Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric urban area: monitoring on various types of sites

The air quality over the Toulouse urban area (France) is recorded daily by the regional "Midi-Pyrénées" atmospheric pollution measurements network (ORAMIP). Relevant data is collected from about 100 analysers spread over more than thirty stations. The regulations covering major indicators of atmospheric pollution (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide) have been updated in recent years to include additional compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ORAMIP, in partnership with the ENSIACET has undertaken background PAH average concentration measurements over the urban agglomeration of Toulouse during spring 2006 for various types of sites (traffic, urban, industrial). The sampling was performed using a low volume air sampler equipped with quartz fiber filters and polyurethane foams For the two urban sites, total atmospheric concentrations between 12 and 20 ng/m(3) have been obtained, whereas for the industrial site the values averaged 22 ng/m(3). In addition, and regardless of site, the average concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene, at present the only regulated PAH, were always less than the 1 ng/m(3) limit.     

Morphological and cytological responses of ammonia (foraminifera) to copper contamination: implication for the use of foraminifera as bioindicators of pollution

The effect of graded concentrations of copper was analyzed at morphological and cytological levels on two species of Ammonia (foraminifera) often found in polluted areas. The two species were sensitive to low concentration, but survived high concentration (threshold value<10 microg l(-1), lethal value>200 microg l(-1)), which gives them a high potential value as bioindicators. Increasing concentrations lead to (1) increasing delay before production of new chambers, explaining dwarfism in polluted areas; (2) increasing delay before reproduction and decreasing number of juveniles, explaining low density; and (3) increasing proportion of deformed tests. Cytological modifications occurred only in deformed specimens (thickening of the organic lining, proliferation of fibrillar and of large lipidic vesicles, increased number of residual bodies). They may be responsible for anomalies in biomineralization processes. The detection of sulfur in deformed specimens suggests that foraminifers may have a detoxification mechanism with production of a metallothionein-like protein.     

Exposure assessment of French women and their newborns to tetrabromobisphenol-A: occurrence measurements in maternal adipose tissue, serum, breast milk and cord serum

A French monitoring study was initiated to evaluate the exposure of fetus and newborn to brominated flame retardants (BFR). A previously developed multi-residue analytical method was used for measuring the main classes of BFR (tetrabromobisphenol-A, and tri- to decabomodiphenyl ethers) in various human biological matrices. Analyzed samples (maternal and cord serum, adipose tissue and breast milk) were collected from 93 volunteer women during caesarean deliveries. TBBPA was detected in 44% of the analyzed breast milk samples, at levels varying from 0.06 to 37.34 ng g(-1) lipid weight, but was not detected in adipose tissue. This compound was also detected in 30% of the analyzed serum samples, with similar average values in maternal and cord serum (154 pg g(-1) fresh weight versus 199 pg g(-1) fresh weight, respectively). The interpretation of the collected data permitted the demonstration of (1) a significant exposure to TBBPA both for mothers and fetuses and (2) a possible risk of overexposure of newborns through breastfeeding.     

Thermal degradation of 2-chlorophenol promoted by CuCl2 or CuCl: formation and destruction of PCDD/Fs

The oxidative degradation of 2-chlorophenol in air (equivalence ratio phi=0.8) was investigated at 350 degrees C by using the sealed tube technique under different conditions: in the gas phase and in the presence of copper chlorides (CuCl2 and CuCl in different proportions). Not only PCDD/Fs but carbon oxides and other organic products such as chlorophenols, chlorobenzenes, tetrachloroethylene and tetrachlorocyclopentenedione were quantified in order to evaluate the relative importance of reaction pathways. Additional experiments were performed to analyse the degradation products of octachlorodibenzodioxin and 2-monochlorodibenzodioxin. Although it was stated that chlorobenzenes could be formation precursors for PCDD/Fs, experimental data obtained in this work show that chlorobenzenes can also be degradation products of PCDD/Fs.     

Semilobar holoprosencephaly in a 46,XY female fetus

We report the prenatal echographic diagnosis of holoprosencephaly (HPE) at 11 weeks' gestation. Fetopathological examination revealed an unusual variant of semilobar HPE with middle interhemispheric fusion associated with sex-reversal: 46,XY normal male karyotype, normal external and internal female genitalia and streak gonads. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.