Pregnancy outcome after transcervical cvs with a flexible biopsy forceps: Evaluation of risk factors

The pregnancy outcome of 1936 women who had transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS) with a flexible biopsy forceps was evaluated. Follow-up until 4 weeks after delivery was 99.4 per cent. Various patient- and procedure-related risk factors for spontaneous loss (fetal or neonatal death) were analysed using stepwise logistic regression analysis. The overall spontaneous loss rate was 4.5 per cent. Factors found to be significantly associated with spontaneous loss were quantity of villi ≤ 15 mg (relative risk (RR) 2.13), a history of first-trimester miscarriage (RR 1.87) or delivery between 16 and 27 weeks (RR 3.87), cervical culture positive for anaerobes (RR 4.52) or group B streptococcus (RR 3.62), post-procedural bleeding >3 days (RR 1.99), and multiple insertions (RR 2.64). Significant differences in loss rates between individual operators were found. A learning effect was not present. There were no infants born with terminal transversal limb anomalies in our series.     

The Impact of the Hyperacid Ijen Crater Lake. Part II: A Total Diet Study

In Asembagus (East Java, Indonesia), surface water is contaminated with effluent from the hyperacid Ijen Crater Lake. In a previous study, we reported that food crops irrigated with this water had increased concentrations of various elements. Here, we present a total diet study for adults and 6-year-old children to determine if the mean daily intake of a broad range of elements is safe and adequate. For children, the intake of B, Mg, Mn and V is high with Hazard Quotients (HQ) of 1.1 (B), 1.4 (Mn) and 1.4 (V), respectively (no TDI is available for Mg). For Mn, the daily intake is high due to the consumption of locally produced rice. Drinking water is the main source of B, Mg and V. For adults, the intake of Mg, Mn and V is also high but HQ values are ≤0.7. For both children and adults, the intake of Ca, Zn and particularly Fe is below the RNI (Fe intake is 90% below the RNI for women). It is concluded the mean intake of elements is unbalanced and Fe deficiency is probably the most serious health problem. Toxic effects cannot be fully excluded since deficiency of essential elements such as Ca, Fe and Zn can increase the absorption and retention of various elements.     

Decabromodiphenylether and hexabromocyclododecane in wild birds from the United Kingdom, Sweden and The Netherlands: Screening and time trends

The brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenylether (DBDE) was analysed in wild birds to identify the most suitable species for monitoring time trends in DBDE contamination. This information was later used for the design of a 10-year trend study on DBDE in the European Union. DBDE was measured in muscle tissue, liver, and eggs from 10 terrestrial and four aquatic bird species. DBDE was detected in 47% of the terrestrial bird samples (nine species) and in 9% of the aquatic bird samples (six species). Peregrine falcon and sparrowhawk specimens were selected as most suitable species to determine temporal trends of DBDE. For sparrowhawks, no significant change in DBDE concentrations between 1973 and 2001 was found, although in later years more DBDE concentrations were above the detection limit. Peak DBDE levels measured in peregrines in 1995, were followed by a decline in concentrations until 2001. The same species were used for a trend study on hexabromocylcododecane (HBCD). Twenty-four percent of peregrine falcon eggs and 12% of sparrowhawk muscle samples demonstrated measurable HBCD residues. Three diastereomers of HBCD were analysed and the α-diastereomer was the predominant one in most samples. No clear time trends were observed for HBCD in either species. This study demonstrated that these DBDE and HBCD are bioavailable to birds of Northern Europe, although bioaccumulation seems to occur to a limited extent.     

Managing soil remediation problems

Soil remediation has only a short history but the problem addressed is a significant one. Cost estimates for the clean-up of contaminated sites in the European Union and the United States are in the order of magnitude of 1,400 billion ECU. Such an enormous operation deserves the best management it can get. Reliable cost estimations per contaminated site are an important prerequisite. This paper addresses the problems related to site-wise estimations. When solving soil remediation problems, we have to deal with a large number of scientific disciplines. Too often solutions are presented from the viewpoint of only one discipline. In order to benefit from the combined disciplinary knowledge and experience, we think that it is necessary to describe the interrelations between these disciplines. This can be realized by developing an adequate model of the desired process which enables to consider and evaluate the essential factors as interdependent components of the total system. The resulting model provides a binding paradigm to the contributing disciplines which will result in improved efficiency and effectivity of the decision and the cost estimation process. In the near future, we will release the “Biosparging and Bioventing Expert Support System”, an expert support system for problem owners, consultants and authorities dealing with the design and operation of a biosparging and/or a bioventing system.     

Objections to the use of polyvinyl fluoride in smogchamber experiments

The interference of low molecular weight additives in polyvinyl fluoride film (PVF; “Tedlar”) used for the construction of smogchambers has been investigated by means of irradiation experiments, chemical modelling and analytical techniques. The results indicate that PVF is unsuitable as a wall material for smogchambers, owing to interference in hydrocarbon measurements, possibly NO_x-measurements, and in the formation of ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate. This information is thought to be of interest to present and future workers in air pollution research.     

Toxaphene: a challenging analytical problem

The analysis of toxaphene, a highly complex mixture of chlorinated bornanes, bornenes and camphenes, is a challenging problem, especially as individual congeners are present at trace levels in biota and other relevant samples. The complicated nomenclature of the compounds of interest is briefly discussed. Gas chromatographic techniques are the most important tools in toxaphene analysis because of their high resolution. The main focus of attention is devoted to important steps in the GC-based analytical procedure, such as sample preparation and injection, separation by single-column and multidimensional GC, both heart-cut and comprehensive, and detection by electron capture and, increasingly, MS-based detection/identification. The gradual shift from total toxaphene to individual compound analysis is discussed, and the growing interest in enantiomer-selective separations is highlighted. The problems encountered when selecting appropriate indicator compounds for rapid toxaphene screening are also addressed.     

Determination of brominated flame retardants,with emphasis on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in environmental and human samples--a review

Analytical methods for the determination of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), with a special emphasis on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are reviewed. A number of procedures, which can be applied to the analysis of PBDEs and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and in some cases for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), in environmental and human samples are described. Because several BFRs, such as tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A), BDE 209 and, to some extent, HBCD, may require a different approach, specific advice on their analysis is given separately when needed. Sample pretreatment, extraction, cleanup and fractionation, injection techniques, chromatographic separation, detection methods, quality control and method validation are discussed. For each topic, an overview is given of the current status of the field and recommendations for an appropriate analytical approach are presented.