Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure in School-Aged Children Living in Rice and Aquacultural Farming Regions of Thailand

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are widely used in agricultural sectors in Thailand. Previous studies have documented that children residing in agricultural areas have higher exposure to OPs than children living in other residential areas. The objective of this study was to quantify urinary biomarkers of OP exposure and determine the environmental conditions and activities that predict their levels among children living in Central Thailand farming regions. In October 2011, 53 6–8-year-old participants were recruited from Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. Twenty-four lived in rice farming communities at Khlong Luang District where OPs are the pesticides used frequently. Twenty-nine participants, living in aquacultural farming communities at Lum Luk Ka District where OPs are not used, were recruited to serve as controls for pathways of exposure (e.g., residential, dietary) other than occupational/paraoccupational exposures encountered in rice farming. Household environments and participants’ activities were assessed using a parental structured interview. Urine samples (first morning voids) were collected from participants for OP urinary metabolite (i.e., dialkylphosphates [DAPs] and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol [TCPy]) measurements. The levels of most urinary OP metabolites were significantly higher in participants who lived in a rice farming community than those who lived in an aquacultural farming community (P < .05). The results from linear regression analysis revealed that the frequency of OP application on rice farms (∑DAP: P = .001; TCPy: P = .001) and living in a rice farming community (∑DAP: P = .009; TCPy: P < .001) were significant predictors of urinary DAP metabolite levels in participants. Increasing TCPy levels were significantly related to proximity to rice farm (P = .03), being with parent while working on a farm (P = .02), playing on a farm (P = .03), and the presence of observable dirt accumulated on the child’s body (P = .02). In conclusion, OP metabolite levels among children who live in rice farming communities were strongly influenced by farming activity, household environments, and child behaviors, suggesting that these are the primary pathways in which children living in these agricultural communities in Thailand were exposed to OPs.     

Limitations and plausibility of the Pliocene lignite hypothesis in explaining the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy

Background:

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic, tubulointerstitial renal disease often accompanied by urothelial cancer that has a lethality of nearly 100%.

Introduction:

One of the many factors that have been proposed to play an etiological role in BEN is exposure to organic compounds from Pliocene lignite coal deposits via the drinking water in endemic areas.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the role of the tenets of the Pliocene lignite hypothesis in the etiology of BEN in order to provide an improved understanding of the hypothesis for colleagues and patients alike.

Methods:

A comprehensive compilation of the possible limitations of the hypothesis, with each limitation addressed in turn is presented.

Results:

The Pliocene lignite hypothesis can best account for, is consistent with, or has the potential to explain the evidence associated with the myriad of factors related to BEN.

Conclusions:

Residents of endemic areas are exposed to complex mixtures containing hundreds of organic compounds at varying doses and their potentially more toxic (including nephrotoxic) and/or carcinogenic metabolites; however, a multifactorial etiology of BEN appears most likely.     

Food,eating and body image in the lives of low socioeconomic status rural Mexican women living in Queretaro State,Mexico

Qualitative research using semi-structured interviews and key informant interviews were used to explore how women from low socioeconomic rural households in Queretaro State, Mexico perceived and reacted to their obesogenic environment. Reduced availability of healthy food options and household financial constraints along with reduced agency of women in this setting were factors that limited women's ability to access and consume diets consistent with the promotion of good health. The cultural values that emphasised obesity as a desirable state for women and the women's social networks that promoted these values were also identified as playing a role in reinforcing certain behaviours. Public health advocates wanting to design interventions in such settings need to be sensitive to the cultural as well as the environmental context described for rural Mexican women.     

Food environment,walkability, and public open spaces are associated with incident development of cardio-metabolic risk factors in a biomedical cohort

We investigated whether residential environment characteristics related to food (unhealthful/healthful food sources ratio), walkability and public open spaces (POS; number, median size, greenness and type) were associated with incidence of four cardio-metabolic risk factors (pre-diabetes/diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, abdominal obesity) in a biomedical cohort (n=3205). Results revealed that the risk of developing pre-diabetes/diabetes was lower for participants in areas with larger POS and greater walkability. Incident abdominal obesity was positively associated with the unhealthful food environment index. No associations were found with hypertension or dyslipidaemia. Results provide new evidence for specific, prospective associations between the built environment and cardio-metabolic risk factors.     

Arsenic in drinking water and congenital heart anomalies in Hungary

Inorganic arsenic can get easily through the placenta however there are very few human data on congenital anomalies related to arsenic exposure. Objective of our study was to explore the associations between arsenic content of drinking water and prevalence of some congenital anomalies. Four anomalies reported to the Hungarian Congenital Anomalies Registry between 1987 and 2003 were chosen to be analysed in relation to arsenic exposure: congenital anomalies of the circulatory system (n = 9734) were considered as cases, while Down syndrome, club foot and multiple congenital malformations were used as controls (n = 5880). Arsenic exposure of the mothers during pregnancy was estimated by using archive measurement data for each year and for each settlement where the mothers lived. Analysis of the associations between the prevalence of congenital heart anomalies and arsenic exposure during pregnancy was performed by logistic regression. The child's gender and age of the mother were adjusted for. The associations were evaluated by using the present EU health limit value of 10.0 μg/L arsenic concentration as a cut-off point. Regular consumption of drinking water with arsenic concentration above 10 μg/L during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of congenital heart anomalies in general (adjusted OR = 1.41; 95% C.I.: 1.28–1.56), and especially that of ductus Botalli persistens (adjusted OR = 1.81, 95%C.I.: 1.54–2.11) and atrial septal defect (adjusted OR = 1.79; 95%C.I.: 1.59–2.01). The presented results showed an increased risk of congenital heart anomalies among infants whose mothers were exposed to drinking water with arsenic content above 10 μg/L during pregnancy. Further studies of possible similar effects of concentrations below 10 μg/L are warranted.     

Maternal arsenic exposure and birth outcomes: A comprehensive review of the epidemiologic literature focused on drinking water

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a human toxicant to which populations may be exposed through consumption of geogenically contaminated groundwater. A growing body of experimental literature corroborates the reproductive toxicity of iAs; however, the results of human studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies focused on drinking water iAs exposure and birth outcomes to assess the evidence for causality and to make recommendations for future study. We reviewed 18 English language papers assessing birth weight, gestational age, and birth size. Thirteen of the studies were conducted among populations with frequent exposure to high-level groundwater iAs contamination (>10 μg/L) and five studies were conducted in areas without recognized contamination. Most studies comprised small samples and used cross-sectional designs, often with ecologic exposure assessment strategies, although several large prospective investigations and studies with individual-level measurements were also reported. We conclude that: (1) the epidemiologic evidence for an increased risk of low birth weight (<2500 g) is insufficient, although there exists limited evidence for birth weight decreases; (2) the evidence for increased preterm delivery is insufficient; and, (3) there exists minimal evidence for decreased birth size. In further investigation of birth weight and size, we recommend incorporation of individual susceptibility measures using appropriate biomarkers, with collection timed to windows of vulnerability and speciated arsenic analysis, as well as consideration of populations exposed primarily to drinking water iAs contamination <10 μg/L. Given the large potential public health impact, additional, high quality epidemiologic studies are necessary to more definitively assess the risk.     

数字化门急诊集成平台建设及应用效果研究

目的研究数字化门急诊平台的构建模式及近三年来的应用效果。方法分析医院门急诊工作及管理中存在的问题,设计可推广的数字化门急诊平台构建模式,以广州军区武汉总医院为实证研究对象,评估其近三年来的应用效果。结果数字化门急诊平台的构建有效改善了"挂号难"、"看病难"等一系列就医难题。结论数字化门急诊平台构建模式科学高效、实用性强、推广性强,在实证研究中达到了建设的预期目标,促进了医院管理水平、医疗质量、社会经济效益的显著提高与医院建设的全面发展。     

江门市新会区水源水监测结果分析

目的了解江门市新会区水源水水质状况,为合理选择水源、水源保护和卫生监督管理等提供科学依据。方法对江门市新会区2008—2012年水源水的监测结果进行整理分析,按GB3838—2002《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅲ类标准进行分析评价。结果水源水中的铁、总氮、锰和粪大肠菌群的合格率较低;年度间合格率差异有统计学意义（χ^2=11．74,P〈0．05）;丰、枯和平水期水源水合格率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;水库水合格率高于河水,两者差异有统计学意义（χ^2=23．01,P〈0．05）。结论江门市新会区镇级以上供水单位水源水主要受铁、总氮、锰和粪大肠菌群的污染,需采取措施加强对水源水的保护和对已经污染的水源的治理。     

顶空气相色谱法测定出厂水中 9 种挥发性卤代烃

目的建立顶空气相色谱快速分析出厂水中9种挥发性卤代烃的方法。方法水中的微量卤代烃经顶空提取后,应用HP-5毛细管色谱柱,采用程序升温方式进行GC分析（ECD检测器）,以保留时间定性,外标法定量。结果9种挥发性卤代烃平均加标回收率在91．2％～109．5％之间,相对标准偏差为3．4％-8．5％,最低检出浓度为O．03—1．30μg／L。结论所建立的本方法操作简单快速,具有较好的准确度和灵敏度,适用于出厂水中多种挥发性卤代烃的检测分析。     

大连市2013年公共场所游泳池水质卫生抽检结果分析

目的通过分析大连市公用场所卫生抽检结果,为加强当地公共场所卫生监督管理提供科学依据。方法对大连市2013年33家游泳馆类场所69份游泳池水卫生质量监测结果进行分析。结果大连市2013年抽检69份游泳池水总合格率为78.26%,其中pH和尿素的合格率为94.20%,浑浊度的合格率为100.00%,游离性余氯的合格率为85.51%,细菌总数和大肠菌群的合格率为97.10%,两类场所游泳池水质结果比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论 2013年大连市的游泳池水质抽检结果不如上年,卫生部门应继续加强监督管理。