Magnetic resonance image findings of placental lake: report of two cases

Two cases with a large cystic mass within the placenta are reported. By ultrasonography, it was found that both women had a subchorionic hypoechoic lesion (11.0 × 4.8 × 4.0 cm and 6.6 × 3.7 × 2.2 cm, respectively) at 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, respectively. In both cases, turbulent blood flow generated by a pulsatile jet flow (pulse rate; 40 to 60 beats per minute) into the cystic lesion seen on real-time imaging and lesions being low intensity on T1-weighted and isointensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance image suggested that they contained fresh maternal blood. In both cases, the sonolucency of the lesions did not change until cesarean deliveries of females, both of whom were small-for-gestational-age infants (1940 g at 37 weeks and 2195 g at 37 weeks, respectively). Biochemical analysis of the fluid in the cystic lesion sampled during the cesarean section in the latter case confirmed that the fluid had originated from the maternal blood. These lesions histologically corresponded to large avillous areas surrounded by normal villi. Thus, a huge placental lake was diagnosed in both cases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mobile monitoring along a street canyon and stationary forest air monitoring of formaldehyde by means of a micro-gas analysis system

A micro-gas analysis system (μGAS) was developed for mobile monitoring and continuous measurements of atmospheric HCHO. HCHO gas was trapped into an absorbing/reaction solution continuously using a microchannel scrubber in which the microchannels were patterned in a honeycomb structure to form a wide absorbing area with a thin absorbing solution layer. Fluorescence was monitored after reaction of the collected HCHO with 2,4-pentanedione (PD) in the presence of acetic acid/ammonium acetate. The system was portable, battery-driven, highly sensitive (limit of detection = 0.01 ppbv) and had good time resolution (response time 50 s). The results revealed that the PD chemistry was subject to interference from O(3). The mechanism of this interference was investigated and the problem was addressed by incorporating a wet denuder. Mobile monitoring was performed along traffic roads, and elevated HCHO levels in a street canyon were evident upon mapping of the obtained data. The system was also applied to stationary monitoring in a forest in which HCHO formed naturally via reaction of biogenic compounds with oxidants. Concentrations of a few ppbv-HCHO and several-tens of ppbv of O(3) were then simultaneously monitored with the μGAS in forest air monitoring campaigns. The obtained 1 h average data were compared with those obtained by 1 h impinger collection and offsite GC-MS analysis after derivatization with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBOA). From the obtained data in the forest, daily variations of chemical HCHO production and loss are discussed.     

Detection of dicofol and related pesticides in human breast milk from China, Korea and Japan

Previously, we demonstrated that the concentrations of DDTs were greater in breast milk collected from Chinese mothers than from Japanese and Korean mothers. To investigate dicofol as a possible source of the DDTs in human breast milk, we collected breast milk samples from 2007 to 2009 in China (Beijing), Korea (Seoul, Busan) and Japan (Sendai, Takarazuka and Takayama). Using these breast milk samples, we quantified the concentrations of dichlorobenzophenone, a pyrolysis product of dicofol (simply referred to as dicofol hereafter), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) using GC-MS. Overall, 12 of 14 pooled breast milk samples from 210 mothers contained detectable levels of dicofol (>0.1 ng g⁻¹ lipid). The geometric mean concentration of dicofol in the Japanese breast milk samples was 0.3 ng g⁻¹ lipid and significantly lower than that in Chinese (9.6 ng g⁻¹ lipid) or Korean breast milk samples (1.9 ng g⁻¹ lipid) (p < 0.05 for each). Furthermore, the ΣDDT levels in breast milk from China were 10-fold higher than those from Korea and Japan. The present results strongly suggest the presence of extensive emission sources of both dicofol and DDTs in China. However, exposure to dicofol cannot explain the large exposure of Chinese mothers to DDTs because of the trace levels of dicofol in the ΣDDTs. In the present study, dicofol was confirmed to be detectable in human breast milk. This is the first report to identify dicofol in human samples.     

Specific accumulation of 20 trace elements in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Japan

This study is to elucidate the specific accumulation of 20 trace elements in tissues/organs of great cormorants from two different colonies (Lake Biwa and Mie) in Japan. In the body distribution of trace elements, some elements revealed tissue-specific accumulation such as most of the burden of Mo, Ag and Cd in liver, Tl and Cd in kidney, Cu, Rb and Cs in muscle, and V, Sr and Ba in bone. Gender-related variation was not observed in both populations for most of the trace elements, except for higher hepatic Sr in males from Lake Biwa. Hepatic V, muscular Hg and Tl, and Cd in liver, kidney and muscle increased with growth. Comparison of trace element levels in tissues between the two colonies showed that Cr, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba and Tl levels were higher in Lake Biwa than in Mie, whereas Zn, Co and Hg in Mie samples were greater than Lake Biwa. Variations of elemental levels in stomach contents also showed similar patterns, thus, showing that dietary sources tended to be the main factor for these regional variations. Toxic Hg and Cd concentrations in the liver of cormorants from the two colonies were lower than those from other areas, implying relatively low exposure to these metals in the present study sites. Concentrations of V, Co, Ag, Cd, Cs, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi in liver remained more or less at the same level between 1993 and 2003, while hepatic Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr and Ba showed apparent decrease, which might be related to the biological factors.     

Removal of organic polyelectrolytes and their metal complexes by adsorption onto xonotlite

Natural organic polyelectrolytes (humic and fulvic acids) and their metal complexes were removed by adsorption onto xonotlite. The removal percentages of humic and fulvic acids by xonotlite were approximately 80% and 30%, respectively. Humic acid removal from solution by adsorption onto xonotlite took place more readily than fulvic acid removal. The molecular weight distributions of the humic substances remaining in solution after adsorption with the xonotlite were measured with size exclusion chromatography. A comparison of molecular weight distributions demonstrated conclusively that large molecular weight components were adsorbed preferentially, indicating that adsorption efficiency depends on the number of functional groups of humic substances. Furthermore, the surface topography of the adsorbent was observed before and after adsorption by scanning electron microscopy. The calculated heat of adsorption was of 330 kJ mol(-1) which was evaluated from the Clapeyron-Clausius equation. Therefore, the adsorption type can be considered chemical. Since xonotlite can be easily synthesized and obtained at low cost, the adsorption method of humic and fulvic acids is superior to their precipitation.     

Iron oxide-loaded slag for arsenic removal from aqueous system

An effective adsorbent for arsenic removal from aqueous system was synthesized by loading iron(III) oxide on municipal solid waste incinerator melted slag. The loading was accomplished via chemical processes and thermal coating technique. The key point of the technique was the simultaneous generation of amorphous FeOOH sol and silica sol in-situ and eventually led to the formation of Fe-Si surface complexes which combined the iron oxide with the melted slag tightly. The surface morphology of the iron oxide-loaded slag was examined and the loading mechanisms were discussed in detail. The adsorbent was effective for both arsenate and arsenite removal and its removal capabilities for As(V) and As(III) were 2.5 and 3 times of those of FeOOH, respectively. Both affinity adsorption and chemical reactions contributed to arsenic removal. The effects of solution pH, contact time, arsenic concentration and adsorbent dosage on arsenic removal were examined and the optimum removal conditions were established. Furthermore, leaching of hazardous elements such as Cr(VI), As, Se, Cd and Pb from the adsorbent at a pH range of 2.5-12.5 was below the regulation values. Accordingly, it is believed that the iron oxide-loaded slag developed in this study is environmentally acceptable and industrially applicable for wastewater treatment.     

Remediation of soil contaminated with dioxins by subcritical water extraction

The effectiveness of subcritical water extraction (SCWE) was examined for removing dioxins from contaminated soil. Most dioxins in the soil sample were reduced at 300 degrees C or more, but decreased dioxin concentrations were also observed at 150 degrees C. After 4 h of extraction, 99.4%, 94.5% and 60% of PCDDs were removed from samples at 350, 300 and 150 degrees C, respectively. It was also determined that degradation of dioxins had occurred, since the sum of dioxins in the soil plus water extracts after the experiments had considerably decreased. This study revealed that pressurizing is not essential for the removal of dioxins. Reduction was complete within 30 min at 350 degrees C; however, it took a much longer time at lower temperatures. The results of addition experiments in which OCDDs were added to different types of soil samples have shown that dechlorination is one of the major reaction pathways. After addition of OCDD to soil samples, experiments were carried out to examine in detail the degradation pathways of PCDDs. The removal rates and congener profiles varied among soil types. Although it was previously assumed that removal rates and congener profiles depended on the chemical components in soil, nonparametric statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between the rate of reduction and elements present in the soil. It was confirmed from isomer patterns that dechlorination of the 2,3,7,8-positions in PCDDs takes place somewhat faster than for the 1,4,6,9-positions.