Exposure to inhaled THM: Comparison of continuous and event-specific exposure assessment for epidemiologic purposes

Trihalomethanes (THMs) (chloroform, bromoform, dibromochloromethane, and bromodichloromethane) are the most abundant by-products of chlorination. People are exposed to THMs through ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation. The objective of this study was to compare two methods for assessing THM inhalation: a direct method with personal monitors assessing continuous exposure and an indirect one with microenvironmental sampling and collection of time–activity data during the main event exposures: bathing, showering and swimming. This comparison was conducted to help plan a future epidemiologic study of the effects of THMs on the upper airways of children. 30 children aged from 4 to 10 years were included. They wore a 3M^™ 3520 organic vapor monitor for 7 days. We sampled air in their bathrooms (during baths or showers) and in the indoor swimming pools they visited and recorded their time–activity patterns. We used stainless steel tubes full of Tenax^® to collect air samples. All analyses were performed with Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Chloroform was the THM with the highest concentrations in the air of both bathrooms and indoor swimming pools. Its continuous and event exposure measurements were significantly correlated (r_s = 0.69 p < 0.001). Continuous exposures were higher than event exposures, suggesting that the event exposure method does not take into account some influential microenvironments. In an epidemiologic study, this might lead to random exposure misclassification, thus underestimation of the risk, and reduced statistical power. The continuous exposure method was difficult to implement because of its poor acceptability and the fragility of the personal monitors. These two points may also reduce the statistical power of an epidemiologic study. It would be useful to test the advantages and disadvantages of a second sample in the home or of modeling the baseline concentration of THM in the home to improve the event exposure method.     

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF POPULATIONS USING ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING,DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS,AND GIS1

ABSTRACT: Simulation of ground-water flow and fate of contaminants in the subsurface environment constitutes a major phase of most environmental assessment and site remediation studies. These simulation studies yield information on spatial and temporal distributions of contaminants in the subsurface media. An important use of this information is to conduct exposure assessment studies. Spatial and temporal distributions of both chemical concentrations and exposed populations render this integrated exposure analysis task rather difficult. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), on the other hand, provide a platform in which layered, spatially distributed databases can be manipulated with ease, thereby simplifying exposure analysis tasks significantly. In this paper, we describe procedures that combine the simulation models and demographic databases under a GIS platform to automate the exposure assessment phase of a typical health assessment study. Procedures developed herein significantly simplify the post-processing phase of the analysis, and render the overall task more ‘user friendly.’ A site-specific application is included as a demonstration of the proposed process.     

Radiation Effects on Blends of Poly(ε-Caprolactone) and Diatomites

Poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) was blended with diatomaceous earth (diatomite) and irradiated with -rays to introduce cross-linking between PCL molecules or both components. The unwashed diatomite containing a little of a volatile component showed high efficiency of introduction of cross-linking, whereas that with no volatile component showed low efficiency of introduction of cross-linking. Elongational viscosity, melt viscosity, and modulus of PCL/diatomite blend irradiated at various doses were significantly improved. Enzymatic degradation of the PCL/diatomite blend became faster than that of the PCL, though that of the blend irradiated became slower.     

General prevention and risk minimization in LCA A combined approach

Methods for life cycle assessment of products (LCA) are most often based on the general prevention principle, as opposed to the risk minimization principle. Here, the desirability and feasibility of a combined approach are discussed, along with the conditions for elaboration in the framework of LCA methodology, and the consequences for LCA practice. A combined approach provides a separate assessment of above and below threshold pollution, offering the possibility to combat above threshold impacts with priority. Spatial differentiation in fate, exposure, and effect modelling is identified to play a central role in the implementation. The collection of region-specific data turns out to be the most elaborate requirement for the implementation in both methodology and practice. A methodological framework for the construction of characterization factors is provided. Along with spatial differentiation of existing parameters, two newly introduced spatial parameters play a key role: the sensitivity factor and the threshold factor. The practicability of the proposed procedure is illustrated by an example of its application. Providing a reasonable data availability, the development of separate LCA characterization factors for the respective assessment of pollution levels above and below environmental threshold values seems to be a feasible task that may add to LCA credibility.     

Morphophysiological Rearrangements in Fish in Response to Pollution (in the Light of S.S. Shvarts' Theory)

The results of a study on morphophysiological variation in fish inhabiting a subarctic lake exposed to chronic industrial pollution are described using an example of cisco, Coregonus lavaretus. It is shown that indices of the heart, liver, kidneys, gills, and fatness in these fish are increased significantly and have retained increased values for the past 20 years. The observed changes are analyzed on the basis of biochemical data. The results of studies on the dynamics of hematological parameters in fish are used for characterizing the development of toxicosis. Adaptive rearrangements associated with an increase in the metabolic rate and the activation of protective systems in the fish are explained in the context of S.S. Schvarts' concept. The idea is proposed that the additional energy cost of detoxification may be responsible for morphophysiological variation in fish under conditions of water pollution.     

Changes in excretion rates of stress hormones in medical staff exposed to electromagnetic radiation

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the excretion rates of stress hormones of medical staff in physiotherapy. The excretion rates of stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline were followed during morning shift in 15 female physiotherapists using RIA kits and a spectrofluorimetric method. The mean number of treatments with EMR emitting devices per month and the emission of each device was assessed. A control group of nurses, matched by age, sex and work task was used. The psychosocial factors were evaluated and no differences between the two groups was found. Calculations of the individual EMR exposure show levels above the ICNIRP guidelines. Significantly higher excretion rates of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline among the studied physiotherapists in comparison with the control group of nurses were found. In conclusion, our data showed that EMR influenced the excretion rates of stress hormones of medical staff in physiotherapy.     

钠盐量影响下DD6单晶高温合金的高温热腐蚀规律研究

目的 开展镍基单晶高温合金DD6在950 ℃下的热盐腐蚀试验(95%Na2SO4+5%NaCl)，探明涂盐量和涂盐方式(周期涂盐和单次涂盐)对DD6高温热腐蚀的影响规律和机理。方法 结合扫描电子显微镜、X射线能量色散谱、X射线衍射等设备，对不同涂盐量及涂盐方式下DD6的表面及横截面形貌进行观察分析，分析不同涂盐量和涂盐方式下DD6的高温热腐蚀机理。结果 DD6在950 ℃下主要发生碱性熔融热腐蚀，同时伴随氧化、硫化和氯化等过程。高温热腐蚀使得DD6合金表面生成的保护性氧化膜被熔融态的腐蚀介质破坏，导致O、S、Cl等外部元素通过氧化膜的缺陷进入DD6基体中，在合金的亚表面发生内氧化、内硫化以及内氯化反应，横截面上出现明显的腐蚀层，其主要由氧化物以及硫化物组成。随着热腐蚀的进行，DD6表面物质发生了剥蚀，沉积盐量的增加导致剥蚀现象越加严重，合金内部致密的组织结构也被破坏，横截面上出现了大量孔洞、裂纹等缺陷。在相同涂盐量下，周期涂盐法使得DD6的腐蚀程度高于单次涂盐法。结论 DD6高温热腐蚀行为与涂盐量及涂盐方式密切相关，相同涂盐方式下，涂盐量越大，DD6热腐蚀更加严重。涂盐量一定时，周期涂盐法使得DD6的热腐蚀剧烈程度大于单次涂盐法，且DD6在上述热腐蚀条件下均发生剥蚀破坏。     

Role of nitric oxide in the genotoxic response to chronic microcystin-LR exposure in human–hamster hybrid cells

Microcystin-LR(MC-LR) is the most abundant and toxic microcystin congener and has been classified as a potential human carcinogen(Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the genotoxic effects of MC-LR during chronic exposure are still poorly understood. In the present study, human–hamster hybrid(AL) cells were exposed to MC-LR for varying lengths of time to investigate the role of nitrogen radicals in MC-LR-induced genotoxicity. The mutagenic potential at the CD59 locus was more than 2-fold higher(p 0.01) in ALcells exposed to a cytotoxic concentration(1 μmol/L) of MC-LR for 30 days than in untreated control cells, which was consistent with the formation of micronucleus. MC-LR caused a dose-dependent increase in nitric oxide(NO) production in treated cells. Moreover, this was blocked by concurrent treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA), which suppressed MC-LRinduced mutations as well. The survival of mitochondrial DNA-depleted(ρ0) ALcells was markedly decreased by MC-LR treatment compared to that in ALcells, while the CD59 mutant fraction was unaltered. These results provided clear evidence that the genotoxicity associated with chronic MC-LR exposure in mammalian cells was mediated by NO and might be considered as a basis for the development of therapeutics that prevent carcinogenesis.     

New York City Environmental Justice Alliance Waterfront Justice Project

This paper reviews key challenges and opportunities addressed by the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's (NYC-EJA) Waterfront Justice Project, a citywide campaign to promote climate resilience and sustainability in urban industrial waterfront communities of New York City. NYC-EJA is a non-profit membership-driven network linking grassroots organisations from low-income neighbourhoods and communities of colour in their struggle for environmental justice. The Waterfront Justice Project is documenting community vulnerability in the context of climate change impacts, sources of industrial pollution, and demographic and socio-economic trends. This campaign is enabling community-based organisations, environmental justice communities, city planners, local and state government agencies, local business-owners, and other stakeholders to work in partnership to achieve community resilience while advocating for local jobs and promoting best practices in pollution prevention. New York City's waterfront policies ease the siting and clustering of public infrastructure, water pollution control plants, waste transfer stations, energy facilities, and heavy manufacturing uses in six areas designated as Significant Maritime and Industrial Areas (SMIAs). The SMIAs are located in environmental justice communities, largely low-income communities and communities of colour, in the South Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. New York City's local waterfront land use and zoning policies create cumulative risk exposure not only to residents and workers in the host waterfront communities, but also, in the event of storm surge or sea-level rise, to neighbouring, upland communities.     

围生期毒死蜱暴露致子代8周雄鼠睾丸组织的氧化损伤

毒死蜱是目前全世界使用和销售量最大的有机磷杀虫剂之一。为探讨围生期毒死蜱暴露致8周雄性子鼠睾丸组织的氧化损伤,选择健康Wistar妊娠母鼠于妊娠期(gestation days,GD)第6天至子鼠出生后(postnatal days,PND)21天通过灌胃染毒0、0.75、1.35和2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量的毒死蜱,待雄性子鼠8周龄取左侧睾丸实施组织病理学检查,右侧睾丸用以检测丙二醛(maleic dialdehyde,MDA)的含量和谷胱甘肽S转移酶(glutathione S transferases,GST)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)、总超氧化物歧化酶(total superoxide dismutase,T-SOD)的活力。结果表明,与对照组比较,随着染毒剂量的增加子鼠体重和睾丸、附睾脏器系数有下降的趋势(P0.05);而MDA呈升高趋势(P0.05)。各组T-SOD和1.35、2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GSH-Px活力的下降及2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GST活力的升高均有统计学意义(P0.05)。睾丸组织病理学检查结果可见2.70mg·kg~(-1)剂量组睾丸组织有明显的损伤,管腔中精液量减少,生精细胞脱落增多。上述研究结果提示母鼠于围生期暴露于毒死蜱,可通过氧化损伤诱导子代雄性大鼠睾丸的毒性作用。