Urinary levels of free 2,5-hexanedione in Italian subjects non-occupationally exposed to n-hexane

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the urinary levels of free 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) in Italian subjects non-occupationally exposed to n-hexane, in order to define background values in non-occupational settings. The study was carried out on 99 subjects of the general population. The analysis of free 2,5-HD was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Personal information about the subjects was ascertained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The urinary levels of free 2,5-HD were in the range of <12.0\u201377.9 g/L (5th\u201395th percentiles). The urinary excretion of the metabolite did not seem to be influenced by gender, age, smoking habit or area of residence. Statistically significant dierences (p = 0.03) were found between the free 2,5-HD urinary levels according to the vehicular trac intensity within the area of residence and to body mass index of subjects. The background levels of free 2,5-HD found in this study could contribute to the definition of reference values of general population non-occupationally exposed and could be useful to the toxicologists and industrial hygienists to determine whether workers have been exposed to higher levels of n-hexane than the general population

Erratum to: Woodworkers and the inflammatory effects of softwood/hardwood dust: evidence from nasal cytology

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Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 10

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Artemisia, Chaetonychia, Cirsium, Cynanchum, Genista, Hieracium, Iberis, Melica, Misopates, Myosotis, Thalictrum, Trifolium, Utricularia, Veronica, and Vicia. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as supplementary material

Il ruolo del medico competente nella valutazione del rischio chimico.

The Author describes the process of chemical risk assessment to be implemented in the workplace, which must lead to the characterization of risk, and thus to estimate the probability of adverse health effects can occur. It is a multi-step and multi-disciplinary activity carried out in close collaboration between the Head of Prevention and Protection Service (which is able to use the accountability of managers and supervisors and the involvement of representatives of workers' safety) and occupational physician who, through its crosstraining, can and should be the connective tissue of the entire operation: in fact he is the only professional figure able to link together health and safety in the workplace. The Author recalls the importance of using biological monitoring procedure, which must always be used especially when the evaluation is to use simplified measures such as algorithms

Il problema dei valori limite: confronto tra limiti di legge italiani e quelli di organismi internazionali

Abstract This paper describes the initiatives of the Italian Association of Industrial Hygienists (AIDII) and those of the Italian Society of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (SIMLII) concerning the issue of threshold limit values in the workplace, until the establishment of the Joint Working Group on "Analysis of Parliamentary Act D.Lgs 25/02 and the role of Scientific Societies in the definition of Limit Values". Some threshold limit values currently determined by Italian legislation are discussed and criticized, and compared to those determined by international committees. The authors emphasize the need for a more active role on the part of AIDII and SIMLII in implementing the threshold limit values defined by the European Community

Caratterizzazione degli inquinanti aerodispersi e valutazione dell'esposizione.

Abstract The Authors draw the attention on the critical topics of the occupational exposure assessment according to the criteria of the UNI EN 689/1997: air sampling strategy to characterize spatial and time variability of pollutant concentrations. They present a preliminary scheme to identify the sources and the chemical agents in the workplace and lead into discussion of critical topics on sampling strategy, instruments and analysis for the measurement, the particle size distribution and the chemical characterization of inorganic particles (silica, ultrafine particles), organic (wood dusts) and fibers (asbestos, synthetic fibres)