Nanotechnology occupational and environmental health and safety: Education and research needs for an emerging interdisciplinary field of study

Commercialization of nanotechnology (NT) has the potential to affect the health and safety of the industrial workforce and the general public. The main objective of this position paper is to present an education and research framework for the emerging interdisciplinary field of NT occupational and environmental health and safety. The specific aims of this program are to (a) establish evidence‐based guidelines for the protection/promotion of individual health and safety along the life cycle of nano‐based products in light of the best available scientific information, technologies, and best practices; (b) present and address issues of importance to individual health and safety in nanomanufacturing enterprises in different industry sectors, environment, and public consumer health (civilian and military); (c) provide a forum for idea exchange and research agenda on the use of NT in prevention/treatment of specific occupational/environmental diseases; and (d) disseminate the latest research findings on NT and occupational and public health, and nano‐health technologies for occupational diseases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 16: 247–253, 2006.     

Coimmobilization of dehydrogenases and their cofactors in electrochemical biosensors

Enzyme-based reagentless biosensors were developed using the model system of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and its nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor (NAD+). The biosensors were prepared following an approach similar to the concept of molecular imprinting. To this end, the N1-carboxymethyl-NAD+ species were covalently attached to polyamino-saccharide chains of chitosan (CHIT) and allowed to interact with GDH in an aqueous solution. The bioaffinity interactions between the NAD+ and GDH were secured by cross-linking the system with the glutaric dialdehyde (GDI)-modified CHIT. Electron conductive films of such CHIT-NAD+-GDH-GDI-CHIT macrocomplexes (MC) were prepared on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes by adding carbon nanotubes (CNT) and evaporating water. Electrochemical analysis of the GC/CNT-MC electrodes revealed that, in contrast to the oxidase-based electrodes, they acted as oxygen-independent reagentless biosensors. The application of Nafion to such biosensors predictably improved their selectivity and, unexpectedly, enhanced their sensitivity by an order of magnitude.     

Investigation of Blast Performance and Solid Residues for Layered Thermobaric Charges

The confined explosion of an annular layered charge composed of a phlegmatized RDX (RDXph) core and an external layer consisting of aluminum powder (Al) or a mixture of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and Al was studied. Experiments were carried out in fully and partially closed structures, i.e., in the explosion chamber of 150 dm³ in volume and in the 40 m³ volume bunker with four small holes and a doorway. Two types of aluminum powder were used in the mixtures. Signals of overpressure from two piezoelectric gauges located at the chamber wall were recorded and the influence of aluminum contents and particle size on a quasi‐static pressure (QSP) was studied. Moreover, the solid residues from the chamber were analyzed by using SEM, TG/DTA and XRD techniques to determine their structure and composition. Pressure and light histories recorded in the bunker enable us to determine the blast wave characteristics and time‐duration of light output. The effect of the charge mass and aluminum particle size on blast wave parameters were investigated. For comparison, the test for RDXph and TNT charges were also carried out.     

Effect of Filling Type and Heating Method on Prevalence of Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes in Dumplings Produced in Poland

The count of Listeria monocytogenes was determined, before and after heat treatment, in 200 samples of dumplings of 9 brands and with different types of stuffing. Analyses were conducted according to ISO 11290–1 standard and with real‐time PCR method. The highest count of L. monocytogenes was found in meat dumplings (10² to 10⁴ CFU/g), whereas products with white cheese‐potato stuffing and vegetable‐mushroom stuffing contained significantly less Listeria, 20 to 80 and 5 to 32 CFU/g, respectively. In cooled meat dumplings the extent of contamination depended significantly on the producer. In addition, a significant (P < 0.05) correlation was determined between contamination level and meat content in the stuffing (rho = 0.418), especially in stuffing containing pork meat (0.464), contrary to beef‐containing stuffing (0.284). Heating dumplings in boiling water for 2 min completely eliminated L. monocytogenes in meat dumplings. In contrast, the microwave heating applied for 2 min at 600 W only reduced the count of L. monocytogenes by 1 to 2 logs. Hence, the microwave heating failed to reduce the risk of infection with this pathogen below the level permissible in the EU regulation, especially in the most contaminated samples. In this case, the efficacy of microwave heating was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the initial count of L. monocytogenes (rho = 0.626), then by meat content in the stuffing (0.476), and to the lowest extent—by the type of meat (0.415 to 0.425). However, no Listeria sp. and L. monocytogenes were isolated from cooked dumplings with fruits (strawberries or blueberries).     

Photoinduced and thermal oxidation of rapeseed and sunflower oils

The aim of the present study was to compare oxidative stability of different sunflower and rapeseed oils. Ultra violet (UV) irradiation was used as an accelerator of the oil oxidation process. After UV irradiation, the formed volatile compounds were extracted by headspace solid‐phase microextraction HS‐SPME (DVB/CAR/PDMS fibre) and analysed by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID). At the same time, the same oil samples were thermally oxidized. The induction periods were determined on the basis of hexanal to 2‐trans‐nonenal ratio in the analysed samples. Finally, the obtained results were compared with induction period values obtained through the determination of peroxide and anisidine values, and from the Rancimat method, manostatic test and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. The results obtained using the new method were well correlated with those achieved with the well‐established analytical techniques. The values of the induction period obtained after UV/HS‐SPME/GC/FID were up to three times higher than those from Rancimat, but the correlation between these two methods was on a very good level (correlation coefficient R>0.98). Similar correlation was also observed between these new methods and the DSC or manostatic test. In all cases, better results were obtained for rapeseed oils than sunflower oils.     

Experimental and Computational Studies on Structure and Energetic Properties of Halogen Derivatives of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose

The results of structural studies on a series of halogen-substituted derivatives of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) are reported. 2-DG is an inhibitor of glycolysis, a metabolic pathway crucial for cancer cell proliferation and viral replication in host cells, and interferes with D-glucose and D-mannose metabolism. Thus, 2-DG and its derivatives are considered as potential anticancer and antiviral drugs. X-ray crystallography shows that a halogen atom present at the C2 position in the pyranose ring does not significantly affect its conformation. However, it has a noticeable effect on the crystal structure. Fluorine derivatives exist as a dense 3D framework isostructural with the parent compound, while Cl- and I-derivatives form layered structures. Analysis of the Hirshfeld surface shows formation of hydrogen bonds involving the halogen, yet no indication for the existence of halogen bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) periodic calculations of cohesive and interaction energies (at the B3LYP level of theory) have supported these findings. NMR studies in the solution show that most of the compounds do not display significant differences in their anomeric equilibria, and that pyranose ring puckering is similar to the crystalline state. For 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (2-FG), electrostatic interaction energies between the ligand and protein for several existing structures of pyranose 2-oxidase were also computed. These interactions mostly involve acidic residues of the protein; single amino-acid substitutions have only a minor impact on binding. These studies provide a better understanding of the structural chemistry of halogen-substituted carbohydrates as well as their intermolecular interactions with proteins determining their distinct biological activity.     

Environmental footprint as a criterion in the ZTA composites forming process via centrifugal slip casting

The main goal of this study was to optimize the technological process of forming and sintering Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) composites in terms of reducing energy demand. Based on the results of Life Cycle Assessment carried out according to ISO 14044 and EN 15805 standards, the elimination of preliminary homogenization of ceramic suspension in the planetary mill, allowed to reduce energy consumption by over 25%. The method of forming ZTA materials by CSC method, allowed to obtain finished tube-shaped products, which did not require any mechanical treatment after sintering. Such an approach may be an alternative solution for production of ZTA pipes that can be used in transport of aggressive substances, even in extreme corrosive or temperatures conditions.     

Characterization and activity test of commercial Ni/Al2O3, Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 and prepared Ni–Cu/Al2O3 catalysts for hydrogen production from methane and methanol fuels

In this study, methane and methanol steam reforming reactions over commercial Ni/Al₂O₃, commercial Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ and prepared Ni–Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts were investigated. Methane and methanol steam reforming reactions catalysts were characterized using various techniques. The results of characterization showed that Cu particles increase the active particle size of Ni (19.3 nm) in Ni–Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst with respect to the commercial Ni/Al₂O₃ (17.9). On the other hand, Ni improves Cu dispersion in the same catalyst (1.74%) in comparison with commercial Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ (0.21%). A comprehensive comparison between these two fuels is established in terms of reaction conditions, fuel conversion, H₂ selectivity, CO₂ and CO selectivity. The prepared catalyst showed low selectivity for CO in both fuels and it was more selective to H₂, with H₂ selectivities of 99% in methane and 89% in methanol reforming reactions. A significant objective is to develop catalysts which can operate at lower temperatures and resist deactivation. Methanol steam reforming is carried out at a much lower temperature than methane steam reforming in prepared and commercial catalyst (275–325 °C). However, methane steam reforming can be carried out at a relatively low temperature on Ni–Cu catalyst (600–650 °C) and at higher temperature in commercial methane reforming catalyst (700–800 °C). Commercial Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst resulted in high coke formation (28.3% loss in mass) compared to prepared Ni–Cu/Al₂O₃ (8.9%) and commercial Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (3.5%).