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Health Hazards (health + hazard)
Kinds of Health Hazards Selected AbstractsCommon Health Hazards in French Pilgrims During the Hajj of 2007: A Prospective Cohort StudyJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009Philippe Gautret MD Background. The majority of published studies on Hajj-related diseases were based on hospitalized patient cohorts. Methods. A total of 545 Hajj pilgrims from Marseille were enrolled in a prospective epidemiological study to evaluate the incidence of common health hazards. They were administered a questionnaire before traveling addressing demographic factors and health status indicators and a post-travel questionnaire about travel-associated diseases. Results. Respondents had a median age of 61 years and originated mainly from North Africa (81%). A significant proportion of individuals had chronic medical disorders such as walking disability (26%), diabetes mellitus (21%), and hypertension (21%). A total of 462 pilgrims were administered a questionnaire on returning home. A proportion of 59% of travelers presented at least one health problem during the pilgrimage and 44% of the cohort attended a doctor during travel; 3% were hospitalized. Cough was the main complaint among travelers (attack rate of 51%), followed by headache, heat stress, and fever. Few travelers suffered diarrhea and vomiting. Cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, trauma, skin and gastrointestinal problems were not frequently observed in our survey, suggesting that their prevalence among the causes of admission to Saudi hospitals reflects a bias of selection. Cough episodes were significantly more frequent in individuals >55 years. We also evidenced that women were more likely to present underlying chronic cardiovascular disorder and diabetes compared to men and that they more frequently suffered from cough episodes associated with fever during the Hajj. Conclusions. Health risks associated with the Hajj in our experience are much more related to crowding conditions than to travel. Our work suggests that the studies performed in Saudi specialized units probably overestimate the part of certain diseases within the spectrum of Hajj-associated diseases. Our results also suggest that old female Hajjes should be considered as a high-risk population and that preventive measures should be reinforced before departing for Saudi Arabia. [source] Deliberate induction of alcohol tolerance: empirical introduction to a novel health riskADDICTION, Issue 10 2010Julia A. Martinez ABSTRACT Aims Alcohol tolerance is a hallmark indicator of alcohol dependence. Even so, the allure of peers' admiration for having the ability to drink heavily may lead some adolescents and young adults to practice, or ,train', to increase their tolerance (particularly at US colleges, where heavy drinking is highly prevalent and central to the social culture). This is a potential health hazard that has not been documented empirically. Thus, we initiated a study of tolerance ,training' and its association to risky and heavy drinking. Design, setting and participants A cross-sectional online survey of 990 college student life-time drinkers at a large Midwestern US university. Findings Of the sample, 9.9% (n = 97) reported deliberately ,training' to increase tolerance. On average, they reported increasing from approximately seven to 10 US standard drinks in a night prior to ,training' to 12,15 drinks at the end of ,training,' over approximately 2,3 weeks' duration. Although the proportion of frequent binge drinking among ,non-trainers' (34.4%) was similar to national rates, ,trainers' were much more likely to be frequent bingers (76.3%; OR = 6.15). Conclusions A number of students report deliberately inducing alcohol tolerance, probably directly increasing the risk for alcohol poisoning and other acute harms and/or dependence. This phenomenon might additionally be applicable to other populations, and deserves further study and attention as a potential personal and public health risk. Prevention efforts might aim to reduce the perceived importance of heavy-drinking abilities. [source] Evaluation of Bayesian models for focused clustering in health dataENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 8 2007Bo Ma Abstract This paper examines the ability of Bayesian hierarchical models to recover evidence of disease risk excess around a fixed location. This location can be a putative source of health hazard, such as an incinerator, mobile phone mast or dump site. While Bayesian models are convenient to use for modeling, it is useful to consider how well these models perform in the true risk scenarios. In what follows, we evaluate the ability of these models to recover the true risk under simulation. It is surprising that the resulting posterior parameters estimates are heavily biased. Using the credible intervals for distance decline parameter to assess ,coverage or power' of detecting distance effect, the ,power' decreases with increasing correlation in the background population effect. The inclusion of correlated heterogeneity in models does affect the ability of the models to detect the stronger distance decline scenarios. The uncorrelated heterogeneity seems little affect this ability however. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A general model for predicting brown tree snake capture ratesENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 3 2003Richard M. Engeman Abstract The inadvertent introduction of the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam has resulted in the extirpation of most of the island's native terrestrial vertebrates, has presented a health hazard to small children, and also has produced economic problems. Trapping around ports and other cargo staging areas is central to a program designed to deter dispersal of the species. Sequential trapping of smaller plots is also being used to clear larger areas of snakes in preparation for endangered species reintroductions. Traps and trapping personnel are limited resources, which places a premium on the ability to plan the deployment of trapping efforts. In a series of previous trapping studies, data on brown tree snake removal from forested plots was found to be well modeled by exponential decay functions. For the present article, we considered a variety of model forms and estimation procedures, and used capture data from individual plots as random subjects to produce a general random coefficients model for making predictions of brown tree snake capture rates. The best model was an exponential decay with positive asymptote produced using nonlinear mixed model estimation where variability among plots was introduced through the scale and asymptote parameters. Practical predictive abilities were used in model evaluation so that a manager could project capture rates in a plot after a period of time, or project the amount of time required for trapping to reduce capture rates to a desired level. The model should provide managers with a tool for optimizing the allocation of limited trapping resources. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Isocyanates, aminoisocyanates and amines from fires,a screening of common materials found in buildingsFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 6 2003Per Blomqvist Abstract Isocyanates, aminoisocyanates and amines were quantified from the combustion of 24 different materials or products typically found in buildings. Small-scale combustion experiments were conducted in the cone calorimeter, where generally well-ventilated combustion conditions are attained. Measurements were further made in two different full-scale experiments. Isocyanates and amino-compounds were sampled using an impinger-filter sampling system with a reagent solution of di-n-butylamine in toluene. Filter and impinger solution were analysed separately using LC-MS technique. Further the particulate distribution in the smoke gases was determined by impactor technique, and selected gaseous compounds quantified by FTIR. It was found in the small-scale that isocyanates were produced from the majority of the materials tested. The highest concentration was found for glass wool insulation, and further high concentrations were found for PUR products, particleboard, nitrile rubber and melamine. Lower concentrations were found for wood and cable-products. Amino-isocyanates and amines were generally found from PUR products only. The distribution of isocyanates between the particulate- and fluid phases varied for the different materials and a tendency to enrichment of particles was seen for some of the materials. Further, when comparing the potential health hazard between isocyanates and other major fire gases (based on NIOSH IDLH-values) it was found that isocyanates in several cases represented the greatest hazard. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chemical and Bacterial Quality of Aeration-Type Waste Water Treatment System DischargeGROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 2 2007Samuel V Panno On-site waste water treatment systems are a potential source of chemical and bacterial contamination to ground water in areas with highly susceptible aquifers such as the sinkhole plain of southwestern Illinois. Ground water from wells, cave streams, and water that discharges from the numerous springs in this area is typically contaminated with nitrate and enteric bacteria and thus may pose a health hazard to those who come into contact with it. In order to determine if the most popular type of on-site waste water treatment systems in the study area was a potential source, samples of effluents discharged at the land surface from 23 domestic aeration-type on-site waste water treatment systems were collected to characterize their water quality and bacterial contents. Most of the effluents contained relatively large concentrations of sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl,), nutrients (nitrogen [N], phosphate [PO43,], and potassium [K+]), and enteric bacteria. Ion concentration ranges (in mg/L) were Na+ (46 to 416), Cl, (21 to 618), N (4.7 to 67), PO4 -P (1.4 to 48), and K+ (6.0 to 257). The sources of elevated Na+ and Cl, were human waste and NaCl used in the water softening systems of the houses. Ammonium was usually the dominant inorganic N species, indicating incomplete oxidation of the waste water. Discharge of Na+, Cl,, and nutrients could also have negative impacts on ground water and surface water quality, subsurface and surface aquatic ecosystems, and vegetation. Our characterization of effluent from these waste water treatment systems revealed their generally poor quality and the likelihood that they can contaminate ground water in areas with highly vulnerable aquifers. [source] The EMF uncertainty problem related to mobile phones: where do consumers place their trust?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 2 2010Lisbet Berg Abstract This paper addresses the uncertainty problem, i.e. cases characterized by lack of knowledge or scientific uncertainty. In such situations, it can be hard for consumers to ,voice' or practise consumer power. One field characterized by the uncertainty problem is electromagnetic radiation. An explicit goal of this study has been to articulate Norwegian consumers' practices, attitudes and beliefs regarding electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones to public authorities and consumer policy makers. The study was based on 1000 telephone interviews collected in 2008. Today, experts disagree on the potential health effects of radiation from electromagnetic fields (EMF), as well as standards for safe limits of exposure to mobile phones, base stations and wireless telecommunication systems. In addition, complicated technology and extremely rapid product development and diffusion leave consumers' security considerations to their own beliefs and trust. Whether or not electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones constitutes a health hazard will not be addressed in this paper. Rather, it will focus on how consumers react to this situation of uncertainty. The material reveals four main ways in which consumers can solve what we have named the EMF uncertainty problem: the confident and comfortable way, the sceptical and cautious way, the responsible and good citizen way, and finally, the neglecting way. The paper also discusses the precautionary principle related to EMF. Who should be precautionary: the public authorities, the mobile phone industry or the consumers themselves? We believe that a consistent governmental precautionary policy in combination with consumers taking their own precautionary measures is a viable solution. In this way, all consumers would be addressed and aided when navigating this field of uncertainty. [source] Bacteriological quality of skin-moisturizing creams and lotions distributed in a tropical developing countryJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2001I.N. Okeke Aims: To evaluate the bacteriological quality of skin moisturizing products in the South-west part of Nigeria and study factors predisposing their bacterial contamination under tropical conditions. Methods and Results: Viable counts for bacteria exceeded 103 cfu ml,1or cfu g,1 in 8 (16·3%) commercially available creams and lotions at time of purchase. Escherichia coli (8), Pseudomonas spp. (7), Staphylococcus spp. (9) and Bacillus spp. (6) were the most commonly recovered bacteria. Following use by volunteers, the proportion of E. coli and other Gram-negative organisms recovered increased. Organic matter, particularly in the absence of preservatives, enhanced survival and growth of bacteria in creams stored under ambient tropical conditions during challenge experiments. Conclusions: Contaminated products are relatively uncommon but some products present a potential health hazard because they are unable to suppress the growth of organisms of likely faecal origin during use. Significance and Impact of the Study: Quality assurance during manufacture, pack size, preservative evaluation, organic matter and water content were identified as factors to be considered during the development of creams and lotions for use in tropical developing countries. [source] Transepithelial elimination of cutaneous vulval granuloma inguinaleJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2000Pratistadevi K. Ramdial Background: Transepithelial elimination (TEE), a distinct and well-known entity, is a process during which the skin eradicates undesirable or irritative dermal substances through intact epidermis or follicular epithelium by passive or active means. Although TEE is being described in an increasing number and range of pathological processes, to date, TEE of granuloma inguinale (GI) remains unrecorded in the English-language literature. The aims of this study were: 1) To appraise the light microscopic and ultrastructural morphological epidermal changes that are associated with TEE of cutaneous vulval GI; and 2) To determine the role of intra-epidermal leucocytes and histiocytes in the pathogenesis of TEE of vulval GI. Methods: This is a retrospective 9-year histopathological review of all cases diagnosed and coded as vulval granuloma inguinale in the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. Ultrastructural evaluation was performed on selected cases using a Jeol transmission electron microscope. Results: Of 53 skin biopsies from 47 patients with vulval GI, 43 were suitable for the study. The age range of patients was 15,40 years (mean age=22 years). There were eleven papular, twelve nodular, seven verrucous and thirteen ulcerative lesions. Donovan bodies within macrophages, free-lying Donovan bodies and dense aggregates of neutrophils and plasma cells were seen in the dermis of all biopsies. There was consistent overlying pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. The dermal inflammatory infiltrate hugged the dermo-epidermal junction and appeared entrapped between elongated and acanthotic epidermal rete ridges and pegs. Transepidermal neutrophil microabscesses, histiocytes containing Donovan bodies and neutrophilic and histiocytic fragmentation were present. A variable number of free-lying and intra-histiocytic Donovan bodies and neutrophils were present on the surface of the epidermis. On ultrastructural investigation epidermal spongiosis, intracellular oedema, free-lying, intra-neutrophilic and intra-histiocytic Donovan bodies, and intact and degenerating neutrophils and histiocytes were evident between keratinocytes. The degenerative histiocytes demonstrated marked vacuolation, mitochondrial swelling and bacilli within phagolysosomal vacuoles, bound by intact or disrupted limiting membranes. Conclusion: The inflammatory infiltrate at the epitheliomesenchymal interface, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, intra-epidermal accumulation and disintegration of neutrophils and histiocytes, and the associated release of lytic enzymes, play important contributory roles in TEE of GI. TEE of infectious agents is a poorly recognised mechanism of spread of infectious diseases and represents a public health hazard. In cutaneous vulval GI, TEE is highlighted as a hitherto unrecognised, potential method of spread of Calymmatobacterium granulomatis. [source] Increased incidence of saprophytic bacteria, coliforms and E. coli following severe flooding requires risk assessment for human health: results of the River Elbe flood in August 2002JOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2009B. Karrasch Abstract In August 2002, flooding in the Elbe valley caused severe damage of sewage treatment plants and networks. We investigated the impact of flooding on the bacteriological water quality (colony-forming units of saprophytic bacteria, coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli) compared with levels from previous and subsequent years. The flood introduced organic matter and elevated saprophytic bacteria levels, and a general increase of coliform bacteria. Markedly high loads of coliforms and E. coli were detected in the water column in areas where damage to sewage treatment plants was rife, exceeding the European Commission's Bathing Water Directive. The rapid disappearance from the water column may partly be caused by sedimentation creating deposits on pasture, farmland and in built-up areas, which could represent a health hazard. Future flood risk reduction should therefore be focused on the protection of sewage systems and hygienic monitoring of floodwater and flood sediments. [source] INCIDENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACILLUS CEREUS IN MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS CONSUMED IN TURKEYJOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 1 2006KIYMET GÜVEN ABSTRACT A total of 100 retail samples of meat and meat products were examined for Bacillus cereus using mannitol egg yolk polymyxin (MYP) agar as a selective isolation medium. Only 22.4% of the samples contained detectable levels of B. cereus, with counts ranging from log10 0.69 to 4.80 cfu/g, but a large number of other organisms up to log10 9.06 cfu/g were sometimes observed on the plates and may have masked the presence of B. cereus or inhibited growth. Two samples of soudjouck contained significant levels of B. cereus, sufficient enough to create a public health hazard. Selected isolates were tested for diarrheal enterotoxin production by a reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) test kit. Results showed no difference in the toxin production of B. cereus between beef, ground meat, soudjouck and pastrami samples. Plasmid-profile analysis and susceptibility to the six commonly used antimicrobial agents were done on selected B. cereus isolates. About 96.4% of the isolates contained plasmids. Plasmid sizes ranged between 2.5 and 3.5 kb. The isolates showed a high rate of resistance to oxacillin (OXA) and amoxicillin (AMC) and a low frequency of resistance to the other antimicrobial agents, with all of them being susceptible to vancomycin (VAN). Approximately 54% of the isolates showed multiple resistance. There was no apparent relationship between drug resistance and carriage of plasmids. [source] Glutamine Nitrogen and Ammonium Nitrogen Supplied as a Nitrogen Source Is Not Converted into Nitrate Nitrogen of Plant Tissues of Hydroponically Grown Pak-Choi (Brassica chinensis L.)JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009H.-J. Wang ABSTRACT:, Many vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, accumulate NO,3 -N in their edible portions. High nitrate levels in vegetables constitute a health hazard, such as cancers and blue baby syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine if (1) ammonium nitrogen (NH+4 -N) and glutamine-nitrogen (Gln-N) absorbed by plant roots is converted into nitrate-nitrogen of pak-choi (Brassica chinensis L.) tissues, and (2) if nitrate-nitrogen (NO,3 -N) accumulation and concentration of pak-choi tissues linearly increase with increasing NO,3 -N supply when grown in nutrient solution. In experiment 1, 4 different nitrogen treatments (no nitrogen, NH+4 -N, Gln-N, and NO,3 -N) with equal total N concentrations in treatments with added N were applied under sterile nutrient medium culture conditions. In experiment 2, 5 concentrations of N (from 0 to 48 mM), supplied as NO,3 -N in the nutrient solution, were tested. The results showed that Gln-N and NH+4 -N added to the nutrient media were not converted into nitrate-nitrogen of plant tissues. Also, NO,3 -N accumulation in the pak-choi tissues was the highest when plants were supplied 24 mM NO,3 -N in the media. The NO,3 -N concentration in plant tissues was quadratically correlated to the NO,3 -N concentration supplied in the nutrient solution. [source] Ingested magnets and gastrointestinal complicationsJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2007Abdulrahman M Alzahem Abstract: Multiple magnet ingestion is an unexpected health hazard in children that can lead to significant gastrointestinal morbidity. The magnets are attracted to each other across the bowel wall and this may lead to pressure necrosis, resulting in perforation, fistula formation, and/or intestinal obstruction. We report herein a case of small bowel obstruction following ingestion of two magnets. The public and clinicians should be aware of the health hazard of such devices. [source] Brief Intervention for Female Heavy Drinkers in Routine General Practice: A 3-Year Randomized, Controlled StudyALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2000Mauri Aalto Background: Today, heavy drinking is a common health hazard among women. The evidence in favor of providing some kind of brief intervention to reduce drinking is quite convincing. However, we do not know if intervention works in a natural environment of routine health care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of long-lasting, brief alcohol intervention counseling for women in a routine general practice setting. Methods: In five primary care outpatient clinics in a Finnish town, 118 female early-phase heavy drinkers who consulted their general practitioners for various reasons were given brief alcohol intervention counseling. Intervention groups A (n= 40) and B (n= 38) were offered seven and three brief intervention sessions, respectively, over a 3-yr period. The control group C (n= 40) was advised to reduce drinking at baseline. Main outcome measures were self-reported weekly alcohol consumption, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Results: Depending on the outcome measure and the study group, clinically meaningful reduction of drinking was found in 27% to 75% of the heavy drinkers. Within all the groups, MCV significantly decreased. However, there were no statistically significant differences between study groups A, B, and C in the mean changes between the beginning and endpoint in the main outcome measures. Conclusions: The present study indicated that minimal advice, as offered to group C, was associated with reduced drinking as much as the brief intervention, as offered to groups A and B, given over a 3-yr period. Furthermore, in the routine setting of the general practice office, the effectiveness of the brief intervention may not be as good as in special research conditions. The factors possibly reducing the effectiveness in a routine setting are unknown. Thus, different methods of implementing brief intervention need to be evaluated to find better ways to support general practice personnel in their efforts to help heavy-drinking female patients to reduce their drinking. [source] Towards harmonized approaches for mycotoxin analyses: an assessmentQUALITY ASSURANCE & SAFETY OF CROPS & FOOD, Issue 2 2009Anton J. Alldrick Abstract Mycotoxins (the poisonous metabolites of certain filamentous fungi) are potential contaminants of staple food commodities and, if uncontrolled, may present a significant public health hazard. In many jurisdictions, questions relating to mycotoxin contamination are addressed at both generic and specific levels by food-safety legislation. Key to the successful management of the mycotoxin question, both in terms of verifying food-safety measures by the agri-food businesses and ensuring compliance with statutory limits by enforcement agencies, is the use of reliable sampling and analytical methodology. Evidence from European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed data suggest that harmonization of methodologies used to determine the mycotoxin content of foods would contribute to improved compliance at both regulatory and commercial levels. [source] Isotope applications in environmental investigations part II: Groundwater age dating and recharge processes, and provenance of sulfur and methaneREMEDIATION, Issue 2 2003Julie K. Sueker Measurement of the isotopic composition of solids, solutes, gases, and water complement standard hydrogeological investigation techniques by providing information that may not otherwise be obtainable. Groundwater age estimates determined from the decay of radio-isotopes or from groundwater concentrations of anthropogenic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are used to verify flow regimes and constrain or calibrate hydrologic flow models. Groundwater recharge rates are estimated by measuring the concentrations or activities of a variety of isotopes including 2H, 3H, 18O, and 36Cl. Excess sulfur causes salinization of water supplies and acidification of precipitation, surface water, and groundwater. The wide range of sulfur isotopic compositions exhibited by different sulfur species and sources allows the application of sulfur isotopes to trace sources and fate of sulfur in the environment. Methane is a ubiquitous gas that has economic value when located in extractable reservoirs. Methane is also a greenhouse gas and is a potential explosion and health hazard when it accumulates in buildings and water distribution systems. The carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of methane can be used to determine the provenance of methane, distinguishing between thermogenic and biogenic sources. The addition of isotopic analyses to environmental investigations can be a cost-effective means of resolving intractable issues. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to electromagnetic fields associated with cellular phones leads to chromosomal instabilityBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 2 2003Maya Mashevich Abstract Whether exposure to radiation emitted from cellular phones poses a health hazard is at the focus of current debate. We have examined whether in vitro exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to continuous 830 MHz electromagnetic fields causes losses and gains of chromosomes (aneuploidy), a major "somatic mutation" leading to genomic instability and thereby to cancer. PBL were irradiated at different average absorption rates (SAR) in the range of 1.6,8.8 W/kg for 72 hr in an exposure system based on a parallel plate resonator at temperatures ranging from 34.5,37.5 °C. The averaged SAR and its distribution in the exposed tissue culture flask were determined by combining measurements and numerical analysis based on a finite element simulation code. A linear increase in chromosome 17 aneuploidy was observed as a function of the SAR value, demonstrating that this radiation has a genotoxic effect. The SAR dependent aneuploidy was accompanied by an abnormal mode of replication of the chromosome 17 region engaged in segregation (repetitive DNA arrays associated with the centromere), suggesting that epigenetic alterations are involved in the SAR dependent genetic toxicity. Control experiments (i.e., without any RF radiation) carried out in the temperature range of 34.5,38.5 °C showed that elevated temperature is not associated with either the genetic or epigenetic alterations observed following RF radiation,the increased levels of aneuploidy and the modification in replication of the centromeric DNA arrays. These findings indicate that the genotoxic effect of the electromagnetic radiation is elicited via a non-thermal pathway. Moreover, the fact that aneuploidy is a phenomenon known to increase the risk for cancer, should be taken into consideration in future evaluation of exposure guidelines. Bioelectromagnetics 24:82,90, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] What Factors in Early Pregnancy Indicate that the Mother Will Be Hit by Her Partner during the Year after Childbirth?BIRTH, Issue 2 2004A Nationwide Swedish Survey The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and indicators in early pregnancy of a woman being hit by her partner during the year after childbirth. Method: Information was collected by a postal questionnaire in early pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth from the approximately 5,550 women in Sweden who visited an antenatal care clinic for the first time during one of three chosen weeks in 1999 and 2000. Results: Of the 3,266 recruited women, 2,563 returned the follow-up questionnaire. Being hit during the first year after childbirth was reported by 52 of the 2,563 (2%) women: 32 (61%) had been hit by their partner once, 12 (23%) twice, and 8 (15%) three or more times. Risk increased in women who were age 24 years or younger (3.9% had been hit), unmarried (7.1%), born in countries outside Europe (6.8%), with a partner born outside Europe (5.4%), had a low level of education (8.9%), and were unemployed (5.0%). In early pregnancy, women with back pain (4.0%), a chronic illness (4.1%), coital pain (6.1%), frequent depression-related symptoms (8.1%), stomach pain (3.8%), or a urinary tract problem (6.3%) were hit more often than others after childbirth. Conclusions: At least 2 percent of Swedish women giving birth in 2000 were hit by their partner during the year after childbirth. Using identified predictors during antenatal care may increase the likelihood of finding women at risk, thereby enhancing the possibility of interventions to prevent this crime and health hazard. [source] The responsible shareholder: a case studyBUSINESS ETHICS: A EUROPEAN REVIEW, Issue 1 2002Richard C. Warren Shareholders are sometimes considered to be, in moral terms, the owners of a company, they are after all the carriers of the residual liabilities and bear a higher proportion of the financial risk. However, in company law, the shareholders' responsibility is limited, and in financial terms shareholders are only liable up to the fully paid value of the share certificate. Moreover, when the shares are sold, the responsibility and risk are transferred completely to the new bearer of the shares. Whether this gap in moral and legal perceptions can be judged to be satisfactory in business ethics terms is a moot point and will be partly explored in this case study which seeks to analyse the shareholder's responsibility towards a firm in which they own shares. The case study company chosen as a vehicle to explore these issues is that of Turner & Newall; a company that subjected its employees, communities and customers to a major health hazard , asbestosis. This paper will use the Turner & Newall archive materials to illustrate the moral hazards that can arise for shareholders. In particular it will examine the ethical responsibilities of shareholders towards those stakeholders who were exposed to the dangers of asbestos. This case is a significant test of the veracity of the legal system of company control, and exposes the ineffectiveness of that system in accountability terms. The case study also deals with specific issues that arose in the asbestos crisis, as well as with more general issues in our present system of corporate governance and shareholder responsibilities. [source] Determination of skin irritation potential in the human 4-h patch testCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 1 2004David A. Basketter Recently adopted legislation in Europe has increased the focus that must be placed on the development of in vitro alternatives to the traditional toxicology tests employed to identify the human health hazards associated with chemicals. Included in these is the rabbit skin-irritation test which is used to discriminate those substances which possess significant acute skin irritation potential from those which are of more limited irritation potential. So far, the considerable efforts to replace this assay with in vitro alternatives have not been successful, which may in part be due to the relatively poor quality of the existing in vivo dataset. To help address this problem, we have elected to present our complete database of information on the skin irritation potential of some 65 substances, all of which have been tested in a standard human 4-h patch test. These provide a high quality dataset, generated in man (the goal of toxicologists' health protection-related activities). The data are presented in the context of results with a concurrent positive skin irritation control to ensure that results from individual experiments can be correlated. Consequently, in vitro or in silico alternatives which can identify the significant acute human skin irritants in this group may well represent suitable alternatives to the rabbit. [source] An analysis of cocaine powder in the Netherlands: content and health hazards due to adulterantsADDICTION, Issue 5 2009Tibor M. Brunt ABSTRACT Aims To report on trends in the content and adulterants present in street cocaine (powder) in the Netherlands and to describe the associated health hazards. Design and participants Drug consumers handed in samples of cocaine powder from 1999 to 2007 for analysis. Reports were compiled of users' experiences with the samples received. Measurements and analysis Linear regression analysis was used to assess the trend in adulterated cocaine powder across the study period, and comparison of reported adverse effects of adulterated with those of unadulterated cocaine by Fisher's exact test. Findings There has been a statistically significant upward trend in the occurrence of adulterated cocaine powder over the years. Adulterated cocaine was associated more frequently with reported adverse effects than unadulterated cocaine. Phenacetin, hydroxyzine and diltiazem appeared to be three adulterants contributing to these adverse effects. Conclusions An increase in adulterants was detected in the analysed cocaine powder between 1999 and 2007. This increase is associated with relatively more adverse effects with cocaine use. The cardiac and hallucinatory effects that were reported more frequently are not understood clearly. Adverse effects are likely to be due to several factors, including interactions of adulterants with cocaine and the route of administration. [source] In vivo genotoxic effects of industrial waste leachates in mice following oral exposureENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 5 2006Saurabh Chandra Abstract Contamination of ground water by industrial waste poses potential health hazards for man and his environment. The improper disposal of toxic wastes could allow genotoxic chemicals to percolate into ground waters, and these contaminated ground waters may produce toxicity, including mutation and eventually cancer, in exposed individuals. In the present study, we evaluated the in vivo genotoxic potential of leachates made from three different kinds of industrial waste (tannery waste, metal-based waste, and waste containing dyes and pigments) that are disposed of in areas adjoining human habitation. Three different doses of test leachates were administered by oral gavage for 15 consecutive days to Swiss albino mice; their bone marrow cells were examined for chromosome aberrations (CAs), micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs), and DNA damage using the alkaline Comet assay. Exposure to the leachates resulted in significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) dose-dependent increases in chromosome and DNA damage. Fragmented chromosomes and chromatid breaks were the major CAs observed. Chemical analysis of the leachates indicated that chromium and nickel were elevated above the limits established by health organizations. The highest levels of genotoxicity were produced by the metal-based leachate and the tannery-waste leachate, while the dye-waste leachate produced weaker genotoxic responses. The cytogenetic abnormalities and DNA damage produced by the leachates indicate that humans consuming water contaminated with these materials are at increased risk of developing adverse health consequences. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Molecular analysis of mutations at the HPRT and TK loci of human lymphoblastoid cells after combined treatments with 3,-azido-3,-deoxythymidine and 2,,3,-dideoxyinosine,ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 4 2002Quanxin Meng Abstract Combinations of antiretroviral drugs that include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are superior to single-agent regimens in treating or preventing HIV infection, but the potential long-term health hazards of these treatments in humans are uncertain. In earlier studies, our group found that coexposure of TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells to 3,-azido-2,,3,-dideoxythymidine (AZT) and 2,,3,-dideoxyinosine (ddI), the first two NRTIs approved by the FDA as antiretroviral drugs, produced multiplicative synergistic enhancement of DNA incorporation of AZT and mutagenic responses in both the HPRT and TK reporter genes, as compared with single-drug exposures (Meng Q et al. [2000a]: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:12667,12671). The purpose of the current study was to characterize the mutational specificity of equimolar mixtures of 100 ,M or 300 ,M AZT + ddI at the HPRT and TK loci of exposed cells vs. unexposed control cells, and to compare the resulting mutational spectra data to those previously found in cells exposed to AZT alone (Sussman H et al. [1999]: Mutat Res 429:249,259; Meng Q et al. [2000b]: Toxicol Sci 54:322,329). Molecular analyses of HPRT mutant clones were performed by reverse transcription,mediated production of cDNA, PCR amplification, and cDNA sequencing to define small DNA alterations, followed by multiplex PCR amplification of genomic DNA to define the fractions of deletion events. TK mutants with complete gene deletions were distinguished by Southern blot analysis. The observed HPRT mutational categories included point mutations, microinsertions/microdeletions, splicing-error mutations, and macrodeletions including partial and complete gene deletions. The only significant difference or shift in the mutational spectra for NRTI-treated cells vs. control cells was the increase in the frequency of complete TK gene deletions following exposures (for 3 days) to 300 ,M AZT,ddI (P = 0.034, chi-square test of homogeneity); however, statistical analyses comparing the observed mutant fraction values (measured mutant frequency × percent of a class of mutation) between control and NRTI-treated cells for each class of mutation showed that the occurrences of complete gene deletions of both HPRT and TK were significantly elevated over background values (0.34 × 10,6 in HPRT and 6.0 × 10,6 in TK) at exposure levels of 100 ,M AZT,ddI (i.e., 1.94 × 10,6 in HPRT and 18.6 × 10,6 in TK) and 300 ,M AZT,ddI (i.e., 5.6 × 10,6 in HPRT and 34.6 × 10,6 in TK) (P < 0.05, Mann,Whitney U -statistic). These treatment-related increases in complete gene deletions were consistent with the spectra data for AZT alone (ibid.) and with the known mode of action of AZT and ddI as DNA chain terminators. In addition, cotreatments of ddI with AZT led to substantial absolute increases in the mutant fraction of other classes of mutations, unlike cells exposed solely to AZT [e.g., the frequency of point mutations among HPRT mutants was significantly increased by 130 and 323% over the background value (4.25 × 10,6) in cells exposed to 100 and 300 ,M AZT,ddI, respectively]. These results indicate that, at the same time that AZT,ddI potentiates therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy, the use of a second NRTI with AZT may confer a greater cancer risk, characterized by a spectrum of mutations that deviates from that produced solely by AZT. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 39:282,295, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hepatoprotective efficacy of certain flavonoids against microcystin induced toxicity in miceENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2007R. Jayaraj Abstract Toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) water blooms have become a serious problem in several industrialized areas of the world. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a cyanobacterial heptapeptide that represents acute and chronic hazards to animal and human health. Identification of suitable chemprotectants against microcystin is essential considering human health hazards. In the present study, we have evaluated the protective efficacy of three flavanoids namely quercetin (200 mg/kg), silybin (400 mg/kg), and morin (400 mg/kg)] pretreatment against microcystin toxicity (0.75 LD50, 57.5 ,g/kg) in mice. Various biochemical variables were measured to study the recovery profile of protected animals at 1- and 3-days post-toxin treatment. The serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) shows 17-fold increase in MC-LR treated animals compared with control group at 1 day. The silybin and quercetin group showed a decrease in level of ALT compared with MC-LR group but still higher than control group. No significant protection was observed with aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in flavanoid-treated groups at 1-day post-treatment. But at 3 days, the serum levels of AST and ALT were normalized to control values, but the serum LDH levels were still significantly higher than the control group. No significant changes were observed in glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione levels at both 1- and 3-day postexposure. The catalase activity shows a significant decrease in quercetin-treated animals at 3-day postexposure. The protein phosphatase was significantly inhibited in MC-LR group compared to control. The silybin pretreated group showed recovery after 1 day. At 3 days, the PPAse activity was reversed to control values in all the flavanoid-treated groups. Immunoblotting analysis showed microcystin-PPAse adduct in liver tissues of toxin-treated as well as flavanoid-treated mice even after 3 days. The results of this study show that flavanoids, quercetin, silybin, and morin could reverse the hepatotoxic effects of MC-LR in vivo. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 472,479, 2007. [source] Copper Azide Confined Inside Templated Carbon NanotubesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2010Valarie Pelletier Abstract The currently used primary explosives, such as lead azide and lead styphnate, present serious health hazards due to the toxicity of lead. There is a need to replace them with equally energetic but safer-to-handle and more environmentally friendly materials. Copper azide is more environmentally acceptable, but very sensitive and detonates easily from electrostatic charges during handling. If the highly sensitive copper azide is encapsulated within conducting containers, such as anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-templated carbon nanotubes (CNTs), its sensitivity can be tamed. This work describes a technique for confining energetic copper azide within CNTs. ,5 nm colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles are synthesized and filled into the 200 nm diameter CNTs, produced by template synthesis. The Cu-O inside the CNTs is reduced in hydrogen to copper, and reacted with hydrazoic acid gas to produce copper azide. Upon initiation, the 60 ,m long straight, open-ended CNTs guide decomposition gases along the tube channel without fracturing the nanotube walls. These novel materials have potential for applications as nano-detonators and green primary explosives; they also offer new opportunities for understanding the physics of detonation at the nanoscale. [source] Measuring the shortage of medical practitioners in rural and urban areas in developing countries: a simple framework and simulation exercises with data from IndiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008Homi Katrak Abstract This paper suggests a simple framework to estimate the shortage of medical practitioners in rural and urban areas in developing countries. Shortages are defined with respect to four main considerations. The overall numbers and also the different categories of practitioners in the rural and urban areas, the relatively greater difficulties of access in the rural areas (which reduce the number of accessible practitioners) and the greater health hazards in those areas (which lead to greater need for medical treatment). The quantitative effect of these factors is examined by undertaking simulation exercises with data for the Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh state, India and also data for that state. The simulations turned up the following results. The un-weighted total number of practitioners, per head of population, is relatively greater in the rural areas; this is because of the relatively large numbers of the unqualified doctors in those areas. On the other hand, a ,quality adjusted' total, with lower weights for the unqualified doctors, found little overall difference between the rural and urban areas. Third, allowance for rural,urban differences in the difficulties of access showed that the number of accessible practitioners is much lower in the rural areas. Fourth, rural,urban differences in the incidence of health hazards and estimates of the need for medical treatment also showed a marked shortage of practitioners in the rural areas. The main implication of the results is that developmental efforts in the rural areas, including improvements in transport facilities and reduction of health hazards, would help to greatly reduce the shortage of practitioners in those areas. Training programmes to improve the quality of practitioners in the rural areas are also required. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater on soil properties in arid and semi-arid regions,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 5 2009Sayyed Hassan Tabatabaei eaux usées; méthode d'irrigation; transports de soluté; zone aride Abstract The use of municipal wastewater for irrigation needs special management. This is due to the environmental and health hazards. In this study, secondary treated municipal wastewater was used in five irrigation treatments. These treatments were as follows: furrow irrigation with normal water (FN), drip irrigation with wastewater (DI), subsurface drip irrigation in 15,cm depth with wastewater (SDI15), subsurface drip irrigation in 30,cm depth with wastewater (SDI30), and furrow irrigation with wastewater (FW). The results showed that the application of DI and SDI sand filters causes a decrease in wastewater index pollution, including 50.1% BOD5, 98.9% total count, 97.6% total coliform, 93.2% faecal coliform, 57.1% nematode, 81% total nitrogen, 52% N-NO3, 84% N-NH4 and 44% total suspended solids. In addition, the application of the SDI system causes a decrease in the moisture content of the soil surface, which decreases total coliform and faecal coliform on the soil surface. The average values for these parameters show no significant difference (5% level) between SDI treatments and FN. The results of this research also show that in the case of SDI with its minimal leaching, prevalence contamination (such as N-NO3) was minimized as a result of the usage of wastewater at depth and in groundwater. Moreover, in SDI treatments, the maximum EC and SAR leaching are observed at 60,cm depth, whereas in the FW this leaching is observed deeper than 90,cm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. L'utilisation des eaux usées municipales pour l'irrigation nécessite une gestion spéciale afin d'éviter les risques pour la santé et l'environnement. Dans cette étude des eaux usées municipales de l'usine d'Ispahan avec traitement secondaire ont été utilisées dans cinq traitements d'irrigation. Ces traitements étaient les suivants: irrigation à la raie avec de l'eau normale (FN), l'irrigation au goutte-à-goutte avec des eaux usées (DI), irrigation en sub-surface à 15,cm de profondeur avec des eaux usées (SDI15), idem à 30,cm (SDI30), et irrigation à la raie avec des eaux usées (FW). Les résultats de cette recherche montrent que l'utilisation de filtres à sable dans DI et SDI a provoqué une diminution des index de pollution des eaux usées: 50,1% de la DBO5, 98,9% de la quantité totale, 97,6% des coliformes totaux, 93,2% des coliformes fécaux, 57,1% des nématodes, 81% de l'azote total, 52% de N-NO3, 84% de N-NH4 et 44% des matières en suspension. En outre l'application de SDI a entraîné une diminution de l'humidité de la surface du sol, ce qui a diminué les coliformes totaux et de coliformes fécaux en surface. Les valeurs moyennes pour ces paramètres n'ont révélé aucune différence significative (seuil 5%) entre les traitements SDI et FN. Les résultats de cette recherche ont également montré que avec SDI du fait d'une infiltration moindre, la contamination de prévalence (tels que le N-NO3) est minimisé du fait de l'utilisation des eaux usées en profondeur et des nappes phréatiques. En outre avec SDI les lessivages maximum de CE et de SAR ont été observées à 60,cm de profondeur alors qu'avec FW ce lessivage a été observé au-dessous de 90,cm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] An overview of environmental issues in Southern AfricaAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2009Michael Bernard Kwesi Darkoh Abstract This paper provides an overview of some of the significant environmental problems in the Southern African region. The key problems highlighted are global warming and climate variability, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, desertification-land degradation, waste and littering, population growth, urbanization, pollution, poverty and health hazards. These problems present a challenge to governments and other players within and outside Southern Africa to seek for long-term solutions by addressing the root causes of these problems. The paper notes that although the environmental problems facing the Southern African region are being tackled at national, regional and international levels, there is more that can be done. At the national level, the different agencies and players, both within and outside government need to strengthen coordination and implementation of key interventions in different sectors in both rural and urban areas. At the African regional and international levels, there is a need to address geopolitical forces and issues that contribute to the underdevelopment of the African region. Among the major issues are poor terms of international trade, political instability, poverty, declining economic performance and international debt. [source] GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HISTAMINE-FORMING BACTERIA OF JACK MACKEREL (TRACHURUS SYMMETRICUS)JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 6 2003ALINA BERMEJO ABSTRACT Consumption of fish with high histamine poses health hazards. The isolation, identification and viable counts of the histamine-forming bacteria from jack mackerel in batch cultures in trypticase soy broth with 2 % histidine at 25, 15 and 5C were performed. Proteus vulgaris, Aeromonas hydrophila and Photobacterium damsela were the most histamine producing population. The community had a maximal specific growth rate (,max) of 0.304, 0.217 and 0.048 h,1 at 25, 15 and 5C, respectively. Mulchandani's model, with an exponential value of 5.21, predicted bacterial growth. Histamine production was proportional to growth rate; proportionality coefficients were 1.987, 0.436 and 1.439 and the community's maximal spefic rates for histamine production were 0.604, 0.095 and 0.068 [g histamine (g dry cells h),1] af 25, 15 and SC, respectively. Lesser histamine production at 15C needs further investigation in whole fish, as it is a relevant result forfish handling. [source] Case-crossover study of hospitalization for acute hepatitis in Chinese herb usersJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 10 2008Chang-Hsing Lee Abstract Background and Aim:, Despite the increase in popularity of herbal products, there is growing concern over potential health hazards caused by the Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) that are regularly reimbursed under the National Health Insurance system in Taiwan. This study attempts to determine the association between CHM prescriptions and acute hepatitis,related hospitalizations. Methods:, A case-crossover study was designed on 200 000 randomly selected individuals from the National Health Insurance Research Database who were then followed from 1997 to 2002. All medications taken in the 30- and 60-day periods prior to hospitalization were explored and compared with four control periods (the 180- and 360-day periods prior to and after the hospitalization). A conditional logistic regression model was then constructed to determine the odds of CHM being prescribed during these risk periods. Results:, There were a total of 12 cases with nonviral, nonalcoholic hepatitis patients who took CHM prescriptions during the 30-day risk or control periods. After adjustment for conventional hepatotoxic drugs, the odds ratio during the 30-day risk period was 3.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 9.8) for nonviral, nonalcoholic acute hepatitis. A detailed historical review of CHMs for each patient revealed that the odds ratio increased to 4.2 for those prescribed formulae containing Radix Paeoniae (95% CI: 1.1, 15.7) and Radix Glycyrrhizae (95% CI: 1.2, 15.2). Conclusions:, Chinese herbal users revealed a slightly increased risk of acute hepatitis. We therefore recommend pharmacovigilance and active surveillance for CHMs suspected with hepatotoxicity. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||