ENVIRONMENTAL
~dEnvironmental
~tInfluence of pharmaceutical effluent on the physico-chemical
behaviour and Geotechnical characteristics of Clayey and Silty Soils
~w2010-03-01
Single soil - column studies were carried out to understand the
influence of pharmaceutical effluent (industrial type) on the
physico-chemical behaviour and on the index and strength properties
of five soils (two common and three natural soils) due to artificial
contamination extending to nearly 250 days period. Two modes of
operation, two HRTs and two concentrations of effluents, were the
parameters considered. It is found that the strengths of the soils
have reduced by about 20%, within the period of concern. Great
caution need to be exercised by Geotechnical Engineers and by the
various industries, when an 'organic and toxic' effluent, is allowed
to discharge on a soil mass, contaminating at least 35% of clay
content, when such soil(s) are to be used for Engineering purposes.
Authors: Murugaiyan, Vijayarangam; Saravanane, Raman
Full Source: International Journal of Soil, Sediment and Water 2009,
2(3), No pp. given (India).
~dEnvironmental
~tNiche-driven evolution of metabolic and life history strategies in
natural and domesticated populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
~w2010-03-01
Variation of resource supply is one of the key factors that drive the
evolution of life-history strategies, and hence the interactions
between individuals. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two life-
history strategies related to different resource utilisation have
been previously described in strains from different industrial
origins. In this work, we analysed metabolic traits and life-history
strategies in a broader collection of yeast strains sampled in
various ecological niches (forest, human body, fruits, laboratory and
industrial environments). By analysing the genetic and plastic
variation of six life-history and three metabolic traits, we showed
that S. cerevisiae populations harbour different strategies depending
on their ecological niches. On one hand, the forest and laboratory
strains, referred to as extreme "ants", reproduce quickly, reach a
large carrying capacity and a small cell size in fermentation, but
have a low reproduction rate in respiration. On the other hand, the
industrial strains, referred to as extreme "grasshoppers", reproduce
slowly, reach a small carrying capacity but have a big cell size in
fermentation and a high reproduction rate in respiration.
"Grasshoppers" have usually higher glucose consumption rate than
"ants", while they produce lower quantities of ethanol, suggesting
that they store cell resources rather than secreting secondary
products to cross-feed or poison competitors. The clinical and fruit
strains are intermediate between these two groups. In conclusion,
altogether, these results are consistent with a niche-driven
evolution of S. cerevisiae, with phenotypic convergence of
populations living in similar habitat. They also revealed that
competition between strains having contrasted life-history strategies
seems to occur at low frequency or be unstable since opposite life-
history strategies appeared to be maintained in distinct ecological
niches.
Authors: Spor, Ayme; Nidelet, Thibault; Simon, Jonattan; Bourgais,
Aurelie; de Vienne, Dominique; Sicard, Delphine.
Full Source: BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9, No pp. given (France).
MEDICAL
~dMedical
~tResearch on expression level of transforming growth factor-â1 in
blood of silicosis patients
~w2010-03-01
The relationship between transforming growth factor-â1 (TGF-â1) and
silicosis was explored, especially the possibility that TGF-â1
expression level in blood could be an available clinical index for
silicosis diagnosis. Sixteen silicosis patients and 15 controls were
selected as the objects of this study. Eight millilitres of blood was
taken from those people for experimental detection. Enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of serum TGF-
â1 level, and the expression levels of TGF-â1 mRNA and TGF-â1 protein
in peripheral lymphocytes were detected by reverse transcription
(RT)- PCR and Western-blotting methods, respectively. SPSS14.1 was
applied for statistical analysis. The serum expression level of TGF-
â1 of silicosis patients was significantly higher than that of
controls. The RT-PCR and Western-blotting detecting results also
showed that the lymphocytic TGF-â1-mRNA expression level in silicosis
patients was also obviously decreased compared with the controls. It
is indicated that serum TGF-â1 level is closely related to silicosis,
suggests that TGF-â1 could be taken as a clinical index for the
diagnosis of silicosis.
Authors: Ma, Qingkun; Wu, Chengqiu.
Full Source: Zhongguo Gongye Yixue Zazhi 2008, 21(2), 101-103
(China).
~dMedical
~tA proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the chronic lead
effect on the basal ganglion and frontal and occipital lobes in
middle-age adults
~w2010-03-01
Few studies have examined the mechanism or biochemical changes caused
by lead in the human brain, although recently some have used magnetic
resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to test brain metabolism in vivo. In
this study, we used 3-T MRS to investigate brain metabolism in
workers chronically exposed to lead and matched non-exposed controls.
Twenty-two workers at a lead paint factory served as chronically
exposed subjects of this study. These workers did not have any
clinical syndromes. Eighteen age- and sex-matched non-exposed healthy
volunteers served as controls. We measured blood and bone lead and
used a 3-T MRS to measure their levels of brain N-acetyl aspartate
(NAA), choline (Cho), and total creatine (tCr). All the MRS measures
were lower in the lead-exposed group. Increased blood and bone lead
levels correlated with declines in Cho:tCr ratios, especially in the
occipital lobe, where changes in all gray, subcortical, and white
matter were significant. Increases in blood and patella lead in every
layer of the frontal lobe correlated with significant decreases in
NAA:tCr ratios. We conclude that chronic exposure to lead might upset
brain metabolism, especially NAA:tCr and Cho:tCr ratios. Brain NAA
and Cho are negatively correlated to blood and bone lead levels,
suggesting that lead induces neuronal and axonal damage or loss. The
most significant changes occurred in frontal and occipital lobes,
areas in which previous neurobehavioral studies have shown memory and
visual performance to be adversely affected by lead toxicity.
Authors: Hsieh, Tsyh-Jyi; Chen, Yi-Chun; Li, Chun-Wei; Liu, Gin-
Chang; Chiu, Yu-Wen; Chuang, Hung-Yi.
Full Source: Environmental Health Perspectives 2009, 117(6), 941-945
(Taiwan).
~dMedical
~tMetabolism of arsenic in human liver: the role of membrane
transporters
~w2010-03-01
Metabolism of inorganic arsenic iAs) is one of the key factors
determining the character of adverse effects associated with exposure
to iAs. Results of previous studies indicate that liver plays a
primary role in iAs metabolism. This paper reviews these results and
presents new data that link the capacity of human hepatocytes to
metabolise iAs to the expression of specific membrane transporters.
Here, the authors examined the relation between the expression of
potential arsenic transporters (AQP9, GLUT2, P-gp, MRP1, MRP2, and
MRP3) and the production and cellular retention of iAs and its
methylated metabolites in primary cultures of human hepatocytes
exposed for 24 hours to subtoxic concentrations of arsenite. The
retention of iAs and methylarsenic metabolites (MAs) by hepatocytes
exposed to submicromolar concentrations of arsenite correlates
negatively with MRP2 expression. A positive correlation was found
between MRP2 expression and the production of dimethylarsenic
metabolites (DMAs), specifically, the concentration of DMAs in
culture media. After exposures to high micromolar concentrations of
arsenite which almost completely inhibited MAs and DMAs production, a
positive correlation was found between the expression of GLUT2 and
cellular retention of iAs and MAs. MRP3, AQP9, or P-gp expression had
no effect on the production or distribution of iAs, MAs, or DMAs,
regardless of the exposure level. Hepatocytes from 7 donors used in
this study did not contain detectable amounts of MRP1 protein. These
data suggest that MRP2 plays an important role in the efflux of DMAs,
thus, regulating kinetics of the methylation reactions and the
accumulation of iAs and MAs by human hepatocytes. The membrane
transport of iAs by high-capacity GLUT2 transporters is not a rate-
limiting step for the metabolism of arsenite at low exposure level,
but may play a key role in accumulation of iAs after acute exposures
which inhibit iAs methylation.
Authors: Drobna, Zuzana; Walton, Felecia S.; Paul, David S.; Xing,
Weibing; Thomas, David J.; Styblo, Miroslav.
Full Source: Archives of Toxicology 2010, 84(1), 3-16 (USA).
~dMedical
~tLow doses of bisphenol A promote human seminoma cell proliferation
by activating PKA and PKG via a membrane G-protein-coupled oestrogen
receptor
~w2010-03-01
Foetal exposure to environmental oestrogens may contribute to
hypofertility and/or to testicular germ cell cancer. However, many of
these xenoestrogens have only a weak affinity for the classical
oestrogen receptors (ERs), which is 1,000-fold less potent than the
affinity of 17â-estradiol (E2). Thus, several mechanisms have been
suggested to explain how they could affect male germ cell
proliferation at low environmental relevant concentrations. In this
study we aimed to explore the possible promoting effect of bisphenol
A (BPA) on human testicular seminoma cells. BPA is a well-recognised
oestrogenic endocrine disruptor used as a monomer to manufacture
polycarbonate plastic and released from resin-lined food or beverage
cans or from dental sealants. BPA at very low concentrations similar
to those found in human fluids stimulated JKT-1 cell proliferation in
vitro. BPA activated both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-
dependent protein kinase pathways and triggered a rapid
phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response-element-
binding protein (CREB) and the cell cycle regulator retinoblastoma
protein (Rb). This nongenomic activation did not involve classical
ERs because it could not be reversed by ICI 182780 (an ER antagonist)
or reproduced either by E2 or by diethylstilbestrol, which instead
triggered a suppressive effect. This activation was reproduced only
by E2 coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is unable to enter
the cell. As with E2-BSA, BPA promoted JKT-1 cell proliferation
through a G-protein-coupled non-classical membrane ER (GPCR)
involving a GRs and a GRi/GRq subunit, as shown by the reversible
effect observed by the corresponding inhibitors NF449 and pertussis
toxin. In conclusion, this GPCR-mediated nongenomic action
represents-in addition to the classical ER-mediated effect-a new
basis for evaluating xenoestrogens such as BPA that, at low doses and
with a high affinity for this GPCR, could interfere with the
developmental programming of foetal germ cell proliferation and/or
differentiation when they cross the placenta.
Authors: Bouskine, Adil; Nebout, Marielle; Brucker-Davis, Francoise;
Benahmed, Mohamed; Fenichel, Patrick.
Full Source: Environmental Health Perspectives 2009, 117(7), 1053-
1058 (France).
~dMedical
~tCharacterising uncertainty and population variability in the
toxicokinetics of trichloroethylene and metabolites in mice, rats,
and humans using an updated database, physiologically based
pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model, and Bayesian approach.
~w2010-03-01
The authors have developed a comprehensive, Bayesian, PBPK model-
based analysis of the population toxicokinetics of trichloroethylene
(TCE) and its metabolites in mice, rats, and humans, considering a
wider range of physiology, chemical, in vitro, and in vivo data than
any previously published analysis of TCE. The toxicokinetics of the
"population average," its population variability, and their
uncertainties are characterised in an approach that strives to be
maximally transparent and objective. The experimental database was
expanded to include virtually all available in vivo toxicokinetic
data, which permitted, in rats and humans, the specification of
separate datasets for model calibration and evaluation. The total
combination of these approaches and PBPK analysis provides
substantial support for the model predictions. In addition, the
authors feel confident that the approach employed also yields an
accurate characterisation of the uncertainty in metabolic pathways
for which available data were sparse or relatively indirect, such as
GSH conjugation and respiratory tract metabolism. Key conclusions
from the model predictions include the following: as expected, TCE is
substantially metabolised, primarily by oxidisation at doses below
saturation; GSH conjugation and subsequent bioactivation in humans
appear to be 10- to 100-fold greater than previously estimated; and
mice had the greatest rate of respiratory tract oxidative metabolism
as compared to rats and humans. In a situation such as TCE in which
there is large database of studies coupled with complex
toxicokinetics, the Bayesian approach provides a systematic method of
simultaneously estimating model parameters and characterising their
uncertainty and variability. However, care needs to be taken in its
implementation to ensure biological consistency, transparency, and
objectivity.
Authors: Chiu, Weihsueh A.; Okino, Miles S.; Evans, Marina V.
Full Source: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 2009, 241(1), 36-60
(USA).
OCCUPATIONAL
~dOccupational
~tCytogenetic evaluation of traffic policemen occupationally exposed
to vehicular exhaust
~w2010-03-10
Automobile exhaust consists of many toxic components and is
considered to be a major health concern in urban areas. Traffic
policemen are occupationally exposed to vehicular exhaust during the
traffic control. In the current study, the authors evaluated the
genotoxic effects of vehicular exhaust in traffic policemen in
Hyderabad, south India. Analysis of chromosomal aberrations was
carried out in 136 traffic policemen, including 78 non smokers and 58
smokers who were exposed to vehicular exhaust for a period of 1-28
years. For comparison, 115 healthy males including 69 non smokers and
46 smokers of the same age group and socio-economic status (who were
not exposed to any chemical or radiation at their workplace) were
studied. The results indicated a significant increase in the mean
frequency of chromosomal aberrations in non smoker and smoker traffic
policemen (6.48 and 8.96 respectively) when compared to their
respective control groups (3.35 and 4.30). According to the age a
significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was
observed both in control and exposed groups. As the duration of
exposure increased in traffic policemen, there was a corresponding
increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. The authors
concluded that cytogenetic damage was more pronounced in smokers when
compared to non smokers. In addition, age and duration of exposure
appear to play a vital role in causing cytogenetic damage. Thus the
present study suggests that the induction of cytogenetic damage might
be due to the cumulative effect of smoking, age and duration of
exposure to vehicular exhaust.
Authors: Devi, V. Sree; Rao, V. Durga; Gopal, V. V. Hara; Prasad, B.
Siva; Devi, G. Sandhya; Jyothy, A.; Reddy, P. P.; Prasad, M. Hema
Full Source: Indian Journal of Medical Research 2009, 130(5), 520-525
(English)
~dOccupational
~tAn overview of male reproductive studies of boron with an emphasis
on studies of highly exposed Chinese workers
~w2010-03-10
Boron treatment of rats, mice, and dogs has been associated with
testicular toxicity, characterised by inhibited spermiation at lower
dose levels and a reduction in epididymal sperm count at higher dose
levels. The no-adverse-effect level for reproductive effects in male
rats is 17.5mg B/kg bw/day. Previous studies in human workers and
populations have not identified adverse effects of boron exposure on
fertility, but outcome measures in these studies were relatively
insensitive, based mainly on family size and did not include an
evaluation of semen end points. A recent study of nearly 1000 men
working in B mining or processing in Liaoning province in northeast
China has been published in several Chinese and a few English
language papers. This study included individual assessment of boron
exposure, interview data on reproductive experience, and semen
analysis. Employed men living in the same community and in a remote
community were used as controls. Boron workers (n ) 75) had a mean
daily boron intake of 31.3 mg B/day, and a subset of 16 of these men,
employed at a plant where there was heavy boron contamination of the
water supply, had an estimated mean daily boron intake of 125 mg
B/day. Estimates of mean daily boron intake in local community and
remote background controls were 4.25 mg B/day and 1.40 mg/day,
respectively. Reproductive outcomes in the wives of 945 boron workers
were not significantly different from outcomes in the wives of 249
background control men after adjustment for potential confounders.
There were no significant differences in semen characteristics
between exposure groups, including in the highly exposed subset,
except that sperm Y:X ratio was reduced in boron workers. Within
exposure groups the Y:X ratio did not correlate with the boron
concentration in blood, semen, and urine. The authors concluded that
while boron has been shown to adversely affect male reproduction in
laboratory animals, there is no clear evidence of male reproductive
effects attributable to boron in studies of highly exposed workers.
Authors: Scialli, Anthony R.; Bonde, Jens Peter; Bruske-Hohlfeld,
Irene; Culver, B. Dwight; Li, Yan-Hong; Sullivan, Frank M.
Full Source: Reproductive Toxicology 2010, 29(1), 10-24 (Eng)
~dOccupational
~tLow-level lead exposure among South Korean lead workers, and
estimates of associated risk of cardiovascular diseases
~w2010-03-10
This study investigated the distribution of blood lead (PbB) levels,
especially low levels, among Korean lead workers. In addition, the
authors estimated the potential effects of PbB on the blood pressure
(BP) and cardiovascular diseases using models taken from the
published meta-analyses. The PbB data from a total of 13,043 lead
workers in 1217 companies throughout Korea were used. The geometric
mean PbB level was 6.08 íg/dL (geometric std. deviation was 2.53),
and 56.6% of the workers showed PbB levels greater than 5 íg/dL.
Females accounted for 31.3% of all Korean lead workers in 2003.
Considering two factors, such as PbB levels and the number of lead
workers, the relatively important industry subclasses were identified
as Manufacturing of Accumulators; Manufacturing of Other Electronic
Valves, Tubes, Electronic Components n.e.c.; and Manufacturing of
Other Parts and Accessories for Motor Vehicles. The industrial
processes of relative importance included battery assembly, acid
treatment, and other soldering. Although uncertainties exist in the
prediction model and associated model parameters, the authors
attempted to estimate potential adverse health effects related to the
lead exposure. They determined that 7383 South Korean lead workers
might have increased blood pressure and the health risks due to the
lead exposures in 2003. The highest estimated risk of BP increases
due to lead exposures was expected in workers of industrial
subclasses and processes, such as Other Basic Nonferrous Metal
Industries and Maintenance. If the models in this study were applied
to the South Korean population, the impact fractions for cardiac
disease among lead workers would be estimated at 4.9-12.8 times those
of the general population.
Authors: Kim, Kyeong-Ran; Lee, Sang-Won; Paik, Nam Won; Choi, Kyungho
Full Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2008,
5(6), 399-416 (Eng)
~dOccupational
~tSurvey on urine arsenic in operating personnel of an arsenic plant
~w2010-03-10
This study investigated the total arsenic and inorganic arsenic from
operating personnel of an arsenic plant. Spectrophotometry was used
to detect the arsenic in urine samples from thirty-three arsenic
contacting staff and 28 healthy control. The results demonstrated
that the urine total arsenic and organic arsenic in arsenic
contacting group was higher than control. However, urine total
arsenic and organic arsenic between people with different arsenic
contacting time were not different.
Authors: Xu, Hua; He, Huaiping; Li, Jihong
Full Source: Zhongguo Yufang Yixue Zazhi 2009, 10(3), 221-222
(Chinese)
~dOccupational
~tEmployee exposure to 222Rn MPLOYEE in three fish culture stations
in Pennsylvania
~w2010-03-10
In this study, the authors measured employee exposures to 222Rn and
220Rn in three Commonwealth fish hatcheries using specially designed
personal dosimeters to determine whether remediation might be
necessary. Employees utilising the hatch house would wear the
dosimeter and keep track of their time in the hatch house. In
addition, area detectors were deployed full time in each hatch house.
Exposure measurements were compared to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Occupational
Safety and Health Administration exposure limits. The results showed
that all measured employee exposures to 222Rn and 220Rn were very low
and well below currently established regulatory limits. However,
hatch house radon concentrations are significantly elevated above the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency residential guideline of 148 Bq
m-3.
Authors: Lewis, Robert K.; Harley, Naomi H.
Full Source: Health Physics 2010, 98(3), 466-470 (English)
PUBLIC HEALTH
~dPublic Health
~tHealth implications of mercury exposure in children
~w2010-03-10
Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxin that can produce a wide
range of health effects in humans. It is found in three chemical
forms: organic, inorganic and elemental. In addition, the sources of
exposure are markedly different for the different forms of mercury.
Diet, especially fish and other seafood, is the main source of
exposure of the general public to organic mercury. Dental amalgam is
the most important source for elemental mercury vapour and inorganic
mercury compounds are known as 'mercuric salts', which are sometimes
used in skin-lightening creams and as antiseptic creams and
ointments. Though its use has been banned in some countries, these
products are still available on the world market. Each mercury form
possesses a different risk to human health. Mercury can be
transferred prenatally to the developing foetus via the placenta or
postnatally from breast milk to the nursing infant. Children are
potentially more susceptible to mercury than adults due to
differences in the stages of brain development and organ growth that
occur during the foetal, infant and childhood developmental periods.
The study reviewed relevant literature concerning transplacental and
lactational exposure to mercury, taking into account mercury
speciation, in order to have a critical assessment of its adverse
health effects. In addition, the authors pay attention to available
studies in Saudi Arabia where skin-lightening creams, dental amalgam
and thimerosal are still in use.
Author: Al-Saleh, Iman A.
Full Source: International Journal of Environment and Health 2009,
3(1), 22-57 (Eng)
~dPublic Health
~tChronic myelogenous leukaemia and benzene exposure: A systematic
review and meta-analysis of the case control literature
~w2010-03-10
Many previous studies have documented the link between exposure to
benzene and acute myelogenous leukaemia but not of chronic
myelogenous leukaemia. Previous literature reviews based on case
series and cohort studies have not shown an association. This study
undertook a literature search for case-control studies that examine
the association between benzene exposure and chronic myelogenous
leukaemia. Six case-control studies were found. These derive from
occupational groups, cancer registries, and a clinical laboratories.
Their exposure ascertainments are all based on job histories, job-
exposure matrixes, or industrial hygiene data. The odds ratios (ORs)
for individual studies range from 0.73 to 1.2. The pooled OR is 1.003
with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.94-1.07 (p ) 0.98) for both a
fixed effects model and a random effects model. The authors concluded
that the case-control literature indicates that chronic myelogenous
leukaemia does not appear to be related to benzene exposure.
Authors: Lamm, Steven H.; Engel, Arnold; Joshi, Kiran P.; Byrd,
Daniel M.; Chen, Rusan
Full Source: Chemico-Biological Interactions 2009, 182(2-3), 93-97
(Eng)
~dPublic Health
~tBackground levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the U.S.
population
~w2010-03-10
The main source of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) by the
general public is via eating contaminated food or living near a
previously operating PCB factory or hazardous waste site. PCBs affect
the immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems and are
carcinogens. The United States introduced a ban on PCBs in 1977. For
public health, it is important to be able to estimate individual
risk, especially for vulnerable populations, to monitor the decline
in risk over time, and to alert the public health community if spikes
occur in PCB exposures, by measuring serum PCB levels. The historical
decline in PCB exposures cannot be documented within a repeatedly
tested general population, since there is no such population.
Therefore, in this study the authors model serum PCB levels in the US
general population over time using published data. Models were
developed based on 45 publications providing 16,914 background PCB
levels in sera collected 1963-2003. Multiple linear regression and
exponential decay were used to model the summary PCB levels.
Background levels of higher-chlorinated PCBs (5 or more chlorines) in
sera increased before 1979 and decreased after 1979; a quadratic
model was the best fit. However, the exponential decay model
explained better the low PCB serum levels still seen in the general
population. For lower-chlorinated serum PCBs, no increase or decrease
was shown (1.7 ppb for all years). Thus, limitations for both models
were lack of repeated measures, nonrandomly selected study
participants, selected years, concentration on geographical areas
centred on PCB waste sites, and lack of adjustment for BMI or for
laboratory methods. Despite the limitations, this analysis
demonstrates that background PCB levels in the general population are
still of concern. The authors recommend that further research should
be conducted on the uncertainties governing how to interpret the
levels with respect to possible long term health effects.
Authors: Hopf, Nancy B.; Ruder, Avima M.; Succop, Paul
Full Source: Science of the Total Environment 2009, 407(24), 6109-
6119 (Eng)
~dPublic Health
~tPrevalence of neurological manifestations in a human population
exposed to fluoride in drinking water
~w2010-03-10
In this study, the authors conducted a health survey of a human
population exposed to low, medium, and high fluoride (F)
concentrations in drinking water in villages of Sanganer Tehsil,
India. A total of 2691 subjects were personally interviewed and
classified from low (18 years who were interviewed for
various neurological ailments, including headache, insomnia,
lethargy, polyuria, and polydipsia. There were no neurological
manifestations in children in the low and medium F villages, whereas,
in the high F villages, 9.48% of the children had headache, 1.21% had
insomnia, and 3.23% exhibited lethargy. There were no cases of
polyuria or polydipsia among the children in any of the villages.
Among adults in the low, medium, and high F villages, 1.56%, 2.51%,
and 26.96%, respectively, suffered with headache, while 1.17%, 1.12%,
and 24.74% had insomnia, and 2.73%, 3.63%, and 23.70% manifested
lethargy. No cases of polyuria or polydipsia were reported in the low
and medium F villages, whereas in the high F villages there were
0.74% and 1.19% cases, respectively. The severity of the ailments
increased with the increasing F concentration in the drinking water.
The authors concluded that although the percentage of headache,
insomnia, and lethargy among the adults was fairly small in the low
and medium F villages, it was considerable in the high F endemic
villages, clearly indicative of a role of fluoride in such
neurological outcomes. In addition, the data indicate that the
largest number of cases were headache, followed by lethargy and
insomnia in the endemic village areas.
Authors: Sharma, J. D.; Sohu, Deepika; Jain, Parul
Full Source: Fluoride 2009, 42(2), 127-132 (Eng)
~dPublic Health
~tTooth Element Levels Indicating Exposure Profiles in Diabetic and
Hypertensive Subjects from Mysore, India
~w2010-03-10
Element contents of teeth elucidate exposure nature, but less is
known about the association of tooth element concentrations of
diabetics and hypertensives with exposure profile. In this study, the
authors estimated copper, chromium, iron, zinc, nickel, and lead
concentrations in the permanent teeth of control, diabetic, and
hypertensive subjects from Mysore. The results showed that lead
levels in teeth (Pb-T) were higher in the hypertensives and diabetics
whereas copper levels of teeth (Cu-T) were lower in the hypertensives
and users of stainless steel utensils than that of controls and users
of mixed utensils. The elevated Cu-T levels found in the users of
mixed utensils that being made of several metals are ascribed to the
leaching effect of sour and spicy food of Indian cuisine. The element
levels were influenced by diet (Zn-T), place of living, sex, and
income (Pb-T) of the subjects, but not by age, drinking water from
different sources, and certain habits, including smoking, alcohol
consumption, chewing betel and nut. The authors concluded that based
on the findings from the study, it is evident that high Pb-T and low
Cu-T levels may be related to diabetes and hypertension and high Pb-T
and Cu-T levels, respectively, in the urbanites, and the users of
mixed utensils.
Authors: Nagaraj, G.; Sukumar, A.; Nandlal, B.; Vellaichamy, S.;
Thanasekaran, K.; Ramanathan, A. L.
Full Source: Biological Trace Element Research 2009, 131(3), 255-262
(Eng)
SAFETY
~dSafety
~tMeasurement of charge transfer during filling and emptying FIBC
~w2010-03-01
Filling and emptying normal FIBC (flexible intermediate bulk
containers) in hazardous areas represents a high electrostatic
ignition hazard. Manufacturers of FIBC have therefore designed
different measures to reduce the ignition risks from static
electricity. Depending on the measures applied FIBC are categorised
into types A, B, C and D. End of 2005 a new international standard
for testing type D FIBC has been published. Type D FIBC have now to
be certified according to this standard. Since this standard requires
comprehensive ignition testing on a test rig especially designed for
this purpose, industry is looking for a simpler test method, which
can be used for the development of new FIBC fabric and in production
quality control. In the present paper it is attempted to apply the
method of charge transfer measurement to assess the ignition
probability of static discharged from FIBC during filling and
emptying and to correlate the results with the ignition tests
performed on the standard test rig.
Authors: Glor, Martin; Muller, Patrice; Kubainsky, Christian.
Full Source: Process Safety and Environmental Protection 2009, 87(1),
64-69 (Switzerland).
~dSafety
~tStudy on risk assessment method based on inherent safety in
chemical techniques
~w2010-03-01
A framework based on inherent safety for risk assessment on chemical
techniques was presented. Assessment criterions were involved with
flammability, explosibility, toxicity, corrosivity, reaction heat,
chemical activity, temperature, pressure and inventory. Genetic
algorithm based Shepard interpolation model was used for inherent
safety evaluation. As a case study, an inherent safety evaluation of
methacrylate process routes was presented. The results showed that
the model was more scientific than traditional method, which could
give better results of techniques selection and support the decision
of government and enterprises.
Authors: Li, Qiu-jin; Chen, Jie; Shi, Chao; Wu, Zong-zhi.
Full Source: Zhongguo Anquan Shengchan Kexue Jishu 2009, 5(2), 45-50
(China).
~dSafety
~tApplication of AHP-fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method in coal-
gas station safety status
~w2010-03-01
With the rise of energy and oil products of price in our country,
many coal-gas stations developed fast in recent years. Many
enterprises choose coal gasification according to the development of
itself and due to the superiority of gaseous fuel. It produces easily
igniting and exploding, poisonous and harmful materials, and has
great potential harm, which may cause the casualties and property
loss if not be cautious. Therefore, it is great significance to make
an objective evaluation on the gas station security by using a
scientific and rational method. This paper evaluated the practical
situation of the coal-gas station and draw the conclusion by choosing
assessment indexes rationally, building up the hierarchical model of
factors objectively and systematically
Authors: Peng, Wei; Xiao, Guo-qing; Liu, Peng-ju.
Full Source: Zhongguo Anquan Shengchan Kexue Jishu 2009, 5(2), 93-97
(China).