Review of economic data on closed system transfer drug for preparation and administration of hazardous drugs.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to review economic data on the use of closed system drug transfer devices (CSTDs) for preparing and administering hazardous drugs, and to evaluate the quality of data reporting as defined by the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS). METHODS: All references from a recent Cochrane review about CSTDs were evaluated for inclusion. A literature review was also conducted. Articles containing economic data about the use of CSTDs were retained for analysis. Two researchers independently graded the articles according to the 24-item CHEERS checklist. RESULTS: Of the 138 articles identified initially, 12 were retained for analysis. Nine of these studies did not report acquisition costs or did not detail acquisition costs. Six studies reported economic benefits associated with the used of CSTDs, all related to extending the beyond-use date. The mean number of CHEERS criteria fulfilled by the included articles was 9.2 (SD 2.4). CONCLUSIONS: CSTDs are costly to acquire. However, few studies have examined the economic impact of these devices, and the existing studies are incomplete. As a result, hospitals planning to implement these devices will be unable to make a sound economic evaluation. Robust economic evaluation of CSTDs is needed.

Formation of hazardous inorganic by-products during electrolysis of seawater as a disinfection process for desalination.

From our previous study, an electrochemical process was determined to be a promising tool for disinfection in a seawater desalination system, but an investigation on the production of several hazardous by-products is still required. In this study, a more intensive exploration of the formation patterns of perchlorate and bromate during the electrolysis of seawater was conducted. In addition, the rejection efficiencies of the targeted by-products by membrane processes (microfiltration and seawater reverse osmosis) were investigated to uncover the concentrations remaining in the final product from a membrane-based seawater desalination system for the production of drinking water. On the electrolysis of seawater, perchlorate did not provoke any problem due to the low concentrations formed, but bromate was produced at a much higher level, resulting in critical limitation in the application of the electrochemical process to the desalination of seawater. Even though the formed bromate was rejected via microfiltration and reverse osmosis during the 1st and 2nd passes, the residual concentration was a few orders of magnitude higher than the USEPA regulation. Consequently, it was concluded that the application of the electrochemical process to seawater desalination cannot be recommended without the control of bromate.

Perils of paradigm: complexity, policy design, and the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program.

The Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP), mandated by the United States Congress in the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, attempts to protect public health from adverse endocrine effects of synthetic chemical compounds by establishing a new testing regime. But the complexities and uncertainties of endocrine disruption and its broader regulatory and social context all but ensure the failure of this policy. This article addresses the issues facing EDSP comprehensively and in detail, in order to move beyond the current regulatory paradigm and foster discourse on a positive role for scientists in support of EDSP's end goal: to protect public health.

1,3,3-Trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), a melt-cast explosive: synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour.

1,3,3-Trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) has been prepared at a laboratory scale in HEMRL. The structure of the compound has been confirmed by IR, NMR, mass, elemental analysis and by X-ray crystallography. HPLC technique has been employed to confirm the purity of TNAZ (>99%). The compound is further characterized by thermal techniques and is found to undergo limited decomposition at its melting point. Small scale sensitivity tests have also been carried out and the results show that TNAZ is significantly more sensitive to mechanical stimuli than TNT.

Synthesis, characterization, thermolysis and performance evaluation of mercuric-5-nitrotetrazole (MNT).

Mercuric-5-nitrotetrazole (MNT) was synthesized on using a reported method. The product having bulk density of 1.5 g/cm3, was obtained during this work using mercuric nitrate doped with additives such as cephol/dextrin in the process. Synthesized MNT was characterized by metal content analysis, IR and ESCA. The DTA profile indicated the thermal stability of MNT up to 200 degrees C. It revealed its higher thermally sensitive [thermal sensitive figure (S) approximately 0.8] in comparison to that of service lead azide (SLA) [S approximately 0.4]. Percussion sensitivity data also showed higher sensitivity of MNT. However, it was found less friction sensitive than SLA. The chemical stability of MNT in a carbon dioxide environment was evaluated in comparison to SLA by determining mercury (gravimetrically) and lead azide (volumetrically) contents respectively. Results obtained indicated that no discernable changes occurred in MNT, even after storage for 90 days while in case of SLA, drastic change in lead azide content was observed. IR spectra of MNT sample stored in a closed aluminum dish for 5-10 years could be superimposed on that of the freshly prepared MNT sample. The performance of MNT filled detonator no. 27 assessed in terms of extent of damage on a witness plate was found equivalent to that of the standard ASA (azide, styphynate and aluminium) composition filled detonator.

Studies on lead-free initiators: synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of transition metal complexes of carbohydrazide.

Cobalt, nickel and zinc tris(carbohydrazide) perchlorates (CoCP, NiCP and ZnCP) as well as copper bis(carbohydrazide) perchlorate (CuCP) of desired morphology and bulk density (0.85-0.95 g/cm3) have been synthesized during this work. The synthesis was carried out by addition of the aqueous solution of cobalt/nickel/copper/zinc perchlorates to the aqueous solution of carbohydrazide. The products were characterized by the metal content analysis and FTIR. The IR spectra and ESCA brought out the coordination of both the end amino groups of carbohydrazide with the central metal ion. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) curve indicated that CoCP, NiCP and ZnCP are thermally stable in the temperature range of 220-285 degrees C, unlike CuCP (120 degrees C). The activation energy determined by TG measurements was found to be 140-180 kJ/mol for CoCP, NiCP and ZnCP. Sensitivity data revealed their sensitivity to friction stimuli (1 kg). Impact sensitivity test results corresponded to h50% of 50-60 cm with the exception of CuCP (h50%, 11 cm). In order to assess the performance as detonants, the selected compounds were detonated on a lead witness plate of 3 mm thickness using fuse wire as well as evaluated in conjunction with tetryl in detonator No. 27 tube. The results obtained in terms of extent of damage to witness plate were on par with the standard detonator No. 27 containing azide, styphynate and aluminium metal (ASA) composition.

Alleged misconceptions' distort perceptions of environmental cancer risks.

In a series of papers, Ames and colleagues allege that the scientific and public health communities have perpetuated a series of 'misconceptions' that resulted in inaccurate identification of chemicals that pose potential human cancer risks, and misguided cancer prevention strategies and regulatory policies. They conclude that exposures to industrial and synthetic chemicals represent negligible cancer risks and that animal studies have little or no scientific value for assessing human risks. Their conclusions are based on flawed and untested assumptions. For instance, they claim that synthetic residues on food can be ignored because 99.99% of pesticides humans eat are natural, chemicals in plants are pesticides, and their potential to cause cancer equals that of synthetic pesticides. Similarly, Ames does not offer any convincing scientific evidence to justify discrediting bioassays for identifying human carcinogens. Ironically, their arguments center on a ranking procedure that relies on the same experimental data and extrapolation methods they criticize as being unreliable for evaluating cancer risks. We address their inconsistencies and flaws, and present scientific facts and our perspectives surrounding Ames' nine alleged misconceptions. Our conclusions agree with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program, and other respected scientific organizations: in the absence of human data, animal studies are the most definitive for assessing human cancer risks. Animal data should not be ignored, and precautions should be taken to lessen human exposures. Dismissing animal carcinogenicity findings would lead to human cancer cases as the only means of demonstrating carcinogenicity of environmental agents. This is unacceptable public health policy.

Synthetic risks, risk potency, and carcinogen regulation.

This article analyzes a comprehensive sample of over 350 chemicals tested for carcinogenicity to assess the determinants of the probability of regulation. Controlling for differences in the risk potency and noncancer risks, synthetic chemicals have a significantly higher probability of regulation overall: this is due to the greater likelihood of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation. Measures of risk potency increase the probability of regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have a somewhat weaker positive effect on regulation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and decrease the likelihood of regulation by the FDA. The overall regulatory pattern is one in which the FDA targets synthetic chemicals and chemicals that pose relatively minor cancer risk. The EPA particularly performed more sensibly than many critics have suggested.

[Key mechanisms of damage and adaptation in the body under the multi-factoral effect of ecotoxicants]. / Kliuchevye mekhanizmy povrezhdeniia i adaptatsii v organizme pri mnogofaktorom vliianii ékotoksikantov.

Toxicants, that are present in chemical productions, influence functioning of protective mechanisms of the workers. The examined people have an increased content of the average molecular mass oligopeptides, changed ionic molecular composition of blood. Antioxidant protection with catalase participation is high. The accelerated replacement of membrane components displays an adaptation of organism to the chemical stress conditions.

Environmental and health risks of hydroquinone.

Hazard assessment of hydroquinone has been evaluated from bibliographical and original data on the physicochemical properties, the environmental behavior, and the biological effects of this aromatic compound. Hydroquinone, which is produced in large amounts and widely used, must be considered as an environmental contaminant. However, it is not persistent. The ecotoxicity of this molecule, which must be linked to its physicochemical properties, varies from species to species. Its acute and chronic toxicity toward higher terrestrial organisms is moderate. Hydroquinone is estimated to be nonmutagenic by the Ames test but induces chromosome aberrations or karyotypic effects in eucaryotic cells. Carcinogenic and teratogenic potentials have been at present inadequately studied. The study underlines the complementarity of QSAR models and experimental approaches when an attempt is made to obtain ecotoxicological profiles of pollutants.