(137)Cs and (90)Sr uptake by sunflower cultivated under hydroponic conditions

The (90)Sr and (137)Cs uptake by the plant Helianthus annuus L. was studied during cultivation in a hydroponic medium. The accumulation of radioactivity in plants was measured after 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days of cultivation. About 12% of (137)Cs and 20% of (90)Sr accumulated during the experiments. We did not find any differences between the uptake of radioactive and stable caesium and strontium isotopes. Radioactivity distribution within the plant was determined by autoradiography. (137)Cs was present mainly in nodal segments, leaf veins and young leaves. High activity of (90)Sr was localized in leaf veins, stem, central root and stomata. The influence of stable elements or analogues on the transfer behaviour was investigated. The percentage of non-active caesium and strontium concentration in plants decreased with the increasing initial concentration of Cs or Sr in the medium. The percentage of (90)Sr activity in plants decreased with increasing initial activity of the nuclide in the medium, but the activity of (137)Cs in plants increased. The influence of K(+) and NH(4)(+) on the uptake of (137)Cs and the influence of Ca(2+) on the uptake of (90)Sr was tested. The highest accumulation of (137)Cs (24-27% of the initial activity of (137)Cs) was found in the presence of 10 mM potassium and 12 mM ammonium ions. Accumulation of about 22% of initial activity of (90)Sr was determined in plants grown on the medium with 8 mM calcium ions.     

Assessment of the environmental fate and effects of the PPARgamma receptor agonist, pioglitazone

The environmental fate and effects of pioglitazone prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes were evaluated in an environmental risk assessment following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) "Guideline on the Environmental Risk Assessment of Medicinal Products for Human Use"; EMEA/CHMP/SWP/4447/00. A predicted environment concentration (PEC) for surface water was estimated at 0.023μgL(-1), (action limit of 0.01μgL(-1)) triggering a comprehensive battery of laboratory evaluations. Pioglitazone and its major metabolites were determined not to significantly adsorb to sewage solids, were not persistent in the aquatic environment, did not bioaccumulate and were non-toxic to aquatic organisms. Pioglitazone does not pose an unacceptable risk to groundwater supplies, with concentrations not anticipated to be a risk to aquatic organisms or human drinking water supplies. Pioglitazone does not pose a risk of secondary poisoning.     

Interrelationship of age and diet in Romania’s oldest human burial

In 1968, excavations in the Climente II cave in the Iron Gates gorge of the River Danube in southwest Romania unearthed the skeleton of an adult male. The burial was assumed to be of Late Pleistocene age because of the presence of Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) artefacts in the cave. However, there was no strong supporting stratigraphic evidence, and the body position is reminiscent of Early Neolithic burial practice in the region. Here, we report the results of radiocarbon and stable isotope analyses of the Climente II skeleton, which show that the skeleton dates to the Bølling–Allerød Interstadial ~14,500 cal BP. This is several millennia older than any previously dated human remains from the Iron Gates region and confirms its status as the oldest known burial from Romania. The stable isotope results indicate a diet with an emphasis on aquatic resources, contrary to the commonly held view that the LUP inhabitants of the Iron Gates subsisted mainly by hunting large land mammals.     

Work-related deaths in Washington State, 1998-2002

INTRODUCTION: In Washington State, 87 workers are killed each year, on average, while in work status. To understand these incidents and to assist in focusing on and development of potential prevention measures, they must be well characterized. METHODS: Work-related fatalities between the years 1998 and 2002 are described by the demographics of the victims, types of incidents, the victims' occupations, and industries and location in which they worked. RESULTS: Motor vehicle- and machinery-related incidents accounted for nearly 33% and 14% of the incidents, respectively. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining (n=87), and construction (n=83) had the most fatalities. Fatality rates per 100,000 workers for these industries were 25.7 and 8.7, respectively, compared to the state-wide average of 3.1 fatalities/100,000 workers. DISCUSSION: These data indicate numerous areas for prevention of work-related traumatic injuries and fatalities.     

Identifying source correlation parameters for hydrocarbon wastes using compound-specific isotope analysis

A preliminary evaluation of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) as a novel, alternative method for identifying source correlation compounds in soils contaminated with residual heavy or weathered petroleum wastes is presented. Oil-contaminated soil microcosms were established using soil (sandy-loam, non-carbonaceous cley) amended with ballast-, crude- or No.6 fuel oil. Microcosms were periodically sampled over 256 days and delta(13)C values (which express the ratio of (13)C to (12)C) determined at each time point for five n-alkanes and the isoprenoid norpristane using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS). Although some temporal variation was observed, no significant temporal shifts in the delta(13)C values for the five n-alkanes were measured in all three oils. Isoprenoid isotope ratios (delta(13)C) appeared to be least affected by biotransformation, especially in the No.6 fuel oil. The research suggests that the delta(13)C of isoprenoids such as norpristane, may be of use as source correlation parameters.