Toxic organic contaminants in airborne particles: levels, potential sources and risk assessment

In the last years, many studies have focused on risk assessment of exposure of workers to airborne particulate matter (PM). Several studies indicate a strong correlation between PM and adverse health outcomes, as a function of particle size. In the last years, the study of atmospheric particulate matter has focused more on particles less than 10 m or 2.5 m in diameter; however, recent studies identify in particles less than 0.1 m the main responsibility for negative cardiovascular effects. The present paper deals with the determination of 66 organic compounds belonging to six different classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ultrafine, fine and coarse fractions of PM (PM < 0.1 m; 0.1 < PM < 2.5 mand 2.5 < PM < 10 m) collected in three outdoor workplaces and in an urban outdoor area. Data obtained were analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA), in order to underline possible correlation between sites and classes of pollutants and characteristic emission sources. Emission source studies are, in fact, a valuable tool for both identifying the type of emission source and estimating the strength of each contamination source, as useful indicator of environment healthiness. Moreover, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were determined in order to estimate human health risk associated to study sites. Risk analysis was carried out evaluating the contribution of pollutant distribution in PM size fractions for all the sites. The results highlighted significant differences between the sites and specific sources of pollutants related to work activities were identified. In all the sites and for all the size fractions of PM both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values were below acceptable and safe levels of risks recommended by the regulatory agencies

Optimization and validation of a LC-HRMS method for aflatoxins determination in urine samples

Mycotoxins’ exposure by inhalation and/or dermal contact can occur in different branches of industry especially where heavily dusty settings are present and the handling of dusty commodities is performed. This study aims to explore the possible contribution of the occupational exposure to aflatoxins by analysing urine samples for the presence of aflatoxins B1 and M1 and aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine adduct. The study was conducted in 2017 on two groups of volunteers, the workers group, composed by personnel employed in an Italian feed plant (n = 32), and a control group (n = 29), composed by the administrative employees of the same feed plant; a total of 120 urine samples were collected and analysed. A screening method and a quantitative method with high-resolution mass spectrometry determination were developed and fully validated. Limits of detections were 0.8 and 1.5 pg/mLurine for aflatoxin B1 and M1, respectively. No quantitative determination was possible for the adduct aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine. Aflatoxin B1 and its adduct were not detected in the analysed samples, and aflatoxin M1, instead, was found in 14 samples (12%) within the range 1.9–10.5 pg/mLurine. Only one sample showed a value above the limit of quantification (10.5 pg/mLurine). The absence of a statistical difference between the mean values for workers and the control group which were compared suggests that in this specific setting, no professional exposure occurs. Furthermore, considering the very low level of aflatoxin M1 in the collected urine samples, the contribution from the diet to the overall exposure is to be considered negligible

Biomonitoring data for assessing aflatoxins and ochratoxin a exposure by italian feedstuffs workers

Mycotoxins exposure by inhalation and/or dermal contact is possible in different branches of industry especially where heavily dusty settings are present and the handling of dusty commodities is performed. This study aims to explore the validity of the biomonitoring as a tool to investigate the intake of mycotoxins in a population of workers operating in an Italian feed plant. Serum samples were collected for the determination of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), AFB1-Lysine adduct and ochratoxin A (OTA). A method based on liquid-liquid extraction coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry determination was developed and fully validated. For AFB1, a high number of non-detected samples (90%) was found and no statistical difference was observed comparing workers and control group. None of the analyzed samples showed the presence of AFB1-Lysine adduct. For OTA, the 100% of the analyzed samples was positive with a 33% of the samples showing a concentration higher than the limit of quantification (LOQ), but no statistical difference was highlighted between the average levels of exposed and control groups. In conclusion, the presence of AFB1 and OTA in serum cannot be attributable to occupational exposure

Determination of the main bioaerosol components using chemical markers by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

This work is part of an extensive research project aimed at the determination and characterization of bioaerosol with a multidisciplinary approach. In this context, one of the main objectives of the project has been the development of a comprehensive analytical method for the determination of different chemical biomarkers of the bioaerosol, by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The following biomarkers have been considered, and correlated to specific components of bioaerosol as unambiguous indicators: • ergosterol fungal components • chlorophylls, phytosterols (stigmasterol and b-sitosterol), -tocoferol vegetable cells and algae • cholesterol animal cells, vegetable cells and algae. • dipicolinic acid bacterial spores • muramic and meso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid bacterial cells To verify the method, to find diagnostic ratios and to calculate the appropriate conversion factors, fungal spores, bacterial cells and spores, and algae of known species, commonly airborne, were analysed. The material was subjected to freezing and de-freezing cycles, followed by extraction, hydrolysis and purification of the biomarkers. The chromatographic separation of the bacterial biomarkers was achieved by using a polymeric column, based on Hydrophilic Liquid Interaction with the electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection, whereas sterols and chlorophylls were separated by a reversed phase column, coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization – tandem mass spectrometer. The optimized method was applied to environmental particulate matter sampled in an outdoor site. Bacterial and fungal content was compared to the results obtained from the classical direct viable counting method in the sampled particulate matte

Toxic organic contaminants in airborne particles responsible for negative health effects

Several studies in literature have highlighted associations between airborne particulate matter and several adverse health outcomes, as a function of particle size. Traditionally, PM studies have focused on particles less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10) or particles less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), with each fraction characterized by a distinct source, and different composition and health effects. Since, diffusion in the alveolar region of smaller particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 0.1 μm (i.e. 100 nm and therefore also defined as nanoparticles) becomes an effective mechanism and the probability of deposition increases. There is a great debate whether ultrafine fraction (PM0.1) is mainly responsible for negative cardiovascular effects caused by its high oxidative and mutagenic potential. In the present study, size-fractionated airborne particulate matter was collected from outdoor urban and working environments and analyzed for 105 organic contaminants of different classes: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives (nitro-PAH and oxy-PAH); polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Novel Brominated flame-retardants (N-BFRs) selected for their toxicity and persistence in the environment. The selected organic contaminants were subsequently divided into three different macro-groups based on chemical and physical properties (PAH/N-PAH/O-PAH; PCB and PBDE/N-BFR) and subjected to statistical analysis. The monitoring campaigns were carried out in four sites: an urban atmosphere (RM), a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) where aerosol is generated during the different phases of the processes, an intensive livestock farming activity, characterized by sheds serving as a shelter for cows (COW) and an area where feed is stored (FEED). In each monitoring campaign PM was collected with a multistage low-pressure impactor able to sample 14 size intervals of PM on as many filters, subsequently joined to form three dimensional fractions (coarse, fine and ultrafine). The results obtained from the organic contaminant analyses and from the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a correlation between sites and classes of pollutants, allowing the identification of characteristic emission sources of each monitored site. Emission source studies are in fact a valuable tool for both identifying the type of emission source characteristic of a specific place and estimating the strength of each contamination source in the same place of interest

Ethylene-auxin crosstalk regulates postharvest fruit ripening process in apple

The ripening of climacteric fruits, such as apple, is represented by a series of genetically programmed events orchestrated by the action of several hormones. In this study, we investigated the existence of a hormonal crosstalk between ethylene and auxin during the post-harvest ripening of three internationally known apple cultivars: 'Golden Delicious', 'Granny Smith' and 'Fuji'. The normal climacteric ripening was impaired by the exogenous application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) that affected the production of ethylene and the physiological behaviour of specific ethylene-related quality traits, such as fruit texture and the production of volatile organic compounds. The application of 1-MCP induced, moreover, a de-novo accumulation of auxin. The RNA-Seq wide-transcriptome analysis evidenced as the competition at the level of the ethylene receptors induced a cultivar-dependent transcriptional re-programming. The DEGs annotation carried out through the KEGG database identified as most genes were assigned to the plant hormone signaling transduction category, and specifically related to auxin and ethylene. The interplay between these two hormones was further assessed through a candidate gene analysis that highlighted a specific activation of GH3 and ILL genes, encoding key steps in the process of the auxin homeostasis mechanism. Our results showed that a compromised ethylene metabolism at the onset of the climacteric ripening in apple can stimulate, in a cultivar-dependent fashion, an initial de-novo synthesis and de-conjugation of auxin as a tentative to restore a normal ripening progression

Selection of modularization methods in product development : systematic review

A estratégia de modularização em produtos é mencionada como razão de diversos benefícios para as empresas. Este artigo tem como objetivo identificar na literatura os métodos para desenvolvimento da modularização em produtos com o intuito de avaliar sua aplicabilidade e ferramentas utilizadas, visando facilitar a escolha do método para cada empresa. Para atingir estes objetivos foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de acordo com a repetibilidade e importância indicada nos artigos. Como resultado foram identificados seis diferentes métodos para modularização de produtos. Como contribuição do artigo destacam-se a análise dos métodos com relação às etapas para formação dos módulos (decomposição, integração e avaliação) bem como a análise com relação a parâmetros de classificação quanto à área de atuação de cada método (variedade, geração e ciclo de vida). Por fim, este estudo oferece um guia para as empresas, contextualizando ambientes de aplicação e relacionando conhecimentos necessários para aplicação dos métodos.The strategy of product modularization is seen as a means to provide several benefits for companies. The objective of this paper is to identify in the literature the methods for developing modularization in products and to assess the applicability of and tools used by these methods, aiming at favoring the method that is the most suitable for each company. To achieve these objectives, a systematic review was performed according to the repeatability and importance described in the papers. Six different methods were identified for product modularization. This paper presents an analysis of the methods in relation to the module formation steps (decomposition, integration and evaluation) and provides an analysis related to classification parameters regarding the field of each method (variety, generation and life cycle). Finally, this study offers guidelines for companies, places application environments into context, and relates the knowledge necessary for applying those methods

Detection of Nitrated, Oxygenated and Hydrogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Smoked Fish and Meat Products

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in smoked food products. More toxic nitrated (NPAH) and oxygenated (OPAH) PAHs derivatives are found concomitantly to PAHs and are therefore believed to be found in smoked food products. However, only a few PAH analyses on food include these derivatives. We adjusted and successfully validated a GC-QTOFMS method including 13 NPAHs and 2 OPAHs as well as the 4 regulated PAHs for analysis of 14 smoked (13 fish and one bacon) and one pan fried fish samples.OPAHs were detected in the highest concentrations in 13 of 15 samples. Non-target screening revealed the presence of an additional four OPAHs and two methylated PAHs. Future food analysis should, based on these results, focus on PAH and oxygenated derivatives