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The main aim of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the differences, in terms of exposure to PM (particulate matter), between WFO (working-from-office) and WFH (working-from-home) conditions. Two measurement surveys were performed: a long-term and a short-term campaign, focused on the monitoring of personal exposure to size-fractionated PM in these different working conditions. Results of the long-term campaign show that the WFH subject is exposed to higher (up to 4 times) PM concentration, compared to the WFO subject. Specific activities performed by the subjects impacted their exposure concentrations, even if the most relevant contribution to total exposure was made by desk work. Results of the short-term campaign indicate that the subjects can be divided into two groups: subjects most exposed during the WFH mode (HE_H – Higher_Exposure_Home) and subjects most exposed during the WFO mode (HE_O – Higher_Exposure_Office). HE_H group is exposed to levels of pollutants up to 4 times higher in the domestic than in the office environment, during the moment of desk work. The HE_O group is exposed to higher (double) concentration levels during desk work during the WFO day. Considering the possible growing trend towards remote work it is important to evaluate these "new domestic offices" comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives An increasing number of countries are banning the production and use of asbestos, in compliance with the ratification of the C162 Asbestos Convention and the Basel Convention, and in response to the call for its elimination in the ILO resolution and WHO reports on the health risks associated with asbestos. Nevertheless, several countries, including Kyrgyzstan, are still miners and/or manufacturers of asbestos. The main objective of the study is to assess the occupational exposure to chrysotile of workers engaged in a production facility of asbestos-cement products in Kyrgyzstan. Methods Monitored workers (n = 16, for a total of n = 18 samples) were divided into 3 "Similar Exposure Groups" (SEGs; SEG-1: asbestos loading; SEG-2; asbestos-cement mixing; SEG-3: cutting of asbestos-cement sheets) according to EN 689 standard. Samples were collected through personal sampling and subsequently examined by means of scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer for the compositional analysis of each fibre. The numerical concentration of airborne asbestos fibres was henceforward determined by dividing the number of fibres and the volume of sampled air (expressed in the number of fibres per millilitre of air: ff/ml). Results Investigated workers resulted to be exposed to chrysotile fibres. Results (GM ± GSD) outlined extremely high exposure levels for SEG-1 (2.2 ± 2.1 ff/ml) and SEG-3 (4.7 ± 1.6 ff/ml) workers and lower—but still relevant—exposure values for SEG-2 (0.91 ± 2.6 ff/ml) workers. Conclusions The results obtained in this case study can help to document potentially critical situations of occupational exposure to asbestos that can still occur nowadays in low and middle-income countries where asbestos is still mined and processed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the detrimental effects of asbestos on human health came long after its widespread use, with the first scientific evidence of asbestos-related diseases emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite efforts to ban its use, asbestos continues to be mined and used in Central Asia (as well as in Russia, China, and other countries). To gain a deeper understanding of the situation in Central Asia, we have conducted a review of scientific literature on the use of asbestos, exposure assessment, and health consequences of asbestos exposure in this geographic area. This review encompasses studies about exposure assessments, epidemiological data, and biochemical or clinical surveys conducted in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. A total of 18 articles met the inclusion criteria, and their content is summarised in this review, which represents the first attempt to systematically examine research on asbestos and its impact on the health of workers and the general population in Central Asia countries, including literature published in Russian and English. The findings here highlighted the substantial limitations of the currently available knowledge about the impact of asbestos on health in this geographical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human examiners, known as panelists, are exposed to an unknown occupational exposure risk while determining odor concentration (Cod) using dynamic olfactometry. In the literature, a few papers, based on a deterministic approach, have been proposed to establish this occupational risk. As a result, the purpose of this study is to develop and apply a probabilistic approach, based on the randomization of exposure parameters, for assessing and evaluating the occupational exposure risk among olfactometric examiners. In this methodology, the risk is assessed by computing the hazard index (HI) and inhalation risk (IR) to determine the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. To randomize the exposure parameters, a Monte Carlo simulation was described and then applied in real exposure scenario to establish the exposure risk in terms of probability. Therefore, a one-year survey of the working activity of olfactometric examiners of Laboratorio Olfattometrico of Politecnico di Milano university was conducted. Based on this data collection (exposure parameters and chemical data, divided according to sample categories), a randomized exposure scenario was constructed to estimate the probability and cumulative distribution function of risk parameters. Different distributions were obtained for different industrial samples categories and were compared with respect to acceptability criteria (the value of HI and IR at 95th percentile of distribution). The elaboration provided evidence that negligible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks are associated with the panelists' activity, according to an entire annual dataset. The application of probabilistic risk assessment provides a more comprehensive and effective characterization of the general exposure scenario for olfactometric examiners, surpassing the limitations of a deterministic approach. This method can be extended to future exposure scenarios and enables the selection of the most effective risk management strategies to protect the health of olfactometric examiners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is one of the most critical global health concerns today. While emissions from industrial activities and combustion processes are the primary threats to air quality, intensive farming activities also contribute significantly, especially through ammonia emissions that promote the formation of secondary pollutants, such as particulate matter. Advancements in air quality research have been achieved by enhancements in emissions characterisation, modelling techniques, and sensor technology, expanding the availability of air pollution data beyond traditional ground sensor observations, which are often lacking in rural agricultural areas. Accordingly, this paper demonstrates the advantages of integrating traditional and non-conventional data to investigate farming-related air pollution through a case study in the Lombardy Region, Northern Italy. The study incorporates an array of data sources, including ground sensors and atmospheric composition model estimates. The concurrent utilisation of these diverse datasets is explored through machine learning modelling, focusing on assessing the influence of agricultural activities on particulate matter distribution patterns. Finally, the reliability of non-conventional air pollution data for health risk assessment applications is also investigated. The paper critically discusses the main findings based on empirical results, highlighting the significance of integrating multiple data sources to complement traditional air quality monitoring while outlining the main limitations in terms of the accuracy and usability of such non-conventional data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic‐related air pollutants inside vehicle cabins are often extremely high compared to background pollution concentrations. The study of the determinants of these concentrations is particularly important for professional drivers and commuters who spend long periods in vehicles. This study is aimed at identifying and quantifying the effect of several exposure determinants on carbon monoxide (CO), equivalent black carbon (eBC), two particulate matter (PM) fractions (PM0.3–1 and PM1–2.5), and ultrafine particle (UFP) concentrations inside a passenger car cabin. The novelty of this work consists in examining the effects of the emissions of the first vehicle ahead (henceforth called "leading vehicle") on pollutant concentrations inside the cabin of the following vehicle (i.e., the car that was equipped with the air monitoring devices), with particular emphasis on the role of the leading vehicle characteristics (e.g., emission reduction technologies). The real‐time instrumentation was placed inside the cabin of a petrol passenger car, which was driven by the same operator two times per day on the same route in real driving conditions. The in‐cabin ventilation settings were set as follows: windows closed, air conditioning and recirculation modes off, and the fanned ventilation system on. The measurements were conducted over a total of 10 weekdays during two different seasons (i.e., summer and autumn). A video camera fixed to the windscreen was used to retrieve information about traffic conditions and leading vehicle characteristics through careful video analysis. The associations among pollutant concentrations and their potential determinants were evaluated using generalized estimating equation univariate and multiple models. The results confirmed the significant impact of several well‐known determinants such as seasonality, microclimatic parameters, traffic jam situations, and route characteristics. Moreover, the outcomes shed light on the key role of leading vehicle emissions as determinant factors of the pollutant concentrations inside car cabins. Indeed, in the tested cabin ventilation conditions, it was demonstrated that in‐cabin pollutant concentrations were significantly higher with leading vehicles ahead (from +14.6% to +67.5%) compared to empty road conditions, even though the introduction of newer technologies with better emissions reduction helped mitigate their effect. Additionally, diesel‐fuelled leading vehicles compared to petrol‐fuelled leading vehicles were impactful on in‐cabin CO (−7.2%) and eBC (+45.3%) concentrations. An important effect (+30.4%) on in‐vehicle PM1–2.5 concentrations was found with heavy‐duty compared to light‐duty leading vehicles. Finally, this research pointed out that road‐scale factors are more important determinant factors of in‐cabin concentrations than local pollution and meteorological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present research was to assess, under controlled laboratory conditions, the accuracy and precision of a prototype device (named 'P.ALP': Ph.D. Air-quality Low-cost Project) developed for PM2.5 concentration level monitoring. Indeed, this study follows a complementary manuscript (previously published) focusing on the in-field evaluation of the device's performance. Four P.ALP prototypes were co-located with the reference instrument in a calm-air aerosol chamber at the NIOSH laboratories in Pittsburgh, PA (USA), used by the Center for Direct Reading and Sensor Technologies. The devices were tested for 10 monitoring days under several exposure conditions. To evaluate the performance of the prototypes, different approaches were employed. After the data from the devices were stored and prepared for analysis, to assess the accuracy (comparing the reference instrument with the prototypes) and the precision (comparing all the possible pairs of devices) of the P.ALPs, linear regression analysis was performed. Moreover, to find out the applicability field of this device, the US EPA's suggested criteria were adopted, and to assess error trends of the prototype in the process of data acquisition, Bland–Altman plots were built. The findings show that, by introducing ad hoc calibration factors, the P.ALP's performance needs to be further implemented, but the device can monitor the concentration trend variations with satisfying accuracy. Overall, the P.ALP can be involved in and adapted to a wide range of applications because of the inexpensive nature of the components, the small dimensions, and the high data storage capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic olfactometry involves human examiners for quantifying odour. Examiners directly inhale, although diluted, the increasingly concentrated odorous samples and, during the analysis, they are thus exposed to substances potentially dangerous to human health. EN 13725 still does not propose a protocol for assessing the risk related to such activities. In the scientific literature, only few studies have addressed this issue, with discrepant approaches based on a deterministic risk assessment. However, the risk assessment needs the definition of exposure parameters that are strictly linked to their specific working time and the activity of the olfactometric laboratory, in terms of hours worked, number and type of samples analysed. Therefore, a deterministic risk assessment method remains limited to the experience of a single laboratory. Despite the importance of the topic, many aspects of the subject still remain unexplored. This paper aims to highlight the critical aspects of deterministic approaches available in the scientific literature (mainly due to the variability of exposure parameters connected with the specific working activity of every single panellist and each olfactometric laboratory and the necessity of conducting risk assessment within 30 h permitted by EN 13725) and evaluate the possible new solutions to conduct risk assessment for olfactometric workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the performance, in terms of precision and accuracy, of a prototype (called "P.ALP"—Ph.D. Air Quality Low-cost Project) developed for monitoring PM2.5 concentration levels. Four prototypes were co-located with reference instrumentation in four different microenvironments simulating real-world and working conditions, namely (i) office, (ii) home, (iii) outdoor, and (iv) occupational environments. The devices were evaluated for a total of 20 monitoring days (approximately 168 h) under a wide range of PM2.5 concentrations. The performances of the prototypes (based on the light-scattering working principle) were tested through different statistical methods. After the data acquisition and data cleaning processes, a linear regression analysis was performed to assess the precision (by comparing all possible pairs of devices) and the accuracy (by comparing the prototypes against the reference instrumentation) of the P.ALP. Moreover, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) criteria were applied to assess the possible usage of this instrumentation, and to evaluate the eventual error trends of the P.ALP in the data storage process, Bland–Altman plots were also adopted. The outcomes of this study underlined that the P.ALP performed differently depending on the microenvironment in which it was tested and, consequently, on the PM2.5 concentrations. The device can monitor PM2.5 variations with acceptable results, but the performance cannot be considered satisfactory at extremely low and remarkably high PM2.5 concentrations. Thanks to modular components and open-source software, the tested device has the potential to be customized and adapted to better fit specific study design needs, but it must be implemented with ad hoc calibration factors depending on the application before being used in field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several antiblastic drugs (ADs) are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or toxic for reproduction. Despite established guidelines and safe handling technologies, ADs contamination of the work environments could occur in healthcare settings, leading to potential exposure of healthcare staff. This systematic review investigates the main techniques and practices for assessing ADs occupational exposure in healthcare settings. The reviewed studies unveil that workplace contamination by ADs appears to be a still-topical problem in healthcare settings. These issues are linked to difficulties in guaranteeing: (i) the adherence to standardized protocols when dealing with ADs, (ii) the effective use of personal protective equipment by operators involved in the administration or management of ADs, (iii) a comprehensive training of the healthcare personnel, and (iv) a thorough health surveillance of exposed workers. A "multi-parametric" approach emerges as a desirable strategy for exposure assessment. In parallel, exposure assessment should coincide with introducing novel technologies to minimize exposure (i.e., risk management). Assessment must consider various departments and health operators susceptible to ADs contamination, with a focus extended beyond worst-case scenarios, also considering activities like surface cleaning and logistical tasks related to ADs management. A comprehensive approach in ADs risk assessment enables the evaluation of distinct substance behaviors and subsequent exposure routes, affording a more holistic understanding of potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on air quality in rural environments are fundamental to obtain first-hand data for the determination of base emissions of air pollutants, to assess the impact of rural-specific airborne pollutants, to model pollutant dispersion, and to develop proper pollution mitigation technologies. The literature lacks a systematic review based on the evaluation of the techniques and methods used for the sampling/monitoring (S/M) of atmospheric pollutants in rural and agricultural settings, which highlights the shortcomings in this field and the need for future studies. This work aims to review the study design applied for on-field monitoring campaigns of airborne pollutants in rural environments and discuss the possible needs and future developments in this field. The results of this literature review, based on the revision of 23 scientific papers, allowed us to determine (i) the basic characteristics related to the study design that should always be reported; (ii) the main techniques and analyses used in exposure assessment studies conducted in this type of setting; and (iii) contextual parameters and descriptors of the S/M site that should be considered to best support the results obtained from the different studies. Future studies carried out to monitor the airborne pollution in rural/agriculture areas should (i) include the use of multiparametric monitors for the contextual measurement of different atmospheric pollutants (as well as meteorological parameters) and (ii) consider the most important boundary information, to better characterize the S/M site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]