Danilo Cottica

Assessment of airborne microorganism contamination in an industrial area characterized by an open composting facility and a wastewater treatment plant

In order to assess the potential exposure hazard to workers and people living in the immediate surroundings of an area characterized by an open composting facility and a wastewater treatment plant, a quantitative and a qualitative analysis of airborne microorganisms were carried out. Air sampling was performed once a week for four consecutive weeks in summer and winter. Six sites were selected as air sampling sites: one was upwind at approximately 40 m from the facilities; the other five were downwind at increasing distances from the facilities, with the furthest at 100 m away. Monitoring permitted us to verify the influence that the composting activities and wastewater treatment had on the bacterial and fungal contamination of the air. The results obtained have been expressed by means of contamination indexes that have already been used in previous works: a major microbiological contamination near the plants was evidenced. Near the facilities, mesophilic bacteria, psychrophilic bacteria and microfungi showed the highest median concentrations, respectively, of 307.5, 327.5 and 257.5 CFU/m(3). Moreover, the season generally influenced the concentration of the bacteria as well as of the fungi; higher in summer than in winter. The contamination index global index of microbial contamination (GIMC/m(3)) showed mean values of 4058.9 in summer and 439.7 in winter and the contamination index-amplification index (AI) showed values of 4.5 and 1.1 in the same seasons, respectively. Controlling the seasonal effect, mesophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae showed a significant decline in concentration with respect to upwind air samples and with increasing distance. Both GIMC and AI showed a significant decline with respect to upwind air samples by increasing the distance from facilities after adjusting for the seasonal effect. In conclusion, even if these plants do not represent a potential risk for nearby populations, they may pose a potential health risk for workers.

Micro‐organisms and dust exposure in an Italian grain mill

Aims:  In order to assess possible occupational risk for workers in a grain mill, we evaluated aerial microbiological contamination in different areas of the mill and at different points of the production line. We also measured the concentration of aerodispersed dust particles.

Validation of a radial diffusive sampler for measuring occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a major industrial chemical used in the manufacture of rubbers and latexes; it is also a ubiquitous environmental pollutant whose major source is traffic. Occupational exposure to (BD) can occur both during its production and during its use as a raw material. The objective of the study was the laboratory and field validation of a new diffusive sampler for BD. The nominal sampling rate of the Radiello diffusive sampler filled with Carbopack X is 30.5 cm(3)/min, at 0.177 mg/m(3), 20 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH), for an 8-h exposure time. A model can be used for calculating the sampling rate as a function of temperature, time and RH. The concentration does not affect the sampling rate above 30 μg/m(3). The measurement uncertainty (k=2), calculated both by laboratory data and by field comparison according to International Standard Organization (ISO) 13752, satisfies the EN 482:2006 requirement for measurements between 0.1 and 0.5 times the threshold limit value-time weighted average (TLV-TWA) (uncertainty<50%). For field validation study, 38 workers exposed to BD and 20 administrative employees, as the control group, underwent environmental and biological monitoring. Personal exposure to BD was measured by diffusive samplers (Radiello) in comparison with active samplers. The BD exposure levels detected for the exposed subjects were low (mean 0.059, range <0.010-1.340 mg/m(3)) but higher than the controls levels, all below 0.010 mg/m(3). The comparison between diffusive and active (pumped) air sampling showed a good correlation, with no systematic deviation from the ideal values of the intercept and slope of the optimized regression line. The concentrations of two biomarkers were also determined on urine samples, collected at the end of the work-shift: unchanged BD, by GC-MS, and the metabolite dihydroxybutylmercapturic acid (DHBMA), by HPLC-MS/MS. The urinary excretion of the biomarkers was on average higher in the exposed group (urinary BD: mean 8.8, range <1-48.1 ng/l; DHBMA: mean 0.232, range 0.016-0.572 mg/l) than in controls (urinary BD: mean 6.4, range 2.6-14.5 ng/l; DHBMA: mean 0.205, range 0.037-0.602 mg/l), but a statistically significant difference was achieved only for unchanged BD and not for DHBMA. In conclusion, the environmental monitoring measured by diffusive samplers (Radiello) appears to be a reliable method for the assessment of exposure to low levels of airborne BD and a convenient alternative to the conventional active sampling.

Modelling Infrared Radiation Exposure by Black body-Like Sources

In this work, a method previously proposed in the literature (Sisto R, Pinto I, Stacchini N et al. Infrared radiation exposure in traditional glass factories. AIHAJ 2000; 61: 5-10) to evaluate the exposure to infrared (IR) radiation when the source can be approximated as a black body is implemented in a mathematical code developed in Matlab. Some practical situations are discussed. A comparison between the results obtained by a spectroradiometric technique and that obtained by using a broadband radiometer and the modelling of the source is shown. The IR radiation exposure evaluations in a cement industry and in a steel forge are shown and compared to the exposure limit values.

Monitoring Surface Contamination by Antineoplastic Drugs in Italian Hospitals: Performance-Based Hygienic Guidance Values (HGVs) Project

Antineoplastic drugs (ADs) will continue to represent a potential risk for personnel involved in the handling of these compounds and great concerns have been raised by the presence of ADs in many surveyed workplaces. Eight hospitals were investigated by means of wipe sampling for surface residue determination. Each wipe sample was tested for five ADs considered suitable exposure markers. Cyclophosphamide (CP), gemcitabine (GEM), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), platinum-containing drugs (Pt), and epi-doxorubicin (EPI) contamination levels were measured in 85 per cent of the studied pharmacies and 93 per cent of outpatient care units (OpCUs). This study showed that 83 out of 349 samples were positive in Pharmacies, this proportion being statistically significant (χ2 = 42.9, p < 0.001). The positive samples provided evidence of at least one substance with levels greater than the limit of detection (LOD). The two most frequently detected substances were Pt (42%) and CP (30%). These accounted for 72 per cent of the whole dataset, followed by 5-FU and GEM. Based on the 90th percentile of wipe sampling data distribution, we suggest hygienic guidance values (HGVs) of 3.6, 1.0, 0.9, and 0.5 ng cm-2 for CP, 5-FU, GEM and Pt, respectively, as the best target levels of the surface contamination load in Italian pharmacies. The approach of proposing guidance values at the 90th percentile of results obtained from workplaces with good hygiene practice was found to be a simple and practical way of controlling occupational exposure. HGVs were challenged in this study as technical threshold limits to benchmark AD residual surface contamination at workplaces.

Determination of Glucocorticoids in UPLC-MS in Environmental Samples from an Occupational Setting

Occupational exposures to glucocorticoids are still a neglected issue in some work environments, including pharmaceutical plants. We developed an analytical method to quantify simultaneously 21 glucocorticoids using UPLC coupled with mass spectrometry to provide a basis to carry out environmental monitoring. Samples were taken from air, hand-washing tests, pad-tests and wipe-tests. This paper reports the contents of the analytical methodology, along with the results of this extensive environmental and personal monitoring of glucocorticoids. The method in UPLC-MS turned out to be suitable and effective for the aim of the study. Wipe-test and pad-test desorption was carried out using 50 mL syringes, a simple technique that saves time without adversely affecting analyte recovery. Results showed a widespread environmental pollution due to glucocorticoids. This is of particular concern. Evaluation of the dose absorbed by each worker and identification of a biomarker for occupational exposure will contribute to assessment and prevention of occupational exposure.

A new, sensitive and versatile assay for quantitative determination of α-fluoro-β-alanine (AFBA) in human urine by using the reversed-phase ultrahigh performance-tandem mass spectrometry (rp-UHPLC–MS/MS) system

A method for the quantitation of α-fluoro-β-alanine (AFBA), the main metabolite of capecitabine (Cape) and 5-fluoruracil (5-FU), is described. Among antineoplastic drugs (ADs), 5-FU and Cape (the new oral prodrug) are the most commonly applied drugs in cancer therapy. The main objective of this study was to develop a reliable method that would be easy to run on a reversed-phase UHPLC system coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. AFBA was derivatized with Sangers reagent to ensure complete yield of a stable 2,4 dinitrophenil-α-fluoro-β-alanine derivative. This method was based on the use of a mixed-mode anion exchange solid phase extraction enabling urinary extracts to be clear of endogenous interferences affecting quantitative results. The assay was validated in human urine according to FDA criteria with the use of a labeled internal standard (β-alanine-d4) to minimize experimental error. Good accuracy and precision were demonstrated by determining spiked urine QC samples in four consecutive days. The recovery of AFBA was between 70.0 and 82.6%, with a matrix effect that was 12.8%-18.5%. The lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL with a coefficient of variation of 5.3%. This assay was successfully applied to determine the levels of this metabolite in a large number of urine samples taken from personnel who were occupationally exposed to ADs.