Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis: 09/17/18

Δευτέρα 17 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018

Assisted phytostabilisation of As, Pb and Sb-contaminated Technosols with mineral and organic amendments using Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco)

Abstract

Phytoremediation of metal(loid)s by conifers is not widely studied, although conifers may be interesting, particularly in temperate-cold areas and/or on acidic soils. In this study, seeds of Douglas fir were sown in greenhouse and cultivated for 3 months on two Technosols highly contaminated with different concentrations of Pb, As and Sb and collected in two French old former mines located in massif Central or close to it: a mine of gold at La Petite Faye and a mine of lead and silver at Pontgibaud. Two amendments, a nutrient solution (NS) and composted sewage sludge (CSS), were tested in order to stimulate Douglas fir growth and to reduce the metal(loid)s mobility and phytoavailability. The speciation determined by sequential extractions as well as mineralogy highlight different geochemical behaviours of Pb, As and Sb as a function of the Technosol. In all cases, CSS amendments significantly reduced Pb phytoavailability as well as the uptake and translocation of Pb and As. Moreover, CSS stimulated the growth of Douglas firs highlighting that this amendment could be a good strategy for a better phytostabilisation of these metal(loid)s.

Use and Reliability of Exposure Assessment Methods in Occupational Case–Control Studies in the General Population: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Introduction

Retrospective occupational exposure assessment has been challenging in case–control studies in the general population. We aimed to review (i) trends of different assessment methods used in the last 40 years and (ii) evidence of reliability for various assessment methods.

Methods

Two separate literature reviews were conducted. We first reviewed all general population cancer case–control studies published from 1975 to 2016 to summarize the exposure assessment approach used. For the second review, we systematically reviewed evidence of reliability for all methods observed in the first review.

Results

Among the 299 studies included in the first review, the most frequently used assessment methods were self-report/assessment (n = 143 studies), case-by-case expert assessment (n = 139), and job-exposure matrices (JEMs; n = 82). Usage trends for these methods remained relatively stable throughout the last four decades. Other approaches, such as the application of algorithms linking questionnaire responses to expert-assigned exposure estimates and modelling of exposure with historical measurement data, appeared in 21 studies that were published after 2000. The second review retrieved 34 comparison studies examining methodological reliability. Overall, we observed slightly higher median kappa agreement between exposure estimates from different expert assessors (~0.6) than between expert estimates and exposure estimates from self-reports (~0.5) or JEMs (~0.4). However, reported reliability measures were highly variable for different methods and agents. Limited evidence also indicates newer methods, such as assessment using algorithms and measurement-calibrated quantitative JEMs, may be as reliable as traditional methods.

Conclusion

The majority of current research assesses exposures in the population with similar methods as studies did decades ago. Though there is evidence for the development of newer approaches, more concerted effort is needed to better adopt exposure assessment methods with more transparency, reliability, and efficiency.

Photocatalytic Performance of H6P2W18O62/TiO2 Nanocomposite Encapsulated into Beta Zeolite under UV Irradiation in the Degradation of Methyl Orange

Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.

Debunking the Myths: Mental Illness and Mass Shootings

Violence and Gender, Ahead of Print.

Early Identification of Grooming and Targeting in Predatory Sexual Behavior on College Campuses

Violence and Gender, Ahead of Print.

Compassion: Without It—The Shame Is Ours to Bear

Violence and Gender, Volume 5, Issue 3, Page 125-127, September 2018.

Bacterial biofilm formation inside colonic crypts may accelerate colorectal carcinogenesis

Research in the field of relation between microbes and colorectal carcinogenesis has gained increasing interest in past years. Recently, link between microbial biofilm and carcinogenesis in colon was demonstra...