occupational dust exposure, but the time required for microscopic imaging of the sampler needs to be reduced to make it more attractive. The aims of this study were to (1) characterize the effect on precision when reducing imaging, in order to shorten analysis time and (2) assess if the position of the images makes a difference. Eighty-eight samplers were deployed in different locations of an open pit mine.

Improving the UNC Passive Aerosol Sampler Model Based on Comparison with Commonly Used Aerosol Sampling Methods.

Objectives: In an occupational environment, passive sampling could be an alternative to active sampling with pumps for sampling of dust. One passive sampler is the University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler). It is often analysed by microscopic imaging.

Impact of Fire Suit Ensembles on Firefighter PAH Exposures as Assessed by Skin Deposition and Urinary Biomarkers.

Over the past 10 years, a number of safety measures for reducing firefighters' exposure to combustion particles have been introduced in Sweden. The most important measure was the reduction in the time firefighters wear suits and handle contaminated equipment after turn-outs involving smoke diving. This study was divided into two parts, those being to investigate the level of protection obtained by multiple garment layers and to assess exposure during a standardized smoke diving exercise.

A Pilot Study: The UNC Passive Aerosol Sampler in a Working Environment.

Objectives: Dust is generally sampled on a filter using air pumps, but passive sampling could be a cost-effective alternative. One promising passive sampler is the University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler). The aim of this study is to characterize and compare the UNC sampler's performance with PM10 and PM2.

Hand-Held Femtogram Detection of Hazardous Picric Acid with Hydrophobic Ag Nanopillar SERS Substrates and Mechanism of Elasto-Capillarity.

Picric acid (PA) is a severe environmental and security risk due to its unstable, toxic, and explosive properties. It is also challenging to detect in trace amounts and in situ because of its highly acidic and anionic character. Here, we assess sensing of PA under nonlaboratory conditions using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) silver nanopillar substrates and hand-held Raman spectroscopy equipment.

Field evaluation and calibration of a small axial passive air sampler for gaseous and particle bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oxygenated PAHs.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their oxygenated analogues (OPAHs) are ubiquitous air pollutants known to cause adverse health effects. PAH air levels are commonly monitored by active sampling but passive sampling has become popular because of its lower cost and simplicity, which facilitate long-term sampling and increased spatial coverage. However, passive samplers are less suitable for short-term sampling and are in general less accurate than active samplers because they require reliable sampling rate (Rs) measurements for individual analytes under diverse environmental conditions.

Toxicity and accumulation of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its metabolites in Atlantic salmon alevins exposed to an industrially polluted water.

A pond in an industrial area in Sweden was selected to study adverse effects on salmon alevins from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated water. Chemical screening revealed heavy contamination of TNT and its degradation products, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), ranging from 0.05 to 230 g/kg in the sediment (dry weight) within the water system.

Emission factors for gases and particle-bound substances produced by firing lead-free small-caliber ammunition.

Lead-free ammunition is becoming increasingly popular because of the environmental and human health issues associated with the use of leaded ammunition. However, there is a lack of data on the emissions produced by firing such ammunition. We report emission factors for toxic gases and particle-bound compounds produced by firing lead-free ammunition in a test chamber.

Oxidative stress and cytokine expression in respiratory epithelial cells exposed to well-characterized aerosols from Kabul, Afghanistan.

In this study aerosol samples collected in an Asian mega-city (Kabul, Afghanistan) were compared to PM samples collected in a European location with traffic (Umeå, Sweden) and a reference urban dust material (SRM 1649b). The toxicity of each sample towards normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was tested along with their ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and inflammatory responses. The extracts' morphology and elemental composition was studied by SEM-EDXRF, and filter samples were analyzed for metals and organic compounds.

Broad exposure screening of air pollutants in the occupational environment of Swedish soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.

The main objective of this study was to perform an initial characterization of Swedish soldiers' exposure to air pollutants in Afghanistan and screen for potential health hazards. Stationary monitoring was performed in two military camps, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul and Camp Northern Lights in Mazar-e Sharif, at both outdoor and indoor locations. A broad screening including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.

Development of air sampling strategies for monitoring common air pollutants in a mission area at Camp Victoria in Kosovo--stationary vs. personal monitoring.

It can be problematic to collect representative samples in the occupational environment of deployed soldiers using personal samplers. In this study, several air sampling strategies were examined to identify the most efficient method for collecting air samples that were representative of the soldiers' exposure profiles at the Swedish KFOR Camp Victoria outside Pristina, Kosovo. Stationary monitoring was performed during two 5-day sampling campaigns, one in summer and one in winter.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), thyroid hormones and cytokines in construction workers removing old elastic sealants.

Objectives: To estimate the internal PCB level in Swedish workers specialised in PCB abatement in buildings and to measure possible effects of PCB on thyroid function and aspects of the immune system.

Methods: Thirty six of 40 eligible workers (90%) removing old elastic sealants containing PCB and 33 control construction workers provided blood samples for determination of 19 PCB congeners and some other organochlorine compounds (hexachlorobenzene and p,p'-DDE), thyroid function hormones and a set of cytokines. The PCB exposed group was reinvestigated after 10 months for a trend assessment.

Pressurized liquid extraction with water as a tool for chemical and toxicological screening of soil samples at army live-fire training ranges.

Significant discrepancies in the results of risk assessments based on chemical and toxicity analyses of soils may arise through differences in the efficiency of the extraction or leaching methods used. A rapid technique that may be used in the screening phase of live-fire training ranges and suitable for extracting explosive residues is pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with water. Therefore, PLE and the commonly used batch leaching method EN-124 57-2 were compared for their utility to extract specific residues from soil samples collected from the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa, Ontario.

Identification of markers for PCB exposure in plasma from Swedish construction workers removing old elastic sealants.

The objective of the present study was to identify PCB-indicators of occupational exposure related to the removal of old elastic sealants. Blood samples were collected from workers involved in removing elastic sealants. Samples were also taken from age- and sex-matched controls.