Characterizing the Chemical Profile of Incidental Ultrafine Particles for Toxicity Assessment Using an Aerosol Concentrator

Incidental ultrafine particles (UFPs) constitute a key pollutant in industrial workplaces. However, characterizing their chemical properties for exposure and toxicity assessments still remains a challenge. In this work, the performance of an aerosol concentrator (Versatile Aerosol Concentration Enrichment System, VACES) was assessed to simultaneously sample UFPs on filter substrates (for chemical analysis) and as liquid suspensions (for toxicity assessment), in a high UFP concentration scenario. An industrial case study was selected where metal-containing UFPs were emitted during thermal spraying of ceramic coatings. Results evidenced the comparability of the VACES system with online monitors in terms of UFP particle mass (for concentrations up to 95 µg UFP/m3 ) and between filters and liquid suspensions, in terms of particle composition (for concentrations up to 1000 µg/ m3). This supports the applicability of this tool for UFP collection in view of chemical and toxicological characterization for incidental UFPs. In the industrial setting evaluated, results showed that the spraying temperature was a driver of fractionation of metals between UF (<0.2 µm) and fine (0.2– 2.5 µm) particles. Potentially health hazardous metals (Ni, Cr) were enriched in UFPs and depleted in the fine particle fraction. Metals vaporized at high temperatures and concentrated in the UF fraction through nucleation processes. Results evidenced the need to understand incidental particle formation mechanisms due to their direct implications on particle composition and, thus, exposure. It is advisable that personal exposure and subsequent risk assessments in occupational settings should include dedicated metrics to monitor UFPs (especially, incidental).What’s important about this paper: Our work addresses the challenge of characterizing the bulk chemical composition of ultrafine particles in occupational settings, for exposure and toxicity assessments. We tested the performance of an aerosol concentrator (VACES) to simultaneously sample ultrafine particles (UFPs) on filter substrates and as liquid suspensions, in a high UFP concentration scenario. An industrial case study was selected where metal-bearing UFPs were emitted. We report the chemical exposures characterized in the industrial facility, and evidence the comparability of the VACES system with online monitors for UFP particle mass (up to 95 µg UFP/m3) as well as between UFP chemical composition on filters and in suspension. This supports the applicability of this tool for UFP collection in view of chemical and toxicological characterization of exposures to incidental UFPs in workplace settings.Highlights: - The VACES system is a useful tool for UFP sampling in high-concentration settings; - UFP collected simultaneously on filters and in suspension showed good comparability; - UFP chemical profiles were characterized; - Health-hazardous metals Ni and Cr accumulated in UFPs; - Understanding emission mechanisms is key to identifying exposure sources.This work was funded by SIINN ERA-NET (project id: 16), the Spanish MINECO (PCIN-2015-173-C02-01) and the French agency (Region Hauts de France). The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CEX2018-000794-S; Severo Ochoa) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (project number: AGAUR 2017 SGR41) provided support for the indirect costs for the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Towards a nanospecific approach for risk assessment.

In the current paper, a new strategy for risk assessment of nanomaterials is described, which builds upon previous project outcomes and is developed within the FP7 NANoREG project. NANoREG has the aim to develop, for the long term, new testing strategies adapted to a high number of nanomaterials where many factors can affect their environmental and health impact. In the proposed risk assessment strategy, approaches for (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationships ((Q)SARs), grouping and read-across are integrated and expanded to guide the user how to prioritise those nanomaterial applications that may lead to high risks for human health. Furthermore, those aspects of exposure, kinetics and hazard assessment that are most likely to be influenced by the nanospecific properties of the material under assessment are identified. These aspects are summarised in six elements, which play a key role in the strategy: exposure potential, dissolution, nanomaterial transformation, accumulation, genotoxicity and immunotoxicity. With the current approach it is possible to identify those situations where the use of nanospecific grouping, read-across and (Q)SAR tools is likely to become feasible in the future, and to point towards the generation of the type of data that is needed for scientific justification, which may lead to regulatory acceptance of nanospecific applications of these tools.The research leading to these results has been partially funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/ 2007e2013) under the project NANoREG (A common European approach to the regulatory testing of nanomaterials), grant agreement 310584.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Particle toxicology and health - where are we?

Background Particles and fibres affect human health as a function of their properties such as chemical composition, size and shape but also depending on complex interactions in an organism that occur at various levels between particle uptake and target organ responses. While particulate pollution is one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease, particles are also increasingly used for medical purposes. Over the past decades we have gained considerable experience in how particle properties and particle-bio interactions are linked to human health. This insight is useful for improved risk management in the case of unwanted health effects but also for developing novel medical therapies. The concepts that help us better understand particles and fibres risks include the fate of particles in the body; exposure, dosimetry and dose-metrics and the 5 Bs: bioavailability, biopersistence, bioprocessing, biomodification and bioclearance of (nano)particles. This includes the role of the biomolecule corona, immunity and systemic responses, non-specific effects in the lungs and other body parts, particle effects and the developing body, and the link from the natural environment to human health. The importance of these different concepts for the human health risk depends not only on the properties of the particles and fibres, but is also strongly influenced by production, use and disposal scenarios. Conclusions Lessons learned from the past can prove helpful for the future of the field, notably for understanding novel particles and fibres and for defining appropriate risk management and governance approaches.(VLID)359668

An update on the strategies in multicomponent activity monitoring within the phytopharmaceutical field

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To-date modern drug research has focused on the discovery and synthesis of single active substances. However, multicomponent preparations are gaining increasing importance in the phytopharmaceutical field by demonstrating beneficial properties with respect to efficacy and toxicity.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In contrast to single drug combinations, a botanical multicomponent therapeutic possesses a complex repertoire of chemicals that belong to a variety of substance classes. This may explain the frequently observed pleiotropic bioactivity spectra of these compounds, which may also suggest that they possess novel therapeutic opportunities. Interestingly, considerable bioactivity properties are exhibited not only by remedies that contain high doses of phytochemicals with prominent pharmaceutical efficacy, but also preparations that lack a sole active principle component. Despite that each individual substance within these multicomponents has a low molar fraction, the therapeutic activity of these substances is established via a potentialization of their effects through combined and simultaneous attacks on multiple molecular targets. Although beneficial properties may emerge from such a broad range of perturbations on cellular machinery, validation and/or prediction of their activity profiles is accompanied with a variety of difficulties in generic risk-benefit assessments. Thus, it is recommended that a comprehensive strategy is implemented to cover the entirety of multicomponent-multitarget effects, so as to address the limitations of conventional approaches.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>An integration of standard toxicological methods with selected pathway-focused bioassays and unbiased data acquisition strategies (such as gene expression analysis) would be advantageous in building an interaction network model to consider all of the effects, whether they were intended or adverse reactions.</p

RIVM's Strategic Program Annual Report 2021

Het Strategisch Programma (SPR) is het RIVM-programma voor strategisch onderzoek, wetenschappelijke vernieuwing en kennisontwikkeling. Hiermee kijken we vooruit naar onderwerpen die extra aandacht verdienen, omdat ze in de toekomst van invloed kunnen zijn op onze volksgezondheid en leefomgeving. Met deze jaarrapportage brengt het RIVM verslag uit van de resultaten van SPR in 2021. De rapportage is bedoeld om de eigenaar (het ministerie van VWS), de Commissie van Toezicht van het RIVM en geïnteresseerden binnen en buiten het RIVM te informeren over de inhoud en de voortgang van de projecten in het programma. In 2021, het derde jaar van het programma 2019-2022, liepen er een groot aantal projecten tegelijk. Er zijn 39 nieuwe projecten gestart. De thema’s Perceptie en Gedrag en Methoden voor Verzameling en Analyse van Data, die tot nu toe de andere SPR-thema’s ondersteunden, startten in 2021 met verschillende ‘eigen’ projecten. Tegelijk zijn in 2021 de tweejarige projecten uit de eerste fase van het programma afgerond. Zij zijn verlengd als gevolg van de coronapandemie. Eind 2021 bereikten 20 projecten de eindfase. Twee thema’s die twee jaar duurden zijn eind 2021 hun laatste fase in gegaan: Integraal Voedselbeleid en Safety & Security. De slotsymposia hierover vinden plaats in 2022. Binnen alle thema’s worden in 2022 de resultaten onder de aandacht gebracht, bijvoorbeeld door wetenschappelijke artikelen te publiceren. Nieuwe projecten die in 2021 in het programma zijn gestart, zijn vaak projecten waar promovendi de komende jaren aan werken. De wetenschappelijke publicaties naar aanleiding daarvan worden verwacht in de jaren tot en met 2026.The Strategic Programme (SPR) is the RIVM programme for strategic research, scientific innovation, and scientific knowledge development on topics that merit extra attention due to expected future impact on public health and the living environment. The annual SPR report presents the results of the programme in 2021 to the owner (the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport), the Supervisory Committee of the RIVM and others interested in the progress and results of the projects within the programme. The year 2021, as the third year of the SPR 2019-2022, was characterised by a large number of parallel projects. 39 new projects were launched. The themes Perception and Behaviour and Methods for Collection and Analysis of Data, thus far supporting the other themes, started several 'own' projects in 2021. At the same time, 2021 also became the final year for the two-year projects from the first phase of the programme, due to an extension period of a year to accommodate planning changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2021, 20 projects reached the final phase. Two two-year themes reached the final phase at the end of 2021: Integrated Food Policy and Safety & Security. Their closing symposia will take place in 2022. Within all themes, drawing attention to the results, e.g. by the publication of scientific articles, is envisaged for 2022. New projects that started in the programme in 2021 are mostly PhD projects, so more scientific publications are expected until 2026

Strategisch Programma RIVM Jaarrapportage 2021

Het Strategisch Programma (SPR) is het RIVM-programma voor strategisch onderzoek, wetenschappelijke vernieuwing en kennisontwikkeling. Hiermee kijken we vooruit naar onderwerpen die extra aandacht verdienen, omdat ze in de toekomst van invloed kunnen zijn op onze volksgezondheid en leefomgeving. Met deze jaarrapportage brengt het RIVM verslag uit van de resultaten van SPR in 2021. De rapportage is bedoeld om de eigenaar (het ministerie van VWS), de Commissie van Toezicht van het RIVM en geïnteresseerden binnen en buiten het RIVM te informeren over de inhoud en de voortgang van de projecten in het programma. In 2021, het derde jaar van het programma 2019-2022, liepen er een groot aantal projecten tegelijk. Er zijn 39 nieuwe projecten gestart. De thema’s Perceptie en Gedrag en Methoden voor Verzameling en Analyse van Data, die tot nu toe de andere SPR-thema’s ondersteunden, startten in 2021 met verschillende ‘eigen’ projecten. Tegelijk zijn in 2021 de tweejarige projecten uit de eerste fase van het programma afgerond. Zij zijn verlengd als gevolg van de coronapandemie. Eind 2021 bereikten 20 projecten de eindfase. Twee thema’s die twee jaar duurden zijn eind 2021 hun laatste fase in gegaan: Integraal Voedselbeleid en Safety & Security. De slotsymposia hierover vinden plaats in 2022. Binnen alle thema’s worden in 2022 de resultaten onder de aandacht gebracht, bijvoorbeeld door wetenschappelijke artikelen te publiceren. Nieuwe projecten die in 2021 in het programma zijn gestart, zijn vaak projecten waar promovendi de komende jaren aan werken. De wetenschappelijke publicaties naar aanleiding daarvan worden verwacht in de jaren tot en met 2026