Exposure assessments to metalworking fluids (MWF) is difficult considering the complex nature of MWF. This study describes a comprehensive exposure assessment to straight and water-based MWFs among workers from 20 workshops. Metal and organic carbon (OC) content in new and used MWF were determined. Full-shift air samples of inhalable particulate and gaseous fraction were collected and analysed gravimetrically and for metals, OC, and aldehydes. Exposure determinants were ascertained through observations and interviews with workers. Determinants associated with personal inhalable particulate and gaseous fractions were systematically identified using mixed models. Similar inhalable particle exposure was observed for straight and water-based MWFs (64-386 µg/m3). The gaseous fraction was the most important contributor to the total mass fraction for both straight (322-2362 µg/m3) and water-based MWFs (101-699 µg/m3). The aerosolized particles exhibited low metal content irrespective of the MWF type; however, notable concentrations were observed in the sumps potentially reaching hazardous concentrations. Job activity clusters were important determinants for both exposure to particulate and gaseous fractions from straight MWF. Current machine enclosures remain an efficient determinant to reduce particulate MWF but were inefficient for the gaseous fraction. Properly managed water-based MWF meaning no recycling and no contamination from hydraulic fluids minimizes gaseous exposure. Workshop temperature also influenced the mass fractions. These findings suggest that exposures may be improved with control measures that reduce the gaseous fraction and proper management of MWF.

Metal workshops are workplaces with the substantial production of particulate matter (PM) with high metal content, which poses a significant health risk to workers. The PM produced by different metal processing techniques differs considerably in its elemental composition and size distribution and therefore poses different health risks. In some previous studies, the pollution sources were isolated under controlled conditions, while, in this study, we present a valuable alternative to characterize the pollution sources that can be applied to real working environments. Fine PM was sampled in five units (partially specializing in different techniques) of the same workshop. A total of 53 samples were collected with a temporal resolution of 30 min and 1 h. The mass concentrations were determined gravimetrically, and the elemental analysis, in which the concentrations of 14 elements were determined, was carried out using the X-ray fluorescence technique. Five sources of pollution were identified: background, steel grinding, metal active gas welding, tungsten inert gas welding, and machining. The sources were identified by positive matrix factorization, a statistical method for source apportionment. The identified sources corresponded well with the work activities in the workshop and with the actual sources described in previous studies. It is shown that positive matrix factorization can be a valuable tool for the identification and characterization of indoor sources.

Soft tissue inflammatory responses to metal debris from prostheses, categorised as adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD), are frequent complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and often result in implant failure. Introducing modular implant designs in modern orthopaedics has brought benefits to total hip replacements but has also increased patients\' susceptibility to corrosion-related risks. ARMD can develop from various metal articulating surfaces, including ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP), ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), metal-on-metal (MoM), and metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) configurations. In this case study, a 68-year-old male who underwent a MoP implant for osteoarthritis of the right hip 16 years ago presented with pain and difficulty walking, exacerbated over the past three months. Clinical examination revealed tenderness around the implant and a limited range of motion. Imaging studies, including X-rays and ultrasound-guided aspiration, coupled with normal serum and urinary cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels, confirmed the diagnosis of ARMD. Given the severity of symptoms and radiographic findings, surgical intervention was warranted, leading to a two-stage revision with implant augmentation using a Burch-Schneider cage. Three months post operation, the patient experienced significant improvements in pain levels, range of motion (ROM), and hip function. This case underscores the importance of vigilant surveillance for ARMD in patients undergoing non-MoM THA, even years post surgery. Prompt recognition and management of ARMD are crucial to mitigate the risk of long-term complications and optimise patient outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors and mechanisms underlying ARMD in MoP THA, aiding in developing preventive strategies and refined treatment protocols.

Metallic alloys often form phases-known as solid solutions-in which chemical elements are spread out on the same crystal lattice in an almost random manner. The tendency of certain chemical motifs to be more common than others is known as chemical short-range order (SRO), and it has received substantial consideration in alloys with multiple chemical elements present in large concentrations due to their extreme configurational complexity (e.g., high-entropy alloys). SRO renders solid solutions \"slightly less random than completely random,\" which is a physically intuitive picture, but not easily quantifiable due to the sheer number of possible chemical motifs and their subtle spatial distribution on the lattice. Here, we present a multiscale method to predict and quantify the SRO state of an alloy with atomic resolution, incorporating machine learning techniques to bridge the gap between electronic-structure calculations and the characteristic length scale of SRO. The result is an approach capable of predicting SRO length scale in agreement with experimental measurements while comprehensively correlating SRO with fundamental quantities such as local lattice distortions. This work advances the quantitative understanding of solid-solution phases, paving the way for the rigorous incorporation of SRO length scales into predictive mechanical and thermodynamic models.

The Eurasian Bronze Age (BA) has been described as a period of substantial human migrations, the emergence of pastoralism, horse domestication, and development of metallurgy. This study focuses on two north Eurasian sites sharing Siberian genetic ancestry. One of the sites, Rostovka, is associated with the Seima-Turbino (ST) phenomenon (~2200-1900 BCE) that is characterized by elaborate metallurgical objects found throughout Northern Eurasia. The genetic profiles of Rostovka individuals vary widely along the forest-tundra Siberian genetic cline represented by many modern Uralic-speaking populations, and the genetic heterogeneity observed is consistent with the current understanding of the ST being a transcultural phenomenon. Individuals from the second site, Bolshoy Oleni Ostrov in Kola, in comparison form a tighter cluster on the Siberian ancestry cline. We further explore this Siberian ancestry profile and assess the role of the ST phenomenon and other contemporaneous BA cultures in the spread of Uralic languages and Siberian ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) carries a high public health burden yet little is known about the relationship between metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols, occupational noise and CKD. We aimed to explore the relationship between occupational MWF aerosols, occupational noise and CKD.
METHODS: A total of 2,738 machinists were sampled from three machining companies in Wuxi, China, in 2022. We used the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 5524 to collect individual samples for MWF aerosols exposure, and the Chinese national standard (GBZ/T 189.8-2007) method to test individual occupational noise exposure. The diagnostic criteria for CKD were urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) of ≥ 30 mg/g and reduced renal function (eGFR < 60 mL.min- 1. 1.73 m- 2) lasting longer than 3 months. Smooth curve fitting was conducted to analyze the associations of MWF aerosols and occupational noise with CKD. A segmented regression model was used to analyze the threshold effects.
RESULTS: Workers exposed to MWF aerosols (odds ratio [OR] = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-3.41) and occupational noise (OR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.06-2.96) had higher prevalence of CKD than nonexposed workers. A nonlinear and positive association was found between increasing MWF aerosols and occupational noise dose and the risk of CKD. When daily cumulative exposure dose of MWF aerosols exceeded 8.03 mg/m3, the OR was 1.24 (95%CI: 1.03-1.58), and when occupational noise exceeded 87.22 dB(A), the OR was 1.16 (95%CI: 1.04-1.20). In the interactive analysis between MWF aerosols and occupational noise, the workers exposed to both MWF aerosols (cumulative exposure ≥ 8.03 mg/m3-day) and occupational noise (LEX,8 h ≥ 87.22 dB(A)) had an increased prevalence of CKD (OR = 2.71, 95%CI: 1.48-4.96). MWF aerosols and occupational noise had a positive interaction in prevalence of CKD.
CONCLUSIONS: Occupational MWF aerosols and noise were positively and nonlinearly associated with CKD, and cumulative MWF aerosols and noise exposure showed a positive interaction with CKD. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing kidney function of workers exposed to MWF aerosols and occupational noise. Prospective and longitudinal cohort studies are necessary to elucidate the causality of these associations.

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a potentially critical degradation mechanism for a wide range of materials exposed to environments that contain relevant microorganisms. The likelihood and rate of MIC are affected by microbiological, chemical, and metallurgical factors; hence, the understanding of the mechanisms involved, verification of the presence of MIC, and the development of mitigation methods require a multidisciplinary approach. Much of the recent focus in MIC research has been on the microbiological and chemical aspects, with less attention given to metallurgical attributes. Here, we address this knowledge gap by providing a critical synthesis of the literature on the metallurgical aspects of MIC of carbon steel, a material frequently associated with MIC failures and widely used in construction and infrastructure globally. The article begins by introducing the process of MIC, then progresses to explore the complexities of various metallurgical factors relevant to MIC in carbon steel. These factors include chemical composition, grain size, grain boundaries, microstructural phases, inclusions, and welds, highlighting their potential influence on MIC processes. This review systematically presents key discoveries, trends, and the limitations of prior research, offering some novel insights into the impact of metallurgical factors on MIC, particularly for the benefit of those already familiar with other aspects of MIC. The article concludes with recommendations for documenting metallurgical data in MIC research. An appreciation of relevant metallurgical attributes is essential for a critical assessment of a material\'s vulnerability to MIC to advance research practices and to broaden the collective knowledge in this rapidly evolving area of study.

Many years of foundry practice and much more accurate analytical methods have shown that sands with organic binders, in addition to their many technological advantages, pose risks associated with the emission of many compounds, including harmful ones (e.g., formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and sulfur), arising during the pouring of liquid casting alloys into molds, their cooling, and knock-out. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the potential benefits of adopting inorganic binders in European iron foundries. This will improve the environmental and working conditions by introducing cleaner and more ecological production methods, while also ranking the tested binders studied in terms of their harmful content. The article pays special attention to the analysis of seven innovative inorganic binders and one organic binder, acting as a reference for emissions of gases from the BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) groups and other compounds such as phenol, formaldehyde, and isocyanates (MDI and TDI) generated during the mold pouring process with liquid metals. The knowledge gained will, for the first time, enrich the database needed to update the Reference Document on The Best Available Techniques for the Smitheries and Foundries Industry (SF BREF).

This paper presents the results of research on the method of utilization of self-disintegrating slags of refined ferrochrome production by autoclave carbonization in carbon dioxide environment. The work has a complex character, including earlier laboratory studies of the slag carbonization process under different conditions, as well as studies of chemical and mineralogical composition of initial waste slags taken from the slag dump and samples of bricks subjected to carbonization. The composition of slags and obtained products was investigated by XRD, DTA, DTG and XRF analyses, which showed that the main phases of the studied samples are dicalcium silicate, montichelite, periclase, magnesiochromite, calcite. Thermal analytical studies showed that magnesium carbonate is present only in the samples of artificially carbonized material. Also, the process of carbonate formation in the thickness of bricks during forced carbonization was investigated. As a result, it was obtained that with increasing CO2 pressure, the amount of bound carbon in the products increases proportionally in all layers. It was determined that the amount of CO2 absorbed during carbonization can reach 20 % of the mass of the initial slag. Stale slag can be used simultaneously as a carbon dioxide absorber and as a building product.

Inhalation of fine particulate matter PM2.5-bound arsenic (PM2.5-As) may cause significant cardiovascular damage, due to its high concentration, long transmission range, and good absorption efficiency in organisms. However, both the contribution and the effect of the arsenic exposure pathway, with PM2.5 as the medium, on cardiovascular system damage in nonferrous smelting sites remain to be studied. In this work, a one-year site sample collection and analysis work showed that the annual concentration of PM2.5-As reached 0.74 μg/m3, which was 120 times the national standard. The predominant species in the PM2.5 samples were As (V) and As (III). A panel study among workers revealed that PM2.5-As exposure dominantly contributed to human absorption of As. After exposure of mice to PM2.5-As for 8 weeks, the accumulation of As in the high exposure group reached equilibrium, and its bioavailability was 24.5%. A series of animal experiments revealed that PM2.5-As exposure induced cardiac injury and dysfunction at the environmental relevant concentration and speciation. By integrating environmental and animal exposure assessments, more accurate health risk assessment models exposed to PM2.5-As were established for metal smelting areas. Therefore, our research provides an important scientific basis for relevant departments to formulate industry supervision, prevention and control policies.