Evaluation of sound exposure and risk of hearing impairment in orchestral musicians

This study aimed to assess exposure to sound and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in orchestral musicians. Sound pressure level was measured in 1 opera and 3 symphony orchestras; questionnaires were filled in. On the basis of that data, the risk of NIHL was assessed according to Standard No. ISO 1999:1990. Classical orchestral musicians are usually exposed to sound at equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure levels of 81?90 dB (10th?90th percentiles), for 20?45 h (10th?90th percentiles) per week. Occupational exposure to such sound levels over 40 years of employment might cause hearing loss (expressed as a mean hearing threshold level at 2, 3, 4 kHz exceeding 35 dB) of up to 26%. Playing the horn, trumpet, tuba and percussion carries the highest risk (over 20%).     

The disposition and metabolism of tetrabromobisphenol-A after a single i.p. dose in the rat.

Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A) is used as a reactive (primary use) or an additive flame retardant and as an intermediate in the production of other flame retardants. In our study TBBP-A[14C] was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in a single dose of 250 or 1000 mg/kg body weight (about 300 kBq per animal). The level of radioactivity in erythrocytes was 10 times higher than in plasma 72 h after the administration. In all examined tissues the peak level of 14C could be observed within the first hour after the administration, and the highest concentrations were detected in the fat tissue, followed by liver, sciatic nerve, muscles and adrenals. Total excretion in faeces 72 h after the administration was about 51-65% of the dose, whereas in urine it was only 0.3%. About 20% was still retained in the rat organism.     

Histological changes in the reproductive system of male rats exposed to cigarette smoke or electronic cigarette vapor

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes increases as a supposedly healthier form of nicotine consumption, but safety of vaping remains uncertain. In this study, we assessed whether the use of electronic cigarettes increases the risk of infertility in male rats. Malformations of sperm morphology were more frequent in nicotine-exposed groups than in the control group. Vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium, reduction of spermatogenesis, increased apoptosis of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, and acceleration of degeneration of testes were observed. The male reproductive organs are slightly less affected by vaping than by smoking. Nevertheless, in consequence both may lead to the reduction of fertility.     

Management of packaging waste in Poland--development agenda and accession to the EU.

In recent years the issue of the municipal waste in Poland has become increasingly topical, with a considerable rise in the waste generation, much of which can be attributed to a boom in product packaging (mainly plastic). The annual production of plastics packaging has been constantly increasing over the last 20 to 30 years, and now exceeds 3.7 million tons. Due to a lack of processing technologies and poorly developed selective segregation system, packaging waste is still treated as a part of the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, most of which is landfilled. As a result of Poland's access to the European Union, previous legal regulations governing municipal waste management have been harmonized with those binding on the member countries. One of the main changes, the most revolutionary one, is to make entrepreneurs liable for environmental risks resulting from the introduction of packaging to the market, and for its recycling. In practice, all entrepreneurs are to ensure recovery, and recycling, of used packaging from products introduced to the market at the required level. In recent year, the required recycling levels were fulfilled for all types of materials but mainly by large institutions using grouped and transport packaging waste for that matter. Household packaging gathered in the selective segregation system at the municipalities was practically left alone. This paper is an attempt to describe the system and assess the first year of functioning of the new, revamped system of packaging waste management in Poland. Recommendations are made relating to those features that need to be included in packaging waste management systems in order to maximize their sustainability and harmonization with the EU legal system.     

Assessing village authenticity with satellite images: a method to identify intact cultural landscapes in Europe

The village with its characteristic zones of different land use from the center to the periphery is a basic unit of Europe's cultural landscapes. However, loss of the authentic pre-industrial village structure characterized by a fine-grained structure of arable land and wooded grasslands is a threat to both cultural heritage and biodiversity in many rural landscapes. Therefore, it is important that the extent and rate of change of such authentic villages in a landscape can be monitored. We studied to what extent loss of authenticity with increasing time after abandonment can be assessed by quantitative analysis and visual interpretation of satellite images. The study was carried out in the Bieszczady Mountains, SE Poland in 1999. Using Landsat Thematic Mapper data from 1998, both the grain size of landscape elements (size of fields) and land-cover composition (encroachment of shrub and forest) were quantitatively described 6 type villages representing different stages of deterioration of the authentic village structure. Historical maps were used to delineate the border of the villages and the former extension of forest and open land was measured. The present land use and the degree of abandonment expressed as grain size and forest encroachment were mapped using satellite data. Deterioration occurred along 2 transformation paths: abandonment and ultimately becoming forest, or intensified agriculture, respectively. To validate these results we classified 22 other villages in a 1000 km2 area by visual interpretation of the original satellite images into 1 of 4 types. We then collected historical data on human population changes over the past six decades. The classification of village authenticity was clearly related to the rate of human population decline. We address the importance of validating and applying this approach for rapid assessment of the authenticity of cultural landscapes in European regions being subject to ongoing as well as expected future change, related to expansion of the European Union. Finally, we argue that the village represents a scale at which integration of natural and social sciences is possible.     

Investigations of ash topography/morphology and their relationship with heavy metals leachability

The leachability of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from the ash material obtained from waste combustion was studied. The effects of ash surface topography and morphology on the leachability of these elements were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AFM (scan size 10 x 10 microns) and SEM images of the simulated ash pellet obtained at various operating temperatures (1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C) showed significant microstructural and topographical changes. Ash pellets treated at 1000 degrees C contain porous and non-continuous surface. On the other hand, the ash pellet obtained at higher temperature (1500 degrees C) was found to contain a smooth, continuous and non-porous surface. The AFM height profile studies indicated that the top surface variation of the ash pellet at 1000, 1400 and 1500 degrees C were found to be -40.0 to 25.5, -3.7 to 4.7 and -0.10 to 0.66 nm respectively. The SEM analyses also confirmed the presence of smooth, non-porous outer surface of ash formed at 1500 degrees C. In addition, it also showed the presence of compact and rigid interior for the same ash pellet. The leachability of the heavy metals was determined using standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test and the samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the TCLP leaching ratios of the heavy metals were Cr = 0.30, Pb = 0.05 and Cd = 0.09 at 1000 degrees C. However, the ash obtained at 1400 degrees C showed negligible heavy metals leaching ratio while at 1500 degrees C no leachability was detected (TCLP concentration dropped to nondetectable levels). The use of high temperature treatment enabled the immobilization of heavy metals in the ash preventing their leaching. Such ash can be considered as a non-hazardous material for reuse or safe disposal.     

Isolation and identification of intermediates from biodegradation of low chlorinated biphenyls (Delor-103)

Microorganism Pseudomonas species P2 metabolizes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and biphenyl, producing the whole spectrum of intermediates, among them coloured intermediates, which are suitable for the monitoring of PCBs degradation by optical sensors. Knowledge of chemical structures and conditions of development of colour metabolites is necessary for application of optical analytical methods. The main goal of this work was the isolation and identification of intermediates from the biodegradation of the mixture of low chlorinated biphenyls (Delor-103), which is based on the solid phase extraction (SPE) of the whole mixture using LiChrolut EN cartridges, then silylation of the extract as one way to the identification of one part of intermediates by GC-MS, and acetylation of the extract as a way for the further concentration and analysis of more polar chlorobiphenylols and chlorobiphenyldiols. The combination of SPE and following acetylation allows to obtain chlorobiphenylols and chlorobiphenyldiols as an almost pure fraction. The acetylation method could be also used instead SPE procedure with the same final concentration effect. Using the simulation mass spectrometry program, two new compounds, dihydrodihydroxytrichloro- and tetrahydrodihydroxytrichlorobiphenyl, as silylderivatives, were identified.