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

Occupational Exposure to Fine Particles and Ultrafine Particles in a Steelmaking Foundry

Several studies have shown an increased mortality rate for different types of tumors, respiratory disease and cardiovascular morbidity associated with foundry work. Airborne particles were investigated in a steelmaking foundry using an electric low-pressure impactor (ELPI+™), a Philips Aerasense Nanotracer and traditional sampling equipment. Determination of metallic elements in the collected particles was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The median of ultrafine particle (UFP) concentration was between 4.91 × 103 and 2.33 × 105 part/cm3 (max. 9.48 × 106 part/cm3). Background levels ranged from 1.97 × 104 to 3.83 × 104 part/cm3. Alveolar and deposited tracheobronchial surface area doses ranged from 1.3 × 102 to 8.7 × 103 mm2, and 2.6 × 101 to 1.3 × 103 mm2, respectively. Resulting inhalable and respirable fraction and metallic elements were below limit values set by Italian legislation. A variable concentration of metallic elements was detected in the different fractions of UFPs in relation to the sampling site, the emission source and the size range. This data could be useful in order to increase the knowledge about occupational exposure to fine and ultrafine particles and to design studies aimed to investigate early biological effects associated with the exposure to particulate matter in the foundry industries

Application of a metal free high performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) for the determination of chromium species in drinking and tap water

In some environmental and occupational setting, determination of total chromium is inadequate fora complete toxicological evaluation and risk assessment because the toxicity and bioavailability ofchromium depend upon the form or species.In this study, trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds were determined by high performanceliquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP-MS) equippedwith dynamic reaction cells (DRCs) and a reversed-phase C8 column. All the instruments and deviceswere metal free, thus avoiding any interference caused by leaching from metallic components.The mobile phase (EDTA2(Na) 5 mM pH 7, 40◦C) directly forms a complex with the Cr(III) in the pre-heated, allowing a single chromatographic method to be used to separate the Cr(III) EDTA complex andthe Cr(VI).This analytical method was applied in several samples of mineral and tap water with the aim todetermine a different ratio of Cr(III) and Cr(VI).In tap waters Cr(VI), ranged from 10.88 to 0.1 _g/L while Cr(III) ranged from 0.33 to 0.1 _g/L.The highest levels of Cr(VI) were measured in Brescia, a highly industrialized province in northern Italyin which high levels of Cr(VI) have been a public health concern.In commercial mineral waters, the range of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0.11–0.80 _g/L and 0.25–3.4 _g/L,respectively. The method applied in this study is a rapid, sensitive (LOD 0.1 _g/L) and specific technique for determination of chromium species in water

Education and Training in Global Occupational Health and Safety: A Perspective on New Pathways to Sustainable Development

The institution of specific Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training programs open to international trainees from developing countries in some European, American and Asian universities is now a well-established reality. Courses and seminars that focus particularly on this subject, widely varying in approach and duration, have been held for years at these universities; these academic institutions have combined their potential to attract students from developing countries with the scheduling of interesting lectures and training activities, depending on the availability of funds sufficient to cover travel and lodging costs. Interdisciplinarity is the key to the entire program and is its main strength, as the trainees have the opportunity to condense the technical notions and methodological aspects of different disciplines (occupational health, industrial hygiene, safety management, ergonomics) in one course. We firmly believe that these programs are a precious instrument for the training of occupational health professionals from low-income countries, as they are able to address their choices correctly, hopefully achieving the goal of reducing the human costs of development

Assessment of residual exposure to PCBs in metallurgy

Objective: To evaluate the occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 56 workers employed in 6 electric arc furnace steelmaking plants and 2 secondary aluminum smelting plants located in the highly industrialized area of Brescia, Northern Italy. Methods: Thirty-four PCB congeners were found in both environmental and biological samples from workers engaged in scrap yards, electric arc furnaces, casting and maintenance departments. Results: The highest airborne PCB levels were found in the aluminum plant, even 100 times those detected in the steelwork plants. Dioxin-like PCB congeners (DL-PCBs) were poorly represented in all biological samples, whereas non Dioxin-Like PCB congeners (noDL-PCBs), in particular environmentally widespread congeners (PCB 153, 138, 180), could be detected in almost all samples. The mean total PCB serum level was 3.9 ng/ml, with a range of 1.3-10.3 ng/ml, while the geometric mean for airborne PCBs levels was 9305 pg/m3, with a range of 1138-217806 pg/m3. Conclusions: Despite the higher PCB values recorded in some metallurgical plant workplaces, we failed to find any significant difference between serum concentrations in workers from steel or aluminum production, even in consideration of different tasks or different job seniority, while positive association was found only according to the age of the workers. A possible explanation may be identified in the effectiveness of the individual and collective preventive measures adopted in the workplace. Assessment of the occupational exposure to such compounds, in consideration of the recent classifications as carcinogenic to humans, should be encouraged

Development of a New Sequential Extraction Procedure of Nickel Species on Workplace Airborne Particulate Matter: Assessing the Occupational Exposure to Carcinogenic Metal Species

Nickel (Ni) compounds and metallic Ni have many industrial and commercial applications, including their use in the manufacturing of stainless steel. Due to the specific toxicological properties of the different Ni species, there is a growing interest about the availability of analytical methods that allow specific risk assessment, particularly related to exposure to the Ni species classified as carcinogenic. In this paper, we described a speciation method of inorganic Ni compounds in airborne particulate matter, based on selective sequential extractions. The analytical method described in this paper allows the determination of soluble, sulfidic, metallic, and oxide Ni by a simple sequential extraction procedure and determination by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy using small volumes of solutions and without long evaporation phases. The method has been initially set up on standard laboratory mixtures of known concentrations of different Ni salts. Then it has then been tested on airborne particulate matter (powder and filters) collected in different workstations of a large stainless steel production facility. The method has occurred effectively in the comparison of the obtained results with occupational exposure limit values set by the main international scientific and regulatory agencies for occupational safety and health, in order to prevent both toxic and carcinogenic effects in humans