The occupational exposure to airborne fine and ultrafine particles (UFPs) and noise in aircraft personnel employed in airport taxiway was investigated. Stationary samplings and multiple personal sampling sites and job tasks were considered. Size distribution, particle number concentrations, lung dose surface area were measured by personal particle counters and by means of an electric low pressure impactor (ELPI+TM). Morphological and chemical characterization of UFPs were performed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the latter together with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy based spatially resolved compositional mapping. A-weighted noise exposure level A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8 h working day and Peak Sound C-weighted Pressure Level was calculated for single worker and for homogeneous exposure groups. Our study provides evidence on the impact of aviation-related emissions on occupational exposure to ultrafine particles and noise exposure of workers operating in an airport taxiway. Main exposure peaks are related to pre-flight operations of engine aircrafts. Although exposure to ultrafine particles and noise appears to not be critical if compared with other occupational scenarios, the coincidence in time of high peaks of exposure to ultrafine particles and noise suggest that further investigations are warranted in order to assess possible subclinical and clinical adverse health effects in exposed workers, especially for cardiovascular apparatus.

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.

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 × 10 3 and 2.33 × 10 5 part/cm 3 (max. 9.48 × 10 6 part/cm 3 ). Background levels ranged from 1.97 × 10 4 to 3.83 × 10 4 part/cm 3 . Alveolar and deposited tracheobronchial surface area doses ranged from 1.3 × 10 2 to 8.7 × 10 3 mm 2 , and 2.6 × 10 1 to 1.3 × 10 3 mm 2 , 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.Metals 2019, 9, 163 2 of 20 workers, during the processing stages, could be exposed to a multitude of breathable dust types and aerosols, such as metal fumes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), mineral powders, resins and isocyanates [7]. Among the several toxic and carcinogenic substances contained in foundry dust, heavy and transition metal fumes represent a major health concern, as they can induce local inflammation in the lung tissue, lipid peroxidation of cell membranes and oxidative damage to the genome [8,9].Several studies have shown that different hot processes in the metallurgical industry have the capacity to generate high concentrations of sub-micrometric particles. In particular, important number concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs, <100 nm in diameter) were generated as combustion products or in saturated vapors [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. UFPs may have more pronounced toxic effects than larger particles, due to their larger surface area to unit mass ratio, which determines their peculiar physicochemical properties and increased biological activity [19][20][21][22][23]. Recently, some studies have shown an association between ultrafine particulate exposure and health effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory tract [24][25][26], however, epidemiological evidence on UFP-related adverse health effects is still limited and subject to disagreement [27][28][29][30][31].Some studies have focused on surface-related effects [24,32-34], particle-related effects [25,[35][36][37], mass-related effects [38] or effects related to metallic elements contained in the particulate matter [39][40][41]; however, the role that the different (...