Determination of 12 commonly found compounds in DUID cases in whole blood using fully automated supported liquid extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS.

A high-throughput UHPLC-MS/MS method for the most frequently found compounds; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, clonazepam, diazepam, nordiazepam, oxazepam, alprazolam, nitrazepam, morphine, and codeine, in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases in whole blood, is presented. Automated sample preparation by 96-well supported liquid extraction (SLE) plates with ethyl acetate + heptane (80 + 20, v/v) as organic solvent was carried out on a Freedom Evo 200 platform from Tecan. An aliquot of 100 µL whole blood was used. Sample preparation time for 96 samples was 1.5 h. Compounds were separated with gradient elution on a C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of 5 mM pH 10.2 ammonium formate and methanol. The run time was 4.5 min and 1 µL was injected on an Acquity UPLC I-Class system with a Xevo TQS tandem-quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple-reaction monitoring mode (MRM) from Waters. Isotope labelled, 13C, internal standards (ISs) were used for all compounds except for alprazolam and morphine, which had deuterated analogs. Quantification was carried out with calibrators without whole blood matrix. Full validation was carried out according to international guidelines, and a new approach for evaluation of process efficiency (PE) has been presented. Linear or quadratic weighted (1/x) calibration curves were used with R2 ≥ 0.999. The method showed satisfactory deviations ±16% when compared to the existing methods, and satisfactory agreement with proficiency testing control samples (z-score -1.6 to 1.8, n = 16 samples). The precision, estimated as the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the concentration difference between results from two independent analyses of authentic whole blood samples, was ≤7.2% in antemortem and ≤9.3% in postmortem samples. Recovery was ≥85% for all the compounds, except morphine ≥62% and THC ≥ 50%. PE was satisfactory for all the compounds with low variation in IS response, RSD ≤ 16% (THC 27%) in antemortem samples and ≤34% (THC 66%) in postmortem samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first automated 96-well SLE UHPLC-MS/MS method developed for the simultaneous determination of these 12 compounds in whole blood covering the concentration ranges found in forensic samples. The method has been used in routine work during the last ten months, analysing about 9900 antemortem and 1000 postmortem whole blood samples, and has proven to be robust and reliable.

Impacts on the marine environment in the case of a hypothetical accident involving the recovery of the dumped Russian submarine K-27, based on dispersion of 137Cs.

There is increasing concern regarding the issue of dumped nuclear waste in the Arctic Seas and in particular dumped objects with Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF). Amongst dumped objects in the Arctic, the dumped Russian submarine K-27 has received great attention as it contains two reactors with highly enriched fuel and lies at a depth of about 30 m under water. To address these concerns a health and environmental impact assessment has been undertaken. Marine dispersion of potentially released radionuclides as a consequence of different hypothetical accident scenarios was modelled using the model NAOSIM. The outputs from the dispersion modelling have been used as inputs to food-chain transfer and environmental dosimetry models. The annual effective doses for subsistence fishing communities of the Barents-Kara seas region do not exceed 0.6 mSv for hypothetical accidents located at Stepovogo fjord or the Barents Sea. For high rate consumers of fish in Norway, following a potential accident at the Gremikha Bay, annual effects doses would be at around 0.15 mSv. Accumulated doses (over 90 days) for various organisms and for all release scenarios considered were never in excess of 150 µGy. The levels of 137Cs derived for marine organism in areas close to Norway were not values that would likely cause concern from a regulatory perspective although for subsistence fishing communities close to the considered accident locations, it is not inconceivable that some restrictions on fishing etc. would need to be introduced.

Impacts on the terrestrial environment in case of a hypothetical accident involving the recovery of the dumped Russian submarine K-27.

Objects containing radioactivity have been routinely dumped in Arctic waters near NW Russia up until the 1990s. One of the most radioactive objects in this region, the nuclear submarine K-27, was dumped in Stepogovo Fjord and contained spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Although the two K-27 submarine reactors were mothballed before dumping, concerns about the potential long term risks of contamination remain and plans to retrieve and decommission K-27 exist. In this article, human dose and environmental impact aseessments are presented for two possible future scenarios involving: (1) an ingress of water into a reactor in situ leading to a spontaneous chain reaction (SCR) and (2) an on-board fire when SNF is being removed at the mainland decommissiong site at Gremhika Bay on the Kola Peninsula. Assessments have been completed using conservative assumptions, focusing on possible effects to Norwegian territory. Atmospheric transport and deposition of radioactivity was modelled near field and regionally, using appropriate models, whilst human doses and environmental exposures were modelled using a standard IAEA approach and the ERICA tool, respectively. Results indicate that large areas of Norwegian territory could be affected by fallout from the Gremhika scenario, especially in the north, though at levels two orders of magnitude lower than those observed after the Chernobyl accident. Potential doses, primarily due to ground shine, to a critical group of personnel on-site at Stepogovo resulting from a SCR could require preventative measures based on ICRP recommendations (20-100 mSv). Doses to non-human biota in Norway for the Gremhika scenario would be negligible, typical of background dose rates for terrestrial organisms.

Quantitative determination of fifteen basic pharmaceuticals in ante- and post-mortem whole blood by high pH mobile phase reversed phase ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of fifteen basic pharmaceuticals, for analysis of post- and ante-mortem whole blood samples. The following compounds were included: amitriptyline and its metabolite nortriptyline, trimipramine, mianserin, mirtazapine, citalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine (all antidepressants), levomepromazine and quetiapine (antipsychotics), ketobemidone and tramadol (analgesics), alimemazine (sedative antihistamine), and metoprolol (beta-blocker). The sample pretreatment consisted of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using ethylacetate:n-heptane (80:20, v/v). Six deuterated analogues were used as internal standards (IS). The compounds were separated using a reversed phase C18-column (2.1mm×100mm, 1.7µm), a flow rate of 0.5mL/min, and gradient elution with 5mM ammonium formate pH 10.2 and acetonitrile. Quantification was done by MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive mode, using two transitions for the compounds and one transition for the IS. The run time of the method was 8min including equilibration time. The calibration curves had R(2) values above 0.995 for all the compounds. The intermediate precision had a relative standard deviation (RSD, %) ranging between 2.0 and 16%. Recoveries of the compounds were ≥81%. The lower limits of quantifications (LLOQs) for the compounds varied from 5.0nmol/L to 0.10µmol/L (1.3-26ng/mL) and the limits of detections (LODs) from 1.0 to 20nmol/L (0.24-5.3ng/mL). LLOQ corresponds to 0.28-5.5pg injected on column. Matrix effects (ME) were between 91 and 113% when calculated against an IS. A comparison with former confirmation LC-MS methods at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Forensic Medicine and Drug Abuse Research (NIPH) was performed during method validation. Good correlation was seen for all compounds except sertraline, where the old LC-MS method was showing 33% higher results. The method has been running on a routine basis for more than a year, and has proven to be very robust and reliable with results for external quality samples, including sertaline, corresponding well to consensus mean or median.

Advances in NORM management in Norway and the application of ICRP's 2007 recommendations.

In Norway, the largest reported quantities of radioactive discharges and radioactive waste containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) come from the oil and gas sector, and smaller quantities of other NORM waste are also produced by industrial or mining processes. The Gulen final repository for radioactive waste from the oil and gas industry from the Norwegian continental shelf was opened in 2008 and has a capacity of 6000 tonnes. As of 1 January 2011, a new regulation was enforced whereby radioactive waste and radioactive pollution was integrated in the Pollution Control Act from 1981. This means that radioactive waste and radioactive pollution are now regulated under the same legal framework as all other pollutants and hazardous wastes. The regulation establishes two sets of criteria defining radioactive waste: a lower value for when waste is considered to be radioactive waste, and a higher value, in most cases, for when this waste must be disposed of in a final waste repository. For example, waste containing ≥ 1 Bq/g of Ra-226 is defined as radioactive waste, while radioactive waste containing ≥ 10 Bq/g of Ra-226 must be disposed of in a final repository. Radioactive waste between 1 and 10B q/g can be handled and disposed of by waste companies who have a licence for handling hazardous waste according to the Pollution Control Act. Alternatively, they will need a separate licence for handling radioactive waste from the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. The goal of the new regulation is that all radioactive waste should be handled and stored in a safe manner, and discharges should be controlled through a licensing regime in order to avoid/not pose unnecessary risk to humans or the environment. This paper will elaborate on the new regulation of radioactive waste and the principles of NORM management in Norway in view of the International Commission on Radiological Protection's 2007 Recommendations.

Norway's role in international collaboration towards rehabilitation of Andreeva Bay.

Andreeva Bay is one of the largest and most hazardous nuclear legacy sites in northwest Russia. The site is the location of large amounts of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) and radioactive wastes and the risks associated with the site have precipitated an extensive international collaborative effort towards securing and rehabilitating the site. Given the location and proximity of the site, Norway has and continues to contribute in a number of ways towards this effort. Norway's activities in relation to rehabilitative efforts at Andreeva Bay are focused on both infrastructural and remediative initiatives as well as regulatory collaboration with Russia towards ensuring effective and safe operations during handling and removal of SNF and radioactive materials. This article describes Norway's role within international efforts in the context of the rehabilitation of Andreeva Bay and outlines previous activities and Norway's future direction with respect to the site.

Floating nuclear power plants: potential implications for radioactive pollution of the northern marine environment.

Recent media reports as to the development, construction and possible deployment of floating nuclear power plants in the northern regions has generated significant interest in the matter. This paper presents background to the concept of floating nuclear power plants, information as to possible designs and iterations and some aspects of potential concern with respect to safety and the potential for environmental or other impacts as a result of the development and use of such systems in the northern regions.

Radioecological consequences of a potential accident during transport of spent nuclear fuel along an Arctic coastline.

This article presents results pertaining to a risk assessment of the potential consequences of a hypothetical accident occurring during the transportation by ship of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) along an Arctic coastline. The findings are based on modelling of potential releases of radionuclides, radionuclide transport and uptake in the marine environment. Modelling work has been done using a revised box model developed at the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. Evaluation of the radioecological consequences of a potential accident in the southern part of the Norwegian Current has been made on the basis of calculated collective dose to man, individual doses for the critical group, concentrations of radionuclides in seafood and doses to marine organisms. The results of the calculations indicate a large variability in the investigated parameters above mentioned. On the basis of the calculated parameters the maximum total activity ("accepted accident activity") in the ship, when the parameters that describe the consequences after the examined potential accident are still in agreement with the recommendations and criterions for protection of the human population and the environment, has been evaluated.

Environmental, health and safety assessment of decommissioning radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) in northwest Russia.

This paper presents findings from public health and environmental assessment work that has been conducted as part of a joint Norwegian-Russian project to decommission radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) in northwest Russia. RTGs utilise heat energy from radioactive isotopes, in this case 90Sr and its daughter nuclide 90Y, to generate electricity as a power source. Different accident scenarios based on the decommissioning process for RTGs are assessed in terms of possible radiation effects to humans and the environment. Doses to humans and biota under the worst-case scenario were lower than threshold limits given in ICRP and IAEA literature.

More inclusive workplaces: fact or fiction? The case of Norway.

Over the past years focus on different workfare programmes in Norway has increased in order to meet a number of identified problems in the labour market. The Tripartite Agreement on a More Inclusive Workplace of October 2001 is one of the measures introduced to create a more inclusive workplace, reduce the utilization of disability benefits and sick leave, and retain senior employees longer. Recommended methodology is improved employee-employer dialogue and increased focus on what the employee can do (workability). This paper is a critical review of why the Agreement has, so far, not lived up to the expectations. We also question whether the logic of the Tripartite Agreement is the solution to the problem.

The accidental sinking of the nuclear submarine, the Kursk: monitoring of radioactivity and the preliminary assessment of the potential impact of radioactive releases.

Measurements of samples taken from the close vicinity of the Kursk during two expeditions to the site in August and October 2000, indicate that no leakage of radionuclides from the reactors has been observed. Only background levels in the range 0.0-0.1 microSv/h have been measured by use of the remote operating vehicle (ROV) or by the divers working on and inside the submarine. Preliminary model calculations based on two different scenarios, representing short- and long-term releases of 100% of the reactors radionuclide inventory, show that the impact on man and the environment from the Kursk should not be deemed very serious. The conservative estimates indicate a maximum 137Cs activity concentration in fish in the order of about 80-100 Bq/kg and a total collective dose of 97 manSv.

Radioactive contamination in the environment of the nuclear enterprise 'Mayak' PA. Results from the joint Russian-Norwegian field work in 1994.

A brief overview of the radioactive waste inventory of the 'Mayak' PA reprocessing plant, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia is given together with a description of the environmental contamination caused by its activities and the origins of contamination. The joint Russian-Norwegian field work in 1994 is described, together with the major analytical results. The field work was of a limited extent, and was not designed to include a complete mapping of the environmental contamination around the plant. The results are, however, in good agreement with the very extensive previous Russian investigations. The highest concentrations of radioactivity were found in Reservoirs 10 and 11 and at the floodplain of the upper Techa River (Asanov Swamp). Also high concentrations are found in biota, especially fish from Reservoir 10.

Chromosome analysis of peripheral lymphocytes from persons exposed to radioactive fallout in Norway from the Chernobyl accident.

Chromosome analysis of peripheral lymphocytes from two Norwegian populations (44 reindeer herding South samis from Røros and Snåsa, 12 sheep farmers from Valdres) exposed to fallout from the Chernobyl accident were made. The doses from caesium through the years 1987-1991 were calculated based on whole-body measurements 134Cs and 137Cs giving a total cumulative mean internal dose of 5.54 mSv for the total group of 56 persons. Chromosome aberrations were within the normal range when compared with historical controls with the exception of dicentrics (0.3% per cell, which is a 10-fold increase) and rings (0.07% per cell). A dose-dependent increase in dicentrics and rings based on caesium exposure was not observed.

Cells, bilirubin and light: formation of bilirubin photoproducts and cellular damage at defined wavelengths.

Cultured cells from one human and one murine cell line were treated with bilirubin and irradiated with visible light of different wavelengths, either from phototherapy lamps or from a Xenon/Mercury lamp equipped with a monochromator. Bilirubin bound to human serum albumin was also irradiated with light. After irradiation, the bilirubin and its photoisomers were extracted and analysed with High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. The formation of single strand breaks in the DNA of treated cells was studied using a fluorescence marker. Cytotoxicity in the mouse skin cell line was measured by loss of the ability to form visible colonies in vitro. Green light exposure favours the production of lumirubin, while blue light causes more DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Green light may be more efficient and safer than shorter wavelength exposure when treating jaundiced newborns with phototherapy.