Decreasing the hazardous effect of waste quartz powder and the toxicity of epoxy resin by its synergistic application in industrial coatings

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Quartz powder sourced from industrial wastes is very hazardous. It is because it contains large amounts of fine particles. Thus, it has the potential...     

Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among family physicians in the Republic of Srpska,Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aims. The aim of this study was to examine self-perceived compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among family physicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina and describe potential contributing factors. Methods. The cross-sectional study enrolled 120 family physicians. Professional quality of life compassion satisfaction and fatigue version 5 (ProQOL5) was used to assess compassion satisfaction and two components of compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress and burnout. The symptoms of chronic fatigue were evaluated using the Chalder fatigue scale. Results. The majority of family physicians had moderate levels of compassion satisfaction (70%), burnout (75%) and secondary traumatic stress (55.8%). Family physicians with higher levels of secondary traumatic stress reported chronic fatigue (p?=?0.001), longer length of service (p?=?0.024) and residency training (p?=?0.041). Chronic fatigue (p?=?0.001), living in a rural environment (p?=?0.033), larger size of practice (p?=?0.006) and high number of patients with chronic disease (p?=?0.001) were associated with a higher risk of burnout. Conclusion. Family physicians with large practices, long years of experience, a high number of chronically ill patients and experiencing chronic fatigue are at risk of developing compassion fatigue. A systematic exploration of compassion fatigue in relation to working conditions might provide an appropriate starting point for the development of preventive interventions.     

Report: Treatment of medical waste in Nisava and Toplica districts, Serbia

If there are no clearly defined management procedures, medical waste may represent a source of serious health hazards. Medical waste management was evaluated at the three hospitals in the Nisava and Toplica district, in Serbia. All the stages of existing waste management (segregation, collection, storage, transportation and disposal of waste) were examined by interviewing the personnel involved in the management of waste. The generated waste was a mixture of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The study found that waste management performance in this district was poor and that there were problems in every stage of management. The results indicate that the waste generation rate was 1.92 kg bed(-1) day(-1) and consisted of 98.7% general waste and 1.3% sharps. Inappropriate segregation practices were the biggest problem and led to increased quantities of general waste. There were no specific regulations for the segregation of the medical waste. None of the surveyed hospitals have a system to refine wastewater and there were no training courses about hospital waste management.     

Decline in body size and female fraction in the grass snake (Natrix natrix,Linnaeus 1758) population after 40 years (Southern Poland)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Depletion of free-living populations is often associated with changes in fitness-related traits, e.g., body size. Ongoing decrease in body size has...     

Differential accumulation of low-chlorinated (Delor 103) and high-chlorinated (Delor 106) biphenyls in human placental tissue and opposite effects on conversion of DHEA to E2

OBJECTIVE: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related compounds elicit a diverse spectrum of toxic responses. Additionally, they are able to pass through the human placenta. The aim of the presented data was to compare the action of low-chlorinated (Delor 103) and (Delor 106) high-chlorinated biphenyls on placental steroidogenesis. METHODS: Explants of human placental tissue were used to test differences in PCBs accumulation and influence on placental steroidogenesis. Delor 103 or 106, were added daily for six days at a dose of 200 pg from day 0 to day 6 of culture. The media in the control and experimental groups were changed every day, and collected and frozen for steroid analysis by RIA. Determinations of PCBs of tissue and medium were analysed by GC/MS/MS. RESULTS: Delor 103 was found at a higher level in the tissue than Delor 106. The first day of exposure to Delor 103 had no effect on the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to estradiol (E2) while there was a 2-fold decrease in E2 secretion from days 3 to 6. Conversely, Delor 106 caused an immediate increase in E2 secretion, which was maintained at higher levels throughout the exposure period. CONCLUSION: Differences between the accumulation of lower chlorinated and higher chlorinated biphenyls in human placental tissue and in the properties of the congeners can have multiple effects that may intensify or counteract the effects on uterine contraction by PCBs.     

The earliest occurrence of the steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) in Europe near the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary

The steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla), a representative of the lagomorph family Ochotonidae, is restricted today to Kazakhstan and Russia. This subspecies-rich form belongs to a morphologically distinct, monospecific group of relatively small pikas, inhabiting steppe-like habitat. In the fossil record, it serves as a bioindicator of dry, grassland environment. The steppe pika was abundant and widespread in Europe during the Last Glaciation, and its unquestionable presence has been reported there since the middle Pleistocene. A new discovery of O. pusilla, from the Kielniki 3B locality (Poland), dated to the latest Pliocene, moves back the species appearance in Europe about one million years, almost coeval with its first record from the late Pliocene of Kazakhstan. Presence of such a typical steppe inhabitant as O. pusilla indicates significant climate change towards more arid, continental conditions, which started influencing Europe at 2.6 Ma. We present the first reliable record of the earliest O. pusilla entry deep into Europe in the latest Pliocene.     

Occupational noise in printing companies

The extent of noise in five printing companies in Novi Sad, Serbia, was determined using TES-1358A Sound Analyzer with RS-232 Interface. The data on equivalent A-level (dBA), as well as, maximum and minimum sound pressure levels were collected. It was found that folders and offset printing units are the predominant noise sources, with the average L (eq) levels of 87.66 and 82.7 dBA, respectively. Forty percent of the machines produced noise levels above the limiting threshold level of 85 dBA, allowed by law. The noise in all printing companies was dominated by higher frequency noise, and the maximum level mostly appeared at 4,000 Hz. For offset printing machines and folders, the means of L (eq) levels exceeded the permissible levels given by NR-80 curve at higher frequencies. There are no published studies of occupational noise and hearing impairment of workers exposed to hazardous noise in printing industry in Serbia. More extensive studies are needed to determine the exact impact of noise on the workers. Technical and organizational measures in order to control noise and prevent noise exposure, and general hearing conservation program to protect workers, should be introduced in printing industry.     

Application of UV-activated persulfate and peroxymonosulfate processes for the degradation of 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene in different water matrices

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of a large number of micropollutants in the environment, including priority and emerging substances, poses a significant risk to surface...     

Spring phenological responses of marine and freshwater plankton to changing temperature and light conditions

Shifts in the timing and magnitude of the spring plankton bloom in response to climate change have been observed across a wide range of aquatic systems. We used meta-analysis to investigate phenological responses of marine and freshwater plankton communities in mesocosms subjected to experimental manipulations of temperature and light intensity. Systems differed with respect to the dominant mesozooplankton (copepods in seawater and daphnids in freshwater). Higher water temperatures advanced the bloom timing of most functional plankton groups in both marine and freshwater systems. In contrast to timing, responses of bloom magnitudes were more variable among taxa and systems and were influenced by light intensity and trophic interactions. Increased light levels increased the magnitude of the spring peaks of most phytoplankton taxa and of total phytoplankton biomass. Intensified size-selective grazing of copepods in warming scenarios affected phytoplankton size structure and lowered intermediate (20–200?μm)-sized phytoplankton in marine systems. In contrast, plankton peak magnitudes in freshwater systems were unaffected by temperature, but decreased at lower light intensities, suggesting that filter feeding daphnids are sensitive to changes in algal carrying capacity as mediated by light supply. Our analysis confirms the general shift toward earlier blooms at increased temperature in both marine and freshwater systems and supports predictions that effects of climate change on plankton production will vary among sites, depending on resource limitation and species composition.