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Summary: Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been difficult to identify an underlying unifying pathogenic mechanism for the different components. As the syndrome shows high heritability one way to search for such common mechanisms could to be to try to identify genetic variants contributing to MetS. Methods: In total 1937 of 2293 non-diabetic individuals participating in the Botnia prospective study were free of MetS at baseline (M/F: 873/1064; age 44±14 years; BMI 25±4kg/m2; 25% had IFG or IGT or both). Variants in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG P12A), β1-, β2- and β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB1 G389R; ADRB2 Q27E; ADRB3 W64R), adiponectin (APM1 SNP −11,377 C>G, 276 G>T, I2019D), and PPARG co-activator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A G482S) genes were studied for their ability to predict MetS defined using the NCEP ATPIII criteria. We also repeated the analyses using the WHO and IDF criteria for defining MetS. Results: During a median 6-year follow-up, 267 (13.8%) persons developed MetS. The PPARG (PP) (HR 1.49 [1.10–3.01], P =0.011) and the ADRB1 G389R (GG/GR) (1.43 [1.14–1.80], P =0.0022) predicted future MetS. ADRB1 G389R and ADRB3 W64R variants showed an interaction effect, implying that the MetS risk was further increased if an individual carried both GG/GR and RR/WR genotypes (2.02 [1.34–3.05], P <0.001). Among the individual MetS components, the PP (PPARG) and GG/GR (ADRB1) genotypes were associated with increase in triglycerides (coefficient 0.016 and 0.0162, P <0.05; respectively). In addition, the GG/GR genotypes (coefficient 0.013, P =0.036) were also associated with increase in fasting glucose concentrations over time. Variants in the ADRB2, APM1 and PPARGC1A genes did not influence risk of future MetS. Conclusion: We demonstrate in a prospective study that variants in the PPARG and ADRB1 genes predict development of MetS and that the risk conferred by the ADRB1 variant is further increased by variants in the ADRB3 gene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray diffraction topographs made with synchrotron radiation of an epitaxial InAs structure show images of dislocations and stacking faults. Three types of dislocations are identified and their Burgers vectors are determined from a number of topographs having different diffraction vectors and recorded on the same film at a time. Straight dislocations are found to be edge dislocations and their Burgers vector is . Also mixed dislocations are found. The overall dislocation density is about . Large stacking faults are limited by long straight dislocations, the Burgers vector of which is . Only a few threading dislocations are observed in the epitaxial layer grown by vapour-phase epitaxy. Their density is about . Small circular dots found are interpreted as indium-rich inclusions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Exposure to ambient air pollution may be associated with impaired mental health, including depression. However, evidence originates mainly from animal studies and epidemiological studies in specific subgroups. We investigated the association between air pollution and depressed mood in four European general population cohorts.Methods: Data were obtained from LifeLines (the Netherlands), KORA (Germany), HUNT (Norway), and FINRISK (Finland). Residential exposure to particles (PM2.5, PM2.5absorbance, PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was estimated using land use regression (LUR) models developed for the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) and using European wide LUR models. Depressed mood was assessed with interviews and questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the cohort specific associations between air pollution and depressed mood.Results: A total of 70,928 participants were included in our analyses. Depressed mood ranged from 1.6% (KORA) to 11.3% (FINRISK). Cohort specific associations of the air pollutants and depressed mood showed heterogeneous results. For example, positive associations were found for NO2 in LifeLines (odds ratio [OR]=1.34; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.53 per 10 μg/m(3) increase in NO2), whereas negative associations were found in HUNT (OR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.94 per 10 μg/m(3) increase in NO2).Conclusions: Our analyses of four European general population cohorts found no consistent evidence for an association between ambient air pollution and depressed mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The volcanic ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption seriously distracted aviation in Europe. Due to the flight ban, there were only few in-situ measurements of the properties and dispersion of the ash cloud. In this study we show in-situ observations onboard a hot air balloon conducted in Central Finland together with regional dispersion modelling with SILAM-model during the eruption. The modeled and measured mass concentrations were in a qualitative agreement but the exact elevation of the layer was slightly distorted. Some of this discrepancy can be attributed to the uncertainty in the initial emission height and strength. The observed maximum mass concentration varied between 12 and 18 μg m−3 assuming a density of 2 g m−3, whereas the gravimetric analysis of the integrated column showed a maximum of 45 μg m−3 during the first two descents through the ash plume. Ion chromatography data indicated that a large fraction of the mass was insoluble to water, which is in qualitative agreement with single particle X-ray analysis. A majority of the super-micron particles contained Si, Al, Fe, K, Na, Ca, Ti, S, Zn and Cr, which are indicative for basalt-type rock material. The number concentration profiles indicated that there was secondary production of particles possibly from volcano-emitted sulfur dioxide oxidized to sulfuric acid during the transport. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The significance of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and nanotechnologies grows rapidly. Nanotechnology applications may have a positive marked impact on many aspects of on human every day life, for example by providing means for the production of clean energy and pure drinking water. Hundreds of consumer nano-based products are already on the market. However, very little is known of the risks of ENM to occupational safety and health (OSH), even though workers are likely to be at extra risk, as compared with other potentially exposed groups of people, because the levels of exposure are usually higher at workplaces than in other environments. However, knowledge of the exposure to, or effects of, ENM on human health and safety in occupational environments is limited and does not allow reliable assessment of risks of ENM on workers’ health. Several issues related to ENM in the workplaces require marked attention. The most topical issues include: (1) improved understanding of ENM metrics associated with ENM toxicity; (2) development of monitoring devices for ENM exposure assessment; (3) understanding the changes of ENM structure and state of agglomeration at different concentrations in aerosols; (4) understanding translocation of ENM in the human body; (5) identifying the key health effects of ENM including pulmonary toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic effects, and effects on circulation; (6) development of tiered approaches for testing of safety of ENM; and (7) utilizing these data for health risk assessment, with a special emphasis on occupational environment. Available data on several ENM – ability to enter the body and reach almost any organ, to cause pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, and even to cause increased risk of mesotheliomas in animal models, call for immediate action. It is crucial to identify those ENM that may cause occupational health and safety risks from those ENM which are innocent, hence allowing prioritization of regulatory and preventive actions at workplaces at national, regional and global levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Finland, the new limit values for maximal allowable heavy metal concentrations for materials used as an earth construction agent came into force in July 2006. These limit values are applied if ash is utilized, e.g. in roads, cycling paths, pavements, car parks, sport fields, etc. In this study we have determined the most important chemical and physical properties of the cyclone fly ash originating from the grate-fired boiler incinerating forest residues (i.e. wood chips, sawdust and bark) at a small municipal district heating plant (6MW), Northern Finland. This study clearly shows that elements are enriched in cyclone fly ash, since the total element concentrations in the cyclone fly ash were within 0.2–10 times higher than those in the bottom ash. The total concentrations of Cd (25mgkg−1; d.w.), Zn (3630mgkg−1; d.w.), Ba (4260mgkg−1; d.w.) and Hg (1.7mgkg−1; d.w.) exceeded the limit values, and therefore the cyclone fly ash cannot be used as an earth construction agent. According to the leached amounts of Cr (38mgkg−1; d.w.), Zn (51mgkg−1; d.w.) and sulphate (50,000mgkg−1; d.w.), the cyclone fly ash is classified as a hazardous waste, and it has to be deposited in a hazardous waste landfill. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The sources of lead exposure, soil, household dust, diet and ambient air near a former lead smeltery were studied. The blood lead level of small children was also determined. The aim of the study was to define, based primarily on blood lead measurements, whether children living in the contaminated area may be at risk. Within 500 m from the site of the smeltery, there were several areas where the Finnish limit value for soil Pb, i.e. 300 mg/kg, was exceeded. In the recently built areas, the surface soil has been replaced and soil remediation has taken place in schoolyards and the playgrounds of children''s day-care centres. Lead content in household dust was clearly elevated in the contaminated areas. In approximately 20 years, after the smeltery was closed in 1984, the lead concentrations of the fruits and berries in local gardens have decreased to one-tenth. In some samples, the limit values are still exceeded. The lead concentration in ambient air is now 50 times lower than in the 1970s. The blood lead level of the children living in the area is slightly but statistically significantly higher than that of the children in the control areas. The critical blood lead level, i.e. 10 μg/100 ml, was not exceeded in any of the children examined. The average and maximum lead concentrations of 63 analysed blood samples were 2.2 and 5 μg/100 ml, respectively. In contrast, the average and maximum blood lead levels of school children in 1981 were 6.7 and 13.0 μg/100 ml, respectively. The risk reduction measures undertaken during the past 20 years are described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]