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Background: Operators in the obituary and necropsy sectors are exposed to various environmental hazards during specific tasks. Despite this exposure, occupational risks have often been underestimated, resulting in a lack of substantial evidence. The primary objectives of this study were to identify sources of chemical risk, establish procedures for monitoring and quantifying exposure during necropsy activities, and recommend adjustments to regulatory guidelines to protect the health of the operators. The study was conducted at the Legal Medicine Unit of the Umberto I General Hospital in Rome, focusing on the quantitative measurement of particulate matter (PM) exposure among at-risk operators during necropsy activities. Environmental levels of total suspended particles, PM10, PM4, PM2.5, and PM1 were assessed by evaluating the average, minimum, and maximum instantaneous indoor concentrations using an airborne analyzer. Results: The monitoring activities revealed that the PM concentrations were significantly lower than the recognized reference values. However, bone sawing, body removal, and cleaning were identified as high-risk maneuvers for dust suspension. Conclusions: Our study highlighted specific risks associated with necropsy activities, particularly concerning timing and certain maneuvers. These results may lead to interventions for improving current prevention procedures, implementing good practices, and developing specific guidelines to enhance operator safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rome is vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) attacks. The study evaluates Rome's advanced emergency departments' state of emergency plans for massive influx of injures (PEIMAF) plans for CBRNe attacks. We propose a chemical attack on Saint Peter's Square during the Pope's General Assembly and its effects. The National Stockpile Antidotes' activation and territorial distribution timing work well for chemical attacks. We also estimated activation timing. Our data show that despite a good organization, travel times can be improved. We also believe that all major Roman hospitals must develop the PEIMAF, which should be followed by an organized training plan involving theoretical teaching and indoor and outdoor simulation to train hospital staff and evaluate PEIMAF weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The effectiveness and efficiency of first aid depend on timing, and each PEIMAF analyzed, while coherent and adequate for internal purposes, fails to integrate with the other hospitals. Integration can speed up National Stockpile Antidotes delivery and save lives. For the best CBRNe response, detailed intervention protocols must be created, updated daily, and exercised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the validity of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of bone marrow edema (BME) of the medial condyle of the knee. Design Retrospective. Setting Orthopedic Surgery outpatient clinic. Participants Symptomatic patients (N=56) affected by BME of the medial condyle of the knee. Patients were equally divided into an ESWT-treated group and a control group, which was managed conservatively. Interventions ESWT delivery to the medial condyle of the affected knee. Main Outcome Measures Clinical and functional assessment of the knee was performed with the use of the clinical and functional scores of the Knee Society Score (KSS). Pain was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS). BME area was measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before treatment and at 4 months' follow-up. Results Clinical evaluation of patients at final follow-up of 4 months posttreatment showed a significant improvement ( P <.0001) of symptoms and knee functionality, both for range of motion and strength in both groups. VAS values were significantly improved ( P <.0001) in both groups, with 3 patients in the ESWT group being pain-free (VAS=0) at 4 months' follow-up. At 4 months, MRI assessments on both sagittal and coronal views showed a significant reduction in BME in the ESWT group compared with the control group. Conclusions Our findings show that ESWT is a valid nonpharmacologic and noninvasive therapy for spontaneous BME of the medial condyle that improves the affected vascular and metabolic state present in this pathologic disorder through its metabolic mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experimental data of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and density have been analyzed. • Several equations of state have been identified and utilized for validation of data. • The impact of impurities on VLE and density estimations has been discussed. • The accuracy in the prediction of VLE and density has been analyzed. Carbon dioxide management is becoming a major topic of interest in the energy industry and carbon capture is part of this process. Carbon capture utilization and storage is considered a promising technique to mitigate the impact of the hard-to-abate industries. Despite the high level of accuracy of predictions of the thermodynamic behaviour of pure CO 2 , there are still several uncertainties when dealing with CO 2 -rich mixtures. The impact of impurities in the captured stream can impact considerably the sizing and the design of components such as pipelines and related costs. The scope of this work is to assess the capabilities of the most acknowledged Equations of State (EoS) in the energy industry to predict CO 2 -rich mixtures behaviour. In this work we assess their accuracy in the prediction of Vapour-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) and density validating numerical results with detailed experimental data available in literature. A quantitative estimation of deviations from experimental data is provided for density and bubble points. The results show that, based on experimental data available, multi-parameters Equations of State, such as GERG-2008 and CSMA, are generally more accurate in the description of both VLE and density if compared with cubic EoS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-known that the health effects of PM increase as particle size decreases: particularly, great concern has risen on the role of UltraFine Particles (UFPs). Starting from the knowledge that the main fraction of atmospheric aerosol in Rome is characterized by significant levels of PM 2.5 (almost 75% of PM 10 fraction is PM 2.5 ), the paper is focused on submicron particles in such great urban area. The daytime/nighttime, work-/weekdays and cold/hot seasonal trends of submicron particles will be investigated and discussed along with NO x and total PAH drifts demonstrating the primary origin of UFPs from combustion processes. Furthermore, moving from these data, the total dose of submicron particles deposited in the respiratory system (i.e., head, tracheobronchial and alveolar regions in different lung lobes) has been estimated. Dosimeter estimates were performed with the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry model (MPPD v.2.1). The paper discusses the aerosol doses deposited in the respiratory system of individuals exposed in proximity of traffic. During traffic peak hours, about 6.6 × 10 10 particles are deposited into the respiratory system. Such dose is almost entirely made of UFPs. According to the greater dose estimated, right lung lobes are expected to be more susceptible to respiratory pathologies than left lobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The main thermodynamic challenges associated with CO 2 transport via pipeline has been analysed. • A critical review of main flow-assurance issues related to CO 2 pipelines has been presented. • The impact of impurities, typology and their concentrations has been included. • Corrosion control strategies and water content limits have been collected through a literature review. • A collection of design parameters useful to technicians and operators has been reported. Environmental issues related to climate change have constantly been increasing in the last years, and global emissions must be managed wisely, adopting the most powerful and effective strategies available. Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is claimed as a solid climate mitigation strategy for the most challenging emissions and the production of blue hydrogen. The development of an international CO 2 transportation network is considered a necessary cross-cutting topic in the whole Carbon Capture and Storage sector. CO 2 pipeline development is an essential aspect for the realization of most decarbonization CCS projects. Large-scale CCS projects will require the management and transport of CO 2 in the presence of impurities at lower costs than traditional CO 2 pipelines utilized for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Thus, the accuracy of modelling carbon dioxide in the presence of other components needs to be assessed. Corrosion prediction and control are strongly related to water content and introduces uncertainties in terms of costs and corrosion risks, especially in the presence of other components and possible cross-chemical reactions. In this work, the process and flow assurance challenges related to the design of a CO 2 pipeline have been reviewed in terms of impurities, water content, and corrosion, as well as low-temperature scenarios. The main scope of this paper is to analyse the aspects that can be improved and the ones that need for further research from a thermodynamic point of view. This will help the design of a next generation of CO 2 pipelines with low CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operating expense), suitable for large-scale CCS projects and meeting the Paris Agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational exposure to mixtures of organic solvents has been evaluated in many activities such as painting, paint spraying, floor laying and shoe making. Italian handicraft car painting shops workers are exposed to a mixture of solvents commonly used in varnishing and to benzene due to fuel vapor from car in repair and to the use of gasoline for degreasing and dilution. The need to implement preventive activities for handicraft car painters in Italy is emphasized.

The study was aimed to evaluate the ability of native lichen Xanthoria (X.) parietina to biomonitor and bioaccumulate some heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb), PAHs, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and PBDEs and to evaluate the use of the native X. parietina as a multi-tracer tool for scenarios characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. Samples of native X. parietina were collected in six different sites (two green, two residential and two industrial areas, respectively) and analyzed for the target compounds. The results show that X. parietina was a useful tool for the biomonitoring of air quality in the selected areas, and was able to bioaccumulate all the studied metals and POPs. In particular, the total concentrations dry weight (dw) ranged between 8.1 and 103.4 mg kg−1 for metals, from 113 × 103 to 183 × 103 ng kg−1 for PAHs, from 868 to 7685 ng kg−1 for PCBs, from 14.3 to 113.8 ng kg−1 for PCDDs/Fs (∑TEq = 0.9–7.1), and from 194 to 554 ng kg−1 for PBDEs. Besides, in general, the levels of analytes recovered in the different samples of lichen show an increasing trend from green to industrial sites, especially for PCBs (mean values equal to 1218, 4253 and 7192 ng kg−1 respectively for green, residential and industrial areas). The statistical approach, based on Pearson's correlation and principal component analysis tests, showed that one of the industrial sites was well-separated from the others, that resulted grouped due to some similarities. Image 1 • Native Xantoria parietina is a useful tool for biomonitoring air quality. • As, heavy metals and Persistent Organic Pollutants accumulate in Xantoria parietina. • A multi-tracer tool to biomonitor different scenarios was developed. The lichen Xanthoria parietina is a useful tool for biomonitoring outdoor air quality. It is able to bioaccumulate metals and POPs and to discriminate between scenarios characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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