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Miligi L, Piro S, Airoldi C, Di Rico R, Ricci R, Paredes Alpaca RI, De Pasquale F, Veraldi A, Ranucci A, Massari S, Marinaccio A, Stoppa G, Cenni A, Trane C, Peruzzi A, Aprea MC. Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde Exposure in "Non-Traditional" Occupational Sectors: Bakeries and Pastry Producers. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:1983. [PMID: 36767350 PMCID: PMC9916260 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Formaldehyde, a colorless and highly irritating substance, causes cancer of the nasopharynx and leukemia. Furthermore, it is one of the environmental mutagens to which humans are most abundantly exposed. Acetaldehyde was recently classified as carcinogen class 1B and mutagen class 2 in Annex VI EC regulation. Occupational exposure to the two aldehydes occurs in a wide variety of occupations and industries. The aim of this study is to deepen exposure to the two aldehydes in the non-traditional productive sectors of bakeries and pastry producers. METHODS The evaluation of exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde was conducted in Italy in 2019, in specific tasks and positions of 11 bakeries and pastry producers (115 measures, of which 57.4% were in fixed positions and the rest were personal air sampling). The measurements were performed using Radiello© radial diffusion samplers. A logarithmic transformation of the data was performed, and the correlation between the two substances was calculated. Moreover, linear models considering the log-formaldehyde as the outcome and adjusting for log-acetaldehyde values were used. RESULTS The study identified high levels of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde exposure in the monitored workplaces. Higher mean values were observed in the leavening phase (8.39 µg/m3 and 3.39 µg/m3 for log-transformed data acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, respectively). The adjusted univariate analyses show statistically significant factors for formaldehyde as the presence of yeast, the presence of type 1 flour, the use of barley, the use of fats, the type of production, the use of spelt, and the presence of type 0 flour. CONCLUSIONS The measurements confirmed the release of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in bakeries and pastry industries, especially in some phases of the work process, such as leavening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Miligi
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Piro
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Airoldi
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Renato Di Rico
- Local Health Unit AUSL Modena, SPSAL-Department of Public Health, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Ricci
- Local Health Unit AUSL Modena, SPSAL-Department of Public Health, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio De Pasquale
- Local Health Unit AUSL Modena, SPSAL-Department of Public Health, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Angela Veraldi
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ranucci
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Massari
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Stoppa
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Cenni
- Unit of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology, Public Health Laboratory, Department of Prevention, AUSL South-East Tuscany, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cinzia Trane
- Unit of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology, Public Health Laboratory, Department of Prevention, AUSL South-East Tuscany, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Antonio Peruzzi
- Unit of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology, Public Health Laboratory, Department of Prevention, AUSL South-East Tuscany, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Aprea
- Unit of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology, Public Health Laboratory, Department of Prevention, AUSL South-East Tuscany, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Paredes Alpaca RI, Forastiere F, Pirani M. [Low exposure to lead and reproductive health: a cohort study of female workers in the ceramic industry of Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy)]. Epidemiol Prev 2013; 37:367-375. [PMID: 24548834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS to assess the effects of low levels of lead exposure on reproductive health (miscarriage, fertility, multiple births, sex ratio at birth, incidence of some diseases during pregnancy), following a cohort of female workers exposed to lead in the ceramic tile industry in the Municipalities of Scandiano (RE) and Sassuolo (MO), Northern Italy. DESIGN a cohort of 2,067 female workers was considered. These workers repeatedly underwent blood lead levels testing at the Toxicology Laboratory of Scandiano (RE) in the period 1998-2004. Follow-up was performed for each subject for the 12 months following any blood lead testing. Data on miscarriages and live births were obtained through a linkage with hospital discharge records. Results were compared with the frequency of events in the general female population in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy). The frequency of multiple births was also examined, as well as the ratio of male-to-female infants and maternal diseases during pregnancy. An internal analysis within the cohort was conducted to evaluate the associations with increasing lead levels. RESULTS the women under study accumulated 5,722 person-years of observation. The age distribution of study subjects was not different from the one observed in the Region. Thirty-one miscarriages and 212 live births were recorded. The miscarriage rate (5.42‰) among the study subjects was not different from the regional reference, while the fertility rate (37.05‰) was lower (RR: 0.72; 95%CI 0.63-0.83). The frequency of multiple births (1.9%) was similar to the regional rate (1.2%). Eighty-six females (40.57%) and 126 males (59.43%) were born, compared to regional percentages of 49% females and 51% males. Of all the indicators examined, only miscarriage showed a positive trend among women exposed to lead. In addition, women exposed to lead had a higher frequency of hypertension during pregnancy (RR: 1.34; 95%CI 1.07-1.68), problems with the amniotic cavity (RR: 1.16; 95%CI 1.02-1.33), and prolonged pregnancy (RR: 1.37; 95%CI 1.09-1.73). CONCLUSIONS the cohort of female subjects under study showed rate of miscarriage similar to the general population and a lower fertility rate. There were a higher percentage of male births and an increase of some conditions during pregnancy possibly related to lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudy Ivan Paredes Alpaca
- Servizio di prevenzione e sicurezza negli ambienti di lavoro, Distretto di Vignola, Azienda unità sanitaria locale di Modena.
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Alpaca RIP, Rota C, Canali C, Migliore A, Di Rico R, Trenti T, Cariani E. Effectiveness of the biological monitoring of chemical exposure in the workplace: results of a survey in an area of Northern Italy. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2010; 214:121-6. [PMID: 20956087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2010] [Revised: 09/08/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A survey of biological monitoring results from 2000 to 2008 was carried out as a part of institutional activities performed by the Workplace Prevention and Safety Service (SPSAL) of the south area of Modena district (Italy). The survey involved 18 companies employing 945 workers altogether. According to workplace exposure, routine biological monitoring had been carried out yearly or 6-monthly in private laboratories chosen by each company. Analysis of consecutive data from six plants showed fluctuating biomarker levels inconsistent with expected occupational exposure and sometimes exceeding biological exposure indices. Surveillance samplings were thus organized for comparison to be carried out in a public reference laboratory. Overall results showed systematic underestimation of marker levels by the laboratories in charge of routine biomonitoring that, together with inappropriate biomarker selection and timing of sample collection, led to insufficient and/or ineffective corrective measures. These results raise major concerns on the reliability of laboratory assessments performed for the routine biomonitoring of exposed workers. Continuous surveillance of the consistency between biological and ambient monitoring data, together with the systematic evaluation of the analytical quality of laboratory results, would be essential for a reliable assessment of health risk in the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudy Ivan Paredes Alpaca
- Workplace Prevention and Safety Service (SPSAL), South Area, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Modena, Modena, Italy
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