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Fire suppression and rapid cooling methods are required to reduce the risk of battery fires. However, the liquid and solid residues generated during fire extinguishing pose a risk to the environment and human health. With the aim of correlating the extinguishing efficiency and environmental impact of the residues, fire tests were carried out on NMC lithium-ion pouch cells using different agents, namely water mist, F-500 water additive 2 % (v/v) and CO2. The combination of cell temperature measurements and videos allowed the efficiency of the extinguishing agents to be assessed. It was found that the efficiency of the water-based agents was higher than that of the gaseous agents (cooling rate of 30.5 ± 4.9 °C/s for water mist, 36.5 ± 6.4 °C/s for F-500 and 20.0 ± 1.4 °C/s for CO2). Analysis of solid and liquid residues using gas chromatography and induced coupled plasma showed that the use of F-500 resulted in a higher (one order of magnitude) concentration of VOCs in solid residues compared to the other extinguishing agents. The comparison of these concentrations of VOCs with the limits established for waste (EU Regulation N. 1357/2014) showed that the solid residues did not exceed the concentration limit for classification as hazardous waste. Regarding the concentration of metals, the highest values in the solid and liquid residues are due to Li, Ni and Cu. Based on these values, all solid samples can be classified as carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction. While the concentration of metals in the liquid residues was higher than the limit value that poses a risk to aquatic organisms. The overall results showed the need for site remediation and waste management procedures in the event of a major accident.

The electric vehicles are a good option for aiming the Energy transition, in a such important sector such as the mobility. The use of a huge quantity of high energy and high power Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) opens the discussion of many topics such as competitiveness compared to other technologies, recycling of the materials and the safety. This paper shows an experimental study based on fire extinguishing tests on NMC Lithium-Ion pouch cells, each with approximately 100 Wh energy stored. Different extinguishing agents were tested: Foam, Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD). After tests, solid samples were taken from the burnt cell and the residue extinguishing liquid was collected. Gases produced from the combustion of the cell were also sampled during the test and collected in gas bags. Chemical analyses were performed on solid, liquid and gaseous residues in order to evaluate presence of hazardous compounds for health and environment. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and a Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to handle this type of analysis. The aim of this experimental work is to identify the hazardous compounds present in the residue of LIB after the fire is extinguished (i.e. electric vehicles) to evaluate their health and environmental impact and then to propose a methodology for their treatment or disposal. In particular, a comparison between different extinguishing agents is reported.

The demands for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have recently increased exponentially. They are used in a multitude of applications including electric vehicles (EVs), Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and consumer electronics. However, their chemical composition, high energy content and behaviour under abuse conditions pose a significant risk to safety, human health and the environment. This risk is particularly pronounced with the amount of active materials, especially the organic electrolyte and consequently, with the number of cells constituting the battery. To mitigate the risk, critical points throughout the entire life cycle of a lithium battery must be identified. For this purpose, the analysis of accidents occurring around the world acquires a fundamental importance. The evaluation of the main risks associated with the transport, use and storage of LIBs would allow the improvement of specific prevention measures to reduce the risk of fire and explosion during their use and their storage. Additionally, the improvement of safety procedures to manage accidents involving lithium ion batteries should be considered. Furthermore, it enables the updating of legal and technical standards and the development of more reliable storage systems. The aim of this study is to enhance current knowledge on the factors that may trigger fire involving LIBs through the analysis of accidents and recall databases analysis. An Italian database has been developed which includes data on accidents that occurred during the normal use of batteries, as well as those that occurred in storage facilities, during transport and in the disposal of batteries. One example of the reconstruction of data necessary to enhance a database is presented in this work.

The advantages of Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are well known, anyway the LIBs are even considered hazardous products. In fact, outside the safety windows the Li-ion cells can undergo to an abuse that leads to the degradation of the internal components with the release of gases, vapour, and solid products. The reactivity of the LIBs and the relative products composition is strictly correlated to the chemical composition of the internal components. Because of a lack of regulation, safety data sheets (SDSs) of Li-ion cells are not mandatory but, generally they are available. However, there is a gap between the information reported in the SDS and the internal chemical composition, and usually the quantity of components is expressed as a range of weight percentages, and the chemical composition is not well specified. The most common lack of information concerns the electrolyte, which is usually defined as a mixture of organic carbonates without reporting the type of solvents (e.g., dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethylene carbonate), the ratio between these components, and possible additives. The aim of this work was to characterize the internal components of various cylindrical 18650 cells available on the market, i.e., cell with Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide (NCA) as cathode and graphite (C) or Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) as anode, and cells with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) as cathode and C as anode. For this purpose, the cells were disassembled in a glovebox filled with argon (O2 and H2O = 0.1 ppm) and then the different components were analysed by various techniques to define their chemical composition, i.e., metals of the electrodes by ICP-OES, the electrolyte by GC-FID and SPME-GC-MS, and the separator by ATR-FT-IR and DSC. The identification of those compounds is fundamental to understand the reactions occurring inside the cells and to evaluate the risks for human health and environment.

Glyphosate is a chemical compound derived from glycine, marketed as a broad-spectrum herbicide, and represents one of the most widely used pesticides in the world. For a long time, it was assumed that glyphosate was harmless, either due to its selective enzymatic acting method on plants, and because commercial formulations were believed to contain only inert chemicals. Glyphosate is widely spread in the environment, the general population is daily exposed to it via different routes, including the consumption of both plant, and non-plant based foods. Glyphosate has been detected in high amounts in workers’ urine, but has been detected likewise in bodily fluids, such as blood and maternal milk, and also in 60%–80% of general population, including children. Considering its massive presence, daily exposure to glyphosate could be considered a health risk for humans. Indeed, in 2015, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classified glyphosate and its derivatives in Group 2A, as probable human carcinogens. In 2022, nevertheless, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) stated that the available data did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the mutagenic/carcinogenic effects of glyphosate. Therefore, the European Commission (EC) decided to renew the approval of glyphosate for another 10 years. The purpose of this review is to examine the scientific literature, focusing on potential risks to human health arising from exposure to glyphosate, its metabolites and its commercial products (e.g., Roundup®), with particular regard to its mutagenic and carcinogenic potential and its effects as endocrine disrupter (ED) especially in the human reproductive system.

The management of gastric Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection represents a significant concern in primary healthcare. This survey evaluates the approaches, attitudes, and knowledge regarding gastric H. pylori infection among Italian general practitioners (GPs) and young doctors undergoing general practice training (ITGPs). The survey enrolled 466 GPs and 70 ITGPs. Among GPs, specialist recommendations and the Maastricht–Florence guidelines were frequently referenced sources, while ITGPs relied more on the Maastricht–Florence guidelines and internet resources. ITGPs demonstrated more proactive approaches than GPs in investigating and treating conditions such as gastric ulcers, atrophic gastritis, and iron-deficiency anemia. However, there was limited attention given to the role of H. pylori treatment in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients. The most used diagnostic methods were the urea breath test and fecal test. Triple therapy was the most frequently chosen initial treatment regimen, with quadruple bismuth therapy becoming the primary option after initial treatment failure, followed by quinolone therapy and concomitant therapy. This survey underscores a disparity between real-world practices and the recommendations outlined in current guidelines, indicating a need for improved understanding of H. pylori guidelines among both GPs and ITGPs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive efforts focused on developing a better understanding of indirect transmission routes, environmental monitoring of fomites, and suitable surveillance strategies, providing new perspectives to also face other communicable diseases. Rapid methods for monitoring environmental contamination are strongly needed to support risk assessment, epidemiological surveillance and prevent infections from spreading. We optimized and automatized a protocol based on fomite detection by qPCR, using a microbial-signature approach based on marker genes belonging to the microbiota of droplets or different biological fluids. The procedure was implemented by exploiting the available tools developed for SARS-CoV-2 tracing, such as flocked swab sampling, real-time PCR equipment and automatic extraction of nucleic acids. This approach allowed scaling up, simplifying, and speeding up the extraction step of environmental swabs, processing at least 48 samples within 45 min vs. 90 min for about 24 samples by manual protocols. A comparison of microflora data by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) strongly supports the effectiveness of this semiautomated extraction procedure, providing good quality DNA with comparable representation of species as shown by biodiversity indexes. Today, equipment for qPCR is widely available and relatively inexpensive; therefore this approach may represent a promising tool for hospital hygiene in surveilling fomites associated with SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogen’s transmission.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are employed in a range of devices due to their high energy and power density. However, the increased power density of LIBs raises concerns regarding their safety when subjected to external abuse. The thermal behavior is influenced by a number of factors, i.e., the state of charge (SoC), the cell chemistry and the abuse conditions. In this study, three distinct cylindrical Li-ion cells, i.e., lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), lithium titanate oxide (LTO), and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), were subjected to thermal abuse (heating rate of 5 °C/min) in an air flow reactor, with 100% SoC. Venting and thermal runaway (TR) were recorded in terms of temperature and pressure, while the emitted products (gas, solid, and liquid) were subjected to analysis by FT-IR and ICP-OES. The concentrations of the toxic gases (HF, CO) are significantly in excess of the Immediate Danger to Life or Health Limit (IDLH). Furthermore, it is observed that the solid particles are the result of electrode degradation (metallic nature), whereas the liquid aerosol is derived from the electrolyte solvent. It is therefore evident that in the event of a LIB fire, in order to enhance the safety of the emergency responders, it is necessary to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to minimize exposure to toxic substances, i.e., particles and aerosol.

Background. Intense exercise during training requires dietary modulation to support health and performance and differs in different types of activities. Diet, supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics, and, more recently, even physical activity can potentially improve health outcomes by modifying and protecting the gut microbiota. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the modulation of gut microbiota in different types and intensities of physical activity and different lifestyles of athletes. Methods. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024500826). Results. Out of 1318 studies, only 10 met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The pilot study’s meta-regression analysis highlights the role of type and intensity of exercise in changing the B/B (Bacillota/Bacteroidota) ratio (p = 0.001). Conclusions. As gut training becomes more popular among athletes, it is necessary to map interactions between microbiota and different types of physical activity, personalized diets, physical activities, and ergogenic supplements to enhance performance and athletic wellness.