Identification of ammonia,chlorine, and diazinon as toxicants in a municipal effluent

A toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) was performed on a municipal effluent, and three toxicants were identified, ammonia, chlorine, and diazinon. Ammonia and chlorine were the only toxicants present at toxic concentrations in all sample sets, and diazinon was present in toxic concentrations in one of the effluent sample sets. Six effluent sets taken over an 8-month period were evaluated in this TIE. The nonpolar toxicity, primarily due to diazinon, was intermittent since it was present at toxic concentrations only once in the 8-month time period.This report illustrates the types of data and logic used in performing a TIE which contains common municipal toxicants. Emphasis in this report was place on the data needed for generating the weight of evidence in toxicant confirmation, Phase III, to support the suspect toxicants identified in the TIE process. Multiple Phase III manipulations, when applied to numerous effluent samples, provided consistent results for generating the weight of evidence for the confirmation of ammonia and chlorine as the primary causes of toxicity in this effluent.     

Short-term exposure of zooplankton to the synthetic pyrethroid,fenvalerate, and its effects on rates of filtration and assimilation of the alga,Chlamydomonas reinhardii

In acute tests of toxicity, two cladocerans,Daphnia galeata mendotae andCeriodaphnia lacustris, and the calanoid,Diaptomus oregonensis, were more sensitive to fenvalerate thanDaphnia magna, the organism used in standard laboratory bioassays. The 48-hr EC₅₀s for each species/stage in order of increasing sensitivity were adultD. magna — 2.52 g/L;D. magna (48-hr old) — 0.83 g/L; adultD. galeata mendotae — 0.29 g/L; adultC. lacustris — 0.21 g/L;D. galeata mendotae (48-hr old) — 0.16 g/L; adultDiaptomus oregonensis — –0.12 g/L. No toxicity was observed when these organisms were exposed to a range of concentrations of the emulsifiable concentrate without fenvalerate (the EC blank).Rates of filtration of the¹⁴C-labelled alga,Chlamydomonas reinhardii byD. galeata mendotae, C. lacustris andD. oregonensis were decreased significantly at sublethal concentrations of fenvalerate after only 24-hr exposure.Ceriodaphnia lacustris showed the greatest sensitivity with rates of filtration significantly decreased at 0.01 g fenvalerate/ L. Concentrations of fenvalerate 0.05 g/L resulted in decreased rates of filtration byD. galeata mendotae. A concentration of 0.10 g fenvalerate/ L caused rates of filtration to increase inD. oregonensis. whereas 0.05 and 0.5 g/L resulted in a decrease in these rates.Rates of assimilation of algae byD. galeata mendotae, C. lacustris andD. oregonensis exposed to similar concentrations of fenvalerate were decreased at concentrations 0.05 g fenvalerate/L. Changes in rates of assimilation were not as sensitive a parameter of toxicity as changes in rates of filtration. The EC blank had no significant effects on rates of filtration or assimilation for all three species.     

Evaluation of risk of thrombosis during use of low-dose ethinylestradiol—desogestrel oral contraceptive

Thirty healthy young women, non-smokers and of normal weight, used a combined oral contraceptive consisting of 20 g ethinylestradiol and 150 g desogestrel for 9 cycles. Before and during the 3rd, 6th and 9th cycles of contraceptive use, the following parameters were measured: triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and B, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, plasminogen, antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, platelet count, platelet aggregation, -thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4. The ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A/B remained constant or showed only a slight increase. The clotting/fibrinolytic balance showed a similar trend. There was however, an inconstant but significant increase in antithrombin III and protein C. Platelet count and platelet function parameters were unmodified. Hence the contraceptive induced no substantial changes in lipid balance or blood clotting, at least during the study period.

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Resumen Treinta mujeres jóvenes, en buen estado de salud, no fumadoras y de peso normal, utilizaron durante 9 ciclos un anticonceptivo oral combinado de 20 g de etinilestradiol y 150 g de desogestrel. Antes y durante los ciclos tercero, sexto y noveno de utilización de este anticonceptivo, se midieron los siguientes parámetros: triglicéridos, colesterol total, colesterol HDL, apolipoproteína A y B, tiempo de protrombina, timepo de tromboplastina parcial, fibrinógeno, antitrombina III, proteína C, plasminógeno, antiplasmina, activador plasminógeno tisular, recuento de plaquetas, agregación de plaquetas, -tromboglobulina y factor 4 de las plaquetas. Las relaciones colesterol total/colesterol HDL y apolipoproteína A/B permanecieron constantes o bien mostraron un ligero aumento. Se observó la misma tendencia en el equilibrio coagulación/fibrinólisis. Sin embargo, se observó un aumento no constante pero significativo de la antitrombina III y la proteína C. El recuento de plaquetas y los parámetros de función de las plaquetas no sufrieron modificaciones. En consecuencia, el anticonceptivo no provocó ningún cambio importante en el equilibrio de los lípidos o en la coagulación de la sangre, al menos durante el período de estudio.

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Resumé Trente jeunes femmes en bonne santé, non fumeuses et de pids normal, ont utilisé durant 9 cycles un contraceptif oral combiné de 20 g d'éthinyloestradiol et 150 g de désogestrel. Avant et pendant les troisième, sixième et neuvième cycles de l'utilisation de ce produit, on a mesuré les paramètres suivants: triglycérides, cholestérol total, cholestérol-HDL, apolipoprotéines A et B, temps de prothrombine, temps de thromboplastine, fibrinogène, antithrombine III, protéine C, plasminogène, antiplasmine, plasmonigène-proactivateur, numération des plaquettes, agrégation des plaquettes, thromboglobuline- et facteur 4 des plaquettes. Les rapports cholestérol total/cholestérol-HDL et apolipoprotéines A/B sont restés constants ou ont légèrement augmenté. On a observé la même tendance pour l'équilibre coagulation/fibrinolyse. On a cependant constaté une hausse inconstante mais significative de l'antithrombine III et des protéines C. La numération des plaquettes et les paramètres de la fonction plaquettaire sont restés inchangés. Le contraceptif n'a donc provoqué aucun changement important de l'équilibre des lipides ou de la coagulation sanguine, pour le moins durant la période d'étude.

     

Susceptibility of clinical isolates of campylobacter pylori to 24 antimicrobial and anti-ulcer agents

Forty-nine isolates of Campylobacter pylori were tested for their susceptibility to twenty antibiotics and four anti-ulcer agents by an agar dilution technique. Penicillin and amoxycillin were the most active drugs (MIC₉₀, 0.06 /ml); erythromycin, cefazolin, minocycline, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and gentamicin were sligthtly less active (MIC₉₀, 1 g/ml). Moderate activity was found for doxycyclin, rifampin, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, paromomycin, metronidazole and tinidazole. All strains were resistant to trimethoprim (MIC > 512 g/ml). Nalidixic acid (MIC₉₀, > 256 g/ml) and colistin (MIC₉₀, > 64 gg/m1) had little to no activity. Of four anti-ulcer drugs, only bismuth subcitrate showed activity (MIC₉₀, 64 g./ml).Strains resistant to all 4-quinolones were found in patients who had previously received ofloxacin as part of a clinical trial aimed at eradication of C. pylori. These isolates remained susceptible to amoxycillin, tetracyclines and to other classes of antibiotics.Corresponding author.     

Control of the freshwater fouling bivalveCorbicula fluminea by halogenation

Mortality levels for adult and juvenile Asiatic clam,Corbicula fluminea, were determined after exposure to halogens (chlorine, bromine) in 28 to 32-day laboratory and field (industrial water supply) tests. Low levels of mortality (<53%) were generated in laboratory studies on exposure to constant doses of total residual chlorine (TRC) when mean test temperatures were <16C. Mortality levels were elevated (>53%) when test specimens were exposed to comparable TRC levels (0.2 to 1.0 mg/L) at temperatures in excess of 18C. Mortalities generated among adults by an initial 14-day low dose (0.25 mg/L TRC) followed by an 18-day high dose (0.50 to 1.00 mg/L TRC; >80% mortality) were comparable to those from a constant high dose (0.50 to 1.00 mg/L; 60 to 95% mortality). Adults and juveniles were comparably sensitive to halogen concentrations adequate for control. There is no substantial difference in the effectiveness of either chlorine or bromine in controlling adult and juvenile stages ofC. fluminea. Field studies conducted in the spring and fall produced markedly dissimilar results. Mortality levels during the spring field study exceeded 90% after 28 days of exposure to 0.25 mg/L TRC, while ambient temperatures rose from 20 to 25C. Mortality levels not exceeding 23% were observed among test organisms after 28 days of exposure to elevated TRC levels (<0.50 mg/L), while ambient temperatures were declining from 20 to 12C during October and November 1985.     

Relationship between inhibition of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5′-nucleotidase activity and biological response for porphyrin metabolism in workers occupationally exposed to lead

Summary A rapid determination of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5-nucleotidase (P5N) activity in lead workers was carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The P5N activity had a good negative correlation with the concentration of lead in blood (PbB) ranging from 16 to 96 g/dl (r = -0.82, n = 77). Further, the P5N was compared with other biological parameters: erythrocyte -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, erythrocyte protoporphyrin (PROTO), urinary -aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and urinary coproporphyrin (COPRO).The correlation coefficients between P5N and ALAD, log PROTO, log ALA, and log COPRO were 0.59, –0.72, –0.65, and –0.61, respectively. On the other hand, the normal value of P5N obtained from 72 healthy subjects was 11.9 ± 2.1 units; ol uridine/h/g Hb (mean ± SD), indicating that the lower limit of 95% confidence interval for normal P5N was about 8 units. When P5N was cut off at 8 units in 77 lead workers, the validity (sensitivity + specificity) for PbB 40 g/dl, PbB 60 gg/dl, erythrocyte PROTO 150 g/dl RBC, urinary ALA 6 mg/l, and urinary COPRO 150 g/l was 1.66, 1.76, 1.57, 1.68, and 1.60, respectively. From these results, it was confirmed that the erythrocyte P5N test is suitable for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead in a wide range, and its activity is useful in predicting the disturbance of porphyrin metabolism induced by lead.     

Human exposure to volatile halogenated hydrocarbons from the general environment

Summary The objective of this study was to assess individual human exposure to volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHH) under normal environmental conditions by means of biological monitoring, i.e. by the measurement of these compounds or their metabolites in body fluids, such as blood, serum, and urine. Blood samples of 39 normal subjects without known occupational exposure to these agents were examined for the occurrence of VHH. The following compounds were present in quantifiable concentrations in 60 to 95% of the blood samples examined: chloroform (median 0.2 g/l; range < 0.1–1.7 g/l), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (median 0.2 g/l; range < 0.1–3.4 g/l), tetrachloroethylene (median 0.4 g/l; range < 0.1–3.7 g/l). Trichloroethylene could be detected in 31% of all blood samples (median < 0.1 g/l; range < 0.1–1.3 g/l). In addition, the levels of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) were determined in serum and 24-h urine samples of 43 and 94, respectively, normal subjects. TCA was present in measurable concentrations in all serum and urine samples examined. The median of the TCA levels in serum was 21.4 g/l (range 4.8–221.2 g/l) and in urine 6.0 g/24 h (range 0.6–261.4 g/24 h). The results are discussed in relation to data from the literature on human exposure to VHH from the general environment, i.e. via air, food, and water. The upper normal limits calculated from the results of this investigation can be used to detect even minor excessive exposures to VHH.     

Responses of embryonic and larval inland silversides, Menidia beryllina, to a water-soluble fraction formed during biodegradation of artificially weathered Alaska North Slope crude oil

Weathered Alaska North Slope crude oil (ANS 521) was stirred for 2 and 14 days in 20 salinity sterile seawater or for 14 days in seawater with nutrients and a group of three (GO3) microorganisms from Prince William Sound, Alaska, that were capable of biodegrading hydrocarbons. A total of 0.65 and 0.69 mg/L water soluble fraction (WSF) of neutral fraction hydrocarbons was recovered from the 2- and 14-day stirred sterile systems, respectively. In comparison, a total of 7.5 mg/L WSF neutral fraction hydrocarbons was recovered from systems containing ANS 521 that were stirred and biodegraded by the GO3 microbes for 14 days. Toxicity/teratogenicity tests were conducted with neutral fraction hydrocarbons recovered from the sterile and biodegraded systems using embryonic inland silversides, Menidia beryllina. Hydrocarbons from the sterile systems did not cause statistically significant teratogenic responses at concentrations of 1%, 10%, and 100% (w/v) of recovered fractions (redissolved in 20 salinity sterile seawater). Counts of heart contraction rates were significantly lower (0.05) at the 100% WSF concentration of hydrocarbons on days 5 and 6 of embryogenesis. In contrast, recovered and redissolved neutral fraction hydrocarbons from ANS 521, that were biodegraded for 14 days, caused statistically significant (0.05) teratogenic responses at the 1, 10, and 100% WSF concentrations. Measurement of heart contraction rates showed statistically significant (0.05) reductions at the 100% WSF concentration on days 2 through 6 of embryogenesis, compared to controls.Contribution No. 934 from the Gulf Breeze Environmental Research Laboratory. Mention of trade names does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.     

Biological and environmental monitoring of occupational exposure of pharmaceutical plant workers to methotrexate

Summary The exposure of 11 pharmaceutical plant workers to methotrexate (MTX) was studied. Personal air samples were taken during the different manufacturing processes: drug compounding, vial filling, and tablet preparation. The uptake of MTX was established by the determination of MTX in urine. MTX was analyzed using the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), a method that is frequently used for monitoring serum levels in patients treated with MTX. The FPIA method was modified in such a way that MTX could be measured quickly and efficiently in air and urine samples. MTX was detected in air samples of all workers except for those involved in the vial filling process (range: 0.8–182 g/m³; median: 10 g/m³). The highest concentrations were observed for workers weighing MTX (118 and 182 g/m³). MTX was detected in urine samples of all workers. The mean cumulative MTX excretion over 72–96 h was 13.4 g MTX-equivalents (range: 6.1–24 g MTX-equiva g MTX-equivalents (range: 6.1–24 g MTX-equivalents). lents). A significantly lower background level of 10.2 g A significantly lower background level of 10.2 g MTX-equivalents was measured in urine of 30 control persons (range: 4.9–21 g MTX-equivalents).     

Biochemical and pathological effects of fly ash on lung,liver, and blood of rats

The intratracheal administration to rats of fly ash particles (5 m) collected from the electrostatic precipitator of a thermal power plant was the basis for a study on the hematology, blood chemistry, and histopathology of the lung and liver in the rats.The most characteristic effect of fly ash was a reduction in white blood cell (WBC) counts, which was dose-dependent and it persisted up to 120 days after administration of 5 mg fly ash. Dose-dependent reductions were also observed in red blood cell (RBC) counts and hemoglobin levels; reductions were also observed 30 days after administration of the specified dose. A dose-dependent increase in lymphocytes and a decrease in polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocyte counts was apparent. These effects were reversible after 60 days. The administration of glass beads (5 m) did not alter the rat blood hematology. A dose-dependent increase in the blood glucose levels, the activity of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), a decrease in the activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase was observed in fly ash-treated rats. Fly ash significantly increased blood glucose levels and decreased uric acid levels and the activities of GOT and acid phosphatase 15 days after administration. Glass beads did not affect the blood chemistry of the rats. No discernible effect was apparent on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein of the lung and liver. Histopathology of the lung revealed an inflammatory response. Fly ash-laden macrophages were present in large number in early periods but their number decreased with time. Thickening of the alveolar septa occurred. Periodic Acid Schiff's (PAS) staining of lung was positive, indicating alveolar lipoproteinosis. Fly ash particles were present in the hepatic sinusoids and central veins.     

Monitoring of Antifouling Booster Biocides in Water and Sedimentfrom the Port of Osaka, Japan

Concentrations of booster antifouling compounds in the port of Osaka, Japan were assessed. Concentrations of Sea-Nine 211 (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-isothiazolone), thiabendazole (2-(4-thiazolyl)-benzimidazole), IPBC (3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate), Diuron (3,4-dichlorophenyl-N, N-dimethylurea), Irgarol 1051 (2-methylthio-4-t-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine), and M1 (2-methylthio-4-t-butylamino-6-amino-s-triazine) in port water samples were in the range of <0.003–0.004 g L^–1, <0.0008–0.020 g L^–1, <0.0007–1.54 g L^–1, <0.0008–0.267 g L^–1, and <0.0019–0.167 g L^–1, respectively. IPBC was not detected in the water samples, but the concentration of Diuron was higher than any previously reported. The concentrations of Sea-Nine 211, thiabendazole, Diuron, Irgarol 1051, and M1 in sediment samples were in the range of <0.04–2.4 g kg^–1 dry, <0.08–1.2 g kg^–1 dry, <0.64–1350 g kg^–1 dry, <0.08–8.2 g kg^–1 dry, and <0.18–2.9 g kg^–1 dry, respectively. IPBC was again not detected. The levels of Sea-Nine 211, Diuron, and Irgarol 1051 in water and sediment samples were high in a poorly flushed mooring area for small and medium-hull vessels. Levels of Diuron and Irgarol 1051 were highest in summer. The concentration of Sea-Nine 211 in water increased between August and October 2002. Except for M1, increases in the levels of booster biocides in sediment were observed during the study period. The sediment–water partition (Kd) was calculated by dividing the concentrations in sediment by the concentrations in water. The Kd values for Sea-Nine 211, thiabendazole, Diuron, Irgarol 1051, and M1 were 690, 180, 2700, 300, and 870. The Kd value for these alternative compounds was lower than for TBT.     

Comprehensive pediatric primary care vs traditional care in an israeli population: Their influence on pediatric emergency room use and hospitalization

Emergency room (ER) utilization and hospitalization were studied as indicators of the impact of improvements in pediatric primary care services in an Israeli development town, Ofakim, population 12,000. One of the two pediatric services was upgraded in 1976 through the introduction of pediatric faculty, integration of preventive and curative services and conversion of the medical records to a problem-oriented format ( experimental clinic B ). The primary care system remained unchanged in the second clinic ( traditional clinic A ). During 1980, ER utilization by the B clinic population was 9.3/100 compared with 17.6/100 for the A clinic population. Fifty two percent of the B clinic population patients reaching the ER were hospitalized compared with 25% of A clinic patients.The lower ER utilization rate represents a significant saving for the health services, and educational interventions are suggested from the study. Analysis of ER utilization data seems to offer useful information for overall planning and monitoring of ambulatory services for a community.Corresponding author.     

Selbstbehandlung bei Bediensteten der SBB und PTT

In this paper some initial results of a study of self-treatment in case of light illness are reported. The average number of reported measures taken is 3,5 in general infections and infections of the respiratory tract, 2,6 in digestive disorders, and 2,5 in disorders of the musculo-skeletal system. In all three groups of disorders, the most frequent single measures was bed rest, the second most frequent was measuring body temperature in the first diagnostic group, drinking tea in the second, and massage in the third. In the first diagnostic group, an average of 2,2 pharmacologic agents are taken, in the second 1,1, and in the third 1,3. Analgesic drugs play an important role in all three groups, pointing to the primordial roleof pain relief in self-medication. 84,5% of the interviewed sample indicate use of folk medicines. 90% of the applied drugs come from the stock of the home pharmacy.

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Automédication chez les employés des CFF et PTT tombés malades

Resumé Le travail ci-dessus apporte quelques premiers résultats d'une étude faite sur l'automédication de maladies simples. Chez les maladies infectieuses et les maladies respiratoires des mesures proportionelles de 3,5 sont prises, chez les maladies gastro-intestinales 2,6 et chez les maladies de l'appareil locomoteur 2,5. La mesure la plus fréquente est pour tous les trois groupes garder le lit et ensuite pour le premier groupe prendre la température, pour la deuxième boire des tisanes et pour le troisième les massages. Le premier groupe prend proportionellement 2,2 médicaments, le deuxième 1,1 et le troisième 1,3. La grande tache du combat de douleurs nous indique le fait que l'on trouve des analgétiques dans tous les trois groupes. 84,5% indiquent d'avoir utilisé des remedes de bonne femme. 90% des médicaments pris proviennent de la pharmacie de maison.

     

The influence of contaminant and water quality conditions on larval striped bass in the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay in 1990: Anin situ study

In situ contaminant and water quality studies were conducted with striped bass prolarvae,Morone saxatilis, in two major spawning areas of the Chesapeake Bay in 1990 to explore the possible effects of water quality and contaminants conditions on survival. Three 96-hin situ survival studies with striped bass prolarvae were conducted at three stations in the Potomac River and three stations in the upper Chesapeake Bay during a major portion of the spawning season (13–20°C). Water quality parameters, inorganic contaminants and organic contaminants were monitored in the water column at these three stations during the experiments. Concentrations of 10 metals associated with precipitation events occurring at field sites on the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay were also determined.Survival of prolarvae ranged from 2 to 17.5% in all three 96-h tests conducted in the Potomac River. Control survival was greater than 79%. Survival of prolarvae during experiment 3 (all stations combined for each experiment) was significantly lower than survival of prolarvae during experiment 1. The low survival of prolarvae during experiment 3 occurred concurrently with a reported fish kill on the Potomac River. Chromium (14 g/L) and zinc (119 g/L) concentrations exceeding U.S. EPA water quality criteria were reported from a 48-h composite sample taken during experiment 3. Lower than normal pH conditions (6.8 and 6.9) were also documented during this experiment. Arsenic, chromium, and zinc may have been stressful.Survival of prolarvae at the three stations during upper Chesapeake Bay tests ranged from 36 to 52.5% for 96-h exposures but was slightly lower (23–34.5%) during a 120-h exposure. Control survival was >81% in all experiments. Survival of prolarvae during all experiments in the upper Bay was similar to natural survival that occurs with this life stage. Adverse water quality and contaminant conditions were not reported in the upper Chesapeake Bay striped bass spawning area.Detectable concentrations of cadmium (0.80 and 0.89 g/L), aluminum (5.4 g/L), chromium (1.1 g/L), and zinc (2.5 g/L) were reported in acidic precipitation samples (pH 3.4) collected from the Potomac River site. Surface water concentrations of these metals did not increase in the Potomac River study area after the precipitation events. The following metals were detected in acidic precipitation (pH 4.06–5.12) in the upper Chesapeake Bay: 22.1 g/L Al; 1.1, 1.8, 2.3 g/L Cd; 1.2 g/L Cu; 2.7 and 3.1 g/L Pb and 4.6 g/L Zn. Concentrations of Al (22.1 g/L) and Pb (3.1 g/L) in precipitation corresponded with increased concentrations in the surface waters at a nearby station in the upper Chesapeake Bay study area.     

An assessment of metals in an estuarine wetlands ecosystem

Biotic and abiotic samples from two physically proximate, temperate, estuarine Hackensack River wetlands (New Jersey) located in highly urbanized areas were analyzed for chromium (total and hexavalent), copper, and lead. The study was performed to determine if chromite ore processing residues (COPR) in fill material surrounding one of the two sites (i.e., the Study Site) were associated with statistically significant higher total chromium concentrations in the biotic media at the Study Site relative to the other site (i.e., the Reference Site). Copper and lead concentrations were evaluated to determine whether other metals may have accumulated at the Study Site due to factors other than COPR. Concentrations of the three metals were evaluated in samples of water, sediment, plant tissue (Phragmites root and shoot tissues), fish tissue (Fundulus sp. whole body tissue), and blue crab tissues (Callinectes sapidus muscle and hepatopancreas tissues). Physical and chemical characteristics of the two sites that could have influenced the environmental fate and bioavailability of the metals were also evaluated. Concentrations of each of the three metals were approximately an order of magnitude higher in sediment samples from the Study Site. Concentrations of total and dissolved metals, however, were similar between the water samples collected at the two sites. Tidal flushing of the Study Site was restricted by tidal gates, and the higher metal concentrations in the sediments were attributed to factors resulting from the restricted tidal flushing. Statistically significant higher biota metal concentrations were found at the Study Site only for total chromium in blue crab hepatopancreas tissue and for lead in Phragmites shoot tissue. Tissues from the Study Site contained statistically significant lower concentrations of copper in all the biotic samples and of lead in blue crab hepatopancreas tissue than corresponding tissues from the Reference Site. Despite the Study Site sediments containing metal concentrations three to nine times greater than those in the Reference Site's sediments, no pattern of higher metal concentrations in biotic samples from the Study Site was found. The metals, including total chromium, were tightly bound to the sediments and therefore not bioavailable. Study Site sediment characteristics apparently limiting metal bioavailability included high organic carbon content, reducing conditions, high sulfide concentrations, high specific surface areas associated with a high proportion of silt and clay components, and high cation content.     

Levels of β-HCH,HCB, p,p′-DDE,p,p′-DDT and PCBs in human milk from a continental town in Croatia,Yugoslavia

Summary Concentrations of -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and PCBs were determined by gas chromatography in 50 human milk samples collected from the general population during 1981/1982 in a continental town in Croatia (Yugoslavia). The samples were collected between one and 22 weeks after delivery from mothers breast-feeding one child only. The mothers' age was 18 to 31 years, and they were nursing their first or second child. All 50 samples contained -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE and PCBs, whereas p,p-DDT was present in 37 samples. The concentrations of -HCH, HCB, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDT and PCBs expressed on a whole milk basis were (median in g/kg): 11, 7.1, 67, 7.3 and 22 respectively, and expressed on a fat basis (median in mg/kg): 0.28, 0.21, 1.9, 0.18 and 0.62 respectively. The fat content was 3.7% (median). PCBs were present in a mixture containing penta-, hexa- and heptachlorobiphenyls.     

Toxicity of mercury,copper, nickel,lead, and cobalt to embryos and larvae of zebrafish,Brachydanio rerio

The toxicity of mercury (HgCl₂), copper (CuCl₂: 5 H₂O), nickel (NiSO₄: 6 H₂O), lead (Pb(CH₃COO)₂: 3 H₂O) and cobalt (CoCl₂: 6 H₂O) was studied under standardized conditions in embryos and larvae of the zebrafish,Brachydanio rerio. Exposures were started at the blastula stage (2–4 h after spawning) and the effects on hatching and survival were monitored daily for 16 days. Copper and nickel were more specific inhibitors of hatching than cobalt, lead, and mercury. Nominal no effect concentrations determined from the dose-response relationships (ZEPs, Zero Equivalent Points) for effect on hatching time were 0.05 g Cu/L, 10 g Hg/L, 20 g Pb/L, 40 g Ni/L and 3,840 g Co/L, and those for effect on survival time were 0.25 g Cu/L, 1.2 g Hg/L, 30 g Pb/L, 80 g Ni/L, and 60 g Co/L. The no effect concentrations for Ni, Hg and Pb are consistent with previously reported MATC values for sensitive species of fish. The no effect concentrations for copper are 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than previously reported values. The major reason for the latter discrepancy was considered to be the absence of organics that can complex copper ions in the reconstituted water that we used, which had a hardness of 100 mg/L (as CaCO₃) and a pH of 7.5–7.7. Unexposed controls were started with embryos from different parental zebrafishes and the parental-caused variability in early embryo mortality, median hatching time and median survival time were estimated.     

Bromacil and diuron herbicides: Toxicity,uptake, and elimination in freshwater fish

Fathead minnows, 30 days old, were exposed to technical grade bromacil and diuron in flow-through tests to determine acute toxicity. LC₅₀ values for bromacil were 185, 183, 182 and 167 mg/L at 24, 48, 96, and 168 hr, respectively; and for diuron, 23.3, 19.9, 14.2, and 7.7 mg/L at 24, 48, 96, and 192 hr, respectively. Eggs, newly hatched fry, and juvenile fish were continuously exposed to lower concentrations of the herbicides for 64 days. Growth was significantly reduced (p 0.01) at the lowest bromacil exposure of 1.0 mg/L. Therefore, it was not possible to determine a no effect concentration. The no effect concentration for diuron was 33.4 g/L, while the lowest concentration which resulted in adverse effects was 78.0 g/L. Adverse effects at 78.0 g/L were an increased incidence of abnormal or dead fry immediately after hatch (p 0.01) and decreased survival throughout the exposure period (p 0.05). Neither herbicide accumulated significantly in fish tissue, as bioconcentration factors were <3.2 and 2.0 for bromacil and diuron, respectively. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) injected with radiolabeled bromacil or diuron eliminated over 90% of the radioactivity within 24 hr. Parent compound and metabolites were detected in the aquarium water in both cases. Metabolites of diuron recovered from the water included 3,4-dichloroaniline and several demethylated products.     

Health-related quality of life in a rare disease: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Rendu–Osler–Weber Disease

The levels of the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) were analyzed in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients. The Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to 50 HHT patients and scores were compared to a cohort of 2301 normal subjects. Clinical variables were patient age, illness duration, number of epistaxis episodes in the previous year and hemoglobin levels. Physical functioning, physical role limitations, bodily pain, social functioning, emotional role limitations and the physical component scores were lower among females. In multivariable analyses increasing age was related to lower physical functioning (P<0.04), physical role limitations (P<0.008), bodily pain (P<0.05) and emotional role limitations (P<0.01), while higher hemoglobin levels improved physical functioning(€P<0.03). The number of epistaxis episodes was negatively associated with physical role limitations (€P<0.009), vitality (P<0.002), social functioning (P<0.001), physical component summary (€P<0.001) and bodily pain (P<0.01). Illness duration was negatively related to the mental component summary (P<0.004). HHT patients had a lower HR-QoL with respect to normal controls in all domains except for bodily pain. Females had lower scores for several domains. Epistaxis was the most important clinical variable.     

In a Secular Spirit: Strategies of Clinical Pastoral Education

The Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) model forthe provision of spiritual care represents theemergence of a secularized professionalpractice from a religiously-based theologicalpractice of chaplaincy. The transformation ofhospital chaplaincy into spiritual careservices is one means by which religioushealthcare ministry negotiates modernity, inthe particular forms of the secular realm ofbiomedicine and the pluralism of thecontemporary United States healthcaremarketplace. Spiritual is a labelstrategically deployed to extend the realm ofrelevance to any patient's belief system,regardless of his or her religious affiliation.Theological language is recast as a tool forconceptualizing the spiritual lens. Suchmoves transform chaplaincy from a peripheralservice, applicable only to the few religiouspatients, into an integral element of patientcare for all. Such a secularized professionalpractice is necessary to demonstrate therelevance and utility of spiritual care for allhospital patients in an era of cost-containmentpriorities and managed care economics.