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Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Toxic Elements

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Toxicology and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2021) | Viewed by 9711

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Luisa Astolfi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: analytical and bioanalytical chemistry; environmental chemistry and monitoring; elemental analysis; atomic spectroscopic techniques (ICP-MS, ICP-OES, CV-AFS, AMA, GF-AAS); sample treatment; determination of trace elements in foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health welcomes submissions for a Special Issue of the journal. This Special Issue will focus on advances in assessing and reducing environmental and/or occupational exposure to toxic elements.

Chemical elements are naturally present in the environment. Human activity can increase the levels of some elements above naturally occurring concentrations, resulting in contaminated water, air, soil, crops, and animals. Some of these elements (e.g., Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn, and U) are widely released in the environment and can exert negative effects on human health due to long-term exposure, even at low levels of contamination.

Recent improvements in analytical techniques in both environmental and human biomonitoring, as well as the study of innovative treatments (e.g., the use of lactobacilli or gut bacteria) able to bind and absorb toxic elements, may be useful to asses and adopt targeted approaches aimed to prevent and protect against environmental pollution.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to collect more recent and substantial information that could be advantageous to verify and improve both current risk-assessment and management strategies in order to gain better guidance on human health protection and safety from hazardous exposure to toxic elements, especially with regard to sensitive and vulnerable subpopulations such as children, elderly, pregnant women, and specific professional groups.

Papers invited for this Special Issue may include the following topics:

  • In vitro and/or in vivo original studies assessing the ability of lactobacilli or gut bacteria to bind and absorb toxic elements;
  • In field original studies evaluating the emerging conditions of toxic element exposure through environmental and biological monitoring investigations;
  • Research on dietary exposure to toxic elements from equipment and containers used for food processing, as well as from packaging, storage, and cooking;

Systematic reviews of the literature analyzing the health and safety aspects of toxic element exposure with a particular focus on possible implications for occupational health, as well as on policies to manage risks in different occupational settings.

Dr. Maria Luisa Astolfi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Environmental monitoring
  • Biological monitoring
  • In vitro studies
  • In vivo studies
  • Analytical methods
  • Probiotics
  • Trace elements
  • Metals
  • Metalloids
  • Metal workers
  • Occupational exposure
  • Food matrices
  • Drinking waters
  • Risk assessment.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 7658 KiB  
Communication
Release of Heavy Metals from Plastic Statuettes Used as Souvenirs and/or Toys Handled by Children
by Pietro Pandolfi, Maria Pia Sammartino, Giovanni Visco, Pasquale Avino and Virgilio Stillittano
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010236 - 26 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
Different plastic toys are on sale in the Italian market: they are sold as souvenirs and/or as toys. Such statuettes, called Gongoli, represent a famous character (a soccer player, a politician, the Pope, etc.). In particular, these products are widely sold, but the [...] Read more.
Different plastic toys are on sale in the Italian market: they are sold as souvenirs and/or as toys. Such statuettes, called Gongoli, represent a famous character (a soccer player, a politician, the Pope, etc.). In particular, these products are widely sold, but the material composition is not sufficiently defined. Further, the effect of the release of dangerous compounds on human health is not sufficiently documented. Following this hypothesis, a study on eight different statuettes was carried out both for evaluating the possible presence of heavy metals and for evidencing their release from these objects. Preliminary analysis by means of EDS spectroscopy highlighted the percentage chemical composition of different products, especially the presence of total Cr and Ni. Release tests evidenced the release of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb: Pb reached 74 mg kg−1, which is an interesting value even if it is lower than reported in the legislation. This study should be considered preliminary due to its limitations, such as the number of items investigated and the large variability found for some elements, but it highlights a serious problem related to the classification of these products which are marketed as souvenirs but manipulated by children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Toxic Elements)
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16 pages, 1191 KiB  
Article
Determination of 40 Elements in Powdered Infant Formulas and Related Risk Assessment
by Maria Luisa Astolfi, Daniela Marotta, Vittoria Cammalleri, Elisabetta Marconi, Arianna Antonucci, Pasquale Avino, Silvia Canepari, Matteo Vitali and Carmela Protano
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105073 - 11 May 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2095
Abstract
The aim of the study was to analyze all powdered infant formulas authorized and commercialized in Italy at the time of the study to measure the concentrations of 40 elements, and to estimate the infants’ intake of some toxic heavy metals for assessing [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to analyze all powdered infant formulas authorized and commercialized in Italy at the time of the study to measure the concentrations of 40 elements, and to estimate the infants’ intake of some toxic heavy metals for assessing possible related health risks. For this purpose, an optimized multi-element method was used through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Be, B, Al, Zr, Nb, Sb, Te, W, V, Cr and As concentrations were <LOD in more than 30% of samples. The levels of the other elements resulted to be very variable (more than 2000 µg g−1 for Ca and K or less than 1 ng g−1 for others). The results were similar to those reported by other European Union (EU) studies, but different from those recovered outside the EU. These differences should be eliminated to guarantee the right to health worldwide. The concentrations of Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the infant formulas studied were always below the considered limits. However, it is important to check for potentially toxic elements in infant formulas to protect the health of this sensitive population. The data found in this study could be used as benchmark data for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Toxic Elements)
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11 pages, 316 KiB  
Article
Urinary Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Workers of a Titanium Dioxide Based Pigment Production Plant
by Flavia Buonaurio, Maria Luisa Astolfi, Silvia Canepari, Marco Di Basilio, Rocco Gibilras, Marco Mecchia, Maddalena Papacchini, Enrico Paci, Daniela Pigini and Giovanna Tranfo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 9085; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239085 - 05 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2246
Abstract
Titanium dioxide is produced or imported into the EU for over one million tons/year. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification is 2B, a possible inhalation carcinogen for humans. This study evaluates urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress in workers of a [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide is produced or imported into the EU for over one million tons/year. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification is 2B, a possible inhalation carcinogen for humans. This study evaluates urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress in workers of a plant producing TiO2 pigment powder, having 0.25 µm average particle size and an ultrafine fraction, compared to unexposed subjects. Urine samples were collected from forty workers before and after the shift, from six employees of the same company and eighteen volunteers from the same geographical area. Titanium and other metals concentrations were measured by ICP-MS, while DNA, RNA, and protein oxidation products by HPLC/MS-MS. A statistically significant increase was found for the urinary concentration of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ti, and Zr, and for all biomarkers of oxidative stress in post-shift workers’ urine samples. Urinary concentrations after the working shift were higher than for employees and volunteers pooled together for Cd, Mn, and Zr, and for the oxidative stress biomarkers 8-oxoGuo, 8-oxodGuo, and 3NO2Tyr. Biomonitoring studies on dose and effect biomarkers for TiO2 occupational exposure provide information useful for protecting workers’ health even in conditions that comply with health and safety standards, highlighting reversible effects of chronic exposure at very low doses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Toxic Elements)
22 pages, 3051 KiB  
Article
Element Levels and Predictors of Exposure in the Hair of Ethiopian Children
by Maria Luisa Astolfi, Georgios Pietris, Corrado Mazzei, Elisabetta Marconi and Silvia Canepari
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8652; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228652 - 21 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Children’s development and health may be affected by toxic heavy metal exposure or suboptimal essential element intake. This study aimed to provide updated information regarding the concentrations of 41 elements in children’s hair (aged under 18) living in a rural area of the [...] Read more.
Children’s development and health may be affected by toxic heavy metal exposure or suboptimal essential element intake. This study aimed to provide updated information regarding the concentrations of 41 elements in children’s hair (aged under 18) living in a rural area of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia. The highest average levels (as a geometric mean) for toxic heavy metals were obtained for Al (1 mg kg−1), Pb (3.1 mg kg−1), and Ni (1.2 mg kg−1), while the lowest concentrations among the essential elements were found for Co (0.32 mg kg−1), Mo (0.07 mg kg−1), Se (0.19 mg kg−1), and V (0.8 mg kg−1). Hair analysis was combined with a survey to evaluate relationships and variations among subgroups and potential metal exposure predictors. Females showed significantly higher concentrations for most hair elements, excluding Zn, than males, and the 6–11 years age group reported the highest levels for Be, Ce, Co, Fe, La, Li, Mo, and Na. The main predictors of exposure to toxic elements were fish consumption for Hg and drinking water for Ba, Be, Cs, Li, Ni, Tl, and U. The data from this study can be used to develop prevention strategies for children’s health and protection in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Toxic Elements)
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