Background levels of non-ortho-substituted (coplanar) polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum of Missouri residents.

This study characterizes the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners PCB 77, PCB 81, PCB 126, and PCB 169, in a group of 150 men and women with no documented exposure to PCBs. Its purpose is to provide current referent levels of coplanar PCBs in Missouri residents and to compare those levels to levels reported in the literature from the United States and other countries. Although this study used an extensive questionnaire assessing potential sources of exposure, no positive relations were found between these exposure sources and participants' PCB levels. The PCB levels for the four congeners measured were lower than any reported in the literature. PCBs 126 and 169 are only two of the dioxin-like congeners; however, their contribution makes up 11% of the total TEQ. Age was significantly related to PCB 126 and PCB 169. For every one-year increase in age, both PCB congeners increased by approximately 0.4 parts per trillion (ppt). There was no gender difference for PCB 126; however, PCB 169 levels were 3 ppt higher in males than females.

Dioxin incinerator emissions exposure study Times Beach, Missouri.

PURPOSE: To determine whether living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator that was burning material contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) increased TCDD and toxicity equivalencies (TEQ) in individuals living near the incinerator. METHODS: Participants were randomly chosen from an area close to the incinerator and compared to participants outside of the exposure area. TCDD and related compounds were measured in blood serum before incineration, four months after incineration started, and at the end of incineration. RESULTS: Lipid adjusted serum levels of TCDD and TEQ decreased from pre-incineration to four months after incineration, and decreased further by the end of incineration. CONCLUSION: Incineration of TCDD did not result in any measurable exposure to the population surrounding the incinerator.

[Varicella pneumonia in the adult: study of 22 cases]. / Neumonía por varicela en el adulto: estudio de 22 casos.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective study of the varicella pneumonia in adults with clinical, therapeutic and evolutive features in 22 patients in the last 5 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The diagnosis was established by clinical and radiologic criteria in the course of varicella infection. The antecedents of pregnancy, smoking habit, previous contact with patients with varicella and underlying disease were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (14 males and 8 women: mean age 31 years. range: 22-40) were included in the study. None of them were immunocompromised, 16 (72.7%) have had previous contact with varicella patients. 19 (86.3%) were heavy smokers and none of the female patients was pregnant. All patients had fever and exanthem, cough had 20 (90.9%) dyspnea 16 (72.7%), chest pain 9 (40.9%) and hemoptysis 5 (22.7%). Only two patients showed pO2 < 60 mmHg. Chest X-ray revealed an interstitial pattern in 14 cases (63.3%), and micronodular in 8 (36.3%). All patients received treatment with intravenous acyclovir. Three patients (13.6%) were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to respiratory insufficiency, needing mechanical ventilation one of them (4.5%). Another three developed failure renal reversible associated with acyclovir. All patients had a favourable clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: We believe, that early, aggressive use of intravenous acyclovir in adult varicella pneumonia may be lifesaving, preventing progressive respiratory failure and reducing the high mortality rate of the disease. Therapy with corticosteroids should be considered in addition to antiviral therapy in patients with severe varicella pneumonia. While oral acyclovir chemoprophylaxis is probably beneficial in populations with chicken pox.