Non-ferrous metal smelting poses significant risks to public health. Specifically, the copper smelting process releases arsenic, a semi-volatile metalloid, which poses an emerging exposure risk to both workers and nearby residents. To comprehensively understand the internal exposure risks of metal(loid)s from copper smelting, we explored eighteen metal(loid)s and arsenic metabolites in the urine of both occupational and non-occupational populations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with high-performance liquid chromatography and compared their health risks. Results showed that zinc and copper (485.38 and 14.00 µg/L), and arsenic, lead, cadmium, vanadium, tin and antimony (46.80, 6.82, 2.17, 0.40, 0.44 and 0.23 µg/L, respectively) in workers (n=179) were significantly higher compared to controls (n=168), while Zinc, tin and antimony (412.10, 0.51 and 0.15 µg/L, respectively) of residents were significantly higher than controls. Additionally, workers had a higher monomethyl arsenic percentage (MMA%), showing lower arsenic methylation capacity. Source appointment analysis identified arsenic, lead, cadmium, antimony, tin and thallium as co-exposure metal(loid)s from copper smelting, positively relating to the age of workers. The hazard index (HI) of workers exceeded 1.0, while residents and control were approximately at 1.0. Besides, all three populations had accumulated cancer risks exceeding 1.0 × 10-4, and arsenite (AsIII) was the main contributor to the variation of workers and residents. Furthermore, residents living closer to the smelting plant had higher health risks. This study reveals arsenic exposure metabolites and multiple metals as emerging contaminants for copper smelting exposure populations, providing valuable insights for pollution control in non-ferrous metal smelting.

The difficulty of separating Li during pyrometallurgical smelting of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has limited the development of pyrometallurgical processes. Chlorination enables the conversion of Li from spent LIBs to the gas phase during the smelting process. In this paper, the effects of four solid chlorinating agents (KCl, NaCl, CaCl2 and MgCl2) on Li volatilization and metal (Co, Cu, Ni and Fe) recovery were investigated. The four solid chlorinating agents were systematically compared in terms of the direct chlorination capacities, indirect chlorination capacities, alloy physical losses and chemical losses in the slag. CaCl2 was better suited for use as a solid chlorinating agent to promote Li volatilization due to its excellent results in these indexes. The temperature required for the release of HCl from MgCl2, facilitated by CO2 and SiO2, was lower than 500 °C. The prematurely released HCl failed to participate in the chlorination reaction. This resulted in approximately 12 % less Li volatilization when MgCl2 was used as a chlorinating agent compared to when CaCl2 was used. In addition, the use of KCl as a chlorinating agent decreased the chemical dissolution loss of alloys in the slag. The performance of NaCl was mediocre. Finally, based on evaluations of the four indexes, recommendations for the selection and optimization of solid chlorinating agents were provided.

The iron and steel-making industries have garnered significant attention in research related to low-carbon transitions and the reuse of steel slag. This industry is known for its high carbon emissions and the substantial amount of steel slag it generates. To address these challenges, a waste heat recovery process route has been developed for molten steel slag, which integrates CO2 capture and fixation as well as efficient utilization of steel slag. This process involves the use of lime kiln flue gas from the steel plant as the gas quenching agent, thereby mitigating carbon emissions and facilitating carbonation conversion of steel slag while simultaneously recovering waste heat. The established carbonation model of steel slag reveals that the insufficient diffusion of CO2 gas molecules within the product layer is the underlying mechanism hindering the carbonation performance of steel slag. This finding forms the basis for enhancing the carbonation performance of steel slag. The results of Aspen Plus simulation indicate that 1 t of steel slag (with a carbonation conversion rate of 15.169 %) can fix 55.19 kg of CO2, process 6.08 kmol of flue gas (with a carbon capture rate of 92.733 %), and recover 2.04 GJ of heat, 0.43 GJ of exergy, and 0.68 MWh of operating cost. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable and efficient solutions for steel slag management, with potential applications in the steel production industry and other relevant fields.

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.

In this study, the average values of vertical velocity of particles emitted from an aluminum smelter in the surface layer of the atmosphere were estimated using a semi-empirical method. The method is based on regression analysis of the horizontal profile of pollutants measured along the selected direction using moss bioindicators. The selection of epiphytic mosses Sanionia uncinata was carried out in 2013 in the zone of influence of a metallurgical industry enterprise in the city of Kandalaksha, Murmansk region. The concentrations of As, Si, Ni, Zn, Ti, Cd, Na, Pb, Co, K, Ba, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, Fe, Al, V, Cr, Cu were determined using atomic emission spectrometry. The conducted assessments showed that the average particle velocity toward the Earth\'s surface, when considering large spatial and temporal scales, is tens of times higher than gravitational settling velocities.

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.

Cobalt-Chromium (CoCr) alloys are currently used for various cardiovascular, orthopedic, fracture fixation, and dental implants. A variety of processes such as casting, forging, wrought processing, hot isostatic pressing, metal injection molding, milling, selective laser melting, and electron beam melting are used in the manufacture of CoCr alloy implants. The microstructure and precipitates (carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, and intermetallic compounds) formed within the alloy are primarily determined by the type of manufacturing process employed. Although the effects of microstructure and precipitates on the physical and mechanical properties of CoCr alloys are well reviewed and documented in the literature, the effects on corrosion resistance and biocompatibility are not comprehensively reviewed. This article reviews the various processes used to manufacture CoCr alloy implants and discusses the effects of manufacturing processes on corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. This review concludes that the microstructure and precipitates formed in the alloy are unique to the manufacturing process employed and have a significant impact on the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of CoCr alloys. Additionally, a historical and scientific overview of corrosion and biocompatibility for metallic implants is included in this review. Specifically, the failure of CoCr alloys when used in metal-on-metal bearing surfaces of total hip replacements is highlighted. It is recommended that the type of implant/application (orthopedic, dental, cardiovascular, etc.) should be the first and foremost factor to be considered when selecting biomaterials for medical device development.