Composition of Metallic Elements and Size Distribution of Fine and Ultrafine Particles in a Steelmaking Factory.

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of aerosol, in particular particle size and chemical composition, can have an impact on human health. Particle size distribution and chemical composition is a necessary parameter in occupational exposure assessment conducted in order to understand possible health effects. The aim of this study was to characterize workplace airborne particulate matter in a metallurgical setting by synergistically using two different approaches; Methodology: Analysis of inhalable fraction concentrations through traditional sampling equipment and ultrafine particles (UFP) concentrations and size distribution was conducted by an Electric Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI+™). The determination of metallic elements (ME) in particles was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Results: Inhalable fraction and ME concentrations were below the limits set by Italian legislation and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, 2017). The median of UFP was between 4.00 × 104 and 2.92 × 105 particles/cm³. ME concentrations determined in the particles collected by ELPI show differences in size range distribution; Conclusions: The adopted synergistic approach enabled a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the particles in steelmaking factories. The results could lead to a better knowledge of occupational exposure characterization, in turn affording a better understanding of occupational health issues due to metal fumes exposure.

Mortality of the personnel of an interforce military shooting range in Sardinia, Italy: 1990-2010. / Mortalità del personale operante in in poligono miluitre interforze della Sardegna: 1990-2010.

BACKGROUND: As several media reports suggested an increase in cancer mortality in the surrounding area, we investigated the mortality experience of the military personnel of the Interforce shooting range of Salto di Quirra (PISQ) in Sardinia, Italy. METHODS: Based on the PISQ registers, we reconstructed the cohort of 6,828 military personnel who had been employed at PISQ for at least six months on January 1, 1990 or entered subsequently up to June 30, 2005. We searched for life status or date, place, and cause of death of each cohort member up to December 31, 2010. Based on job and operating department, we preliminarily assessed exposure of each cohort member to radiofrequencies, solvents, nanoparticles, servicing in shooting ranges, participation to peacekeeping operations abroad, and undergoing vaccination procedures while in service. For each cause of interest, we calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and its 95% confidence interval, based on the Italian and regional rates specific for age, gender and year of follow-up. RESULTS: Mortality from all causes showed a significant decrease over the expectation, based on the national and regional mortality rates (based on national rates: SMR=78, 95% CI 60-101; based on regional rates: SMR=66, 95% CI 52-84). Deaths from haemolymphatic malignancies matched the expectation from regional rates (7 cases vs 6,3 expected; SMR=111, 95% CI 38-326). We observed two deaths from neoplasms of the haemolymphopoietic system against 0.5 expected among solvent exposed cohort members. We did not observe any significant increase in mortality from all causes or specific causes of death in relation to the exposures we investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The study size was too small, and the follow-up not prolonged enough to conclude whether the operational activities at PISQ did result or not in increased risks of specific causes of death, including cancers, among the military personnel. Further follow-up will be needed before final conclusions can be drawn.

Analysis of potential influence factors on background urinary benzene concentration among a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed general population sample.

OBJECTIVES: Analytical difficulties and lack of a biological exposure index and reference values have prevented using unmetabolized urinary benzene (UB) excretion as a biomarker of low-level environmental exposure. To explore what environmental factors beyond active smoking may contribute to environmental exposure to benzene, we monitored UB excretion in a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed sample of the general population. METHODS: Two spot urine samples were obtained from 86 non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed subjects, selected among a random sample of the general population of the metropolitan area of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), at 8:00 a.m. (UBm) and 8:00 p.m. (UBe). UB was measured by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Questionnaire information on personal and environmental exposures during the sampling day was gathered with personal interviews. Multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression model were applied to investigate the role of such variables on the level of UB. RESULTS: The ninety-fifth percentile of UBe in this population was 311.5 ng/L, which is tentatively proposed as the UB guidance value for unexposed populations. UBm and urban residence were the only predictors of a significant increase in UBe excretion. Self-reported residential vehicular traffic will not account for the excess median value among urban residents; commuting time among urban residents showed a suggestive nonsignificant linear correlation with UBe, but the small sample size prevented reliable inference to be drawn. Age, environmental tobacco smoking, employment status and body mass index did not affect UB excretion. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the use of unmetabolized UB as a specific and sensitive biomarker of low-level environmental exposure to benzene.

Environmental and lifestyle factors affect benzene uptake biomonitoring of residents near a petrochemical plant.

BACKGROUND: We monitored urinary benzene excretion to examine factors affecting benzene uptake in a sample of the general population living near a petrochemical plant. METHODS: Our study population included 143 subjects: 33 petrochemical plant workers (W) with low level occupational benzene exposure; 30 residents in a small town 2 km from the plant (2kmR); 26 residents in a second small town located 2 to 4 km from the plant (4kmR); and 54 urban residents 25km from the plant (25kmR). Exposure to benzene was evaluated by personal air sampling during one work-shift for the W group, and from 8.00 to 20:00 for general population subgroups, and by urinary benzene (BEN-U). RESULTS: Median airborne benzene exposure was 25, 9, 7 and 6 µg/m(3) benzene among the W, 2kmR, 4kmR, and 25kmR subgroups, respectively; the highest level was found among the workers, while there was no significant difference among the other groups. Median BEN-U was 2 to 14-fold higher in smokers compared to non-smokers; among non-smokers BEN-U was the highest in W (median 236 ng/L), and lower in the 2kmR (48 ng/L) and 4kmR (63 ng/L) subgroups than in the 25kmR (120 ng/L) subgroup. A multiple linear regression analysis, explaining up to 73% of BEN-U variability, confirmed that active smoking and airborne benzene most strongly affected BEN-U. Among the non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed study subjects, a positive association was found between BEN-U and the distance of residence from the plant. This association was explained by increased exposure to urban traffic emissions in the study group residing at a greater distance from the plant. Environmental tobacco smoke had a marginally positive role. CONCLUSION: Among factors affecting benzene uptake in non-occupationally exposed individuals, urban residence contributes to benzene exposure more than residing in close proximity to a petrochemical plant.

[Urinary benzene in biological monitoring of environmental exposure to low benzene concentrations]. / Il benzene urinario nel monitoraggio biologico dell'esposizione a bassi livelli ambientali.

INTRODUCTION: Conflicting opinions exist about urinary benzene (UB) as a reliable biomarker of exposure. Objective of our study is to evaluate the effect of low-level environmental exposure on UB levels. METHODS: We monitored UB excretion in 74 non-smoking non- occupationally exposed subjects; a questionnaire interview gathered information on relevant exposures during the day of monitoring. RESULTS: UB excretion was related (p < 0.05) to gender, sampling time, residence, and reported vehicular traffic, but not to passive smoking and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of unmetabolized UB as a specific and sensitive biomarker of low-level exposure to benzene.

Asbestos exposure and malignant lymphoma: a multicenter case-control study in Germany and Italy.

AIMS: To analyze the relationship between asbestos exposure and malignant lymphoma in a multicenter case-control study conducted in Germany and Italy according to a common core protocol. METHODS: Male and female patients with malignant lymphoma (n = 1,034) between 18 and 80 years of age were prospectively recruited in six study areas in Germany (Ludwigshafen/Upper Palatinate, Heidelberg/Rhine-Neckar-County, Würzburg/Lower Frankonia, Hamburg, Bielefeld/East Westphalia, and Munich) and in two study areas in Sardinia, Italy (Cagliari and Nuoro provinces). A total of 1,173 population control subjects were drawn from population registers. In a structured personal interview, we elicited a complete occupational history, including every occupational period that lasted at least 1 year. On the basis of job task-specific supplementary questionnaires, trained experts assessed the exposure to asbestos. As a measure of cumulative asbestos exposure on a time by intensity scale, fiber-years were calculated. 12 cases (1.2%) and 12 control subjects (1.0%) had a cumulative asbestos exposure of more than 2.6 fiber-years (highest exposure category according to the 90th percentile of exposed control subjects). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and study region. Patients with specific lymphoma sub-entities were additionally compared with the entire control group. RESULTS: We observed no statistically significant association between cumulative asbestos exposure and the risk of any lymphoma subtype. An elevated risk was found for the association between exposure to more than 2.6 fiber-years and multiple myeloma (OR = 6.0; 95% CI 1.4-25.1); however, numbers were small (n = 3 cases, all of them from Italy; n = 12 control subjects). CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not support an association between asbestos exposure and risk of malignant lymphoma.

Causes of death among lead smelters in relation to the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase polymorphism.

OBJECTIVE: To assess, by updating a follow-up mortality study of a lead smelters cohort in Sardinia, Italy, the adverse health effects following occupational lead exposure in relation to the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) polymorphism. METHOD: The 1973-2003 mortality of 1017 male lead smelters were followed-up, divided into two subcohorts according to the G6PD phenotype: whether G6PD deficient (G6PD-) or wild-type (wtG6PD). Deaths observed in the overall cohort and the two subcohorts were compared with those expected, on the basis of the age-, sex- and calendar year-specific mortality in the general male population of the island. Directly standardised mortality rates (sr) in the two subcohorts were also compared. RESULTS: Cardiovascular mortality was strongly reduced among production and maintenance workers, which is most related to the healthy worker effect. However, the sr for cardiovascular diseases was substantially lower among the G6PD- subcohort (5.0x10(-4)) than among the wtG6PD subcohort (33.6x10(-4); chi2 = 1.10; p = NS). Neoplasms of the haemopoietic system exceeded the expectation in the G6PD- subcohort (SMR = 388; 95% CI 111 to 1108). No other cancer sites showed any excess in the overall cohort or in the two subcohorts. No death from haemolytic anaemia occurred in the G6PD- subcohort. CONCLUSION: With due consideration of the limited statistical power of our study, previous results suggesting that in workplaces where exposure is under careful control, expressing the G6PD- phenotype does not convey increased susceptibility to lead toxicity are confirmed. The observed excess risk of haematopoietic malignancies seems to have most likely resulted from chance.

Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in humans during domestic exposure to 50 hertz electromagnetic fields.

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) has been suggested to suppress melatonin secretion, which might result in higher cancer risks because of its missing oncostatic action. We investigated the effects of residential exposure to ELF-EMF on the excretion of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-OHMS), the major melatonin metabolite, as an indicator of nocturnal melatonin secretion. METHODS: 6-OHMS was measured in two spot urine samples, collected at 22.00 h and 08.00 h, in 29 men and 22 women. Spot ELF-EMF measurements were conducted at the centre and the four angles of the living room, the bedroom, and the kitchen of study subjects at low current configuration (all lights and appliances turned off), and they were repeated immediately at high current configuration (all lights and appliances turned on). RESULTS: Risk of a reduced 6-OMHS nocturnal secretion was elevated for daily alcohol intake (OR = 6.4; 95%C.I. 1.4,33.1), and body mass index (BMI) above the median (OR = 2.2; 95%C.I. 0.5,9.6). Risk of disrupted rhythm of 6-OHMS excretion was moderately elevated for domestic ELF-EMF exposure above the upper tertile at low current configuration (OR = 2.6; 95%C.I. 0.4,15.7). CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption, BMI, and gender seem to affect nocturnal melatonin secretion, while an effect of residential exposure to ELF-EMF is uncertain. Future studies should properly account for the effect of such variables, when addressing the hypothesis of disturbances in melatonin secretion as a plausible explanation for the reported excess risk of several tumoral diseases associated with low level ELF-EMF exposure.

Reproductive outcomes in DDT applicators.

OBJECTIVES: To explore reproductive outcomes in relation to occupational exposure to DDT. METHODS: We inquired into the reproductive history, including total number of children, sex distribution in the offspring, time-to-pregnancy, and number of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths, of the spouses of 105 men first exposed to DDT in a 1946-1950 anti-malarial campaign in Sardinia, Italy. The time-to-pregnancy in months at the first successful conception was estimated from population Registrars. Cumulative DDT exposure during the anti-malarial campaign was retrospectively estimated. RESULTS: The stillbirth rate was elevated and the male/female ratio in the offspring was reversed among DDT-exposed workers, and particularly among DDT applicators, compared to the unexposed subjects. Among DDT applicators, the stillbirth rate increased and the male/female ratio decreased by the tertile of cumulative DDT exposure. The fecundity ratio among spouses of DDT applicators was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.41,1.21) compared to the unexposed. The average number of children and abortion rate were unaffected by DDT exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The low statistical power of our study does not allow definitive conclusions. However, the results prompt further in-depth research into adverse reproductive outcomes and reduced fertility among men heavily exposed to DDT.