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Objective Some drugs need processing before they can be administered or dispensed. We measured airborne exposure of pharmacy staff to small particles when performing these tasks. Methods Reconstitution of powdered drugs in vials; crushing, splitting, and counting of tablets; and opening of capsules, using different ventilation strategies, were investigated in five pharmacies after in a worst-case approach. Airborne particulate matter was determined for a range of particles sizes. Results Mean particle concentrations ranged from not detectable to 1.03 μg/m3 (

Low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors provide new methods for monitoring occupational exposure to hazardous substances, such as flour dust. These devices have many possible benefits, but much remains unknown about their performance for different exposure monitoring strategies in the workplace. We explored the performance of PM sensors for four different monitoring strategies (time-weighted average and high time resolution, each quantitative and semi-quantitative) for assessing occupational exposure using low-cost PM sensors in a field study in the industrial bakery sector. Measurements were collected using four types of sensor (PATS+, Isensit, Airbeam2, and Munisense) and two reference devices (respirable gravimetric samplers and an established time-resolved device) at two large-scale bakeries, spread over 11 participants and 6 measurement days. Average PM2.5 concentrations of the low-cost sensors were compared with gravimetric respirable concentrations for 8-h shift periods and 1-min PM2.5 concentrations of the low-cost sensors were compared with time-resolved PM2.5 data from the reference device (quantitative monitoring strategy). Low-cost sensors were also ranked in terms of exposure for 8-h shifts and for 15-min periods with a shift (semi-quantitative monitoring strategy). Environmental factors and methodological variables, which can affect sensor performance, were investigated. Semi-quantitative monitoring strategies only showed more accurate results compared with quantitative strategies when these were based on shift-average exposures. The main factors that influenced sensor performance were the type of placement (positioning the devices stationary versus personal) and the company or workstation where measurements were collected. Together, these findings provide an overview of common strengths and drawbacks of low-cost sensors and different ways these can be applied in the workplace. This can be used as a starting point for further investigations and the development of guidance documents and data analysis methods.

Low-cost particulate matter sensors are a up-and-coming technology for monitoring occupational exposure to hazardous substances in high spatial and temporal resolutions. Low costs, small sizes and high measurement frequencies offer the potential to continuously, automatically and remotely measure dust exposure and emission in the workplace. However, much remains unknown about how these devices can be successfully applied in occupational settings. TNO (the Netherlands) has, in collaboration with HSE (UK) and NIOSH (US), performed field studies at seven companies in the bakery, woodworking and welding industry to explore the use of sensors. A total of 145 full / half-shift measurements were collected for 37 workers and 15 static positions. Measurement data was obtained using four types of sensor and conventional respirable gravimetric and high-resolution reference devices. High-resolution contextual information was collected using additional sensors, including an ultrasound-based indoor positioning system, to investigate how these can further characterize exposure situations. Sensor accuracy compared to reference measurements ranged up to R2-values of 0.92, but large variations were observed within and between industries. Overall, stationary measurements showed less variation in performance compared to personal measurements. Different types of sensor seemed more accurate for specific industries. Contextual measurements provided additional information on when and where exposure occurred, for example by dynamic hazard maps based on indoor location and personal sensor measurements. Although performance of sensors remains lower than conventional methods, they may provide accurate measurements in specific situations. Additionally, sensors can provide new types of information that cannot be captured by time-integrated measurements.

Direct-reading, time-resolved devices, such as optical particle counters (OPCs) and photometers, offer a unique insight into the temporal and spatial distribution of airborne particles. They can provide a comprehensive picture of changes in concentration of airborne particles in occupational settings and therefore can be used to investigate failures in engineering control systems as well as identify exposures driven by working procedures and methods. In recent years, new developments have led to the commercialisation of low- cost optical-based sensors, which provide particle matter (PM) mass concentrations including PM2.5 and PM10 for environmental monitoring. TNO, NIOSH, and HSE are investigating their application to occupational settings with the aim to produce guidelines for calibration and use. This study evaluated the performance and accuracy of six commercially available low-cost sensors (Airbeam 2, Airveda, Omni Awair, OPC-N3, OPC-R1 and PATS+), in calm air test chambers, against reference devices including an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS 3320), GK2.69 respirable cyclones, and pDR-1500 photometers. Several factors were considered: type of dust (particles having different size distribution, shape and refractive index), within- and between-device variations and exposure pattern (peak and constant concentrations). The devices were subjected to relatively high respirable concentrations (greater than 1 mg/m3) in addition to low concentrations. This presentation will present the results of the laboratory testing with particular focus on their accuracy, response, and calibration for quantitative exposure measurements. The low-cost sensor devices are also being deployed in the workplace for further evaluation and practicality of use.

Background Greenspace has been associated with health benefits in many contexts. An important pathway may be through outdoor physical activity. We use a novel approach to examine the link between greenspace microenvironments and outdoor physical activity levels in the HEALS study conducted in Edinburgh (UK), the Netherlands, and Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece). Methods Using physical activity tracker recordings, 118 HEALS participants with young children were classified with regard to daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); 60 were classified with regard to the metabolic equivalent task (MET)-minutes for each of the 1014 active trips they made. Greenspace indicators were generated for Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), tree cover density (TCD), and green land use (GLU). We employed linear mixed-effects models to analyse (1) daily MVPA in relation to greenspace within 300 m and 1000 m of residential addresses and (2) trip MET-minutes in relation to average greenspace within a 50 m buffer of walking/cycling routes. Models were adjusted for activity, walkability, bluespace, age, sex, car ownership, dog ownership, season, weekday/weekend day, and local meteorology. Results There was no clear association between MVPA-minutes and any residential greenspace measure. For example, in fully adjusted models, a 10 percentage point increase in NDVI within 300 m of home was associated with a daily increase of 1.14 (95% CI − 0.41 to 2.70) minutes of MVPA. However, we did find evidence to indicate greenspace markers were positively linked to intensity and duration of activity: in fully adjusted models, 10 percentage point increases in trip NDVI, TCD, and GLU were associated with increases of 10.4 (95% CI: 4.43 to 16.4), 10.6 (95% CI: 4.96 to 16.3), and 3.36 (95% CI: 0.00 to 6.72) MET-minutes, respectively. The magnitude of associations with greenspace tended to be greater for cycling. Conclusions More strenuous or longer walking and cycling trips occurred in environments with more greenspace, but levels of residential greenspace did not have a clear link with outdoor MVPA. To build on our research, we suggest future work examine larger, more diverse populations and investigate the influence of greenspace for trip purpose and route preference.

Will sensor-based exposure assessment be the future in workplace settings? Static instruments with embedded sensors are already applied to monitor levels of dangerous substances—in the context of acute health effects—at critical locations. However, with wearable, lightweight, miniaturized (low-cost) sensors developing quickly, much more is possible with sensors in relation to exposure assessment. Sensors can be applied in the work environment, on machines, or on employees and may include sensors that measure chemical exposures, but also sensors or other technologies that collect contextual information to support the exposure measurements. Like every technology it also has downsides. Sensors collect data on individuals that, depending on the purpose, need to be shared with others (e.g. health, safety and environment manager). One can imagine that people are afraid of misuse. To explore possible ethical and privacy issues that may come along with the introduction of sensors in the workplace, we organized a workshop with stakeholders (n = 32) to discuss three possible sensor-based scenarios in a structured way around five themes: purpose, efficacy, intrusiveness, proportionality, and fairness. The main conclusion of the discussions was that stakeholders currently see benefits in using sensors for applied targeted studies (short periods, clear reasons). In order to find acceptance for the implementation of sensors, all individuals affected by the sensors or its data need to be involved in the decisions on the purpose and application of sensors. Possible negative side effects need to be discussed and addressed. Continuous sensor-based monitoring of workers currently appears to be a bridge too far for the participants of this workshop.

The Vasilikos Energy Center (VEC) is a large hydrocarbon industrial hub actively operating in Cyprus. There is strong public interest by the communities surrounding VEC to engage with all stakeholders towards the sustainable development of hydrocarbon in the region. The methodological framework of the exposome concept would allow for the holistic identification of all relevant environmental exposures by engaging the most relevant stakeholders in industrially contaminated sites. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate the stakeholders’ perceptions of the environmental and public health risks and recommended actions associated with the VEC hydrocarbon activities, and (ii) assess the stakeholders’ understanding and interest towards exposome-based technologies for use in oil and gas applications. Methods: Six major groups of stakeholders were identified: local authorities, small-medium industries (SMIs) (including multi-national companies), small-medium enterprises (SMEs), academia/professional associations, government, and the general public residing in the communities surrounding the VEC. During 2019–2021, a suite of stakeholder engagement initiatives was deployed, including semi-structured interviews (n = 32), a community survey for the general public (n = 309), technical meetings, and workshops (n = 4). Results from the semi-structured interviews, technical meetings and workshops were analyzed through thematic analysis and results from the community survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Almost all stakeholders expressed the need for the implementation of a systematic health monitoring system for the VEC broader area and its surrounding residential communities, including frequent measurements of air pollutant emissions. Moreover, stricter policies by the government about licensing and monitoring of hydrocarbon activities and proper communication to the public and the mass media emerged as important needs. The exposome concept was not practiced by the SMEs, but SMIs showed willingness to use it in the future as part of their research and development activities. Conclusions: The sustainable development of hydrocarbon exploitation and processing prospects for Cyprus involves the VEC. Continuous and active collaboration and mutual feedback among all stakeholders involved with the VEC is essential, as this may allow future environmental and occupational health initiatives to be formalized.

Air pollution, noise, and green space are important environmental exposures, having been linked to a variety of specific health outcomes. However, there are few studies addressing overall early life development. To assess their effects, associations between developmental milestones for a large population of 0–4-year old children in The Netherlands and environmental exposures were explored. Developmental milestones and background characteristics were provided by Preventive Child Health Care (PCHC) and supplemented with data from Statistics Netherlands. Milestones were summarized and standardized into an aggregate score measuring global development. Four age groups were selected. Environmental exposures were assigned to geocoded addresses using publicly available maps for PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse, NO2, EC, road traffic noise, and green space. Associations were investigated using single and multiple-exposure logistic regression models. 43,916 PCHC visits by 29,524 children were available. No consistent associations were found for air pollution and road traffic noise. Green space was positively associated in single and multiple-exposure models although it was not significant in all age groups (OR 1.01 (0.95, 1.08) (1 year) to 1.07 (1.01, 1.14) (2 years)). No consistent associations were found between air pollution, road traffic noise, and global child development. A positive association of green space was indicated.

Introduction Oil and gas workers have been shown to be at increased risk of chronic diseases including cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hearing loss, among others. Technological advances may be used to assess the external (e.g. personal sensors, smartphone apps and online platforms, exposure models) and internal exposome (e.g. physiologically based kinetic modeling (PBK), biomonitoring, omics), offering numerous possibilities for chronic disease prevention strategies and risk management measures. The objective of this study was to review the literature on these technologies, by focusing on: (i) evaluating their applicability for exposome research in the oil and gas industry, and (ii) identifying key challenges that may hamper the successful application of such technologies in the oil and gas industry. Method A scoping review was conducted by identifying peer-reviewed literature with searches in MEDLINE/PubMed and SciVerse Scopus. Two assessors trained on the search strategy screened retrieved articles on title and abstract. The inclusion criteria used for this review were: application of the aforementioned technologies at a workplace in the oil and gas industry or, application of these technologies for an exposure relevant to the oil and gas industry but in another occupational sector, English language and publication period 2005—end of 2019. Results In total, 72 articles were included in this scoping review with most articles focused on omics and bioinformatics (N = 22), followed by biomonitoring and biomarkers (N = 20), external exposure modeling (N = 11), PBK modeling (N = 10), and personal sensors (N = 9). Several studies were identified in the oil and gas industry on the application of PBK models and biomarkers, mainly focusing on workers exposed to benzene. The application of personal sensors, new types of exposure models, and omics technology are still in their infancy with respect to the oil and gas industry. Nevertheless, applications of these technologies in other occupational sectors showed the potential for application in this sector. Discussion and conclusion New exposome technologies offer great promise for personal monitoring of workers in the oil and gas industry, but more applied research is needed in collaboration with the industry. Current challenges hindering a successful application of such technologies include (i) the technological readiness of sensors, (ii) the availability of data, (iii) the absence of standardized and validated methods, and (iv) the need for new study designs to study the development of disease during working life.

(1) Background: Small, lightweight, low‐cost optical particulate matter (PM) monitors are becoming popular in the field of occupational exposure monitoring, because these devices allow for real‐time static measurements to be collected at multiple locations throughout a work site as well as being used as wearables providing personal exposure estimates. Prior to deployment, devices should be evaluated to optimize and quantify measurement accuracy. However, this can turn out to be difficult, as no standardized methods are yet available and different deployments may require different evaluation procedures. To gain insight in the relevance of different variables that may affect the monitor readings, six PM monitors were selected based on current availability and evaluated in the laboratory, (2) Methods: Existing strategies that were judged appropriate for the evaluation of PM monitors were reviewed and seven evaluation variables were selected, namely the type of dust, within‐ and between‐device variations, nature of the power supply, temperature, relative humidity, and exposure pattern (peak and constant). Each variable was tested and analyzed individually and, if found to affect the readings significantly, included in a final correction model specific to each monitor. Finally, the accuracy for each monitor after correction was calculated, (3) Results: The reference materials and exposure patterns were found to be main factors needing correction for most monitors. One PM monitor was found to be sufficiently accurate at concentrations up to 2000 &micro, g/m3 PM2.5, with other monitors appropriate at lower concentrations. The average accuracy increased by up to three‐fold compared to when the correction model did not include evaluation variables, (4) Conclusions: Laboratory evaluation and readings correction can greatly increase the accuracy of PM monitors and set boundaries for appropriate use. However, this requires identifying the relevant evaluation variables, which are heavily reliant on how the monitors are used in the workplace. This, together with the lack of current consensus on standardized procedures, shows the need for harmonized PM monitor evaluation methods for occupational exposure monitoring.

Background/AimThe exposome includes urban greenspace, which may affect health via a complex set of pathways, including reducing exposure to particulate matter (PM) and noise. We assessed these pathways using indoor exposure monitoring data from the HEALS study in four European urban areas (Edinburgh, UK; Utrecht, Netherlands; Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece).MethodsWe quantified three metrics of residential greenspace at 50 m and 100 m buffers: Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), annual tree cover density, and surrounding green land use. NDVI values were generated for both summer and the season during which the monitoring took place. Indoor PM2.5 and noise levels were measured by Dylos and Netatmo sensors, respectively, and subjective noise annoyance was collected by questionnaire on an 11-point scale. We used random-effects generalised least squares regression models to assess associations between greenspace and indoor PM2.5 and noise, and an ordinal logistic regression to model the relationship between greenspace and road noise annoyance.ResultsWe identified a significant inverse relationship between summer NDVI and indoor PM2.5 (−1.27 μg/m3 per 0.1 unit increase [95% CI -2.38 to −0.15]) using a 100 m residential buffer. Reduced (i.e., ConclusionsWe identified reduced indoor levels of PM2.5 and noise annoyance, but not overall noise, with increasing outdoor levels of certain greenspace indicators. To corroborate our findings, future research should examine the effect of enhanced temporal resolution of greenspace metrics during different seasons, characterise the configuration and composition of green areas, and explore mechanisms through mediation modelling.

This commentary explores the use of high-resolution data from new, miniature sensors to enrich models that predict exposures to chemical substances in the workplace. To optimally apply these sensors, one can expect an increased need for new models that will facilitate the interpretation and extrapolation of the acquired time-resolved data. We identified three key modelling approaches in the context of sensor data, namely (i) enrichment of existing time-integrated exposure models, (ii) (new) high-resolution (in time and space) empirical models, and (iii) new ‘occupational dispersion’ models. Each approach was evaluated in terms of their application in research, practice, and for policy purposes. It is expected that substance-specific sensor data will have the potential to transform workplace modelling by re-calibrating, refining, and validating existing (time-integrated) models. An increased shift towards ‘sensor-driven’ models is expected. It will allow for high-resolution modelling in time and space to identify peak exposures and will be beneficial for more individualized exposure assessment and real-time risk management. New ‘occupational dispersion models’ such as interpolation, computational fluid dynamic models, and assimilation techniques, together with sensor data, will be specifically useful. These techniques can be applied to develop site-specific concentration maps which calculate personal exposures and mitigate worker exposure through early warning systems, source finding and improved control design and control strategies. Critical development and investment needs for sensor data linked to (new) model development were identified such as (i) the generation of more sensor data with reliable sensor technologies (achieved by improved specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of sensors), (ii) investing in statistical and new model developments, (iii) ensuring that we comply with privacy and security issues of concern, and (iv) acceptance by relevant target groups (such as employers and employees) and stimulation of these new technologies by policymakers and technology developers.

This review describes an evaluation of the effectiveness of Risk Management Measures (RMM) for nanomaterials in the workplace. Our aim was to review the effectiveness of workplace RMM for nanomaterials and to determine whether established effectiveness values of conventional chemical substances applied for modelling purposes should be adopted or revised based on available evidence. A literature review was conducted to collate nano-specific data on workplace RMM. Besides the quantitative efficacy values, the library was populated with important covariables such as the study design, measurement type, size of particles or agglomerates/aggregates, and metrics applied. In total 770 records were retrieved from 41 studies for three general types of RMM (engineering controls, respiratory equipment and skin protective equipment: gloves and clothing). Records were found for various sub-categories of the different types of RMM although the number of records for each was generally limited. Significant variation in efficacy values was observed within RMM categories while also considering the respective covariables. Based on a comparative evaluation with efficacy values applied for conventional substances, adapted efficacy values are proposed for various RMM sub-categories (e.g. containment, fume cupboards, FFP2 respirators). It is concluded that RMM efficacy data for nanomaterials are limited and often inconclusive to propose effectiveness values. This review also shed some light on the current knowledge gaps for nanomaterials related to RMM effectiveness (e.g. ventilated walk-in enclosures and clean rooms) and the challenges foreseen to derive reliable RMM efficacy values from aggregated data in the future.

Particulate matter exposure may cause adverse health effects. Although ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) is hypothesised to be particularly health relevant, the number of studies into personal UFP exposure is limited. Aim To increase insight where and when most UFP exposure occurs, in terms of exposure levels and peaks in microenvironments, time of day and activities, to support development of abatement strategies to reduce exposure. Methods UFP exposure and GPS tracks were recorded continuously for 5 days in 12 healthy volunteers. GPS data was processed to assign context information, and linked to UFP data. Results Participants spent most time indoors (>90%), mainly at home (approx. 80%). Mean particle number concentration (particles/cm3) was highest in motorized transport (20.5 × 103), followed by other indoor environments (16.5 × 103), and lower at home (11.2 × 103) and walking outdoors (9.0 × 103). Due to the large proportion of time spent indoors, exposure indoors contributed most to total exposure (nearly 90%). Exposure during motorized transport showed a speed dependency, most likely linked to exposure on larger busier roads. Using a 95th percentile cut-off for concentration elevations lasting at least 5 min for peak-detection, 98 peaks were identified, mainly during daytime. These contributed substantially to total exposure (25%) while accounting for only 3.4% of total time. Of this peak contribution 88% occurred indoors (mainly at home) and 12% outdoors. Conclusions UFP exposure shows clear differences between microenvironments. Peaks contribute substantially to total exposure. Measures to prevent peak exposures could contribute to substantial exposure reduction. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

For safe innovation, knowledge on potential human health impacts is essential. Ideally, these impacts are considered within a larger life-cycle-based context to support sustainable development of new applications and products. A methodological framework that accounts for human health impacts caused by inhalation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in an indoor air environment has been previously developed. The objectives of this study are as follows: (i) evaluate the feasibility of applying the CF framework for NP exposure in the workplace based on currently available data; and (ii) supplement any resulting knowledge gaps with methods and data from the life cycle approach and human risk assessment (LICARA) project to develop a modified case-specific version of the framework that will enable near-term inclusion of NP human health impacts in life cycle assessment (LCA) using a case study involving nanoscale titanium dioxide (nanoTiO2 ). The intent is to enhance typical LCA with elements of regulatory risk assessment, including its more detailed measure of uncertainty. The proof-of-principle demonstration of the framework highlighted the lack of available data for both the workplace emissions and human health effects of ENMs that is needed to calculate generalizable characterization factors using common human health impact assessment practices in LCA. The alternative approach of using intake fractions derived from workplace air concentration measurements and effect factors based on best-available toxicity data supported the current case-by-case approach for assessing the human health life cycle impacts of ENMs. Ultimately, the proposed framework and calculations demonstrate the potential utility of integrating elements of risk assessment with LCA for ENMs once the data are available.

Low-cost sensors offer the possibility to gain more insight into personal exposure. Compared to traditionalmethods, sensors provide more high resolution data in space and time. However, there is a ...

The aim of this study was to (a) develop a method for converting particle number concentrations (PNC) obtained by Dylos to PM2.5 mass concentrations, (b) compare this conversion with similar methods available in the literature, and (c) compare Dylos PM2.5 obtained using all available conversion methods with gravimetric samples. Data were collected in multiple residences in three European countries using the Dylos and an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS, TSI) in the Netherlands or an optical particle counter (OPC, GRIMM) in Greece. Two statistical fitted curves were developed based on Dylos PNC and either an APS or an OPC particle mass concentrations (PMC). In addition, at the homes of 16 volunteers (UK and Netherlands), Dylos measurements were collected along with gravimetric samples. The Dylos PNC were transformed to PMC using all the fitted curves obtained during this study (and three found in the literature) and were compared with gravimetric samples. The method developed in the present study using an OPC showed the highest correlation (Pearson (R) = 0.63, Concordance (? c ) = 0.61) with gravimetric data. The other methods resulted in an underestimation of PMC compared to gravimetric measurements (R = 0.65-0.55, ? c = 0.51-0.24). In conclusion, estimation of PM2.5 concentrations using the Dylos is acceptable for indicative purposes. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Fume hoods are one of the most common types of equipment applied to reduce the potential of particle exposure in laboratory environments. A number of previous studies have shown particle release during work with nanomaterials under fume hoods. Here, we assessed laboratory workers’ inhalation exposure during synthesis and handling of CuO, TiO2 and ZnO in a fume hood. In addition, we tested the capacity of a fume hood to prevent particle release to laboratory air during simulated spillage of different powders (silica fume, zirconia TZ-3Y and TiO2). Airborne particle concentrations were measured in near field, far field, and in the breathing zone of the worker. Handling CuO nanoparticles increased the concentration of small particles (

The increase in production of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) goes along with growing concerns about health risks. Few, rather small, studies have reported biological effects of MWCNTs in humans including increased concentrations of cardiovascular markers fibrinogen, ICAM1 and IL-6, but findings are largely inconsistent. The objective of this study was to assess the association between occupational exposure to MWCNTs and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional biomarker study was performed among workers of a company commercially producing flexible MWCNTs and a matched unexposed population. 12 cardiovascular markers were measured in participants’ blood (phase 1). In a sub-population these measures were repeated after 5 months (phase 2). We analysed associations between MWCNT exposure and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk, corrected for age, BMI, sex and smoking. 22 exposed and 42 unexposed workers were included in phase 1 and a subgroup of 13 exposed workers and 6 unexposed workers in phase 2 of the study. Both in phase 1 and phase 2 we observed an upward trend in the concentration of endothelial damage marker ICAM-1, with increasing exposure to MWCNTs. This finding is supported by significantly elevated monocyte counts among the same workers. No significant associations were found between exposure to MWCNTs and the other cardiovascular markers tPA, Fibrinogen, VCAM-1, IL-6, E selectin, TNF-α and D-Dimer. The results of the present study should be viewed as explorative and requires confirmation in larger studies. Our results for ICAM-1 point towards a potential for endothelial damage due to exposure to MWCNT.

Exposure assessment for nano-objects, and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA), has evolved from explorative research toward more comprehensive exposure assessment, providing data to further develop currently used conservative control banding (CB) tools for risk assessment. This study aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on emission potential of NOAA across the occupational life cycle stages by a systematic review and subsequently use the results in a data analysis. Relevant parameters that influence emission were collected from peer-reviewed literature with a focus on the four source domains (SD) in the source-receptor conceptual framework for NOAA. To make the reviewed exposure data comparable, we applied an approach to normalize for workplace circumstances and measurement location, resulting in comparable "surrogate" emission levels. Finally, descriptive statistics were performed. During the synthesis of nanoparticles (SD1), mechanical reduction and gas phase synthesis resulted in the highest emission compared to wet chemistry and chemical vapor condensation. For the handling and transfer of bulk manufactured nanomaterial powders (SD2) the emission could be differentiated for five activity classes: (1) harvesting; (2) dumping; (3); mixing; (4) cleaning of a reactor; and (5) transferring. Additionally, SD2 was subdivided by the handled amount with cleaning further subdivided by energy level. Harvesting and dumping resulted in the highest emissions. Regarding processes with liquids (SD3b), it was possible to distinguish emissions for spraying (propellant gas, (high) pressure and pump), sonication and brushing/rolling. The highest emissions observed in SD3b were for propellant gas spraying and pressure spraying. The highest emissions for the handling of nano-articles (SD4) were found to nano-sized particles (including NOAA) for grinding. This study provides a valuable overview of emission assessments performed in the workplace during the occupational handling of NOAA. Analyses were made per source domain to derive emission levels which can be used for models to quantitatively predict the exposure.

Background Multi-Wall Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are increasingly used in a multitude of applications, resulting in occupational exposure. Evidence from animal and mechanistic studies indicates that the lung and immune system are potential targets for MWCNT-related health effects. Methods In phase 1 of the study, we assessed lung function and exhaled nitrogen oxide (FENO), and collected peripheral blood among 22 workers at a MWCNT producing facility and 39 age- and gender-matched, unexposed controls. Blood samples were assayed for complete blood cell counts, 51 immune markers and three pneumoproteins: CC-16, SP-A, and SP-D. Based on quantitative personal exposure assessment, MWCNT production workers were categorised into operators (higher exposure) and lab workers (lower exposure). Six months later (phase 2) the study was repeated among a subset of workers. Results We observed significant depression in FENO among operators compared to controls during phase 1 (p = 0.01; not assessed in phase 2). We observed significant depression in neutrophils (p = 0.01) and significant elevation in monocytes (p = 0.01), mean platelet volume (p = 0.004), and immature platelet fraction (p = 0.05) among operators compared to controls in phases 1 and 2. We observed significant upward trends with exposure for CXCL11 (p = 0.02), CCL20 (p = 0.005), FGF-2 (p = 0.05), and sIL-1RII (p = 0.0004), and significant downward trends for IL-16 (p = 0.03), CCL27 (p = 0.02) and CTACK (p = 0.02). The associations with CCL20, FGF-2, and sIL-1RII were replicated in phase 2. Several associations remained significant after multiple testing correction (q Conclusion We report some indications of early effects of occupational exposure to MWCNTs on lung health and the immune system, but observed no effect on clinically relevant outcome lung function. Our findings need to be verified in large studies that apply high quality personal exposure assessment methods. Such studies will require collaboration between researchers and MWCNT producers.

The fast penetration of nanoproducts on the market under conditions of significant uncertainty of their environmental properties and risks to humans creates a need for companies to assess sustainability of their products. Evaluation of the potential benefits and risks to build a coherent story for communication with clients, authorities, consumers, and other stakeholders is getting to be increasingly important, but SMEs often lack the knowledge and expertise to assess risks and communicate them appropriately. This paper introduces LICARA nanoSCAN, a modular web based tool that supports SMEs in assessing benefits and risks associated with new or existing nanoproducts. This tool is unique because it is scanning both the benefits and risks over the nanoproducts life cycle in comparison to a reference product with a similar functionality in order to enable the development of sustainable and competitive nanoproducts. SMEs can use data and expert judgment to answer mainly qualitative and semi-quantitative questions as a part of tool application. Risks to public, workers and consumers are assessed, while the benefits are evaluated for economic, environmental and societal opportunities associated with the product use. The tool provides an easy way to visualize results as well as to identify gaps, missing data and associated uncertainties. The LICARA nanoSCAN has been positively evaluated by several companies and was tested in a number of case studies. The tool helps to develop a consistent and comprehensive argument on the weaknesses and strengths of a nanoproduct that may be valuable for the communication with authorities, clients and among stakeholders in the value chain. LICARA nanoSCAN identifies areas for more detailed assessments, product design improvement or application of risk mitigation measures. Keywords: Risk assessment, Benefit assessment, Nanoproducts, Decision-making tool, Sustainable nanotechnology, Life Cycle Assessment

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a well-established method to evaluate impacts of chemicals on the environment and human health along the lifespan of products. However, the increasingly produced and applied nanomaterials (defined as one dimension, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 17, ISSN:1388-0764, ISSN:1572-896X

For safe innovation, knowledge on potential human health impacts is essential. Ideally, these impacts are considered within a larger life-cycle-based context to support sustainable development of new applications and products. A methodological framework that accounts for human health impacts caused by inhalation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in an indoor air environment has been previously developed. The objectives of this study are as follows: (i) evaluate the feasibility of applying the CF framework for NP exposure in the workplace based on currently available data; and (ii) supplement any resulting knowledge gaps with methods and data from the life cycle approach and human risk assessment (LICARA) project to develop a modified case-specific version of the framework that will enable near-term inclusion of NP human health impacts in life cycle assessment (LCA) using a case study involving nanoscale titanium dioxide (nanoTiO

The advent of the exposome concept, the advancement of mobile technology, sensors, and the “internet of things” bring exciting opportunities to exposure science. Smartphone apps, wireless devices, the downsizing of monitoring technologies, along with lower costs for such equipment makes it possible for various aspects of exposure to be measured more easily and frequently. We discuss possibilities and lay out several criteria for using smart technologies for external exposome studies. Smart technologies are evolving quickly, and while they provide great promise for advancing exposure science, many are still in developmental stages and their use in epidemiology and risk studies must be carefully considered. The most useable technologies for exposure studies at this time relate to gathering exposure-factor data, such as location and activities. Development of some environmental sensors (e.g., for some air pollutants, noise, UV) is moving towards making the use of these more reliable and accessible to research studies. The possibility of accessing such an unprecedented amount of personal data also comes with various limitations and challenges, which are discussed. The advantage of improving the collection of long term exposure factor data is that this can be combined with more “traditional” measurement data to model exposures to numerous environmental factors. © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Objectives To assess personal exposure to carbon nanotubes for a study of early effect biomarkers among workers exposed to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Method Three major job categories were identified in the exposed factory: production, R&D and office. For qualitative assessment personal 8-hr-TWA inhalable dust samples (n = 5) were collected in all job categories and analysed by SEM-EDX. For quantitative assessment 8-hr TWA samples (n = 30) were collected from the production and R&D workers and analysed for elemental carbon, corrected for soot using SEM/EDX. Job activities were recorded during all measurements. Results The qualitative analyses demonstrated the presence of CNTs in the personal breathing zone of production, R&D and office workers. CNT agglomerates with particle sizes between 500 nm and 100 μm were identified for production and R&D workers and between 500 nm and 5 μm for office workers. No single CNTs were identified. The quantitative analyses demonstrated geometric mean (GM) inhalable CNT levels of 42.6 μg/m 3 (min-max: 1.4–1186.5) and 4.6 μg/m 3 (min-max: 0.2–59.5) for the production and R&D workers, respectively. Conclusions We identified exposure to clusters of CNT in production, R&D and office workers of the CNT production facility. As expected GM exposure was higher for production than for R&D workers, however considerable variability was observed. Additional quantitative measurements in office and production workers are ongoing. For the full set, analyses of within- and between-worker variability and activity as a determinant will be performed. This information will be used to assess personal exposure in a cross-sectional study of early health effects in the CANTES study.

Dustiness is not an intrinsic physically defined property of a powder, but the tendency of particles to become airborne in response to mechanical and/or aerodynamic stimuli. The present study considers a set of 10 physical properties to which the powder dustiness can be attributed. Through a preliminary investigation of a standardized continuous drop test scenario, we present first set of results on the varying degrees or weights of influence of these properties on the aerosolization tendency of powder particles. The inter-particle distance is found to be the most dominant property controlling the particle aerosolization, followed by the ability of powder particles to get electrostatically charged. We observe the kinetics involved during powder aerosolization to be governed by two ratios: drag force/cohesive force and drag force/gravitational force. The converging tendencies in these initial results indicate that these physical properties can be used to model dustiness of falling powder, which can eventually be used in risk assessment tools for an efficient exposure estimation of the powders.

Exposure to urban greenspace may affect health via a complex set of pathways, including lessened exposures to air pollution and enhanced opportunity for physical activity. The HEALS study included personal monitoring of mothers of young children to pilot novel devices and collect environmental exposure data from individuals in four European cities. The data collected over ~1-week periods thus present an opportunity to assess these two important pathways for which greenspace may benefit health.We include three metrics of greenspace exposure (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI], tree canopy density, and proximity to green land use) and will track objective measurements of physical activity through personal GPS data, including the duration engaging in active, e.g., walking, and passive, e.g., driving, transport. Fitbit units worn by study participants recorded steps per minute. Indoor PM2.5 and noise levels were collected from participants’ homes, and we are exploring the use of the Data Integration Model for Air Quality to estimate outdoor air pollutant concentrations.Based on the Edinburgh participants (n=29), preliminary results suggest no associations between residential greenspace metrics with indoor PM2.5, noise levels, or indicators of physical activity. However, using the GPS data, mean NDVI levels demonstrated significant positive correlations with the overall distance of walking or running (r=0.46; p=0.02) and also overall steps (r=0.41; p=0.04) during the monitoring period. No such associations were identified with tree canopy densities. We will expand the analysis to incorporate covariates of individual participants and data from the other cities to refine these early results.