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Engineered stones are novel construction materials associated with a recent upsurge in silicosis cases among workers in the stonemason industry. In order to understand the hazard for the short latency of lung disease among stonemasons, we simulated real-time dust exposure scenario by dry-machining engineered stones in controlled conditions, capturing and analysing the respirable dust generated for physical and chemical characteristics. Natural granite and marble were included for comparison. Cutting engineered stones generated high concentrations of very fine particles (< 1 µm) with > 80% respirable crystalline silica content, in the form of quartz and cristobalite. Engineered stones also contained 8–20% resin and 1–8% by weight metal elements. In comparison, natural stones had far lower respirable crystalline silica (4- 30%) and much higher metal content, 29–37%. Natural stone dust emissions also had a smaller surface area than engineered stone, as well as lower surface charge. This study highlighted the physical and chemical variability within engineered stone types as well as between engineered and natural stones. This information will ultimately help understand the unique hazard posed by engineered stone fabrication work and help guide the development of specific engineering control measures targeting lower exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Workplace atmospheric exposure monitoring is the standard method to assess and control hazardous dust exposure; however, feasibility and cost constraints often limit its application. In recent decades, evidence-based tools supporting exposure modelling and control banding have been developed to aid in predicting and/or controlling occupational exposure to various contaminants. However, there is limited information on the availability and applicability of evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling occupational dust exposure, as well as on the methods for evaluating these tools across different exposure scenarios. Therefore, this planned scoping review aims to identify existing evidence-based tools for dust exposure predicting and/or controlling and to present evaluation approaches. We will employ the scoping review methods developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search will be conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, in addition to grey literature from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and advanced Google searches. Studies will be included if they report evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling dust exposure using quantitative or semi-quantitative designs and provide a detailed explanation of the methods used for tool development. There will be no restrictions on publication date or geographical location; however, only studies published in English will be considered. Studies focusing exclusively on dust exposure in environmental settings will be excluded. Each member of the review team will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts independently and in collaboration, based on the inclusion criteria. The extracted data will encompass details such as author, title, country, accessible platforms, method/tool names, intended users, types of dust, and occupational settings. Descriptions of the identified tools will include numerical data and narrative summaries to ensure a comprehensive overview. OSF (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/S6EZJ).

Engineered stone (ES) is a popular building product, due to its architectural versatility and generally lower cost. However, the fabrication of organic resin-based ES kitchen benchtops from slabs has been associated with alarming rates of silicosis among workers. In 2024, fifteen years after the first reported ES-related cases in the world, Australia became the first country to ban the use and importation of ES. A range of interacting factors are relevant for ES-associated silicosis, including ES material composition, characteristics of dust exposure and lung cell-particle response. In turn, these are influenced by consumer demand, work practices, particle size and chemistry, dust control measures, industry regulation and worker-related characteristics. This literature review provides an evidence synthesis using a narrative approach, with the themes of product, exposure and host. Exposure pathways and pathogenesis are explored. Apart from crystalline silica content, consideration is given to non-siliceous ES components such as resins and metals that may modify chemical interactions and disease risk. Preventive effort can be aligned with each theme and associated evidence.

The re-emergence of silicosis among engineered stone (ES) workers has prompted the development of low- to no-crystalline silica (SiO 2 ) ES products, marketed as safer alternatives to traditional high-SiO 2 ES. However, the composition of these new materials—often incorporating recycled minerals, binders, and pigments—remains complex and poorly characterized in terms of potential health risks. This study assessed the physico-chemical properties and membranolytic activity of dusts generated by mechanical processing of five ES samples (ranging from 90 to 0 wt% SiO 2 ) and a natural stone as comparison. Dusts were analyzed for particle size distribution, mineralogy, morphology and zeta potential. A standard membranolysis assay was used to assess relative cytotoxicity. Dusts from new ES slabs contained lower quartz and cristobalite levels (23 to 0 wt%) than traditional ES, with crystalline silica replaced predominantly by silicates, aluminosilicates, amorphous phases, or gibbsite. Untreated ES dusts showed little membranolytic activity. However, after heating to remove organic binding resins, a high membranolytic activity was observed for traditional ES, and to a lesser degree for low-SiO 2 ES. No activity was observed in no-SiO 2 ES, composed primarily of gibbsite. Our findings suggest that reducing crystalline silica content may mitigate certain toxicological risks. However, the diverse and evolving composition of alternative ES products warrants ongoing toxicological evaluation.

Overexposure to occupational noise can lead to hearing loss. Occupational noise mapping is conventionally performed with a calibrated sound level meter (SLM). With the rise of mobile apps, there is a growing number of SLM apps available on mobile phones. However, few studies have evaluated such apps for accuracy and usefulness to guide those with occupational noise detection needs in selecting a quality app. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of SLM mobile apps to guide workplace health and safety professionals in determining these apps' suitability for assessing occupational noise exposure. The following three iOS apps were assessed: the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Sound Level Meter, Decibel X, and SoundMeter X apps. The selected apps were evaluated for their accuracy in measuring sound levels in low-, moderate-, and high-noise settings within both simulated environments and real-world environments by comparing them to a conventional SLM. The usefulness of the apps was then assessed by occupational health specialists using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). The NIOSH Sound Level Meter app accurately measured noise across a range of sound levels in both simulated settings and real-world settings. However, considerable variation was observed between readings. In comparison, the Decibel X and SoundMeter X apps showed more consistent readings but consistently underestimated noise levels, suggesting that they may pose a risk for workers. Nevertheless, none of the differences in sound measurements between the three apps and the conventional SLM were statistically significant (NIOSH Sound Level Meter: P=.78; Decibel X: P=.38; SoundMeter X: P=.40). The MARS scores for the three apps were all above 3.0, indicating the usefulness of these apps. Under the conditions of this study, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app had equivalent accuracy to the calibrated SLM and a degree of usefulness according to the MARS. This suggests that the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app may be suitable for mapping noise levels as part of a monitoring strategy in workplaces. However, it is important to understand its limitations. Mobile apps should complement but not replace conventional SLMs when trying to assess occupational noise exposure risk. Our outcomes also suggest that the MARS tool may have limited applicability to measurement-based apps and may be more suited to information-based apps that collect, record, and store information.

Workplace atmospheric exposure monitoring is the standard method to assess and control hazardous dust exposure; however, feasibility and cost constraints often limit its application. In recent decades, evidence-based tools supporting exposure modelling and control banding have been developed to aid in predicting and/or controlling occupational exposure to various contaminants. However, there is limited information on the availability and applicability of evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling occupational dust exposure, as well as on the methods for evaluating these tools across different exposure scenarios. Therefore, this planned scoping review aims to identify existing evidence-based tools for dust exposure predicting and/or controlling and to present evaluation approaches. We will employ the scoping review methods developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search will be conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, in addition to grey literature from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and advanced Google searches. Studies will be included if they report evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling dust exposure using quantitative or semi-quantitative designs and provide a detailed explanation of the methods used for tool development. There will be no restrictions on publication date or geographical location; however, only studies published in English will be considered. Studies focusing exclusively on dust exposure in environmental settings will be excluded. Each member of the review team will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts independently and in collaboration, based on the inclusion criteria. The extracted data will encompass details such as author, title, country, accessible platforms, method/tool names, intended users, types of dust, and occupational settings. Descriptions of the identified tools will include numerical data and narrative summaries to ensure a comprehensive overview.

Workplace atmospheric exposure monitoring is the standard method to assess and control hazardous dust exposure; however, feasibility and cost constraints often limit its application. In recent decades, evidence-based tools supporting exposure modelling and control banding have been developed to aid in predicting and/or controlling occupational exposure to various contaminants. However, there is limited information on the availability and applicability of evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling occupational dust exposure, as well as on the methods for evaluating these tools across different exposure scenarios. Therefore, this planned scoping review aims to identify existing evidence-based tools for dust exposure predicting and/or controlling and to present evaluation approaches. We will employ the scoping review methods developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search will be conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, in addition to grey literature from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and advanced Google searches. Studies will be included if they report evidence-based tools for predicting and/or controlling dust exposure using quantitative or semi-quantitative designs and provide a detailed explanation of the methods used for tool development. There will be no restrictions on publication date or geographical location; however, only studies published in English will be considered. Studies focusing exclusively on dust exposure in environmental settings will be excluded. Each member of the review team will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts independently and in collaboration, based on the inclusion criteria. The extracted data will encompass details such as author, title, country, accessible platforms, method/tool names, intended users, types of dust, and occupational settings. Descriptions of the identified tools will include numerical data and narrative summaries to ensure a comprehensive overview.

Increasing the selenium (Se) concentration of staple crops by fertilization is a valuable pathway to increase Se in the human diet, thus preventing Se deficiency. A pot trial was set up to investigate whether the application of 3.33 µg kg −1 of Se (equivalent to 10 g ha −1 ) to wheat can be made more efficient by its co-application with macronutrient carriers, either to the soil or to the leaves. In the soil, Se was applied either on its own (selenate only) or as a granular, Se-enriched macronutrient fertilizer supplying nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or sulfur. Selenium was also applied to leaves at head emergence with, or without, 2% w/v N fertilizers. With grain Se concentrations varying from 0.13–0.84 mg kg −1 , soil application of selenate-only was 2–15 times more effective than granular Se-enriched macronutrient fertilizers in raising grain Se concentrations. Co-application of foliar Se with an N carrier doubled the Se concentration in wheat grains compared to the application of foliar Se on its own, the majority of which was in the highly bioavailable selenomethionine fraction. Results from this study demonstrate the possibility of improving the efficacy of Se fertilizers, which could enrich crops with Se without additional application costs in the field.

The popularity of engineered stone (ES) has been associated with a global increase in occupational lung disease in workers exposed to respirable dust during the fabrication of benchtops and other ES products. In this study, the reactivity and subsequent oxidative reduction potential of freshly generated ES dusts were evaluated by (i) comparing different engineered and natural stones, (ii) comparing settled and respirable stone dust fractions and (iii) assessing the effect of ageing on the reactivity of freshly generated stone dust. An established cell-free deoxyguanosine hydroxylation assay was used to assess the potential for oxidative DNA damage. ES dust exhibited a higher relative reactivity than two of the three natural stones tested. Respirable dust fractions were found to be significantly more reactive than their corresponding settled fraction (ANOVA, p < 0.05) across all stone types and samples. However, settled dust still displayed high relative reactivity. The lower reactivity of the settled dust was not due to decay in reactivity of the respirable dust when it settled but rather a result of the admixture of larger nonrespirable particles. No significant change in respirable dust reactivity was observed for three ES samples over a 21-day time period, whereas a significant decrease in reactivity was observed in the natural stone studied. This study has practical implications for dust control and housekeeping in industry, risk assessment and hazard management.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals and hence, a low intake of Se in the diet can lead to health problems. The application of Se fertilisers to staple crops, a process called agronomic biofortification, can effectively improve humans’ Se intake levels. The overarching aim of this study was to develop improved strategies for Se biofortification through an enhanced understanding of Se dynamics in arable systems. A pot trial was set up to investigate whether the application of 3.33 μg kg-1 of Se (equivalent to 10 g ha-1) to wheat can be made more efficient by its co-application with macronutrient carriers, either to the soil or to the leaves. In the soil, Se was applied either on its own (selenate only) or as a granular, Se-enriched macronutrient fertiliser supplying nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or sulphur. Selenium was also applied to leaves at head emergence with, or without, 2% w/v N fertilisers. With grain Se concentrations varying from 0.13–0.84 mg kg-1, soil application of selenate-only was 2–15 times more effective than granular Se-enriched macronutrient fertilisers in raising grain Se concentrations. Foliar Se application was superior to soil-applied Se treatments in increasing grain Se levels, especially when foliar Se was co-applied with an N carrier. Under foliar Se+N treatments, grains accumulated twice as much Se as those fertilised with foliar Se only, the majority of which was highly bioavailable (selenomethionine). This study was perhaps the first to show the efficiency of co applying foliar Se with N in improving Se uptake and recovery in wheat. Such findings support the hypothesis that the efficacy of existing agronomic practices for Se biofortification can be improved through the use of macronutrient carriers, which could potentially reduce costs associated with fertiliser application and management. The second experiment shed light on the residual fate of Se in different soils over a 300-day period, using both chemical and biological assays to estimate Se availability. Eight soils varying in physicochemical properties were spiked with 0.5 mg kg -1 Se in the form of sodium selenate and incubated at 25°C for different periods (1, 30, 60, 90 and 300 d). At the end of the ageing period, soil Se was fractionated by sequential extraction procedures into soluble, adsorbed and organically-bound Se fractions. Simultaneously, a pot trial was set up where wheat was grown in the Seaged soils for six weeks. A rapid decline in Se solubility (> 50% within 24 h) was observed in the Oxisol, probably due to its high mineral oxides and clay contents. Over time, calcareous soils showed more pronounced Se ageing than non-calcareous soils as solubility reached 0 at 300 d, probably due to the fixation of Se onto calcite surfaces. In highly calcareous soils, plant Se concentrations decreased from 37 mg kg-1 to < 5 mg kg -1 within 30 days. Comparable Se concentrations were only observed > 100 days in plants grown in non-calcareous soils. The soluble Se fraction at specific ageing times was best represented by a reversible first order model, and was primarily influenced by soil pH. Understanding how added Se behaves in soils over time could be used to make more informed decisions about the rate and frequency of Se fertiliser application in agronomic biofortification programs. The third experiment was undertaken to investigate time-dependent changes in the uptake and partitioning of Se in wheat. It also investigated whether the uptake efficiency of Se in wheat was influenced by timing of fertiliser application. In a pot trial, 3.33 μg kg-1 Se was as 77Se-enriched sodium selenate (Sefert) to wheat at two growth stages – stem elongation (GS1) and heading stage (GS2), by two methods – soil and foliar (foliar Se on its own and foliar Se + 2% urea-N). Wheat was harvested 3, 10 and 17 d and 3, 10, and 34 d after Se application at GS1 and GS2, respectively. Only foliar treatments were effective in raising grain Se concentrations (> 0.25 mg kg-1 ) above the 6 target level of 0.1 mg kg-1 for biofortification. However, the poor efficiency of the soil applied Se fertiliser was speculated to be predominantly caused by accidental leaching of the applied Se from the free-draining pots. This study showed that, when applied at an early growth stage, foliar Se with N improved the uptake of Se into wheat, compared to foliar application of Se on its own. At the later growth stage, N inclusion to foliar Se fertilisers significantly increased grain Se concentration in the grain (0.32 mg kg-1) compared to foliar Se on its own (0.26 mg kg-1), the majority of which was highly bioavailable. Speciation analysis data of the foliar-treated leaves suggested that the presence of N in foliar solutions improved the assimilation and translocation of organic Se compounds. Practical knowledge gained about the optimisation of Se fertiliser formulation, method and timing of application will be of importance in refining biofortification programs across different soil and climatic regimes.