Lead exposure among the general population of Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq

This study was carried out to establish baseline data on lead exposure in a sample of the general population from Duhok governorate, Iraq in 2011. A cross-sectional study was made of blood lead levels of 820 individuals and of dust and of air lead levels in urban, suburban and rural residential areas. Mean blood lead [BPb] value in the overall sample was 7.3 [SD 2.8] microg/dL, range 1.6-17.0 microg/dL; significant differences were found with respect to age, area of residence, altitude and distance from a gasoline generator. The prevalence of toxic levels of lead [BPb > 10 microg/dL] was 22.8% overall and 2.4% in children. People living in suburban areas [39.7%] and < 50 m from a gasoline generator [93.1%] were exposed to high environmental lead levels. A linear relationship was found between BPb and air lead levels [r= 0.8]. While lead exposure does not constitute a great health problem for adults in our community, 2.4% of the children had toxic lead levels and measures to reduce exposure to environmental heavy metals should be considered

Passive air sampling survey of polybrominated diphenyl ether in private cars: implications for sources and human exposure

In order to characterize polybrominated diphenyl ether [PBDE] contamination in vehicle interiors, airborne concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers were investigated using PUF disk passive air samplers in 25 private cars. Passive air samplers were fixed inside the selected cars for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. LPBDE concentrations [sum of the 10 congeners] ranged between 0.01 and 8.2 ng/m[3] with respective arithmetic and geometric mean concentrations of 0.71 and 0.091 ng/m[3]. High concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers found in cars might provide an important source of human exposure to PBDEs either via inhalation or dust ingestion. A driver spending 8 hours a day inside a contaminated car [the worst scenario] would receive a daily inhalation intake of 54 ng. Age of the vehicles was found to be the most influential factor affecting polybrominated diphenyl ether emission in car interiors [R=0.47, r<0.01]. Furthermore, significant variations were observed in polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations between cars from same manufacturer with similar ages. The median ratio of BDE 47:99 for air samples was 1.7 comparing with the respective values of 1 and -0.7 reported for BK 70-5DE and DE-71, suggesting these commercial formulations to be likely sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the car indoor environments

Respuesta de Anopheles albimanus a compuestos volátiles de casas del sur de Chiapas, México / Behavioral response of Anopheles albimanus to volatile compounds collected inside houses from the south of Chiapas, Mexico

OBJETIVO: Determinar el efecto de los compuestos volátiles en las casas sobre la respuesta conductual del vector del paludismo Anopheles albimanus. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: El estudio se realizó en enero de 2006 en el ejido Nueva Independencia, municipio de Suchiate, Chiapas. Se colectaron compuestos volátiles dentro de casas y los extractos se probaron sobre hembras sin alimentar en un olfatómetro en "Y". Los extractos se analizaron mediante cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron 28 extractos, 12 presentaron respuesta de atracción y dos de repelencia. Los análisis por CG-EM indicaron variación en la presencia de compuestos volátiles y no se vincularon con compuestos específicos indicativos de algún efecto. CONCLUSIONES: Los volátiles en casas presentaron efecto de atracción y repelencia para An. albimanus. No se reconoció un patrón definido en cuanto a la presencia de compuestos químicos característicos y la respuesta obtenida.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of volatile compounds in homes on the behavioral response of Anopheles albimanus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in January 2006, in the village of Nueva Independencia village, Suchiate, Chiapas. Volatile compounds were collected inside homes and the extracts were tested on unfed females in a Y-olfactometer. Extracts were analyzed in a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system (GC-MS). RESULTS: Twenty eight extracts were obtained, twelve presented attraction and two repellency responses. GC-MS analyses of the extracts indicated variation in the volatile compound present in the extracts, but could not associated specific compounds with any particular effect. CONCLUSIONS: Within homes, volatiles presented attraction and repellency responses to An. albimanus. A definate pattern concerning the presence of a characteristic chemical compound and the observed response was not found.

Monitoring of volatile anesthetics in operating room personnel using GC-MS

To estimate individual occupational exposure of operating room personnel to nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, isoflurane and halothane during regular working hours. Volatile anesthetics in urine and breathing area air samples were measured in forty subjects. Passive samplers were collected after continuous five-to-seven hours of exposure. Further, thirty air samples, using passive samplers, were collected from 14 operating rooms of the Jordan University Hospital. All air and urine samples were analyzed using static headspace sampler coupled to capillary column GC-MS system. The monitored anesthetic volatile agents values of breathing area air samples were as the following [mean +/- SEM, ppm]: 43.2 +/- 6.29, 4.16 +/- 2.38, 0.19 +/- 0.05 And 0.15 +/- 0.10 for nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, isoflurane and halothane, respectively. Whereas, values of the post- shift urine samples [mean +/- SEM, micro g/1] were: 1234 +/- 209, 4.3 +/- 0.82, 3.75 +/- 0.7 and 9.9 +/- 1.2 for nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, isoflurane and halothane, respectively. Concerning operating rooms contaminations, the median and the [range] values for N[2] O were 90.4 ppm [12.2 - 327], for sevoflurane they were 16.4 ppm [2.14-53.7], for isoflurane 10.7 ppm [0.41-24.9] and for halothane 0.71 ppm [0.00 8-6.05]. Based on the results of this study, it is obvious that operating rooms personnel were exposed to high level of anesthetic agents and therefore, it is recommended to install efficient scavenging systems inside the operating rooms beside the regular maintenance of anesthetic machines. Moreover, the awareness of operating room personnel should be increased in order to minimize possible health risk. MS= Mass Spectrometry; GC= Gas liquid Chromatography; NIOSH= United States Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; JUH: Jordan University Hospital; MeOH= Methanol; ug= microgram; v/v= Volume to volume; SIM; Single Ion Monitoring; ppm- one part per million parts; TWA= Time Weighted Average: r[2]. Correlation coefficient: SEM= Standard Error of the Mean

Food animal transport: a potential source of community exposures to health hazards from industrial farming [CAFOs]

Use of antimicrobial feed additives in food animal production is associated with selection for drug resistance in bacterial pathogens, which can then be released into the environment through occupational exposures, high volume ventilation of animal houses, and land application of animal wastes. We tested the hypothesis that current methods of transporting food animals from farms to slaughterhouses may result in pathogen releases and potential exposures of persons in vehicles traveling on the same road. Air and surface samples were taken from cars driving behind poultry trucks for 17 miles. Air conditioners and fans were turned off and windows fully opened. Background and blank samples were used for quality control. Samples were analyzed for susceptible and drug-resistant strains. Results indicate an increase in the number of total aerobic bacteria including both susceptible and drug-resistant enterococci isolated from air and surface samples, and suggest that food animal transport in open crates introduces a novel route of exposure to harmful microorganisms and may disseminate these pathogens into the general environment. These findings support the need for further exposure characterization, and attention to improving methods of food animal transport, especially in highly trafficked regions of high density farming such as the Delmarva Peninsula

Study of the acidic deposition phenomenon over Alexandria city

Acid deposition commonly occurs due to conversion of primary acidic pollutants [SO[2] and NO[2]] into secondary pollutants [H[2]SO[4] and HNO[3] and their salts]. The main natural sources of acid deposition in Alexandria include lightening and microbial processes. Anthropogenic sources include traffic, industrial, fuel burning, and incineration activities. Acid deposition has ecological and economic effects in addition to health effects. The objective of this study is to assess acidity of dry and wet depositions in the atmosphere of Alexandria. Dry samples were collected as settled dust using plastic jar. Wet samples were collected as rain water using polyethylene bottle. All samples were analyzed for pH, sulfates, and nitrates. The relatively high pH values observed in depositions of Alexandria city [6.95 +/- 0.22] and [7.14 +/- 0.49] for settled dust and rain water respectively indicating the conversion of the formed acids [H[2]SO[4] and HNO[3]] into their salts. This explanation was confirmed by the relatively high concentrations of sulfates and nitrates. The average values were [14.3 +/- 4.21 g/km[2]/month and 20.5 +/- 9.5mg/L for sulfates], and [22.6 +/- 10.6 g/km[2]/month and 0.5 +/- 0.32 mg/L for nitrates] for settled dust and rainwater samples respectively. It can be concluded that Alexandria is a lucky city regarding acidity of the atmosphere due to its geographic, topographic, and meteorological features. Building up acid deposition monitoring network that covers all Egyptian cities to be a nucleus for African network, using new technologies that reduce emission of acid deposition precursors and alternative sources of energy, implementing and enforcing regulations and standards for major pollutants, and increasing public awareness are recommended

new sampler and analysis method for BTEX in ambient air

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene [BTEX] compounds are components of motor vehicle fuel. BTEX are released from exhausts of vehicles and also evaporation from the fuel tank, carburetor and crank case of engines. BTEX are dangerous chemicals that participate in photochemical reactions and produce secondary air pollutants such as ozone, peroxyacethyl nitrate, free radicals and nitrogen oxides. BTEX in ambient air of metropolitan areas has been the subject of concern in many studies through elaborate "Environmental Protection Agency" [EPA] method. Level of BTEX in the ambient air of major Iranian cities, has not been measured in concentration range of part per billion [ppbv] due to the inadequate sensitivity of available gas chromatography systems. The aim of this study was to improve the sensitivity of gas chromatography by using a special sampler and thermal desorber [Micro-Packed Injector]. Our sampler consisted of a 5-centimeter stainless steel tube one millimeter in diameter packed with carbopacked B heat-conditioned samplers utilized for sampling atmospheric BTEX. It was subsequently injected to a custom-made thermal desorber [225C] which was assembled onto the injection port of a gas chromatography device for analysis. BTEX standard atmospheres were analyzed with a gas chromatograph flame ionization detector [GC-FID] with linear range detection of 27.5-275ppb, 23.1-223.6ppb, 20-320-ppb, and 20-320ppb respectively. The Micro-Packed Injector [MPI] installed on ordinary GC-FID improved linear range detection of BTEX from previous ppm detection to ppb range

Mass scans from a proton transfer mass spectrometry analysis of air over Mediterranean shrubland browsed by horses.

Plants usually emit large amount and varieties of volatiles after being damaged by herbivores. However, analytical methods for measuring herbivore-induced volatiles do not normally monitor the whole range of volatiles and the response to large herbivores such as large mammals is much less studied than the response to other herbivores such as insects. In this paper we present the results of using a highly sensitive proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) technique that allows simultaneous monitoring of leaf volatiles in the pptv range. The resulting mass scans in air over Mediterranean shrubland browsed by horses show 70 to 100% higher concentrations of the masses corresponding to mass fragments 57, 43 and 41 (mostly hexenals, acetone and acetic acid) than scans over control non-browsed shrubland. These compounds are biogeochemically active and they are significant components of the volatile organic carbon found in the atmosphere. They influence the performance of living organisms and, the chemical and physical processes of Earth's atmosphere.

Relación entre enfermedad respiratoria aguda en niños menores a cinco años y contaminación atmosférica en Bogotá / Relationship between acute respiratory disease in children under five years of age and air pollution in Bogota

Diversos estudios realizados alrededor del mundo han evidenciado la asociación positiva entre la Enfermedad Respiratoria Aguda (ERA) y la contaminación atmosférica, especialmente por material particulado menor a 10 micrómetros (PM10). Para Bogotá, en el año de 1997 Aristizábal (1) concluye que una alta concentración de PM10 en la zona industrial de Puente Aranda, es un vehículo facilitador para que se presenten problemas respiratorios. En 1999, Solarte (2) detecta que un aumento de 10ug/m3 en la concentración de PM10 produce un aumento de por lo menos, el 8% en el número de consultas por ERA en los niños menores de catorce años. Se buscó con el presente estudio determinar la relación entre la morbilidad por ERA y la concentración de PM10 en la Localidad Puente Aranda para el año 2005. Para tal efecto, se llevó a cabo el análisis de 2240 registros de consultas por ERA en niños menores de cinco años que eran atendidos en el Hospital del Sur, de la Localidad de Puente Aranda (zona de alta influencia industrial y denso flujo vehicular), durante los meses de enero a junio de 2005. La información de calidad del aire con la cual se relacionaron los datos de salud fue suministrada por la Red de monitoreo de Calidad de Aire de Bogotá operada por el DAMA. Para esta correlación se utilizó un modelo lineal generalizado (Regresión de Poisson). Se evidenció asociación positiva entre las concentraciones de PM10 y el número de consultas por ERA que suceden luego de seis días del fenómeno de contaminación. Un aumento de 10µg/m3 en la concentración de PM10, ocasionaría un incremento del 4% en las consultas por ERA, para los niños menores a cinco años que habitan en la Localidad de Puente Aranda.

Many studies around the world, have demonstrated the relation between air pollution and acute respiratory illness. Bogota is a megacity where highs levels or particulate matter are presented every day in the atmosphere.From the analysis of 2240 reports for acute respiratory illnesses in children less than 5 years of age, obtained in the South Hospital of Bogota city during the months of January through June 2005 it was man­aged to obtain a positive correlation with the concentrations of particu­late matter less than 10 micrometers of aerodynamic diameter (PM 10) provided by the Air Quality Network in Puente Aranda Locality, a zone of high industrial influence and dense vehicular flow.Positive associations between the PM 10 levels and the number of cases afected by respiratory illnesses were obtained for a period of six days after the episode, even though the reached particle levels did not exceed the local environmental standards. A generalized linear model was used for this correlation (Poisson Regression).

Bacterial distribution analysis of the atmosphere of two hospitals in Ibb, Yemen

A bacteriological distribution analysis of the air was carried out at 8 sites in each of 2 general hospitals in Ibb during the period February-June 2002. Only 3 sites, reception hall, hospital passages and outpatient clinic, gave meaningful values for the distribution of bacteria in the atmospheric air. In these locations, mean values for total plate count, lactose fermenting bacteria, haemolytic bacteria and non-lactose fermenting bacteria were 478.6 colony forming units [cfu]/m3, 24.9 cfu/m3, 6.5 cfu/m3, and 4.8 cfu/m3 respectively. The reception hall had the highest bacterial count, followed by hospital passages and the outpatient clinic. The highest bacterial count was for 08.00, followed by 14.00 and 18.00

comparative study of some methods for measuring carbon monoxide in air

The present study aimed at comparing some physical and chemical methods for measuring carbon monoxide [CO] level in air selecting the most suitable one concerning simplicity, reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Known concentrations of CO were prepared in cylinders and air samples while unknown concentrations were collected in plastic bags from the street environment. Both known and unknown concentrations of CO were measured by four selected methods. The leucocrystal violet method was suitable only for levels of CO higher than 40 ppm and not recommended for ambient levels. The iodine pentoxide method was suitable for any level of CO in air but only for grab samples. The combustion method was also suitable for any level of CO above 10 ppm and for grab and continuous samples. MIRAN-IA analyzer is an infrared instrument, very simple, sensitive and accurate for concentrations of 10 ppm and above. Other types of infrared analyzers may give higher accuracy and sensitivity levels at lower concentrations

Microflora anemófila de la ciudad de Resistencia / Mycoflora anemophilous of the Resistencia city

Se estudió mediante la técnica de placas de agar abiertas, la presencia de hongos en 120 muestras de aire atmosférico de la ciudad de Resistencia (Argentina) tomadas en 12 lugares con gran movimiento de personas y de vehículos. Los cultivos se realizaron sobre medio de agar-papa-rifamicina a 28 grados C y a 42 grados C a fin de aislar especies mesófilas y termófilas. Se obtuvo desarrollo de hongos en todas las placas incubadas a 28 grados C (100 por ciento de positividad), mientras que de las incubadas a 42 grados C solo en una hubo desarrollo, que correspondió a A. fumigatus. Se aisló un total de 20 géneros de hongos, de los cuales se pudieron identificar 19 especies, quedando 3 aislamientos sin clasificación definitiva por tratarse de micelio estéril hialino, micelio amarillo con clamidosporas y micelio con picnidios. Las especies aisladas se clasificaron según sus frecuencias de aparición, de acuerdo al criterio de Yadav y Madelin en muy comunes, comunes, frecuentes, ocasionales y raras. Los géneros dominantes en la micobiota atmosférica estudiada fueron: Alternaria, Fusarium, Dreschlera, y Aspergillus que se presentaron en el 100 por ciento de las muestras, seguidos por Penicillium, Cladosporium, Curvularia y Rhodotorula que aparecieron en el 75 por ciento, 66,7 por ciento, 66,7 por ciento y 58,3 por ciento, respectivamente. Los resultados obtenidos revelan la existencia de una alta carga de esporas fúngicas en la atmósfera de la ciudad de Resistencia

Calendario polínico de la ciudad de Mar del Plata (agosto 1987-agosto 1989) / Pollen calendar of Mar del Plata's city (Argentine) (august 1987-august 1989)

Durante los años 1987-1989 se llevó a cabo la primera caracterización aerobiológica de la ciudad de Mar del Plata. El monitoreo de la atmósfera se realizó con un muestrador Burkard semanal. Se prepararon y estudiaron muestras diarias de concentración polínica. Se analizó separadamente el patrón de concentración anual de los tipos de polen más abundantes en la atmósfera, seleccionados en función de su contribución relativa al espectro polínico. Se computaron y graficaron las concentraciones medias semanales (en granos/m3 h) de los tipos característicos de la vegetación urbana. Se compararon los resultados obtenidos con los calendarios polínicos de diversas ciudades en los dos hemisferios. Los tipos polínicos fueron clasificados en las categorías de alergenicidad de Lewis et. al., 1983 (construídas a partir de los resultados de los test de sensibilización cutánea): H.A. altamente alergénico, M.A. moderadamente alergénico, S.A. levemente alergénico, N.V.A. no muy alergénico

Avaliaçäo da degradaçäo das soluçöes de processamento Kodak Dental, utilizando recipientes protegidos (plástico) e desprotegidos (vidro), sumulando condiçöes de trabalho em consultórios odontológicos / Evaluation of decay of the Kodak Dental processing solutions, using protected (plastic) and unprotected (glass) containers, simulating work conditions in dental offices

O presente estudo teve por finalidade estudar a degradaçäo das soluçöes reveladora e fixadora Kodak, prontas para o uso, processando filmes Kodak Ektaspeed (EP-21), com câmara escura portátil, sob duas condiçöes de experimentaçäo: com as soluçöes em recipientes de plástico opaco e com tampas (soluçöes protegidas), e recipientes de vidro (soluçöes desprotegidas, simulando as condiçöes de sua execuçäo em consultórios odontológicos. Os dados obtidos das radiografias produzidas pela comparaçäo da densidade óptica, densidade de volume de prata e análise subjetiva, proporcionaram resultados que permitiram-nos constatar que as soluçöes protegidas tiveram um período de utilizaçäo menor que as soluçöes desprotegidas (28 e 35 dias). O número médio de radiografias produzidas até a degradaçäo das soluçöes foi de 104 para as protegidas e de 130 radiografias para a soluçäo desprotegida. Ao longo do experimento näo foram sentidas alteraçöes na degradaçäo das soluçöes em funçäo da variaçäo da temperatura ambiente, do pH, da cor, como também da influência do ar e da iluminaçäo

Fungos isolados do ar e do piso de ambientes fechados do Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil-I / Fungi isolated from air and floor in closed enviroment in the Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil-I

Del aire y del piso de ambientes confinados del "Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil", fueron aisladas 3.330 colonias de hongos correspondientes a 123 entidades taxonómicas pertenecientes en su mayoría a los Asco-Deuteromycotina (95,3%), estando los demás grupos escasamente representados Zigomycotina (5,6%); Basidiomycotina (0,8%) y Micelia sterilla (0,2%). No hubo diferencias significativas entre la cantidad de colonias aisladas durante los períodos de pluviosidad y verano. Observándose el mayor número de colonias en el piso más que en aquellas aisladas del aire atmosférico. Los géneros encontrados con mayor frecuencia fueron Aspergillus, Penicillium y Fusarium. Entre los Hyphomycetes aislados, 14 especies son referidas como agentes etiológicos de micosis

Fungos isolados do ar e do piso de ambientes fechados do Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil: II leveduras / Fungi isolated in confined environment at Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife. Brasil: II leveduras

Del aire y del piso de ambientes cerrados del "Hospital das Clínicas da UFPE, Brasil", fueron aisladas 82 muestras de levaduras de los generos Brettanomyces, Candida, Rhodotorula y Trichosporon; su mayor incidencia fue detectada en el piso y durante el período lluvioso

Monitoramento biológico por ar exalado / Exhaled breath biological monitoring

Trabalho em que säo apresentados processos, métodos e critérios de avaliaçöes monitoramento biológico por ar exalado, mediante exemplos, com o objetivo de introduzir a discussäo do assunto.

Cardio-respiratory manifestation due to chronic occupational exposure to trichloroethylene

The hazardous effects of Trichloroethylene were studied on 125 exposed workers in the central Bank Note printing. The study shows that the level of air concentration of trichloroethylene is above the threshold limit value of this solvent. A significant obstructive ventilatory impairment and hypertension were found, in the exposed group. As regarding electrocardiographic [ECG] changes; there were high percentage of left ventricular hypertrophy, ischaemic heart diseases and arrhythmia in comparison to the control

Biological indicators and lipogram pattern among workers in battery industry

The effects of chronic lead exposure on the cardiovascular system were investigated in the workers in the battery industry at Chloride Company. One hundred and ten workers exposed to lead were selected randomly, also 45 workers who have never been exposed to lead before, of comparable age group and socioeconomic standard were selected randomly to be the control group. General clinical examination, cardiovascular manifestations [by an observation sheet], blood pressure determination were carried out and blood lead, urinary delta amino levulenic acid and lipogram pattern [total lipids, cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides and B/A lipoproteins] were determined. Also lactic acid dehydrogenase and lactic acid isoenzymes estimation were performed. The atmospheric lead concentration was found to be 0.039 - 0.28 ug/m3. The present study showed high prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations [27.3%] and hypertension [35.5%] among exposed workers with significant correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and some parameters of lipogram pattern on one hand with blood lead and urinary delta amino levulenic acid