Amniocentesis carried out for neural tube indications in South Wales 1973–1981: Outcome of pregnancies and findings in the malformed abortuses

The 2872 second trimester amniocenteses followed by amniotic alphafetoprotein (AFP) estimations carried out in South Wales between 1973 and 1981 on women known to be at increased risk for neural tube defect (NTD) and those who had a raised serum AFP level in an NTD screening programme led to the identification of 78 pregnancies of a fetus with anen-cephalus, 61 with ‘open’ spina bifida, 8 with gastroschisis, 3 with exomphalos, 2 with encephalo-cele and 6 with chromosome abnormality. Pregnancies of fetuses having 4 potentially identifiable NTDs were missed because of an equivocal AFP level and there were two false positive results leading to the termination of one normal fetus. It is emphasized that both the latter problems of one normal fetus. It is emphasized that both the latter problems would not have occurred had gel-electrophoresis for isoenzymes of acetyl cholinesterase been available. Follow-up of pregnancies showed that 7 children with ‘closed’ NTD and 3 with congenital hydrocephalus were born. The anencephalics and the ‘open’ spina bifidas had a more florid lesion than is usual at term. Nearly all the spina bifidas were associated with hydrocephalus, often severe and with an obvious Arnold-Chiari malformation. All but 13 had leg or back deformation or malformations in other systems, mostly in the renal tract.     

Do racial differences exist in second-trimester maternal hCG levels? a study of 23 369 patients

In Down syndrome screening by maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) determination at 15, 16, 17, and 18 weeks of gestation, we prospectively examined 23 369 sera from white (21 549), North African (970), black African (525), and Asian (325) patients. When expressed as multiples of the median (MOM), no difference was observed between white, North African, and black African patients. However, higher serum hCG concentrations were noted in Asians, for whom we therefore recommend correction of hCG values before calculation of the risk of Down syndrome.     

Establishing principal soil quality parameters influencing earthworms in urban soils using bioassays

Potential contamination at ex-industrial sites means that, prior to change of use, it will be necessary to quantify the extent of risks to potential receptors. To assess ecological hazards, it is often suggested to use biological assessment to augment chemical analyses. Here we investigate the potential of a commonly recommended bioassay, the earthworm reproduction test, to assess the status of urban contaminated soils. Sample points at all study sites had contaminant concentrations above the Dutch soil criteria Target Values. In some cases, the relevant Intervention Values were exceeded. Earthworm survival at most points was high, but reproduction differed significantly in soil from separate patches on the same site. When the interrelationships between soil parameters and reproduction were studied, it was not possible to create a good model of site soil toxicity based on single or even multiple chemical measurements of the soils. We thus conclude that chemical analysis alone is not sufficient to characterize soil quality and confirms the value of biological assays for risk assessment of potentially contaminated soils.     

Response of sugar maple to multiple year exposures to ozone and simulated acidic precipitation

Potted sugar maple seedlings were exposed to ozone and acidic precipitation in open-top chambers for three consecutive growing seasons. Periodic measurements of photosynthesis, dark respiration, through-fall and soil solution chemistry, and annual measurements of the weight of plant parts were made. Experimental treatments caused few and minor effects on above- or below-ground growth of the seedlings, even after three growing seasons. There were trends for reduced photosynthesis in trees exposed to elevated concentrations of ozone and increased photosynthesis in those exposed to the lowest pH simulated rain treatment. The chemistries of soil-solutions and through-fall were not altered significantly by treatment. Although major effects were not observed, sugar maple may respond to exposures that take place over a significant part of its life cycle.     

Brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish from the river Scheldt, Belgium

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in several fish species originating from the river Scheldt (Belgium). Five sampling locations were chosen in a highly industrialized area along the river, while two ponds in the vicinity of the river served as reference sites. The present study is a follow-up of a survey performed in 2000 which reported extremely high levels of PBDEs and HBCDs in eel (Anguilla anguilla) collected from the same region (Oudenaarde, Flanders). The sum of tri- to hepta-BDE congeners (2270+/-2260 ng/g lipid weight (lw), range 660-11500 ng/g lw) and total HBCDs (4500+/-3000 ng/g lw, range 390-12100 ng/g lw) were one order of magnitude higher than levels usually reported from freshwater systems, indicating the presence of point sources. In most samples, levels of total HBCDs were higher than those of PBDEs, probably due to the high density of factories using HBCD as an additive brominated flame retardant (BFR). The high values of HBCDs were confirmed by both gas- and liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although BFR levels were between the highest ever reported in freshwater ecosystems, PCBs could be detected at even higher concentrations (16000+/-14300 ng/g lw, range 3900-66600 ng/g lw), being among the highest levels recorded in Belgium. The inter-sampling site variation of PBDEs, HBCDs and PCBs was comparable. All locations presented similar PBDE congener profiles, with BDE 47 being the dominant congener, followed by BDE 100, BDE 99 and BDE 49, probably originating from the former use of the penta-BDE technical mixture. In order to estimate the impact of these point sources on human exposure, we further focussed on eels which showed a considerable decrease in the PBDE and HBCD levels between 2000 and 2006. Due to the wide span in concentrations between the different sampling locations, a variable contribution to the total human exposure through local eel consumption was estimated. The calculated daily intake ranged from 3 ng to 330 ng PBDEs/day for normal eel consumers, but was as high as 9800 ng PBDEs/day for anglers, which may be considered at risk.     

Non-ferrous metals (Pb, Cu, Zn) needs and city development: the Paris example (1815–2009)

The aim of this study is to explore the urban and/or industrial needs for non-ferrous metals (lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)) of Paris (France), a highly developed city conurbation, from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present. Pb was necessary for the development of urban networks (Pb pipes), Zn for Parisian roofs and Cu for the development of boiler making and electricity. This study is based on economic statistics and shows that the situation evolved from a city transforming ores, having its smelters and transforming metal into goods, to a city where metal smelting has been more or less quickly banned, and where only a small activity of metal transformation into metal-containing goods remains. The patterns of the three metals showed slight differences. The deindustrialization of Paris is also accompanied by a change of the supplying areas over time. Ores were always imported from abroad, because of the lack of French non-ferrous metal mines. But foundries, which were first abroad, had developed in France between the late nineteenth and late twentieth century and were again found abroad at the end of the twentieth century. The transformation of metal into goods left Paris to the benefit of other parts of France first, then of abroad, over time. In a second part, the evaluation of Pb consumption per capita in Paris conurbation shows that Pb needs of Paris conurbation were higher than those of France in the nineteenth century. Then, the Paris demand was satisfied and it became lower than that of France. Both the deindustrialisation of Paris conurbation and its lower needs led to a decrease in the relative weight of Paris for non-ferrous metals, compared to other parts of France.     

Application of sludge-based carbonaceous materials in a hybrid water treatment process based on adsorption and catalytic wet air oxidation

This paper describes a preliminary evaluation of the performance of carbonaceous materials prepared from sewage sludges (SBCMs) in a hybrid water treatment process based on adsorption and catalytic wet air oxidation; phenol was used as the model pollutant. Three different sewage sludges were treated by either carbonisation or steam activation, and the physico-chemical properties of the resultant carbonaceous materials (e.g. hardness, BET surface area, ash and elemental content, surface chemistry) were evaluated and compared with a commercial reference activated carbon (PICA F22). The adsorption capacity for phenol of the SBCMs was greater than suggested by their BET surface area, but less than F22; a steam activated, dewatered raw sludge (SA_DRAW) had the greatest adsorption capacity of the SBCMs in the investigated range of concentrations (<0.05 mol L^?1). In batch oxidation tests, the SBCMs demonstrated catalytic behaviour arising from their substrate adsorptivity and metal content. Recycling of SA_DRAW in successive oxidations led to significant structural attrition and a hardened SA_DRAW was evaluated, but found to be unsatisfactory during the oxidation step. In a combined adsorption–oxidation sequence, both the PICA carbon and a selected SBCM showed deterioration in phenol adsorption after oxidative regeneration, but a steady state performance was reached after 2 or 3 cycles.     

Factors inducing bryophyte growth on prehistoric pigments and effect of UV-C treatment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In La Glacière cave (France), the touristic activity has been conducted to an environmental parameter change that has led to photosynthetic...     

Assessing the impact of nano- and micro-scale zerovalent iron particles on soil microbial activities: particle reactivity interferes with assay conditions and interpretation of genuine microbial effects

The effects of nano-scale and micro-scale zerovalent iron (nZVI and mZVI) particles on general (dehydrogenase and hydrolase) and specific (ammonia oxidation potential, AOP) activities mediated by the microbial community in an uncontaminated soil were examined. nZVI (diameter 12.5 nm; 10 mg g⁻¹ soil) apparently inhibited AOP and nZVI and mZVI apparently stimulated dehydrogenase activity but had minimal influence on hydrolase activity. Sterile experiments revealed that the apparent inhibition of AOP could not be interpreted as such due to the confounding action of the particles, whereas, the nZVI-enhanced dehydrogenase activity could represent the genuine response of a stimulated microbial population or an artifact of ZVI reactivity. Overall, there was no evidence for negative effects of nZVI or mZVI on the processes studied. When examining the impact of redox active particles such as ZVI on microbial oxidation-reduction reactions, potential confounding effects of the test particles on assay conditions should be considered.