Analysis of MSW full-scale facilities based on anaerobic digestion and/or composting using respiration indices as performance indicators.

The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) forces European States to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35% of 1995 levels. Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) plants are the main alternative to waste incineration and landfilling. In this work, the waste treatment efficiency of six full-scale MBT facilities has been analysed using respiration indices (Dynamic Respiration Index and Cumulative Oxygen Consumption) to monitor plant performance. MBTs relying on anaerobic digestion plus composting achieved a high grade of stability on final compost (0.24±0.09mgO2g-1DMh-1 and 20±9mgO2g-1DM for dynamic respiration and cumulative consumption, respectively). On the contrary, MBTs relying only on composting showed a poor performance (1.3±0.2mgO2g-1DMh-1 and 104±18mgO2g-1DM for dynamic respiration and cumulative consumption, respectively). These results highlight the usefulness of respirometric balances to assess the performance of MBT full-scale plants.

[Prescription of diphosphonates in ambulatory oncology. A study of the health insurance medical services]. / Prescription des biphosphonates à visée cancérologique en pratique de ville. Une étude des services médicaux de l'assurance-maladie.

OBJECTIVES: As requested by the Health Ministry, the Agricultural (Mutualité Sociale Agricole) and Independant Professions (Assurance Maladie des Professions Indépendantes) Health Insurances carried out a survey to analyse the use of second generation oral biphosphonates. METHODS: The data, from 3,414 prescriptions, gathered over the twelve months from May '93, showed that clodronate is prescribed mainly for breast cancer (35%), prostate cancer (23%), multiple myeloma (19%) and carcinoma of the lung (7%). The other prescriptions (16%) were either related to various malignant diseases (18 types encountered) or non-malignant diseases (mainly osteoporosis, but also Paget's disease of bone and hyperparathyroidism). The initial prescriber was most often a cancerologist (49%) but also quite frequently (17%) a general practitioner. The treatment was prescribed for an average of 41 days. 1600 mg daily was the most frequent dose (79%). However, in non-authorised indications, especially osteoporosis, the dose was lower, generally 800 mg a day. Altogether 14% non-authorised indications were linked either to non-metastatic malignant diseases (for the prevention of metastases) or with osteo-condensing type metastases (prostate cancer: 43%) or non-malignant diseases (osteoporosis, Paget's disease of bone, hyperparathyroidism, chronic renal insufficiency, sympathetic algodystrophy, bedbound decalcification, etc.). The prescription for these cases was motivated by the expected beneficial effect on bone mineralisation. Such treatment authorised was more often initiated by a general practitioner (23%) than a specialist (12%). CONCLUSION: These data raise the problem of limiting the possibility of prescribing second generation biphosphonates as initial treatment to a specialist. They also reaffirm the need to have precise guidelines in the field of medical prescription controls.