The effects of human exposure to mercury (Hg) and its compounds in Europe have been the focus of numerous studies that differed in their design, including recruiting different population groups at different levels of exposure and by using different protocols and recruitment strategies. The objective of this work was to review current studies of Hg exposure in Europe, taking into account the ...
A computational tool was developed with the aim of evaluating radiation exposure levels corresponding to patients and other exposed people, such as medical staff or chaperones, during typical nuclear medicine procedures. The calculation system is based on Monte Carlo subroutines adapted from the code PENELOPE and devoted to perform energy deposition according to the user-defined set-up. The ...
Insecticides are mainly used in the home environment, and most of them are recognised to pose risks for the human health. In particular, pyrethroids are an insecticide category widely used in agriculture and households, and for industrial purposes to get protection from mosquitoes, cockroaches and other insects. In this study, both exposure and risk following the application of insecticides by ...
Psychoactive substances are used worldwide and constitute one of the most common groups of pharmaceutical contaminants in surface waters. While these pharmaceuticals are designed to be efficiently eliminated from the human body, we know very little about their trophic‐transfer potential in aquatic wildlife. Therefore, the goal of this study was to quantify and compare uptake of an anxiolytic ...
The objective of this study was to assess workers' exposure to bioaerosols in sludge drying units. Simultaneous collection of inhalable dust and airborne biological agents was carried out using rotating cup samplers (CIP 10, Arelco). Sixteen stationary and 30 personal measurements were performed in three drying plants, during summer and winter. Microbial content of air was characterized by high ...
To most people, 80, 85 and 87 decibels may not mean much but, to a manager with health and safety responsibilities and operating under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, it means taking specific action in the workplace to ensure that they prevent or reduce risks from exposure to noise to the lowest level reasonably practicable. These three values matter because they form part of Regulation ...
The research into the cancer risk posed by radioactive pollution played a pilot role in changing our awareness of long-term health damage from invisible pollution of the environment. Most paradigms, concepts and methods of environmental research used today have been developed in the course of those large scale epidemiological studies such as questions relating to latency, type of cancer, genetic ...
The authors measured plasma carotenoid levels in three insectivorous bird species, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), and the great tit (Parus major) in metal‐polluted and unpolluted sites around a copper smelter. Their aim was to determine whether there was interspecific, age‐related, or yearly variation in carotenoid levels and their responses to the ...
While a number of studies have addressed bioaccumulation of the flame retardant Dechlorane Plus (DP), little information on the adverse effects of DP on animals, especially bird species, is available. In the present study, male common quails (Coturnix coturnix) were consecutively exposed to commercial DP‐25 by gavage for 90 days at 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg/d dosages. Concentrations of DP isomers in ...
Several well-organized nongovernmental organizations have initiated campaigns to heighten awareness about the presence of chemicals in our bodies to jump-start the collection of biomonitoring data. The results of these initiatives will influence risk-assessment practices, legislation and regulatory developments for years to come. Biomonitoring is the laboratory measurement of chemicals in blood, ...
An 80% metabolic conversion of the Tamiflu® pro-drug (oseltamivir phosphate, OP) to its metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) and a high excretion rate combined with poor removal at sewage treatment works (STWs) means that potentially high STW OC emissions may occur in receiving waters. A risk assessment approach undertaken within the River Lee catchment in North East London indicates that ...
The causes of neurodevelopmental disorders are mostly unknown. Exposure to certain chemicals during early foetal development can cause permanent brain injury at doses much lower than those that affect the adult brain. Recent epidemiological evidence on methylmercury has shown adverse effects at exposure levels previously thought to be safe. Major obstacles in this research field include ...
This paper deals with a one-week monitoring of the 50 Hz magnetic field on the ground floor and the first floor of houses under 150, 220 and 380 kV high-voltage overhead three-phase AC transmission lines. The field strength varied with the current intensity, the conductor height, and the storey of the house. Because current intensity varies with time the magnetic field depended on the time of day ...
We evaluated the recovery of photosynthesis and growth rate in green (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), blue‐green (Anabaena flos‐aquae), and diatom (Navicula pelliculosa) algae after pulsed exposure to atrazine. Subsequent to a grow‐up period of 24 to 72 h to establish requisite cell density for adequate signal strength to measure photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield, algae were exposed to a ...
Thinking about process industries such as the oil & gas sector, it is well knowing that during normal operations, leaks can occur from pumps, valves, flanges, storage tanks or during loading and unloading. According to US EPA figures2, this can mean hundreds of tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC) including benzene, which pose a serious health risk3. Fixed and personal ...
OSHA requires a noise dosimetry survey to determine if workers are exposed to noise that could damage their hearing. To satisfy OSHA’s requirement for Noise Surveys (29CFR1910.94 for General Industry, 29CFR1926.52 for Construction) involves attaching a noise dosimeter to a worker for a work shift when there is a possibility that person and persons performing similar tasks may be exposed to ...
The present study aimed to quantify the components of a biotic ligand model (BLM) for the effects of Cd on Folsomia candida (Collembola). Assuming that soil pore water is the main route of exposure and to exclude the effects of soil particles on metal availability, animals were exposed for seven days to different Cd concentrations between 0.1 and 100 mM in simplified soil solutions at ...
Pulsar Instruments has made assessing and capturing the true noise exposure of workers in a range of settings simple with its innovative noise doseBadge: Model 22. This revolutionary personal noise dosimeter is a self-contained device also known as PSEM, that has no cables, displays or controls, making it the perfect solution for noise dosimetry, as the unit cannot be tampered easily with during ...
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with an increased risk of several diseases. In 2002, the ETS exposure level was studied in a Finnish cross-sectional population sample with a sub-sample of currently working nonsmokers. In all, 123 nonsmokers (25-64 years) reporting at least 1 h of daily exposure to ETS participated in personal exposure measurements. Two 3 M organic vapor monitors, ...
In recent months, we have met with many safety professionals who have had a visit from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and were asked to present evidence of occupational noise monitoring. So, if you were asked, could you prove that the noise levels in your factory are within the legal limits? In most cases, it will not be sufficient to say that employees are not at risk from exposure to ...