Rotational Spectra of Conformers and Isotopomers of 1-Hydroxynaphthalene.

The rotational spectra of cis- and trans-1-hydroxynaphthalene and trans-1-DO-naphthalene have been recorded between 6 and 18 GHz using a pulsed microwave spectrometer. Most of the transitions detected are a type; hyperfine splittings from the electric quadrupole interaction were observed for some transitions of the deuterated isotopomer. The frequencies were well modeled with an S-reduced asymmetric rotor Hamiltonian. The rotational constants were determined much more accurately than previously. In addition, the quartic centrifugal distortion parameters were determined for the first time. Their values were very small, consistent with the rigid framework of this aromatic molecule. Theoretical calculations were carried out to support the assignment of the two forms to the cis and trans conformers. These calculations suggested that the cis conformer is slightly nonplanar in its equilibrium configuration, a property which is not inconsistent with its rotational constants. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Childhood Lead Poisoning in Russia: A Site-specific Pediatric Blood Lead Evaluation.

Lead poisoning in children is an international concern. Health effects vary according to a child's blood lead level. Historically, the problem of lead poisoning in Russia had been defined by analysis of hair samples. In Saratov, Russia, during the spring of 1996, the authors conducted the first evaluation of blood lead levels among Russian children. The mean blood lead level of 579 samples analyzed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was 7.7 µg/dL (range 3.0 to 35.7 µg/dL). The sensitivity of hair analysis in identifying blood lead levels above 10 µg/dL was 50%. Most of the environmental samples evaluated (including water, dust, paint, and soil) were within acceptable U.S. remediation standards. Almost one-fourth of the Russian children evaluated during this site-specific investigation had blood lead levels capable of causing adverse health effects in children. Hair analysis is not an adequate method for identifying these children. Additional investigations in other Russian cities are necessary in order to determine the extent of lead poisoning in Russia's children.