Self-reported occupational blood exposure among paramedics in Poland: a pilot study

Introduction. Paramedics are at risk of occupational blood exposure, increased by the immediacy of provided treatment. However, the issue has not been acknowledged to date by any research in Europe. Methods. This research aimed at assessing occupational blood exposure among paramedics in Poland. Respondents represented 21 Polish medical institutions. Their participation was voluntary and anonymous. Paramedics were provided with a self-directed job-specific questionnaire adapted to Polish conditions from an original US version. Results. 118 paramedics participated in the study from institutions constituting the National Emergency Medical System in Poland; including ambulance crews, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and emergency department employees. Occupational exposure was reported by 18.64% of respondents and the main route of exposure was needlestick events. Conclusions. There is a further need to improve education among paramedics concerning the threat of being infected with blood-borne pathogens through all existing routes. Our findings point to the problem as being hidden and considered a shameful issue.     

Effect of treated swimming pool water on the levels of trihalomethanes in swimmer's urine

Swimming pools are considered to be the prime source for public exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), mainly chloroform, because of their use for hygienic purposes. High doses of chlorine are easily perceptible by smell. The aim of this study was to measure simultaneously the THM levels in urine and blood of swimmers and in pool water itself (from city and university swimming pool), in order to investigate further the relationship between substances in different matrices at known environmental levels with uptake of these substances in indoor swimming pools. Volatile analytes were isolated and preconcentrated from the samples by thin layer headspace analysis (TLHS) with autogenous generation of the liquid sorbent. Chloroform, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane were detected in the urine of all persons attending a swimming pool. Concentrations of THM compounds varied in the case of each swimmer. The research confirmed that approximately 10% of the volatile haloorganic compounds are excreted in urine in the unchanged form.     

Application of chemometric analysis based on physicochemical and chromatographic data for the differentiation origin of plant protection products containing chlorpyrifos

The aim of this study was to investigate the similarities and dissimilarities between the pesticide samples in form of emulsifiable concentrates (EC) formulation containing chlorpyrifos as active ingredient coming from different sources (i.e., shops and wholesales) and also belonging to various series. The results obtained by the Headspace Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry method and also some selected physicochemical properties of examined pesticides including pH, density, stability, active ingredient and water content in pesticides tested were compared using two chemometric methods. Applicability of simple cluster analysis and also principal component analysis of obtained data in differentiation of examined plant protection products coming from different sources was confirmed. It would be advantageous in the routine control of originality and also in the detection of counterfeit pesticides, respectively, among commercially available pesticides containing chlorpyrifos as an active ingredient.     

Development of drinking water standards for perchlorate in the United States

Perchlorate, an anion that originates as a contaminant in ground and surface waters, is both naturally occurring and manmade. Because of its toxicity, there has been increased interest in setting drinking water safety standards and in health effects when perchlorate is present at low (parts per billion (ppb)) levels. In January 2009, the EPA issued a heath advisory to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of perchlorate in drinking water. The interim health advisory level of 15 micrograms per liter (μg/L), or ppb, is based on the reference dose recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). This paper describes scope and extent of contaminant issues and a legal process of setting standards for perchlorate concentration in drinking water in the United States of America.     

Volatile organohalogen compounds in human urine: the effect of environmental exposure

The paper presents the results of determination of volatile organohalogen compounds (VOX) in urine samples from subjects exposed to these compounds in their workplaces and through consumption of chlorinated tap water. The analytes were isolated and preconcentrated from the complex urine samples using the thin layer headspace (TLHS) technique with autogenous generation of the liquid sorbent. Final gas chromatographic determination was carried out by direct aqueous injection with electron capture detection (DAI-ECD). The results indicate that only a small fraction (<4%) of the VOX input is excreted with urine in the non-metabolized form. A positive correlation was found between the occupational levels of VOX in the workplace and their levels in urine. VOX levels in the urine of subjects not exposed to them in the workplace were significantly lower. Their presence in the organisms was most probably related to consumption of tap water produced by chlorination of surface waters.     

SEC-ICP-MS studies for elements binding to different molecular weight fractions of humic substances in compost extract obtained from urban solid waste

In this work, the speciation of elements in compost was studied with emphasis on their binding to humic substances. In order to assess the distribution of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, U, Th and Zn among molecular weight fractions of humic substances, the compost extract (extracted by 0.1 mol l(-1) sodium pyrophosphate) was analyzed by size exclusion chromatography coupled on-line with UV-Vis spectrophotometric and ICP-MS detection. Similar chromatograms were obtained for standard humic acid (Fluka) and for compost extract (254 nm, 400 nm) and three size fractions were operationally defined that corresponded to the apparent molecular weight ranges > 15 kDa, 1-15 kDa and < 1 kDa. The percentage of total element content in compost that was leached to the extract ranged from 30% up to 100% for different elements. The elution profiles of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb (ICP-MS) followed that of humic substances, while for other elements the bulk elution peak matched the retention time observed for the element in the absence of compost extract. Spiking experiments were carried out to confirm elements' binding and to estimate the affinity of individual elements for humic substances derived from compost. The results obtained indicated the following order of decreasing affinity: Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cd > (Cr, U, Th) > (As, Mn, Mo, Zn). After standard addition, further binding of Cu, Ni and Co with the two molecular weight fractions of humic substances was observed, indicating that humic substances derived from compost were not saturated with these elements.     

Classification of the Substances on the Basis of the Acute-Toxic-Class Method (ATC)

The acute-toxic-class method (ATC) is an alternative to the classical LD₅₀ test. Four substances were tested with an ATC testing procedure. The results were compared with LD₅₀ data obtained from the literature. Great importance was attached to the observations of toxic signs following administration. The results of this study have shown that the ATC method allows allocation to toxicity classes in the same manner as on the basis of the classical LD₅₀ tests. The ATC method uses fewer animals and yields the same information on toxic signs. Introducing the ATC method into the quality system allows estimating the acute oral toxicity of chemicals according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD; OECD, 1992, 1996).     

Nitrogen removal from wastewater and bacterial diversity in activated sludge at different COD/N ratios and dissolved oxygen concentrations

The impact of the organic carbon to nitrogen ratio (chemical oxygen demand (COD)/N) in wastewater and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on carbon and nitrogen removal efficiency, and total bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities in activated sludge in constantly aerated sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) was determined. At DO of 0.5 and 1.5 mg O₂/L during the aeration phase, the efficiency of ammonia oxidation exceeded 90%, with nitrates as the main product. Nitrification and denitrification achieved under the same operating conditions suggested the simultaneous course of these processes. The most effective nitrogen elimination (above 50%) was obtained at the COD/N ratio of 6.8 and DO of 0.5 mg O₂/L. Total bacterial diversity was similar in all experimental series, however, for both COD/N ratios of 6.8 and 0.7, higher values were observed at DO of 0.5 mg O₂/L. The diversity and abundance of AOB were higher in the reactors with the COD/N ratio of 0.7 in comparison with the reactors with the COD/N of 6.8. For both COD/N ratios applied, the AOB population was not affected by oxygen concentration. Amplicons with sequences indicating membership of the genus Nitrosospira were the determinants of variable technological conditions.     

Management of hazardous fly-ash energy waste in the adsorptive removal of diclofenac by the use of synthetic zeolitic materials

Zeolite-carbon composites (Na-P1(C), Na-X(C)) and pure zeolites (Na-P1, Na-X) were synthesized from hazardous high-carbon fly ash waste (HC FA) via hydrothermal reaction with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). These solids were applied in the removal of diclofenac (DCF) from aqueous solution, with and without poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The experiments included adsorption–desorption measurements, as well as electrokinetic and stability analyses. The obtained results showed that HC FA and Na-P1(C) had the greatest adsorption capacity towards DCF, i.e., 26.51 and 21.19 mg/g, respectively. PAA caused considerable decrease in the DCF adsorption due to the competition of both adsorbates of anionic character for active sites. For example, the adsorbed amount of DCF on Na-P1 without PAA was 14.11 mg/g, whereas the one measured with PAA was 5.08 mg/g. Most of prepared solids were effectively regenerated by the use of NaOH. Desorption degree reached even 73.65% in the single systems (with one adsorbate) and 97.24% in the mixed ones (with two adsorbates). Zeolitic materials formed suspensions of rather low stability, which underwent further deterioration in the organic molecules presence. All the results obtained in this study indicated that HC FA can be successfully managed in the removal of organic substances.

     

Changes in the liver proteome in apoE knockout mice exposed to inhalation of silica nanoparticles indicate mitochondrial damage and impairment of ER stress responses associated with microvesicular steatosis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The adverse effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system have been well documented. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an...