Engineered nanomaterials: toward effective safety management in research laboratories

It is still unknown which types of nanomaterials and associated doses represent an actual danger to humans and environment. Meanwhile, there is consensus on applying the precautionary principle to these novel materials until more information is available. To deal with the rapid evolution of research, including the fast turnover of collaborators, a user-friendly and easy-to-apply risk assessment tool offering adequate preventive and protective measures has to be provided.Results: Based on new information concerning the hazards of engineered nanomaterials, we improved a previously developed risk assessment tool by following a simple scheme to gain in efficiency. In the first step, using a logical decision tree, one of the three hazard levels, from H1 to H3, is assigned to the nanomaterial. Using a combination of decision trees and matrices, the second step links the hazard with the emission and exposure potential to assign one of the three nanorisk levels (Nano 3 highest risk; Nano 1 lowest risk) to the activity. These operations are repeated at each process step, leading to the laboratory classification. The third step provides detailed preventive and protective measures for the determined level of nanorisk.Conclusions: We developed an adapted simple and intuitive method for nanomaterial risk management in research laboratories. It allows classifying the nanoactivities into three levels, additionally proposing concrete preventive and protective measures and associated actions. This method is a valuable tool for all the participants in nanomaterial safety. The users experience an essential learning opportunity and increase their safety awareness. Laboratory managers have a reliable tool to obtain an overview of the operations involving nanomaterials in their laboratories; this is essential, as they are responsible for the employee safety, but are sometimes unaware of the works performed. Bringing this risk to a three-band scale (like other types of risks such as biological, radiation, chemical, etc.) facilitates the management for occupational health and safety specialists. Institutes and school managers can obtain the necessary information to implement an adequate safety management system. Having an easy-to-use tool enables a dialog between all these partners, whose semantic and priorities in terms of safety are often different

The ARID1B spectrum in 143 patients: from nonsyndromic intellectual disability to Coffin–Siris syndrome

Purpose: Pathogenic variants in ARID1B are one of the most frequent causes of intellectual disability (ID) as determined by large-scale exome sequencing studies. Most studies published thus far describe clinically diagnosed Coffin–Siris patients (ARID1B-CSS) and it is unclear whether these data are representative for patients identified through sequencing of unbiased ID cohorts (ARID1B-ID). We therefore sought to determine genotypic and phenotypic differences between ARID1B-ID and ARID1B-CSS. In parallel, we investigated the effect of different methods of phenotype reporting. Methods: Clinicians entered clinical data in an extensive web-based survey. Results: 79 ARID1B-CSS and 64 ARID1B-ID patients were included. CSS-associated dysmorphic features, such as thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, thick alae nasi, long and/or broad philtrum, small nails and small or absent fifth distal phalanx and hypertrichosis, were observed significantly more often (p < 0.001) in ARID1B-CSS patients. No other significant differences were identified. Conclusion: There are only minor differences between ARID1B-ID and ARID1B-CSS patients. ARID1B-related disorders seem to consist of a spectrum, and patients should be managed similarly. We demonstrated that data collection methods without an explicit option to report the absence of a feature (such as most Human Phenotype Ontology-based methods) tended to underestimate gene-related features

Developing Safety Competence Process for Vocational Students

In the safety-critical process industry, workplace learning during vocational education and training (VET) is essential when developing the safety competence of process operator students. Due to the Finnish VET reform, workplace learning needs to be reorganized and requires new methods. This study aims to examine the current development needs regarding the guidance of workplace learning in the process industry with respect to VET. Expert interviews (n = 12) and a workshop (16 participants) were carried out with participating organizations. The results were reviewed from the perspectives of process industry companies and VET providers. Based on the results, further actions are suggested to help companies and VET providers adapt to the new situation and process safety requirements. The results can help guide companies and VET providers toward shaping future process safety and the safety culture in the process industry.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

The uptake and outcome of prenatal and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for Huntington's disease in the Netherlands (1998-2008)

Genetics of disease, diagnosis and treatmen

Health problems in children with Down syndrome

status: publishe

An Operational Model for Developing Process Operator Students’ Safety Competence in on-the-Job Learning

In the safety-critical process industry, safety competence is emphasized. It is essential to ensure that process operator students adopt good safety competence during their studies. Due to Finnish vocational education and training (VET) reform, on-the-job learning has increased, inducing a need for new methods. In this study, an operational model for developing process operator students’ safety competence in on-the-job learning was constructed and evaluated. The model was compiled in cooperation with six process industry companies, five VET organizations, and eight expert organizations. The main data collection methods were interviews and workshops. The model consists of eight phases and provides instructions, tools, and good practices for implementing on-the-job learning. Companies and VET organizations considered the model useful and identified several purposes of use for the model.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe