Spatial variations in elemental deposition rates in southern Greece: A two-city study

Summary Bulk deposition samples were collected simultaneously, on a monthly basis, in two cities differing in pollution sources in southern Greece (Patras and Megalopolis) during February 1997 - January 1998. Megalopolis is situated near lignite power plants, while Patras is a typical urban city. Collected samples from three sampling sites in Patras (P1-P3) and five in Megalopolis (M1-M5) were analyzed for major and trace elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Comparison of the results illustrated that the deposition rates of most of the analyzed elements, except for Zn, Br, Ca and Sb, were significantly higher in Megalopolis than in Patras, while that of Na was higher in Patras. On the contrary, no differences in monthly dust deposition rates between the two cities were found. A comparison between sampling sites in Patras showed non-significant differences in dust and elemental deposition rates for most of the detected elements, while in Megalopolis the significant effect for dust and most elements was attributed to the higher deposition rates of site M5, located in the power plant A area.     

Traditional medicine in Syria: folk medicine in Aleppo governorate

The use of Traditional Arabic Medicine (TAM) for various diseases has been popular but scarcely studied in Syria. In the present study, we carried out ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological research on the plants traditionally used to cure various diseases in northern Syria. The information was collected from the city and villages of the Aleppo governorate "Mohaafazah" in the north of Syria, collecting data directly on the basis of a detailed survey of inhabitants and herbalists. In this survey, we found that hundreds of plant species are still in use in TAM for the treatment of various diseases. We selected the most common 100 species, used in the treatment of more than 25 diseases. Among these plants, 53 are used for treating gastrointestinal disorders, 38 for respiratory system diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and cough, 34 for skin diseases, 21 for diabetes, 17 for kidney and urinary disorders, 16 for cardiac disorders, 14 for infertility and sexual impotency, 13 for treating liver diseases, 13 for several types of cancer, 9 for enhancing breast milk excretion, 8 for weight loss, 5 for reducing cholesterol, and three for weight gain. Plants were collected and identified: scientific Latin names, local names, the used parts of the plant, the herbal preparations and the local medical uses are described. Scientific literature concerning the activity of the investigated species is also reported and discussed according to their traditional uses.     

Serum ferritin in patients with malignant neoplasms

Serum ferritin levels were studied in 264 patients who were consisted of 153 patients with various malignant neoplasms and 111 patients with various benign diseases. Positive rate of serum ferritin in all patients with malignant neoplasms was 35%. Hepatomas and pulmonary cancer showed relatively high positive rate, respectively 65% and 42%. In patients with benign diseases, hepatic diseases showed the high positive rate (52%) and the other benign diseases was low positive rate (11%). The relationship between serum ferritin and alpha-feto-protein in patients with hepatomas and other liver diseases was low. And the relationship between serum ferritin and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in patients with malignant neoplasms of gastrointestinal tract was also low. It seemed that the measurement of serum ferritin levels will be of low value in the differentiation of the patients with malignant neoplasms.     

Clinical evaluation of serum neuron-specific enolase levels in patients with lung cancer

Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were studied in 105 patients with malignant neoplasms (lung cancer 38, others 67), 13 patients with various benign diseases and 7 healthy adults. The mean serum NSE level in adult control subjects was 7.4 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, and cut off level was decided 10 ng/ml. Serum NSE levels were elevated in 14/38 (37%) of patients with lung cancer and in 14/67 (21%) of patients with the other malignant neoplasms. In patients with benign diseases, serum NSE level was elevated only in one patient with pituitary adenoma. In 7 patients with small cell lung cancer, the positive rate was higher (86%) than in those with non-small cell lung cancer (26%), and serum NSE levels were higher than 25 ng/ml except one case. There was no correlation between serum NSE and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels in patients with small cell lung cancer, also in patients with lung cancer. The measurement of serum NSE level seemed to be useful for diagnosis in patients with small cell lung cancer.     

Traditional uses of medicinal plants for respiratory diseases in Transylvania

Inhabitants of some Transylvanian farms in Romania have a valuable archaic knowledge of medicinal plants because of their isolation and the insufficiency of official medical treatment. In this work we present ethnobotanical data about the use of medicinal plant taxa for various respiratory diseases in the villages L?véte and Nagybacon. Altogether 34 plant taxa were documented in L?véte and 26 species in Nagybacon with 15 concordant data of the villages. This information plays an important role in the documentation of the disappearing indigenous medical information of the villages.     

On-site monitoring of biogenic emissions from Eucalyptus dunnii leaves using membrane extraction with sorbent interface combined with a portable gas chromatograph system

Membrane extraction with sorbent interface, combined with a portable gas chromatograph system (MESI-Portable GC) for continuous on-line monitoring of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emissions (from leaves of Eucalytus dunnii in a greenhouse), is presented herein. A sampling chamber was designed to facilitate the extraction and identification of the BVOCs emitted by the Eucalytus dunnii leaves. Preliminary experiments, including; enrichment times, microtrap temperatures, stripping gas flow rates, and desorption temperatures were investigated to optimize experimental parameters. The main components of BVOCs released by the Eucalytus dunnii leaves were identified by comparing the retention times of peaks with those of authentic standard solutions. They were then confirmed with solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). BVOC emission profiles of [small alpha]-pinene, eucalyptol, and [gamma]-terpinene emitted by intact and damaged Eucalytus dunnii leaves were obtained. The findings suggest that the MESI-Portable GC system is a simple and useful tool for field monitoring changes in plant emissions as a function of time.     

Assessment of radioecological situation of a site contaminated by technologically enhanced natural radioactivity in Croatia

The paper deals with radioactivity contamination originating from the coal fired power plant and its waste dumps located in a bay of the Adriatic which is due to geographical characteristics sensitive to any kind of pollution including radioactivity. Investigations of coal used in regular plant operation and of solid incombustible ash and slag showed increased concentrations of natural radioactivity which may cause general environmental contamination of the bay as well as contamination of the marine environment of this part of Croatian Adriatic. There are two coal slag and ash piles, one of them was closed and covered by soil and the other is a still operating pile. The location of both piles presents a considerable environmental problem: situated close to the seaside, slag and ash are accumulating in the littoral zone and, in the case of operating pile, are being filled-up directly into the sea. The aim of this study was to determine the radioactivity level at the ash and slag deposits and to assess the risk of increased radioactivity for the inhabitants of the nearby urban area, for the plant workers and general environment of the bay including the marine environment of this part of the Croatian Adriatic.     

Relation between the geochemical environment and disease incidence rate: A case study - the Island Krk in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Summary It has been observed that among the seven municipalities of the Island of Krk the three in the central part of the island have increased disease incidence rates for the five groups of diseases: (a) neoplasm, (b) diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism, (c) endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, (d) mental and behavioral disorders and (e) diseases of the circulatory system. One of the etiological factors is assumed to be the influence of the geochemical environment. The average element concentration values of six trace elements (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and As) for the geochemical environment in the individual municipalities were determined by XRF analyses of soil, plant, potable water and hair samples. The data on disease incidence rates for the individual municipalities, from 1997 to 2001, have been obtained from the Public Health Institution in charge of monitoring population health on the island. Diseases' groups have been defined by the WHO methodology. The GPS-GIS methodology was used to obtain maps of trace elements in different matrices and disease incidence distributions. Data analyses were performed by multivariate statistical methods (principal component analysis and cluster analysis). It has been shown that the concentration levels of the elements could be related to disease incidence rates.     

Meilenstein Salicylsäuresynthese

In early Christian times treating the sick was considered as blasphemy, and it had only to be in the hands of the Almighty alone (“Do not meddle in the Almighty's creation”). But by and by people did not take diseases as god‐given, and tried and learned to combat them. For some millenniums only natural “remedies” like herbs, animal, and inorganic products were available. Finally, at the beginning of the 19th century it became possible to isolate pure natural substances from herbs, characterize, and modify them by partial synthesis, in order to optimize efficacy, resorption and side effects.On January 2nd 1874 the total chemical synthesis of drugs in industrial scale began in a mansion in the city of Dresden, when Hermann Kolbe jointly with Rudolf Schmitt and Friedrich von Heyden produced Salicylic acid from phenol and carbon dioxide.Until then this drug substance could only be made from willow bark or the plant Spirea ulmaria. Today many substances of natural origin as well of completely newly structured compounds can be made by total synthesis. Biotechnology, and Gene technology are broadening the methods to prepare new drugs.     

High power electron accelerators for flue gas treatment

Over 1000 accelerators based on different principles have been constructed and used in the field of radiation chemistry and radiation processing. One of the radiation processes which was successfully demonstrated in many laboratories and pilot plant facilities is the reduction of SO₂ and NO_x pollutants from flue gases emitted during fuel combustion in boilers for electrical power and heat production. The full scale industrial implementation of an electron beam process for flue gases treatment would require accelerator modules with a beam power of over 500 kW and electron energy in the range 1–1.5 MeV. The 500 MW power plant may require 5–8 MW of electron beam power deposited in the flue gas.     

Dose assessment from exposure to radon,thoron and their progeny concentrations in the dwellings of sub-mountainous region of Jammu & Kashmir,India

The present work deals with the assessment of annual inhalation dose due to exposure of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations in the villages situated in sub-mountainous region of Jammu & Kashmir, India. The distribution of the data and the homogeneity of medians among different seasons and dwellings were assessed with the Shapiro–Wilk test and the Mann–Whitney test. The estimated total annual inhalation dose in these villages varied from 0.5 to 1.9 mSv year^?1 which is less than the prescribed limit by ICRP (2008). Thus, the investigated area is safe from irradiation of radon, thoron and their progeny.     

Chemiluminescence from singlet oxygen under laminar flow condition in a micro-channel

Singlet oxygen was generated by reaction of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide in a micro-channel. The two reagent solutions were delivered into the micro-channel by syringe pumps, providing a laminar flow. Such a laminar flow forms a liquid–liquid interface instantly in a micro-channel, and then the interface collapses gradually through molecular diffusion with the residence times. The chemiluminescence from the singlet oxygen was emitted in the course of the collapse of the interface under laminar flow condition. The chemiluminescence intensity was observed continuously and stably in the micro-channel as long as the reagents were fed into the channel. We examined the features of the chemiluminescence emitted in the micro-channel by changing the flow rates of reagents and the detection points in the micro-channel. The data obtained were considered along with the residence times and diffusion lengths. We also examined the effects of antioxidants, such as sodium azide, histidine, nitroblue tetrazolium, and 2-propanol on the chemiluminescence intensity.     

An inverse association between cancer mortality rate of women and residential radon in 34 Hungarian villages

Summary The associations between cancer mortality and median radon levels were examined in 34 Hungarian small villages (with population less than 5000) during the 1984-2000 period. The yearly averages of radon activity concentrations were measured in more than 70 homes in totally 5,081 houses in each village. There were no significant differences in the age distribution and the cancer mortality rate between the studied villages and all Hungarian villages with less than 5000 inhabitants. A previous cohort study in two neighboring villages in Hungary revealed a lower cancer incidence rate among women aged 30-64 in medium radon level (110-185 Bq ^. m^-3). The aim of this study was checking the results of the previous study. Cancer mortality rate was examined in two groups: below and above the median value (110 Bq ^. m^-3) of radon level. The lower or higher radon levels of homes do not result in significant differences concerning cancer mortality rate of males. However, the middle-aged group (30-64 years) of women had more lethal cancer cases in the lower radon level groups (59-109 Bq ^. m^-3) than in the higher ones (110-226 Bq ^. m^-3), the relative cancer risk was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.6).     

Investigation of Tomato Plant Defence Response to Tobacco Mosaic Virus by Determination of Methyl Salicylate with SPME-Capillary GC-MS

Headspace SPME was applied to investigation of tomato plant defence response to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) by determination of compounds emitted from tomato plants at the extraction conditions of 25 °C and 15 min. It was found that TMV-inoculated tomato plant released large amount of methyl salicylate (MeSA) as response to TMV and MeSA concentration changed dramatically with time after inoculation. Gaseous MeSA as a signaling compound could induce in surrounding tomato plants to produce salicylic acid (SA) and synthesize and release MeSA. These results show that MeSA might be an airborne plant-signalling molecule in tomato plant response to TMV. The present method provided low detection limit of 2.0 ng L^–1 and needed little sample preparation time (15 min), so the method makes it easy to find the critical times of tomato plant response to TMV by fast determination of MeSA released from tomato plant.     

Effects of residential radon on cancer incidence

Radon activity concentrations of 1077 homes were surveyed in two villages of Northern Hungary to obtain the yearly averages. The distribution of indoor radon activity concentrations covered a wide range. Cancer incidences of all the 2680 inhabitants for the last 30 years were also studied in these villages in order to establish a possible correlation with radon exposure. The methods applied in the analysis allow to draw up statistically supported statements concerning the relative cancer risks of different radon level groups. The results show that among non-smoking middle-aged women the frequency of cancer, regardless to tumor types, is lower for those who live in residential radon activity concentrations of a level between 110 and 185 Bq^.m^-3 compared to those living in radon levels outside this range. A minimum value in the cancer frequency exists at a level of significance p<0.008 (determined with the help of Fisher's test). In general, the present study corroborates the outcome of other studies demonstrating the existence of a biopositive effect, and suggests a wider concept of radon health effects.     

Study of radon,thoron and their progeny levels in indoor environment of Firozabad city in U.P., India

Twin cup pin-hole dosimeters having LR-115 as the detector were used to measure the concentration of radon and thoron in the dwellings of Firozabad city of Uttar Pradesh State in India. The mean values of radon, thoron, radon progeny and thoron progeny concentrations were found to be 37.4 Bqm^?3, 13.7 Bqm^?3, 4.0 and 1.5 mWL respectively. The average value of annual effective dose equivalent to the inhabitants of Firozabad city was found to be 1.1 mSv and is below the action level as recommended by the ICRP.     

Use of solid-phase micro-extraction as a sampling technique in the determination of volatiles emitted by flowers,isolated flower parts and pollen

The volatiles emitted by fresh whole flowers or isolated flower parts of mandarin, Citrus deliciosa Ten. (Rutaceae), were sampled using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME). This technique offers several advantages over dynamic headspace sampling techniques used in previous investigations. In particular, SPME requires smaller sample sizes and very short sampling times, which can minimize the formation of artifacts due to damage to the plant, and contaminations or loss of compounds. This was especially applicable to the collection of volatiles from pollen.     

Air quality study of Islamabad: preliminary results

Over a 1,000 pairs of coarse and fine filters were collected using Gent samplers and polycarbonate filters from three sites in Islamabad from the period 1998 to 2010. The black carbon in these samples was determined by reflectance measurement while their elemental composition were determined using the techniques of instrumental neutron activation analysis, ion beam analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Islamabad is a well planned and relatively small city as compared to Lahore or Karachi therefore its air quality is better than the air quality of other major Pakistani cities. It was found that the new air quality standards being implemented by the Pakistani government on the 1st of January 2012 may not be attained even in Islamabad without the implementation of control and remedial measures. An overview of the elemental data obtained and calculation of enrichment factors shows that the particles in Islamabad originate from re-suspended soil, vehicular emissions and coal combustion. However further work is required for identification of pollution sources and their origin.     

烟气催化脱硝装置对多环芳烃排放特性的影响

通过对装有选择性催化还原(SCR)脱硝装置的燃煤锅炉排放烟气中的多环芳烃(PAHs)进行测试,分析比较了工业锅炉排放的PAHs经过SCR脱硝装置前后的排放特性变化.实验结果表明,烟气催化脱硝装置促进了PAHs含量的增加,特别是低环多环芳烃含量的增加,并提高了其毒性当量,但对PAHs在气相与颗粒相的分布影响不大.     

Pu isotopes and137Cs in the surrounding areas of the former Soviet Union's Semipalatinsk nuclear test site

Field missions were sent to Semipalatinsk City and several settlements near the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to investigate the current radioactive contamination levels of the land coming from long-lived radionuclides. The soil was sampled at about 20 sites, including some settlements such as Mostik, Dolon and Chagan, forest and pasture areas, along the roads from Semipalatinsk City to Kurchatov City and to Korosteli settlement in the direction of the Altai District. The radioactivities of¹³⁷Cs,²³⁸Pu and^239,240Pu as well as²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atomic ratios in the soil were determined by non-destructive γ-ray spectrometry and radiochemical separation followed by α-ray spectrometry and/or ICP-MS, respectively. The results showed a distinction of¹³⁷Cs and^239,240Pu inventories in soil depending on the site where we visited. While the overall¹³⁷Cs levels were as same as or slightly lower than the domestic global fallout level (3·10³–7·10³ Bq/m²),^239,240Pu levels at some sites were several to a few ten times higher than the domestic level (40–120 Bq/m²). The atomic ratios of²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu in the soil were in the range of 0.024–0.125, which were significantly lower than the value of 0.18 commonly accepted for global fallout Pu.