OELs can provide a valuable reference point for exposure reduction measures in workplaces. There is a need for more and better supported OELs based on a more systematic approach to OEL derivation.
BackgroundTungsten inert gas (TIG) welding represents one of the most widely used metal joining processes in industry. It has been shown to generate a large majority of particles at the nanoscale and to have low mass emission rates when compared to other types of welding. Despite evidence that TIG fume particles may produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), limited data is available for the time course changes of particle-associated oxidative stress in exposed TIG welders.MethodsTwenty non-smoking male welding apprentices were exposed to TIG welding fumes for 60 min under controlled, well-ventilated settings. Exhaled breathe condensate (EBC), blood and urine were collected before exposure, immediately after exposure, 1 h and 3 h post exposure. Volunteers participated in a control day to account for oxidative stress fluctuations due to circadian rhythm. Biological liquids were assessed for total reducing capacity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations at each time point. A linear mixed model was used to assess within day and between day differences.ResultsSignificant increases in the measured biomarkers were found at 3 h post exposure. At 3 h post exposure, we found a 24 % increase in plasma-H2O2 concentrations ([95%CI: 4 % to 46 %], p = 0.01); a 91 % increase in urinary-H2O2 ([2 % to 258 %], p = 0.04); a 14 % increase in plasma-8-OHdG ([0 % to 31 %], p = 0.049); and a 45 % increase in urinary-8-OHdG ([3 % to 105 %], p = 0.03). Doubling particle number concentration (PNC) exposure was associated with a 22 % increase of plasma-8-OHdG at 3 h post exposure (p = 0.01).ConclusionA 60-min exposure to TIG welding fume in a controlled, well-ventilated setting induced acute oxidative stress at 3 h post exposure in healthy, non-smoking apprentice welders not chronically exposed to welding fumes. As mass concentration of TIG welding fume particles is very low when compared to other types of welding, it is recommended that additional exposure metrics such as PNC are considered for occupational risk assessments. Our findings highlight the importance of increasing awareness of TIG welding fume toxicity, especially given the realities of welding workplaces that may lack ventilation; and beliefs among interviewed welders that TIG represents a cleaner and safer welding process.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-016-0143-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Background: Aerosol-mediated delivery of nano-based therapeutics to the lung has emerged as a promising alternative for treatment and prevention of lung diseases. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have attracted significant attention for such applications due to their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. However, information is lacking about the characteristics of nebulized SPIONs for use as a therapeutic aerosol. To address this need, we conducted a physicochemical characterization of nebulized Rienso, a SPION-based formulation for intravenous treatment of anemia. Methods: Four different concentrations of SPION suspensions were nebulized with a one-jet nebulizer. Particle size was measured in suspension by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and in the aerosol by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Results: The average particle size in suspension as measured by TEM, PCS, and NTA was 9 -2 nm, 27 -7 nm, and 56 -10 nm, respectively. The particle size in suspension remained the same before and after the nebulization process. However, after aerosol collection in an impinger, the suspended particle size increased to 159 -46 nm as measured by NTA. The aerosol particle concentration increased linearly with increasing suspension concentration, and the aerodynamic diameter remained relatively stable at around 75 nm as measured by SMPS. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the total number and particle size in the aerosol were modulated as a function of the initial concentration in the nebulizer. The data obtained mark the first known independent characterization of nebulized Rienso and, as such, provide critical information on the behavior of Rienso nanoparticles in an aerosol. The data obtained in this study add new knowledge to the existing body of literature on potential applications of SPION suspensions as inhaled aerosol therapeutics.
Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG) represents one of the most widely used metal joining processes in industry. Its propensity to generate a greater portion of welding fume particles at the nanoscale poses a potential occupational health hazard for workers. However, current literature lacks comprehensive characterization of TIG welding fume particles. Even less is known about welding fumes generated by welding apprentices with little experience in welding. We characterized TIG welding fume generated by apprentice welders (N = 20) in a ventilated exposure cabin. Exposure assessment was conducted for each apprentice welder at the breathing zone (BZ) inside of the welding helmet and at a near-field (NF) location, 60cm away from the welding task. We characterized particulate matter (PM4), particle number concentration and particle size, particle morphology, chemical composition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production potential, and gaseous components. The mean particle number concentration at the BZ was 1.69E+06 particles cm−3, with a mean geometric mean diameter of 45nm. On average across all subjects, 92% of the particle counts at the BZ were below 100nm. We observed elevated concentrations of tungsten, which was most likely due to electrode consumption. Mean ROS production potential of TIG welding fumes at the BZ exceeded average concentrations previously found in traffic-polluted air. Furthermore, ROS production potential was significantly higher for apprentices that burned their metal during their welding task. We recommend that future exposure assessments take into consideration welding performance as a potential exposure modifier for apprentice welders or welders with minimal training.
Solid waste landfill leachate and sewage sludge samples were quantitatively tested for viable Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi spores by the multiplexed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay. The landfill leachate samples tested positive for E. bieneusi and the sludge samples for E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis. The effects of four sanitization treatments on the inactivation of these pathogens were assessed. Depending on the variations utilized in the ultrasound disintegration, sonication reduced the load of human-virulent microsporidian spores to nondetectable levels in 19 out of 27 samples (70.4%). Quicklime stabilization was 100% effective, whereas microwave energy disintegration was 100% ineffective against the spores of E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis. Top-soil stabilization treatment gradually reduced the load of both pathogens, consistent with the serial dilution of sewage sludge with the soil substrate. This study demonstrated that sewage sludge and landfill leachate contained high numbers of viable, human-virulent microsporidian spores, and that sonication and quicklime stabilization were the most effective treatments for the sanitization of sewage sludge and solid waste landfill leachates. Multiplexed FISH assay is a reliable quantitative molecular fluorescence microscopy method for the simultaneous identification of E. bieneusi, E. intestinalis, E. hellem, and E. cuniculi spores in environmental samples.
Abstract:In the past decade, many studies have been conducted to determine the health effects induced by exposure to engineered nanomaterials (NMs). Specifically for exposure via inhalation, numerous in vitro and animal in vivo inhalation toxicity studies on several types of NMs have been published. However, these results are not easily extrapolated to judge the effects of inhaling NMs in humans, and few published studies on the human response to inhalation of NMs exist. Given the emergence of more industries utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles as well as more nanomedicine applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), this review presents an overview of the inhalation studies that have been conducted in humans on iron oxides. Both occupational exposure studies on complex iron oxide dusts and fumes, as well as human clinical studies on aerosolized, micron-size iron oxide particles are discussed. Iron oxide particles have not been described to elicit acute inhalation response nor promote lung disease after chronic exposure. The few human clinical studies comparing inhalation of fine and ultrafine metal oxide particles report no acute changes in the health parameters measured. Taken together existing evidence suggests that controlled human exposure to iron oxide nanoparticles, such as SPIONs, could be conducted safely.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.