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Water Consumption (water + consumption)
Selected AbstractsWater Consumption Based on a Disaggregated Social Accounting Matrix of Huesca (Spain)JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Ignacio Cazcarro Summary Making use of the social accounting matrix (SAM) of the Spanish province of Huesca in 2002, updated following Junius and Oosterhaven's GRAS method and work by Lenzen and colleagues, we have estimated the water footprint of the region. The water footprint is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants plus the direct consumption in the households. We built an open Leontief model, which gives us the water embodied in the production of goods. The valuations concern the industrial, service, and domestic sectors' water consumption, the embodied water imported from and exported to other countries, and the agrarian water use. This agrarian sector, clearly the sector that shows the greatest water consumption, is carefully examined, so it is disaggregated for the calculations into 31 irrigation land products, dry land, and 9 livestock classifications. As a consequence, the framework enables the observation of the relationships and flows of water taking place among all the sectors and activities in the economy. Finally, we also make use of the per capita water footprint estimations to get a clear picture of how the responsibility for water use is distributed once foreign trade is taken into account. [source] Water Consumption and Nursing Characteristics of Infants by Race and EthnicityJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2000Keith E. Heller DDS Abstract Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine racial/ethnic differences in water consumption levels and nursing habits of children younger than 2 years old. Methods: Data from the 1994,96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) were used for these analyses. Water consumption and breast-feeding data on 946 children younger than 2 years old were used. Results: For black non-Hispanic children younger than 2 years old (n=121), 5.3 percent of the children were currently being breast fed. This percentage was less than that seen in other racial/ethnic groups. For white non-Hispanic children (n=620), this percentage was 10.8 percent; for Hispanic children (n=146), 12.2 percent; for "other" children, 18.5 percent (n=59). Black non-Hispanic children had the highest total water consumption (128.6 ml/kg/day) among all groups, white non-Hispanic had the lowest (113.2 ml/kg/day). These differences were not statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Black non-Hispanic children also drank moretap water (21.3 ml/kg/day) than white non-Hispanic children (12.7 ml/kg/day) and Hispanic children (14.9 ml/kg/day). The difference was statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Conclusions: The differences in breast feeding and water consumption observed among black children younger than 2 years of age could be a factor in the observed higher levels of fluorosis in black children compared to other children. [source] Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2010Lily House-Peters House-Peters, Lily, Bethany Pratt, and Heejun Chang, 2010. Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):461-472. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00415.x Abstract:, In the Portland metropolitan area, suburban growth in cities such as Hillsboro is projected to increase as people seek affordable housing near a burgeoning metropolis. The most significant determinants for increases in water demand are population growth, climate change, and the type of urban development that occurs. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of single family residential (SFR) water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon, at the census block scale. The following research questions are addressed: (1) What are the significant determinants of SFR water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon? (2) Is SFR water demand sensitive to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? (3) To what magnitude do particular census blocks react to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? Using ordinary least squares multiple regression and spatial regression methods, we found that base use, representing indoor water use, is dependent on household size and that seasonal use, representing external water use is dependent on both education level and the size of the property's outdoor space. Spatial analysis techniques determined that although the water demand of the study area as a whole is not sensitive to drought conditions, certain individual census blocks do respond with a higher magnitude of water use. The most climate-sensitive census blocks tend to contain newer and larger homes, and have higher property values and more affluent and well-educated residents. [source] Water Consumption and Nursing Characteristics of Infants by Race and EthnicityJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2000Keith E. Heller DDS Abstract Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine racial/ethnic differences in water consumption levels and nursing habits of children younger than 2 years old. Methods: Data from the 1994,96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) were used for these analyses. Water consumption and breast-feeding data on 946 children younger than 2 years old were used. Results: For black non-Hispanic children younger than 2 years old (n=121), 5.3 percent of the children were currently being breast fed. This percentage was less than that seen in other racial/ethnic groups. For white non-Hispanic children (n=620), this percentage was 10.8 percent; for Hispanic children (n=146), 12.2 percent; for "other" children, 18.5 percent (n=59). Black non-Hispanic children had the highest total water consumption (128.6 ml/kg/day) among all groups, white non-Hispanic had the lowest (113.2 ml/kg/day). These differences were not statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Black non-Hispanic children also drank moretap water (21.3 ml/kg/day) than white non-Hispanic children (12.7 ml/kg/day) and Hispanic children (14.9 ml/kg/day). The difference was statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Conclusions: The differences in breast feeding and water consumption observed among black children younger than 2 years of age could be a factor in the observed higher levels of fluorosis in black children compared to other children. [source] Occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina): A field and chemometric studyENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2003María Valeria Amé Abstract We evaluated the presence of cyanobacterial blooms in San Roque Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina). Cyanobacterial blooms and water samples were collected over 4 years (1998,2002). We confirmed the presence of microcystin-LR and microcystin-RR in 97% of these blooms. The total amount of microcystin (MC) ranged between 5.8 and 2400.0 ,g g,1 of freeze-dried bloom material. These values suggest that guidelines for safe water consumption and recreational use should be established for this reservoir. Twenty-eight physical and chemical parameters were measured in water samples and evaluated by discriminant analysis (DA). A first DA was used to evaluate the factors promoting cyanobacteria occurrence, identifying nine parameters following three patterns associated with cyanobacterial growth. Inorganic phosphorous was found to promote the presence of blooms, whereas the highest proliferation of cyanobacteria was observed in the presence of smaller amounts of carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, and fecal coliform bacteria. The results observed during our fieldwork, analyzed using DA, agreed with the results of other laboratory studies, thus confirming the usefulness of DA to help with the evaluation of a complicated environmental data matrix. A second DA, using only water samples collected during the presence of cyanobacteria blooms, identified another nine parameters. The analysis of these parameters allowed us to identify certain environmental factors that could lead to the dominance of toxic strains, thus increasing the amount of MC. The results showed that, in our case, an increase in the water temperature was associated with higher amounts of MC per dry weight unit, whereas an increase in the concentrations of ammonia,nitrogen and iron were associated with lower amounts of MC, thus disfavoring the dominance of toxic strains. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 18: 192,201, 2003. [source] Effect of sample size on cyst recovery by flotation methods: Recommendations for sample processing during EU monitoring of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.)EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2008J. Bellvert Under EC Council Directive 2007/33/EC member states of the European Union are recommended to take soil samples ranging from 100 mL to >1500 mL to monitor populations of potato cyst nematodes [PCN] (Globodera spp.) in targeted fields. This study examines the effects of varying sample size on sample processing and cyst extraction using two widely used laboratory methods. Cyst recovery was stable using the Fenwick can from 100 mL up to the physical limits of the can. Recovery was significantly lower for low density 50 mL samples; however, this was partly due to a statistical artefact since higher numbers of cysts were lost from successively larger samples with constant cyst numbers (i.e. decreasing densities). The Schuiling centrifuge had functional limits of <100 mL and >500 mL. Outside this range, cyst recovery from low density samples was significantly reduced. Cyst recovery from samples of varying size, but with equal numbers of cysts was only constant above 100 mL. However, samples ranging from 200,500 mL were optimal for the Schuiling centrifuge. Cyst extraction efficiency was similar using both methods for samples ranging from 150 mL to 1500 mL, where larger samples were divided into <500 mL portions. However, processing times (i.e. cyst extraction and microscopic examination) and water consumption increased significantly with increasing sample size and were significantly higher when using the Fenwick can. [source] Species richness and susceptibility to heat and drought extremes in synthesized grassland ecosystems: compositional vs physiological effectsFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2004L. VAN PEER Summary 1We investigated effects of declining plant species richness (S) on resistance to extremes in grassland communities. 2Synthesized model ecosystems of different S, grown outdoors in containers, were exposed to a stress peak combining heat and drought. The heat wave was induced experimentally by infrared irradiation in free air conditions. 3Before the heat wave, the more species-rich communities produced more biomass as a result of a large and positive complementarity effect that outweighed a small negative selection effect. 4Water use during the heat wave was likewise enhanced by S, which could not be attributed to dominance of ,water-wasting' species. Instead, water consumption at high S exceeded that expected from changes in community biomass and biomass composition. The observed enhancement of resource (water) acquisition under stress with increasing S therefore probably originated from complementarity. 5Despite enhanced water use in the more diverse communities, plant survival was significantly less, affecting all species alike. Physiological stress, recorded as photochemical efficiency of photosystem II electron transport, was significantly greater. Before the heat wave, the changes in biomass composition that coincided with increasing S did not favour species that would later prove intrinsically sensitive or insensitive. 6Complementarity in resource use for biomass production had a cost in terms of reduced survival under stress, despite the likelihood of complementarity in water acquisition during exposure. The greater loss of individuals from the more diverse grasslands suggests enhanced risk of local extinction. [source] Water savings in mature deciduous forest trees under elevated CO2GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007SEBASTIAN LEUZINGER Abstract Stomatal conductance of plants exposed to elevated CO2 is often reduced. Whether this leads to water savings in tall forest-trees under future CO2 concentrations is largely unknown but could have significant implications for climate and hydrology. We used three different sets of measurements (sap flow, soil moisture and canopy temperature) to quantify potential water savings under elevated CO2 in a ca. 35 m tall, ca. 100 years old mixed deciduous forest. Part of the forest canopy was exposed to 540 ppm CO2 during daylight hours using free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) and the Swiss Canopy Crane (SCC). Across species and a wide range of weather conditions, sap flow was reduced by 14% in trees subjected to elevated CO2, yielding ca. 10% reduction in evapotranspiration. This signal is likely to diminish as atmospheric feedback through reduced moistening of the air comes into play at landscape scale. Vapour pressure deficit (VPD)-sap flow response curves show that the CO2 effect is greatest at low VPD, and that sap flow saturation tends to occur at lower VPD in CO2 -treated trees. Matching stomatal response data, the CO2 effect was largely produced by Carpinus and Fagus, with Quercus contributing little. In line with these findings, soil moisture at 10 cm depth decreased at a slower rate under high-CO2 trees than under control trees during rainless periods, with a reversal of this trend during prolonged drought when CO2 -treated trees take advantage from initial water savings. High-resolution thermal images taken at different heights above the forest canopy did detect reduced water loss through altered energy balance only at <5 m distance (0.44 K leaf warming of CO2 -treated Fagus trees). Short discontinuations of CO2 supply during morning hours had no measurable canopy temperature effects, most likely because the stomatal effects were small compared with the aerodynamic constraints in these dense, broad-leaved canopies. Hence, on a seasonal basis, these data suggest a <10% reduction in water consumption in this type of forest when the atmosphere reaches 540% ppm CO2. [source] Water problems and hydrological research in the Yellow River and the Huai and Hai River basins of ChinaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 12 2004Changming Liu Abstract This paper deals with hydrological research in regard to the water resources crisis in the vulnerable areas found in the northern part of China. This area includes three main river basins, namely the basins of the Yellow (Huang) River, the Hai River and the Huai River. Several water problems are becoming very severe. Among them, two are the most critical: the Yellow River has been drained dry in the main course of its lower reaches and along its major tributaries, and the groundwater table has rapidly declined in the floodplains of the three rivers' downstream areas. To counter the problems, particularly the critical issues mentioned above, hydrological research, which serves as the basis of water development and management, has been carried out in the last two decades. This paper addresses three basic scientific problems in North China, namely: (a) water consumption and the capacity for saving water; (b) the changes in hydrological processes and water resources caused by natural change and human activities; and (c) the ability to supply water resources and water safety in terms of both quantity and quality within a changing environment. However, opportunities and challenges for ameliorating the problems exist, and new ideas and methodology to solve the problems have been proposed, such as the interface process study on the interactions in the soil,root interface, the plant,atmosphere interface, the soil,atmosphere interface, and the interface of soil water and groundwater. In order to manage water resources in a sustainable manner, the study of water resources' renewal ability as affected by natural change and human activity is addressed from the viewpoint of both water quantity and quality, and their integration. To reduce the vulnerability of water resources in regional water management, a paradigm of sustainable water resources utilization is also proposed, using water,heat balance, water,salt balance, water,sediment balance, and water supply,demand balance. This approach may help reveal the basic problems and point to possible approaches to solving the water problems in North China in the 21st century. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Etude comparative de la disponibilité de l'eau en irrigation goutte à goutteIRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 3 2001A.V. Ould Mohamed El-Hafedh goutteur; écartement; durée d'irrigation; fréquence d'arrosage Abstract Dans le but de déterminer la meilleure combinaison entre période et durée d'irrigation pour différents écartements inter-goutteurs, nous avons essayé d'analyser la disponibilité de l'eau au sein de la zone racinaire d'une culture de tomate irriguée à l'aide d'une rampe de goutteurs débitant chacun 4 l h,1. Trois écartements ont été étudiés à savoir 30, 50 et 70 cm. Lorsqu'on a pris une durée d'arrosage systématique de 4h30mn, nous avons observé à la fin des irrigations des teneurs en eau volumiques moyennes dépassant la capacité au champ pour les trois écartements. En effet, à l'examen de l'évolution des teneurs en eau au sein du bulbe, il est remarqué que la teneur en eau à la capacité au champ a été atteinte après 25 minutes, 50 minutes et deux heures respectivement pour 30, 50 et 70 cm. Mais l'humidification de toute la ligne de culture n'a été observée qu'après des temps respectifs d'une heure, deux heures et quatre heures (Ould Mohamed El-Hafedh et al., 2000). Les irrigations ont été reprises avec ces durées réduites (une heure, deux heures et quatre heures respectivement pour les écartements 30, 50 et 70 cm) en vue d'évaluer et comparer les consommations en eau de la culture sous les différents traitements. Dans le cas de l'irrigation d'une durée de 4h30mn, la période séparant deux arrosages successifs a été de cinq, quatre et trois jours respectivement pour les écartements 30, 50 et 70 cm. Pour les irrigations des durées réduites, on a constaté qu'il est impératif d'irriguer après trois jours pour les deux écartements 50 et 70 cm et après deux jours pour l'écartement 30 cm. En comparant les consommations en eau pour les durées réduites et la durée systématique de 4h30mn, on a observé une économie d'eau de l'ordre de 20, 15 et 5% respectivement pour 30, 50 et 70 cm d'écartement. D'autre part, la comparaison entre les durées réduites montre que la plus importante économie en eau a été réalisée avec 50 cm d'écartement. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In order to determine the best combination between duration and frequency of drip irrigation for various inter-dripper spacing, we analysed the availability of water within the root zone of a tomato culture irrigated using lateral drippers each outputting 4 l h,1 discharge rate. Three spacings were studied, namely 30, 50 and 70 cm. Studying systematic irrigation duration of 4½ hours, we observed at the end of each irrigation average volumetric water contents exceeding the field capacity. Indeed, with the examination of the evolution of the water contents within the bulb, it is noticed that the water content at the field capacity was reached after 25 minutes, 50 minutes and 2 hours respectively for 30, 50 and 70 cm spacing. But the humidification of the whole culture line was observed only after the respective times of 1, 2 and 4 hours (Ould Mohamed El-Hafedh et al., 2000). The irrigations were taken again with these reduced durations (1, 2 and 4 hours for 30, 50 and 70 cm spacing respectively) in order to evaluate and compare water consumption of the culture under the various treatments. In case of systematic irrigation duration, the period separating two successive waterings was five, four and three days for 30, 50 and 70 cm spacing respectively. For the reduced irrigation durations, it is imperative to irrigate after three days for the 50 and 70 cm spacings and after two days for the 30 cm spacing. Comparing water consumption for the reduced durations and those of the systematic duration, we observed water savings of about 20, 15 and 5% respectively for 30, 50 and 70-cm spacing. The comparison between the reduced durations shows that the most significant water saving was obtained with the 50 cm spacing. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chronic toxicity/oncogenicity study of styrene in cd-1 mice by inhalation exposure for 104 weeksJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2001George Cruzan Abstract Groups of 70 male and 70 female Charles River CD-1 mice were exposed whole body to styrene vapor at 0, 20, 40, 80 or 160 ppm 6 h per day 5 days per week for 98 weeks (females) or 104 weeks (males). The mice were observed daily; body weights, food and water consumption were measured periodically, a battery of hematological and clinical pathology examinations were conducted at weeks 13, 26, 52, 78 and 98 (females)/104 (males). Ten mice of each gender per group were pre-selected for necropsy after 52 and 78 weeks of exposure and the survivors of the remaining 50 of each gender per group were necropsied after 98 or 104 weeks. An extensive set of organs from the control and high-exposure mice were examined histopathologically, whereas target organs, gross lesions and all masses were examined in all other groups. Styrene had no effect on survival in males. Two high-dose females died (acute liver toxicity) during the first 2 weeks; the remaining exposed females had a slightly higher survival than control mice. Levels of styrene and styrene oxide (SO) in the blood at the end of a 6 h exposure during week 74 were proportional to exposure concentration, except that at 20 ppm the SO level was below the limit of detection. There were no changes of toxicological significance in hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis or organ weights. Mice exposed to 80 or 160 ppm gained slightly less weight than the controls. Styrene-related non-neoplastic histopathological changes were found only in the nasal passages and lungs. In the nasal passages of males and females at all exposure concentrations, the changes included respiratory metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium with changes in the underlying Bowman's gland; the severity increased with styrene concentration and duration of exposure. Loss of olfactory nerve fibers was seen in mice exposed to 40, 80 or 160 ppm. In the lungs, there was decreased eosinophilia of Clara cells in the terminal bronchioles and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia extending into alveolar ducts. Increased tumor incidence occurred only in the lung. The incidence of bronchioloalveolar adenomas was significantly increased in males exposed to 40, 80 or 160 ppm and in females exposed to 20, 40 and 160 ppm. The increase was seen only after 24 months. In females exposed to 160 ppm, the incidence of bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas after 24 months was significantly greater than in the controls. No difference in lung tumors between control and styrene-exposed mice was seen in the intensity or degree of immunostaining, the location of tumors relative to bronchioles or histological type (papillary, solid or mixed). It appears that styrene induces an increase in the number of lung tumors seen spontaneously in CD-1 mice. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Water Consumption Based on a Disaggregated Social Accounting Matrix of Huesca (Spain)JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Ignacio Cazcarro Summary Making use of the social accounting matrix (SAM) of the Spanish province of Huesca in 2002, updated following Junius and Oosterhaven's GRAS method and work by Lenzen and colleagues, we have estimated the water footprint of the region. The water footprint is defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants plus the direct consumption in the households. We built an open Leontief model, which gives us the water embodied in the production of goods. The valuations concern the industrial, service, and domestic sectors' water consumption, the embodied water imported from and exported to other countries, and the agrarian water use. This agrarian sector, clearly the sector that shows the greatest water consumption, is carefully examined, so it is disaggregated for the calculations into 31 irrigation land products, dry land, and 9 livestock classifications. As a consequence, the framework enables the observation of the relationships and flows of water taking place among all the sectors and activities in the economy. Finally, we also make use of the per capita water footprint estimations to get a clear picture of how the responsibility for water use is distributed once foreign trade is taken into account. [source] Water Consumption and Nursing Characteristics of Infants by Race and EthnicityJOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2000Keith E. Heller DDS Abstract Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine racial/ethnic differences in water consumption levels and nursing habits of children younger than 2 years old. Methods: Data from the 1994,96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) were used for these analyses. Water consumption and breast-feeding data on 946 children younger than 2 years old were used. Results: For black non-Hispanic children younger than 2 years old (n=121), 5.3 percent of the children were currently being breast fed. This percentage was less than that seen in other racial/ethnic groups. For white non-Hispanic children (n=620), this percentage was 10.8 percent; for Hispanic children (n=146), 12.2 percent; for "other" children, 18.5 percent (n=59). Black non-Hispanic children had the highest total water consumption (128.6 ml/kg/day) among all groups, white non-Hispanic had the lowest (113.2 ml/kg/day). These differences were not statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Black non-Hispanic children also drank moretap water (21.3 ml/kg/day) than white non-Hispanic children (12.7 ml/kg/day) and Hispanic children (14.9 ml/kg/day). The difference was statistically significant in multivariate regression modeling. Conclusions: The differences in breast feeding and water consumption observed among black children younger than 2 years of age could be a factor in the observed higher levels of fluorosis in black children compared to other children. [source] Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2010Lily House-Peters House-Peters, Lily, Bethany Pratt, and Heejun Chang, 2010. Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):461-472. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00415.x Abstract:, In the Portland metropolitan area, suburban growth in cities such as Hillsboro is projected to increase as people seek affordable housing near a burgeoning metropolis. The most significant determinants for increases in water demand are population growth, climate change, and the type of urban development that occurs. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of single family residential (SFR) water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon, at the census block scale. The following research questions are addressed: (1) What are the significant determinants of SFR water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon? (2) Is SFR water demand sensitive to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? (3) To what magnitude do particular census blocks react to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? Using ordinary least squares multiple regression and spatial regression methods, we found that base use, representing indoor water use, is dependent on household size and that seasonal use, representing external water use is dependent on both education level and the size of the property's outdoor space. Spatial analysis techniques determined that although the water demand of the study area as a whole is not sensitive to drought conditions, certain individual census blocks do respond with a higher magnitude of water use. The most climate-sensitive census blocks tend to contain newer and larger homes, and have higher property values and more affluent and well-educated residents. [source] ARSENIC IN THE SHALLOW GROUND WATERS OF CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES: ASSESSMENT, HEALTH RISKS, AND COSTS FOR MCL COMPLIANCE,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 2 2006Navin Kumar C. Twarakavi ABSTRACT: A methodology consisting of ordinal logistic regression (OLR) is used to predict the probability of occurrence of arsenic concentrations in different threshold limits in shallow ground waters of the conterminous United States (CONUS) subject to a set of influencing variables. The analysis considered a number of maximum contaminant level (MCL) options as threshold values to estimate the probabilities of occurrence of arsenic in ranges defined by a given MCL of 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 ,g/l and a detection limit of 1 ,g/l. The fit between the observed and predicted probability of occurrence was around 83 percent for all MCL options. The estimated probabilities were used to estimate the median background concentration of arsenic in the CONUS. The shallow ground water of the western United States is more vulnerable than the eastern United States. Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California in particular are hotspots for arsenic contamination. The risk assessment showed that counties in southern California, Arizona, Florida, and Washington and a few others scattered throughout the CONUS face a high risk from arsenic exposure through untreated ground water consumption. A simple cost effectiveness analysis was performed to understand the household costs for MCL compliance in using arsenic contaminated ground water. The results showed that the current MCL of 10 ,g/l is a good compromise based on existing treatment technologies. [source] Field Safety and Efficacy of Protamine Zinc Recombinant Human Insulin for Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in CatsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009R.W. Nelson Background: This study describes the efficacy of a new protamine zinc recombinant human insulin (PZIR) preparation for treating diabetic cats. Objective: To evaluate effects of PZIR on control of glycemia in cats with newly diagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Animals: One hundred and thirty-three diabetic cats 120 newly diagnosed and 13 previously treated. Methods: Prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial. Cats were treated with PZIR twice daily for 45 days. Control of glycemia was assessed on days 7, 14, 30, and 45 by evaluation of change in water consumption, frequency of urination, appetite, and body weight, serum fructosamine concentration, and blood glucose concentrations determined 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 hours after administration of PZIR. Adjustments in dosage of PZIR were made as needed to control glycemia. Results: PZIR administration resulted in a significant decrease in 9-hour mean blood glucose (199 ± 114 versus 417 ± 83 mg/dL, X± SD, P < .001) and serum fructosamine (375 ± 117 versus 505 ± 96 ,mol/L, P < .001) concentration and a significant increase in mean body weight (5.9 ± 1.4 versus 5.4 ± 1.5 kg, P= .017) in 133 diabetic cats at day 45 compared with day 0, respectively. By day 45, polyuria and polydipsia had improved in 79% (105 of 133), 89% (118 of 133) had a good body condition, and 9-hour mean blood glucose concentration, serum fructosamine concentration, or both had improved in 84% (112 of 133) of the cats compared with day 0. Hypoglycemia (<80 mg/dL) was identified in 151 of 678, 9-hour serial blood glucose determinations and in 85 of 133 diabetic cats. Hypoglycemia causing clinical signs was confirmed in 2 diabetic cats. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: PZIR is effective for controlling glycemia in diabetic cats and can be used as an initial treatment or as an alternative treatment in diabetic cats that do not respond to treatment with other insulin preparations. [source] Evaluation of corrosion inhibitors for cooling water systems operating at high concentration cyclesMATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 5 2009E. A. de Souza Abstract The present work aimed at evaluating AISI 1020 carbon steel corrosion resistance of a 6:4:1:1 (MoO/HEDP/PO/Zn2+) inhibitor mixture present in a solution which simulates an industrial cooling water system operating at high concentration cycles (1050 ppm Cl, and 450 ppm Ca2+). High concentration cycles are desirable, because system purge and treated water consumption are decreased. On the other hand, a high number of concentration cycles can increase the concentration of salts and dissolved impurities, causing corrosion, incrustations, and deposits inside the pipes, heat exchangers, and cooling towers. Thus, the chloride (Cl,) and calcium (Ca2+) ions aggressiveness was studied on the proposed inhibiting mixture, at the temperatures of 40 and 60,°C, through electrochemical techniques like open circuit potential measurements, anodic and cathodic polarization, and weight loss. The results showed that the inhibitor mixture conferred adequate protection to carbon steel in low concentrations, even in high aggressive media. [source] A 90 day repeated oral toxicity study on plantamajoside concentrate from Plantago asiaticaPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2007Byung-Gyu Park Abstract Plantago asiatica is distributed widely in East Asia. Since ancient times it has been used as a diuretic to treat acute urinary infections, and as an antiinflammatory, antiasthmatic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antihyperlipidemic and antihepatitis drug. The major compound, plantamajoside from P. asiatica, which is used as a marker compound in chemotaxonomic studies, was reported to have antibacterial activity, inhibition activity against cAMP phosphodiesterase and 5-lipoxygenase and antioxidant activity. However, there are no reports on the safety of plantamajoside. This study assessed the toxic effects of plantamajoside concentrate (PC), the purity of which was above 80%, in rats following administration at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight/day for 13 weeks, as recommended by the OECD guidelines. The results showed that there were no differences in body weight, food intake, water consumption, relative organ weight or the hematological and serum biochemical values among the different dosage groups. No death or abnormal clinical signs were observed during the experimental period. Therefore, the results suggested that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the PC in rats after oral administration is considered to be greater than 2000 mg/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hydrodynamic behaviour of a fluidized bed reactor for paper machine whitewater contaminant removalTHE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2010Eric Loranger Abstract To comply with future stringent environmental regulations, paper mills will need to reduce fresh water consumption and reject loads by closing down their whitewater systems. However, excessive build-up of contaminants will occur affecting paper machine runnability (performance) and paper quality. We propose removing contaminants from paper machine whitewater by adsorption on matrices in a fluidized bed reactor. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of fines and fibres on bed expansion behaviour. Results show that bed expansion follows the Richardson and Zaki correlation but parameters must be modified according to the type of pulp found in the whitewater. Afin de se conformer aux règlements environnementaux rigoureux du futur, les usines de papier doivent réduire leur consommation d'eau douce et leurs déchets en fermant leurs systèmes d'eau blanche. Cependant, une accumulation excessive de contaminants se produit éventuellement, ce qui affecte le fonctionnement des machines de production du papier ainsi que la qualité même du papier. Nous proposons de retirer les contaminants de l'eau blanche des machines de production du papier par un système d'adsorption sur matrices, dans un réacteur à lit fluidisé. L'objectif de cette étude est de déterminer l'effet des matériaux fins et des fibres sur le comportement d'expansion du lit. Les résultats montrent que l'expansion du lit suit la corrélation de Richardson et Zaki mais que les paramètres doivent être modifiés en fonction du type de la pulpe présente dans les eaux blanches. [source] How well does a telephone questionnaire measure drinking water intake?AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2000Brent Robertson Background:Few studies have assessed the validity or reliability of drinking water intake estimations. In studies investigating potential waterborne disease, this is very important. Methods:We carried out a validity and reliability study to evaluate water intake estimations. The validity part of the study compared a telephone questionnaire to a diary. The reliability part of the study compared two telephone questionnaires. Results:253 participants were recruited. The most commonly consumed water intake categories were plain and boiled tap water. For persons aged less than 12 years, the median volume of plain water consumption was 2.9 glasses/day according to the diary. For persons aged 12 years and over, the median volume of plain water consumption was 3.0 glasses/day and for boiled water 3.0 glasses/day according to the diary. There was negligible systematic over or under reporting by participants for the telephone questionnaire in comparison to the diary and for the comparison of both telephone questionnaires. Water intake estimates were converted to categorical variables and the per cent agreement and weighted kappa statistics were calculated. For both the validity and reliability parts of the study the per cent agreement was 57,78% and the weighted kappa was 0.57,0.81. Conclusion:Water intake estimates show only moderate levels of validity and reliability when using a telephone questionnaire in comparison to a diary. Implications:Investigators of potential waterborne disease or nutritional research should exercise some caution in drawing conclusions from minor differences in drinking water intake that are obtained from a telephone questionnaire. [source] Folinic acid protects against suppression of growth by Methotrexate in miceBIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 4 2001M. Perwaiz Iqbal Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate whether folinic acid supplementation would protect young mice against suppression of growth by methotrexate (MTX). Four equal groups of Balb/c young male mice (5 animals in each group; mean±SD body weight 9.64±0.85 g, in their rapid growth phase) were subjected to the following drug treatment: One group was given MTX (3.5 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally on every 2nd day, another received folinic acid (7.0 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally every 2nd day. The third group was given both of these drugs (MTX on every 2nd day and folinic acid 8 h post-MTX injection). The fourth group was injected with physiological saline every other day to serve as a control group. Total body weight, food and water consumption by animals in each group were monitored every second day for a period of 3 weeks. After this period mice were sacrificed and liver, spleen and kidneys were excised, weighed and analyzed for MTX and dihydrofolate reductase activity. A small segment of the proximal part of small intestine and small pieces of liver and kidney were also removed to study morphological changes. Compared to the groups, which received folinic acid alone, folinic acid plus MTX or physiological saline, mean increase in body weight (6.8±0.8 g) of mice over a period of 3 weeks was minimal in the group receiving MTX alone (one-way ANOVA p=0.0001). The mean weights of liver and kidney in this group receiving MTX alone were also found to be significantly less than the mean weights of these organs in the 3 groups (p<0.001). The negative effect on growth of animals appears not only due to malabsorption but inhibition of pathway of de novo DNA synthesis may also be involved. This is supported by loss of villous pattern in small intestine of mice treated with MTX alone and increased accumulation of free MTX and decreased dihydrofolate reductase in the liver of the group receiving MTX alone as compared with the group receiving MTX plus folinic acid. The data indicate that the administration of folinic acid protects mice against suppression of growth by MTX. On the basis of these observations it can be deduced that patients suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving MTX over a long period of time might be at a risk of experiencing short-term suppression of growth, however they could benefit from supplementation with folinic acid. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Long-term process evaluation of a school-based programme for overweight preventionCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2009R. Muckelbauer Abstract Background The epidemic increase in childhood overweight demands effective and also feasible prevention programmes. A school-based environmental and educational intervention focusing on the promotion of water consumption was found to be effective for overweight prevention in children. Process evaluation and long-term surveillance are necessary to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of the intervention programme in a school setting. Methods Process evaluation was conducted during the intervention period (one school year) and a 19-month follow-up after the intervention trial on the prevention of overweight in 17 elementary schools. Data were collected through measuring the water flow of water fountains installed in schools, and questionnaires and interviews were administered to teachers and headmasters of intervention schools. Main outcomes were implementation of the intervention components, behavioural modification of the children concerning water consumption, and teacher and headmaster attitudes towards the intervention. Results Eleven out of 17 intervention schools maintained the water fountains until 19-month follow-up. The mean water flow of the fountains decreased initially, but remained stable after the during the follow-up period. The implementation rate of the educational units by teachers varied between the units from 13% to 84%. Teachers graded the overall concept of the intervention as good, continuously during the intervention and follow-up period. The majority of teachers organized the water supply of the fountains on the class level during the intervention period but not during the follow-up. Conclusions The long-term process evaluation showed that the combined educational and environmental intervention has potential for sustained modifications in the beverage consumption habits of children. It also identified barriers and promoting factors of a sustainable and feasible implementation of the preventive programme in a school setting. [source] Time Of Day And Access To Food Alter Water Intake In Rats After Water DeprivationCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2001Kooi K Ang SUMMARY 1. Drinking behaviour after water deprivation is one of the standard tests used to study thirst in humans and animals. Diurnal cycle and food availability are known to influence water intake, but have not been considered in previous studies of thirst after water deprivation. In the present study, we examined the effects of diurnal variation and food availability on water intake after 24 h water deprivation in rats. 2. All rats cycled through four treatments in varying order. These treatments were: (i) 24 h water deprivation with free access to food from 1900 h one day to 1900 h the next day, followed by free access to both food and water (Night-with-Food); (ii) 24 h water deprivation with free access to food from from 1900 h one day to 1900 h the next day, followed by free access to water but not food (Night-without-Food); (iii) 24 h water deprivation with free access to food from 0700 h one day to 0700 h the next day, followed by free access to both food and water (Day-with-Food); or (iv) 24 h water deprivation with free access to food from 0700 h one day to 0700 h the next day, followed by free access to water but not food (Day- without-Food). The amount of water consumed during the first 6 h, post-24 h water deprivation, was examined under each condition. 3. There was a significant diurnal effect (P < 0.001) and a significant food availability effect (P = 0.007) on the water consumed in the 6 h period after water deprivation. Most water was consumed by the Night-with-Food group and the least amount of water was consumed by the Day-without-Food group. These effects persisted after correction for water intake during 6 h periods from 0700 and 1900 h with and without food but without previous water deprivation. The diurnal and food availability effects on water consumption were independent (P = 0.5). 4. The coefficient of variability for each group suggests that the most sensitive measurements of water intake are obtained during the day in the absence of food. 5. We conclude that both the time of day and access to food independently alter water intake in rats subjected to a previous 24 h water deprivation. Our study also supports the validity of performing water intake measurements in thirst studies in rats during the day. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||