Conference Agenda

Asphalt consists of bitumen and is used as a road pavement layer. Bitumen fumes during road paving is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Paving and milling are processes generating occupational exposure to asphalt fumes, particulate matter, and diesel exhausts. The aim was to characterize occupational exposure of milling and road paving with a multi-metric approach. A field study was performed on millers and pavers, and their exposures were monitored during work with real-time monitors and off-line sampling methods. The pavers had the highest geometric mean exposure to most of the exposure metrics.

Here we present a macrophage assay to assess frustrated phagocytosis upon exposure to high aspect-ratio materials containing critical fibres, specifically designed for testing very thin, low-rigidity nanofibres that may not align with the fibre paradigm. We developed novel aerosolization and continuous sampling methods to load cell culture inserts with a well-defined fraction of single-fibres, allowing a precise control of the administered dose. Fibre-macrophage interactions could be recorded by video microscopy allowing to detect frustrated phagocytosis and estimate fibre rigidity. After the observation period, exposed macrophages and media were harvested for toxicological analysis, including cell viability, pro-inflammatory effects and proteomic profiling.

This study introduces an innovative approach to assess workplace PM10 exposure, analyzing over 100 chemical parameters, including oxidative potential (OP), in a Central Italian foundry. Parallel samplings enabled comprehensive chemical characterization and risk assessment. Source apportionment using PMF identified eight major emissions, with riser removal, sand plant, and core finishing showing the highest PM10 mass and toxicant concentrations, significantly contributing to OP and total risk. Spatial mapping of source contributions allowed for estimating employee exposure risks across different work areas. This study provides methodological support for enhanced chemical risk assessment protocols, linking PM exposure to metabolic and inflammatory processes.

This study investigates the personal exposure of traffic policemen to particulate matter (PM) in a traffic-dense industrial area. Over 15 days, personal exposure to PM2.5 and PM5 was monitored using wearable devices, revealing levels six times higher than WHO’s air quality standard. Ambient air quality data indicated PM2.5 concentrations lower than personal exposure levels, highlighting the influence of occupational factors like proximity to vehicle exhausts. The study also found the highest PM deposition in the respiratory tract's head region, emphasizing the need for better occupational safety measures and stricter emissions controls to protect vulnerable workers.