Study of occupational health impact of atmospheric pollution on exposed workers at an iron and steel complex by using neutron activation analysis of scalp hair

The occupational health impact of atmospheric pollution on exposed workers at one iron and steel complex was studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis of workers' hair samples and medical examination. The experimental results indicate that there is a positive correlation between the high inhalation amounts of iron and other trace elements by the exposed workers and the symptom of their high blood pressure and hypoglycemia, which implies that the atmospheric environment polluted by iron and steel industry has an adverse health impact on the exposed workers. The measures to relieve and abate the occupational diseases caused by air-borne particulate matter should be taken     

Development of a radiochemical neutron activation analysis procedure for determination of rhenium in biological and environmental samples at ultratrace level

Summary Radiochemical neutron activation procedures using liquid-liquid extraction with tetraphenylarsonium chloride in chloroform from 1M HCl and solid extraction with ALIQUAT 336 incorporated in a polyacrylonitrile binding matrix from 0.1M HCl were developed for accurate determination of rhenium in biological and environmental samples at the sub-ng ^. g^-1 level. Concentrations of Re in the range of 0.1 to 2.4 ng ^. g^-1 were determined in several botanical reference materials (RM), while in a RM of road dust a value of ~10 ng ^. g^-1 was found. Significantly elevated values of Re, up to 90 ng ^. g^-1 were found in seaweed (brown algae). Results for Re in the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus in which elevated ⁹⁹Tc values had previously been determined suggested possible competition between Re and Tc in the accumulation process.     

Preparation and Properties of Aramid-Silica Hybrids with Inter-Phase Bonding Through (3-glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane

Nano-composites from aramid-silica system have been prepared via sol-gel process. Poly (phenyleneterephthalamide) copolymer chains were prepared by reacting a mixture of p- and m-phenylenediamines with terephthaloyl chloride in dimethylacetamide used as solvent. The sol-gel process in the polymer matrix was carried out through hydrolysis and condensation of a mixture of tetraethoxysilane and (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane. The latter was used to develop linkage, on one hand with silica network structure using alkoxy groups and on the other hand with aramid chains at its secondary amine groups through glycidal groups of silane. Mutual interaction between the two disparate phases aramid and silica network was thus created. Thin films of the composites containing different proportions of silica ranging from 5.0 to 25.0-wt% were cast by the solvent elution technique. The α-relaxation temperature associated with the glass transition was measured by the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The results showed an increase in the glass transition temperature from 328°C for the pure aramid to 352°C for the hybrid materials containing 25-wt% silica, an indicative of the increased interfacial interaction between the two phases. Films having relatively low silica content were flexible and transparent, but those with high silica content were opaque and brittle. These films were tested for their tensile strength, modulus and toughness. The mechanical strength of the composites as compared to the pure aramid increased initially but with further addition of silica the strength decreased. The initial increase can be explained due to increased interfacial interaction between the two phases, however agglomeration of silica particles was responsible for decreasing strength at higher silica contents.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Meloxicam Hydroxy Propyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

Meloxicam is a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug, used in the treatment of rheumatoid and osteoarthiritis. It is practically insoluble in water and its prolonged use is associated with the incidence of side effects like gastro intestinal perforations, ulcerations and bleeding. Therefore, an attempt has been made to improve the aqueous solubility of the drug by making an inclusion complex using hydroxy propyl β cyclodextrin(HPβ-CD). The complexes were prepared by physical mixture and freeze drying method. The different methods employed for evaluation such as DSC, XRD, SEM and FT-IR studies indicated complete formation of the complex by freeze drying method in a molar ratio of 1:2. The prepared complexes showed improved in-vitro dissolution profile as compared to the pure drug.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Triazolium Salts <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

Summary. The regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 1-aza-2-azoniaallene salts with ,-unsaturated nitriles such as acrylonitrile or cyclohexylidene acetonitrile afforded only 1,2,4-triazolium salts via addition to the nitrile group, while the other expected pyrazolium salts were not observed. Moreover, 1-aza-2-azonia-allene salts reacted with other competitive systems such as -iminonitrile derivatives yielding only triazolium salts via addition to the nitrile and not to the imino group. Treatment of cumulene with 3-pyridylnitrile afforded the pyridinium salt. However, 2,3-dimethyl-5-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazole could be prepared from cumulene and 2,6-dimethoxybenzonitrile. Some reactions of nitriles with 1-aza-2-azonia-allene salts prepared from 1,2,3-indantrione and 9-acetylphenanthrene are discussed.     

Determination of Mg,Al, P,Cu and Mn in biological fluids by neutron activation analysis

Thermal and epithermal neutron activation analysis has been applied to determine the concentrations of magnesium, aluminium, phosphorus, copper and manganese in two biological fluids: blood serum and market milk. Both epithermal neutron irradiation and radiochemical separation (a chromatographic column of HAP) were used to get rid of the interferences from 24-Na. Strongly acidic solutions of the irradiated samples were passed through the columns of HAP, where sodium was completely adsorbed while, Al, Cu, Mg and Mn were eluted with an efficiency of 99±1%. Since both Al and P were determined through the formation of²⁸Al (2.24 min) thermal and epithermal neutron activation have been applied in order to determine the contribution of each radionuclide to²⁸Al activity. The determination of Mg, Al and P in milk samples was done instrumentally, whereas in the case of blood serum with higher concentration of Na, a radiochemical separation is essential in both cases. The concentrations of Al, Cu, Mg, Mn and P in blood serum and market milk were found to be 0.24±0.02 and 1.85±0.09 g Al/ml, 1.35±0.04 and 0.068±0.005 g Cu/ml, 22.9±1 and 98.9±8.6 g Mg/ml, 22±3 and 16±2 ng Mn/ml and 167±13 and 865±32 g P/ml, respectively.     

Determination of low levels of free fibres of chrysotile in contaminated soils by X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy

A new analytical method for the determination of low levels (0.01–1 wt%) of free fibres of chrysotile in contaminated clayey, sandy and sandy-organic soils is described. The detection limit of 0.01 wt% is reached with an enrichment of free fibres of chrysotile in the sample using a standard laboratory elutriator for sedimentation analysis. The chrysotile quantitative determination is performed both by X-ray powder diffraction, using the internal standard and reference intensity ratio methods, and by Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The procedure can be successfully applied to different soils after removal, by a thermal treatment, of the matrix components which can interfere. This straightforward method fulfils the request of public institutions and private companies for an appropriate quantitative determination of chrysotile-free fibres in contaminated soils.     

Reactions of dithiocarbamic acids derived from alkaloids, morpholine, and piperidine with acrylic acid and its derivatices

-(Thiocarbamoylthio)propionic acids derived from alkaloids, morpholine, and piperidine and their esters, amides, and nitriles were prepared by reactions of the corresponding dithiocarbamic acids with acrylic acid and its derivatives. Some of the compounds were tested for insecticidal activity.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 77, No. 8, 2004, pp. 1336–1339.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zhivotova, Gazaliev, Ibraev, Fazylov, Kasenov.