Sensitive profiling of biogenic amines in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with field amplified sample injection.

In order to monitor biogenic amines in human urine, a method based on field-amplified sample injection combined with capillary electrophoresis and direct UV absorption detection was developed. Dopamine, tyramine, tryptamine, serotonin and epinephrine were effectively separated and identified in human urine samples, and detection limits were 0.072, 0.010, 0.027, 0.010 and 0.120 µmol/L, respectively. Detection limits comparable to laser-induced fluorescence detection or solid phase extraction combined with capillary electrophoresis were achieved. Parameters affecting electrophoretic system detection sensitivity were investigated. Optimal separation conditions were obtained using as background electrolyte a pH 6.5 mixture of 2-(morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid 20 mmol/L and 30 mmol/L phosphate buffer, containing 0.05% hydroxypropylcellulose and 10% v/v methanol. Injections of the sample solution were performed by applying a voltage of 12 kV for 50 s. Recovery and accuracy ranged between 89.4 and 94.9%, and 89 and 112%, respectively. The method was successfully applied on actual urine samples (from a healthy volunteer): target bioamine content was consistent with endogenous levels reported in the literature. The proposed method is simple, fast and inexpensive and can be conveniently employed in work-related stress studies. The affordability and noninvasive sampling of the method allow epidemiological studies on large number of exposed persons to be performed.

[Assessment of the cancerogenic risk in schools]. / Valutazione del rischio cancerogeno nelle scuole.

The aim of the study is to verify the presence of the carcinogenic risk for teachers, technical assistants and students in 96 secondary schools, providing suggestions for its assessment. Since the analysis of the national and international scientific literature does not reveal data on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk nor in schools nor in similar environments, the authors gave importance to the preliminary phase of the risk assessment that is to say the inspections aimed to detect the possible presence of risk agents and to identify the possible exposed subjects. The evaluation of the exposition through the execution of environmental and biological monitoring has to be performed, according to the authors opinion, only after this indispensable preliminary phase. The carcinogenic risk has been ascertained in relation to the presence of substances used for didactical means (fuels, mineral oils, reagents, enamels and pitch, ceramic mixtures and metallic alloys) or produced during practical activities (hard wood dusts, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) deriving from high temperatures cooking), analyzing the tasks implying their use and identifying the exposed subjects. The presence of carcinogenic agents has been found out in 54 on 96 schools. In order to preserve the health status of the exposed workers in schools, it is necessary the adoption of the suitable measures of prevention and protection similarly to what is established for all the work places, even before the eventual environmental monitoring.

[Assessment of asbestos exposure via mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid]. / Stima dell'esposizione ad asbesto mediante analisi mineralogica del liquido di lavaggio broncoalveolare.

BACKGROUND: Mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by electron microscopy could be the most suitable method for assessing asbestos exposure. However, it has been claimed that there is not a standardized or systematic approach to the subject of mineralogical analysis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate mineralogical analysis of BALF by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as biomarker of asbestos fibre load. METHODS: BALF was examined in 193 exposed workers (189 men and 4 women) and in 84 patients (65 men and 19 women) who underwent diagnostic fibreoptic bronchoscopy for various clinical purposes. Asbestos bodies (AB) in BALF were counted with a phase contrast microscope, while fibres were counted and analysed by TEM. RESULTS: Fibre counting by TEM showed a significant difference in the two populations (two tailed Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.0044), since it was positive in all exposed subjects. Only 75.1% of the exposed population was positive for asbestos bodies (AB). Subjects who had been exposed over a long time period had higher concentrations of fibres than subjects who had been exposed more recently probably because of higher exposure in the past. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the results of a previous study on a limited number of subjects. Fibre concentrations in BALF can be considered as a reliable biomarker of past asbestos exposure even after many years after cessation of exposure.

Trace analysis of estrogenic chemicals in sewage effluent using liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid, selective, sensitive, and reproducible method for the analysis of environmental estrogens, either natural or synthetic, present in samples from sewage treatment works (STW) has been developed. Isolation of these compounds from STWs was performed by applying a simple extraction procedure using an ENVI-CARB cartridge (a graphitized non porous carbon black) as the solid-phase extraction (SPE) system. Liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and tandem mass spectrometry was used for detection. For the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, the [M + H](+) ion of estrone and the [M + H-H(2)O](+) ions of 17beta-estradiol, estriol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol were selected as the precursors for collisionally induced dissociation (CID). The average recoveries from sewage final effluent samples ranged from 84 to 93% for low levels, and from 89 to 95% for high levels. The precision of the method ranged from 11 to 8% for low level and from 9 to 7% for high level samples. The lower level of quantitation for these estrogens in STW samples was determined at 0.5 ng/L for 17beta-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol, and 1 ng/L for estrone and estriol, based on 1-L aliquots of sewage treatment works water, using the optimum tuning parameters for each individual selected precursor ion/product ion transition. Compared to a previous gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the analysis of ten STW samples, this method was shown to provide higher sensitivity and lower time consumption.

[Audiometry in the cellulose industry]. / Audiometrie nell'industria della cellulosa.

A noise level dosimetry and audiometric testing were conducted in a cellulose factory to determine the hazardous noise level and the prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among the exposed workers. The noise level was recorded up to 90 db (A) in several working areas. 18 workers, potentially exposed to noise injury, evidenced a significant hearing loss. While no evidence of noise injury was recorded in a control group of 100 subjects. This finding suggest a strict relationship between audiometric tests, the noise level recorded in the working place and the working seniority of exposed employers.