Upcycling of Acid-Leaching Solutions from Li-Ion Battery Waste Treatment through the Facile Synthesis of Magnetorheological Fluid.

The rapidly growing production and usage of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dramatically raises the number of harmful wastes. Consequently, the LIBs waste management processes, taking into account reliability, efficiency, and sustainability criteria, became a hot issue in the context of environmental protection as well as the scarcity of metal resources. In this paper, we propose for the first time a functional material-a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) from the LIBs-based liquid waste containing heavy metal ions. At first, the spent battery waste powder was treated with acid-leaching, where the post-treatment acid-leaching solution (ALS) contained heavy metal ions including cobalt. Then, ALS was used during wet co-precipitation to obtain cobalt-doped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and as an effect, the harmful liquid waste was purified from cobalt. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized with SEM, TEM, XPS, and magnetometry. Subsequently, superparamagnetic nanoparticles sized 15 nm average in diameter and magnetization saturation of about 91 emu g-1 doped with Co were used to prepare the MRF that increases the viscosity by about 300% in the presence of the 100 mT magnetic fields. We propose a facile and cost-effective way to utilize harmful ALS waste and use them in the preparation of superparamagnetic particles to be used in the magnetorheological fluid. This work describes for the first time the second life of the battery waste in the MRF and a facile way to remove the harmful ingredients from the solutions obtained after the acid leaching of LIBs as an effective end-of-life option for hydrometallurgical waste utilization.

Recent advances in structural engineering of photocatalysts for environmental remediation.

Photocatalysis appears to be an appealing approach for environmental remediation including pollutants degradation in water, air, and/or soil, due to the utilization of renewable and sustainable source of energy, i.e., solar energy. However, their broad applications remain lagging due to the challenges in pollutant degradation efficiency, large-scale catalyst production, and stability. In recent decades, massive efforts have been devoted to advance the photocatalysis technology for improved environmental remediation. In this review, the latest progress in this aspect is overviewed, particularly, the strategies for improved light sensitivity, charge separation, and hybrid approaches. We also emphasize the low efficiency and poor stability issues with the current photocatalytic systems. Finally, we provide future suggestions to further enhance the photocatalyst performance and lower its large-scale production cost. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the fundamental science and technical engineering of photocatalysis in environmental remediation.

The 'land of fires': epidemiological research and public health policy during the waste crisis in Campania, Italy.

The region of Campania, South Italy rose to prominence in the mid-2000s due to the illegal disposal of waste by the Camorra during the local waste management crisis. Several lines of evidence have identified a link between exposure to toxic waste and adverse health outcomes in the local populations. Critically, studies since 2017 have strongly suggested that this link is causal in nature. The uncertainty of evidence polarised the Italian epidemiological community and partly undermined the precautionary principle in public health policy, leading to years of delay in the deployment of appropriate interventions. The crisis also sparked concerns about pollution of soil, water, and agricultural products. The contrast between political responses and protests from local communities shows analogies with environmental emergencies of a larger scale. Beyond law enforcement actions to prosecute illegal waste disposal activity, future mitigation of risks for affected populations will require coordinated efforts in environmental policy (land reclamation, improved waste management) and public health (i.e. extensive epidemiological surveillance, screening and prevention programs). By summarising evidence over the last two decades, this review aims to construct a cohesive interdisciplinary narrative of the events in the Campanian waste crisis.

Time and Atom Economical Regio- and Chemoselective Radical Cyclization of Unactivated 1,6-Enynes Under Metal- and Oxidant-Free Conditions.

We developed time-atom economic regio- and chemoselective sulfonyl radical triggered 5-exo-dig cyclization of unactivated 1,6-enynes with sulfonyl halides under metal, additive-free reaction conditions to achieve highly substituted five-membered heterocyclic compounds. This transformation creates three new bonds, such as C-SO2 , C-C, and active C-I/Br bonds. Importantly, one-pot protocols produce desired products directly from sodium sulfinates and have an additional advantage such as minimising chemical waste, saving time, and simplifying practical aspects compared to existing protocols.

Aeração de dispositivos médicos esterilizados a óxido de etileno: considerações acerca da regulação brasileira / Aecization of medical devices sterilized to ethylene oxide: considerations about Brazilian regulation / Aireación de dispositivos médicos esterilizados con óxido de etileno: consideraciones sobre la regulación brasileña

Objetivos: Descrever níveis residuais aceitáveis de óxido de etileno em dispositivos médicos, analisar processos de aeração recomendados e compará-los com a regulação brasileira. Método: Revisão integrativa da literatura, com descritores específicos, sem restrição de ano de publicação. Busca dos dados entre outubro e novembro de 2019, que resultou em 34 estudos incluídos no estudo. Resultados: A regulação brasileira vigente está desatualizada em relação à classificação de produtos, à determinação de valores de resíduos tóxicos de óxido de etileno em dispositivos médicos e aos processos recomendados para a aeração desses produtos, podendo contribuir para riscos de eventos adversos para pacientes usuários de dispositivos inadequadamente aerados, e, consequentemente, urge sua atualização. Conclusão: As lacunas desse marco regulatório beneficiam indiretamente as empresas que terceirizam a esterilização a óxido de etileno ao omitir controles essenciais para a segurança do paciente exposto a possíveis resíduos tóxicos de óxido de etileno, favorecer práticas inseguras de esterilização de produtos para saúde, além de dificultar o controle de serviço de saúde pelas vigilâncias sanitárias do país.

Objectives: To describe acceptable residual levels of ethylene oxide in medical devices, analyze recommended aesther processes and compare them with the Brazilian regulation. Method: Integrative literature review, with specific descriptors, without year of publication restriction. Data search between October and November 2019, which resulted in 34 studies included in the study. Results: Current Brazilian regulation is outdated in relation to product classification, the determination of waste values ethylene oxide toxic in medical devices and the recommended processes for the aecization of these products, and may contribute to risks of adverse events for patients users of inappropriately aenated devices, and consequently urge their update. Conclusion: The shortcomings of this regulatory framework indirectly benefit companies that outsource ethylene oxide sterilization by omitting essential controls for safety of the patient exposed to possible toxic residues of ethylene oxide, unsafe practices of sterilization of health products, in addition to hindering the control of health service by the country's health surveillance.

Objetivos: Describir los niveles residuales aceptables de óxido de etileno (OE) en dispositivos médicos, analizar los procesos de aireación recomendados y compararlos con la normativa brasileña. Método: revisión integrativa de la literatura, con descriptores específicos, sin restricción de año de publicación. Búsqueda de datos entre octubre y noviembre de 2019, que resultó en 34 estudios incluidos en el estudio. Resultados: La normativa brasileña actual está desactualizada en cuanto a la clasificación de productos, determinación y valores de residuos tóxicos de OE en dispositivos médicos y procesos recomendados para la aireación de estos productos, lo que puede contribuir al riesgo de eventos adversos para los pacientes que utilizan una aireación inadecuada de dispositivos y, en consecuencia, se necesita urgentemente una actualización. Conclusión: Las brechas en este marco regulatorio benefician indirectamente a las empresas que externalizan la esterilización a OE, al omitir controles esenciales para la seguridad de los pacientes expuestos a posibles residuos tóxicos de OE, favoreciendo prácticas inseguras de esterilización de productos sanitarios, además de dificultar el control de servicio de salud por la Vigilancia Sanitaria del país.

Geo-epidemiology and environmental co-variate mapping of primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Autoimmune liver disease (AILD) is thought to result from a complex interplay between genetics and the environment. Studies to date have focussed on primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and demonstrated higher disease prevalence in more urban, polluted, and socially deprived areas. This study utilises a large cohort of patients with PBC and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) to investigate potential environmental contributors to disease and to explore whether the geo-epidemiology of PBC and PSC are disease-specific or pertain to cholestatic AILD in general. METHODS: All adult patients with PBC and PSC in a tightly defined geographical area within the UK were identified. Point- and area-based analyses and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to investigate for disease clustering and examine for relationships between prevalence, distribution of environmental contaminants, and socio-economic status. RESULTS: We identified 2,150 patients with PBC and 472 with PSC. Significant spatial clustering was seen for each disease. A high prevalence of PBC was found in urban, post-industrial areas with a strong coal-mining heritage and increased environmental cadmium levels, whereas a high PSC prevalence was found in rural areas and inversely associated with social deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates spatial clustering of PBC and PSC and adds to our understanding of potential environmental co-variates for both diseases. Disease clustering, within the same geographical area but over different scales, is confirmed for each disease with distinct risk profiles identified and associations with separate putative environmental factors and socio-economic status. This suggests that different triggers and alternative pathways determine phenotypic expression of autoimmunity in the affected population. Co-variate analysis points towards the existence of specific disease triggers. LAY SUMMARY: This study looked for potential environmental triggers in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) living in the north-east of England and north Cumbria. We found that PBC was more common in urban areas with a history of coal mining and high levels of cadmium whereas PSC was more common in rural areas with lower levels of social deprivation.

Probabilistic estimates of prenatal lead exposure at 195 toxic hotspots in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Prior estimates of pediatric lead-related disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) used population estimates of maternal blood lead levels (BLLs). This approach may underestimate fetal BLLs by not considering potentially high prenatal lead exposure from toxic hotspots. OBJECTIVES: We developed a probabilistic approach to using the Adult Lead Methodology (ALM) to estimate fetal BLLs from prenatal exposure to lead-contaminated soil at hotspots in the Toxic Site Identification Program (TSIP). METHODS: We created distributions for each ALM parameter using published literature and extracted soil lead measurements from the TSIP database. Each iteration of the probabilistic ALM randomly selected values from the input distributions to generate a site-specific fetal BLL estimate. For each site, we ran 5000 model iterations, producing a site-specific fetal BLL distribution. RESULTS: 195 TSIP sites, in 33 LMICs, met our study inclusion criteria; an estimated 820,000 women of childbearing age are at risk for lead exposure at these sites. The predicted geometric means (GM) for site-specific fetal BLLs ranged from 3.3 µg/dL to 534 µg/dL, and 98% of sites had estimated GM fetal BLLs >5 µg/dL, the current reference level of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while 11 sites had estimated GM fetal BLLs above the CDC chelation threshold of 45 µg/dL. DISCUSSION: The TSIP soil lead data and this probabilistic approach to the ALM show that pregnant women living near TSIP sites may have BLLs that put their fetus at risk for neurologic damage and other sequelae, underscoring the need for interventions to reduce lead exposure at toxic hotspots.

Morbidity profile of communities in Bhopal city (India) vis-à-vis distance of residence from Union Carbide India Limited plant and drinking water usage pattern.

OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of morbidities in communities residing at variable distances from the closed down insecticide manufacturing plant premises of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), Bhopal, India and to determine association of morbidities, if any, with their drinking water usage pattern and distance of localities from the UCIL plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10,827 individuals belonging to 2,184 families, residing within 0-1 km (Stratum I) and 2.5-5.0 km (Stratum II) radial distances from UCIL plant were surveyed and 9,306 of them (86%) were clinically examined. Data were analyzed to examine the association between the groups of morbidities, likely due to biological and chemical water contamination, and the distance of locality from the UCIL plant. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the risk factors for morbidities. RESULTS: Nearly similar prevalence (25.3% in stratum I, 25.8% in stratum II) and the trend of all-cause morbidities were recorded in the two strata. While morbidities related to gastrointestinal tract system (P < 0.05), auditory system (P < 0.01), neoplasm/cancers (P < 0.01) and congenital anomalies (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in stratum I, the prevalence of hypertension (6.4% stratum II, 4.7% stratum I; P < 0.01) and diabetes mellitus (3.4% stratum II, 2.0% stratum I; P < 0.001) was found significantly higher in stratum II. No association (P > 0.05) was observed between the prevalence of morbidities, likely due to the consumption of biologically or chemically contaminated drinking water, and the distance of locality/stratum from the UCIL plant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: By and large similar pattern of morbidities were recorded in the two strata suggesting that the communities, irrespective of the distance of their residences from UCIL plant or sources of their drinking water, are equally vulnerable to various morbidities.

Protecting Children from Toxic Waste: Data-Usability Evaluation Can Deter Flawed Cleanup.

Nearly 25 percent of US children live within 2 km of toxic-waste sites, most of which are in urban areas. They face higher rates of cancer than adults, partly because the dominant contaminants at most US hazardous-waste sites include genotoxic carcinogens, like trichloroethylene, that are much more harmful to children. The purpose of this article is to help protect the public, especially children, from these threats and to improve toxics-remediation by beginning to test our hypothesis: If site-remediation assessments fail data-usability evaluation (DUE), they likely compromise later cleanups and public health, especially children's health. To begin hypothesis-testing, we perform a focused DUE for an unremediated, Pasadena, California toxic site. Our DUE methods are (a) comparing project-specific, remediation-assessment data with the remediation-assessment conceptual site model (CSM), in order to identify data gaps, and (b) using data-gap directionality to assess possible determinate bias (whether reported toxics risks are lower/higher than true values). Our results reveal (1) major CSM data gaps, particularly regarding Pasadena-toxic-site risks to children; (2) determinate bias, namely, risk underestimation; thus (3) likely inadequate remediation. Our discussion shows that if these results are generalizable, requiring routine, independent, DUEs might deter flawed toxic-site assessment/cleanup and resulting health threats, especially to children.

Synthesized bioadsorbent from fish scale for chromium (III) removal.

Presence of heavy metal in industrial wastewater is hazardous to the surrounding environment. Biosorption of heavy metal is an effective technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater. This research work has been carried out on removal of chromium (III) metal ions by employing waste fish scales as bioadsorbent. A batch adsorption process was carried out with different adsorbent dosage, solution pH and contact time. The results show the highest 99.7518 % chromium (III) metal ions at bioadsorbent dosage 0.8 g, pH of the solution 5 and contact time 90 min, initial concentration 150 mg/l chromium ion. The adsorption isotherms data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model with R2 = 0.9998, qmax = 18.3486 mg/g, and RL = 0.00007325. As well as pseudo-first and second kinetics model was also analyzed for the description of adsorption and found to be well fitted (R2 = 1) for adsorption kinetics. The surface properties activated fish scales and chromium loaded fish scale were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis and agree with outcomes.

Using routine, independent, scientific-data audits as an early-warning for potentially fraudulent toxic-site cleanup: PCE, TCE, and other VOCs at the former Naval-Ordnance Test Station, Pasadena, California.

Two of the most prevalent Superfund-site contaminants are carcinogenic solvents PCE (perchloroethylene) and TCE (trichloroethylene). Because their cleanup is difficult and costly, remediators have repeatedly falsified site-cleanup data, as Tetra Tech apparently did recently in San Francisco. Especially for difficult-to-remediate toxins, this paper hypothesizes that scientific misrepresentations occur in toxic-site assessments, before remediation even begins. To begin to test this hypothesis, the paper (1) defines scientific-data audits (assessing whether published conclusions contradict source data), (2) performs a preliminary scientific-data audit of toxic-site assessments by consultants Ninyo and Moore for developer Trammell Crow. Trammel Crow wants to build 550 apartments on an unremediated Pasadena, California site - once a premier US Navy weapons-testing/development facility. The paper (3) examines four key Ninyo-and-Moore conclusions, that removing only localized metals-hotspots will (3.1) remediate TCE/PCE; (3.2) leave low levels of them; (3.3) clean the northern half of soil, making it usable for grading, and (3.4) ensure site residents have lifetime cancer risks no greater than 1 in 3,000. The paper (4) shows that source data contradict all four conclusions. After summarizing the benefits of routine, independent, scientific-data audits (RISDA), the paper (5) argues that, if these results are generalizable, RISDA might help prevent questionable toxic-site assessments, especially those of expensive-to-remediate toxins like PCE/TCE.

The Bioconversion of Sewage Sludge to Bio-Fuel: The Environmental and Economic Benefits.

This paper aims to analyze the economic feasibility of generating a novel, innovative biofuel-bioenergy-obtained from deposit bio-components by means of a pilot installation of sewage sludge bio-conversion. Fuel produced from sewage sludge biomass bears the potential of being considered a renewable energy source. In the present study, 23 bioconversion cycles were conducted taking into consideration the different contents, types of high carbohydrate additives, moisture content of the mixture as well as the shape of the bed elements. The biofuel was produced using post fermentation sewage sludge for industrial energy and heat generation. Based on the presented research it was concluded that the composite biofuel can be co-combusted with hard coal with the optimal percentage share within the range of 20-30% w/w. Sewage sludge stabilized by means of anaerobic digestion carried out in closed fermentation chambers is the final product. The average values of the CO2, CO, NO, NOx and SO2 concentrations in flue gas from co-combustion of a bioconversion product (20% w/w) and coal were 5.43%, 1903 ppm, 300 ppm, 303 ppm and 179 ppm, respectively. In total, within a period of 4.5 years of the plant operation, 1853 Mg of fuel was produced and successfully co-combusted with coal in a power plant. The research demonstrated that in the waste water treatment sector there exists energy potential in terms of calorific value which translates into tangible benefits both in the context of energy generation as well as environmental protection. Over 700,000 Mg of bio-sewage sludge is generated annually in Poland. According to findings of the study presented in the paper, the proposed solution could give 970,000 Mg of dry mass of biomass qualified as energy biomass replacing fossil fuels.

Trends of electronic waste pollution and its impact on the global environment and ecosystem.

Electronic waste (e-waste) is used for all electronic/electrical devices which are no more used. Conventionally, waste management policies are desfighandle the traditional waste. Although e-waste contains toxic materials, however, its management is rarely focused by policy makers; therefore, its negative impact on the global environment, ecosystem, and human health is aggravated. The review outlines the categories of e-waste materials, major pollutants including ferrous/non-ferrous metals, plastics, glass, printed circuit boards, cement, ceramic, and rubber beside, some valuable metals (such as copper, silver, gold, platinum). Toxic elements from e-waste materials, released in the air, water, and soil, include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead, causing pollution. Although their roles in biological systems are poorly identified, however, they possess significant toxic and carcinogenic potential. It is therefore critical to monitor footprint and device strategies to address e-waste-linked issues from manufacturing, exportation, to ultimate dumping, including technology transmissions for its recycling. This review traces a plausible link among e-waste condition at a worldwide dimension, as far as settlement procedures to keep it secure and carefully monitored when traded. Their fate in the three spheres of the earth, i.e., water, soil, and air, impacts human health. The strategies and regulation to handle e-waste generation at the global level have been discussed. Graphical abstract .

Generation and composition of waste from medical histopathology laboratories.

The aim of this work was to record the quantities and composition of medical waste (MW) generated by public and private medical histopathology laboratories (HISTOLB) and to provide pertinent waste generation design coefficients (e.g. g/examinee) for those laboratories. This can be a useful coefficient when designing medical waste treatment facilities. The study was conducted on three public and four private HISTOLBs in the city of Thessaloniki (Greece) for a period of 5 months. One sampling week was selected randomly per month. During the study period, the examinees per week were 108 and 90 in the public and private HISTOLBs, respectively. According to the results, 57% of the total MW generated in both the public and private laboratories were toxic waste (TXW), namely the liquid formaldehyde that is used to preserve the tissue. The mixed hazardous waste (MHW) comprised 28% and 24%, respectively, of the total MW, in the public and private facilities, respectively. The infectious waste constituted around 15% of the total MW generated in both types of facilities. Urban type waste was always less than 4% by weight. The total mean MW generated in the public and private laboratories were 208 ±â€¯543 (n = 1614) and 195 ±â€¯512 (n = 1789) g/examinee, respectively. A large variance among the mean MW generation rates of the participating individual laboratories that belonged to the same category was observed. The dominant fraction of the infectious waste was the plastic containers that contained the tissue samples, being around 75% of the total infectious waste, followed by the latex gloves (being around 17% of the infectious waste).

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of dental clinics waste in Zabol city, Iran.

Dental clinics are one of the sources of waste production that are important due to producing infectious and potentially infectious waste, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, and toxic waste. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze dental clinics in Zabol quantitatively and qualitatively. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 on waste produced in dental clinics in Zabol. Sampling of 25 dental clinics was performed three times per week. At the end of the working day, the samples were transferred to a suitable site and weighed carefully after separation of the components. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Excel software. 5457 kg of waste is annually produced in the dental clinics of Zabol that the amount of infectious and potentially infectious waste, household-like waste, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, and toxic wastes are approximately 48.08, 43.75, 7.82 and 0.35%, respectively. Given that proper management of waste produced is not performed in dental clinics in Zabol, special attention to waste produced in this sector through programs of reduction in source, separation and recycling can reduce the waste volume significantly.

On the tear proteome of the house mouse (Mus musculus musculus) in relation to chemical signalling.

Mammalian tears are produced by lacrimal glands to protect eyes and may function in chemical communication and immunity. Recent studies on the house mouse chemical signalling revealed that major urinary proteins (MUPs) are not individually unique in Mus musculus musculus. This fact stimulated us to look for other sexually dimorphic proteins that may-in combination with MUPs-contribute to a pool of chemical signals in tears. MUPs and other lipocalins including odorant binding proteins (OBPs) have the capacity to selectively transport volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their eight-stranded beta barrel, thus we have generated the tear proteome of the house mouse to detect a wider pool of proteins that may be involved in chemical signalling. We have detected significant male-biased (7.8%) and female-biased (7%) proteins in tears. Those proteins that showed the most elevated sexual dimorphisms were highly expressed and belong to MUP, OBP, ESP (i.e., exocrine gland-secreted peptides), and SCGB/ABP (i.e., secretoglobin) families. Thus, tears may have the potential to elicit sex-specific signals in combination by different proteins. Some tear lipocalins are not sexually dimorphic-with MUP20/darcin and OBP6 being good examples-and because all proteins may flow with tears through nasolacrimal ducts to nasal and oral cavities we suggest that their roles are wider than originally thought. Also, we have also detected several sexually dimorphic bactericidal proteins, thus further supporting an idea that males and females may have adopted alternative strategies in controlling microbiota thus yielding different VOC profiles.

The evidence of toxic wastes dumping in Campania, Italy.

The region of Campania (particularly Naples and Caserta) were subjected to extensive illegal dumping operations of toxic and radioactive wastes since the 1980s. The highly toxic wastes (HTW) dumping operations that have taken place both along the coast and the hinterland, have extremely adverse effects on health, livelihoods and the future prospect of sustainable development of the local population. The toxic wastes dumping in Campania is real and it has compromised (irreversibly) the human health, natural environment, food security and the long-term development prospects of the affected population. To reverse this tragic trend, it is necessery the identification, isolation and reclamation of the polluted sites and full assessment of the nature and the scale of the polluting chemicals and other hazardous wastes. The purpose of this review is to contribute significantly to the available evidence of the long-running toxic waste dumping in Campania and its negative impact on the health of population.

Burden of disease resulting from lead exposure at toxic waste sites in Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: Though lead contaminated waste sites have been widely researched in many high-income countries, their prevalence and associated health outcomes have not been well documented in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Using the well-established health metric disability-adjusted life year (DALY) and an exposure assessment method developed by Chatham-Stephens et al., we estimated the burden of disease resulting from exposure to lead at toxic waste sites in three Latin American countries in 2012: Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay. Toxic waste sites identified through Pure Earth's Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) were screened for lead in both biological and environmental sample media. Estimates of cardiovascular disease incidence and other outcomes resulting from exposure to lead were utilized to estimate DALYs for each population at risk. RESULTS: Approximately 316,703 persons in three countries were at risk of exposure to pollutants at 129 unique sites identified through the TSIP database. Exposure to lead was estimated to result in between 51,432 and 115,042 DALYs, depending on the weighting factor used. The estimated burden of disease caused by exposure to lead in this analysis is comparable to that estimated for Parkinson's disease and bladder cancer in these countries. CONCLUSIONS: Lead continues to pose a significant public health risk in Argentina, Mexico, and Uruguay. The burden of disease in these three countries is comparable with other widely recognized public health challenges. Knowledge of the relatively high number of DALYs associated with lead exposure may be used to generate support and funding for the remediation of toxic waste sites in these countries and others.

Illegal Dumping of Toxic Waste and Its Effect on Human Health in Campania, Italy.

The region of Campania (particularly Naples and Caserta) has experienced an emergency in the waste management cycle during past years. Although the most critical phase has been overcome after the construction of the incineration plant in Acerra (an old-fashioned technology built up over a few months, whose impact on environment and health has not yet been assessed), most of the underlying problems have not been resolved. The illegal burning of wheels, plastics, textiles, and other industrial residuals, along with the detection of two thousand toxic substance dumping sites, still represents major concerns of environmental pollution and population health. This review summarizes the most relevant studies, which analyzed chemical contamination (primarily dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) of the air, soil, water, animals, and humans in Campania. In addition, we reviewed information on population health (i.e., mortality data, congenital malformations, and cancer incidence). Moving from a detailed mapping of (mostly illegal) waste dumping sites in Campania, we have focused on recent studies which have found: (a) high concentrations of dioxins (≥5.0 pg TEQ/g fat) in milk samples from sheep, cows, and river buffaloes; (b) remarkable contamination of dioxin and PCBs in human milk samples from those living in the Naples and Caserta areas (PCDDs+PCDFs and dioxin-like-PCBs (dl-PCBs) assessed at 16.6 pg TEQ/g of fat; range: 7.5-43 pg/g of fat); (c) potential age-adjusted standardized mortality rates associated with some specific cancer types; (d) a statistically significant association between exposure to illegal toxic waste dumping sites and cancer mortality, even after adjustment by socio-economic factors and other environmental indicators.

[Clinical manifestations in patients exposed to an environmental toxic accident (Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2006)]. / Manifestations cliniques chez les sujets exposés à un accident toxique environnemental (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire 2006).

INTRODUCTION: In 2006, 528 tons of petroleum toxic waste have been released in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) during a major environmental accident. This study was aimed to describe the clinical manifestations provoked by these toxic waste. METHODS: We have analysed the records of patients admitted to the university hospital of Cocody (Abidjan) following exposure to toxic waste. All the information were recorded on specific files or on notification files created by the physicians of the National Institute of Public Health, the authority charged with the supervision of this exercise. The files were completed by the physician in the course of the examination of the patient. RESULTS: Over a period of 3-month-period, 10,598 patients were examined. The clinical manifestations affected all age groups. They were dominated by respiratory symptoms: pulmonary (74.5%) and upper respiratory (31.0%). Pulmonary symptoms included cough (48.8%), chest pain (37.9%), dyspnoea (9.5%) and a few cases of hemoptysis. Digestive symptoms mainly comprised abdominal pain (36.2%), diarrhea (23.0%), abdominal distension (19.9%) and vomiting (9.9%). The other symptoms were neurological, ophthalmic, cardiovascular and gynaecological. More than 96% of patients presented with at least two symptoms. The respiratory symptoms were significantly more frequent in patients over the age of 17 while diarrhea and vomiting were more often found in patients less than 17 years old. Chest pain was significantly more common in men while abdominal pain and vomiting predominated in women (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The clinical consequences of toxic waste exposure were varied and sometimes serious. A medium- and long-term evaluation of the subjects is required.