1,721,065 research outputs found
PRIN -2017 NEXT.COM - The NEXT generation of multiphysics and multidomain environmental COMfort models: theory elaboration and validation experiment
No full textNEXT.COM will develop a frontier breakthrough of comfort investigation, by testing and validating a brand new multiphysics, multidomain and multisensorial comfort
experimental protocol (hereinafter whole-comfort) and exhaustive analytic interpretation model. A novel approach will be theorized and experimentally and numerically demonstrated, in order to investigate and identify the key human comfort drivers that are able to determine personal perception in the built environment and, consequently, to trigger energy-related occupancy behaviour, reducing energy needs and improving wellbeing conditions. A large data collection of personal surveys and experimental field campaigns will be carried out, while integrating the key results elaborated within physical environments (test-room and real buildings) and re-created environmental conditions (based on augmented and virtual reality) in several geoclusters. Then, a data-driven modelling approach will be proposed by identifying the key variables and eventually widening the boundary of the physical-only based comfort model. Therefore, an exhaustive, open-data, reliable sensitivity analysis and final elaboration will be done. Such whole-comfort interpretation model, mainly data-driven, will be exploited for further integration into ready-to-use and customized dynamic building energy simulation tools in order to asses also the potentialities of the approach in terms of energy efficiency targets in new and existing buildings
Biomarkers of nanomaterial exposure and effect: current status
No full textRecent advances in nanotechnology have induced a widespread production and application of nanomaterials. As a consequence, an increasing number of workers are expected to undergo exposure to these xenobiotics, while the possible hazards to their health remain not being completely understood. In this context, biological monitoring may play a key role not only to identify potential hazards from and to evaluate occupational exposure to nanomaterials, but also to detect their early biological effects to better assess and manage risks of exposure in respect of the health of workers. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a critical evaluation of potential biomarkers of nanomaterial exposure and effect investigated in human and animal studies. Concerning exposure biomarkers, internal dose of metallic or metal oxide nanoparticle exposure may be assessed measuring the elemental metallic content in blood or urine or other biological materials, whereas specific molecules may be carefully evaluated in target tissues as possible biomarkers of biologically effective dose. Oxidative stress biomarkers, such as 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine, genotoxicity biomarkers, and inflammatory response indicators may also be useful, although not specific, as biomarkers of nanomaterial early adverse health effects. Finally, potential biomarkers from “omic” technologies appear to be quite innovative and greatly relevant, although mechanistic, ethical, and practical issues should all be resolved before their routine application in occupational settings could be implemented. Although all these findings are interesting, they point out the need for further research to identify and possibly validate sensitive and specific biomarkers of exposure and effect, suitable for future use in occupational biomonitoring programs. A valuable contribution may derive from the studies investigating the biological behavior of nanomaterials and the factors influencing their toxicokinetics and reactivity. In this context, the application of the most recent advances in analytical chemistry and biochemistry to the biological monitoring of nanomaterial exposure may be also useful to detect and define patterns and mechanisms of early nanospecific biochemical alterations
Occupational risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease
No full textCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although the aetiology of IBD is not completely understood, an interaction between genetic and environmental factors has been proposed. In this context, however, environmental epidemiology lacks a comprehensive evaluation of the possible role of occupational exposures in IBD development and progression. Therefore, aim of our review was to evaluate how certain occupational risk factors may affect IBD pathogenesis, clinical history and severity of disease manifestations
The occupational health and safety dimension of Industry 4.0
No full textBACKGROUND: In recent years, an increase in the worldwide demand for consumer goods and the need for a sustainable type of manufacturing have led to the so-called "fourth industrial revolution" or Industry 4.0. This 4.0 technological revolution, designed to make industrial production more efficient, more flexible and of higher quality, is characterized by greater automation and computerization. This trend will inevitably affect the way work is organized and carried out, and may affect the health and safety of workers.
OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and problematical aspects of Industry 4.0 in relation to the health and safety of workers.
METHODS: We conducted a critical review of the literature currently available on this topic.
RESULTS: Automated machines and robots can either replace workers or sustain them by making their tasks more flexible, safer, and socially more inclusive. On the other hand, workers will be engaged in tasks requiring decision-making, responsibility and management, as well as man-machine interaction that will expose them both to health and safety risks intrinsically related to automated tools and to greater psychosocial stress.
DISCUSSION: Occupational health professionals, responsible for safeguarding health in the workplace, should make an adequate assessment of the risks attributable to 4.0 tools and should promote and protect the health and safety of workers through careful risk management based on continuous occupational training and information
Palladium nanoparticles: Toxicological effects and potential implications for occupational risk assessment
Full text linkThe increasing technological applications of palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) and their consequent enhancing release into the community and occupational environments, have raised public health concerns regarding possible adverse effects for exposed subjects, and particularly for workers chronically and highly exposed to these materials, whose toxico-kinetic and dynamic behavior remains to be fully understood. Therefore, this review aimed to critically analyze literature data to achieve a more comprehensive knowledge on the toxicological profile of Pd-NPs. Results from available studies demonstrated the potential for these chemicals to affect the ecosystem function, to exert cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects in vitro as well as to induce early alterations in different target organs in in vivo models. However, our revision pointed out the need for future studies aimed to clarify the role of the NP physico-chemical properties in determining their toxicological behavior, as well as the importance to carry out investigations focused on environmental and biological monitoring to verify and validate experimental biomarkers of exposure and early effect in real exposure contexts. Overall, this may be helpful to support the definition of suitable strategies for the assessment, communication and management of Pd-NP occupational risks to protect the health and safety of workers
Nanomaterial exposure and sterile inflammatory reactions
No full text“Sterile inflammation” is a type of pathogen-free inflammation which may be induced by various physical, chemical, or metabolic insults, including environmental particles e.g. silica dioxide crystals and asbestos. The possible role of nanomaterials as danger signals able to trigger sterile inflammatory responses is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this review was to investigate conditions of sterile inflammation induced by nanomaterial exposure with a specific focus on possible modes of action. Metal-, metal-oxide- and carbon-based nanomaterials may trigger a sterile inflammatory cascade by means of different damage-associated molecular patterns, including chromatin associated protein high-mobility group box-1 secretion, ATP, ADP and adenosine purinergic signaling, interleukin-1α alarmin, and NLPR-3 inflammasome activation. However, such preliminary results do not enable us to draw definite conclusions regarding the sterile inflammatory potential of nanomaterials and possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Therefore, further research is required to understand the complex “interplay” between the multitude of nanomaterial intrinsic or acquired physico-chemical properties and the extremely changeable immunological competence of organisms. The identification of possible nanomaterial modes of action in sterile inflammation could provide early indicators of the biological reactivity of nano-sized chemicals and could direct “safe by design” efforts for improving occupational safety and that of the general population. Moreover, the possible pathological consequences of nanomaterial-induced sterile inflammatory reactions need to be clarified in order to define suitable preventive measures to protect the health of chronically exposed subjects
Toxicological Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: A Review of In Vivo Studies
Full text linkThe essence of nanotechnology is the production of nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physicochemical properties allowing worldwide application in new structures, materials, and devices. The consequently increasing human exposure to NPs has raised concerns regarding their health and safety profiles. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been reported to induce adverse pulmonary responses in exposed animals. However, the potential more dangerous biological activities of TiO2 NPs compared to their fine-sized counterparts are not fully understood. Therefore, this work is aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the toxic effects induced by TiO2 NPs in in vivo experiments. It is intended to deeply understand the toxicological behaviour of TiO2 NPs and to predict potential human health effects. Moreover, it may be an instrument to extrapolate relevant data for human risk evaluation and management and to identify those critical aspects that deserve great attention in future population and epidemiologic research
Biomarkers of susceptibility: State of the art and implications for occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials
No full textRapid advances and applications in nanotechnology are expected to result in increasing occupational exposure to nano-sized materials whose health impacts are still not completely understood. Scientific efforts are required to identify hazards from nanomaterials and define risks and precautionary management strategies for exposed workers. In this scenario, the definition of susceptible populations, which may be at increased risk of adverse effects may be important for risk assessment and management. The aim of this review is to critically examine available literature to provide a comprehensive overview on susceptibility aspects potentially affecting heterogeneous responses to nanomaterials workplace exposure. Genetic, genotoxic and epigenetic alterations induced by nanomaterials in experimental studies were assessed with respect to their possible function as determinants of susceptibility. Additionally, the role of host factors, i.e. age, gender, and pathological conditions, potentially affecting nanomaterial toxicokinetic and health impacts, were also analysed.Overall, this review provides useful information to obtain insights into the nanomaterial mode of action in order to identify potentially sensitive, specific susceptibility biomarkers to be validated in occupational settings and addressed in risk assessment processes. The findings of this review are also important to guide future research into a deeper characterization of nanomaterial susceptibility in order to define adequate risk communication strategies. Ultimately, identification and use of susceptibility factors in workplace settings has both scientific and ethical issues that need addressin
Opportunities and challenges of nanotechnology in the green economy
Full text linkIn a world of finite resources and ecosystem capacity, the prevailing model of economic growth, founded on ever-increasing consumption of resources and emission pollutants, cannot be sustained any longer. In this context, the "green economy" concept has offered the opportunity to change the way that society manages the interaction of the environmental and economic domains. To enable society to build and sustain a green economy, the associated concept of "green nanotechnology" aims to exploit nano-innovations in materials science and engineering to generate products and processes that are energy efficient as well as economically and environmentally sustainable. These applications are expected to impact a large range of economic sectors, such as energy production and storage, clean up-technologies, as well as construction and related infrastructure industries. These solutions may offer the opportunities to reduce pressure on raw materials trading on renewable energy, to improve power delivery systems to be more reliable, efficient and safe as well as to use unconventional water sources or nano-enabled construction products therefore providing better ecosystem and livelihood conditions.However, the benefits of incorporating nanomaterials in green products and processes may bring challenges with them for environmental, health and safety risks, ethical and social issues, as well as uncertainty concerning market and consumer acceptance. Therefore, our aim is to examine the relationships among guiding principles for a green economy and opportunities for introducing nano-applications in this field as well as to critically analyze their practical challenges, especially related to the impact that they may have on the health and safety of workers involved in this innovative sector. These are principally due to the not fully known nanomaterial hazardous properties, as well as to the difficulties in characterizing exposure and defining emerging risks for the workforce. Interestingly, this review proposes action strategies for the assessment, management and communication of risks aimed to precautionary adopt preventive measures including formation and training of employees, collective and personal protective equipment, health surveillance programs to protect the health and safety of nano-workers. It finally underlines the importance that occupational health considerations will have on achieving an effectively sustainable development of nanotechnology
Impact of Shift Work and Long Working Hours on Worker Cognitive Functions: Current Evidence and Future Research Needs
No full textParticular working conditions and/or organization of working time may cause important sleep disturbances that have been proposed to be predictive of cognitive decline. In this regard, circadian rhythm misalignment induced by exposure to night work or long working hours would be responsible for cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, evidence supporting this correlation is limited and several issues still need to be elucidated. In this regard, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the association between shift/night work and cognitive impairment and address its main determinants. Information provided by the reviewed studies suggested that night work might have serious immediate negative effects especially on cognitive domains related to attention, memory and response inhibition. Furthermore, cognitive performance would progressively worsen over consecutive night shifts or following exposure to very long work shifts. Otherwise, conflicting results emerged regarding the possible etiological role that night work chronic exposure would have on cognitive impairment. Therefore, circadian rhythm desynchronization, lack of sleep and fatigue resulting from night work may negatively impact worker's cognitive efficiency. However, in light of the considerable methodological variability of the reviewed studies, we proposed to develop a standardized research and evaluation strategy in order to obtain a better and comprehensive understanding of this topic
- …
