Toxic effect of some heavy metals on hematology and histopathology of major carp (Catla catla)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The current study was conducted to assess the hematological and histopathological changes in major carp (Catla catla) exposed to different...     

Do risk perceptions and constraints influence the adoption of climate change practices among small livestock herders in Punjab,Pakistan?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Climate change is severely damaging the agricultural system of many food producing regions worldwide. Small/subsistent livestock herders are the most...     

The diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen section biopsy for diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sentinel lymph node (SLN) sampling is important for evaluating the nodal stage of breast cancer when the axillary nodes are clinically free of...     

Monitoring of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and some derivatives in fish products in the Turkey market

The exposure to bisphenols and their derivatives was assessed in 33 fish products sold in Turkey using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). BADGE was determined in only four samples at concentrations ranging between 0.06 and 0.22 mg/kg. As the most abundant bisphenol groups, BADGE-hydrolyzed products such as BADGE·H₂O and BADGE·2H₂O were present in nine and fourteen samples in the range between 0.06–0.16 and 0.06–0.72 mg/kg, respectively. The total concentration of BADGE and hydrolyzed products was below the specific migration limit (SML) value of 9 mg/kg food, which in the European Union stated as tolerable. Chlorinated derivatives of BADGE were detected in fewer samples compared with hydrolyzed ones. BADGE·H₂O·HCl was the predominant migrant among chlorinated derivatives and was present in seven samples in a range between 0.02 and 0.06 mg/kg. All other samples contained less than or equal to 0.03 mg/kg of BADGE·HCl and BADGE·2HCl. The sum of these derivatives was lower than the SML value (1 mg/kg) of BADGE chlorohydrins legislated by the European Union. Besides these migrants, the analyzed samples did not contain any BFDGE and 3R-NOGE, which are prohibited in manufacturing food contact materials.

     

Intertidal macroinvertebrate community structure in a subtropical channel is driven by sediment properties across different land-use types

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Macroinvertebrate community in the intertidal setup plays an important role in coastal ecosystem functions and biogeochemical cycle. However,...     

Detection of Y chromosome-specific DNA in the plasma and urine of pregnant women using nested polymerase chain reaction

The present study was undertaken to evaluate a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Y chromosome-specific fetal DNA in maternal plasma and urine of pregnant women during different gestational stages. DNA isolated from plasma and urine samples of 80 pregnant women (between 7 and 40 weeks' gestation) underwent amplification for Y chromosome-specific 198 bp DNA by nested PCR. The postpartum analysis of fetal gender showed that 55 women carried male and 25 female fetuses. Among the 55 women bearing male fetuses, Y chromosome-specific signals were detected in 53 (96%) plasma and 21 (38%) urine samples. Moreover, out of 25 women bearing female fetuses, 3 (12%) and 1 (4%) women had Y chromosome-specific signal in plasma and urine, respectively. Analysis of results with respect to gestational age revealed that there was no significant difference in the detection of Y chromosome-specific DNA between different trimesters in maternal plasma of women bearing male fetuses. These results showed that fetus-specific DNA was detected with high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (88%) in the maternal plasma by nested PCR, and therefore the method could be useful as a non-invasive procedure for fetal sex determination and prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perspectives for pilot scale study of RDF in Istanbul,Turkey

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most important environmental problems arising from rapid urbanization and industrialization. The use of alternative fuels in rotary kilns of cement plants is very important for reducing cost, saving fossil fuels and also eliminating waste materials, accumulated during production or after using these materials. Cement industries has an important potential for supplying preferable solutions to the waste management. Energy recovery from waste is also important for the reduction of CO₂ emissions.This paper presents an investigation of the development of refuse derived fuel (RDF) materials from non-recycling wastes and the determination of its potential use as an alternative fuel in cement production in Istanbul, Turkey. RDF produced from MSW was analyzed and its effects on cement production process were examined. For this purpose, the produced RDF was mixed with the main fuel (LPG) in ratios of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Then chemical and mineralogical analyses of the produced clinker were carried out. It is believed that successful results of this study will be a good example for municipalities and cement industries in order to achieve both economic and environmental benefits.     

Pinning down vulnerability: from narratives to numbers

Social vulnerability analyses have typically relied upon narratives to capture the nuances of the concept. While narratives have enhanced our understanding of the multiple drivers of vulnerability, they have had limited influence on hazards and climate adaptation policy. This is partially a function of the different needs and goals of the policy and research communities. The former prioritises generalised quantitative information, while the latter is more concerned with capturing complexity. A theoretically driven and empirically tested quantitative vulnerability and capacities index (VCI) for use at the local scale is presented to help connect vulnerability research and policy. There are four versions of the index for use in rural and urban contexts at the household and community levels. There can be an infinite number of drivers of vulnerability, but the VCI draws upon 12 indicators to represent material, institutional and attitudinal aspects of differential vulnerability and capacities.