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Bulletin Board February 9, 2007 Contact us: [email protected] tel +61 3 9572 4700 fax +61 3 9572 4777 Emergency +61 3 9573 3112 70 Bambra Rd Caulfield North Victoria 3161 Australia *While Chemwatch has taken all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, it is not intended to be comprehensive or to render advice. Websites rendered are subject to change. Arthur’s Advice Line History: The history button on the search panel is a great way to keep track of any previously searched materials. By clicking on the ‘sort by’ drop down menu, users can sort through previously searched materials by date searched or material name. It is a useful time saving tool, and can you help remember that strange material you searched for last month. The clearing options menu allows users to clear the entire history or up to a specific date. Hazard Alert Tellurium Tellurium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Te and atomic number 52. A brittle silver-white metalloid which looks like tin, tellurium is chemically related to selenium and sulfur. This element is primarily used in alloys and as a semiconductor. Tellurium is a relatively rare element, in the same chemical family as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, and polonium (the chalcogens). When crystalline, tellurium is silvery-white and when it is in its pure state it has a metallic luster. This is a brittle and easily pulverized metalloid. Amorphous tellurium is found by precipitating it from a solution of tellurous or telluric acid (Te(OH)6). However, there is some debate whether this form is really amorphous or made of minute crystals. Tellurium is a p-type semiconductor that shows a greater conductivity in certain directions which depends on atomic alignment. Chemically related to selenium and sulfur, the conductivity of this element increases slightly when exposed to light. It can be doped with copper, gold, silver, tin, or other metals. Tellurium gives a greenish-blue flame when burned in normal air and forms tellurium dioxide as a result. When in its molten state, tellurium is corrosive to copper, iron, and stainless steel. [1] Applications: [1] • Metal alloys - It is mostly used in alloys with other metals. It is added to lead to improve its strength and durability, and to decrease the corrosive action of sulfuric acid. When added to stainless steel and copper it makes these metals more workable. It is alloyed into cast iron for chill control. • Used in ceramics. • It is used in chalcogenide glasses. • Tellurium is also used in blasting caps • Organic tellurides have also been employed as initiators for living radical polymerisation and electron-rich mono- and di-tellurides possess antioxidant activity Health Effects: [2] Acute Health Effects • Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. • Breathing Tellurium can irritate the nose and throat. • Breathing Tellurium can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/ or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. • Exposure to Tellurium can cause headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness and weakness. Chronic Health Effects • Repeated exposure can cause garlic odor to the breath, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and upset stomach, metallic taste and irritability. • Repeated or prolonged contact with Tellurium can cause dry and cracked skin. • Tellurium may affect the liver and kidneys. • High exposure may damage the nervous system. • At doses which are severely toxic to the mother, Tellurium produces teratogenic effects. Personal Protection: [2] Clothing • Avoid skin contact with Tellurium. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. • All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Eye Protection • Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or goggles. • Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Respiratory Protection • Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. • Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. • Exposure to 25 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 25 mg/m3 exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellurium 2. www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1777.pdf Legislation Asia Pacific Control of chemicals of security concern 2007-01-23 Attorney-general Philip Ruddock, and the Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran have released a discussion paper on the development of appropriate controls for chemicals of security concern. The discussion paper is a result of a widespread review, conducted on the use and supply of chemicals of security concerns in order to prevent their possible use in a terrorist incident. The Australian Government is working closely with State and Territiry governments, as well as industry groups as part of COAG Review of Hazardous Materials, which began in 2002. The discussion paper identifies a list of chemicals which may require additional control measures because of their assessed security risk. It will be necessary to consider what, if any, measures should be taken in relation to each of the listed chemicals. Mr Ruddock said it was “unlikely that any single regime would be necessary and appropriate’’ for all the chemicals. “Governments are a long way from finalising the list of chemicals and related controls and no decisions will be made until a thorough consultation process, including with key farm organisations such as the National Farmers’ Federation, has occurred,’’ Mr McGauran said. Mr Ruddock said the discussion paper had been prepared to generate feedback from industry, agriculture, researchers and other users of chemicals, and Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. “The review of chemicals of security concern is at an early stage and we anticipate further stakeholder consultation during the COAG review process,” Mr Ruddock said. The discussion paper will be available for comment until 1 March 2007 and can be accessed from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website at www.pmc.gov.au. Attorney General Media Release, 30 November 2006 http://www.ag.gov.au FSANZ invites public comment on latest changes to the Food Code 2007-01-23 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have announced plans for amendments to the Food Standards Code, including approval of food from GM varieties of soybean and rice, permission to increase the amount of water used in winemaking, labelling requirements for catered and delivered meals, and a new national food safety standard for the egg industry. The Food Standards Code contains regulations - called food standards - that must be complied with by food manufacturers and producers. These regulations usually change as a result of an application from an individual or organisation, or when FSANZ itself identifies the need to make a change. The ministerial council responsible for oversight of the food regulatory system in Australia and New Zealand can also request changes to the Code, the most recent being requests for FSANZ to develop standards for the mandatory fortification of food with folic acid and with iodine. Public comments on the amendments will be received by FSANZ until 7 February 2007, except for the new primary production and processing standard for eggs and egg products, which is open until 24 February 2007. Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 13 December 2006 http:// www.foodstandards.gov.au Secondary Assessment Report for Infineum C9350 issued 2007-01-23 On 7 November 2006 the National Industrial Chemical Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) announced the release of the Existing Chemical Secondary Notification Assessment NA/486S for Infineum C9350 (also known as Parabar 9350). This chemical has been used as a component in a lubricating oil additive package. The assessment results from additional data made available to NICNAS on the hazardous nature of the chemical since it was assessed in September 1999. The Assessment provides a detailed summary and evaluation of information relevant to a secondary notification assessment of Infineum C9350, covering uses, exposure, effects on human health and the environment, and the risks of adverse effects the chemical may cause to the environment and people of Australia. In addition, recommendations are made for the safe use of the chemical. Enhesa Update, December 2006 Standard of concentration limits for certain hazardous substances in electronic information products adopted 2007-01-23 The Chinese Ministry of Information Industry adopted the Standard of Concentration Limits for Certain Hazardous Substances in Electronic Information Products. The new standard came into force on 6 November 2006 and is responsible for setting the concentration limits for hazardous substances including: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB). Enhesa update, December 2006 GHS Implementation under way 2007-01-23 On 25 September 2006, amendments to the Enforcement Regulation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act was announced by the Ministry of Government Legislation in South Korea. Amongst others, the amended Enforcement Regulation of 25 September 2006 modified the previous 15 classifications of hazardous substances into 27 classifications in line with the Globally Harmonized System on Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Enhesa Update, December 2006 America PHMSA: Harmonization With the United Nations Recommendations, International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and International Civil Aviation Oganization’s Technical Instructions 2007-01-23 The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has released the final rule revising the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The aim of this rule is to maintain alignment with international standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements. These revisions will harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations with the changes to the the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 29 December 2006 http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/rulemakemake Changes made to regulation of pesticide-infused packaging 2007-01-23 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is turning over the regulation of a new type of pesticide-impregnated food packaging to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a simplification of the law that will treat the chemicals as additives. The EPA has reported that this decision was reached after receiving applications for the registration of the new food packaging pesticides under the current legislation: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The use of these pesticides is intended to act as an alternative to more toxic and expensive applications of insecticides in food storage and retail establishments. The EPA is now seeking feedback on the final rule. The change would consolidate the oversight of food packaging additives under the FDA, and allow the registrations to go ahead under a simpler system, the EPA said. The applications raised a number of complex jurisdictional issues for the EPA and FDA because the treated packaging materials will be sold to food distributors for the purpose of controlling pest infestations, as well as for packaging food. Under FIFRA, all pesticide- treated products require registration and have components of either active ingredients or inert ingredients. Active ingredients are considered those which, will “prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pest.” Inert ingredients are ingredients “which are not active.” Thus, the components of the food packaging, such as paperboards and coatings, become inert ingredients of a pesticide product regulated under FIFRA. As inert ingredients, the components of food packaging would also be subject to regulation by the FDA as “pesticide chemical residues” under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). In order to resolve the issue the EPA gave sole jurisdiction to the FDA under the FFDCA. As a consequence the EPA would no longer have jurisdiction over such substances as pesticide chemicals.”Given FDA’s expertise and experience in regulating the components of food packaging, EPA, in consultation with FDA, believes this rule will eliminate the duplicative FFDCA jurisdiction and economize federal government resources while continuing to protect human health and the environment without additional regulatory oversight by EPA,” the agencies stated. The agency has cautioned that this change will on affect a very small number of food packaging materials -- pesticide-treated food packaging that is distributed or sold with the purpose of controlling pests. Food packaging that is not distributed or sold to control pests is not considered as a pesticide under current law and is not subject to the rule. “For example, packaged products that are simply treated with pesticides by food distributors, retailers or homeowners solely to control pests on site do not themselves become pesticides simply as a result of such applications,” the EPA stated. “Rather, the product itself must be distributed with the purpose of providing pest control to become a pesticide. The treated packaging materials addressed in this rule are those that are sold for the express purpose of providing ongoing protection from pests that may contaminate the products made with the treated packaging.” Pesticide manufacturers and food packages will be affected by this rule change, which comes into effect on 5 February 2007. All pesticides currently used in the US must be registered by the EPA, which assesses applications on the basis that they are properly labeled and will not cause unreasonable harm to the environment. Food Production Daily News, 20 December 2006 http://www.foodproductiondaily.com Hazardous Materials; Enhancing Rail Transportation Safety and Security for Hazardous Materials Shipments; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 2007-01-23 A proposal by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to revise the current requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations applicable to the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials transported in commerce by rail. This proposal would require rail carriers to compile annual data on specified shipments of hazardous materials, use the data to analyze safety and security risks along rail transportation routes where those materials are transported, assess alternative routing options, and make routing decisions based on those assessments. We are also proposing clarifications of the current security plan requirements to address en route storage, delays in transit, delivery notification, and additional security inspection requirements for hazardous materials shipments. Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 21 December 2006 http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/rulemake Transportation Security Administration: Rail Transportation Security 2007-01-23 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposes security requirements for freight railroad carriers; intercity, commuter, and short-haul passenger train service providers; rail transit systems; and rail operations at certain, fixed-site facilities that ship or receive specified hazardous materials by rail. This rule proposes to codify the scope of TSA’s existing inspection program and to require regulated parties to allow TSA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to enter, inspect, and test property, facilities, and records relevant to rail security. In addition, this rule recommends that regulated parties designate rail security coordinators and report significant security concerns to DHS. TSA also proposes that freight rail carriers and certain facilities handling hazardous materials be equipped to report location and shipping information to TSA upon request and to implement chain of custody requirements to ensure a positive and secure exchange of specified hazardous materials, and to clarify and extend the sensitive security information (SSI) protections to cover certain information associated with rail transportation. This proposed rule would allow TSA to enhance rail security by coordinating its activities with other Federal agencies, which would also avoid duplicative inspections and minimize the compliance burden on the regulated parties. The aim of this rule is to enhance existing rail transportation laws and regulations that the Department of Transportation (DOT) administers. Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 21 December 2006 http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/notices/rulemake Warnings on common painkillers may get stronger 2007-01-23 The Government has announced a proposal to enforce stronger safety warnings for nonprescription painkillers including aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin and Aleve. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it was concerned that consumers were not well enough informed regarding the serious and potentially fatal complications that may arise from misuse of these medications. Dr. William M. Lee of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, an expert on liver failure said, “Acetaminophen is an enormous problem in the United States and overshadows prescription drug toxicity.” “This is finally doing something in response.” Acetaminophen is the active ingredient of Tylenol and its generic equivalents and is also found in many other painkillers and cold remedies. The FDA estimates that 200 people a year die from acetaminophen overdoses, although others have put the figure at more than 450. The other painkillers covered by the warning - NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - can cause bleeding in the stomach. NSAIDs include ibuprofen, which is sold as a generic and under the brand names Advil and Motrin; naproxen, the active ingredient in Aleve; and aspirin. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are used for pain, fever, headaches and muscle aches. For the past four years the FDA have been considering imposing the stronger warnings for nonprescription painkillers. However, due to the federal regulatory process, it could take another year or more before the agency’s proposed wording and layout changes appear on all drug packages - unless manufacturers voluntarily embrace the changes. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a trade group representing manufacturers, said many companies had already improved their safety information. The FDA’s proposal is to make the current warning information clearer and more forceful. A key element would require standard language for all medications containing the drugs. That is not the case now. “We more or less allowed the companies to voluntarily put warnings” on their products, said Dr. Charles J. Ganley, the FDA’s director of nonprescription drugs. “The language is not the language we wanted on there.” Although the safety concern is not new, Ganley said, the FDA is striving to better communicate it to the public. The medications are safe when used as directed, he emphasized. Patients must take care not to exceed the recommended overall dose if they are taking other products with the same ingredient. For example, Tylenol and Nyquil, a popular over-the-counter cold treatment, contain acetaminophen. NSAIDs and acetaminophen are also found in prescription drugs, and that can cause different sorts of problems. Patients dependent on the codeine derivative in the painkiller Percocet, for instance, could unwittingly overdose on acetaminophen if they took Tylenol at the same time. In addition, the FDA said it was considering whether to limit the number of acetaminophen pills in a single package. After British regulators imposed such a restriction, the number of suicides dropped. Ganley said the process for requiring safety warnings on over-the-counter drugs was particularly cumbersome and required painstaking investigation. Once the proposed rule is published, the public will have 150 days to comment on it. Under the FDA proposal, drugs containing acetaminophen would carry warnings that highlight the potential for liver problems, particularly with high doses, or when using more than one medication with the ingredient, or when taken with moderate amounts of alcohol. The active ingredient, acetaminophen, would be prominently displayed to help consumers recognize it as a component of different medications. For NSAIDs, the new warnings would call attention to the potential for stomach bleeding in patients over 60, or in those who have had previous ulcers or bleeding or are taking blood-thinning medication. They would also advise against taking the medications for a longer time than directed, or with alcohol, or in combination with other medications that contain NSAIDs. LA Times News, 20 December2006 http://www.latimes.com Europe IPPC guidance on ammonia, acids and fertilisers 2007-01-23 Agreement has been reached on the EU guidance on how to apply best available techniques (BAT) to minimise the environmental impacts of installations producing ammonia, acids and inorganic fertilisers. The BAT reference document, known as a bref, is of much greater significance for the European industry than related IPPC guidance on specific inorganic chemicals as it targets chemicals produced in very large volumes for key sectors of the economy such as agriculture. Ammonia is mainly used for the production of fertilisers, plastics, fibres, explosives and amines. In addition, the bref covers four types of acids - sulphuric, nitric, phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids - and fertilisers made from nitrogen and phosphorus and potassium. In the acids industry, sulphuric and nitric acids represent the major part of production. Others, such as phosphoric acid, are on the decline. The 446-page bref details a wide range of techniques for reducing the industry’s main environmental impacts. These include energy use, emissions of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and greenhouse gases including nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia. According to an IPPC bureau official, one of the most difficult issues during the bref’s drafting was to define energy consumption levels for ammonia production. Eventually an agreement was reached on levels ranging from 27.6 to 31.8 GJ/tonne. This could lead to “substantial” savings but will be tough to achieve, the official said.Another difficulty was to agree levels for SO2 emissions for the production of sulphuric acid, particularly from non-ferrous metal smelting. Daily average levels ranging between 200-680 mg/Nm3 for certain conversion processes are “really challenging”, the official said. Overall, a high level of consensus was reached, apart from two “split views”. The first one concerns N2O emission levels for the production of nitric acid. Several industry representatives did not agree with recommended levels, arguing BAT to reduce achieve these was not mature enough. The other split occurred in regard to the BAT to reduce dust emissions from the production of hydrofluoric acid. Some deemed this action too costly. ENDS Europe Daily News, 19 January 2007 http://www.endseuropedaily.com Finland implements EU curbs on VOCs in paints 2007-01-23 Finland has adopted national legislation implementing an EU directive that tightens controls on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints and varnishes used in the construction, decorating and vehicle repair sectors. The new decree reduces maximum permissible concentrations and redefines labelling obligations, effective from this month. The Finnish environment agency retains discretion to grant permission to use non-compliant paints on historic buildings and vehicles. Controls will be further toughened in 2010 in line with the decopaints directive ENDS Europe Daily News, 16 January 2007 http://www.endseuropedaily.com MEP makes few changes to EU water pollutant list 2007-01-23 Only minor changes are required by the European parliament’s rapporteur on draft water quality standards for a set of 33 priority pollutants proposed by the European commission last summer. The new law will set limits on the concentration of the substances in water bodies. The proposal will now be forwarded to the MEPs for debate. French Liberal Anne Laperrouze backs the hazard classification of the priority substances, which were picked out for early regulatory attention under the 2000 water framework directive (WFD). Twelve of the 33 pollutants have been classed as priority hazardous substances subject to tougher curbs. Emissions of these must be phased out within 20 years under the WFD. The commission considered, but decided against, a similar classification for thirteen other substances on the list, including some major industrial chemicals and pesticides. This decision has been supported by Mrs Laperrouze, however she says a separate group of eight pollutants covered by existing EU quality standards should now be classified as priority hazardous substances under the WFD and subject to the 20-year emission phase-out. These pollutants include the chlorinated solvents trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene. The rapporteur also endorses a commission decision not to propose additional EU-level controls on emissions of the 33 pollutants. It was argued by the commission that new limit values are unnecessary, despite it having been explicitly required to propose them under the framework law. Mrs Laperrouze says any new limits should be left to member state discretion. In other amendments to the commission’s draft the MEP says authorities should have less scope to take into account natural background concentrations of the pollutants when assessing compliance with the quality limits. She also wants a special assessment of pollution levels in ports. The draft standard will be discussed by the parliament’s environment committee on 23 January. ENDS Europe Daily News, 15 January 2007 http://www.endseuropedaily.com Food industry weighs in on impact of chemicals law 2007-01-23 With the final passage of the new EU law regulating chemicals in the bloc, the food industry has expressed concern about the uncertainties relating to the scope of the legislation and the eventual cost to processors. Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation was approved by the EU Council of Ministers on 18 December 2006, with the legislation to come into force from 1 June 2007. REACH transfers the burden of proof regarding testing and evaluation of the risks of chemicals from the regulator to industry. The legislation will now require businesses to prove the safety of thousands of chemicals previously not regulated by the bloc. REACH would also require producers and users to replace some of the current chemicals in use with safer alternatives, if they exist. For end users, the main cost will be from the requirement that they keep records of all the chemicals they use, and for what purpose. Marta Bertran, manager of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU said that while the food industry lobbied hard to have some of the chemical ingredients they used exempted from the legislation, some of the products they use will still be covered under REACH. These products include packaging materials and cleaning products. “So at the moment we are analysing the main implications as ‘downstream users’ of these products in order to inform our members, Bertran said. She noted that manufacturers of these products would be required under REACH to register them. Processors would then have to make sure that their use for a food and drink application have been notified by the producer. Over the period of debate on the legislation, the CIAA successfully lobbied the parliament to explicitly exclude food and feed from the regulation. The CIAA and other industry associations argued that food and feed were already covered by the traceability requirements as defined by the General Food Law Regulation 178/2002. However the concession for some ingredients could result in confusion for end users, the CIAA argued. Regulation 178/2002 requires companies to trace food, feed, and ingredients through all stages of production, processing and distribution. “A number of product categories, including some food ingredients, have been excluded from the scope of the REACH proposal since they are covered by other EU legislation, in order to avoid double legislation,” the association said in a memorandum at the start of this year. “The fact that some food materials are in, and some are out of the scope, causes confusion and inconsistency at many levels.” The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in the UK are also looking at the industry’s responsibilities as downstream users. The FDF has developed guidance for members to assist their understanding of REACH’s requirements, including practical guidance to assist them in discussions with their chemical suppliers to ensure continuity of business in terms of their need for chemicals such as cleaning agents, lubricants, inks and other products. In addition, the FDF supports the views of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on the overall assessment of the impact of the regulation on the industry, the spokesperson said. While REACH comes into effect on 1 June, its provisions will be slowly phased in over the next 11 years and replaces 40 legislative texts with a single system regulated by a single EU Chemicals Agency, to be based in Helsinki, which will be responsible for the registration and authorisation process. For the first time about 100,000 substances placed on the market before 1981 will have to be approved and registered with a newly created regulator. These are chemicals that did not have to undergo health and safety tests, which became mandatory in the EU for the 3,000 substances introduced for use from 1981. The authorisation process will initially cover about 2,500 substances considered more risky than the rest. The agency will be responsible for authorising them and the producers will have to present either replacement proposals or research plans to develop alternatives. The authorisation will be for a limited time period. For more hazardous substances, producers will have to submit a substitution plan to replace them with safer alternatives. When no alternative exists, producers will have to present a research plan aimed at finding one. In the main the unified law would affect processors by applying to the chemicals used for making packaging. However it could also apply to cleaning chemicals and other substances used in plants. Workers unions have said the regulation is an important step forward in making manufacturing plants a more healthier environment for their members. Business industry associations said the law would in some cases leave downstream users scrambling to find alternative suppliers for the chemicals used in their manufacturing operations. “This will generate an additional burden for chemical producers and downstream users alike,” the Confederation of European Business (UNICE), the European Association of Metals, The European Engineering Industries Association (Orgalime) and the European Chemical Industry Council said in a joint statement. “It will equally affect the supply of raw materials for different sectors of EU industry, and this without any clear benefit for the end consumer.” This is because producers would be required to submit a plan for all substances that can be substituted with a suitable alternative, even if they are adequately controlled, said Orgalime secretary general, Adrian Harris. “Substitution not only requires time, but does not automatically represent the best option in terms of safety, functionality or overall environment performance of a product,” he said. “Besides, we yet have to be convinced that the provisions on substances in articles will be enforceable and workable in practice. Also, information communication obligations for article manufacturers have been extended. This risks multiplying existing communication obligations whilst causing confusion among consumers.” REACH also includes obligations of duty of care for the industry and of communication to the public about dangerous substances in products. It also includes safeguards for confidential information and provisions to avoid duplication of animal testing. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said it welcomes the REACH regulation’s passage, but criticised the success of the chemical industry in restricting its scope. “The law as adopted puts the burden of proof firmly on producers for the 30,000 substances covered by the reform,” the association stated. “But the ETUC can only condemn the chemical industry’s 7-year lobbying campaign to get the European institutions to scale down the reform. More specifically, European trade unions take issue with the fact that information vital to protecting workers’ health given in the chemical safety reports will now only be required for a third of the chemicals originally planned.” Some 17,000 chemicals of low priority will now be excluded from onerous testing requirements, as originally proposed. Food Production Daily News, 20 December 2006 http://www.foodproductiondaily.com Africa & Middle East List of substances considered as explosives modified 2007-01-23 The Decree of the minister of Interior No.10364 of 2006 was adopted in Egypt on 17 August 2006. The Decree amends the current list of substances considered to be explosives. This list was initially annexed to the Decree of Minister of Interior No. 18722 of 2004. Enhesa Update, December 2006 Polluter pays Bill approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation 2007-01-23 On 27 November 2006, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in Israel approved the “Bill for Environment (Respiration) (The Polluter Pays) (Law Amendment) 2006”. The aim of the Bill is to protect and sustain a proper quality of the environment, to prevent harm to the environment or public health and to deny the economic advantage of harming the environment. The bill will now go before the Knesset in order to be ratified. Enhesa Update, December 2006 Janet’s Corner - Not Too Seriously! Pilot Checklist Part 2 After every flight, pilots fill out a form, called a gripe sheet which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some maintenance complaints submitted by pilots and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, the airline these came from is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident. Pilot: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. Engineers: That’s what friction locks are for. Pilot: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. Engineers: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode. Pilot: Suspected crack in windshield. Engineers: Suspect you’re right. Pilot: Number 3 engine missing. Engineers: Engine found on right wing after brief search. Pilot: Aircraft handles funny. Engineers: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious. Pilot: Target radar hums. Engineers: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics. Pilot: Mouse in cockpit. Engineers: Cat installed. Pilot: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. Engineers: Took hammer away from midget lotsofjokes.com Please note: articles for Janet’s Corner are not original, and come from various sources. Author’s credits are supplied when available. Gossip Copper and Nickel in Chinese Soil 2007-01-24 There has been an increase in the consumption of metals in China by the country’s industrial and manufacturing sectors due to the economic boom. A new study being sponsored by Australian and Chinese industry aims to develop scientific guidelines for safe levels of copper and nickel in Chinese soils. Previous studies have found that the soils in the Southeast region of the country have low background metal concentrations but ecologically are very sensitive to the addition of metals, as reflected in effects on plant growth and soil microbe function. The study will include both laboratory and field experiments, with a wide range of soils and environment conditions being analysed. It is hoped that these results will help determine the behavior and toxicity of copper and nickel in the soils in China. The data will be integrated with that previous collected from many other country in order to develop toxicity models. Environmental Health Perspectives, January 2007 Studies uphold health benefits of alcohol 2007-01-24 According to the findings from a new study, drinking moderately may improve your health, but the key is moderation and a healthy lifestyle. In the study, it was demonstrated that healthy men who drank 15 to 29gm of alcohol per day had the lowest risk for heart attacks and those who did not drink at all had the highest. Another group of researchers presented papers on the health benefits of beer at a University of Maryland conference. There is a unanimous hesitancy among researchers to recommend drinking to avoid certain diseases because of the fine line between moderation and binge drinking. Medical practitioners have reason for concern in recommending drinking. According to the National Centre for Health Statistics, in 2003 the number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding accidents and homicides was 20,687 and alcoholic liver disease resulted in another 12,360 deaths. Yet, as part of a healthy lifestyle it appears moderate alcohol consumption pays off. “Study after study has shown that moderate consumers of beer or other alcoholic beverages have much lower risks of coronary heart disease, as well as most other diseases of aging,” said Dr. Curtis Ellison, from Boston University School of Medicine, where the Beer to Your Health! Conference convened. The National Beer wholesalers Association funded the conference and research. In the study, “Alcohol consumption and risk for coronary heart disease in men with healthy lifestyles”, researchers assessed the connection between drinking alcohol and heart attacks in 8,867 healthy men between 1986 and 2002. The cohort included 51,529 dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians and other health care professionals aged 40 to 75. All of the men in the study had healthy lifestyles. They did not smoke, had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, got at least 30 minutes of exercise per day and ate a healthy diet that included large amounts of fruits, vegetables, fish and polyunsaturated fats as well as low amounts of trans-fats and red meat. The researchers observed a significant drop in the risk of heart attacks associated with moderate consumption of alcohol when comparing those who drank five grams per day or more with those who drank less than five grams a day. “We estimate that 25 percent of the incidence cases of myocardial infarction in this population were attributable to consuming less than five grams per day,” wrote the authors. Between 1986 and 2002, 106 men had heart attacks. This included eight of the 1,282 who drank 15 to 29.9 grams of alcohol per day (about two drinks), nine of the 714 who drank 30 grams or more per day, 34 of the 2,252 who drank .1 to 4.9 drinks per day and 28 of the 1,889 who did not drink at all. Those who drank 15 to 29 grams per day had the lowest risk for heart attack and those who did not drink at all had the highest. “We are not telling people to drink more,” said Ellison, “But encouraging more people who do not have a contraindication to alcohol to drink small amounts on a regular basis.” Nutra Ingredients, 25 October 2006 http://www.nutraingredients.com Overlooked impacts of bioproducts 2007-01-24 According to new research, bio-based fuel and plastics could reduce global warming, but they have other environmental impacts that should be factored into assessments of the products’ “greenness”. This debate on whether plant-derived products are better for the environment than those derived from petroleum, centres on the amount of energy that goes into growing the crops and making the products as well as the greenhouse gases that result from burning fuels. The new study is the first to quantify the environmental impacts of the fertilizers, pesticides, and equipment that are used in soybean and corn agriculture. The work suggests that policy makers should rethink the benefits of bio-based fuels and plastics. The U.S ethanol and biodiesel markets are rapidly expanding, due to the rising oil prices and the pursuit of energy security, which has led to government subsidies. This market also includes bio-based plastics including glues, and inks. Compared with petroleum-based products, these commodities are considered “green” because they come from plant sources-even though studies have shown that their production may require more fossil fuels-and because they emit less greenhouse gases. However the environmental impacts of these products are not limited to global warming, says Amy Landis, a civil engineering graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a coauthor of the study. Chemicals and heavy machinery used in soybean and corn farming could adversely affect soil, groundwater, and air quality. Nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizers and pesticides cause hypoxia and eutrophication, whereas air pollutants, emitted during the operation of farm equipment, have human health risks. “People keep having this argument about whether or not [bio-based products] are better for global warming, but you have to make your lens just a little bit bigger and look at the whole problem,” Landis says. In the study, Landis and her colleagues compiled an expanded data inventory for use in bioproduct life-cycle assessments (LCAs) by including the flows of nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and U.S. EPA criteria air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, and volatile organic compounds. Most inventories have overlooked these compounds. The researchers then modified a software model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, which allowed them to estimate the energy use and air emissions associated with the production of crops. From there they were then able to develop an independent model to estimate pesticide runoff. Data from nine states in the U.S. corn belt, which together produced 80% or more of the country’s corn and soybeans in 2003, were used. They considered corn and soybean agriculture as one system, because farmers typically rotate the crops on a yearly basis. A key advance over past LCAs is that the researchers estimate a range of values for the factors they consider in their inventory, whereas past studies have estimated single values. For instance, they calculate phosphorus emissions at 0-0.65 grams per kilogram (g/kg) of corn; the most likely value is 0.1g/kg. The total energy use is estimated at 2.3-3.3 megajoules/kg of corn. Including this variability in LCAs is crucial for agriculture because “there’s no one way that people farm,” says Susan Powers, a civil and environmental engineer at Clarkson University. “Rather than just taking an average and saying all fields in the Midwest behave like this, they’re saying there’s a range.” Thomas Seager, a civil engineer at Purdue University, says that having a range of values for emissions and energy use shows that the answer to whether bio-based products make environmental sense is not a simple yes or no. “Under some conditions, bio-based production might make a great deal of sense,” he says. “Under other conditions, it might be a bad trade, and that’s a distinction that up until now we just haven’t thought about.” Academic and industry researchers should be able to plug the inventory data into their LCAs to weigh the environmental impacts of bio-based products. Officials with chemical producer DuPont are interested in using this data for the LCA of a polymer product that is partly plant-based, Landis says. According to Seager, the paper should have immediate policy implications and cause decision makers to rethink their goals, especially in the corn-belt states, which are heavily subsidizing ethanol and biodiesel production plants. Biofuels have environmental benefits at the global scale and in urban areas, where they reduce smog precursors, he says, but “environmental costs may be felt in the [crop] production states. If we have increased hypoxia, eutrophication, or groundwater contamination, it’s going to be in the corn belt.” Environmental Science & Technology News, 17 January 2007 http://pubs.acs.org/journals/esthag/index.html Dioxins and PCBs in rural areas 2007-01-24 A new study has shown that measurements of dioxins and PCBs in the ambient air over both rural and remote regions of the U.S contain background levels and possible trends. Decades ago, industry such as waste incinerators and paper pulp plants, released dioxins and related compounds into the environment, polluting both rural and urban areas alike. Now after years of regulations, there has been a reduction in the emissions from these sources and cities have become the latest suppliers of the toxic contaminants in rural air. These are the results of a new study by researchers from researcher at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scientist predicted that with the introduction of the Clean Air Act, there would be a significant reduction in the release of dioxins and PCBs from industrial sites. Indeed, after controls were installed, those levels decreased. However according to measurements taken by the National Dioxin Air Monitoring Network (NDAMN), by 1998, the levels of these contaminants had leveled out in the atmosphere. From this time until 2002, there were negligible changes in those levels recorded by NDAMN. In the new study, David Cleverly of the U.S. EPA and his colleagues present 4.5 years of atmospheric measurements taken from 34 sites across the country, beginning in 1998. The team finds that the contaminantspolychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dioxin-like polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar PCBs-correlate with population density. Dioxins in particular, because of the similar distributions between cities and rural areas, appear to be spreading outward relatively quickly from urban centers. Cities, they conclude, seem to be creating plumes of the pollutants that can waft 160 kilometers (km) away, into rural and remote regions, to 1000 km and beyond. “Higher amounts of PCBs observed in summer months are consistent with the theory that PCBs are volatilizing,” particularly from soils and plants, says Cleverly. “Dioxins are not so easily explained by their chemical-physical properties, but a fair amount of work points to a primary removal process: hydroxyl interaction or photochemical interactions in the atmosphere.” Previous study suggested that during cooler weather, more fossil fuels are burned and participation in activities that increase ambient levels of potentially cancer-causing chemicals. Ultimately, these chemicals get sequestered in animal fats. The team confirmed a slight increase in dioxins in winter and a decrease in summer, particularly in northern latitudes. Cleverly and his team, however, suggest that winter conditions dampen the atmospheric chemical reactions of hydroxyl radicals with dioxin and photolysis of the dioxins, leaving more of the compounds intact in winter air. Rainer Lohmann of the University of Rhode Island says that the seasonal changes for dioxins are not significant and that he would like to see data on the relative abundance of the different dioxins measured. “I doubt photolysis is as important as they think,” he comments. Because of air travel times, measurements would have to be made much farther away from urban centers in order to catch the hydroxyl chemistry, which can take days, he says; therefore, vehicle traffic and other activities that change with the seasons cannot be ruled out yet as a source. Still, “this study was a huge effort, producing the first data set of its kind,” says Tom Harner, an Environment Canada research scientist who works on tracking persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at a global scale. “We now not only have a high-resolution picture of PCDD/F and co-PCB concentrations in ambient air across the U.S. but [also] how they vary with season and what the temporal trends are over several years.” The data can be used to test fate and transport models, particularly for the more volatile species that interact with hydroxyl radicals. And they eventually will be useful for assessing the success of regulations on the chemicals by establishing a baseline for future comparison, Harner says. They can also be used for future assessments under the Stockholm Convention of the UN Environment Programme, which lists PCBs and dioxins in the “dirty dozen” of global POPs. Lohmann notes that the yearly stability of dioxin and PCB concentrations shows that the U.S. may have reached the limits of emissions controls on industrial plants and sites, particularly depending on what the current sources of dioxins turn out to be. “EPA has been very good at reducing emissions from big plants, and they are now much more diffuse: general traffic, household burning of waste and wood,” and other “not very strong point sources,” he says. Regulating those kinds of activities “is a political nightmare.” Environmental Science & Technology News, 17 January 2007 http://pubs.acs.org/journals/esthag/index.html Nutrient removal also extracts pharmaceuticals 2007-01-24 It is thought that the source of trace concentrations of household and industrial chemicals in rivers and streams is traditional sewage treatment plants. That’s hardly a surprise, because conventional treatment plants weren’t designed to remove drugs, cosmetics, soaps, deodorants, insect repellents, and other exotic contaminants from effluent discharged into waterways. New researcher has shown that by tightening up current methods in order to reduce nutrient pollution may also remove a good portion of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). In one of the first U.S. studies to look at how longer solids retention times (SRTs) affect PPCP removal, researchers from MWH, an environmental engineering consulting firm, characterized the passage of various PPCPs through six treatment plants of varying sizes in California and New Mexico. The SRT is how long a facility holds on to sludge to allow processing by microbes. The researchers found that SRTs of 5-15 days were sufficient to remove many of the 20 compounds they were targeting that are commonly detected in wastewaters and waterways. However, it was observed that some still resisted biodegradation. The researchers found that the most stubborn compounds were fragrances, such as musk ketone and galaxolide, and trichloroethyl phosphate, a flame retardant, says Joan Oppenheimer, an environmental scientist with MWH. The findings from this study support data collected in Europe, where similar studies have been conducted at the bench scale or at small full-scale treatment plants. The MWH study, by contrast, sampled large full-scale plants, which operate in major metropolitan areas, with capacities ranging from 5 to greater than 300 million gallons per day. All were conventional activated-sludge plants, the industry standard, operating at SRTs ranging between 0.5 and 30 days. In addition, Oppenheimer and her colleagues looked at PPCP removal through subsequent filters and disinfectants as well as newer treatment processes, such as membrane bioreactors. Initial they found no additional removal. It was reverse osmosis after regular filtration that reduced all of the compounds to below detection limits. Oppenheimer says that these results are encouraging as the EPA and states are pushing to go to increased nutrient reduction, which will assist with the problem of PPCPs. “Even if we don’t know what all these compounds are, as we go to longer SRTs, we’ve got a more diverse community of microorganisms, and we seem to be able to reduce more of them.” No federal standards exist on nutrients, just criteria guidelines that EPA issued in 2001. State regulatory agencies are supposed to either implement EPA’s criteria or develop their own, but progress has been very slow. The significance of the MWH study is that “it was done in the U.S. with our style of operation and our contaminants and that it confirms some of the same results that have been seen in Europe,” says Rhodes Trussell, head of Trussell Technologies, Inc. Rolf Halden, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, agrees. “This study provides additional evidence for the notion that SRT is an important operational parameter influencing PPCP removal during biological wastewater treatment,” he says. Many sewage treatment plants in the U.S. commonly operate with very low SRTs, Trussell notes. “If we make a decision as a nation that we want to maximize removal of these compounds, and there are a number of them, the science is showing that longer SRTs will be necessary,” he points out. Treated wastewater is also the source water for indirect potable reuse projects, Oppenheimer adds. Better understanding of the fate of these compounds in treatment plants helps “us figure out what we can do about conventional treatment processes to enhance the quality of this source,” she says. Environmental Science & Technology, 27 December 2006 http://pubs.acs.org/journals/esthag/index.html Antimicrobial nanomaterials meet increased regulatory scrutiny 2007-01-24 The number of consumer products that advertisements say are embedded with nanoscale silver particles that can kill bacteria is growing. One such product is a washing machine produced by Samsung Electronic. The U.S. EPA has done a back flip on these products and has now determined that clothes washing machines that use silver ions as a disinfectant will have to be registered as a pesticide. Up to this point, the EPA has not regulated nanomaterials, including silver ions, made of a bioaccumulating, persistent, and toxic metal. Yet EPA’s decision may be meaningless, critics point out, because if the company deletes from its advertising the assertion that silver can kill bacteria, it won’t have to register the washer. The fact that a product can slip past the agency without being registered if the company doesn’t claim that it can kill bacteria is a “quirk” of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and “it’ll be intriguing to see where we go on this,” says Andrew Maynard, science adviser to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He and others are urgently calling for research into nanotechnology’s potential environmental, health, and safety risks. Maynard says that an assessment conducted in November found that a number of consumer products made with nanotechnologies have increased by 70% since March 2006. Silver was found to be the most prevalent nanomaterials being used, now found in 47 products. It has been pointed out by the wastewater treatment industry that the use of such products, that release silver ions into sanitary sewer systems could greatly increase silver concentrations in treatment-plant discharges, leading to adverse effects, such as bioaccumulation in fish and killing of aquatic life. “We think it’s great that EPA’s going to regulate” this application, says Phil Bobel, manager of environmental compliance for the city of Palo Alto, Calif., and past president of Tri-TAC, a technical advisory committee on regulatory issues affecting wastewater treatment plants in California. “Whether it’ll end up going far enough to actually keep that silver out of our systems, we don’t know.” Samsung Electronics advertisement claims that nanoscale silver particles released during the wash and rinse cycles achieve 99.9% sterilization of bacteria and leave behind a residual silver coating on clothing to keep it smelling fresh for up to 30 days. It has not yet been determined by the EPA if this is an advertising gimmick or if this is a novel material. Silver is already regulated as a pesticide in a number of products. If Samsung submits a FIFRA registration application to EPA, the agency will determine whether and under what conditions the silver ions can be used. The company must supply scientific data to show that the use of the nanoscale silver particles won’t pose an unreasonable risk to people or the environment. A finding by EPA that the technology involves nanomaterials could affect a wide range of consumer products, scientists say. The EPA previous deemed this product to be a device. This classification means that the product was not subject to registration requirements under FIFRA. Concerns were raised by both states and also various industries caused the agency to reconsider the classification of this product and have now ruled “that the silver ions are defined as pesticides, and therefore it needs to be regulated,” says Enesta Jones, an EPA spokesperson. “We don’t know if it’s a nanomaterial at this point,” but if it is, “it would be the first federal restriction on nanotechnology.” Jones admits that if Samsung pulls pesticidal claims from it’s advertising, the company won’t have to register the washing machine under FIFRA. Other companies have already taken note, removing statements of germ-killing capabilities in marketing their nanotech consumer products. A prime example is The Sharper Image, a company that has developed socks, slippers, and food containers embedded with silver nanoparticles, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group that relayed its concerns in a November letter to EPA. “Failure to identify nanoscale pesticide ingredients should not be an excuse to circumvent the FIFRA registration requirements,” NRDC wrote. “Because of the significant potential for serious environmental harm, EPA must conduct a comprehensive assessment of all products that use nanosilver as a pesticide.” EPA will issue a Federal Register notice in the next couple of months outlining the agency’s position on the classification of silver-ion-generating washing machines, according to Jones. Environmental Science & Technology, 3 January 2007 http://pubs.acs.org/journals/esthag/index.html Pollutants’ link to diabetes 2007-01-24 According to the results of a preliminary study, Americans who live near toxic waste sites are hospitalized more for diabetes than those who live in clean communities. The observational study, which tracked hospitalization rates for patients in New York between 1993 and 2000, found an increase in diabetes-related hospital admissions for people who live in ZIP codes containing toxic waste sites. Although in the early stages, the study does narrow the search for an answer to the U.S. diabetes increase, said study author Lawrence Lessner, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University at Albany in New York. During the study, the researchers compared the hospitalization rates by ZIP code for three types of communities: clean, without hazardous sites; contaminated by persistent organic pollutants, or POPs; and containing other types of waste or pollutants. Subjects recruited for the study included whites and blacks between the ages of 25 to 74, correcting for potential factors that could skew the data, such as age, race, sex and average household income. One of the major types of POPs is polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a former industrial ingredient of pesticides, paints, paper and other products. Although banned from U.S. industry in the 1970s, PCBs still exist in the environment. People are mainly exposed through eating animal fats, although they can also breathe in the pollutants. Possible mechanisms for the association with diabetes are unknown, although some speculate that PCBs may influence the retention of fat in the body; more body fat is a risk factor for diabetes. Likewise, PCBs may impair genes from working properly, said David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany. The liver cannot break down the compounds, so they may alter the gene that regulates insulin sensitivity. Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells become less responsive to insulin. In addition, the pollutants may be especially potent in a person who already has a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Carpenter was also surprised to find that people who inhabited areas rife with other waste or pollutants -- such as metals, radiation and volatile organic compounds -- also had higher rates of hospitalizations; he only expected to find this association with POPs. The researchers say that these results suggest environmental triggers of diabetes, a fairly new research area, are worthy of more investigation. The explosion in the rate of type 2 diabetes in Americans from 1980 to 2002 have had scientists scrambling to find explanations for the rise. Although experts often point to the obesity epidemic, that alone can’t account for it, Carpenter said. Indeed, the “evidence is accumulating rapidly that environmental exposures are very important factors,” he said. Dr. Larry Deeb, president of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association, also stressed obesity can’t be the only culprit for the dizzying increase in diabetes. He noted the associations in the study between toxic waste exposures and hospitalizations were small, but were there nonetheless, and the idea of environmental factors is intriguing. The study has limitations, as with any observational research. The results are too preliminary to assume any causation between toxic pollutants and diabetes. Likewise, PCBs likely require an unknown amount of time to incubate before a disease occurs. The authors could not gather behavioral information on the patients or find out long they’d lived in their neighborhoods. It’s possible some patients did not live in their homes long enough to see the effects of PCBs. Although it’s too early to draw conclusions about pollutants and diabetes, Carpenter points out one public-health message is clear: “We should do whatever we can to reduce exposure to these compounds coming from waste sites.” United Press International News, 5 January 2007 http://www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily New chemical dispenser helps food firms clean up 2007-01-24 A manufacturer claims that a new chemical dispensing system can provide safer, easier and more economic extraction of chemicals from containers while helping to reduce costly spills. The DrumQuik Pro system developed by the Colder Products Company is compatible with most chemical uses, including food and flavourings as its polyethylene construction is FDA approved. Spillages in plants can prove costly to clean and increase the risk of accidents in plants. The system is a closed design, which combines into one integrated unit a recyclable bung closure and dip-tube with a reusable quick disconnect coupler. This design ensures that both sides are sealed from point-of-origin to point-of-use, said Thomas Braun, Colder’s business unit manager for chemical and packaging products. “The best way to minimise exposure when dispensing chemicals from bulk containers is with a closed system that eliminates the removal of the inserted dip-tube from the drum,” he said. The DrumQuik Pro system is comprised of a coupler and a drum insert assembly. The drum insert assembly contains a bung closure and dip-tube and can be shipped as part of a drum package, providing a cost-efficient alternative to open and semi-open dispensing systems. No special tools are required to connect the coupler to the system. Clean-up and disposal are easier, because the low-cost drum insert and dip-tube are recyclable. The quick disconnect coupler can be easily rinsed and cleaned for re-use. A built-in vent port allows a pressure feed connection, which speeds chemical flow and prevents release of harmful vapors. The vent port also allows for a blanket gas connection limiting chemical exposure to air, preventing oxidation of sensitive liquids, such as oils and fragrances, and reducing product waste. Nutra Ingredients, 30 October 2006 http://www.nutraingredients.com Acrylamide guide updated by industry association 2007-01-24 The EU’s food industry association has issued an updated version of its guide on successful methods processors can use to reduce acrylamide formation during the manufacturing process. The guide is part of a bid by the EU Confederation of Food and Drinks Industries (CIAA) to share techniques among its smaller members, who may not have access to the resources available to larger companies. Reducing acrylamide in foods industry wide can only help improve the public perception about food safety. The CIAA is also working with the EU and regulators to find ways to reduce acrylamide. Acrylamide hit the headlines in 2002 when scientists at the Swedish Food Administration first reported unexpectedly high levels of the potential carcinogen in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures. Until then acrylamide was known only as a highly reactive industrial chemical, present also at low levels for example in tobacco smoke. Since the Swedish discovery a global effort has been underway to amass data about this chemical. More than 200 research projects have been initiated around the world, and their findings co-ordinated by national governments, the EU and the United Nations. Recent findings by UK scientist Professor Don Mottram at the University of Reading, suggest that the free amino acid asparagine, found naturally in potatoes and cereals, could play a key role in the formation of acrylamide. Tests show that when the amino acid is heated, it reacts with sugar to create acrylamide, a process called the Maillard reaction. A wide range of cooked foods - prepared industrially, in catering, or at home - contain acrylamide at levels between a few parts per billion (ppb) to over 1000 ppb. The foods include bread, fried potatoes and coffee as well as specialty products like potato crisps, biscuits, crisp bread, and a range of other heat-processed products. The document issued by the CIAA provides descriptions of the intervention steps being evaluated by food manufacturers. In some cases the procedures are already being used by food processors, are undergoing testing or are the result of laboratory studies. The CIAA will update the guidance as new processes are discovered or achieve trial stages. The final goal is to find appropriate and practical solutions to reduce the overall dietary exposure to acrylamide, the CIAA stated. Nutra Ingredients, 17 October 2006 http://www.nutraingredients.com ‘Technologies could fill climate-change legislative gap’ 2007-01-24 According to the results of a recent EU funded study, the better use of technology can combat air pollution and lower the impact of those greenhouse gases not covered by the Kyoto Protocol. The study compared the results of 26 models of atmospheric chemistry covering the entire global atmosphere. In a challenge to policies championed by the EU, including the much-debated emissions trading scheme for CO2, it found that current international protocols and national legislation to reduce air pollution are not sufficient to reduce global warming. The researchers suggested that this was because the existing policies do not do enough to address other gases such as ozone. “Even with the legislation that is in place, the models showed that emissions would still increase,” the Commission said. The researchers concluded that with better use of existing technology, the negative impacts of ozone, which contributes to global warming, could be addressed. The EU, North American countries and Japan currently have laws establishing limits for the concentrations of ozone in the air and other countries in Asia and Latin America are introducing them. Internationally, there is a UN convention on long-range trans-boundary air pollution that identifies specific measures to be taken to reduce emissions of air pollutants such as ozone. Euractive News, 16 November 2006 http://www.euractiv.com/en Worried About Prostate Cancer? Tomato-broccoli Combo Shown To Be Effective 2007-01-24 The results from a study by researchers from the University of Illinois, have indicated that tomatoes and broccol – two vegetables known for their cancerfighting qualities – are better at shrinking prostate tumors when both are part of the daily diet than when they’re eaten alone. “When tomatoes and broccoli are eaten together, we see an additive effect. We think it’s because different bioactive compounds in each food work on different anti-cancer pathways,” said University of Illinois food science and human nutrition professor John Erdman. In the study, Erdman and doctoral candidate Kirstie Canene-Adams fed a diet containing 10 percent tomato powder and 10 percent broccoli powder to laboratory rats that had been implanted with prostate cancer cells. The powders were made from whole foods so the effects of eating the entire vegetable could be compared with consuming individual parts of them as a nutritional supplement. Two groups of rats were just feed with either the tomato or broccoli powder alone, an a further 2 groups were given either a supplemental dose of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes thought to be the effective cancer-preventive agent in tomatoes; or finasteride, a drug prescribed for men with enlarged prostates. The final group of rats were all castrated. After 22 weeks, the tumors were weighed. The tomato/broccoli combo outperformed all other diets in shrinking prostate tumors. The Ohio State University conducted the evaluation of the biopsies, confirming that tumor cells in the tomato/broccoli-fed rats were not proliferating as quickly. The only treatment that approached the tomato/broccoli diet’s level of effectiveness was castration, said Erdman. “As nutritionists, it was very exciting to compare this drastic surgery to diet and see that tumor reduction was similar. Older men with slow-growing prostate cancer who have chosen watchful waiting over chemotherapy and radiation should seriously consider altering their diets to include more tomatoes and broccoli,” said CaneneAdams. The scientist calculated how much tomato and broccoli a 55-yearold man concerned about prostate health should eat and found that “To get these effects, men should consume daily 1.4 cups of raw broccoli and 2.5 cups of fresh tomato, or 1 cup of tomato sauce, or 1/2 cup of tomato paste. I think it’s very doable for a man to eat a cup and a half of broccoli per day or put broccoli on a pizza with 1/2 cup of tomato paste,” said CaneneAdams. Erdman said the study showed that eating whole foods is better than consuming their components. “It’s better to eat tomatoes than to take a lycopene supplement,” he said. “And cooked tomatoes may be better than raw tomatoes. Chopping and heating make the cancer-fighting constituents of tomatoes and broccoli more bioavailable.” “When tomatoes are cooked, for example, the water is removed and the healthful parts become more concentrated. That doesn’t mean you should stay away from fresh produce. The lesson here, I think, is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables prepared in a variety of ways,” Canene-Adams added. Another of Erman’s studies, demonstrated that fed the tomato carotenoids phytofluene, lycopene, or a diet containing 10 percent tomato powder for four days had significantly reduced testosterone levels. “Most prostate cancer is hormone-sensitive, and reducing testosterone levels may be another way that eating tomatoes reduces prostate cancer growth,” Erdman said. Erdman said the tomato/broccoli study was a natural to be carried out at Illinois because of the pioneering work his colleague Elizabeth Jeffery has done on the cancer-fighting agents found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. Jeffery has discovered sulfur compounds in broccoli that enhance certain enzymes in the human body, which then act to degrade carcinogens. “For ten years, I’ve been learning how the phytochemicals in tomatoes affect the progression of prostate cancer. Meanwhile Dr. Jeffery has been investigating the ways in which the healthful effects of broccoli are produced. Teaming up to see how these vegetables worked together just made sense and certainly contributes to our knowledge about dietary treatments for prostate cancer,” said Erdman. Science Daily News, 16 January 2007 http://www.sciencedaily.com Acrylamide in foods: Consumers are aware of the risk but are scarcely changing their behaviour at all 2007-01-24 The result of a recent BfR survey confirmed the successful risk communication to German consumers regarding the occurrence of acrylamide in food and the potential health risks associated. The survey showed that consumers are aware that the substance may be found starch-containing foods like crisps, fried potatoes or chips after roasting, frying and deep frying. In addition, consumers were aware that the acrylamide content in a food depends on how it is prepared and that it is harmful. Despite all this, only a small proportion of consumers use this knowledge to reduce the risk. “The results confirm that risk communication can be successful if the players speak with one voice”, says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. “Consumers are entitled to and expect clear, comprehensible and comprehensive information. But it will take more than information to get consumers to change their habits.” Consumers tend to use this information for their own personal riskbenefit analysis. The study was commissioned by BfR as part of its statutory remit to inform the public about the health risks linked to foods, substances and products. The goal of the study was to determine whether the BfR risk communication on acrylamide has reached and influenced the behaviour of consumers. In addition, they questioned 45 representatives of different media who act as multipliers in the communication of health risks linked to foods. The results showed that currently, acrylamide did not rank on top of consumers’ personal risk ranking. Nevertheless, it is present and anchored in the collective awareness. Most consumers know that the substance can be formed during the preparation of certain foods or may be contained in some ready-to-eat products. Acrylamide in food is not, however, seen as a direct threat to their health. Consumers believe that microbial risks like Salmonella or pesticide residues in foods are more dangerous than acrylamide. Overall, the interviewees have a rather down-to-earth attitude towards the problem of acrylamide. They don’t avoid foods that could contain acrylamide but some of the interviewees do now prepare food more carefully according to the motto “golden not charcoaled” to keep the formation of acrylamide to a minimum. Overall the number of consumers who indicate that they have altered their behaviour considerably is relatively small: 30-40 percent. Here, it can be said that anyone who changes his behaviour, is also wellinformed. The study also showed that consumers tend to find it hard to interpret the sometimes contradictory and complex information on food safety generated by the media. Information from the media is taken into account. However, information from institutions which consumers have faith in is more important. Consumer advice bureaus were the first agencies that consumers looked to for information Public agencies are only in third place on the “trust scale”. One thing always applies: statements must be clear and unequivocal and permit concrete action. They should be presented in such a way that they facilitate individual risk assessment and decisions. Besides information on the risk, consumers expect advice on how to deal with the risk. This includes, for instance, tips on preparing food or indications of a potentially high level of acrylamide in individual products. Only few of the interviewed consumers were familiar with BfR as a public agency. And yet, a large majority of the interviewees were of the opinion that it was very important to have an institution that provides clear and simple information based on scientific assessment about the risk of acrylamide, an institution that is uninfluenced by economic, political or social interests. In contrast to the consumers, the media representatives were very familiar with the BfR and indicated that they valued BfR as an institution that they could trust to give them scientifically sound information. Overall, the results of the study confirm successful communication of the health risk from acrylamide in foods. BfR News, 14 October 2006 http://www.bfr.bund.de South Korea Dioxin Find Not Surprising - Meat Scientists 2007-01-24 It has been reported that South Korean scientists have detected trace amounts of dioxin in U.S beef. This comes as no surprise to U.S. meat scientists. Previous tests by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Biosciences Research Laboratory at Fargo, N.D., and the Food Safety and inspection Service found low and variable levels of dioxins in meat and milk from the U.S. Twig Marston, Kansas State University Beef Specialist, supplied the results from the study, which showed the preliminary results indicated that geographical location may influence dioxin concentrations in beef cattle, and that bulls may have a higher concentration in their system than other slaughter animals. “These compounds are highly toxic in many species and have been studied extensively,” the study said. “Sources of dioxins are numerous (e.g., municipal incinerators, hospital incinerators, engines burning leaded gasoline, diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, manufacture of certain chemicals, paper mills, fireplaces, candles, grass fires, etc.).” However, “contributions from many of these sources are now relatively insignificant because of modification or elimination of processes or procedures,” the study said. The study said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had identified environmental dioxins as potential chronic toxins to humans, and exposure nationwide was proposed to be predominately from meat consumption, most notably beef. The EPA have suggested that the contamination in the cattle is occurring as a result of consuming forage contaminated by fallout of dioxin containing particulates from all combustion processes, the study said. Little information was available on dioxin concentrations in domestic beef overall, the study said, but the high variability in individual cattle tested suggests there may be a correlation between geographical location and contamination. Scott Smith, a meat scientist at Kansas State University, said measurements for dioxin are done in parts per trillion, meaning they are very small. He tried to do some research on dioxins with cattle in areas around Manhattan, Kansas, where he is located and couldn’t come up with enough to study. Dioxin contamination in livestock appears to be higher in animals grazing close to plants where it is produced, Smith said. Dioxin is a general term encompassing a group of chemicals. It primarily comes from burning plastics and some plant exhausts in certain situations, Smith said. Besides waste-burning incinerators, backyard burn barrels provide the largest sources of dioxins to the environment, says the Environmental Justice Activists’ Web site. It’s also linked to paper mills, which use chlorine Bleaching in their process, and with the production of certain chlorinated chemicals (like many pesticides). Cattle Network News, 21 December 2006 http://www.cattlenetwork.com New NIST References Could Lead To More Accurate Measurement Of Quartz Dust In The Air 2007-01-24 According to an announcement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), chemists have developed a new set of reference material that could contribute to significant improvements in workplace safety through more accurate measurement of the amount of quartz dust in the air. The crystalline silica or quartz is one of the most common minerals on Earth. When finely powdered silica gets in the air it becomes a significant health hazard. Respirable quartz is associated with the development of silicosis, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis and other airway diseases. NIOSH has estimated that at least 1.7 million U.S. workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in a variety of industries and occupations, including construction, sandblasting and mining (1991 data). Other industries with significant exposure include building construction and medical and dental laboratories. Traditionally, monitoring silica dust in the workplace is done by collecting samples over a period of hours on a special air filter and using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the amount of silica present in the sample. To be effective, monitoring requires accurate measurements of micrograms of silica on the filters, which in turn requires precise calibration of the measurement system. NIOSH has identified calibration errors as a significant factor in inconsistent results from different laboratories. To help environmental laboratories perform these demanding calibrations, NIST has developed a series of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) with precisely measured quantities of respirable quartz deposited on typical filters. The NIST materials cover the range between 5 micrograms and 1,000 micrograms of quartz per filter, the typical range encountered in the field, and can be used to validate the accuracy of lab measurements needed to meet OSHA regulations. The reduction to ash technique must be used to prepare the quartz-on-filter specimens for XRD measurements. A related series of reference materials using cristobalite, the second-most important form of respirable crystalline silica, also is being developed. Standard Reference Materials are among the most widely distributed and used products from NIST, officials said. Occupational Health & Safety News, 22 January 2007 http://www.ohsonline.com Researchers Find Potential Neural Bottleneck That Hinders Multi-Tasking 2007-01-24 Researchers at Vanderbilt University have found that when it comes to handling two tasks at once, your brain is not fast enough. Neuroscientists Paul E. Dux and Rene Marois said an example of this is driving and talking on the cell phone. “Why is it that with our incredibly complex and sophisticated brain, with 100 billion neurons processing information at rates of up to a thousand times a second, we still have such a crippling inability to do two tasks at once?” Marois, associate professor of Psychology, asked. “For example, what is it about our brain that gives us such a hard time at being able to drive and talk on a cell phone simultaneously?” It has long be thought that a central “bottleneck” exists in the brain that prevents us from doing two things at once. Dux and Marois are the first to identify the regions of the brain responsible for this bottleneck, by examining patterns of neural activity over time. “In our everyday lives, we seem to complete so many cognitive tasks effortlessly. However, we experience severe limitations when we try to do even two simple tasks at once, such as pressing a button when a visual stimulus appears and saying a word when a sound is presented. This is known as dual-task interference,” said Dux, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Psychology. “We were interested in trying to understand these limitations and in finding where in the brain this bottleneck might be taking place.” These results come at a time when more staes are considering banning the use of cell phones while driving. “While we are driving, we are bombarded with visual information. We also might be talking to passengers or talking on the phone,” Marois said. “Our new research offers neurological evidence that the brain cannot effectively do two things at once. People think if they are using a headset with their cell phone while driving they are safe, but they’re not because they are still doing two cognitively demanding tasks at once.” Identifying the information bottleneck responsible for this dual-task limitation required the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, an imaging technology that reveals the brain areas active in a given mental task by registering changes in oxygenated blood concentration in these regions. While fMRI is an excellent tool for identifying a particular area in the brain involved in a given task, it generally provides limited information about how that area responds over time, the researchers said. To overcome this limitation, Dux and Marois rapidly sampled brain activity using fMRI while subjects were performing two demanding tasks. Evaluation of the data produced by this rapid sampling method allowed them to characterize the temporal pattern of activity in specific brain areas. The two tasks consisted of pressing the appropriate computer key in response to hearing one of eight possible sounds and uttering an appropriate syllable in response to seeing one of eight possible images. Different senses and motor responses were enlisted in order to ensure that any interference between the two tasks was not specific to a particular sensory or motor modality, but instead originated at a central information-processing bottleneck. The results showed that the central bottleneck was caused by the inability of the lateral frontal and prefrontal cortex, and also the superior frontal cortex, to process the two tasks at once. Both areas have been shown in previous experiments to play a critical role in cognitive control. “We determined these brain regions responded to tasks irrespective of the senses involved, they were engaged in selecting the appropriate response, and, most importantly, they showed ‘queing’ of neural activity -- the neural response to the second task was postponed until the response to the first was completed,” Dux said. “Neural activity seemed to be delayed for the second task when the two tasks were presented nearly simultaneously -- within 300 milliseconds of each other,” Marois said. “If individuals have a second or more between tasks, we did not see this delay. “This temporal delay is the essence of dualtask interference for tasks that require actions. By using time-resolved fMRI, we can see its signature in the brain,” he continued. “These findings allow us to really now focus on this set of brain areas and to understand why these areas cannot process two tasks at once.” The next step for the researchers are to explore the bottleneck further to determine what the cause of the slow performance is. They believe that the work will have future implications for people performing complex tasks. “It may be possible to look to the sort of tasks people are going to have to do in a very complex environment, such as flying a plane, and find out under what circumstances these tasks may be less vulnerable to dual-task interference,” Dux said. Occupational Health & Safety News, 22 January 2007 http://www.ohsonline.com Environmental A comparative study on the anaerobic membrane bioreactor performance during the treatment of domestic wastewaters of various origins 2007-01-16 This study investigated the practical performance of a cross-flow ultrafiltration membrane coupled to an anaerobic bioreactor, for treatment of raw domestic wastewater (RDW), at a pilot-scale plant. Wastewaters used in this study originated from two different domestic wastewater treatment plans (DWTPs) (Sfax and Ksour Essef). During the treatment in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) of the RDW originating from Sfax DWTP, the bioreactor did not reach its stationary phase because the anaerobic biomass was unable to adapt to the wastewater. The treatment of RDW originating from Ksour Essef (DWTP) was successful. In both cases, it was found the treatment led to a total removal of all tested pathogens and the quality of treated wastewater fitted with WHO guidelines for unrestricted irrigation. The phytotoxicity and the microtoxicity tests demonstrated that wastewater from Sfax exhibited higher toxicity than that from Ksour Sssef. Author: Saddoud, A.; Ellouze, M.; Dhouib, A.; Sayadi, S. Full Source: Environmental Technology 2006, 27(9), 991-999 (English). Soil Pollution by heavy metals and remediation 2007-01-17 Heavy metals and metalloids are an increasing environmental problem worldwide. Some industrial activities and agricultural practices increase their level in the substrate and the possible introduction of these elements in the food chain is an increasing human health concern. Agricultural fertilizers, which contain small amounts of cadmium and lead is widely applied and used in Iran, both these heavy metals remain below toxic levels. In contrast, contamination of lowland rice fields by sewage sludge from textile plants and some mining has increased the heavy metal content of the soil and reduced rice yields in these areas. Using plants such as Vetiveria zizanioides and Eichornia crassipes, plus applications of zeolite are being carried out at present. They found that the above-mentioned species may be an effective species for phytoextraction and that it should be tested in field conditions. Author: Kalantari, M. R.; Shokrzadeh, M.; Ebadi, A. G.; Mohammadizadeh, C.; Choudhary, M. I.; Atta-ur-Rahman. Full source: Journal of Applied Sciences 2006, 6(9), 2110-2116 (English). Medical Intra-individual variations and time trends 1991-2001 in human serum levels of PCB, DDE and hexachlorobenzene 2007-01-22 The aim of this study was to assess intra-individual variations over time of serum levels of CB-153, p,p’-DDE and HCB, considering the impact of a number of possible determinants. Blood samples were drawn for the same 39 subjects in 1991 and 2001. Interviews were made at both occasions. Lipid adjusted serum concentrations of CB-153, p,p’-DDE and HCB were determined in both sets of blood samples. The results showed that the CB-153 concentrations in serum had averagely decreased with 34% in between 1991 and 2001. Of individual determinants only increasing BMI was associated with decreasing CB-153 levels, explaining 13% of the variation. The average decrease of p,p’-DDE was 55%, and could only weakly be associated with a relative increase of BMI, explaining only 5% of the variation. The average decrease of HCB was 53%, and was associated only with high fish consumption in 1991, explaining 12% of the variation. They found that the results supported a continuing decrease in human body burdens of PCBs, DDE and HCB during the 1990s. The explanatory factors relative change of BMI and fish consumption explained only a minor part of the time-related variations in serum levels. Author: Hagmar, Lars; Wallin, Ewa; Vessby, Bengt; Joensson, Bo A. G.; Bergman, Aake; Rylander, Lars Full source: Chemosphere 2006, 64(9), 1507-1513 (Eng), Elsevier Ltd. Comparison of polyethylene glycol-conjugated recombinant human acetylcholinesterase and serum human butyrylcholinesterase as bioscavengers of organophosphate compounds 2007-01-22 Comparative protection studies in mice demonstrate that on a mole basis, recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rHuAChE) confers higher levels of protection than native human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE) against organophosphorous (OP) compound intoxication. For example, mice challenged with 2.5 LD50 of sarin, soman and VX following treatment with equimolar amounts of the two cholinesterases, displayed 80, 100 and 100% survival respectively when pretreatment was carried out with rHuAChE and 0, 20 and 60% survival respectively, when pretreatment was carried out with HuBChE. Kinetic studies and active site titration analyses of the tested OP compounds with AChEs and BChEs from different mammalian species demonstrated that the superior in-vivo efficacy of acetylcholinesterases is in accordance with the higher stereoselectivity of AChE versus BChE towards the toxic enantiomers comprising the racemic mixtures of the various OP agents. In addition, they show that polyethylene glycol conjugated rHuAChE (PEGylated rHuAChE), which is characterized by a significantly extended circulatory residence both in mice and monkeys, retains full reactivity towards OP compounds both in-vitro and in-vivo and provides higher level of protection to mice against OP poisoning, as compared to native serum-derived HuBChE. In fact, PEGylated rHuAChE also confers superior prophylactic protection when administered intravenously or intramuscularly over 20 hours before exposure of mice to a lethal dose of VX (1.3-1.5 LD50). These findings, together with the observations that the PEGylated rHuAChE exhibits unaltered biodistribution and high bioavailability, presents a case for utilizing PEGylated rHuAChE as a very efficacious bioscavenger of OPagents. Author: Cohen, Ofer; Kronman, Chanoch; Raveh, Lily; Mazor, Ohad; Ordentlich, Arie; Shafferman, Avigdor. Full source: Molecular Pharmacology 2006, 70(3), 1121-1131 (English) Role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane potential, and calcium homeostasis in human lymphocyte death induced by nickel carbonate hydroxide in vitro 2007/01/22 When isolated human lymphocytes were treated in vitro with various concentrations of nickel sulfate (NiSO[4]) (0-4mM) at 37 ∞C for 4 h, both concentration- and time-dependent effects of NiSO[4] on lymphocyte death were observed. Increased generation of hydrogen peroxide, depletion of both nonprotein and protein sulfhydryl contents, and lipid peroxidation were induced by NiSO[4]. NiSO[4]-induced lymphocyte death was significantly prevented by pre-treatment with either catalase, or dimethylthiourea/mannitol, or deferoxamine, or excess glutathione/N-acetylcysteine. Cotreatment with cyclosporin A (a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial membrane potential) not only inhibited NiSO[4]-induced mitochondrial membrane potential, but also significantly prevented Ni compound-induced lymphocyte death. NiSO[4]induced lymphocyte death was also significantly prevented by modulating intracellular calcium fluxes using both Ca[2][+] channel blockers and intracellular Ca[2][+] antagonist. Thus it was found that the mechanism of NiSO[4]-induced activation of lymphocyte death signaling pathways involves not only the excess generation of different types of oxidative stress but also NiSO[4]-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and destabilization of cellular calcium homeostasis as well. Authors: M’Bemba-Meka, Prosper; Lemieux, Nicole; Chakrabarti, Saroj K. Full Source: Archives of Toxicology 2006, 80(7), 405-420 (English). Identification of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin (TCDD)-inducible genes in human amniotic epithelial cells 2007/01/22 Exposure to dioxins results in a broad rage of pathophysiological disorders in human fetuses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dioxins on the feto-placental tissues. This was done by analysing the gene expression in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treated primary culture of human amniotic epithelial cells. Human amniotic epithelial cells were dispersed by trypsin from amniotic membranes and cultured in DME/ Ham’s F12 medium supplemented with 10% FBS. Two weeks after plating, cells were treated with 50 nM TCDD or DMSO (control), further incubated for 48 h, and the gene expression was analyzed. They identified thirty-eight TCDD-inducible genes, including cytochrome P 4501A1 and cytochrome P 4501B1. The genes involved in the interferon gene expression and interferonsignaling pathways were also up-regulated. Furthermore, the expression of genes related to collagen synthesis or degradation was enhanced by TCDD. Using DNA microarray and quantity real-time PCR analyses, they identified TCDD-inducible genes, including interferon-inducible genes and genes related to collagen synthesis or degradation in human amniotic epithelial cells. Authors: Abe, Yumiko; Sinozaki, Hiromitsu; Takagi, Takeshi; Minegishi, Takashi; Kokame, Koichi; Kangawa, Kenji; Uesaka, Miki; Miyamoto, Kaoru. Full source: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology [online computer file] 2006, 4, No pp. given (English). Inducible nitric synthase activity contributes to the regulation of peripheral vascular tone in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. 2007-01-22 The aim of this study was to determine whether iNOS activity contributes to the regulation of vascular tone in patients with cirrhosis and ascites by using highly selective iNOS inhibitor, 1400W. Bilateral forearm blood flow was measured using strain gauge plethysmography in eight patients with cirrhosis and ascites, and eight matched healthy volunteers during intrabrachialinfusion of 1400W (0.1-1 µmol/min), NG-monomethyl-Larginine (L-NMMA, a non-selective NOS inhibitor; 2-8 µmol), and norepinephrine (a control vasoconstrictor; 60-480 pmol/min). The results showed that In patients with cirrhosis, 1400W, L-NMMA, and norepinephrine caused dose dependent reductions in forearm blood flow: peak reductions of 11 (5)%, 37 (4)%, and 48 (5)%, respectively (p<0.05 for all). In contrast, 1400W had no effect on blood flow (+4 (8)%; NS) in healthy controls despite similar reductions in blood flow with L-NMMA and norepinephrine (39 (5)% and 49 (5)%, respectively; p<0.05 for both). They found and have demonstrated that that 1400W causes peripheral vasoconstriction in patients with cirrhosis but not healthy matched controls. This suggests that iNOS contributes to the regulation of peripheral vascular tone in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, and may contribute towards the hyperdynamic circulation associated with this condition. Authors: Ferguson, J. W.; Dover, A. R.; Chia, S.; Cruden, N. L. M.; Hayes, P. C.; Newby,D. E. Full source; Gut 2006, 55(4), 542-546 (Eng) Occupational Field study to explore possible effects of styrene on auditory function in exposed workers 2007-01-22 In this study, the authors examined whether occupational styrene exposures were associated with reduced hearing ability. The auditory function was investigated by pure tone audiometry and registration of transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) in 32 workers of a fiber-reinforced plastic boat-building factory. Of the subjects, sixteen were laminators and therefore regularly exposed to styrene with mean duration of exposure to styrene of 7.5 yr (SD 5.0). Another group of subjects were also tested. This group contained the control subjects, who were not directly exposed to styrene but had a similar noise exposure. The results indicated a few isolated significant correlations between the parameters of hearing acuity and exposure indexes, such as current internal styrene exposures (sum of MA and PGA) and duration of styrene exposure. However, no consistent association was found. The authors concluded that the findings do not support the assumption of an ototoxic effect of chronic styrene exposure in workers. Authors: Hoffmann, Joerg; Ihrig, Andreas; Hoth, Sebastian; Triebig, Gerhard Full Source: Industrial Health 2006, 44(2), 283-286 (Eng) Detection of DNA damages of peripheral white blood cells in benzene-exposed workers 2007-01-22 This study investigated the effect of benzene exposure on DNA damage of the peripheral white blood cells and the possible dose-response relationship between benzene and DNA damage in exposed workers. Personal benzene exposure was sampled with 3M organic vapor monitors. Single cell gel electrophoresis assay was used to detect DNA damage in white blood cells of benzene-exposed workers. The results demonstrated that there was a significant increase in the Olive tail moment and the grade of DNA breakage in benzene exposure groups compared with the control group. The authors also observed a dose-response relation with benzene concentration. The authors concluded that benzene exposure increased DNA damage of the peripheral white blood cell, in a dose-response relationship; cumulative dose is better than simple concentration to reflect benzene exposure. Authors: Xing, Caihong; Ji, Zhiying; Li, Guilan; Gao, Yun; Yin, Songnian Full Source: Weisheng Yanjiu 2005, 34(1), 22-24 (Ch) Relationship of blood lead levels to blood pressure in exhaust battery storage workers 2007-01-22 It has been hypothesized by several researcher, that low blood lead levels may be associated with the increased risk of hypertension. This study assessed the relationship between occupational lead exposure and elevated blood pressure. Twenty-seven workers were recruited for the study, age range from 27 to 62 years, length of employment mean (DS) 2.97 (( 1.67) yr. The researchers measured the blood lead concentration, (BPb), Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) activity, Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP), creatinine, hematocrit, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood (DBP) Pressure for each of the subjects. The results showed that long-term occupational exposure was related to a slight increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure among workers who had been exposed to higher level of lead with respect to workers exposed to lower level of lead. In addition, blood lead concentration (BPb) and ZPP were increased among workers exposed to higher level of ambient lead, while in the same group of workers ALAD activity was more inhibited. The authors concluded long term cumulative lead exposure can significantly increase blood pressure in low level Pb exposed workers. Authors: Fenga, Concettina; Cacciola, Anna; Martino, Lucia Barbaro; Calderaro, Santina Ricciardo; Di Nola, Carmelina; Verzera, Aurelio; Trimarchi, Giuseppe; Germano, Domenico Full Source: Industrial Health 2006, 44(2), 304-309 (Eng) Exposure to organic solvents among handicraft car painters: a pilot study in Italy 2007-01-22 Car repair painters usually experience long-term exposure to many different solvents. In Italy, many of the paint shops are considered to be “handicraft” shops with 2-5 workers and small premises. Usually workers do not have specific duties, but everyone takes part in all different operations. In addition, the number of work hours varies depending on the workload. Working methods tend to be traditional, and compliance to individual protection devices is poor. In this study, 8 Italian handicraft car-painting shops were examined to determine the exposure levels to solvents. 3 classic exposure monitoring methods were used: environmental sampling with charcoal tubes, personal sampling with diffusive charcoal samplers, and urinary detection of unmetabolised solvents. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between the three series of data. The solvents analyzed were toluene, ethylbenzene, 1, 2-dichloropropane, n-butylacetate, n-amylacetate, xylene isomers, ethylacetate, and benzene. Benzene was included due to its presences in Italian unleaded gasoline. The results showed benzene was found in all shops, at levels around or higher than the 8-h time-weighted av. limit (8-h TLV-TWA). Other solvents were found in the different shops at various levels, 10-2-10-1 times the 8-h TLV-TWA. There was a positive correlation between the air concentrations of toluene, n-butylacetate, xylenes, and benzene with urinary levels of the parent compounds. Negative correlations were observed for ethylbenzene. Authors: Vittali, Matteo; Ensabella, Francesca; Stella, Daniela; Guidotti, Maurizio Full Source: Industrial Health 2006, 44(2), 310-317 (Eng) Cross-sectional analysis of blood lead level of entire Korean lead workers 2007-01-22 This study analysed the blood lead (PbB) level from the 2003 health surveillance results of 13,043 lead workers from 1,217 total lead industries to evaluate lead intoxication at low level in Korea. The results showed 56.6% and 7.9% of total lead workers had PbB level over 5µg/dL and 25µg/dL, respectively. Relatively higher PbB levels were observed in male workers compared with female workers. However, the “Manufacture of Other Electronic Valves, Tubes and Electronic Components n.e.c.” showed more women than male in risk of low level lead exposure. While those conventional high-risk industry such as “Manufacturing of Accumulators” and “Other Basic Non-ferrous Metal Industries” remained in high-risk groups, lead exposure in other industries such as plastic, chemical and part manufacturing were also identified. Non-production tasks such as fork lift truck driving, maintenance, lab testing, and supporting function showed high blood lead level in addition to routine manufacturing processes such as smelting and soldering. Authors: Kim, Kyeong-Ran; Lee, Sang-Won; Paik, Nam-Won Full Source: Industrial Health 2006, 44(2), 318-327 (Eng) Public Health Radon concentration in houses over a closed Hungarian uranium mine 2007-01-22 Radon (Rn) concentrations in a tunnel in a uranium mine, below the village of Kovagoszolos, Hungary were measured and the average Rn concentration detected was 410 kBq/m3. When the mine was closed, artificial ventilation of the tunnel was terminated. This study evaluated whether the Rn concentration in the mine tunnel could affect the surface dwellings. At different distances from the surface projection of the mining tunnel, Rn concentration, the gamma dose, Rn exhalation and Rn concentration of soil gas were measured. The average Rn concentration in the dwellings was 483 Bq/m3. The results demonstrated that houses within 150m from the surface projection of the tunnel had significantly higher Rn concentrations compared with houses further than 300 m away. The average Rn concentration of the soil gas was 88.8 kBq/m3 and the average Rn exhalation was 71.4 Bq·m2·s-1 - higher values were measured over the tunnel. The authors concluded that the many fissures intersecting the tunnel and extending to the surface as well as the high Rn concentration in the tunnel may influence the Rn concentration of the houses over the tunnel. Authors: Somlai, Janos; Gorjanacz, Zoran; Varhegyi, Andras; Kovacs, Tibor Full Source: Science of the Total Environment 2006, 367(2-3), 653-665 (Eng) Estimating health risk from exposure to 1,4-dioxane in Japan 2007-01-22 Exposure to 1,4-dioxane from the atmosphere around high-emission plants and from consumer products that contain the substance may have adverse health effects; however, its emission into the atmosphere is not regulated. In this study, the health risk posed by 1,4-dioxane was investigated to determine whether measures should be introduced to reduce exposure to 1,4-dioxane. The notion of the margin of exposure (MOE), given by the ratio of the number of observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) to actual or projected exposure level, is used to assess risk. In exposure assessment, two types of exposure channel are considered: (a) the use of consumer products that contain 1,4dioxane and (b) the inhalation of air around high-emission plants. In order to estimate the exposure via channel A, the concentration of 1,4- dioxane in consumer products was measured and the interindividual variability of exposure was estimated. To estimate exposure via channel B, a local-level atmosphere dispersion model was used to estimate the concentration of 1,4dioxane immediately around high-emission plants. For hazard assessment, the inhalatory and oral NOAELs for liver adenomas and carcinomas and the uncertainty factor were derived. The results suggesting that measures are not needed to reduce exposure to 1,4-dioxane from consumer products. As for inhalation exposure around high-emission plants, some residents may be exposed to health risks if certain conservative analysis conditions are assumed. Even in this case, the authors conclude that it is not necessary for Plant A to stop the use of 1,4-dioxane immediately and that medium- to long-term emission reduction measures should be sufficient. Authors: Makino, Ryoji; Kawasaki, Hajime; Kishimoto, Atsuo; Gamo, Masashi; Nakanishi, Junko Full Source: Environmental Sciences (Tokyo, Japan) 2006, 13(1), 43-58 (Eng) Variations and sources of formaldehyde levels in residential indoor air in Ankara, Turkey 2007-01-22 This study was performed to examine the associations between formaldehyde levels and housing characteristics by analysing 309 air samples collected in Ankara using a calorimetric method. The results showed formaldehyde concentrations ranging from 2.34µg·m-3 to 866.22µg·m-3. Formaldehyde levels were elevated in homes inhabited by at least one smoker and were correlated with indoor and outdoor temperature, age of house and density of plywood furniture. Sufficient sample numbers were collected to allow the data to be statistically divided into five daytime periods. The data suggests that the formaldehyde concentrations were generally slightly higher in the afternoon. A mathematic model was developed to estimate the formaldehyde decay rates for two rooms in one of the typical background homes. When the windows and doors were closed, the formaldehyde concentrations in indoor air decreased within 10h to background concentrations, although this change depended on the room volume and the natural air exchange rate. Authors: Mentese, Sibel; Gullu, Gulen Full Source: Indoor and Built Environment 2006, 15(3), 273-281 (Eng) Wintertime organic aerosols in Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand: Contributions of residential wood and coal burning and petroleum utilization 2007-01-22 This study characterized PM10 samples collected in wintertime from 2 New Zealand cities (Christchurch and Auckland) using gas chromatographymass spectrometry for biomass burning tracers, hopanes, n-alkanes, fatty acids, n-alkanols, and sugars. The aerosol samples collected from Christchurch, which were heavily influenced by residential wood and coal burning, showed substantially higher ambient concentrations for most of the organic compounds than those of Auckland, where major sources of aerosols were vehicular emissions and sea salt. Mass ratios between the biomass burning tracers studied were found to be significantly different, although levoglucosan to nssK+ ratios were similar at the both sites. In addition, the authors estimated that 60% of fossil fuel emissions came from petroleum utilization with the remaining 40% being from coal burning in Christchurch In contrast, contribution of coal burning was negligible in Auckland. Moreover, contributions of most biomass burning tracers to organic carbon (OC) were significantly higher in Christchurch than in Auckland. On the other hand, saccharides (excluding levoglucosan) and hopanes accounted for larger fractions of OC in Auckland. The authors concluded that intensive wood and coal burning can significantly affect organic aerosol composition in an urban environment. Authors: Wang, Haobo; Kawamura, Kimitaka; Shooter, David Full Source: Environmental Science & Technology 2006, 40(17), 5257-5262 (Eng) The effects of air pollution on hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease in elderly people in Australian and New Zealand cities 2007-01-22 This study examined the associations between outdoor air pollution and cardiovascular hospital admissions for the elderly, using the case-crossover method for seven cities: Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand; and Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney Australia. Results obtained for all cities were combined and stratified for two adult age groups: 15-64 years and g65 years of age (elderly). Pollutants measured were nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, daily measures of particulate matter (PM) and ozone. When multiple pollutant associations were found, a matched case-control analysis was used to identify the most consistent association. The results indicated that in the elderly subjects, all pollutants except O3 were significantly associated with five categories of cardiovascular disease admissions. No associations were found for arrhythmia and stroke. For a 0.9-ppm increase in CO, there were significant increases in elderly hospital admissions for total cardiovascular disease (2.2%), all cardiac disease (2.8%), cardiac failure (6.0%), ischemic heart disease (2.3%), and myocardial infarction (2.9%). There was some heterogeneity between cities, possibly due to differences in humidity and the percentage of elderly people. The authors found that in matched analyses, CO had the most consistent association. It was concluded that the findings suggest that air pollution arising from common emission sources for CO, NO2, and PM (e.g., motor vehicle exhausts) has significant associations with adult cardiovascular hospital admissions, especially in the elderly, at air pollution concentrations below normal health guidelines. Authors: Barnett, Adrian G.; Williams, Gail M.; Schwartz, Joel; Best, Trudi L.; Neller, Anne H.; Petroeschevsky, Anna L.; Simpson, Rod W. Full Source: Environmental Health Perspectives 2006, 114(7), 1018-1023 (Eng) Safety Polyurethane foam chips combined with liquid chromatography in the determination of unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons excreted in human urine 2007-01-22 The aim of this investigation was to find develop and test the efficiency of a suitable detection method of unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) excreted at trace levels (ng/L) in human urine for the monitoring of exposure of the general population to PAH contamination. PAHs were detected after enrichment by solid-phase extraction on polyurethane foam (PUF) chips, by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Different parameters affecting analyte extraction to the PUF, including urine salting-out and organic additives, and optimization of conditions for clean-up and desorption was investigated. The recovery of PAH congeners from spiked urines was >90% in the 2-100 ng/L range; the detection limit was 0.1-0.5 ng/L, depending on the considered PAH congener; day-to-day precision, at 50 ng/L native PAH content, was CV ) 10-20%. The proposed technique provided a simple, economical and effective procedure for the detection of trace amounts of unmetabolized PAHs excreted in human urine spot samples. Author: Buratti, Marina; Pellegrino, Oronzo; Valla, Carla; Rubino, Federico Maria; Verduci, Cinzia; Colombi, Antonio Full Source: Biomedical Chromatography 2006, 20(9), 971-978 (Eng). Reference values for metabolites of pyrethroid and organophosphorus insecticides in urine for human biomonitoring in environmental medicine 2007-01-22 Pesticides are widely used throughout the world, in agriculture to protect crops and in public health to control diseases transmitted by vectors or intermediate hosts. After the prohibition of organochlorines such as DDT, today, mainly pyrethroids and organophosphorus insecticides are used. The aim of this research is to report on internal exposure of children and young people, in an urban area in Germany, to pyrethroids and organophosphorus acids, assessed by the analysis of urinary levels of their corresponding specific metabolites .Approximately 673 children and adolescents took part in this voluntary investigation, including 331 children <6 years of age. They analysed their spot urine samples for six metabolites of (DMP), (DEP), (DMTP), (DETP), (DMDTP) and (DEDTP) and for four metabolites of pyrethroids (Br2CA), (cis-Cl2-CA ), (trans-Cl2-CA) and (F-PBA) using gas chromatographic methods with mass-selective detection. The limit of detection was 0.1-0.2 mgrg/l for pyrethroid metabolites and 1 mgrg/l for metabolites of organophosphorus acids; in DMP it was 5 mgrg/l. Exposure to these substances in the general population is thought to occur mainly via residues in the diet. The level of background internal pyrethroid exposure in the children is orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding acceptable daily intake (ADI) values published, but the level of internal organophosphate exposure may reach and even exceed ADI values. They found that further examinations were required. Author: Buratti, Marina; Pellegrino, Oronzo; Valla, Carla; Rubino, Federico Maria; Verduci, Cinzia; Colombi, Antonio Full source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 2006, 209(3), 293-299 (Eng). Diagnostic method of cadmium poisoning by using cadmium specific genes 2007-01-22 Provided are a diagnostic method of cadmium poisoning by using cadmium specific genes and a diagnostic kit by using the method. Toxicity of heavy metals in human body is evaluated using the method. The cadmium specific genes are identified by PCR, RT-PCR, SSH, microarray, differential display RTPCR or serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). The cadmium specific gene is selected from MIF, LPPAT-alpha, enolase-1alpha, VEGF, Bax, Nor-1, Nur77, Nurr1, COX-2, ferritin-1 and HMOX-1. The diagnostic kit of cadmium poisoning comprises the cadmium specific genes, buffer solution for hybridization, reverse transcription enzymes for synthesizing cDNA from RNA and chromogenic reagents for identifying expression. Authors: Mun, Chang Kyu; Lee, Byung Hoon; Lee, Mi Ok; Park, Keon Koo; Shin, Hye Jin Full source: Korean Kongkae Taeho Kongbo KR 2005 92,248 , 21 Sep 2005, Appl. 17,376, 15 Mar 2004; No pp. given (Korean)